Do you remember the first time you watched RF VIDEO’s legendary shoot interview with the Iron Sheik? Out of control is one way to describe it. Completely insane is another. One thing everyone can agree on is that the shoot was a Must Watch in every way possibly and finally we have found another wrestling superstar who recorded a shoot interview that you won’t be able to tear yourself away from… no matter how hard you try!
Ken Patera, Olympic athlete and wrestling strongman sat down for career defining interview that even had our eyes bugging out, and we’ve seen everything! We’re sure you’ve heard the rumors that Patera has the potential to go postal if asked the wrong questions and we were more than ready to pepper Ken with the questions YOU wanted asked, even at the risk to our health! We asked Ken point blank about his infamous arrest after attacking a McDonald’s and were able to get his side of this incredible story. After getting that question out of the way, we knew we could ask anything, and the interview really picked up steam as Ken answered everything we threw his way.
Patera talked about starting his career in weightlifting and how it got him into the Olympics. The conversation moved over into wrestling, and Ken talked about breaking into the business through Verne Gagne’s AWA and just gave us a ton of stories centering on Verne Gagne’s much loved promotion. How did Patera meet Ric Flair and exactly why did Flair want to quit the business during a time when the two shared an apartment together? You’ll get the answer to that along with a lot more AWA stuff.
We know what you want, WWF dirt and Patera held nothing back as he talked about leaving Minnesota for New York and working for the biggest circus in wrestling. Every big name of the era is talked about including: Bob Backlund, Superstar Billy Graham, Bruno Sammartino, Dusty Rhodes, Big John Studd, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Ivan Putski and so many more that all long time wrestling fans are going to be completely marking out. Even we couldn’t believe what Patera said about Bobby Heenan and Hulk Hogan!
But that’s not all! Patera has a special message for Sheiky Baby and this is something you’ll want to hear for yourself! One great story after another flowed from a man who clearly had a lot to air out after holding it in for so long. Ken goes off on Billy Jack Haynes and has a frank discussion on the controversial subject of drugs in wrestling, including owning up to his own demons. We covered Patera’s time in jail and this is one subject that will have many fans glued to their screens. You want crazy ring rat stories and tales of absolutely insane ribs? This DVD has both in spades and best of all is the Sheik-worthy rants that Patera goes off on that have nothing to do with the subject at hand. Politics, stock investment… these subjects sound innocuous but they become hilarious when Patera loses his mind talking about them! This is the one shoot interview you’ll be telling all your friends about and quoting for months!
How did you get into power lifting
What was the training like for that back in your day
What do you remember about the Olympics
What was steroid use like back then
How did you break into the business
Memories of first meeting Verne Gagne
Did Verne try and get cute with you and stretch you
How hard was the training
Did you know that you would do well in wrestling
Memories of your first match
Memories of working Georgia
Memories of matches against the Assassin
Memories of matches with Jack Brisco
Memories of meeting Ric Flair
Memories living with Flair
Is it true that he almost wanted to quit the business
Memories of helping him get into the business
Did you think he had something
Memories of matches with Tony Atlas
Memories of Ole Anderson
Who was your favorite promoter to work for
How did you wind up working for Vince Sr
Did you like working for him
Compare him and his son
Memories of matches against Bruno Sammartino
Any good road stories from this time
Memories of your match against Dusty Rhodes in the Orange Bowl
Memories of a young Vince McMahon
Memories of Andre the Giant
Memories of Wahoo McDaniel
Memories of Jim Crockett
Memories of Jim Barnett
Memories teaming with John Studd in Mid Atlantic
Memories of your first run with Backlund
Why do you think you two had such good chemistry
Billy Graham called Backlund paranoid, do you agree
Memories of wrestling in St Louis
Thoughts on Sam Muchnik
Memories of matches against Kevin Von Erich
What were the politics behind you getting the Missouri title as IC champ
Memories of matches against Pat Patterson
Memories of your first run as IC champion
Are you surprised at how the belt has been devalued today
Memories of Mil Mascaras
Do you think you should have had a run as WWF champion
Why do you think you never had a world title run
Memories of your now famous Texas Death match from 1980
Memories of matches with Hulk Hogan in the AWA
Did you think he would go on to be as big as he became
How did Hogan change from the AWA to the WWF
Did you like wrestling him
Memories of Jess Ventura
Thoughts on his political success
Memories of Nick Bockwinkel
Memories of matches with Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell
Memories teaming with Crusher Blackwell
Memories of matches with Tommy Rich
Memories of working Memphis
Memories of matches with Lawler
Thoughts on Lawler and Jerry Jarrett
Memories of being managed by Lou Albano
Do you remember him getting fired regularly at TVs
Memories of being managed by Ernie Roth
Memories of the Sheik gimmick
Why do you think the Iron Sheik yells about you during his interviews
Memories of Bobby Heenan in the AWA
How did he change once he went into the WWF
How did you wind up leaving and going to the WWF for good
Was Verne upset
Some guys have called him a stooge for Vince, do you agree
Memories of matches against Ivan Putski
Memories of the hair cut angle with Andre
How did Andre feel about that angle
Was there any jealousy or a rivaly between you Studd and Roddy Piper for top heel
Thoughts on Piper
When you came back to the WWF, how had things changed
Did Vince keep his promises
Memories of the angle where you were whipped by Heenan
How much did you use steroids in your career
Did you like the idea of coming back without the bleached blonde hair
There is an interview on You Tube of you from this time where you bumble a few lines and Gene Okerlund laughs in the middle. Do you remember it
When you came back was there pressure to use steroids again
Memories teaming with Billy Jack Haynes
Memories of matches with Paul Orndorff
Memories of matches with Hercules
Memories of matches with Harley Race
There were some rumors at the time that you were going to turn on Hogan and wrestle him at WrestleMania 4. Any truth to that
Were you aware that even the commentators were talking about your skills being in decline and that you should retire
Was it hard to adjust mentally to working the early matches and doing so many jobs
How did you hurt your arm
Did you think you got a fair push when you came back
Why do you think you never got that high profile push again
Did you like working as a babyface
How had Vince changed
Why did you wind up leaving
You went back to the AWA, how had things changed
Had Verne changed
Were the small crowds discouraging
Memories of matches with Badd Company
Memories of matches with the Destruction Crew
What was the story behind the injury angle
What led to you finally retiring full time
Did you ever talk to WCW about wrestling for them
What is life like after wrestling
What do you do today
Do you like working the independents
Who was your favorite manager
Why do you think so many other famous power lifters like Bill Kazmier, Ted Arcidi and Mark Henry struggled to get over
Verne Gagne once said you would have had the Olympic gold medal if you hadn’t been out all night trying to attack the German girls the night before. Thoughts
Did you like doing the TNT segments in the 80s
Why do you think Vince doesn’t try and get you involved with legends angles, appearances, etc
Do you think you should be in the WWE Hall of Fame
What makes someone a good heel 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
What do you think about the media attention pro wrestling is getting now in regards to drug abuse
Fav and least fav guys to work with
Fav ribs and road stories
Favorite ribs
Any chances of coming back
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