#WRESTLING SCENE Presents RINGSIDE 1980s

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WRESTLING SCENE Presents RINGSIDE : November 1983

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WRESTLING SCENE Presents RINGSIDE : November 1983

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WRESTLING SCENE Presents RINGSIDE : November 1983

MIKE ROTUNDO Young Star on the Rise

As told to Jack O’Shea

We would like to welcome everyone to our RINGSIDE interview and this month’s feature was conducted with one of the fastest rising stars on the wrestling scene, Mike Rotundo. Everyone who has seen this talented youngster in action agrees that he is a future superstar! Be on the lookout for this up and coming sensation for you definitely will be seeing and hearing quite a bit more about him in the future.

RINGSIDE: Mike, it’s a pleasure seeing you in action. I’ve watched you quite a bit in the last two months and you are very impressive. I really think that you have a very bright future ahead of you in professional wrestling.

MIKE ROTUNDO: Thank you very much for the compliment. It’s nice seeing you again and like you said, I feel that I do have a bright future. I basically attribute this to my background. I’ve been wrestling since I was 12 and I'm now 25 and since I’ve been in the Mid-Atlantic area I’ve been able to gain plenty of valuable experience from facing the caliber of top competition that is competing here.

[Rotundo drop kicks Howard.]

RINGSIDE: Tonight, competing in Greenville, we have three World’s champions; two former champions as well as the current NWA World’s champion Harley Race. Will you be watching their matches?

ROTUNDO: That’s right! Ric Flair will be here trying to regain the World’s crown from Harley Race and that will be one exceptional match. Besides, Dory Funk Jr. will also be here and every opportunity I get I make it a point to watch the matches. You can learn so much just by watching top stars such as Flair, Race, and Funk. 

RINGSIDE: How many years are you wrestling professionally? ROTUNDO: I’ve only been wrestling a little less than two years.

RINGSIDE: Actually in two years time you have made a great deal of progress. How do you feel you would fare against the World’s champion at this stage of your career?

ROTUNDO: Right now it would take a great effort by me to win that belt but I have confidence to overcome any lack of experience which I may have. I know I am capable of defeating the World’s champion and on any given night anything could happen. 

RINGSIDE: What made you pursue a professional mat career? ROTUNDO: I was approached by a New York promoter after I won the Eastern championship for Syracuse University. He asked me if I was interested in a professional wrestling as a career and I told him that I was. I then began to watch the matches more intently and I became hooked. I always wanted to be a champion someday and when this opportunity came along I felt that I now had a chance to make something of myself. I trained hard and I’m happy that I chose this profession. 

[Mike Rotundo stands in the ring and awaits the start of the action.]

RINGSIDE: Were you always athletically inclined as a youngster?

ROTUNDO: Yes I was. In high school I wrestled and also played football and baseball and I was offered scholarships in all three sports to different universities across the country. I accepted a football scholarship to attend Syracuse where I played defensive end and I also wrestled. I‘ve been in sports and physical fitness all my life and I wanted to continue this. That’s the main reason why I got into professional wrestling. 

Actually for me, my best sport was wrestling. I really didn’t pursue baseball and I often wonder what would have happened if I pursued that. I caught and I had decent size for that sport too but as it worked out I excelled more in wrestling. I enjoyed playing football but I realized that the longevity of a professional wrestling career is much greater than one in professional football. 

RINGSIDE: How tall are you and what is your current weight?

ROTUNDO: I’m 6’2 ½” and I weigh 240 pounds. 

[Rotundo has Bill Howard trapped in his airplane spin. Rotundo makes his way to the ring.]

RINGSIDE: You have a very impressive physique. How do you keep yourself in such superb condition?

ROTUNDO: Since I’ve been in this area I’ve been training with Rocky Steamboat who I feel has the best build and is the most athletic wrestler in the profession. He is able to keep that flexibility inside the ring and had numerous opportunities to train with him and he’s really helped me a lot. I’ve worked on the weights and I still do my running and quite a bit of stretching besides working on the various moves to use in the ring. 

RINGSIDE: Unlike many of the other wrestlers who have only been wrestling a couple years, you are very aggressive inside that ring. You never hold back and constantly go after your opponent. This oftentimes makes the difference between winning and losing. 

ROTUNDO: That’s correct. I feel that if you’re aggressive the people will support you. I go after my competitors with the purpose of pinning his shoulders to the mat. If you go after your opponent then you are in command and it makes it that much easier to come out on top. If you stay within the rules and wrestle, you will always have the people behind you.

[Rotundo applies pressure on Jake Roberts’ leg.]

RINGSIDE: Do you have any favorite finishing maneuvers?

ROTUNDO: I like the airplane spin the best. I feel if i could put my opponent up on my shoulders and spin him, then he has no control at all. I also use the roll-up-and-bridge which pins the man’s shoulders to the mat and when I bridge there simply is no escape. There are a lot of others. Actually I use whatever is best at that particular moment. You have to keep an open mind when you are in that ring and be ready for any situation which may airse. 

RINGSIDE: What is your nationality?

ROTUNDO: I’m Italian. My parents are from the U.S.A. but my descendants are from Florence, Italy. So the name Rotundo is definitely Italian. 

RINGSIDE: Over the years there have been many Italian superstars.ROTUNDO: That’s right. Bruno Sammartino for one is an idol that I’ve watched many times. I like his style of wrestling. He was aggressive and a former World’s champion too! I would love to go home someday and have the opportunity to wrestle in New York!

[Rotundo applies a side arm lock on Bill Howard.]RINGSIDE: When time presents itself what are some of the hobbies you may have outside the ring?ROTUNDO: I like to do some fishing. I used to hunt but I haven't had the opportunity to do too much hunting and I really love the beach, the sun, and the women. When I have time off I really like to go home to see my family and relax. As a professional wrestler, we have a very demanding schedule with the traveling and all the dates that we have to keep so any kind of hobby that involves relaxation is nice. 

RINGSIDE: We see that Jerry Brisco has now changed his style and is not adhering to the rules. The other night you had a little altercation with him. What happened?

ROTUNDO: Gerald and Jack Brisco, since they have captured the World tag team title from Rick Steamboat and Jay Youngblood have changed their outlook somewhat and it was just an incident where I was watching the match and Gerald passed a remark which I didn’t care too much for and we got into a little scuffle. Jack then came out to help his brother but Jay Youngblood was right there with me and we came out on top. RINGSIDE: Just like you have been doing in the Mid-Atlantic area! We hope to see you win a couple of championships here in the Mid-Atlantic and then eventually capture the big one, the World’s crown. ROTUNDO: I hope so too! Thank you very much and I want to also thank the fans who have been rooting for me and pulling for me everywhere I’ve appeared. They really mean a lot to me.

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WRESTLING SCENE Presents RINGSIDE : November 1983

ADRIAN STREET: Not Just Another Pretty Face

“The Exotic One,” Adrian Street has been a sensation since arriving in America. The man with the wild look has proven to be not just another pretty face.

By Jack O’Shea

It’s often been said that looks can be deceiving and this expression certainly fits “The Exotic One,” Adrian Street. When his well coiffeured locks and his impeccable clothes and make-up, one just would never get the impression that “The Exotic One” competes in the rough and tough world of professional wrestling. But after seeing this sensation in action one can easily see that he is indeed a very good professional wrestler. 

Street has held the Middleweight Championship of Europe, The Lightheavyweight championship of Europe and the European Tag Team championship while competing in the “Motherland.” After literally controlling Europe Adrian Street decided to take his act to the United States and the “Exotic One” has been the talk of the country ever since.

[The Exotic One, Adrian Street, looks in his mirror admiringly.]

“I felt it was about time to let the world in on my fabulous talents,” Adrian confessed while sunning himself in Florida. “For so long I had been the toast of England and I knew that it was time to conquer America. Every since I’ve been here I have taken the world by storm. First I conquered California. There I won the Americas title and the Americas tag team title with the equally fabulous Timothy Flowers III. Then I traveled to Tennessee, and boy oh boy, did i drive those country folks wild! While there I did quite a bit of bodily harm on the superstiff, Bill Dundee. From there I traveled to Florida and as you can see I have once again taken over. If you still have any doubts, first check Dusty Rhodes’ scalp. In my trophy room I have a nice lock of his hair That will show him not to mess with Adrian Street.

[Adrian Street makes his way to the ring followed by J.J. Dillion.

Adrian Street sends Barry Windham reeling.]

It seems that not only Dusty Rhodes but also Blackjack Mulligan, Barry Windham, and Mike Graham have been waging war against the “Exotic One.” To help him combat these forces of “evil,” Adrian’s manager, J.J. Dillion, hired Elijah Akeem to keep his eye on Adrian. Akeem is Adrian Street’s personal bodyguard. He escorts the “Exotic One” to the ring and is always around in case someone might try to ruffle Adrian’s hair or cause any other serious problems. Since Akeem has joined Adrian’s entourage, not too many people have been messing around with the “Exotic One.” Who would have when you have a 6’6”, 320 pound brute ready to hump in at the first outbreak of trouble.

[Elijah Ajeem removed the handcuffs from Adrian Street as Miss Linda stands by.]

But who is Elijah Akeem and how did he get to be Adrian Street’s personal bodyguard? Dusty Rhodes has the answer: “Can you imagine what the boys on the south side of Chicaho are saying today about old Leroy Brown? Just because J.J. Dillion done bought him some funk jewelry and stuffed him in a three piece suit don’t change him one bit. Mr. Elijah Akeem is still the same old jive turkey that he was the day they found him in a pool hall in Chicago only today Sweet Adrian has helped him come out of the closet.”

[Adrian Street shows off his physique.

Adrian Street grabs Barry Windham around the neck and pounds away.]

Besides Dillion and Akeem, there is yet another pretty face in Adrian Street’s entourage and she’s known as Miss Linda. Actually, Miss Linda has been with Adrian Street since his days in merry old England. Although the two aren’t linked romantically, Miss Linda has been his constant companion for quite a number of years. “Adrian is a very warm, kind hearted and understanding person,” Miss Linda said recently. “He never mistreats or abuses me and he is very generous and considerate too. I feel that it is an honor and privilege to serve him. I help him prepare for his match, accompany him to the ring and assist in removing his outer garments. Once the matches are complete, I see to it that his wardrobe is in order and all of his basic needs are taken care of.” It sounds as if everyone could use the kind of assistance that Miss Linda supplies. 

Actually Rhodes, Mulligan, Windham and Graham even appear to be a little jealous over all of the attention that Miss Linda gives to Adrian. “I just can’t see what Miss Linda is doing wasting her valuable time with a stiff like that,” Dusty lamented. “She should be going around with a real man. I could take her to the best little honky tonks this side of the Rio Grande and show her how to have real good time, Texas style, if you know what I mean.”

[“The Exotic One” grabs Terry Allen by the head.]

But Miss Linda has no plans of leaving her man and taking up with anybody, especially Dusty Rhodes. “In all of our travels,” Miss Linda stated, “I’ve never run across anyone as rough or as crude as your American Dream. If that’s the way all Americans act then I surely can see why so many American women go wild for our English rock-n-roll stars.” Poor old Dusty will just have to clean up his act before he could ever stand half a chance with Miss Linda. 

[“The Exotic One,” Adrian Street in all his splendor.]

“Right now I feel that I am slumming,” Adrian confessed. “This time of year I’m usually on the south of France enjoying the good life. This is what I am accustomed to, not your run of the mill five and dime stores, your Seven-Elevens and these tacky Taco Bells. Before coming to America I had no idea whatsoever that this country was so backwards. My stay here has totally been an education for me. I know now how the other half lives and it’s sad to say but I actually feel sorry for the hayseed cowboys like Blackjack Mulligan, Barry Windham, Dusty Rhodes and Ron Bass. These people do not know what the good life is all about! They know nothing at all about the theater, the arts, museums, shows, concerts, ballets, recital halls. These merely are some of the things that people with culture learn at a young age in England. This is part of our upbringing, part of our way of life and from what I’ve seen of America it is sorely lacking in cultural events such as these.“

Whenever anyone talks about Adrian Street the only thing that is mentioned is his exotic “look.” Very rarely does anyone ever mention his wrestling ability. Actually, Adrian Street is a very good wrestler. He has a sound fundamental approach to the sport and if you look behind his wild get-up you just may see that Adrian Street is a remarkable wrestler, “I learned the sport is wrestling at an early age,” Adrian confessed. “Wrestling is an art and I am an artist. I know how to preform every move imaginable and then some. I have so many pinning techniques at my disposal that you just never know what to expect next from me when I go stepping through these ropes. I expect to be in America for a very long time, and fans across the country be on the lookout for the Exotic One for soon I will appear in your area too!”

From what we have see if Adrian Street since his arrival in America, it is definite that the man is leaving his mark on the wrestling scene. With his fantastic move and wild mannerisms Adrian Street has proven to be a tremendous athlete, not just another pretty face. 

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WRESTLING SCENE Presents RINGSIDE : November 1983