WCW's Kevin Sullivan on NWA Power, working with Brian Pillman & Brian Pillman Jr, being a booker, and more (Exclusive)
Here is our final part of our three-part series with WCW's The Taskmaster Kevin Sullivan. You can read the first part here, and the second part here.
SK: You're no stranger to the NWA. What are your thoughts on the new YouTube series of NWA Power?
Sullivan: When I first heard about it, I was really taken back. I didn't think you could go back to those days until I saw it. It has a completely different feel. I put it back to when the nWo came into WCW. It was a completely new thing and shook up the business, and WWE had to come up with something, and they went to their Attitude Era. Then Paul came along and threw another bit of wrestling program out there, and they all succeeded.
I happen to really like what Billy Corgan is doing over there. I happen to think some of the commercials they have in there remind me of the old Saturday Night Live commercials where you didn't know if it was a commercial or if it was a goof. It throws just enough comedy in there. The other thing, their champion Nick Aldis is a wrestler. He looks like a world champion, and he talks like a world champion. He's articulate. When he's dressed up in a suit, he looks like a world champion.
You can go to a night club. Say WWE is Studio 54, I know I'm dating myself, but WWE is Studio 54, and this (NWA Power) is like a completely different whole spun feel of a bar. That hey, this is what it used to be 20 years ago when I would come in with someone else. So I think that it's very, very good. What's your take on it, Lee?
SK: Honestly, I like it because NWA Power gives a different feel, especially when you have all these companies trying to do the same thing. They (NWA) come out of the left-field with their program, and it's like nothing else on TV.
I remember WCW in the early '90s with the spinning of the ring. I go back and watch the old NWA, and then watch the new NWA, and it's incredible to see the fact that you can bring the past back and still make it relatable to what's going on in today's professional wrestling.
Sullivan: Yes, and you hit upon something. They make it relate today, which I thought was not going to be done, and they've done a hell of a job doing that. I think this is another avenue that gives people a different take on pro wrestling. Like you said, wrestling is completely different than what we see on AEW and WWE.
SK: To me, it was like when Eastern Championship Wrestling became Extreme Championship Wrestling. Here you have two companies doing the same thing, and then this one comes out of the left-field with a whole different direction of wrestling.
Sullivan: I feel the same way. When I heard what they were going to do, I kind of pooh-poohed it because you can't go back, but they have not gone back, just forward with the idea that has worked for generations. I tip my hat to them. Some great thinking has been put into this.
They also have some very good talent. That feel that we're talking about its almost like you can reach out and touch them at the studio. The people are avid fans at the studio. They have that going for them because I'll be watching another wrestling program, and the fans are sitting on their hands. You don't see that much in NWA.
SK: You not only worked with Brian Pillman Sr but also his son as well. What was it like to work with his son, Brian Pillman Jr?
Sullivan: It was surreal because that was the last time I've been in a ring, and I did that because I wanted to end with that. It was like flashbacks, this kid. This kid has it. He's going to grow into a main eventer. He's in MLW now, and they're doing a good job of protecting him, and not just throwing him to the wolves. They're building him slowly, and I think he'll be a superstar in the next few years. I hope the kid does well, and I'm sure he will.
SK: During your time as a booker in WCW, was there anyone that you felt or that you wanted to get pushed, but corporate just said, "No, that's not going to happen."?
Sullivan: No, but they would block you in different ways. I'm not going to mention who they were, but one time I had this young guy go over tv, and the north talent, we were the south talent. I got called over there (north talent), and they asked me why a guy making x amount of money beat the guy making three times what he did. I would have never thought that would have happened.
When you have arguments or disagreements, you have to look at everybody's side. I looked at it, and I'm saying, "Well, I can see where they're coming from this." People outside the wrestling business think because it's prearranged that anybody can do it and just throw people in there with some of the guys with a higher paycheck should be the guys that are pushed. That isn't always the case, and a lot of times, it isn't just once and a while, a lot of times that's not the case.
I'll give you an example, a guy like Brian Pillman comes into the business. He's got that name. He should be given a chance. If you did that today, I don't know if a corporate guy would call them in and say, "Hey, why are you doing this?"
It happened a few times with me. Then I'd have to go around my own way and get it done. I'll give you an example, Chris Jericho. I think he's one of the greatest of all times. He was the Cruiserweight champion, but he wasn't going to break through that ceiling yet because of all the heavy paid talent to buff. He was smart. He saw that and went on to Vince, and the rest is history. Triple H, the same thing.
SK: Yeah, because he was Terra Ryzing in WCW. Last question for you, Mr. Sullivan. Where can fans find you on social media?
Sullivan: I've had a bunch of social media, and I've taken it down. I had three fake Facebook profiles out there. I'm going to be putting them back up, but I'm working on something to protect myself, and I'm working on it right now.