World Wrestling Insanity's video: Nick Bockwinkel Full Shoot Interview 2005

He was one of the first guests ever on World Wrestling Insanity and, in 2005, the legendary Nick Bockwinkel joined James Guttman for a shoot interview. (Recorded in 2005 - audio quality may reflect that a bit, sorry) Nick told a story about his first time in a wrestling ring as a young child. He talked about going to see his father, Warren, wrestle and being carried into the ring by various performers to collect change that the crowd had thrown at the referee in protest. Bockwinkel said that it was difficult at times to be a second generation in the '40s and told the story of dealing with an antagonist in high school. Nick says that after hearing over and over again how his dad was a "phony," he challenged the guy to a match in the school gym. Bockwinkel said that he learned to look someone in the eye and call them out. If they blink it's because they're "bullsh**ing." It's a lesson he says he used throughout his wrestling career. Nick talks about respect for Hulk Hogan and how he was always secure wrestling Hulk because he knew he'd always be ready to go. He says that Hogan got a bad rap in the industry. Bockwinkel has a lot of respect for Bobby Heenan and his wit. He says that most of Heenan's lines were ad libbed and he was more over than many wrestlers were. Nick tells the story of having Bobby sub for Ray Stevens on occasion and hearing the crowd roar in appreciation over the announcement despite Heenan not being a full-time wrestler. Discussion moves on to today's wrestling scene and whether or not the business is overscripted. If in his prime, Nick says that he would love to have a match with Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, or the Guerreros. Plus, Bockwinkel speaks about his views on today's style of wrestling, why he felt Verne Gagne fell to the McMahon expansion, the bumps today's stars take, the decision of the AWA to recognize Hulk Hogan as a former champion and more.