Shoot: Lanny Poffo

Lanny Poffo’s interview doesn’t break any ground in relation to other shoots, but his charismatic personality and eloquent speaking voice make him a guy you wouldn’t mind sitting down and having a beer with. He has a warmth and passion about the business you can tell is genuine, and at no time does he ever seem bitter. Where other wrestlers tend to put themselves over, and in reality it’s hard not to when speaking about yourself for an hour, Poffo does not dance around what his position with each company was. He was fully aware he was an upper mid card jobber at best, and actually relishes his lack of push. The interviewer shows a lot more restraint than I would have when it comes to questions about Randy Savage. He was very respectful to Lanny, and remembered its supposed to be a “Lanny Poffo” shoot and not a “Brother of the Macho Man” shoot. His apprehensiveness to burn bridges is refreshing, but at the same time you long for some good dirt. If you are a casual wrestling fan, this probably isn’t for you, but the fanatics will enjoy the performance from Lanny, the insight about coming up in the territories, and the fact he can remember poems from 20 years ago. If you don’t want to watch the interview, you can find some key points below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e34FJLuT8KQ


SPOILERS:

- Vince McMahon brought him in to release him, but Lanny saved his job by asking Vince to let him work heel for one night. Vince thought he was too good looking to be a heel. Lanny begged Vince to let him be a heel for one night, and if the fans didn’t buy it, he would go. That night, Lanny went to the ring in the Boston Garden and caused fans to jump the guardrail when he insulted all four Boston teams in his poem. McMahon signed him to a new contract immediately.
- He states his best friend is Rick Martel. Rick’s family flew Lanny into Canada as a surprise to Rick on his 50th birthday. They had Lanny dress as a clown, and reveal himself to Martel during the party.
- Hulk Hogan loved working Lanny, and the two have a very good relationship.
- David Sammartino and Lanny were both victims of Pat Patterson’s rise to power. Lanny decided to stay and do jobs, but David quit immediately.
- After hearing one poem from Lanny on Tuesday Night Titans, Vince McMahon told him he is to do a poem before every match.
- He took the cap and gown idea from a gimmick his father did twenty years earlier.
- His children’s book was nominated for the Newbury Award.
- When riding in a car with Ronnie Garvin, Ronnie pulled over to ask a middle aged woman who was gardening for directions, and got her attention by yelling “Hey c*nt”
- Was involved in a backstage altercation with Bam Bam Bigelow after Lanny made a joke at his expense in front of the entire locker room. Bigelow asked him if he wanted to take it outside and Lanny replied that he would love to because it would be safer than working him.

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