WWE Hall Of Famer Scott Hall was recently a guest on the special “Talk Is Jericho” podcast from Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea: Part Deux.
Here are the highlights:
Not having left WWE if he was given guaranteed money:
Well, I was schooled kind of in the old school art of doing business with promoters by Curt Hennig, so I pulled Vince aside one time at TV and I said, ‘hey boss, can I ask you for some advice?’ because Curt said the smart guys like to help. He wants to help, so I said, ‘hey boss, is it my ringwork that needs to improve or do I need to work on it?’ [Hall imitates McMahon scoffing]
‘Absolutely not! You’re one of the best we’ve got!’ I said, ‘is it my mic skills? Can you help me get better?’ And he went, ‘I love what you’re doing.’ And I said, ‘because I want to make big money like the guys who preceded me, and I’ve noticed that my pay has kind of plateaued although I feel my value to the company is increasing.’ I said, ‘I’m a babyface that you can leave laying and they chant my name.’
I would put guys over and [the crowd] chanted my name still. I was in a good spot, I felt like. I just said, ‘I want a little bit more’ and he said, ‘no.’ I would have stayed [in WWF] for less. I just wanted a guarantee and he just wouldn’t do it.
His WWE downside guarantee:
My [WWF] contract, as was everybody’s, except for maybe Hulk [Hogan] and stuff, [Ultimate] Warrior, [was] 10 days at $150 a date, guaranteed. Yeah, you made more than that, but that was what you were guaranteed. $1,500 and you give up everything for $1,500.
Booker T turning down an nWo spot:
Do you know what Book said? You know, Book is smart. And now nWo is gaining momentum, we’re adding a guy every TV. So I remember talking to Book and he went, ‘naw, I appreciate the love, man, but I’m a solo act.’
Not knowing Hulk Hogan before nWo:
Yeah, I didn’t know Hulk at all, but, like anybody in the [pro] wrestling business, you kind of a mark for him. I’ll admit it. And I’ll never forget how, when you’ve been around a long time, you’ve kind of experienced all the highs and lows and it’s fun to share them with the guys that you’re working with. And here’s Hulk, who to me has done it all, been to the mountaintop.
And to see how excited he was Bash At The Beach and then later at Starrcade when he did a job for [Roddy] Piper in the sleeper. And he didn’t have to, but we talked him into it. We said, ‘just go on Nitro and lie about it.’ Just say, ‘no, I kicked Piper’s ass.’ And to see him so excited again was really cool for me.
Also Read: PHOTO: Scott Hall & Kevin Nash At the WWE Performance Center With Jordan Omogbehinon
H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions
