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The Wrestler - Q and A with Raven - June 1997
By Andy Rodriguez
The Wrestler/PWI Magazine
Q and A with Raven
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When Raven captured the ECW title for the first time, he crossed a threshold. In that instant of victory, he went from being just a very good wrestler, to a great one. ECW has proved itself a top-flight organization, and by winning it’s premier championship, Raven joined the elite.
Being one of the elite, of course, entails as much danger as it does glory. Raven has faced many challenges, among them being the incredible rivalry he has contested with the Sandman. In the course of this fight, Raven took an extraordinary step. He “stole away” Sandman’s ex-wife, Lori Fullington, and her and Sandman’s seven-year-old son, Tyler. In attempting to alleviate the danger, Raven courted even more danger. But for awhile, it looked as though it was worth it.
Then things turned bad for Raven. He started taking a lot of heat from an old friend, Stevie Richards, who, with The Blue Meanie, had formed the Blue World Order. What really enraged Raven, though, was his discovery one night that underneath her dress, Lori was wearing a BWO T-Shirt. Suddenly, the challenges looked a little too challenging.
Clearly, Raven has got a lot on his mind. In an attempt to gain some insight on this highly unusual athlete, Senior Writer Andy Rodriguez spoke with Raven recently before yet another encounter with the Sandman.
Q: The first thing I’d like to ask you, Raven, is….
A: Hold it! Before you start, I just want to say one thing. I’m not going to say anything about Lori Fullington! Do you understand? Nothing!
Q: There go half my questions.
A: Tough, man! This is my interview, and I lay down the ground rules!
Q: Look, Raven. I can’t force you to talk about anything you don’t want to, but Lori is a big part of your career right now. You can’t talk about Raven without talking about Lori Fullington.
A: Well, you’ll just have to try. Let me give you some help. I’m the ECW World Heavyweight champion, a milestone I achieved without the help of a certain woman. I’m the top man in the top federation in wrestling, and I did it on my own terms.
Q: Didn’t Lori help you out just a little bit?
A: She helped me out? I helped her out! I did her quite a favor by giving her an alternative to the Sandman. What kind of marriage was that? The woman practically jumped into my arms after that sordid episode. That drunken degenerate should be ashamed of himself for the way he treated her and Tyler. But I don’t want to talk about her.
Q: Okay, how about the Sandman? Would you say he’s been your toughest opponent?
A: I called him a degenerate. I didn’t call him a wimp. He’s cut me, bruised me, and bloodied me up pretty good over the past year. Those barbed-wire matches have taught me a lot about myself. I found I was a lot tougher than I thought I was. He’s tested me, that’s for sure. So I don’t have anything against him as a wrestler. I have a problem with him as a human being.
Q: Didn’t your problem with Lori start when you regained the ECW belt from the Sandman in that barbed wire match? She and Tyler weren’t at ringside for you.
A: It didn’t matter. I don’t need her to help me. Sometimes I tell her to stay away. People have tried to read a lot into her absence, but what they get out of it is what I tell them to get out of it. Don’t give Lori so much credit.
Q: I know you’re angry with her, but is she still on your side?
A: You’ll have to ask her that.
Q: Or is she a member of the BWO?
A: The BWO. Please, don’t make me laugh. Is there a sorrier bunch in ECW, or in the whole sport, for that matter? By the way, that’s another subject I should make off-limits. I shouldn’t even be talking about the BWO. You might think it’s worth something.
Q: Why are you feuding with Stevie Richards?
A: Stevie Richards is an ingrate. I always thought he was a cool guy. We had a pretty good relationship. I taught him a lot and I even learned a little from him. But then he went and messed things up, getting himself involved in all this Blue World Order garbage. Now, what am I supposed to think of a man that considers The Blue Meanie an ally? I’ll tell you what I have to do; I have to question his sanity! Richards might think he’s being cute with all this, but it’s going to backfire soon and ruin his career. And I might do the ruining.
Q: I’ll ask you again, Is Lori Fullington a member of the BWO?
A: Look, she had on a BWO T-Shirt. Yeah, that was serious stuff. It really ticked me off. But maybe she’s doing tit just to get my attention. At this point I’m not sure. I do know that if she joins the BWO, she’ll be making the same mistake Richards is. She had everything she could have wanted out of this sport when she was standing with me. She was getting revenge on the Sandman, and that was all she could have asked. Who knows what her game is now.
Q: Is there any chance she’ll stay with you?
A: A chance? There’s always a chance. I can’t predict the future. But now it may be a good time to look within myself and conduct my business without any outside distractions. As I look back, I realize I could have been much more successful without her. I’ll concede that she did provide some assistance, but did that help me become a better wrestler? No, it did not. If Lori was smart, she would start accompanying me to ringside. But I don’t need her anymore.
Q: What if she were to go back with the Sandman?
A: That, my friend, will never happen. The woman isn’t that dumb. And if it did happen, it still wouldn’t improve how the Sandman deals with me. After all our battles, I’ve figured Sandman out. Like I said before, he’s good, damn good, but I’ve decided he’s no longer a threat. The BWO is more of a threat. Richards is going to start paying.
Q: Paying for crossing you?
A: That, and much, much more. The process has already begun.
Q: You have to be excited about ECW doing pay-per-views.
A: Yeah, we’re finally going to show those two dinosaurs what a real pay-per-view card is. Our difference is that we give the people what they want. Forget we; I give the people what they want! Maybe you magazine guys don’t consider my belt a World title, but I know what the story is and so do these fans. Now people all over the country will get to see ECW in action, which is great. Believe me, Rodriguez-and you can tell this to your publisher- the people are going to tell you who the real world champion is.
Q: Of course, you could lose the belt, and somebody else will be calling himself the ECW World champ.
A: Yeah, right. Who is going to beat me? Sandman? We dealt with him. Richards? I’m dealing with him. And forget Terry Funk. I mentioned dinosaurs before; now there’s a dinosaur. Look, Funk is one tough dude,but his day has definitely passed. He built the fonudation we’re all standing on, but now it’s time for him to step aside.
Q: Would you step aside if you were still winning?
A: But look at the guy. He’s like 52 years old. He had a great career, and he deserves a peaceful retirement. He has nothing to prove. He sticks it out too long and he’ll really get hurt. I don’t particularly want to be the one to deliver the final blow, but if that distinction falls to me, that’s a burden I’ll just have to shoulder.
Q: You’re a lot more anxious to get Sandman and Richards, right?
A: Hey, they’ve gotten themselves. They got themselves the day they decided to come after me. Who’s winning? Look who has the belt? I rule ECW. They offer me distractions, but they don’t separate me from my goals. They can’t not even if they got together themselves. Hey, there’s a good idea. Sandman should join the BWO. Then at least he’d have somebody to hang out with.
Q: Ever think of leaving ECW?
A: I’m enjoying myself far too much to leave. I’m the World champion here. I know you asked my that because you think there are two other leagues more prestigious than ECW. Of course, you’re wrong. Right now ECW is the place to be. Look, I don’t think too highly of Sandman or Richards, but if they’re making it here, that means they’re the best. And I’m the best of the best.
Q: Thanks for giving me some of your time, Raven. I’m not sure whether I should wish you good luck or not.
A: My success doesn’t depend on your wishes. You should be wishing Sandman and Richards good luck. Throw in old man Funk, too. Throw in everybody in ECW, everybody in this whole business.
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