Ripper leading Chris Hall to the ring.
Huskie: Wrestling fans welcome back to Wrestle Ohio. My guest today is the one and only Ripper Blackhart. Ripper how are you doing? Thanks for joining us here again at Wrestle Ohio.
Blackhart: I doing pretty good, recovering from a long weekend.
Huskie: Before we get into the wrestling portion of this, let’s go outside of the ring for a minute. What are you doing when you’re not busy with wrestling?
Blackhart: I’m watching WAY too much TV, DVD’s & Netflix l (laughs). I also do a little writing & create comic book characters.
Huskie: Man I know there are some hot topics you probably want to address and we will here in a little bit. First let’s talk about some other stuff. What motivates you to go to walk through that curtain?
Blackhart: When I walk through the curtain I am 100% Ripper. For that moment, nothing else in the world matters. It’s kinda my stress reliever. After everything that is going on outside in my life, here is a time to forget about it & make everyone else out there to forget too.
Huskie: How do you prepare for a show?
Blackhart: I’m a go with the flow guy when it comes to the show. Most of the time whatever was planned gets changed by the time I show up on show day anyway (laughs).
Huskie: What is the craziest match you have ever seen?
Blackhart: Wow that’s a tough one. Probably a 3 way match in the Plains, Ohio. Jason Gory, Zack Vincent & I don’t remember the 3rd guy. What I do remember is Gory putting a plastic bag over Zack’s head & squeezing it shut. I thought that was pretty nuts (laughs).
Huskie: What is the funniest thing you have seen happen in the ring?
Blackhart: Dexter Dementia trying to come in the ring like a house of fire & then tripping on the 2nd rope. We still never let him live that down.
Huskie: We talked about this the last time you were here but that was back in 2012 so let’s see if your thoughts have changed any. What are your thoughts on Indy wrestling in Ohio?
Blackhart: Well the more things change the more that stay the same and I think that’s what we’ve seen within the past couple of years.
Huskie: How does the Indy scene now compare to when you started?
Blackhart: Well I think here recently we’ve seen some of the guys that have been around awhile speaking up more & more & calling bullshit when it’s needed.
Huskie: You have traveled around some. How does the Ohio scene compare to other states that you have worked in?
Blackhart: Ohio alone has more than one type of fan. While the stuff that gets over in Dayton doesn’t in Lima. The stuff that gets over in Lima doesn’t always get over Mansfield & so on & so forth. It seems though no matter what state you’re in there is good & there is bad. But the fans in Ohio seem to me to get into it faster.
Ripper interacting with the crowd.
Huskie: Let’s dig a little deeper into the Ohio Indy scene. Who are some young up and comers you think we need to watch out for in the next couple of years?
Blackhart: Levi Connors, Sless Taylor, Zakk Spadez, The Painkillers, Remi Wilkins, that Brannigan kid. Jeff Halloway, Mathis is blowing up. I think Juice Jennings & Jimmy Shane does stuff the kids today like.
Huskie: In your opinion who are some of the most underrated wrestlers in Ohio?
Blackhart: Jeremy Madrox, Caleb Stills, Mr. Main Event, Austin Manix and Jimmy Shane.
Huskie: In your opinion who are some of the top wrestlers in Ohio?
Blackhart: Jock Samson is the top wrestler & my best friend. Some would say Jake Crist I couldn’t call them a liar. Aaron Williams, Alex Colon, Brian Beech, Ron Mathis, Chris Hall & that other guy I use to manage Sherman Tank. And I guess Dusty Dillinger is coming back so he’d be in there too.
Huskie: Ripper you are a manager, we don’t see managers like we use to in wrestling. We also don’t see tag team and women’s wrestling near as much either. Why do you think these three things aren’t what they use to be?
Blackhart: That’s a good question. As I said before managers are sorely needed. There are so many guys that can’t talk on the mic to save their ass. Look at what Zeb Colter has done for Jack Swagger. Also the days of legit tag teams in the “major” leagues seems to be gone too. How many great wresters came out of tag teams? Brett Hart, Shawn Michaels, Even the Dream Dusty Rhoads. I don’t know why we don’t have the tag teams like we use to. I wish we did though. As far as women go I think it’s just a matter of that there just isn’t as many of good women wrestlers as there are men. There just aren’t as many women is wrestling period as there are men.
Huskie: What do managers, tag team and women’s wrestling bring to a show?
Blackhart: As far as women go it’s just something different. Like you said you just don’t see it that often anymore. There are some here in there but there are several Indy promotions that don’t have any women on their roster at all.
Tag teams also breaks up the same old same old on a show. I mean do you really want to see 2-3 hours of single matches? I don’t. Plus a tag team that works like a well-oiled machine is a thing of beauty to watch.
Managers on the other hand should be used to help with whatever needs it. Like getting a heel more heat, getting a story line over or a match. Plus they can interact with the crowd a lot more than the guys in the ring & fans eat that stuff up.
Ripper always has something to say.
Huskie: In your opinion who are some of the best managers, tag teams and women in Ohio?
Blackhart: My pal Vinny from Jersey is great as well as the team he manages in Handsome Vinny & Southpaw Sonny Scarboni. Brock Guffman is another great manager. Hooks is great at hyping up the guys he brings to the ring. Tag Teams as I mentioned the Scarboni’s, OI4K, Dirty South, Soul Shooters, Saturday Night Slammers, Heat Seekers just to name a few. As for the women Nevaeh hands down. Heather Owens just gets better & better. Amanda de la Cruz, Thunder Kitty & Samantha Heights is always learning & applying it to her craft.
Huskie: You currently work for WAR. What does WAR bring to the on Ohio Indy Scene?
Blackhart: To me W.A.R. has a little bit of everything. We have those characters that people love from like the 80′s style of wrestling, but we also have the high flyers, the brawlers, the big men, the comedy guys & the workers. There is something for everyone on a W.A.R. show I think which is why I think we’ve been around so long.
Huskie: On to a topic that was brought up a few weeks ago and it’s an interesting one and you touched on this the last time we talked. It was brought up by someone that managers, announcers and refs shouldn’t have merch. What are your thoughts on this?
Blackhart: I agree 100%. That’s not your role. I always say this. Did Bobby Heenan have a shirt? Jimmy Hart? Jim Cornette? How about Howard Finkle or Earl Hebner? And if they did would you as a fan really buy them? No you wouldn’t!
Huskie: I don’t want to get into a big discussion about this but I have seen two announcers and a ref all on different shows but for companies that many consider top companies in Ohio all come out and get huge pops and could possibly be more over than some of the wrestlers. Now keep in mind this has been on shows of three legit companies with some of the top talent in the state. With all that being said if the fans support these guys that much and are willing to spend money on their merch if they had merch, is that really that big of a deal?
Blackhart: IS because of who they are is because they are a part of that promotion? I would say it has more to do with the promotion & fans wanting to support everything about it. If you think you can make money you can try, but at the end of the day the performers, the true stars of the shows think you’re a goof & you’re not gonna be respected but rather seen as a mark for yourself. If you’re a manager & wanna do a shirt do it for your stable not you.
Huskie: Now on to what has been a real hot topic for the past couple of weeks now. That is feds running in towns that other feds run in. Go ahead and tell us how you feel about this?
Blackhart: I think they are lazy pieces of shit & should either build your own damn town or get out of the wrestling business altogether. Stop piggy backing on the hard work of others. There are so many towns out there why everyone focuses on one area is beyond me. Then you get the excuse “I didn’t know someone ran there” Which I call bullshit!
Huskie: Ok without naming names here. I have an interesting question. Somebody referred to a company that is running other feds town as a shit fed. I’m not saying that running someone else’s town his right cause let’s be honest it’s bad business. However if the company is using good talent can you really call them a shit fed? When I hear shit fed I’m thinking of a show that is just piss poor quality. Am I wrong? Feel free to be honest about this.
Ripper “checking” on his clients opponent.
Blackhart: A shit fed can have the most talented workers in the world. Put on stacked shows. Have every match be a 5 star match (which is way over used & means nothing now), but if they are only wrestling in front of 25 people every time & the promotion is being ran by fans who came into some money & have no idea how to promote, how to run a promotion, or any of the unwritten rules of wrestling then it’s a shit promotion and yes you’d be wrong.
Huskie: Ok let’s move on. You are now into podcasting. You along with Michael McCormick have a podcast, Tales from the Indies. How did that come about?
Blackhart: Pretty much McCormick said he want to do a podcast & said do you want to do it with me. Of course I said yes because everyone knows I’m an attention whore & the rest they say is history.
Huskie: This isn’t your first time working alongside McCormick. What is it like working with him on the podcast?
Blackhart: It’s a lot like working a show. He has his notes & a game plan when he sits down & I just wing it & totally screw up his plans (laughs). I have a blast doing it though. I mean we talk to people we think fans & people in the business alike would like to hear from.
Huskie: What has been your favorite episode of the show so far?
Blackhart: That’s a hard one. The A.J. Styles one was great but I think it’s a tie between Jeff Cannon & Big Tom just because these are 2 guys that do things the right way & guys that I proud to know. Although I hate Tom. You have to respect his passion for the business.
Huskie: What has been the biggest obstacle that you have had to overcome in your career?
Blackhart: That’s easy Big Tom Williams (laughs).That and as you said people just don’t use managers like they use to.
Huskie: Ok, explain. How is Tom the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Blackhart: He has been the biggest pain in my ass and it all started when Dexter Dementia signed with me & became Mr. Old School when he had to take time away due to his health. He screwed with the Old School Empire, He screwed with Badd Co. & now he’s screwing with my monster “Silverback” Chris Hall. He even screws with my best friend Jock Samson! He goes out of his way to abuse his authority & power at W.A.R. wrestling to put me & my clients on the back burner.
Huskie: What have been the highest and lowest points in your career?
Ripper addressing Michael McCormick and Switchblade Jake Neeley.
Blackhart: My highest probably taking Badd Co. to the W.A.R. tag team titles & them holding them for a year. The lowest was probably when we had some down time back in the day I think we went several months where W.A.R. & or GWA wasn’t running & we didn’t know if it W.A.R. was gonna ever start up again. I thought my ride was over.
Huskie: You have been in the business for a while now. How much longer do you think you can keep going out there doing what you do?
Blackhart: Until they don’t let me anymore. Even then I’ll find a way to do something, even if I’m 90 years old & just ringing the bell. I’m never going away. I’m an addict & pro wrestling is my drug of choice.
Huskie: What do you want to accomplish in your career?
Blackhart: I’ve never had delusions of making the big time. I just want it to always be fun. I never want wrestling to make me bitter. I just want to be known as a guy that will get whatever job you give that will get it done. I want to have the respect of the boys when it’s all said & done. There’s nothing more important to me than that.
Huskie: How do you want to be remembered?
Blackhart: As entertaining. I want to be the guy that you knew you could depend on to do what he was supposed to do & more. A guy who got to live out a childhood dream & was thankful for that every day. Oh & one of the greatest assholes of all time (laughs).
Huskie: Why should a promoter book you?
Blackhart: Because I’ll do what’s best for the promotion. I don’t go into business for myself. Plus I really think if there’s a guy that needs help getting over I can do that without making it about me.
Huskie: Is there anything that you would like to say to the promoters who have given you a chance in your career?
Blackhart: That this fat kid from little ol’ Belle Center Ohio is forever in their debt & I have mad respect for them all.
Huskie: Do you have any advice for those who are looking to get into the wrestling business?
Blackhart: Learn from those that are doing it the right way. Guys like Big Tom, Jeff Cannon, Roger Ruffen, and Cody Hawk. Just because you’re a fan doesn’t mean you KNOW wrestling. Take from someone that was just like you. I was a fan who got the chance of a life time. Get trained by legit trainers. Shut up & listen. ALWAYS be listening because you never stop learning.
Huskie: What is the best advice you have received in your career?
Blackhart: Just as I said above. Shut up & listen.
Huskie: Do you have anything that you would like to say to the wrestling fans out there?
Blackhart: Support Indy wrestling because without you it will die & go away.
Dexter Dementia proving that there is a way to shut Ripper up.
Huskie: How can fans follow you online?
Blackhart: I’m pretty Old School so Facebook is about it. I do have an official Ripper Blackhart page, plus there is a Tales From the Indies page.
Huskie: Before our time runs out, do you have any good stories that you would like to share with us?
Blackhart: There was this one time we were coming home from a show & Mr.Main Event kept making fart sounds & saying excuse me. Then someone said something about a sulfur fart & Mr. Main Event did one legit on command! It stunk up the whole van. Our ref Peachy was waving around his cell phone. So I grabbed it & read a text. It read pull over I just puked. I asked who sent this? He pointed to him. So I say pull over Peachy puked. Which someone responded are you FN serious? We pull over & Peachy let it fly. So the moral of the story is don’t ask Mr.Main Event to let a sulfur fart in a crowded van.
Huskie: Ripper it’s been great talking to you again but unfortunately our time has run out. I want to thank you again for joining us here at Wrestle Ohio.
Blackhart: Thank you for having me. Once again it was a good time.
Huskie: Alright wrestling fans be sure to get out to a show near you and see what kind of havoc Ripper Blackhart is causing. Until next time you have been Hanging with Huskie.