Gene Okerlund
March 30, 1998
by RichInKC

RichInKC: Stone Cold Steve Austin?

Gene: I had a chance to work with Steve when he was originally back here in WCW as part of the Hollywood Blondes, Steve Austin and the late Brian Pillman. Steve was a very hard worker. He was very dedicated to doing everything right, and I think he has found his niche with the character of Stone Cold Steve Austin. I think it is going to take him to the bank, to the pay window for a long time.

RichInKC: What about his friend and partner, Brian Pillman?

Gene: Very gifted, a smaller guyÖplayed football when he was 175 lbs. Came into professional wrestling as a small guy but he overcame all that. I think Brian was a troubled young man and we lost him prematurely at 35 years old in a very untimely death. I enjoyed his company. I did spend some time with Brian privately and always had a good time, usually over a beer. I found him to be a very complex young man.

RichInKC: How about Chris Benoit?

Gene: Oh, Chris Benoit. Fabulous. He's got all the tools. There is nothing that you can really pick apart from his game that isn't great. Benoit has got to develop, in my opinion, to take him to the top rung is a bit of a more clearly defined personality, but in the ring, he is just second to none. The snap suplexes, the way he can work with big men, the way he can work with men his own sizeÖI find him to be one of the great superstars of the future. I don't think it is that far around the corner, either.

RichInKC: What about Scott Hall and Kevin Nash? They are almost inseparable now.

Gene: Well, they are inseparable, they are the Outsiders, a name that I gave them, by the way, a moniker that I labeled them with because we didn't have anything at the time. They were indeed outsiders. I'm not so certain that they aren't outsiders right now. Scott Hall, another guy that broke in with Diamond Dallas Page, is truly a great showman. He's a good wrestler, he's become a good wrestler. I saw him early on ten years ago when he kind of stinked the place up.

Kevin Nash is a guy that overcame a lot of obstacles. He started off in a supporting role of kind of a glorified job guy at the old WCW as Vinnie Vegas, but he went on to become World Champion of the World Wrestling Federation as Diesel. Now he is back in WCW as one of the biggest names and certainly as one of the biggest physical specimens that we have. And on the payroll, he is one of the biggest guys in this business also. They're well compensated but they bring a lot creatively to the party.

RichInKC: Let's mention Dean Malenko. I noticed you interviewed him on Uncensored and it seems that he is taking a break. What are your thoughts on Dean?

Gene: I've got to put him in a category along with Chris Benoit. He's a technician. What he does that a lot of the guys don't do is really take his time in creating an atmosphere in the match that people can react to. He can do it either way. He can go babyface or he can go big time heel. I don't know how long this self-imposed retirement will be. If he is out of the sport for any length of time, he is going to be sorely missed. Dean Malenko is a great hand and, personally, a very good guy.

RichInKC: Thank you for your time, Gene, and your thoughts on professional wrestling. I hope you can visit us again.

Gene: My pleasure. If I can do anything for you guys, you've got my number.