INTERVIEWS
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LETTING THE WORLD KNOW
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FREESTYLING -- A LOST ART
Interviews in the sports entertainment product of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have been largely, if not totally, scripted for nearly every performer since the mid-2000s. This was a huge departure from the decades that preceded it, and some argue that it has led to not only the diminished quality of WWE’s product, but to their inability to create new stars to carry the company forward. Legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Mick Foley, all products of the late-1990s “Attitude Era”, weren’t handed scripted promos to memorize, but instead connected with audiences by putting themselves into their interviews, responding to the crowd, and delivering an energy and credibility that is all but missing in that product today.
The greatest talkers in the history of the business were likewise not handed scripts, but used their own words, wit, charisma, and determination to reach audiences. They had to experiment to learn what the crowd reacted to and connected with, in everything from their attire, mannerisms, speech patterns, and catch phrases. Not everyone succeeded, of course, but those who did achieved that success organically, and winning over the audience would often create deep connections that would endure for decades.
In the 1980s, wrestling was still very much portrayed as “real” and legitimate competition, and helping fans to believe in the conflicts they watched each week required a great deal of talent and perseverance. Excelling in the business required more than convincingly executing moves in the ring, it also meant showing the fans who you were and what made you tick.
When Animal & Hawk burst upon the scene, their interviews were wild, unpredictable, and never, ever boring. As each man found their character’s voice and revealed to the audience what motivated them to do what they do, fans began to identify with and support them, even when the target of their brutality was a beloved fan favorite in their territory.
The greatest talkers in the history of the business were likewise not handed scripts, but used their own words, wit, charisma, and determination to reach audiences. They had to experiment to learn what the crowd reacted to and connected with, in everything from their attire, mannerisms, speech patterns, and catch phrases. Not everyone succeeded, of course, but those who did achieved that success organically, and winning over the audience would often create deep connections that would endure for decades.
In the 1980s, wrestling was still very much portrayed as “real” and legitimate competition, and helping fans to believe in the conflicts they watched each week required a great deal of talent and perseverance. Excelling in the business required more than convincingly executing moves in the ring, it also meant showing the fans who you were and what made you tick.
When Animal & Hawk burst upon the scene, their interviews were wild, unpredictable, and never, ever boring. As each man found their character’s voice and revealed to the audience what motivated them to do what they do, fans began to identify with and support them, even when the target of their brutality was a beloved fan favorite in their territory.
THE FORMULA WITH THREE COMPONENTS
Shortly after becoming a team, their interview style gravitated toward each man’s natural personality.
For Hawk, this meant a healthy dose of anger mixed with more than a dash of insanity, not only scaring opponents, but making them believe that he meant every word. Animal’s approach was full-force anger, shouting for all to hear that he and Hawk were unbeatable, would destroy their opponents, and that anyone who crossed them would pay. To round things out, Paul Ellering’s calm and calculated demeanor made it clear that he was the brains of the operation, guiding his monsters on a path of destruction to annihilate all opponents, prove their dominance as the greatest tag team, and bring home the money that they deserve.
While the subjects of their rants changed, and the order of their diatribes would occasionally differ, Hawk & Animal would usually dish out a verbal assault on their foes, and Paul would wrap things up with his own twisted version of sanity. No matter the subject or situation, each and every interview by The Road Warriors was entertaining, and for many fans, these segments served as the highlight of each week’s wrestling show.
For Hawk, this meant a healthy dose of anger mixed with more than a dash of insanity, not only scaring opponents, but making them believe that he meant every word. Animal’s approach was full-force anger, shouting for all to hear that he and Hawk were unbeatable, would destroy their opponents, and that anyone who crossed them would pay. To round things out, Paul Ellering’s calm and calculated demeanor made it clear that he was the brains of the operation, guiding his monsters on a path of destruction to annihilate all opponents, prove their dominance as the greatest tag team, and bring home the money that they deserve.
While the subjects of their rants changed, and the order of their diatribes would occasionally differ, Hawk & Animal would usually dish out a verbal assault on their foes, and Paul would wrap things up with his own twisted version of sanity. No matter the subject or situation, each and every interview by The Road Warriors was entertaining, and for many fans, these segments served as the highlight of each week’s wrestling show.
CATCHPHRASES
"WHAT A RUSH!"
After describing in great detail how they planned to dismantle their opponents, Hawk would say, "Ohhh, what a rush! A rush for us, bad for you!". Fans picked up on "WHAT A RUSH" and began holding up signs with the saying, which meant Hawk used it even more often. When the duo arrived in the World Wrestling Federation in 1990, Hawk's growl of the phrase played at the beginning of their entrance theme, and those words would forever be linked with Hawk & Animal wherever they went.
"Snack on Danger, Dine on Death (dead men don’t make money)"
As a way to end his portion of an interview, Hawk would say of himself and Animal, "We snack on danger and dine on death!" That later became "Snack on danger, dine on death, dead men don't make money!" It is universally accepted that if anyone, anywhere refers to either snacking on danger or dining on death, they are discussing The Road Warriors.
"Tell ‘em!"
When it was time for either Animal or Hawk to transition to someone else during an interview, they would often say either "Tell 'em Hawk!", "Tell 'em, Animal!", or "Tell 'em, Paul!" This simple phrase was seldom spoken by any other wrestler, so it became a signature of The Road Warriors' interviews.
"WELL!"
Whenever it was Hawk's turn to speak during an interview, he would sometimes begin with an over-emphasized, "WELL!", followed by an always-unique description of their opponents or the intended method of torture they would experience. When the fans began to pop just for the word, "WELL!", the pause after it became longer, allowing fans more time to react. Hawk had successfully created a one-word catchphrase. Check it out!
"Weasel Slappers", etc.
Hawk often said that, “There are two kinds of people in this world.” Sometimes, those were “weasels and weasel slappers,” and other times, those were “clamheads and neo-maxi zoom dweebies.”
While few can claim to understand what Hawk meant by those labels, no one was willing to question him on exactly what he meant. This all added a hint of mania to Hawk’s interviews, adding to the intensity and believability of their characters. Check it out!
“It’s not nice to mess with The Legion of Doom.”
The mastermind behind the mad men, Paul Ellering, occasionally broke out a maniacal laugh, often after his men decimated a babyface opponent (or two, or three). He would then mock those opponents for daring to take on his duo, saying, “It’s not nice to mess with The Legion of Doom!”, followed by more laughter.
“A little different…”
Rather than ignore the obvious, some of Hawk’s early promos would hear him talk about how he and Animal were “A little different… just a little!”, pointing out to the fans that they weren’t like most other wrestlers, and emphasizing what the fans already suspected -- these men were vicious, they were crazy, and they knew it. Check it out!
"You don't like it? We don't care!"
After describing in great detail how they planned to dismantle their opponents, Hawk would say, "Ohhh, what a rush! A rush for us, bad for you!". Fans picked up on "WHAT A RUSH" and began holding up signs with the saying, which meant Hawk used it even more often. When the duo arrived in the World Wrestling Federation in 1990, Hawk's growl of the phrase played at the beginning of their entrance theme, and those words would forever be linked with Hawk & Animal wherever they went.
"Snack on Danger, Dine on Death (dead men don’t make money)"
As a way to end his portion of an interview, Hawk would say of himself and Animal, "We snack on danger and dine on death!" That later became "Snack on danger, dine on death, dead men don't make money!" It is universally accepted that if anyone, anywhere refers to either snacking on danger or dining on death, they are discussing The Road Warriors.
"Tell ‘em!"
When it was time for either Animal or Hawk to transition to someone else during an interview, they would often say either "Tell 'em Hawk!", "Tell 'em, Animal!", or "Tell 'em, Paul!" This simple phrase was seldom spoken by any other wrestler, so it became a signature of The Road Warriors' interviews.
"WELL!"
Whenever it was Hawk's turn to speak during an interview, he would sometimes begin with an over-emphasized, "WELL!", followed by an always-unique description of their opponents or the intended method of torture they would experience. When the fans began to pop just for the word, "WELL!", the pause after it became longer, allowing fans more time to react. Hawk had successfully created a one-word catchphrase. Check it out!
"Weasel Slappers", etc.
Hawk often said that, “There are two kinds of people in this world.” Sometimes, those were “weasels and weasel slappers,” and other times, those were “clamheads and neo-maxi zoom dweebies.”
While few can claim to understand what Hawk meant by those labels, no one was willing to question him on exactly what he meant. This all added a hint of mania to Hawk’s interviews, adding to the intensity and believability of their characters. Check it out!
“It’s not nice to mess with The Legion of Doom.”
The mastermind behind the mad men, Paul Ellering, occasionally broke out a maniacal laugh, often after his men decimated a babyface opponent (or two, or three). He would then mock those opponents for daring to take on his duo, saying, “It’s not nice to mess with The Legion of Doom!”, followed by more laughter.
“A little different…”
Rather than ignore the obvious, some of Hawk’s early promos would hear him talk about how he and Animal were “A little different… just a little!”, pointing out to the fans that they weren’t like most other wrestlers, and emphasizing what the fans already suspected -- these men were vicious, they were crazy, and they knew it. Check it out!
"You don't like it? We don't care!"
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