WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall spoke with The Whig about his pro wrestling career and more. Here are the highlights.
On being Razor Roman: “When I first had my debut match, my tryout match, Vince liked it and I was summoned to his office there in the arena,” Hall recalled. At that time, WWE had many characters, like Big Boss Man, who had actually worked in a prison, plus a Model, a Birdman, a Million Dollar Man, a tax collector. He goes ‘Well, I understand your father’s in the army, he was career operating officer.’ I said ‘Vince, if you want me to be G.I. Joe, I’ll be the best G.I. Joe I can be.’”
“I said ‘Did you ever see Scarface?’ He said ‘No.’ I went ‘Say hello to the bad guy.’ I just started doing that schtick and he loved it and he thought I was a genius. I’m ripping off the movie and he thinks I’m a genius. Of course I never corrected him about the genius part,” Hall quipped. “But that’s how it all came about.”
On leaving WWF for WCW: “I feel good about what I did,” he said. “I went to him man to man, months in advance, asked for the money, gave a written notice, 90 days in advance, and the notice was only that I didn’t want to leave, but I just didn’t want my contract to keep rolling over. Initially, the contracts that the WWE offered was 10 days, 10 matches you were guaranteed in one year; 10 matches at $150 a match, which means you’re guaranteed $1,500, but you give up everything — you can’t wrestle, or promote, or do an interview or an appearance or anything for anybody but Vince. But he’s only guaranteeing you $1,500. I just didn’t want that contract to roll over, I wanted to talk, but he was furious.”
On his relationship with Hulk Hogan and being paired with Hogan in the NWO: “I’m happy now the way things worked out,” Hall said. “I call Hulk a friend. You couldn’t really be a pro wrestler in the ’80s and not be a fan of Hulk Hogan. And then to years later end up being partners with the guy. And then to be in positions where you’re making wrestling-related decisions for the guy: ‘I don’t know Hulk, I think we should do this,’ and he yields to you?! It’s a really cool thing.”
Hall also talked about wanting to work in NXT and more. You can read the entire interview here.