Laying down the SMACKDOWN..

Wrestling has never had more athleticism, so why do so many matches feel like they slide right out of your memory? We dig into the uncomfortable answer: too many performers skip the fundamentals that make fans believe. Teddy Long brings the veteran lens on what changes a crowd from polite applause to real investment, and it starts with selling, pacing, and treating the job like it matters. 

We also talk about the respect gap between generations, and why ignoring experienced voices is one of the fastest ways to stall out a career. From character work to promo skills, we highlight what separates “good in the ring” from “can carry a show,” including a shout-out to Big Nasty Glenn as an example of someone who understands entertainment, presence, and making money beyond just bell-to-bell action. Mac Davis also shares why it was important to show his own wrestling history so newer audiences understand the full story. 

Then we open the mailbag and let your questions drive the ride: nostalgia about popsicles and ice cream trucks, tag team wrestling debates, Teddy’s early days learning as a referee, WCW stories including meeting Ted Turner, and reflections on what “right for business” really means. If you love a pro wrestling podcast that blends real talk with locker room wisdom, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more fans can find us.

Transcript

Welcome Back And Quick Catch-Up

SPEAKER_04 1:53

Boom, Shakalaka. Here we are another Wednesday night. Myself and, of course, WWE Hall of Famer, Teddy Long with Road Trip After Hours.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

Teddy, how you doing? I'm good, good, man. And uh, we want to welcome everybody back. We wasn't here last week, uh, unfortunately, but we are this week, so welcome back.

SPEAKER_04 2:11

Yeah, my my bad, my bad. I had to be somewhere and it just I just couldn't do it. There was no way. We did put up though a special episode of a past uh interview that we did with Godfather. If you didn't get a chance to see that, I watched it back while I was on the plane, and uh I still like that interview. And so if you haven't seen it yet, go back and watch that one as well as many others that we have on there. Uh but uh yeah, it just couldn't be helped. Uh this week, though, it's good to be back. I I'm a little bit uh kind of rough in my voice here, Teddy, so forgive me for that. And if I start in a cough attack, I'm gonna just mute my mic and you take over because I've still been coughing all day. Let me ask you something, Teddy. When it comes to wrestling today, and uh yeah, I'm looking through the news and there's not a lot of super big news really to talk about, but I'm curious when it comes to wrestling today, you watch the product. I I know recently you watched uh one of these programs that's out there, and uh you didn't seem too taken with it at all. What do you think has happened with wrestling today, and what do we need to do to fix it and make it more of that entertaining product that we used to get many years ago?

What Modern Wrestling Is Missing

SPEAKER_03 3:17

Well, what I think some people have just taken it for granted. You know what I mean? Some people have just taken what started uh how many, many wherever years ago, is now just like it's something to play with, and they don't take it serious, you know what I mean? And that's that's what I see, but I take I take take this very serious. That's why whenever I walked out on TV and did what I did, I took it serious. That was my job, and that's what I was supposed to do. But uh like like like I I watched some matches the other night. Guys don't want to sell. You know, you you know, that's the big main part of it is selling. Selling is what makes the people believe in you. You know, if you don't sell, you know what I mean? You really you know, I don't know what to say, man. But uh the it's just change. And like I said, there are a lot of guys that are in our still in our business that know how this works. Uh, I don't understand why they won't uh put that out there and tell these guys exactly how this works. They're there, they know. So I I I just don't know.

SPEAKER_04 4:16

You know, and and I think part of it is, Teddy, and we've we talked about this before on the show, is that I think a lot of the younger talent almost feel like they pretty much know what they need to do, and that they don't need the help of the older guys. Man, what a big mistake.

SPEAKER_03 4:31

And they make big mistakes. And when you go back sometime, a lot of them, you know, they they they make you feel that way too, because they won't even speak to you. They'll just walk right by you like they never saw you. You know, you know, and so yeah, that's another thing too. That you you're right about that. A lot of them think that they already know it, they don't need no help. Uh, what do you know? If you was if you knew anything, you'd still be here, all that. You know, they'll they don't get it.

SPEAKER_04 4:54

No, and it and it's sad, and I I see it from time to time in places that we go, and uh Teddy and I were by myself, you know, in our travels. And and it's unfortunate when you see that, uh, because you see so much talent in some of these guys. You're like, if you would just open your damn ears, you could be so much better than you are right now. You think you're the shit now, but you're really not the shit. The shit's when after you sit around with one of these old vets who can make you get even better in that ring, better than even you think you can be.

SPEAKER_03 5:25

And that's and that's why I'm glad I had the opportunity to talk with uh Big Nasty Glenn. You know, golly, what a great guy he is, and and knows how to cut promos, does a good job on his promos. Uh, he knows how to involve himself in other activities outside the ring to make money. So he understands this, he he's getting it. And I just hope that, you know, one day that somebody really calls him up and gives him a chance because he certainly he certainly does deserve one. He's he's a great worker and a great guy.

SPEAKER_04 5:53

Yeah, he knows how to entertain the fans. You know, he he it's not all about the wrestling ring and and the moves that you do or the flips and the jumps and all the other crazy shit. He has a character, so when you see him, you believe him. And that is what's so good about and you know, a lot of people who don't know who Big Nasty is, you need to pull him up, watch his promos. If you're a promotion anywhere in the United States and you're looking for talent for somebody who has fire on the stick, Big Nasty is one of those guys. We had the opportunity to work with him, and uh what he did uh before we went to St. Louis was just phenomenal. Uh and you're right, too. I love seeing talent like that. Talent you can get really hyped on.

SPEAKER_03 6:33

And since, you know, we're bringing this up, you know, I wanted to uh uh I spoke with you the other night about

Character Work And Respecting Vets

SPEAKER_03 6:38

this. Uh, you know, I know you're doing some stuff with the Jugaloo uh guys wrestling. Jugaloo or whatever they are. And I saw something on there where you were involved in uh one of the the skits that they were doing and where you uh slapped this guy and then they they jumped you. And I I I the only thing I didn't like about that because they they didn't explain who Mac Davis is. A lot of people, you know, just know Mac Davis from the podcast or what me and you do. Uh Mac Davis was a great independent wrestler. I mean a great I mean a tough competitor in the ring. So what I wanted to do is do this. But a lot of you people that don't know, I told Mac, I said, get some video some matches together, and we gotta run them and show a little bit so you guys will know who Mac Davis is. He just ain't a podcaster guy. He's a guy that was tough in the ring. And the way that they did that, I just didn't like the way it was done. It should have been done better. You know what I mean? So, Mac, if you got some video, I want you to roll that and let the people know who Mac Davis is.

SPEAKER_04 7:35

I will. And and by the way, JCW, keep watching. There are things that'll come up along the way. Uh, but it the input like Teddy's is always, always look here. He called me uh over the weekend. That's how much he cares about what's happening with me right now, and I appreciate that. Here's uh a video I put together just recently, kind of give you an idea of what I did in the past.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

Like paper and prayer, boots on a bed, a lace up in there All scars know my name They call me back in one more night, one more place to begin The beard on lie, but it don't decide. I just hear the crowd like a fire inside cold, it's getting out of the way.

SPEAKER_04 11:53

So

Proving Mac Davis Was A Wrestler

SPEAKER_04 11:54

if you didn't know, now you know.

SPEAKER_03 11:56

Yeah, good stuff. Yeah, the steel scorpion. A lot of the guys probably now they know that didn't know that that knew you but didn't even know that was that you were the steel scorpion.

SPEAKER_04 12:06

I'm gonna tell you something, Teddy, and this is the honest truth. There are guys uh in JCW who were surprised. They're like, You used to wrestle? They had no idea. They just thought I was the backstage guy, and uh which is really cool though. But uh I that there's some things that are coming up um that I think Teddy is gonna enjoy. Um, and some uh things along the way. Uh that you know, ears were open, and uh, so that's a good thing. And uh Teddy, I certainly appreciate uh when you called this weekend because uh man, I needed to hear something.

SPEAKER_03 12:34

You you you called at just the right time, brother. I'm telling you. And it pissed me off. That's why I called you. I'm like, come on, dude, you come on, you know better than that.

SPEAKER_04 12:44

All right, guys, we see you in the room. If you want to be a part of the show, it's all with the super chat. All you have to do is drop us a not a super chat. Forgive me for saying that. I'm used to saying that on another show. This is free. You know, don't run. It's free. Uh, you can do this just simply by leaving us a comment in the comment section. We'll throw it up on the screen and uh you become a part of the show. So let's open up that mailbag.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

Letters. Oh, we get letters, we get your letters every day. Mailband, mailman, mail today, revenue. Those letters. I like those letters. Let's find out what you got to say. Oh boy, mail man, mail today.

SPEAKER_04 13:42

And of course,

Mailbag Opens And Hat Giveaway

SPEAKER_04 13:43

the great thing about uh when we do over the letters and your comments, which is again is absolutely free, uh, you have a chance to win one of these beautiful road trip after hours bald caps. Uh, these things I really like. They're lightweight for the summer. Man, they feel good. I'm telling you, I went outside with it the other day. I got one myself. And uh is it's not like some of the other ball caps where you sweat. Because Teddy, you know what I'm talking about. When you put a hat on a bald head and it's hot outside, you'll catch sweat all up in that hat and on your head. And you have to take it off and you just wipe off all the like just tons of nasty sweat. These hats are cool and they breathe. So, guys, it's a fantastic hat. Uh, and Teddy will pick that simply by the best question of the night. So, again, don't just say hello, ask a question at the same time and have a chance to win a free ball cap tonight. All right, Teddy was seeing. First of all, Zach Minger is in the room, and of course, he's gonna tell us what day it is, and it's national great, national great popsicle day. Did you like popsicles as a kid, Teddy?

SPEAKER_03 14:43

Uh yeah, that's all I was able to avoid was a popsicle.

SPEAKER_04 14:47

I remember uh they well, first of all, the banana popsicle was my favorite. I know a lot of people like the grape, but banana was my favorite.

SPEAKER_03 14:54

Uh I love the dreamsicle.

SPEAKER_04 14:57

The grape, the dream. Oh, yeah, the vanilla and the orange uh sherbet, is that what you're talking about? Oh man. Seal test, which uh it was uh a brand in the southeast at one time. Seal test uh used to make the uh orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream, and I would get a bowl of that and mix it together and get that creamsicle kind of, you know, oh yeah. Oh, that was good stuff. Um but I also remember the ice cream trucks, you don't see those anymore either. No, you know, you just have to used some around the neighborhood, you'd chase the ice cream man down when you heard the bells ringing two blocks away. You're ready to go get something. I'd say, Madman Mick in the room. Man, it's good to see you in here, brother. Saying, good evening, Mac and Teddy. Hope you guys are doing well tonight. And we are, and I'm sure you're feeling just about as good as we are, Madman Mack. I mean, Madman Mac. Mick, Mick! What are you doing? Wow, wow, I'm telling you, I'm on cold medicine, man. I'm like in another world right now. S-I-C-W wrestling saying hello to the great Wednesday guys. We appreciate you guys, and you hope you know that. Uh oh, yeah, man.

SPEAKER_03 15:55

That's a big shout out to Herb Simmons over there at S I C W doing a great job with the promotion. And uh I'm just glad uh, you know, to be able to have him out anytime I can. Thank you, Herb.

SPEAKER_04 16:05

Yeah, man. Uh, let's see. Uh oh, Ellen's in the room saying, Hey guys, Buddy and I missed you too last week. Uh actually, she uh reached out to me today, Teddy, to make sure we were gonna be on the air tonight. There were a lot of people last, I'm not gonna lie to you, last week my phone was blowing up with people going, is is the show on? Where are you guys? I started getting that, and I'm like, I thought I put enough messages out there, but you know, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, that was my fault. Chad Driggers is in the room saying, uh, good evening, my favorite fellows. Much love. Uh back at your brother. Good to see you in here.

SPEAKER_03 16:36

Good to see you, Chad.

SPEAKER_04 16:38

And uh let's see, uh, med man Mick, I got it right that time. Uh he says, I'd love to have a good smoke with the godfather someday. I always gotta tell this story when somebody says this, but there was a time, Mick, uh, where I went to Jacksonville, Florida with Teddy uh for a convention. And Teddy went off with Godfather, and then he decided to hit well, I think that was a dab, wasn't it? Teddy, is that what that was? A dab? So he's dabbing with whatever the godfather had. We have to shoot a piece uh for the show. So he comes back around the corner after just hitting that dab, and as we're talking, he has got his back to the camera. Doesn't even know where he's looking. He's in another world somewhere. The funniest thing I've ever seen. And then he even admitted he couldn't even tell you what town he was in for a little while. It was hilarious. That's on the uh, by the way, you can find that also on some of the other videos. I was in dab world. Yeah, man, you were. It reminded me of the time we went to uh Texas and uh you gave me a gummy uh that somebody had passed to you, and and and I tried to gummy, and I sat there in that chair for an hour, just kind of smiling. I was like, Jesus. Oh God. Let's see. S-I-C-W uh wrestling.

Popsicle Memories And Ice Cream Trucks

SPEAKER_04 17:50

How do you rate our organization? You have witnessed it in a few years now. What can we do better?

SPEAKER_03 17:57

Teddy. I I don't know. I I really haven't seen, you know, a whole lot of it, and I haven't seen anything where you're doing anything wrong. Uh, I mean, if you're not having any complaints, if you, you know, still the fans are coming out supporting you and everything, then you must be doing something right. So if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

SPEAKER_04 18:14

Yeah, and I'll say this too. Uh, quite honestly, in the last year, uh the graphics uh for S-I-C-W, the uh promotional material that you're using is uh a step above where it had been before. Not that it was bad, it's just the progress that you've made in the last year, even for that, it catches my eye. I've seen some great stuff out there because I do watch the page and I watch the graphics you're using, uh, because it's kind of what I do. Uh, but I don't do it for you guys. But what I'm saying is that it's really good and it makes the organization look that much bigger. Uh so whoever's doing all that herb and whoever uh you know we're talking to right now, uh, you need to make sure that person stays on top of things uh and you don't lose them because they're they're doing a great job. Uh let's see, pretty classy lady going holla, holla, holla. Uh good to see you. Holla back at you. Skrilla the great. Good to see you in here, man. Just come on. All right, Skrilla, yeah, my man. You guys, yeah, man. He's uh he's one of those guys we've talked about him before, uh, that uh on the indies is so good. It's so good. And sometimes people don't get opportunities, uh, you know, and it frustrates the hell out of me. I mean, look at me, Teddy. I'm 62 years old and I'm getting an opportunity finally at 62 years old. But you know, look, there are guys out there who've got the talent. They just need somebody to push them up that ladder and and get them seen by the right people. And sometimes you can't because it's all about politics. Uh let's see, who else do we have here? Uh Mick uh saying sounds dumb, but facials matter uh too as far as selling. Sometimes just a look on someone's face can get a point across in the ring. Yep. And let me think where that's really important. When you've got to do that, imagine the people who are wearing masks and all they have are their eyes. Now they've got to use those eyes and maybe a little head tilt or whatever just to give them the things. They're even having to work harder to use, you know, expressions to get their points across. So yeah, that's a very good point. Very good point. Uh Chad saying, uh, if a baby isn't selling, they lose everyone in the building. Just ask Ricky Morton or Robert Gibson. There you go. Yeah, look here. If you're a tag team, especially, and you're not studying Rock and Roll Express and how they work the crowds, man, you're doing yourself a disservice.

SPEAKER_03 20:35

Right. And not only that, you know, the Midnight Express, there's another team there too, you can study too. These guys were great.

SPEAKER_04 20:42

You know, Teddy, I still I think we've probably talked about this recently, and I'll just bring it up real briefly, but it frustrates me not to see tag teams like we had back in the day. You know, we get tag teams that are put together, you know, all this star and this star, and we'll put them together and we'll call them something funny and let them run for a while. Back in the day, that's not how it was done. You had a tag team, you had the Steiners, they were always together. You had uh the Legion of Doom, the Road Warriors, whatever you want to call them, they were always together. Rock and Roll Express, Midnight Express. These teams don't exist anymore, Teddy.

SPEAKER_03 21:16

No, well, there there are some out there that just the people don't display them. They don't put them out there. You know, there's some there's some teams around now that are just a problem, maybe not just as good, but I mean, I'm saying they're good as good as the rock and roll were. Maybe not as good as they were, but they're they they can fit in. But like I said, they can't do nothing unless creative uses them right. So if they're not using them right, then what what are you gonna do?

SPEAKER_04 21:43

McMahon wasn't a big fan of tag team wrestling, was he? I've always heard that. He wasn't a big fan of it.

SPEAKER_03 21:48

Well, I heard that too, you know. But Vince was always a fan of what works.

SPEAKER_04 21:53

So at the time, the f the fans just weren't buying into the tag team, so you know so he's gonna go with the But he did a lot.

SPEAKER_03 22:00

Of things too that uh he didn't like, but the fans liked it. It had to grow on him, you know. Sometimes Benth will let stuff grow and then he'll see, but he doesn't he didn't waste time. You know what I mean? If it didn't get over at a certain length of time, then he'd move on to something else.

SPEAKER_04 22:14

All right, let's see. We have uh it didn't come up on the screen. Let's try that again.

Tag Teams Then And Now

SPEAKER_04 22:21

There we go. Michael saying, Good evening, gentlemen. Hey Teddy, what was it like working with Seamus?

SPEAKER_03 22:28

I uh never did really work close with Seamus. I'd see him at TV and maybe speak or something to him, but I was never, you know, I never was close to Seamus. Yeah, did you work with him much in the ring at all?

SPEAKER_04 22:39

Did you ever have a promo or anything with him? No, he comes across like he'd probably be a kind of a cool guy in the back, maybe even funny in the back. Uh, but I I haven't seen him in a long time. You know, I think that he's used very sparingly now. And if he is being used, I don't even know where it is, which is sad in itself. Uh, but yeah. Uh Mick is saying, uh, through the last few weeks, I am discovering that Mac was a great wrestler. I always put him over on my channel no matter what. Professional and one of the best in the business. Love this promo. Hey man, I appreciate that very much. Thank you. I really do. And uh I've gotten some of your messages, Mick, and and uh it means a lot to know that. Chad, Mac Davis was a serious deal. I love re-watching his matches. Thank you, Chad. There you go, Teddy. Uh, let's see what else we got here. Uh Mick saying, I have to ask if you hurt your ankle or knee dropping from the cage. Looked like it hurt. Uh, that's selling. That's selling, brother. All the way through. Uh, let's see. Also, we have um Snow Cloud Quicksilver saying good evening. Sorry, my eyes are kind of let's see. Uh Skrill of the Great saying, one more round. Let's go. Uh, man, you never know, Skrill. You never know, brother. And uh, we have Patrick Gallagher saying, Has Teddy uh worked with Vince Russo in the wrestling business? I think that's what he's asking.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

Yeah, yeah, only time I worked uh when he was around was when I first went to New York in '98. I was a referee, and I think he was there then.

SPEAKER_04 24:13

Yeah, he was probably just in the uh probably just writing the uh the magazine at that point.

SPEAKER_03 24:17

Yeah, yeah, he was he was he was with the right, he's with created then, I believe. But other than that, I never worked with him at all.

SPEAKER_04 24:24

I Dave Crohn is saying, Well up, gentlemen, I'm still buzzing from Fan Fest 4. Yeah, man, that was that was a lot of fun. We say this every year too, our favorite show. Connor Beals going whoop whoop, and uh I love this teddy. The the clowns in JCW go and watch and the juggalos, one person in the building, one person can go whoop whoop, and the entire place goes whoop whoop. It doesn't matter. You can go in there and do it 20 times in a row. They're gonna do it 20 times in a row. These are dedicated uh fans uh in JCW. Uh, also we have let's see, did it the uh money Mac? Hey man, uh hello, all coming from the Bay Area in San Francisco, California. Our plans it's been a while too. I haven't been able to say that in a while. Um, Michael is also saying, Mac, what was your finishing move? Uh it was a couple of different things over the years, but uh the spear became the the really the one that I was using for a long time, uh, towards the end, because uh uh that that's kind of what's jamming up my neck, it didn't help at all. So being straight. Uh let's see. Uh we also have man, we got a lot of you guys uh popping in here. We appreciate that. Chad Mac was an honorary good brother with my pal uh pals, Gallows and Anderson. Teddy was there for that. Uh Teddy was in the building. Uh we want to robins. Yeah, Teddy, that was about the time I think that you and I actually decided to do the podcast, if I'm not mistaken.

SPEAKER_03 25:52

Yeah, right long and around that time.

SPEAKER_04 25:54

Yeah, I think it was. I think because we started talking, man, we need to we need to do something. Uh and uh look where we are years later now. Uh Mick saying, I'd love uh I'd love a hat and I'd wear it on my channel to promote sometimes when I make videos. And Mick, I know you would. I have no doubt you would wear that hat. Uh, but it's all up to Teddy. Uh I'm gonna put it all on him. Uh Dave Prone, Teddy, how long did it take you to be able to tell the skyscrapers were really whooping those jobbers? Or did you tell them I heard you get and get them?

SPEAKER_03 26:30

Yeah, no, we well, we knew it right away because we was having problems with them in the back when they were trying to go over the match.

SPEAKER_00 26:35

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 26:36

So they was trying to, you know, lay the match out, and these guys wouldn't not. It was only that one guy, and they he just wasn't paying attention and like, oh, I got it, I got it, I got it. I'll see you guys out there, and that kind of attitude. So uh, yeah, we knew right away.

SPEAKER_04 26:50

All right, what else we got here? We got uh Chad asking, Teddy, how much did you enjoy being a ref? I grew up on uh Crockett and saw you as a kid when you broke in. I loved you as a ref almost as much as a GM or the manager.

SPEAKER_03 27:03

Well, I did I enjoyed, you know, everything that I did, I enjoyed it because I wanted to do do give it you know 100%. And uh I'm glad I started out as a referee because you got a chance to learn so much in the ring when you're a referee. You're in there with all different wrestlers, you learn their ways, their moves. It's just so much you can learn, man. If you you you can soak up a lot of a lot of excuse me, a lot of information when you're a referee. And that's a way too. I learned a lot too by being a referee.

SPEAKER_04 27:32

Yeah, because you weren't smartened up in the beginning

Teddy Long First Referee Night

SPEAKER_04 27:34

of being a referee. I remember you telling me that that they had not smartened you up in your very first match.

SPEAKER_03 27:38

My first match was they at around seven o'clock that night when the the Louise Manning, uh, the promoter, she said she came to me, she said, Teddy Long, we don't have no referee tonight. I don't we don't know where the ref is. She says, You're gonna have the referee. Says, I'm sending somebody down to the varsity to get your shirt right now. And that's how it was. They brought the shirt back, gave me the shirt, and I said, Well, what do you want me to do? And she looks at me and she says, Oh, the guys will talk to you, they'll take care of you. Go ahead. And that was it.

SPEAKER_04 28:09

This is the one where they had the uh they were bleeding everywhere.

SPEAKER_03 28:12

Brother, they had this uh, it was a Texas dev match. It was Black Bart and uh Ron Bass, God rest their souls. And uh, brother, they were bleeding all over the place, and I'm not smart, and I don't know. So I jump out of the ring and I leave them. Okay, and I'm getting out of there, and then I could hear Charlie McGowan rest his soul. He's the bell ringer, then he's screaming at me, get back in the ring, get back in the ring. And brother, I'm just I I don't know what to do. I know I'm seeing blood everywhere. I think these dads are killing themselves, so it was just too much. I was scared to death, and I got back in the ring and I said to myself, I said, Well, I know I'm pretty much done. You know, I I know this is my last night, you know. And uh, but it was so happened, you know, God works in mysterious ways till at the end of the match there, Charlie rang the bell too quick, and they he screwed the finish up, and they got so mad at him till they forgot about me. You gotta love that. Oh, yeah, yeah, man. That's that's how that happened.

SPEAKER_04 29:12

I was talking about the ice cream trucks a while ago, and uh Patrick Gallagher saying, uh hell, he remembers uh uh having ice cream on the bike. Yeah, I don't I didn't have that. Now we didn't have we had uh milk delivered to us still when I was a kid, even I had the little things, man.

SPEAKER_03 29:27

When uh I was growing up in Birmingham, the the little carts where you sold ice cream, you know, you pushed them around yourselves, but you could go to uh I can't I forget the name of the company now, but you could go there and they would let you get one of these out, you'd rent it, or I don't remember how we got it, but anyway, it would be filled with ice cream. But you could go there, get one, and you sold your ice cream, but you made money too. But they had the little carts, but some of them you would push and some of them you could pedal.

SPEAKER_04 29:52

That's pretty cool. I I I they ought to still be doing that nowadays, they might make a ton of money. Uh Martin's daddy is saying, What up, Mac and Teddy? Hey, what up with you, player? Same thing with Curly Man. Good to see you, Curly Man. And also, uh, Mick, those dabs will get you. Yeah, yeah, man. And uh, oh, the uh SICW was herb, but uh so yeah, her uh the graphics and stuff, and the there's been a way kick above, and I like the presentation. Uh, and by the way, yeah, you can catch SICW on Sunday nights. Uh they they go live on YouTube uh with a new show every week. And uh I there's something that uh I think you would enjoy as well. Uh so we also have um Mizon Smith saying, Hey Teddy and Mac.

SPEAKER_03 30:38

Hey, that's it, my man. He's a great guy. I had the opportunity to work with his company uh uh back last year, I believe it was. But anyway, you know, had it had a great time with him, enjoyed working with him and his son, and uh, you know, what a nice guy.

SPEAKER_04 30:52

And let's see, uh Brian Ferguson asking if we're gonna be at the uh CAC this year. Uh would love to see us. I haven't been to the Collie Hour uh club uh yet. I haven't been there yet. And honestly, this year I I'm booked, so there's no way I could, but they never invited me. Well, then there you go. You know how to get in touch with him now. Uh also I'm not getting in touch with nobody. Ms. John Smith saying, Ring Psychology Masters Demolition.

Road Warriors Talk And WCW Stories

SPEAKER_04 31:20

All right, let me ask you a question, Teddy. Demolition or Ring Warriors? I mean, uh, Road Warriors.

SPEAKER_03 31:28

I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_04 31:29

I'm a Southern boy. I'm gonna save you here, and you can think about it so I can take a little bit of heat off of you if I think I know where you're going.

SPEAKER_03 31:35

No, no, I'm I'm gonna say it. It had to be the Road Warriors.

SPEAKER_04 31:38

Yeah, yeah. No, I'm sorry, but they were the first ones. Uh to me, and there's nothing against uh the other guys, it's just that demolition to me was a knockoff of the Road Warriors. I don't care what anybody says, is it is what it is. Uh the Road Warriors were the one and only originals, and uh when you got to pick between the two, there's no doubt I'm going with those guys because uh the Road Warriors were in the South, they were gods down here. I mean, you look Teddy, you've been around and you've seen the crowds. These guys, every time they came out, crowds went crazy.

SPEAKER_03 32:09

Oh, I've worked with them, so yeah, you know, I know.

SPEAKER_04 32:11

Yeah, Mark Charles saying, uh, hello boys, good to see you. Uh, loved you both. Hey man, it's always good to see you in the room here. Uh Mark, and I know you're staying busy with uh some of that refing. You they want to get you involved in that refing match next year. Uh, because uh, as I understand it, JBL and uh Big Nasty, maybe uh round two, Teddy. Is that right?

SPEAKER_03 32:29

Well, yeah, that's set for next year's fan fest. Uh the single, the JBL one-on-one with uh Big Nasty Glenn.

SPEAKER_04 32:37

Let's see, Chad saying, uh sad to see the tag teams decline. The 80s were so good. Arn and Tully were my favorites nowadays. It's gallows and Anderson, but WWE fumbled these guys, so they're killing it on the indies. I'm gonna tell you something. Uh, and and I remember having a conversation uh with gallows. Uh I think we were in the car going to get a tire for a trailer or something. And uh I I knew he had those options uh at one time between AEW and WWE. And I made the comment wouldn't it be fun just go somewhere where you can kind of do what you want to do without being held back, even though the money may not be as much or whatever. And he ended up still going to WWE. I wish I would have seen what they could have done with them in AEW. There may have been, I think they would have been hugely over uh in AEW. Uh, but they were being held back as far as I can tell in WWE. Teddy, did you ever feel that way with those guys?

SPEAKER_03 33:32

Uh no, not really. I guess, like I said, they would they they were always superior to me, you know, the the superior tag team. Because I mean, like I said, I had a chance to work with them when they first started, you know, and and when they got with Paul Ellering and all that stuff. So yeah, they I I I just don't see anybody out doing them.

SPEAKER_04 33:51

I got a chance to uh interview Paul Ellering, which I enjoyed. I hadn't I'd never met Paul until we were in uh St. Louis, and I had a chance to interview him uh for the Hall of Fame uh there. And uh really nice guy, super nice guy. Uh got uh another question in here, Teddy. Uh Mike is asking, how often would you interact with Ted Turner during your days in WCW?

SPEAKER_03 34:14

I only met Ted Turner, I think maybe twice. I think the first time I met Ted Turner is uh back when I was managing uh Mark Merrow when he was Johnny B. Bad. And uh Dusty uh brought us out. He wanted uh Ted Turner to see the new, you know, the new gimmick. And uh Dusty got me and and uh Johnny and uh brought us down. And uh Ted was there and Jane Fonda, his wife, and uh so we had a chance to meet uh Ted right there. And then I met him another time somewhere during my when the CNN Center when they had the offices, WCW in the CNN Center there. I met him on the elevator escalator something coming up or down, but I did have a chance to talk, you know, speak to him a couple of times. I think I got pictures here at the house too with with Ted.

SPEAKER_04 34:58

How was Jane looking?

SPEAKER_03 35:00

Oh, she was nice, nice lady, man. I know I said, How was she looking? What do you mean? How was she looking?

SPEAKER_04 35:06

She she was a very attractive woman at one time. So during this time, was this when she was doing her aerobics and everything? Because she was a beautiful woman.

SPEAKER_03 35:13

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, she looked great, man. I mean, that's what I was gonna say, too. Look like to me, I've seen her reach. She does, she doesn't age. Yeah, she still almost looks the same, but she she kind of took care of herself too.

SPEAKER_04 35:27

Yeah, and you can tell with those that take care of themselves seem to hang on to that youth a little bit longer. Curly man, uh asking, uh, what was your favorite workout regimen back in the day, Mac? Uh, you looked shredded. I was looking back in the day, I was in the gym probably five days a week, uh, and uh was eating much healthier than I do now. Uh it takes a lot to get in that shape, but I was dedicated to doing that because I've always looked at it as if I'm if I'm in this role, I need to fit the part. That's how I always looked at it. You know, you can't just go in there and and put on the clothes. You have to look the part. Uh, that was always the thing with me. Uh, then John Smith uh Teddy is asking, uh, what was your favorite promo that you cut as a manager? That's a good question.

SPEAKER_03 36:13

Yeah, wow, man. I haven't cut so many promos. Jesus Christ, I couldn't, I couldn't tell you. Uh, but I think the one probably that I really liked is uh maybe when I was cutting the promo with Undertaker when he was looking for me and I was running to getting away from him. And I think one night I was cutting this promo, but every once in a while I stopped and looked back and looked behind me to see where he was. But and that was a pretty long promo too. So uh I enjoyed all my promos except the ones that I screwed up, and I did screw a couple of them up one time, got tongue-tied one time.

SPEAKER_04 36:48

I remember the one where you came out on stage and you kept trying to say the longest episodic or something like that.

SPEAKER_03 36:55

And and that was the word Vince wanted, episodic. That's he didn't care nothing about none of the rest of that, but that was the word he wanted me to say, and I swear as soon as I got to it, episode episodes just oh and oh bro, I was so mad at myself. I know what to do.

SPEAKER_04 37:12

And you know, the funny thing is anybody who's ever been uh on camera like that, or even if you've uh had to be uh recording audio for some reason or another, there are times when a word or something just so stupid will you'll stumble over it, and then you can't get it right to save your soul. You almost have to take a break and come back and try it again because if you keep going, you're just gonna laugh your ass through the entire time.

SPEAKER_03 37:34

Well, I didn't laugh. I was talking about it. No, and and and the thing, uh, you know, ah, Lee, that was just the word that one word that's and it oh man, but the thing about it Vince was always straight up, you know, and because he knew I didn't get out there and mess up deliberately. So he said to me, He said, Teddy, he said, Don't be so hard on yourself. He said, if it happened live, it was meant to be. And I didn't understand it that night when he told me, but as we further down, I understood, okay, hey, if it happened, I ain't nothing I can do. It's meant to be.

SPEAKER_04 38:06

A wrestling historian. Uh, good to see you in here. Say, Mr. Long, you were there with The Undertaker and WCW. Should he have kept the WrestleMania streak intact, or was ending it the right thing for business?

SPEAKER_03 38:20

Well, I would say it was the right thing for business. That's what you do anyway. Anytime that whatever ending it is, it was always the right thing for business. And Taker was always gonna do the right thing. He was always a great guy to do business with. I mean, super nice. So, you know, they don't come no nicer than him.

SPEAKER_04 38:38

Freddie Jack Funkhauser saying, uh, I totally agree with you, Teddy Long. Not sure what he's agreeing with you with, but probably everything. So what the hell? Uh that's what we'll say. We'll say it was everything. Uh oh, there's a good question here, but I already know the answer. Sean Vincent's saying, Teddy, which was the better payday? Turner or Vince?

SPEAKER_03 38:57

Vince.

SPEAKER_04 38:59

Good that was a good question, too. Trinity Carter also saying, I finally made it to the podcast. Uh, hope you all have been well. Yeah, Trinity, we we appreciate you being here, man. I get a lot of messages uh during the week now, Teddy. People asking, making sure we're gonna be on the air. Uh, they'll even send in questions sometimes in advance because they can't make it because they have to work. Uh, but uh they always go back and watch us. And guys, we

Subscribe Request Then Final Qs

SPEAKER_04 39:19

appreciate that. I want to remind you too, uh, this is absolutely free. But the best thing you can do for Teddy and I, because we do this again for free, if you can just go down below, hit that subscription button, uh, hit the like button, leave a comment in the comment section. It all helps the algorithm, which increases the amount of views and people we can get into the room. Uh, so it means a lot. Uh, and that's all we ask is that you just do those things and be a part of the show. Uh, let's see. We also have um I'm trying to get feel we about to run out of time. Freddie Jack Funkhouse are saying I typically ref at least one full show, eight to ten matches per month alone. Freddie, I mean uh Teddy, you know how that feels.

SPEAKER_03 39:57

I he talking about eight to ten matches a month. I do eight to ten matches a day. Yes, okay. That said when Saturday morning uh came on, you know, WCW Saturday morning, that was 16 matches I'd done all by myself that whole two hours.

SPEAKER_04 40:11

I'm surprised that you don't have knee issues, you know, and you don't you don't really have any major issues, do you, Teddy? At all?

SPEAKER_03 40:18

Well, I have a little with my back and a little bit. That's kind of all I got now. And I think this comes from me taking bumps and not knowing how to take them. Yeah, and they wouldn't know they, you know, guys, they wouldn't smarten you up because a lot of guys wanted to hurt you or wanted you to hurt yourself. So I took a few bumps and I didn't know how to take them, but you know, yet, and and like I said, when I broke in, you know, it was on the job training.

SPEAKER_04 40:39

So Woof Pac Main, good to see you in here. It was good to see you last weekend, too. Uh saying Mac and Teddy, whoop whoop. Uh Freddie Jack saying, Glad I finally caught a podcast uh as well. And uh we're glad you could as well.

SPEAKER_03 40:53

And Chad is saying Freddie Jack.

SPEAKER_04 40:56

Imagine if you uh your first match was Abdullah versus Brody or Dusty. Talk about blood. Uh yeah, that would that'd be a murder scene.

SPEAKER_03 41:05

Uh yeah, I had the opportunity to talk to Austin Idol there and uh in St. Louis uh when we were there, and uh we me and him reminisced over some of the old matches him and Abby had. And I remember one time I went to me and Abdullah, I was with Abdullah, I was supposed to have been his manager then, and uh we went to Birmingham, Alabama. It was an indie show. And uh first thing we got uh uh Austin went right to Abby and told the prince, Abby, don't take it easy, don't grab my hair, don't pull my hair. And Abdullah, you know, he's oh no worry, baby, don't worry, champ, I got it, no worries. And god damn it, the first thing he does soon as Austin hit the ring, reaches and grabs a handful of his hair, pulls it right out. Oh uh what's we were we were talking about that me and Austin Island. I mean, that's been 20 I've I'm sure 20 years ago, maybe longer, but I remembered that. And I mean, and now Austin he said, yeah, he said that's the first thing he did. Grab my hand and pulled it out.

SPEAKER_04 42:01

Ouch. Michael saying, uh, do y'all know the tag team, the revival? I I I do um I haven't kept up with them lately, but I do know the revival. Teddy, you know who they are?

SPEAKER_03 42:12

No, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:14

Um, they kind of a little bit of a throwback, uh, but I know who you're talking about. Chad uh is uh thank you both so much for this podcast. It's awesome to be able to hear your stories and pick your brains a little bit. Uh and uh we appreciate you guys popping in here. That that's about you know that's the only thing I can tell you. We appreciate that. Uh Mick uh Teddy, do you feel Mark Marrow could have done more in WWF? I honestly liked his marvelous Mark persona when Jackie was managing him.

SPEAKER_03 42:44

Well, I don't know. Uh, you know, that would whatever he did in WWF was, you know, that's totally left up to Vince. So they may have could have done more with him. I just don't know. I I really don't know.

SPEAKER_04 42:57

Uh let's see, I'm trying to get through as many of these, and I can throw some up on the screen because I'm just trying to save us a little bit of time because we're gonna get cut off here. Uh, question for both of you what is the best feud of all time, in your opinion? That's from Chad Driggers. I bet Teddy and I say the same thing. Go ahead, Teddy.

SPEAKER_03 43:13

Uh, I'd like I think we won't because I'm gonna say Kevin Sullivan and uh Chris Benoit, God rest their souls.

SPEAKER_04 43:20

Wow, yeah. My my favorite feud would have probably been uh Ric Flair and Ricky the Dragon Steamboat and the series of matches they had. Uh good guy versus the bad guy and uh total different lifestyles. I love that storyline. And to this day, still uh one of the best series of matches you'll ever see. Um, I see uh Wolfpack saying JCW Chad Driggers is uh I started Abby's GoFundMe after his stroke. Uh man, I I'm sure that family appreciates that too.

SPEAKER_03 43:52

And uh Teddy and I how how does anybody know how he's doing now?

SPEAKER_04 43:56

I you know, I haven't seen anything recently, Teddy, and uh, About to say that I I when he brought that up, it's like I don't recall seeing anything recent because the last time you and I discussed it was the last time I've heard anything, and that's when I showed you a picture of him in the hospital. And he looked like uh he you know he's had better days, and I'm certainly hoping you know everything's fine. Um, Jason Simmons, hope you guys are doing well and have a great had a great memorial day. Uh, I was traveling on Memorial Day, so it was it wasn't bad, but uh I would rather have been home uh sitting in a chair somewhere. Uh Mick saying Benoit versus Sullivan was classic, and uh that's the last one of the night. Okay, Teddy. We are we are gonna run out of time within just a couple minutes here. So give me a name or a question tonight, uh, of uh somebody that you want to send.

SPEAKER_03 44:41

I tell you what, right? Let's send that hat to Nick, the guy that says he would wanted to wear it when he's on his show.

SPEAKER_04 44:48

Yeah, you're talking about Mick, okay. All right, mid man Mick, uh flying planes and riding trains, I'm sure. Uh, brother, uh, just send me your uh contact information where to send that to because you know how to get in touch with me because we talk already. So if you will send me that information, I'll make sure that hat gets out in this week's mail because I got another hat from last week that's got to go out two weeks ago that's got to go out as well. So all right, Teddy, I've enjoyed it, man. Uh, and thank you so much, guys, for being in the room and asking so many questions. I like the show so much more when it's just you guys asking questions and Teddy and I just bouncing off of them. Uh, sometimes we come in here and talk about the news if it needs to be uh you know addressed. But honestly, talking to you guys makes this so much fun. Uh so thank you very much. All right, uh, we'll be back here again next week, same time, same place, seven o'clock Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday nights. I'm Mac Davis. That's WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long. And of course, this is Road Trip After Hours. We hope to see you again next week.