Bully Ray Interview

Under The Ring With Bully Ray

Bully Ray says what’s on his mind and does what’s best for Bully Ray.

The wrestling veteran and former TNA World Heavyweight Champion got the attention of many in the wrestling world when he attacked Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk at Dreamer’s House of Hardcore event at Poughkeepsie’s Mid-Hudson Civic Center on Nov. 9.

That leads us to right now. Next Monday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m., Bully Ray will take on Tommy Dreamer in a falls-count-anywhere street fight as part of TNA Wrestling’s One Night Only PPV, “#OldSchool,” which will be recorded for a later international viewing. Tickets start at $20.

The Poughkeepsie Journal will run a preview of the show in its print and online editions with comments from Bobby Roode and Tommy Dreamer. Click here to hear from Dreamer.

I had the chance to catch up with Bully Ray about his career and his match with Dreamer on Dec. 30.

Phil Strum: How long have you known Tommy Dreamer and when was the first time you wrestled Tommy Dreamer?

Bully Ray: I’d say we probably met for the first time around 1992 or 1993 when I first started with International World Class Championship Wrestling, which was a Northeast independent promotion. I don’t think we wrestled there. I don’t even remember. I don’t think we wrestled each other until the original ECW.

I think people are going to be really interested in our match. I showed up and kind of (ruined) his party at HOH 3. It’s going to be me and him, old school, street fight, falls count anywhere. We’re going to do what the people want us to do and that’s beat the (heck) out of each other. I plan, on that night, to put Dreamer through a flaming table.

PS: To you, what was the feeling like to be able to shock everyone and come out to the ring at HOH 3?

BR: It was great. I came up in a company, ECW, that was really good at shocking people. I think wrestling, across the board, needs that shock and awe feel. I do shock really well as I did in TNA in the last year as the president of Aces and Eights. What I did at House of Hardcore, people were buzzing, the wrestling world was buzzing, the internet was buzzing. It got a ton of hits on YouTube. It’s good for wrestling.

PS: How important is it for companies like TNA to do think outside the box a bit and do things like this. I was talking to Tommy Dreamer about how moments like that really don’t happen anymore.

BR: It’s very important for companies to do things like that. It keeps it interesting for people and it keeps people into wrestling across the board. Nobody really, in wrestling, is knocking them dead right now and selling out every arena. Wrestling is where it is right now. There’s a demographic that will always tune in and always buy merchandise and always buy the shows. But whenever you do something like I did at House of Hardcore, and people go, ‘hey HOH and TNA are working together,’ it’s lightning in a bottle. It’s a spark. TNA is also putting on a loaded card that night that people are going to want to be there in person for.

PS: What were your impressions of HOH as a show? How much of a blast from the past was it to be able to go to that show?

BR: It’s always nice to see the guys you came up with in ECW back in the day. House of Hardcore has been extremely successful so far. Tommy runs a tight ship and knows how to put on a quality show. HOH is a great alternative right now, and I say alternative because it’s something else to watch. There’s not enough different pro wrestling shows out there. In no way, shape or form, is HOH intended to be ECW, but it’s reminscient.
IMG_3540

Photo courtesy TNA wrestling

PS: Why should people come out to see TNA’s pay-per-view in Poughkeepsie?

BR: It’s being filmed for pay-per-view and whenever it’s pay-per-view, the wrestlers perform at a much higher level and the show is that much more important. It’s a stacked card. It’s not your traditional wrestling live event. These aren’t regular wrestling matches. We’ve got Jeff Hardy and Abyss in a Monster’s Ball match. We’ve got Bobby Roode and Cowboy James Storm in a Last Man Standing match, and of course, you’ve got me and Dreamer in a falls-count-anywhere, old-school, street fight. If I am a fan, Mid-Hudson Civic Center is a great place for wrestling and is a great environment. TNA is a fan-friendly company, so you know you’re going to show up and get your autographs. Tickets are not that expensive. Besides, what other wrestling are you going to watch on a Monday night?

PS: A lot of wrestlers don’t like ranking things in their career, but 2013 had to be a really great year for you. What do you think?

BR: I’m one of those guys who doesn’t rank moments in my career as my favorite or my best. It was all great. My greatest moment in my career was the whole thing. I’ve really enjoyed my whole run. I’ve had too many memorable moments and matches. 2013 was really great for me. I did what people thought I’d never be able to do. I was able to shock people like no other people can do. In 2013, I pulled off the biggest con in wrestling in a long time when I revealed myself as the president of Aces and Eights and people were (angry) about it. Whether Bully Ray is World Heavyweight Champion or not, I’m on the top of your tongue, whether it’s hoping I die or go screw myself. I’m relevant and I’ve always been relevant.