Are you ready to be stung by Jim Brunzell in our latest shoot interview interview? When we talk about great professional wrestlers we can never forget about jumping Jim Brunzell. Jim was one of the best pure technical wrestlers of our generation. This was Jim’s very first shoot interview ever and he had so many amazing locker room stories that he was able to share with us.
Jim talks about how he broke into the wrestling business and how he was never a fan of wrestling. Jim takes us thru his days in the Verne Gagne training camp with some of wrestlings biggest names like the Sheik and Ric Flair. We talk all about what it was like to work in the AWA during its peek in the 80’s. Jim has worked with some of the biggest names while he was in the AWA and has stories on many of them. Wait until you hear about his stories on Bruiser Brody and what happened during their program. He talks about his infamous tag team as the High Flyers with Greg Gagne. The AWA stories are endless during this interview as he has so many locker room and road stories to share.
Jim also went over to work in All Japan in the 80’s and we discuss what it was like to make that transition. Wait until you hear what happened when he was in the ring with Giant Baba. In between his AWA and Japan tours Jim went to work for the NWA for some time. Don’t worry we tackle that promotion as well in this historic interview. You want Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, and Dusty Rhodes stories weill you got them!!!
Jim was best known as Biran Blairs tag team partner in the tag team The Killer Bees. How did the gimmick come about and was Jim all for it? What was Jim’s goals in the WWF and why did he not get along with Vince right off the bat. Jim worked with all the top tag teams when he had his WWF run and we talk to him about all of his classic matches with some of the best WWF tag teams of all time like Demolition, Hart Foundation, Muraco and Orton, Funks, Bulldogs and so many more.
What was it like to be around Hogan? What does he think about the Sheik and did Jim turn him onto drugs?
Who was hard to work with in the ring? What happened when they worked with Muraco and Orton? Why Jim Neidhart was hart to work with….What was it like being on the road during the 80’s in the WWE and how did drug use come into play. Jim holds nothing back when he talks about his early cocaine use. He is extremely honest and has many drug stories as well. Wait until you hear about the infamous WWF doctor during the old school TV tapings and what he offered the guys in the locker room during routine physicals.
As time went on in the WWF Jim was not a happy camper. He shares with us on why his career took a wrong turn in the WWF. What happened when Brian Blair quit on him and how it effected his career.
Jim also worked for a few indy promotions after he left the WWF. We talk to him about them as well.
The locker room and road stories during this interview are red hot. Once again if you love to hear about the WWF and AWA locker rooms during their heyday this interview is a must. Here are just a few topics that we talked about during this interview.
Were you a wrestling fan growing up
Who did you enjoy watching
What was your collegiate background
How did you get into the business
Memories of Verne Gagne’s camp
How many of todays pro wrestlers could make it through camp
Do you think Verne was a little extreme with the camp
Who were some of your fellow students
Memories of them
What was the training like
What was the biggest misconception of the business that you had
What was the hardest thing in training
How much was kayfabed to you when you were training
How often were you stretched
Memories of your first match
Did anyone mentor you early on
Who did you travel with
What was the AWA like in those days
How did you wind up in Central States
Memories teaming with Mike George
Memories of matches with Lord Al Hayes
Memories of Bob Geigel
How did you wind up in the Wrestler
Memories making that movie
Are you surprised that it is still a cult hit with fans
Did you actually ever spar with Billy Robinson
Whose idea was it to tag you and Greg up
Did you like Greg early on
Did you get any heat from the boys being it was the boss’ son
Was Verne hard on his son
Memories of Nick Bockwinkel
Memories of the Blackjacks
Memories of matches with Lanza and Bobby Duncam
Memories of matches with Patterson and Stevens
Did you ever wrestle Harley and Larry Hennig
Was it true that you were injured playing in a softball game
Was Verne upset
Memories of Nick Bockwinkel
How did you wind up going to work for Crockett
Memories of working for Jim Crockett
Did you like the territory
Any good road stories
Memories of Ric Flair around this time
Memories of Steamboat
Memories of Dusty Rhodes
Memories of Jim Crockett Jr
Memories of matches with Ray Stevens
Memories of matches with Ken Patera
Memories of matches with John Studd
Memories of Buddy Rogers
You came back to the AWA, how come
Were you more respected now that you headlined outside the territory
How had the locker room changed
Was Greg any different
Memories of matches with Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis
Memories of matches with Blackwell and Patera
Memories of wrestling in All Japan
Memories teaming with Bockwinkel over there
Memories of Giant Baba
Memories wrestling Steamboat in All Japan
Memories of Rick Martel in the AWA
What was the travel schedule like in the AWA
Memories of the Otto Wanz title change
Memories of Curt Hennig
Any memories of Curt’s ribs
Memories of Bruiser Brody
You were working in the AWA when Vince Jr took over and started expanding. Did you think he would put the territories out of business?
Memories of when Hogan, Okerlund, and Heenan left?
Do you think Verne should have sold
Was Verne out of touch by then
How did you wind up in the WWF
Was Verne upset
Initial impressions of Vince
You said in an interview that you never got along with Vince from day one, can you talk more about that
Did you know that you and Brian would team right away
Were you promised a big push
You were known for your dropkick, how did you get so much height
Initial thoughts on teaming with Brian and the Killer Bees gimmick
Did you like him
Are you surprised you never got a run with the titles
Memories of the Big Event
Memories of WrestleMania III
Why do you think the Iron Sheik has had this issue with Brian about WM III
Any good road stories with Brian
What were your thoughts when you first heard Sheik’s comments about Brian
Did you ever have a problem with him at this time
Memories of the Sheik from back then
How come you guys dropped the masked confusion gimmick
Who’s idea was the masked idea
You once said you have to ego in this business, can you talk about that
Memories of when Superstar Graham returned
Memories of matches with Beefcake and Valentine
Memories of matches with the Hart Foundation
Memories of wrestling Randy Savage
Memories wrestling Ric Flair in the WWF
Memories of matches with Demolition
Memories of matches with Muraco and Bob Orton
Memories of Ken Patera’s return
Thoughts on Bobby Heenan
Memories of matches with the Funks
Memories of the British Bulldogs
Any good WWE road stories
Memories of the Ultimate Warrior
Memories of Andre the Giant
Did you see the Jacques-Dynamite fight
Were you surprised when Verne finally shut down
Was it frustrating not getting a big push
Why do you think you never got the big push
Favorite matches during this time
Did you feel lied to about the WWE tag team titles
Were you surprised when Brian left
Did you feel like he screwed you over at all
Did you expect a singles push
Who were some of your favorite guys to work with in the WWE
Any least favorite guys
Why did you leave
How did Vince react
Favorite WWE road stories
Did you attempt to go to WCW at all
Memories working for the UWF
Memories of Herb Abrams and any stories
You went back to the WWE for some shots after the UWF, how did that come about
Do you feel that you never got a good break in the WWE
Is it true that you tried to land a job as an agent with them
How come you participated in the AWA DVD
Did you like how it came out
Memories of the AWF
How did you wind up working for WCW at Slamboree
Memories of the match
What led to your retirement
Fav guys to work with and why
Least fav guys to work with and why
Do you think you should be in the WWE Hall of Fame
What makes someone a good worker in your opinion
Do you still watch wrestling
What are your thoughts on all of the deaths of the past few years and which in particular hit you hardest
Thoughts on UFC and comparisons to pro wrestling
Do you want to write a book
Fav ribs and road stories
Thoughts on the lack of kayfabe today
Do you still have a passion for the business
What do you miss most and least about being a full time wrestler
Is it true that you are good friends with Bruce Springsteen
How did that come about
Is he a wrestling fa