TURNBUCKLE MADNESS: MARK STARR DISCUSSES TERRITORIES, CHRIS KANYON, CHRIS CHAMPION, AN IMPORTANT WORD OF ADVICE FOR THE STARS OF TODAY AND MORE
By Greg Wren on 2011-06-08 11:11:57
PWInsider.com Presents Turnbuckle Madness
Guest: Mark Starr
Commentary: George Wren
Slogan: Nothing Is Held Back
George: During this segment of Turnbuckle Madness we have none other then former WCW wrestler Mark Starr. Mark thanks for joining us this week here at PWInsider for Turnbuckle Madness.
Mark: Thank you
George: When were you born?
Mark: December 26, 1962
George: Where were you born?
Mark: England
George: Where are you currently residing at the present time?
Mark: Florida
George: How did you actually get your start in professional wrestling?
Mark: I met Boris Malenko at the gym and he offered to train me, and Karl Gotch also trained me as well.
George: You worked for Jarrett Promotions down in Memphis how did it come about you working for Memphis?
Mark: I was wrestling in Florida and Steve Keirn, who wrestled Tennessee, thought it would be a good place for me.
George: What made you decide to choose Memphis then anywhere else?
Mark: The territory was doing well and Jarrett Promotions was promoting young guys successfully there.
George: While in Memphis you won the AWA Southern Tag Titles with Billy Travis on June 8, 1987 from Phil Hickerson and Mr. Rising Sun Shima (Akio Sato). What was your impression when the office came to you and stated they was putting the belts on you and Travis as thesebelts have a long background of some of the greats holding the titles?
Mark: I was ecstatic they were putting the belts on me. Those belts had been held by major tag teams, like the Rock n Roll Express, Road Warriors, Fabulous Ones and the Fargos.
George: You and Billy only held the straps for a month when you lost them to The Clones (Mike & Pat Kelly)... Wasn't the reason for dropping the straps was you was leaving the territory?
Mark: Yes, because the territory had become slow and Jarrett Promotions was unable to honor the guarantee we had agreed upon.
George: Around this time Chris was working for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) doing the New Breed with Sean Royal. Why weren't you ever chosen to do the New Breed with Chris?
Mark: Mike Graham had thought of the gimmick and at that time I wasn’t into tag team matches. However, after Chris and Sean were in their accident, Sean quit and Dusty Rhodes hired me to start at the 3rd Annual Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup with Chris. We did wrestle the Jim Crocket Memorial Cup together, but before the show started Dusty gave Chris his notice.
George: Where did you go after you first run in Memphis?
Mark: Back to Florida Championship Wrestling
George: You came back to Memphis in 89 with your legit brother David Ashford-Smith (Chris Champion) known as The Wild Side where you both captured the CWA Tag Titles where you held the straps for 2 months before dropping them to The Rock N Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) on September 11, 1989. Wasn't the reason for dropping the titles that you were leaving the territory for Florida?
Mark: Yes I was going back Florida.
George: Chris stayed around Memphis working singles after you left. What made you leave Memphis for Florida?
Mark: Jarrett Promotions was unable to honor their agreement, so I went back to Florida Championship Wrestling.
George: What was your thoughts working with Ronnie P. Gossett in Memphis?
Mark: I liked Ronnie a lot. I thought he was a good manager and he was well known in Memphis.
George: During that time in Florida you captured the PWF Tag Titles with Lou Perez on 2 different occasions. What was your thoughts working in Florida and winning the straps with Lou?
Mark: Florida was my home; I grew up on Florida Championship Wrestling. So, when I was able to win the PWF Tag Team Belts it was a big moment in my career.
George: Who was actually booking that territory?
Mark: Steve Keirn and Mike Graham.
George: Where did you go after Florida?
Mark: I went to Japan to work for FMW and won the AWA World Junior Heavyweight Title. After working for FMW, I worked for Yoshiaki Fujiwara.
George: Why didn't you ever return back to Memphis around the USWA era where the territory was still hot?
Mark: Because at that time I was wrestling in Japan and making good money.
George: You also did some enhancement work for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) . At this time you were a pretty well known worker with working Memphis and Florida what was the reason for WWF just using you as enhancement talent?
Mark: Their stupidity.
George: Do you think working as enhancement talent hurts a worker as far as going to another territory and people noticing that enhancement talent was jobbed out on TV?
Mark: Unfortunately, yes, I do think it can hurt a career. But, during my career, some of the enhancements guys were better than the “superstars” they were putting over.
George: When did you actually start working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) ?
Mark: 1992
George: At the time when you first started working for WCW was you paid by match or were you under a short term contract before actually getting a contract later on.
Mark: I was paid by the match before I got a contract.
George: WCW finally paired you with Chris Kanyon doing the Men at Work gig (a construction type gimmick)...Why weren't WCW able to come up with something better for you as far as giving you a decent push?
Mark: I don’t know why. This business is weird; you never know what the bookers are thinking.
George: What was your thoughts working for WCW as well as working with Kanyon?
Mark: It was OK. I liked Chris and I thought we had a good gimmick at the time.
George: Didn't you stick around with WCW until it went under?
Mark: No, my last match was February 17, 1997. I injured my back and neck and had to retire.
George: What did you do after your WCW days?
Mark: I started my own home inspection business.
George: Many has been asking about the improvement of Chris Champion after he had a stroke a few years back. Can you tell the readers a little about what happen and how he is improving?
Mark: He suffered a massive stroke and has difficulty speaking. He is doing as well as expected considering all the injuries he has endured in the business.
George: What have you been doing since walking away from the business?
Mark: Growing my home inspection and insurance adjuster businesses.
George: Do you ever get that itch to get back into the ring?
Mark: Every day I wake up and put my feet on the ground.
George: Out of all the promotions you worked for which ones did you enjoy the most and why?
Mark: I enjoyed working in Japan because it fit my style better and the money was always good.
George: Do you watch today's product?
Mark: Not often. If I see a wrestler I know, I will watch their matches.
George: What was your thoughts on the fans?
Mark: I enjoyed entertaining them. If it wasn’t for the fans, there would be no wrestling business. I understood that very well.
George: Are there any closing words?
Mark: There is no business like the wrestling business. You can be on the top of the mountain one day, and the next not have a pot to piss in and window to throw it out of. So, to all my brothers and sisters in the business-watch out for your health, avoid all injuries at all costs, look out for number one and save your MONEY because it could end tomorrow.
George: Mark I want to thank you for time, and wish you all the best.
Mark: You’re very welcome. I appreciate your interest in me.
Photo Credit: Mark Starr collection
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