THE DOI SHOOT INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN KELLY

**id’s note** Before I get into the bulk of my review, I’m going to save people some time and say right up front…. IF YOUR DESIRE IS TO WORK FOR THE WWE, OR ANY OTHER MAJOR PROMOTION, IN ANY CAPACITY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS SHOOT!!! KELLY SPELLS OUT IN GREAT DETAIL, EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO REPRESENT YOURSELF, TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO BE… That information alone is worth far more than the price of this DVD. Of course, there’s lots more than that to be found in this, the third offering in the DOI Shoot Series, so on with the review…

Wrestling’s most famous ‘hermaphrodite’ sat down with the DOI’s own Sean The MiC for an exclusive shoot interview wherein Kelly shares his thoughts and opinions (and ‘dishes the dirt’) not just on his 7 year WW(F)E tenure, but also indy wrestling and the state of the business at large. At roughly 4 hours in length, this interview is chockfull of details about the action backstage from someone who was there. It‘s truly an ‘insider’ peek behind the curtain. A list of the questions asked and details of how to purchase the shoot can be found at:
http://www.declarationofindependents.net/doi/pages/kellyshoot.html)

From the start, it’s apparent that the technical issues which plagued the DOI’s first two shoots have been corrected. The Kelly shoot looks and plays great. Shot on a minimal set with Kelly sitting in front of a curtain backdrop, it exhibits the unique ’flavor’ of a DOI interview - an obvious rapport between MiC and his subject results in a relaxed atmosphere that provides a very warm, yet informative, discussion. In fact, Kelly might as well be talking about the Biz with an old friend, as he’s relaxed enough to joke with the crew and enjoy his Wendy’s take-out while he relates his stories.

Another DOI Shoot Interview ‘tradition’ that’s nice to see, is the way it’s framed so as to avoid the pitfall so common in many other similar interviews - the “talking head syndrome.” Like the Ref Hanson and Carmine Sabia shoots that preceded it, the Kelly shoot was filmed so that most of his body is visible, which adds considerably to its effectiveness and viewing pleasure because the subject’s body language underscores, and enhances, his words. Dressed casually in a Brian Pillman T-shirt, Kelly provides a humorous, insightful and opinionated look at the wacky world and characters of pro-wrestling.

The interview begins with Kelly explaining he’s always been a big fan and how growing up in The South East exposed him to the NWA and Florida action. He names Dusty Rhodes as one of his favorites and admits to “marking out” big time when he finally met him. Kelly was also a big fan of Mike Graham and the Brisco brothers and admits Joe Leduc gave him “legitimate nightmares.” I had to chuckle at the image of a young ‘Hermie’ trembling under his sheets in fear of the Canadian Lumberjack - he still looks a little freaked out, even years later.

From his now experienced viewpoint, Kelly discusses the angles and booking methods that so enthralled him as a child and provides many details and insights on what works and what doesn’t. Not even ten minutes into the interview and he delivers a basic course in wrestling booking that many modern promoters would do well to heed. He talks about why Eddie Graham was the “greatest booker of all time,” citing 82 consecutive weekly sell-outs of the 11,000 seat Orlando arena. He describes in detail his all time favorite angle and laments how that all important “emotional attachment” is missing from today’s product.

Kelly talks about the state of the business in the early ‘90s and how that “downside” cycle impacted on indy wrestling in his area. He pans shady local promoters at the time for “false advertising” no-shows and burning both workers and fans. In 1991 he was working as a radio announcer which led to Cliff Anderson getting him a spot as ring announcer for a local indy fed. This in turn, led to him working as a TV commentator for the IWF. He admits he was “terrible,” but studied the business and worked hard to improve. In an effort to better understand the in-ring action, Kelly worked a match for an even smaller indy fed with Ron Neimi, which he describes as “a colossal stinker of a match.”

During his time with the IWF Kelly met, and became good friends with Billy Gunn, a friendship that would later play a pivotal role in his getting to the WWF. Kelly had sent a tape to Tom Pritchard at the WWF, trying to score an announcing gig in the big leagues. After hearing nothing in response, Kelly figured it was a lost cause and never bothered to update his contact information when he and his wife moved. (There’s a lesson to be learned here for struggling indy workers.) In 1996 he called Gunn and asked him to see if the WWF needed a ring announcer for their upcoming Florida run. As luck would have it, Kelly was actually at an audition for WCW, taking a break between shows, when Gunn called him to say that Pritchard had been looking for him for months! He immediately called Pritchard and arranged to go North to the WWF for an interview. Kelly ‘passed’ his WWF audition and began working as a ring announcer. ( Id’s note: It was his presentation tape that garnered the WWF’s interest - his ‘connection’ to Billy Gunn merely gave him a second chance. Had he kept his contact info up to date, he probably would have started much earlier. Lesson learned?)

Kelly goes on to describe what the WWF office was like at the time and his various duties for the company. He explains he was always volunteering, listening and “nosing around” to learn more about the business. And he had some of the greatest wrestling minds of the time to learn from like Pritchard, Cornette, Monsoon, Taylor and later, Russo. Kelly talks about assisting Cornette, booking the squash match jobbers and eventually this job became his own after Russo left. He credits Russo with helping out when Kevin Dunn tried to fire him after his first year. “He (Dunn) never liked me.”

He talks about road trips and the “unwritten but strictly enforced rule” that office staff and ‘the boys’ travel separately. Some funny stuff here as the women wrestlers at the time weren’t considered ‘the boys’ so he got to drive the “old grannies” Moolah and Mae Young around. He talks about Chyna and how nice a person she was until she “just fell apart” after the break-up with Hunter. Kelly describes Vince’s role at house shows and names the three wrestlers who always had closed doors meetings with the boss.

Kelly talks about Bret Hart being a “tremendous champion whose legacy was tainted by his own choosing.” No discussion of Hart is complete without mentioning the infamous ‘Montreal Screw Job’ and Kelly gives a fresh perspective on the situation. He mentions that he never felt Bret was #1 - Curt Hennig was ten times better - and feels sorry for Bret, in that he comes from a “strange family” beset with tragedy. This leads to a discussion of famous wrestling families centered mostly on the Samoans.

The MiC steers the talk to the Clique, which had just broken up before Kelly started working there. (He mentions that he talked about the importance of loyalty in his interview knowing the WWF was still stinging from that betrayal.) He describes events surrounding King of the Ring and how Hunter was replaced with Austin as the winner - something that changed the course of modern wrestling forever. He describes the Clique members as “assholes” who tormented not just producers and backstage workers, but wresters as well, especially Chris Candido and Tammy. Tons of good stuff in this segment.

Kelly talks about the WWE creative process at the time and the people involved with most of the storyline plots and direction. Kelly was by this time working with the jobbers, writing for the magazine and writing the voice-over notes for the on-air commentators as well as his interviewing and announcing duties.

Next is a lengthy look at the influx of Divas into the business, which Kelly describes as “a breath of fresh air.” He talks about Sunny being “the prettiest girl anybody had ever seen” and says Marc Mero only got hired because he brought his wife Sable to the interview. The MiC, true to form, asks some tough questions about the rumored sexual activities between the early Divas and WWE staff, including Vince. Kelly responds with some eye-opening revelations about various ‘relationships’ and this segment is definitely required viewing for the gossip lovers!

Kelly talks about Brian Pillman with obvious affection and discusses the famous “gun angle” with Austin which he describes as “groundbreaking” even though, as MiC points out, “it got shit on at the time.” Kelly considered Pillman an awesome worker and talks about how great the Canadian Stampede PPV main event was. (It was great. I was there in the second row, just behind the Hart Family. In fact, it was the last time I spoke to Stu & Helen.)

Kelly delivers some more great lines talking about Shawn Michaels attitude at the time and says he likes him a lot more now than he did back then. He says Michael’s in-ring work was always “phenomenal” but Shawn was a “nasty, negative guy” and “(he) couldn’t stand him.” He also talks about Austin and how DTA was more than a catchphrase for him. He describes Austin as an astute political player and cites examples.

He gives his thoughts on Survivor Series ‘96 and the angle that everyone “farted on,” as well as discussing the Royal Rumble where, despite his earlier comments about Michaels, he really puts over his gutsy performance despite being very sick. He also describes working with The (future) Rock who joined the company at this tumultuous time and explains his role in preparing for Mavia’s debut.

Kelly talks about Undertaker’s rep for being a nice guy and then gives a lengthy opinion on the WWE’s other big guy: Sid, saying the WWE saw the best work of Sid’s career. He describes the reasoning for giving Sid the title instead of Austin and there are many details here about backstage politics and how they can affect creative direction.

Backstage politics can also lead to backstage fights and Kelly talks about the fight between Michaels and Hart. This is funny stuff also as Kelly gets very animated when describing “clumps of hair being torn out in the locker room.” He explains how such backstage brawls are actually good for morale. Somehow this leads to a brief discussion of the biggest wrestling fight of all - the Monday Night Wars of ‘97 where Kelly describes the atmosphere in the whole company mirroring that of Vince McMahon who he says was “miserable.”

The talk turns again to Survivor Series ‘97 and Kelly gives even more details about the screw-job from an office perspective. He reveals who knew what before hand and the reaction of the locker room in the aftermath. (His description of the Hebner brother’s flight from the building cracked me up.) He explains why “it had to happen” and how it started the evil Vince McMahon character He talks about the midget Bret Hart angle as “gold” and says that of all the people who had midget ‘representatives,’ only Vader ever got pissed about it.

This led to a discussion of Vader, who he describes as a “miserable bastard” and how his rep as a tough guy was forever ruined after his WCW thrashing at the hands of Paul Orndorf. This turns out to be the set up for a very funny Vader joke. (I’ll let him tell it.)

Kelly then talks at length about the Austin/Rock dynamic, describing in detail the rise of both characters, the effect they had on the business (and others in it) and compares the relative skills of both men. WWE fans will eat this up as Kelly offers details and insights on the politics and angles behind one of the WWE’s most entertaining eras. There’s really too much to list here…Vince’s character, the birth of “Hermie,” the Austin/Michaels politicking that kept Mick Foley out of the WM 14 main event and Austin’s use of GHB are just some of the things Kelly describes.

The mood gets somber as Kelly talks about the injuries suffered by Droz and Austin and while he doesn’t blame them, he does present a compelling argument for wrestlers taking more responsibility for their own safety in the ring. This leads into the events surrounding the death of Owen Hart. This is a side of the story I had never heard before and has some shocking information about the chaos backstage and why the show went on. (Martha Hart should watch this DVD.) Kelly talks about the next night’s RAW broadcast and says it was like “one big family getting together in grief.” Again, tons of details and very moving stuff.

At this point The MiC leads Kelly through a meandering name-association segment about various WWE workers and shows. Kelly drops bombs and humorous insights on almost every significant player on the roster and management as well. He talks about Triple H’s rise, the Steph/Test wedding angle (which he wrote and WWE creative mangled) and Shane McMahon’s affect on the business. Also covered are Billy Gunn’s mid-card glass ceiling and breakthrough with the New Age Outlaws, and absolutely tons of stuff on Mick Foley. He talks about the rise of Kurt Angle and Bradshaw’s accomplishments and influence both in and out of the ring. Also discussed at length is Taz’s debut and rapid descent as well as the Radicals defecting from WCW. He talks about ECW and WCW folding and the reception WCW workers received upon arrival. Kelly talks about WM 17 and the politics influencing the card and what it was like to work for JR, who he describes as a “rotten boss.” He talks about Triple H and Steph’s marriage and Bischoff, Van Dam and Kane are all discussed as well. Unbelievable amount of information from Kelly here and this segment alone is worth the price of the DVD.

The discussion then centers on Woman’s action and Kelly delivers some incisive comments and opinions of lady wrestlers. He mentions The MiC’s ‘Power of the Puss’ column saying it was “brilliant.” The talk then turns from women in-ring to women backstage and Kelly delivers a rollicking send-up of ‘rats’ in the business. Affairs are not uncommon among Divas and the workers because, as he puts it, “Put guys and girls and alcohol together and they’re gonna get to fuckin.” Kelly and The MiC generate some hilarious stuff in this segment as they talk about all the WWE Divas and wrestlers famous for their rats. They name which WWE superstar has the ugliest rats and the one Diva who never slutted around. Lita gets dissed pretty good and Kelly relates a story of some indy wrestler named Strawberry Fields and what she said to him about Amy Dumas. Another great segment for the gossip lovers!

The interview then jumps through a number of topics - Kelly discusses the WWE brand split and why Smackdown is the inferior product. He talks about Deep South Wrestling and why he feels it is doomed to failure. Paul Heyman (“a genius”) and the WWE creative process is examined in some depth and Kelly offers his suggestions for a better booking solution to WWE’s creative woes. He talks about Chris Jericho and why he feels he’s done with wrestling and gives his thoughts on WM 19, which he didn’t watch having been fired two weeks prior to the event. Kelly admits he was fired for being too fat for TV and has no problem with Vince McMahon. He says he always liked Vince but the company changed after they went public. He doesn’t blame the war or 9-11 for the decline of the WWE product, laying the blame squarely on the creative team.

The mood gets serious when Kelly explores the recent rash of wrestler deaths, saying they are a product of a by-gone era. He cites steroids, pain killers, coke and in-ring bumps as the major contributing factors and reveals which deaths surprised him and some that didn’t. He predicts that in the next five years “a lot more are gonna die” and names two workers he’s surprised are still alive. Kelly derides ‘death pools’ as too morbid and talks about the wrestlers he’s afraid for and ones he no longer has to worry about since they’ve cleaned up. (This is a poignant segment as he talks about Eddie Guerrero who passed away after this interview was filmed.)

Talking about drug use among wrestlers leads to Kelly describing his relationship with Tom Pritchard who he considers a “very good friend.” He relates a funny (but sad) road trip game involving Pritchard during the height of his drug problem. (Dancing strings of drool) Kelly really puts over the McMahons, especially Shane, for helping Pritchard pull through and helping a lot of others as well.

Kelly then talks about Jim Cornette and why he needed to get fired. He describes the current WWE office as being former WCW or from outside the business. Kelly describes the differences between Vinces Sr and Jr, and their business relationships with other promoters, giving examples from Vince Senior’s dealing with Bill Watts Mid South/UWF and Vince Junior’s abuse of the modern day OVW. (Note to The MiC and Kevin: The guy whose name you couldn’t remember was One Man Gang!)

Kelly talks about what it was like reviewing tapes from WWE wannabes and names the indy wrestler responsible for the “worst promo tape ever!” THIS is the segment that should be required viewing for all indy wrestlers (and others) looking for a tryout with the big boys! Kelly provides invaluable instruction on the do’s and don’ts to follow when submitting your own promo tapes. If this interview contained nothing but this information it would still be worth the asking price. No matter if you’re already an indy worker, a ticket seller or a novice wannabe… you should heed Kelly’s words as he lays out exactly the self-introduction presentation big league talent scouts are looking for and, equally important, what they DON’T want to see. He talks about what talent scouts look at when attending indy shows and gives great advice on conditioning, size and skills. (He also tells a funny story about a persistent indy wrestler who called him numerous times…. And the guy was deaf! Imagine how trying those phone conversations were!)

Kelly then talks about a number of current indy stars and evaluates their chances for success. He discusses Low Ki, the Hit Squad, the SAT, Homicide and AJ Styles and describes the good, (Low Ki, Homicide, Styles) the bad, (the SAT) and the ugly, (the Hit Squad) both in skills and attitude. He stresses that although wrestling is not a one-size-fits-all business, size does play a huge role in a wrestler’s chances for advancement to superstar status. This segment is bound to stir controversy among indy wrestlers and fans alike but like Pritchard used to say: Talent doesn’t always get opportunity.

Kelly then talks about ECWA and the heat he got from WWE officials for working there and getting his picture in PWI Magazine. This is funny stuff as he talks about how modern WWE officials “hate the business” but “read Apter mags.” Kelly rarely comes across as a bitter ex-employee during this shoot but talking about WWE creative here reveals some resentment towards his former bosses, both for that (“fuck ‘em”) and for the mass firings of last year. (“They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”)

He also discusses the reasoning behind the booking that saw him become ECWA champion and why it made sense compared to WCW crowning actor David Arquette World champ, which he describes as a desperate attempt to draw main stream media attention instead of money. He describes other mainstream personality crossovers like Tyson and Rose that did work, and why.

The MiC then steers Kelly through a lengthy name association piece dealing with indy stars and feds. Kelly puts over Scoot Andrews as someone who did everything right but it just wasn’t the right time. He says JAPW is “a step above” and has the best indy guys around. He describes the cyclic nature of the indy scene claiming the nostalgia movement can hold everyone back. He stresses the importance of moving forward by developing new talent that will draw rather than relying on ‘big names‘. Kelly admits he hopes TNA does well and why he thinks Chris Daniels should be champ, then gives reasons why Samoa Joe is the logical choice. There’s tons of stuff here that indy fans will enjoy as Kelly delivers opinions on Carmine Sabia and SSCW and absolutely buries Ricky O’s JCW. (The MiC offers his own funny story here as well.) Kelly also sings the praises of Simon Diamond and thinks he’d make a great trainer.

An “awkward segue” leads into a detailed discussion about accusations that Kelly is a racist and the indy couple everyone is talking about - Slyck Wagner Brown and April Hunter. In light of recent events this is a very poignant (and prophetic) look at two of indy wrestling’s best known personalities. Kelly reveals who he thinks is responsible for the racism rumors and the role the infamous DOI message board played in their spread. (hint: He buried the guy a few minutes earlier.)

Kelly talks about 3PW and the UXW which leads to an uproarious session about ticket sellers. (Poor Danny Demanto is NOT going to want to hear this part of the shoot!) Amid the laughter, Kelly manages to convey that ticket sellers are a “necessary evil” if promoters feel they need them but, if you’re a bad promoter, all the ticket sellers in the world won’t help you.

Kelly discusses ROH and the Feinstein scandal that almost ripped the company apart. The MiC plays hardball here and Kelly gives his opinions on the whole mess. Kelly knew both Rob and Gabe from their filming of ECWA shows and offers some very candid opinions on what Rob should have done when the PJ story broke.

Kelly discusses Christianity in modern wrestling. He says a ‘Christian’ show can offer a product families can enjoy but it doesn’t need to be a church service. He talks about his involvement with Christian wrestling shows and speaks of his own faith. He’d like to see shows that can do without the “Norman Smiley wiggle thing” and devil characters, just entertainment that Christians and non-Christians alike can enjoy.

He talks about Mohammed Hussan being fired from WWE and says he should “sue everybody” as Hassan is unable to ever work in wrestling again. He reveals who the only person from WWE he’s still in contact with and struggles to answer the question of who is the biggest drug addict in wrestling. Kelly talks about where the WWE was four years ago compared to today and describes how, in 2001, JR fired him over the phone on his birthday. Kelly says he’s willing to help out promoters but would never go back into wrestling as he’s “full of the business” and quite happy with his life in the real world. The interview closes with Kelly talking about how he’d like to be remembered for his contributions to wrestling.

Wizard’s wrap up:

This shoot has something for everyone. WWE fans will go crazy for the backstage info about the stars and political dealings during its highest and lowest eras and Indy wrestling fans will find plenty to outrage and amuse as well. There is an incredible amount of detail about booking, characters and promotion that all students of the game will find useful. Kelly comes across as a very personable, funny guy who just happens to know a lot about how the business works, not just about the people in it. Given it’s coverage of both the WWE and the indy scene, and its invaluable advice and instruction to up and coming stars, this shoot is a must have for any collection. That blend of entertainment and instructional value garner it my highest recommendation!

Your feedback on this review or your thoughts on the Kevin Kelly shoot are welcomed.

Post them on the message board or email The MiC.

Gordo, the Wizard of ID