Interview with
"The Enforcer" Shawn Blanchard!

SB: I have a bunch of guys who have influenced me. I would have to say Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Blackjack Mulligan, Barry Windham, Gino Hernandez, Roddy Piper, The Masked Superstar & Kevin Sullivan. I try to use all their styles when I am in the ring.

SB: I was trained by a few indy wrestlers. I have to be honest I picked stuff up pretty quick. I think the reason I did pick it up so quick is because I been a fan all my life. I just wanted it that bad. To be in the ring is like being at home for me.

SB: Everytime I get in the ring I feel it is a highlight. I would have to say my greatest highlight really isn't all about me. A man name Frank Durso who wrestled with guys like Bruno Sammartino, Joe Abbey, George Steele, etc came out of retirement to become my manager. That really means something to me to have someone from that era stand side by side with me.

SB: I really can't think of any. I dish out the pain!!!!!!

SB: I have had the chance to meet some legends who paved the way for the wrestling biz to be what it is today. Thanks to Frank Durso I have meet some great guys. This past May I met George Steele & James J. Dillion at the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. It was a true honor to meet Dillion. Frank broke Dillion into the wrestling industry and couldn't stop saying great things about Frank. George Steele was a class act!! He treated me like he knew me for years. Just to hear the stories these guys have is a great thing. I also had the chance to meet Roddy Piper, Pat Patterson, The Missing Link, Nick Bockwinkel & Ted DiBiase during that weekend at the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.

I also had the chance to wrestle with a few great wrestlers. I had the chance to wrestle Bill Eadie "Demolition Ax". I tell you what growing up I was a huge Masked Superstar fan. So for me to get in the ring with him was a true honor. I learn alot from him during that match. He is a class act and what shocked the hell out of me was what happen after the match. He came up to me and told me thanks and he knew he was in good hands during the match. Here is a legend who has wrestled every big name this business have has ever had. A guy that wrestled all over the world. A guy who is a household name telling me that he was in good hands cause he was in the ring with me. I will never forget that. I also tagged with Bill Gunn/Kip James. After the match he gave me some great pointers. Here is the deal and this was taught to me along time ago. If you stop watching or think there is nothing else to learn get out of the biz!!!

SB: Yeah I have some interesting stories, but I don't know if you could put them on your website. People always tell me everybody has 2 kinds of stories in this biz. They have Ric Flair stories and Shawn Blanchard stories. Not that I am putting myself in Flair's class. I guess wait for the Shawn Blanchard book one day. HAHAHA

SB: I want wrestling to go back what it was when I was growing up. The internet has killed the wrestling biz. I am guilty as anybody, I read spoliers and wrestling newsites. I make it known that I am not a big fan of Vince McMahon. I hate the term "Sports Entertainment"!!! I hate hollywood writers!!! They have no clue at all about the wrestling biz. Those assholes need to go back to hollywood and leave the wrestling to wrestling people. A wrestling interview comes from the heart. It is not something that is wrote down for you. The wrestling fans are not stupid, they know what is fake and what is from the heart. So I think it is safe to say I would change everything about the WWE.

SB: I hate the WWE and I would never want to work there. I am not 6'5 260lbs jacked so WWE would never want me. Getting back to the last question. I would have a hard time with some hollywood writer telling me how to wrestle a match or do a interview. I think I would serious slap the shit out of one of them if they told me what to do. I love TNA and it is growing on me. I love the studio they film in. It has a old school feeling to it. From top to bottom people in TNA can work. The women are amazing in TNA. I believe some of the females in TNA can out wrestle some of the men in WWE. So if I had a choice I would like to wrok for TNA.

JM: To whom have you had some of your best bouts with?

SB: I would have to say Anthony Alexander. It is old school matchup. It is flat out good vs. bad. I like to say for non wrestling fans we have a feud like the Celtics & Lakers of the 80s, the Edmonton Oilers & Calgary Flames. Hell we are the Yankees and the Red Sox. I hate the Red Sox so I guess that makes me the great New York Yankees.

SB: Respect the business cause so many men and women gave their life to build this industry. Always keep your eyes open and always be willing to listen. You are always learning in this biz.

SB: First off I want to thank you for this interview. Everybody please continue to support wrestling. This is the greatest "sport" in the world. I just want this business to grow and be successful. From all the Indy groups in Pittsburgh and around the world I want to wish them the best of luck. It is time for us to stick together and give the fans some real action. If by chance Traci Brooks or Beth Phoenix reads this.. Will you marry me???? Doesn't hurt to ask!!!!! hahaha

Happy Holidays and a safe and Happy New Year to all!!!!!!!

"The Enforcer" Shawn Blanchard
www.shawnblanchard.com!
myspace.com/blanchardexpress!