JOSE LOTHARIO DISCUSSES SENDING SHAWN MICHAELS TO WWF FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHAWN’S LEGENDARY STATUS, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO “WRESTLING”, AND MORE By WorldWrestlingInsanity.com
He’s the legend who created legends. From Tully Blanchard to Gino Hernandez all the way to helping Shawn Michaels attain his boyhood dream and win the WWF title in 1996, Jose Lothario has done it all. Now, one of the most respected names in wrestling history joins ClubWWI.com for an interview with James Guttman that any fan of professional wrestling needs to hear.
–
Fans from many generations know Jose’s name immediately. With a huge string of wins and titles to his name, the Supersock has carved a name into this business that will be there forever including his historic role at WrestleMania 12. Now, hear from the legendary trainer firsthand. The latest discussion lasted 43 minutes and the huge list of topics can be found at: www.worldwrestlinginsanity.com
For up to the minute information on all the latest guests, events, and shows posted on World Wrestling Insanity, you can join our Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-World-Wrestling-Insanity-Dot-Com-Page/275219172353
As one of wrestling’s most prolific trainers, Jose Lothario has seen the business change drastically through the years. A common question that James Guttman hears from fans is about how much the in-ring product has changed. He asks Lothario about it and it turns out that he hears that question too…
“Yeah. You are absolutely right. There are still lots of fans who see me in the movie theaters or the shopping centers or whatever. ‘Hey! Jose! How are you doing?’ and all that. They all start talking about wrestling. They say, ‘Do you ever watch wrestling?’ I say, ‘Yeah, sometimes.’ The question for them to me right away is ‘Whatever happened to wrestling?’ I say, ‘What do you mean by that?’ They say, ‘We don’t see nothing but kicking and punching. What happened to wrestling?’ You know, the way we used to do it before – a lot of wrestling, know what I mean? Things change all the time. I say, ‘That’s the way they do it now, so that’s the way it’s got to go.'”
Jose speaks about the differences today and how MMA is taking fans of pure wrestling from the industry, the style of training he used for stars like Shawn Michaels and the success it helped them achieve. James asks him specifically about training young stars like HBK and whether they know what they’re getting into. Jose explains to ClubWWI.com listeners that it takes more than a few days to get a grip on what a student is capable of and how the route he took with a young Michaels proves that it’s important to have proper training. It’s all about impressing the right people and making a name.
“I’m glad you mentioned it because that’s the reason I sent Shawn Michaels to New York (WWF) when he first started. I sent him to Louisiana first. I went to Bill Watts. I said, ‘Bill, I’ve got a good kid and all this and that.’ He was very pleased. Bill was very pleased. He said, ‘You did a good job with this kid.’ Next thing I know, I got a call from Verne Gagne up in Minneapolis. I said, ‘Well, I can send him there. Let me talk to Shawn.’ So I sent Shawn to Minneapolis. At that time, Pat Patterson was trying to help in New York and do the office work. So I got a call from Pat Patterson who says, ‘Hey. I understand you know Shawn Michaels.’ I said, ‘I know the guy? I trained the guy! What do you want?’ He says, ‘Can you send him to New York?’ I said, ‘Let me get in touch with him.’ So I got in touch with him and said, ‘OK. I’m putting you in New York. You’ll be fine.’ He says, ‘You kidding me?’ I said, ‘No. I’m not. You have to go there and do what you’re doing right now.’ ”
Although fans remember Lothario for his WrestleMania XII appearance in Shawn’s corner for his epic Iron Man Match with Bret Hart, that was just the start of the climb up the mountain for The Heartbreak Kid. Guttman brings up the talk of Michaels being considered the greatest of all time and asks Jose if he had any clue that the Rocker would go on to be as legendary as he ended up being…
“Yes I did! Yes I sure did! Because he listened to me. He listened so good to me and just followed what I told him. Take your time. Don’t rush in. I really did. I could have seen it with all my three guys too (Kevin Von Erich, Tully Blanchard, Gino Hernandez), but the one who was more advanced was Shawn.”
When it came to Shawn’s historic retirement match against The Undertaker, fans were left amazed. The two put on a great show and it further solidifies Jose’s point about what fans miss today. As the ClubWWI.com interview continues, he explains why the match was one that fans remember…and one he wouldn’t switch off of television.
“Yeah, because both of them can wrestle. Both of them can wrestle. Like I told you, a few minutes ago, people don’t see wrestling anymore. Like if I turn on the TV and the first thing I see a guy is hitting and kicking, I turn it off.”
The full discussion doesn’t end there either as the legendary Jose Lothario discusses tons more. Remember ClubWWI.com is not only the home of Paul Roma’s Glorious but also the place to hear well over 250 big name stars you can hear in uncut shoot interviews as soon as you sign up to ClubWWI.com. Others include: Sivi Afi , Aaron Aguliera, Skandar Akbar, Brent Albright, Bill Alfonso, Ole Anderson, Road Warrior Animal, Tony “T.L. Hopper” Anthony, Tony Atlas, Awesome Kong, Baby Doll, Buff Bagwell, Doug Basham, Paul Bearer, Giant Bernard, Big Daddy V, Eric Bischoff, Steve Blackman, Brian Blair, Tully Blanchard, Nick Bockwinkel, “The Boogeyman” Marty Wright, Bad News Brown, D-Lo Brown, “Jumping” Jim Brunzell, Mike “Simon Dean” Bucci, Bull Buchanan, Big Bully Busick, Lance Cade , Christian, John Cena Sr., Chaz “Headbanger Mosh” , Bryan “Adam Bomb” Clark, Rob Conway, Jim Cornette, Justin Credible, Austin “Consequences” Creed, D-Ray3000, Scott D’Amore, Christopher Daniels, Shawn Daivari, Dangerous Danny Davis, Dawn Marie, Damian Demento, Colin Delaney, Brother Devon, Demolition Ax, Demolition Smash, Bill DeMott, Ted DiBiase, J.J. Dillon, Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore, Disco Inferno, “Domino” Cliff Compton, Shane Douglas, Spike Dudley, Hacksaw Jim Duggan , Kenny Dykstra, Bobby Eaton, Paul Ellering, Armando Estrada,, Manny Fernandez , Fifi The Maid, Francine, Mr. Fuji, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Greg Gagne, Ronnie Garvin ,Jackie Gayda, Joel Gertner, Glacier, Sylvain Grenier, Tod Gordon, Zach Gowen, Juventud Guerrera, Chalie Haas, Chris Harris , Bruce Hart , Jimmy Hart, Diva Search’s Jessica Hatch, Dave Hebner, Earl Hebner, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Jon Heidenreich, Christy Hemme, Hillbilly Jim, Molly Holly, Homicide, The Honky Tonk Man, Tim Horner , Scotty 2 Hotty, Sam Houston, Mr. Hughes, The Iron Sheik, Ivory, B.G. James, Jazz, Ahmed Johnson, Judge Jeff Jones, Orlando Jordan, Kamala, Kid Kash, Kevin Kelly, Pat “Simon Diamond” Kenney, Ron Killings, Cpl. Kirschner, Kizarny, Kevin Kleinrock, Brian Knobbs, Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff,, Bobby Lashley, Bruno “Harvey Wippleman” Lauer, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Paul London, “The Total Package” Lex Luger, Buschwhacker Luke, Rodney Mack, Magnum T.A., Balls Mahoney, Rick Martel, Clarence Mason , “Masterpiece” Chris Masters, Robbie McAllister, Rory McAllister, Matt Morgan, Ernest Miller, Missing Link, Father James Mitchell, Mo From Men on a Mission , Sean Mooney, Ricky Morton, Don Muraco, Trevor Murdoch, Kevin Nash, Nidia, “The Berzerker” John Nord, Nunzio, ODB, One Man Gang, Sonny Onoo, Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff, Oscar From Men on a Mission , Fred “Typhoon/Tugboat/Shockmaster” Ottman, Pierre-Carl Ouellet, Outback Jack, Diamond Dallas Page, Ken Patera, Nick Patrick, Jim Powers, Tom Prichard, Ivan Putski, Harley Race, Baron Von Raschke, “The Yeti” Ron Reis , Rhino, Dustin Rhodes, Tommy Rich, Rikishi, Paul Roma, “Super Hero in Training” Rosie, Jacques Rougeau, Terri Runnels, Lance Russell, Mike Sanders, Samoa Joe, Bruno Sammartino, Samu, Tito Santana, Dan “The Beast” Severn, Ron Simmons, Elix Skipper, Slick, Tracey Smothers, Al Snow, Sim “Deuce” Snuka, Dennis Stamp, George “The Animal” Steele, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner, Idol Stevens, The Stro, AJ Styles, Dave “Evad” Sullivan, Kevin Sullivan, Dave Taylor, Sylvester Terkay, Kevin Thorn, ECW’s Tiffany, Too Cold Scorpio, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Jimmy Valiant, Johnny Valiant, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, Sid Vicious, Vito, Nikolai Volkoff, Koko B. Ware, Erik Watts, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, David Young, Mae Young , Larry Zybszko, and More.