This past Saturday I had the opportunity to interview former ECW champion and star Steve Corino. Steve came over as a nice bloke and man with integrity. Its not very often you get chance to interview a top star and this is one of those interviews I will never forget. March 24th 2001 will always be the day I got to interview Steve Corino. The interview was a good opportunity to catch up with Steve and see how he is getting on since the closure of ECW. So here I present the full interview with wrestling superstar Steve Corino.
First off Steve I would like to welcome you to Talk Wrestling Online / Wrestling 101.
Thank you. It is my pleasure.
Can you first tell us what you have been up to since the closure of ECW?
Busy, Busy, Busy! I have been traveling the United States and Canada doing independents and getting into better shape.
Steve you went from working in a milk-processing plant in Philadelphia to actually wrestling in the ECW arena, can you tell us how this fate came about?
Hard work. For four years, I worked on the independent scene about three to four days a week and worked 60 hours a week at the milk plant, so I paid some dues. The ECW Arena was always special because it was only 45 minutes from my house and the fans in Philadelphia were always great.
What was it like for you in ECW? You was ECW champion and went on to be known around the world including here in the UK.
ECW was great. It had a wonderful atmosphere and every wrestler that walked into the locker room became family. And being known not just in the States, but also in great countries like the UK was an honor.
Did you know there was a big ECW fan base in the UK and that ECW sells tapes and had a TV shows over here on Bravo?
I did not know that but I am glad that the fans in the UK were aware of what the wrestlers in ECW were doing. It is a shame that we couldn’t have done a tour of the UK.
What was it like when you learned there was going to be no more ECW?
Disappointment. It was like it was an end of an era.
I know Heyman was behind in pay, but was there still a hope by you all that something would be done to keep ECW alive?
In the beginning. But as time passed I realized that the chances of getting out of the financial hole that ECW was in were slim.
Paul Heyman is man known as a wrestling genius himself. Can you please tell us how you got on with heyman and any nice stories about the man?
When I wrestled The American Dream Dusty Rhodes at Living Dangerously 2000, Paul Heyman knew it was the most important match in my career and afterwards he took me aside and whispered in my ear “That was better than Tully (Blanchard) and Dusty’s Bullrope Matches”. Which meant a lot to me because Tully was one of my heroes growing up.
We heard that you was backstage at Nitro and looking for a deal although nothing was ever made official, can you tell us how you found the atmosphere in WCW that night and was it more somber than in ECW when it was known it was closing?
I was actually at Nitro to see Dusty Rhodes and I guess everyone wanted to make more of a story out of it than it was. But as far as the atmosphere, it was wonderful.
Whats your thoughts on the WWF buying WCW and do you now see your self signing a deal with either of the two groups now all this situation of WCW closing is sorted out?
I just found out yesterday so I, like everyone else, will have to wait and see what happens. It should be exciting.
Who has been the most influential person in your career as a wrestler?
No doubt, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes.
What as been the most memorable moment in your career?
Working with the Dream at Living Dangerously and winning the World heavyweight championship.
Do you still keep in contact with Heyman and the other ex ECW crew?
Heyman-No. Most of the ECW crew-Yes.
What can we expect from you in the next 12 to 15 months?
You never know. So many things can happen in the next year that you can’t predict it. All I know is that where ever I am and whatever I am doing the great fans of wrestling can expect me to give 110%.
Any last comments before we close this interview?
I want to thank all the fans for their continued support and I can’t wait to tour the UK in the near future.
On behalf of all the staff and readers here at Talk Wrestling Online / Wrestling 101 I would like to wish you luck in your career and hope to see you on our TV screens soon.
Thank you.
March 24th 2001
Aaron Spencer