The Shannon Moore Interview

BS: Brad Stutts here with Shannon Moore, formerly of SCW, OMEGA, NDW, uhh…did I miss any of them? (laughs)

SM: Just wherever man, anywhere on the East Coast, West Coast, I have been there more than likely.

BS: You started at a really young age, did that ever hinder you in trying to get booked in various places?

SM: Actually, it did, as far as the licensing, that is what got me, they would ask for my ID and I would struggle to get my license in that area. But as far as getting booked, there was always Matt and Jeff, and they were real confident about my work. They would always put in the good word for me and then I would come in and show everybody that I could actually work.…well, I think I can.

BS: You made a name for yourself initially here on the North Carolina indy scene as Kid Dynamo, what are your memories of those days?

SM: Oh man, there are so memories, I can't pick specific ones, there were so many good times, especially with the OMEGA clique, which was, as you know, Matt, Jeff Hardy, Marty Garner (Cham Pain), Jason Ahrndt (Venom), Shane Helms, myself, and everybody else, every road trip we were on was a great memory. I could write a book a thousand pages long just on the memories from those trips.

BS: That seems to be kind of the trend recently among wrestlers, writing the biographies. Any particular memories from the road you can share with us?

SM: I will tell you my favorite one, my favorite one has nothing to do with wrestling, but, me, Matt, Jeff, Jason, Marty, and this big guy named Big Dog that Matt and Jeff were training at the time all headed to Myrtle Beach for Matt's 21st birthday. And we went out that night, came back, and we had me, Marty, and Jeff in one bed, and Matt and Jason Ahrndt in another bed, and old Garner was wearing a golden g-string. Marty happened to be on the left side of the bed and I was in the middle with Jeff on the right side, and Big Dog got a little lit that night, a few words were passed between him and Marty, and sure enough Garner pops right up in his gold g-string and socks Big Dog right in the eye.

(At this point, Garner, who was also in the lockeroom, reminded all who were listening in that "that was a big boy too")

SM: Yeah, he was a big old boy, there was a little frustration between him and Marty, and Marty handled it like he usually does by socking him right in the head. Marty is known as the head-socker of the indy circuit, and the world, really. (laughter)

BS: You got your big break so far, working with WCW under the Three Count gimmick, and, I don't know how much validity there was to them, but rumors and rumblings had spread over the Internet of a "boy band" type gimmick in WCW long before you guys debuted, initially what did you guys think of the gimmick?

SM: I liked it man, because me and Shane and Joey Matthews and Christian York had done something similar down in Nashville, the Baddstreet Boyz, and when we got picked up with WCW, Jimmy Hart created Three Count. He was a big supporter of us, I love Jimmy Hart to death, he is one of the greatest in the world. He got behind us and believed in us, and there was some doubt I think from some of the higher powers, but Jimmy convinced them to try it and made it work.

BS: You really had two partners in the three-man faction. Compare working with Shane Helms to working with Evan Karagias as a partner.

SM: As a partner, there are a lot of differences in personality between the two. Me and Shane go back further than me and Evan, we have been tight from way back before we were ever signed or ever in WCW, and Evan has got his good qualities too. He is a good guy and he has improved so much since we started the Three Count gimmick, he looks good, I just think he will keep on improving. As far as Shane goes, his work speaks for itself, he is a personal friend and I think he will always do well.

BS: What did you think when they put Tank Abbott with you?

SM: Ummm…he had his qualities I guess as far as comedy mileage, I think it kind of went in the wrong direction after a little while and that is what kind of killed it.

BS: You guys had some hellacious matches with the Jung Dragons and eventually the ladders got involved, being often compared to the Hardyz/Edge and Christian matches in the WWF. A case could be made that what really got Matt and Jeff and Edge and Christian over was how much the company got behind the ladder matches. Do you think WCW could have done a better job of getting behind the matches you guys were having?

SM: I think the ladder matches spoke for themselves as far as the workrate and what all else we put into the matches. Just like you said, the Hardys, Edge and Christian, put on these hellacious matches and the office saw them and just said these guys deserve something better. We put on these hellacious matches, and uhh…yeah, I think they could have gone a little farther with it. I think we could have gotten a little more credit maybe. I am happy with what they gave me, I was on TV, I work hard whether I am on TV or the indys, and I always say that if I am entertaining myself then I know I am entertaining the crowd. And I think those went down, at least for now until somebody tops us, as the best ladder matches in WCW, so I am pleased with it personally, I just think they could have gotten a little more mileage out of it.

BS: When the WWF-WCW transition came through, two of the first names that got out were Shannon Moore and Shane Helms, as far as guys the WWF came right out and said, "we want these guys on our team for sure" How do you feel the WWF has handled the transaction so far as far as keeping the boys updated on the progress and things of that nature?

SM: I think they've handled it perfectly. I mean everything thus far has been a smooth transition and has been handled real professionally and it looks like, ya know, everybody is going to be given equal chances.

BS: Is there any insight you can give us as to who within the WWF organization thus far, at least to your knowledge, has been handling talent coordinations of things of that nature for the "new WCW"?

SM: I really have not gotten to meet many of the office people yet. So as far as knowing all the people I am kinda in the dark. The contact I have had so far has been really professional and I am really pleased with it.

BS: Any indication you've been given at all in regards to a start date?

SM: Through the Internet, you guys probably know just as much as I do. The June start dates that have been talked about, I mean, that's exactly what I know, so, the sooner the better. I am ready to go back to work and go back to busting my ass again and get back on TV, I can't wait to get back to work.

BS: What are you hoping that Shannon Moore can accomplish working for Vince McMahon in the "new WCW"?

SM: I am just ready to get back to work and get back to TV so everybody in the nation can see it. I am ready to work hard in a company that appreciates guys who work hard and guys who are willing to help re-build the company. That is what I am ready for. Somewhere down the road, I hope some of the OMEGA guys can get back together and cross paths, maybe with the ladder matches see The Hardys against Shannon Moore and Shane Helms. I am looking down the road at things like that, that would be a dream come true, going back to the old days when we were just starting. It would be real fun.

BS: The fan base on the Hardcore Fan Club website is almost entirely people from the North Carolina independent scene and people who follow it, is there anything in closing you'd like to say to the Shannon Moore/Kid Dynamo fans out there?

SM: Just like to say thanks for everything, all the e-mails and everything that WCW got trying to get us on TV and trying to get me and Shane put on top. It really takes the fan base to get people's careers going sometimes, us being smaller guys, sometimes it is hard to get spots towards the top, so I really am grateful for all the fans out there who showed an interest in us.

BS: I was going to close with that, but you mentioned something about being a smaller guy, what do you think about the philosophy that a lot of people have that the WWF and Vince McMahon specifically runs a "big man's territory"?

SM: That's not so, look at Matt and Jeff for instance, they are not the biggest guys in the world, but they went in there and proved theirselves. It is all about who is willing to work hard and if you work hard and put 100% into it, they will appreciate it and you will get something back for it, and I am definitely ready to work hard.

BS: Thank you, Shannon.

SM: Alright, thanks a lot man.