#SmallTalk with Tommy Dreamer

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I'm Dylan, that's George, and today we have another small talk with, uh, I call him my wrestling dad. I wish him happy father's day every father's day because he has been a, uh, a parental figure to me, um, in a weird way, my, uh, my whole wrestling career pretty much. So today on the show is Tommy Dreamer, but before we get too far, George, what do you got for us? Huge episode that we've been trying to get into the works for months, it seems, but the scheduling conflicts and personal things come up. You won't be able to see it in the actual recording, but Tommy Dreamer joins the chat and his name in the chat is I hate Swaggle, which just, so he was all, uh, I sent him the link and then it wouldn't open on his, on his laptop. And as you'll hear and as you'll especially see on this interview, he has so many AV issues in this one, I definitely lose him for a good 40 seconds of it, and I'm just sitting on a blank screen and going, okay, and then he just keeps talking because he did it on his phone and his phone kept dropping and disconnecting and, uh, but it was awesome. I truly loved this interview, uh, we'll, uh, we'll talk about it more after. And of course, we're going to say it now, we're going to say it at the end of the episode, make sure to go follow all forms of social media at going past the pod, make sure to follow Dylan at Dylan Pasta, youtube.com slash Dylan Pasta, if you listen to the audio version of this podcast, we like to get the free video version. That's where that lives. Dylan's also got unboxings, he's got his video diaries and a whole lot more Swaggle auction.com, get yourself a free $10 credit on what not, if you're listening to this live, if you're listening to this live, I have a huge what not tonight, what not dot com slash Dylan Pasta or just on the app, which most people do at Dylan Pasta on what not, uh, a huge auction tonight, where there is a signed rookie figure of mine, there is a signed diesel funk, I'm literally just looking behind me because it's stacked up behind me because Lana makes the list and he just picks things. And uh, but tonight live on what not, we're doing a big, big stream, come join us. Hell yes, and of course, the new improved revamp one stop shop for all things that Swaggle, you have Dylan Pasta.com and from there, you can get his merch store, his pro wrestling tees, which if you want to just go over there by yourself, it is pro wrestling tees.com slash Swaggle. And of course, we can't move on without mentioning that this podcast is brought to you by our friends over at the Roosevelt clothing company, use code Swaggle to save yourself 20% on some of the coolest, looking and most comfortable fitting shirts you could possibly own. But with that, Dylan, are you ready to jump on in to the interview? I literally was going to say something and now I forgot. Oh, pro wrestling tees, guys, I don't know if you've seen it. Uh, I had an idea for sweet design and George made it a reality. It is, it might be my favorite new design and it's a rip off of the Taylor Swift Aeros t-shirt and it's the Swaggle Aeros t-shirt that uh, George made up and I think it's going to be a, a big seller already off of what people, how people are reacting to it, check it out. I'm a pro TV store. Uh, I'm getting a made up freelance wrestling guys. Again, if you're listening live, freelance wrestling this Friday in Chicago, literally match, just add myself and Colt Cabana going for the freelance tag titles in Chicago. Um, I believe Landon is going to be joining me, say hi at the table, he'll be running my merch and take my money, uh, that's it. All right. Now before we get into the interview, I got to cut you off here. I know that we had a very controversial hot take where we heard a lot of feedback both from within our little circle of podcasts, uh, and then also from the listeners of going possible and you got a little bit of backlash from your, your, your breakfast for dinner. We're having a pinion open. We're having a good open and I already feel like I feel like my shoulders and it's not just because I'm jacked because I will go be, uh, I feel my shoulders get tight. I feel my arms come in because I'm already thinking of people getting on my case about what you called it, Brenner and it pissed me off so much and people just bring it up. Like how can you not do this and you're in like, I, but I am glad on, uh, the face on the, the major pod Facebook page, it was very 50, 50, I got to say. In the comments and in the discord, everyone just kicked me right between the thighs. But I, man, I'm holding to my fact that, excuse me, I'm holding to my fact that it, uh, I don't, I'm not, I'm not giving it a chance. I'm truly not giving breakfast for dinner a chance and so much so that you and Karus, you and Karusso had, he, the breakfast for dinner when you went out, one of you ordered it. It's so weird. I hear that you're saying his name, but like there's something that doesn't feel right about the delivery. I was angry. I was very angry. Usually I say it in a very happy way, but I can't get over it. If you're having eggs, which I feel, I, I think I've fully allergic to at this point. I truly, not allergic, but it, it, they kill my guts. Uh, that's story for another time. It's going to be a possible episode of just IBS, I'm feeling, uh, oh, uh, uh, listen to the show, Matt Stein brought up eggs on a burger and I said, it's fine, but it's, it turns, like I said, it turns into a knife and fork. That's not breakfast for dinner. That's an addition to a burger. So I, I'm not, guys, I'm, I'm, I'm staying true to what I'm saying and it's not good. It should not be an option in anyone's mind. Breakfast is one meal of the day. It's the beginning. I'll give you till 11 a.m. Serial like, oh, serial also great snack, not a good food with milk in general. I would say serial is better without milk as a snack. We've talked about your favorite series, right? We did a tier list. You talked about the, uh, uh, Dylan eats episode, no, no, it wasn't. That was, that was your serial weight title championship. That's right. Oh, the cruiserweight episode was turned just into serial top. I remember getting done with that episode and going, oh, man, this is way longer than we expected. I don't think your face has ever been as red as it, like, like it was. So red serial talk, I think before my matches, I just need to hear, like, see people eat raw Cheerios or Cheerios with milk and they'll just get me all red faced and ready to go. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Back. Bring the feedback on it. We love it. Uh, if you have questions, comments, anything of what we chat about, leave it in the comments on YouTube, uh, at us on Twitter, all of that we love seeing the feedback from each and every episode. Absolutely. And now with that, Dylan, lead us into that wonderful time of Jim or interview. Here's my dad. Guys, let's talk about Mad Cat beard care. They make my beard feel soft, silky smooth, and they can do the same for yours. 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This is how we should, I represent you and the people on digital, this is digital. Ladies and gentlemen, your impact wrestling world digital media champion, my dad, Tommy Dreamer. This has already been one of my favorite setups, because you are just about as bad at technology as I am, I feel. I am getting into it, I often refer to you as my dad, as we know, for the last 17 years, you have been my wrestling dad. Has this always been kind of your role, would you say, do you have a lot of children, did it start in the beginning of back in ECW or was it mainly when you kind of got more like an office in WWE? Never was intended, but it kind of started in the original ECW and then just kind of morphed from there. As you get older, you become more reflective, and I just went to Terry Funk's funeral and wake, and I saw, and I just, I know his history about, you know, before there was developmental systems, there was really like, not even out of can't even say, and before like, trainers, there was like, hey, how did you get recommended, how did you get seen, and there was, you know, a handful of guys, and Terry Funk was, you know, one of them, Stu Hart, you know, yes, he had the dungeon, but I'm talking like that generation, then wrestling schools had, you know, come about, but Terry saw a lot in people, and I heard so many amazing stories and how, I guess his fingerprints in this industry helped change it. And I'm not just talking about what Terry Funk did, because that's a whole other conversation just about the men that he gave opportunity to and saw something in, oh my god. Do you feel you saw it? And I get knocked off. I was saying nice things. Terry Funk, Terry Funk, and hearing people say such awesome things about him. Do you feel just how he literally changed the wrestling business? For me, you know, my career is one thing, but just like seeing difference in people and like, yes, it started in the original ECW, it was actually Bill Alfonso, who said, you're really good teacher, you have patients, and you also see qualities in people. And you know, that was what my dad was kind of, but then going back to like Terry Funk, Mick Foley even Paul him and all helping me when they didn't have to help me. So I guess it's kind of like been my thing, you know. Now I have to hold him alone, by the way, for some reason it keeps falling. Do you remember your first kid? Who would that have been? Well, first person that I saw like out of total obscurity, I'm guessing would be Lita. Oh, okay. Just came in for like a tryout. And I just remember her like during that time in WWE, they had like three women and all had like blonde hair and fake boobs. And here came Lita with red hair, a tattoo. She had boobs, but not fake boobs. And she just looked so different. She had, you know, the tattoo wasn't what she had now. And then when she hit that moonsault, I was like, you're working tonight. Mickey James, early ECW, she had a tryout. I mean, she was way young in the business. Unfortunately, she didn't get that opportunity. I think it worked out for her. Jazz, another one who was just different. And I mean, so many, and ECW there was kind of, people became my people. Actually, I got to say, if I backtrack before this and I'll apologize to the industry, Bubba, great, Dudley. And Devon, I'm going to put on that. But, Bubba, I wrestled on an indie show and he was really good and we had a show, the same show Steve Austin debuted at and we needed a guy to take a choke slam. And it had wrestled Bubba and he was about 5,000 pounds. And I said, this guy will take one hell of a choke slam and he did and he had a job forever. And then we paired him with, you know, Devon later when he got exposed in the ring. So, I mean, that's his story, but then, you know, I knew Devon from Johnny Rods' school put them together. So, I guess I have been doing this for a long, long time. So, I guess Bubba and Devon will be my first crazy grotto in the next one. That's why I would have, that's why I would have expected to hear is Greedo. With Bubba and Devon, was it immediately taking him kind of under your wing or just going to bat for them? You know what I mean? It's growing a bat for them and then helping them. Okay. Trying to survive the waters of this crazy landscape called ECW. But it's also like, you know, listen, Typhoon gave me something that I have never lacked, but at times you get doubt and he gave me confidence. Same with Mick Foley, you know, that whole program where Mick Foley turned on me, like he was mentoring me in the one way and then so was Terry Funk and another. And like early ECW, I was struggling to get over and Terry Funk just sat me down and talked to me and he was just like, be yourself. You have a likable quality. Find out why people don't like you. And this is early. Talk to the audience. And then he said, grow a goatee because it'll make you look tougher because I was handsome unlike I am now. And he said, you'll look tougher. And then he was purely no stradamas because when he said, when you're my age, it'll hide your double chin and now I am his age. So. Truth. I've never, I've known again, I've known you forever and I've never heard that one of that being one of the reasons for the goatee. Yeah. I was handsome, bro. You live very much so by the mentality of just, here it is, just to pop the boys. Was this always how you kind of lived in wrestling and in life all the way back to ECW, just to bring kind of levity and a smile when to when stuff got down or too serious. Yes. Uh, this is everybody's dream. Uh, I've always been known as the heart and soul of professional wrestling, art and soul of ECW. This is all our dream. You've had enough passion as I did. Um, everybody who got into this wrestling business minus a few, but we're lifelong fans. And, uh, I hate when people take this thing called professional wrestling to serious. And then yes, these are, these should be the times of our life, you know, from the, from ECW to WWE impact, it's a lot, a lot about the relationships you meet along the way. This is actually really hurting my neck, by the way, holy crap, you can take it off. You did that to yourself. Oh, my seriously, I'm getting dizzy and white head. I'm just wearing a blip. So it's about, you know, the experiences life. I mean, honestly, how much have we been laughing through this wrestling is an escape. It's an escape from the real world. And, you know, yes, I like to do stupid things to make people laugh and enjoy themselves. And do you remember ECW, I mean, was that, was that were you the one to do that in old school ECW? Or was there a good crew of you, because I feel like you've always been the leader of kind of that charge. Yeah. No, like, I mean, one time, uh, it also like, I remember, uh, I would eat anything to like make people laugh and, uh, taboo, dropped a hot dog on the floor. And then like, I went to pick it up and eat it. And then he was like, no, don't do that. And then I did it and like to pop the boys, because it was in the filthy ECW, and then I did another one where one of the bruise brothers stepped on it without their shoes on their bare feet. And I ate the other. Was it on purpose, no, on purpose on purpose, the only time I ever, and then I mean, then I did it with undertaker like I actually drank Sabu's dip first by like, acting it thought it was soda. And it was tobacco, which was gross. Did you do stupid things or making people laugh? It's funny. I once ate a dumpling out of a toilet bowl, and I made Rick Rue vomit. And then he asked what was wrong with me while he was laughing and smiling. You talked about, you hit really quickly on the undertaker bit, uh, that, the, the, the, the dip. And that was that you fully go and, hey, look what I can do or was it like, office or a writer here and they're seeing it popping and going, hey, I think Vince would like, like this. You know what I mean? No, I'm. Jake, be quiet. I'm trying to do a very important interview as the digital media champion. As your digital media champion, Jake, I need to be quiet. I didn't get to address my honies. Um, this was during the era of jackass. Yep. And I guess word had just gotten out that dreamer would do stupid stuff. And here's the deal. And I say this to a lot of people. I got paid $7,000 to do that. And then I got to wrestle the undertaker. And did I want to do that to wrestle the undertaker? No. But it's an opportunity. Did you want to do some of the things that you did? Um, but it's an opportunity and you could run with it. I mean, and a lot of people remember it. So, and then you know, you also, and you know this, when you wrestle, somebody become closer to them. And like, I love the undertaker. I consider him my friend and, you know, in hindsight, how the hell would Tommy German, the undertaker be hanging out in my world? But that's kind of how you view things sometimes. And any opportunity given is one because then guess what happened? Like it could go to somebody else. If you're very, very passionate about it, or you don't want to do it fine. But do you think naked midian? Wanted to do that? No. It, you can't take yourself too seriously. No. And when this, if you want to accomplish anything, you know what I mean? I always thought that. But listen, that's, that's the form of entertainment in the craziest world. My friend, he does movies and he's like, hey, I got a part. I just want to ask you about it. You'd have to play someone who's in a gay bar. And I was like, yeah. And then he was like, well, we'd be perceiving you that you were gay. And I was like, it's a movie, right? And he was just like, yeah, and I go, uh, I have no problem with that. And I literally wore my pants. I won the ECW world title in WWE and I got paid money. I had a speaking role in a film. And because, and then he said, we had two people say no to that role. And I go, well, then they're just homophobic. And it's, it's not who you represent. Yep. Yep. And it's exactly, you know, did you want to play a fictional leprechaun? I don't know. Don't, don't know, but you made a lot of money and you made a career. You think about it? No, you mix Kamala was a savage from Uganda headhunter. The missing link was a missing piece of society. And became great amazing characters, you know, and if not, they'd give it to somebody else. And those people then wouldn't have gotten that opportunity, maybe to be on worldwide television at all. And then you look at the other thing and this, this is the my greatest example for stuff like this drew blood. So drew blood. So it was the quarterback of the Patriots. Then he gets hurt and then his backup took over. And his backup was Tom Brady. Tom Brady got that opportunity only because drew blood. So wasn't there. And then he would have lost that spot, but he won a Super Bowl. And then, oh, drew blood. So you're going to go somewhere else drew blood. So great career, different career Tom Brady had. Yep. Very, very different. Yep. Yep. I never would have wanted to be the backup quarterback hell. But if you give me opportunity, I'm going to do well for you. You talked about the Undertaker match being a, you know, who knows if it would have ever happened kind of moment and thing if you wouldn't have done the vignette. We've talked about kind of you and I have about the pinch me moments and do you have what are some of yours that you can think of like the being on a raw for the first time, the invasion angle that that first WrestleMania and Detroit kind of thing with the crew. Is there any of that standout like, Hey, this is the one that hit me more than any one night stand even. One night stand, the first one was massive. Had a lot. It's a good question. I really don't have that answer. A lot of times like I'm reflective of others careers, it's not so much mine. I had moments where like, especially in ECW like, man, we're going to make it. And then I've also had moments like it was actually driving in the bus to WrestleMania 23 of how did I ever think ECW was going to make it. Like when I saw and I turned to I turned to Bula because they shut down a highway so wrestlers can get to a wrestling show. And we had a police escort from a hotel to the stadium, which was a longer trip. So eight buses can bring wrestlers to a show. And I was just like, where in the world did I ever think ECW could have made it? Why do you think that? Because, well, because I was on a pipe dream, you know, in the sense of I realized how big the WWE, because like, you know, it was ingrained in my brain, we're competing against WCW and WWE. So like, that was like one like, wow, my first match would be one. Again, being reflective, my entire family was there, everybody was alive. I can never get that moment back. Honestly, this past weekend in white planes, like my first time wrestling at Madison Square Garden was big until like, but then you get lost because you're the grizzled wrestler and I was like, wait, I gotta lose to Perry Saturn. That's my big moment. But then like me and Rob Van Dam wrestling in the main event at Madison Square Garden, because we were actually the last match. And then, you know, it could also gets when I say jaded, because you're in the moment, it's, um, they had given me that new title. And I was supposed to have a long run with it. And then like literally the day we debuted the title, I, they unified it. So like, their plans changed in an instant. And I was like, but I thought like JBL had his own title. I had my own time. Oh, we're going to get rid of this. And I was like, you're debuting the title and I'm losing it up the same night. And it's not going to be around anymore. So, uh, but after that, I got reflective on, on the steps. After that, and I was crying. And like, Stephanie McMahon was very, very, um, consoling. And then Vince walked by and he looked like an utter disgust. Like, what is that salty history of your eyes? Why, why are you crying? Um, but I joke, but not really. He did have that face like, uh, why is it? Um, uh, again, also like, just as past weekend at, um, impact wrestling. Ah, there you go. You got to keep all these in. They're not getting, they're not being edited out. I promise, stick. Ah, what is happening? You do a worldwide radio show. Yeah, you realize this. Not through my phone. By the way, I have a 13 year old phone, by the way. And an Android. Everybody hates my Android. I hate it. I don't want to text you with green. It makes me so happy mad. Yeah, you're all weird. The government is following over here. Oh, here we go. Back to, uh, white planes. Man, I saw my first ever wrestling match there, right? With my dad for my birthday. That's where Bob Backland snubbed me for an autograph. I had my first WWF tryout match there. I sold it out for ECW. I worked there for WWE. I worked there. I made an event there for WWE ECW. And like, now I'm back in this same building that places packed. Everybody's cheering your name. And I put my career on the line. And now, but the big difference is like, like my tryout. My mom and my dad are there, right? And like, my whole life is gunning for this moment. I don't get hired, but my parents are still proud. Fast forward a gubillion years later, my daughters are in front row. And I see my daughters crying. I wish my mom could have been there. You know, she just recently passed away. Because I was like, man, my mom would have loved this. And then of course, I start crying. But then I see an audience crying cheering. Like, that's the emotions. So, and I did, I love that match. I was a little blown up towards the end. But I was happy, you know, I was happy that the journey continued. But yes, there's tons of moments. Again, if I could go back to Terry Funk. He has said so many great things to me. Number one, he will be, he will say, every day of pro wrestling is a good day. And then another thing he said when he was in you know, the assisted living place. Like, there was, dude, there was, I was like, hey man, for WrestleMania, Texas. I'll get you a bus. The fans just want to see you. And he's like, I want to see them. And I was just like, I'll get, he's like, I can't fly. And I was like, all right, I'll get you a car. He goes, I need, I wouldn't be able to make the trip. I'll get you a bus. I'll get you an ambulance. What do you need? And he was just like, he was like, I want to be there so bad. I just can't travel anymore. Yep. Or I would call him a lot when, you know, we had a great car ride. Me, Shane Douglas and Shane's handler. And I just called Terry in the car. And we, and like, one of the last he goes, I wish I was in the car with you guys. And then, you know, I'd call him in the locker room. And he's in, uh, in impact and just put him on speaker. And guys would walk up, hey, Terry, my name is, I met you here. And, you know, great talk. And then he'd like, what the hell are you listening to, fat ass dreamer for? Like, I mean, those are important. Important for like, this, this ends. And yes, I mean, you know it. You've had your, your retirements. You know, physically, you're not where you want to be. Have you officially retired? No. Okay. Well, everyone, everyone says I should or have and should, but no. Well, for me, like, you know, I, you know, I wrestled about 200 shows a year. Beauty pro wrestling, right? I win the title both nights, dude. White Plains County Center packed second nights sold out. And which is great for impact wrestling. I couldn't be prouder. And then the next day I have, two shows on a Sunday at a carnival. And the weather was really bad. And I wrestled probably in front of 40 people. And in the rain. And which, as you know, it's the most dangerous match any wrestler. Forget about barbed wire. Any of your stupid death matches, wrestle in the rain. That's the real danger. And you know what? There was about 40 people there. And they were under a tarp. And they like, the rain had just broke, but like the knot was wet. And it was like a slight drizzle. But I was going to go out there and perform no matter what. And then my night, my night digital title, media title defense got canceled. The DMC got canceled. But I will still wrestle, you know, and I still took a bump or two. Because I know again, this ends. And I, you know, I also saw two people wrestle. I was like, you guys actually have a future. Continue your hard work. And if there's a fan and attendance. You know, you got to go out there and work in front of them. And no one, you know, talk about people being on social media. If they're being negative or whatever. They don't understand it. This business about creating moments. As well as if like dreamer like you should retire. There's only about 40 people there. It was like really cool. How many people were there during pandemic? None. Yep. Yeah. And we, at the point we thought maybe this would be our new normal. So I don't take any of things for granted. Because I know this is going to come to an end. And if there's a fan there, if there's, we all used to say, what's the lowest amount of number of fans you ever wrestled from? There's an entire generation that will say zero. I wrestled in one of no fans. That's something that you wrestled in front of the locker room? Yeah. You wrestled in front of the locker room or when you're training, when I trained at Gleason's gym, I used to be in the ring having full matches while men were boxing. They were my audience. They could care less about me. But you know what? If I did something or made a loud noise, I would see them turn. So you have to remember that. And a lot of times I don't think wrestling fans do. Which is, you know, cool. Because I also get paid for this. That's just it. We all kind of get asked what's the, you know, the biggest, but what's the smallest crowd? And now we can all go zero. And that's something that no one, exactly what you said. No one before us could have ever said in a, in a serious way. Same with, hang on, you say the same with football, baseball. We saw a World Series in front of no fans. So we all, we NBA, we saw in front of no fans. So you all should think about that because again, those players, yes, they get paid a lot more money than professional wrestlers. But the other end of that, how many times you ever see, you ever go to a double A game or a single A game? They're horrible attendance wise. But yet the guys still go out there and play and work their asses. Because why they want more. There's my digital media champion. That's my stance. I can't, I can't do it. I can't. Why should I have a title? Do you want to know the best, hang on, the best thing ever? I went, I won. And the next day I had a wrestle. And I couldn't put the belt on. And I was like, man, something's wrong with this belt, right? And I'm like, something wrong. And then like, I asked one of the referees to help put this on. He's like, dude, it's not fitting. And I was like, man, it's not fitting. So my first, as your digital media champion, I need to go to Santino Morella. And I ordered the good old belt extender. There we go. First time ever. Stupid. We talked about your pinch me moment. The stream. Pinch in you. You've given me now a dream of pinch me moments by you were the guy that gave me the call to hire me in WWE. I never, again, I've known you forever. I never got the explanation on how you went from crazy man in ring competitor to office Tommy. How did that come about? Man, long story short. I think WWE wanted me to be in the office all along. Okay. When I, but I was like, I'm 29 years old. This thing called ECW left. I had a college education, which a lot of people do not. And that had helped me. And so I had my WWE kind of run. Then they pulled me into the office. And they were like. Johnny's coming on board. They're going to be making some changes. JR was stepping down. Even though JR, JR number one hired me. But then also JR was like, I'm stepping down. And John's going to take over. And kind of like want to see your interest. If you have any. And like, here was my options. And I was just. I think Buello was pregnant. So here was my options. You're unemployed because TNA really wasn't a thing. There was no other wrestling companies. Or it's over. And I'm 33. Like, and I didn't want to be like, you know, go on the Indies at 33 or get a real job. Because I really never had a real job. I don't want to be real. I don't want to be your digital media champion for everything. Just walk around town. I go to the Supermarket like this. So that's kind of how I took the job. And I actually. I did not want to go there. My heart was still wrestling. And then I was still able to wrestle doing Indies as well as scouting talent, which was cool. And then the original ECW came back. And then they were like, well, you got to put your back. In the ring. I was supposed to do both. But, you know, you can't really do the town relations thing and wrestle. And I mostly do like ECW really didn't have agents. But like, I was running the show. Majority of the time. Plus doing creative, plus doing production. It was bit my job 24, 7 plus doing the merch, right? WWE, I'm just a wrestler. Then I go into the office. Then I'm doing both for WWE ECW. Same as I did in, you know, TNA. I got there in two weeks and they're like, hey, you want to write a show? Hey, you want to be in the office? Hey, you want to be an agent? That's all I've known. It's all I've ever done. So I'm okay with it. Like, it's, it's second nature for me. Like, even in, you know, preparing for my match at Victory Road, I was an agent for somebody else's match. And then I'm, you know, getting dressed while ageing their match. And then I got to concentrate on mine. Or I do their match. And then I'll have like, I'll have my match either later or earlier. And I agent other stuff is just all I've ever done. And I'm okay with it. You used to it. I liked it. Can you think of oddball kind of unknown hires that you had? That maybe are, you know, that aren't, that aren't talked about by, by many. Boogeyman. Boogeyman, you know, he was on tough enough. He was the guy who hide about his age. He's 30 and I always still say that he's 30. And he was a hire that just, you know, kind of came out of a circumstance. He has a compelling story. Santino. You know, Santino getting hired was as a result of, you know, his altercation with Jim Cronett when he was just, you know, kind of like an independent wrestler there on his own. And then John's like yelling at me because I didn't know what was going on. And I was like, I was asleep, dude. And then after that, I had to go to OVW every Wednesday, which I loved, which was great because then I'm back on the road. So I mean, there was hires like that. Or even random when WWE was doing like random, like local tough enoughs. And like, we'd have a winner, but like out of that winner, out of like a tough enough and long island, I got to, I got to, I had already seen them via wrestling with them. Cardona and Myers, then I was able to bring them into the system where they're officially, and then I was able to hire them straight out of college. You know, or while they were in college. So there was a, there was a lot of random oddballs like that, weirdo striker, because he was, you know, a teacher and he made national news and I was like, hey, this kid we should take a look at, he's got a lot of, and then he had his match with Kurt. So he earned his spot there. He, so I mean, stuff like that. Okay, you, that's, yeah, that's a, that's when I hold, I hold very, very close to me. But even with that, I would never have known who you were if it wasn't for Ken, for Ken, who was my hire, vouched for you. And then, you know, you had to try out you and the other guy who, my friend, shoot a storm. But even from that, like, okay, so you think about that one audition. I got you and I got my friend Shooter Storm out of that, right? And years later, Shooter Storm went to do, you know, ran a bunch of shows. He helped me with a house hardcore show. So, and like, again, you develop a relationship with people. And like, I still would talk to his sister after he's passed or, you know, that these are the things called life, but our life is different than other life. And I'll tell you how I also, life is very, very different between a wrestler's funeral. And I, yesterday, I just went to somebody else's funeral, a regular person's funeral. And at the wrestler's funeral of Terry Funk, people asking to take pictures with me. And I should have sat maybe a merch stand and done eight by tens, because I would have made some money and the funker would have loved it. But in real world, you don't take pictures for at like a funeral or a wake. But in the funeral for a wrestler, I want photo lops at mine. When you visit my casket and I'm laying there, you will pay $20 and you can take your last final picture of a tournament. And I'm going to be buried in the ECW shirt and my fist up. With that title, and you have to hand my daughter's the money right there. Cash, only cash. Yeah, maybe Fennel or whatever the new, never the new currency is when I'm long gone. Oh, Jesus, great. Honestly, like I have thought about this. I also booked, I booked like on the flight home. Actually, I flew to Des Moines after that. Terry's service was beautiful. I truly loved it. And I was just like, I want this for me and I started writing down. I actually had to go, I don't have a will. I got to actually do, I got to be a grown up now. And but like I was writing down stuff that I want based upon like what Terry had. And then I was also like, I wonder if they could prop me up and either my fist pose of me hitting my pose. And fans could like walk up and take a picture with me. I wonder if that would be, would that be in the real world? Do you want to see my daughter? I want like, I want like a whole week of people remembering. Like touring? Like a touring? Yeah. First, here's New York. Then here's the ECW arena. All proceeds go to my door. Is it going to be different outfits that you're in? How do you, how do you help me dress me? Someone has to. You did the press event for the ECW video game with acclaimed. Is there any, any stories or any memories of video game stuff with these original ECW games or the presser or anything like that? One. Again, thinking we're going to make it. Yeah. The biggest, awesomest thing ever, me and Rob Van Dam had to do a signing at GameStop, right off of Times Square. And they had to close the street because we had so many people. And that that was an awesome feeling. Where you know, you close down the street in New York City because there's too many people. Very, very cool. Again, just thought we were going to make it the other part. We had taken pictures of for the magazine, for the, for back then they didn't have the scanning things. So you had to stand with your hands down and then turn to the side, turn to the back, turn to the side, turn to the front. And like there was people, I remember one of the girls wasn't in full makeup and she's like, I don't want these, I don't want to take these pictures. And I was like, they'll never see the light of day. They're just for the gaming people. And like we all had to stand there like not smiling. And they said, no, don't smile. And it was probably about five, six years later than I saw those pictures online. And even though the company went out of business, I wanted to murder them too, because I'm a crazy murderer. No, I was just angry because somebody lied. And then when I say something, they're making me look like a liar. And I was pissed those pictures were out there. So they, but this was fully after ECW was done. That those got out. Dude, this was like five years ago. Oh, yeah, all of the, of way back when the game came out or when those pictures were taken for the game, they never, they never surfaced until the years ago. And when I see them, I'm just like, angered. Yep. All right. Because I get somebody gave me their word and then they broke it. They gave me the word. Yes. And then how they got out, who knows, but they shouldn't have period. Bet you they sold them. Give me, we were talking, I want to hit back on one thing quick, about your time as office Tommy. And you working side by side with a guy that would turn into one of your greatest friends, Howard Finkel and all the randomness that you two would get into in the office. Again, another, I mean, how many times I went to Madison Square Garden when Howard Finkel, that microphone dropped, you know, and they would announce the next card. I'd be like begging my father to take me and yeah, I became great friends with the Finke, but there were so many awesome stories of me just like hanging out with Finke. Man, I was just trying to think there was way to school. Did he or she schoolboy him? No, that was Mark Carano. That's what I mean. Carano came in with a stapler and stapled Howard in his arm, right? And Howard was like, Jesus, Mark, what are you doing? And we would have like sometimes like office matches of like Carano who then became that uptown relations. Like he came in and like, I would just be standing there like doing like real paperwork, right? And or real stuff. And then Carano would come in and like, hit me in my back as hard as he could. And you know, when you're not ready for it, you know, jerk you forward and then he would schoolboy me and he schoolboyed me into the filing cabinet. And he's like, Howard, bake the couch, bake the couch. And then Howard was like, get your new. And I know everything is digital, right? I'll tell you how much Howard love wrestling and love the boys. But when you were there, we used to get envelopes. And your envelopes had your name on it. And it had all your travel. It had for the next week. It had your appearances. It had everything that you were supposed to do. Howard would stuff those envelopes by hand and bring them to every show. Plus, you know, when he was ring announcing you do and he'd do that for everybody as well as whatever his town relations, you know, he had moved around for a bunch of times in the office because he was the number one employee. But he, uh, he truly loved wrestlers and he loved wrestling. I also, when he was going to be the longest tenured wrestler, I think, I mean, an employee. I remember I sent an email and copied him that he should be fired today. And he hired him tomorrow to break the street. And I sent it to like Johnny and Vince. It was like a joke. And he came running in the office, Tommy. Why would you do that? I mean, ribs are ribbed, but that's not a good one. So I'm going to break the street, bro. Maybe I want to be the longest one. I remember getting the pattern of the call about house shows being added to the house show loop from him. And I was like, this is the most surreal thing ever that Howard Finkel is saying my name over the phone about house shows. So I remember I was supposed to go back on the road. This is when I was in the office. And he was like, Tommy Dreamer, card subject to change. You're back on the road added to down in Des Moines, Iowa. And I was just like, man, this is the greatest message ever. And everyone has that Finkel story from our, like from my era, because that's who did it. And it's, it was crazy to think that that was, I mean, the, the, the famous historic reanouncer is making that call to you for house shows. Yeah, I'm telling you like you've been at edge, you can, you know, here's your flights. Yeah, Howard, do that one point because he's told me the stories. Like he was him and Pat and Vince were WWE creative. That was it. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, I didn't know he was, I mean, I knew he was around that long. Obviously, but I didn't realize he was part of that. He, dude, he was the one who named WrestleMania. I had no idea of that. Yeah. Ha. All right, close to wrapping it up here, but I cannot go, I cannot end this without something that came to mind late last night. I need you to rate these. The Tommy Dreamer, I'm a talker, Tommy Dreamer looks from the past. The suspenders. The MMA era in TNA. Where would you go? One being the best, three being, I don't know what I was thinking. Listen, I fully support this suspender look. Yep. So that would be my best look. Okay. I will use to be a topless waiter at an all-male review. I was like, yeah, I was a topless waiter at an all-male review. Like chip-and-dance type of stuff. How old are you at this point? 51. Really spits, ladies and gentlemen. Now they would pay me to put my clothes on. Here's a doll in the center. Please put on your shirt. Okay, so suspenders is one. No, no, I was, dude, you know, longer story short. Yeah. Sam and there was a legit chip-and-dance dancer. Really? When you interview him, oh, yeah, we all have a life, bro. I was a dancer. I was a bouncer and then, I think there was a guest phone down with you. And my friend was a dancer and he was like, dude, you're a good-looking guy. You can make a lot of money. And, you know, you're supporting your wrestling habit, trying to do whatever it can to make it. I had a great puberty. And woman used to pay me money to look at my boobies and I'd flex for them. Now, all I have to do is jump and they could look at them. Move. MMA gear dreamer. It was just something different. So, I'm not... I remember taking pictures in... ...everybody was wearing kick-pads. Listen, you're trying to reinvent yourself. Coming from WWE. Maybe wasn't the best look. I was waiting for that exact quote. Just try something. You know, maybe doesn't it work out well? It really didn't. When that picture, when the post studio shots of you in the MMA gear, when it randomly comes up, there aren't much more that make me laugh harder than that of you. I love that one so much. I remember I was taking a picture trying to act a little badass and I also had my leg up. I was going to do a mootie kick because I did actually take tie-bop thing way back in the day. And I'm all badass posing. And my dog walks over and is smelling my kick-pad. And I was like, this is such a bad photo. I always said, whenever we bring you in, I always want to use that to sub-promotional photo. Most of the MMA ones. I love not especially on Indies, when they'll be like, here's the picture of this guy when he's in his prime. And then Tommy Dreamer walks out and like, what the hell happened to that? What? Awesome, man. Well, thank you. I've been wanting to do this since I started and there isn't a guy that I probably talk about more as to owing a lot to than you and whether it be WWE stuff after WWE, daily life, land and stuff, all of that. And I really appreciate the friendship and the bond that we have always had. And it makes me feel very, very good. Absolutely, man. I love you. And again, it's about the relationship to your form. You know, I look at your son like he's my son. I would do anything. There's a lot of people that are blessed. Like, again, looking at Terry Funck's life, looking at Terry Funck's funeral. Like, I could sit around and I look at the room like, man, those are the people that really love this guy. And you know, it's a life is a beautiful thing that's where we should never waste it. So that's what I got. Let me break, hang on. Well, there you go. That's Tommy Dreamer out. Guys, that was it. That was the interview with my pro wrestling dad, my father and wrestling. No, it's not Vince McMahon. It was Finley. He could stop saying, hey, man, remember when Vince was your daddy? He wasn't my daddy. He sold me. Is it Heath? That was he that he was that he? Hey, man, hey, baby, baby, remember when Vince was your daddy? When I imitate someone go at about the Vince thing, it usually is very heath because it's always, hey, man, remember when Vince was your daddy? Vince wasn't my dad, guys, Vince played my dad because he wanted to give me a better life, but then he whipped me with a belt inside of a steel cage and then had JBL assault me in a hospital. Vince was not my father. Finley was my dad. Remember that. Tommy Dreamer is technical difficulties, but we still had a really, really fun interview. Talked about everything from ECW stuff to video games, to his sweet MMA look in TNA years back. So thanks, buddy. Thanks for finally making this happen and letting me interview, like I say, these are always weird to me. I said every time because 90% of these small talks have been with my buddies or people I'm close to and they're always awkward for me, but I really, really am glad that I was able to have him on the show. All right, well, we're going to not do a hot take this week because I still feel like we're hearing all about the breakfast for dinner still. So we're going to skip that. We tend not to do the hot takes when they interview episodes. We don't want to ruin the fun interview. Yeah, even though you went over at the beginning of the episode, but at going past on all forms of social media, at Dylan Postal on all forms of social media, youtube.com slash Dylan Postal. Hold on, what about the certain other podcast you do? I have another podcast. It is myself. Former create a pro champion. Now turned create a pro commentator. Johnny clash. But on the podcast, that's what it is. You jump the gun a little bit there. We've been doing this for how long? You get a little ahead of yourself, but it's okay. We'll let that slide. And we have a podcast called the Game Marks podcast where we break down the good, the bad, and the awesome of all things wrestling video games. We release new episodes every single week you can follow along on all forms of social media at Game Marks pod. But if you would like to go and get more swaggle, DylanPostal.com is your place. You'll see his appearances. You will see he's got comedy shows coming up in the next couple of months, right? You got one in November. November in Green Bay, December in Madison, January in Iowa. I don't know if that one's even been announced yet. He heard it here first, folks. The evening withs are kicking off. And I am very, very excited to see where this whole thing goes. And I'm having a lot of fun doing them. My body loves it more than taking bumps. But I'm active. I'm still active. I'm still going. I'm not retired yet. No, if anything, you're now... What's your deathmatch, Monica? Are you just deathmatch still? That's it. We're sticking with that. I'm a fan of bringing the weapons match next in January. Yeah, I don't know what I'm doing, guys. I don't know if you have a fan's bring the weapons deathmatch? Not deathmatch. I've talked with a pen in my mouth. This is why I can't have things around me. Because I fiddle. Remember when you bit the pen and you thought... No, yeah, it's fiddling with it. It's fiddling with it. Remember when you fiddle is this thing. Like that. No, but you can fiddle with something. And you can also fidget is the word that you're thinking. Ah, you can't say that word only I can. That's it. Famous wrestling fidget. That bread of the straw! There it is!