Quick Highlights
debut: 1994
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) 1995-1999
Insane Plan: You were a well-known martial artist winning numerous
accolades, how did the transition into pro wrestling come about?
Sonny Ono: Actually Eric Bischoff which everybody knows who he is traveled
together in the pro karate circuit and every weekend to all the tournaments and
competes and fights which is how me and Eric became friends, I was in Iowa
where Eric was living in Mississippi and he approached Vern Gagne who owned AWA
wrestling on different projects and then was hired as an announcer and the rest
after that is history, worked his way to the WCW then called me to go work with
him in Japan, started a relationship with New Japan wrestling and due to my
martial arts experience and my friendship with Eric is what help me get into
the Business in WCW and New Japan.
Insane Plan: were you a wrestling fan growing up? If so who were some of
your favorites to watch?
Sonny Ono: Oh yea… the Territory in
Iowa, Vern Gagne and all the wrestlers that traveled thru of course a lot of
the NWA guys such as Rob McDaniel’s, I Also got to see the NWA First japan star
and was his biggest fan…
Insane Plan: During your early start
with WCW, you managed the majority of the Japanese stars on the roster, who did
you enjoy working with the most?
Sonny Ono: Enjoyed everyone I worked with and most of the guys I still keep
in touch with until this day when I go to Japan we get together when we can
especially Ultimo Dragon, I stay close with him…I had the best time working
with Bull Nakano & Akria Hokuto.. Those guys were superstars of Japan
wrestling and how Amazing they were and all the other women as well from Giesa
pro.. Those guys don’t get enough recognition they deserve. I am always impress
with the women of japan, it’s not like it used to be… Akria married Kensuke
Suzuki are now big TV Personalities in Japan and the last I heard Suzuki was
one of the bookers for All Japan pro wrestling.
Insane Plan: what are some of your greatest highlights in WCW?
Sonny Ono: You know being able to be a part of WCW and given many
opportunities I will never forget, I think the Sturgis show with Jay Leno was
one of the greatest to watch and see Hulk Hogan take over the tonight show and
the hype how wrestling was at the time and getting to work with Steve McMichael
and all those guys was great such Bobby The Brain who always helped me along
the way and Mean Gene which no one is like Mean gene, he’s the greatest
interviewer.. Meeting people like Dennis Raodman, Shaq, and all the superstars
from outside of wrestling coming in WCW, I think those would be my greatest
highlights… as far as my Character is concern when Masa Chono turned on me and
left me for the nWo, Just being in the Business and the hype it was during that
time was great,. I remember Muhami Ali, Eric Bicshoff, The Steiner Brothers,
myself and others traveled to North Korea and I would have never thought I
would go to North Korea and come back home alive (Laughing).. Without Wrestling
I would never have had these great opportunities and Moments
Insane Plan: Was there any pressure as a performer on Nitro during the Monday
night wars?
Sonny Ono: No, not from my Place in WCW, I was a manager side kick to the
stars and help give them the spotlight, never any pressure.. the whole raven
& Perry Saturn matches, Eddy Gurerrero, Dean Malanko, and the stars from
japan and the luchadores, and all those guys were great and very professional
in the ring and what they did to impress the fans.. Always helping each other
inside and outside the ring.. They were all pros!
Insane Plan: Name
Game: You can comment, share experience, opinion or anything you like next to
their names of people you worked with
Eric Bischoff… great Friend, spoke to him a couple days ago, longtime
friend, one of the closest friends I have
Kensuke Sasaki… lucky man to be married
to Akria Hokuto, she was the first and Last WCW women’s champion and I believe she still has
the title when she retired with it in japan.. Great guy, he is training young talent in his dojo in
north of Tokyo.. I have a lot of respect for him
Akria
Hokuto…. Probably one of the top two
maybe three top women in wrestling in the country, Everybody who is a fan of
pro wrestling should really go on youtube and search for her matches… very
amazing talent, one of the very few women who can ligament can kick your ass
(laughing)
Bull
Nakono… Disappeared after WCW and went back to japan and tried out in pro Golf,
I still keep in touch with her and meet up with her when I go to Japan.. the
Image everybody has of Bull Nakano in WCW is not the same image she has now….
She is very unrecognizable if you see her now, very slender, she’s on TV Shows
in japan, owns a club as well very delight person, actually the last time I
think I saw her was at the Ultimo Dragon Show and shwe was in the front row and
nobody knew who she was..
Ernest
the Cat Miller…. We talk every other day, very good friend of mine and another
friendship that has a tide with me thru martial arts… he just appeared in
Alanta Georgia martial arts tournament.. such a gentlemen and a very good
friend of mine
Malia
Hosaka…. Who?
Insane
Plan: Malia Hosaka.. You managed her in WCW for a short awhile
Sonny
Ono: yeah yeah..I managed her a little bit, when I knew her she was a very
sweet young girl that never had the opportunity to blossom as a wrestler… I
believe she is still out their wrestling..
Insane
Plan: She actually officially retired I think last year.. she made a statement
on facebook
Sonny
Ono: oh did she… I think I saw her on a talk show, Murry Provich or something;
she was married to a midget…
Insane
Plan: really?
Sonny
Ono: yup, look it up
Madusa……Debbie,
we still communicate thru Facebook and sometimes on the phone.. Very beautiful
and another lady that can ligament can kick your ass..She now does the monster
trucks stuff, One of the last women who has worked out of Mexico, japan, and
all around.. This woman is the real deal, she is a delight..
Hulk
Hogan…I think hulk at onetime wanted to work with me and the Cat but for
whatever reason it never materialize.. When You think of Wrestling, You think
of Hulk Hogan.. he’s an icon. He made WCW to what it is when he signed back in
94/95
Randy Savage….one time in Mississippi
randy savage had a custom bike made,
a collector ( I am actually looking at
it right now) he was not a bike rider, but I ended up with the
bike.. he is such a generous man and
when WCW was on the road to my hometown of Iowa, My
kids had show and tell for their
elementary school and randy offered to come to the school and
be the show for my kids and said let’s
do this brother! (Laughing) , he truly
is an icon!
There
all great guys, very kind and generous..
Ric
Flair……..Best wrestler, entertainer,
he’s the kind of guy that can make anyone look good in the ring what you see Ric on TV is what you see him in
real life….. nothing fake about that guy… great guy, he’s the real deal…
Miss
Elizabeth…… She is very kind, I remember the one super bowl Sunday and we did a
show the night before in Iowa and I had her, Debra McMiichael, Eric Bischoff, a
few others all sitting on my couch watching the game.. She is very professional
and classy outside the ring.
Ultimo
Dragon…is a survivor; he had an accident in WCW with his hand and still
continue in wrestling and showed up in WWE, he had a good run and is a great
person, I still keep in touch with him when I Travel to Japan.. as a matter of
fact he is coming out with a comic book novel.. Amazing Talent to ever grace us
in this Business
Chris
Benoit…. Chris was, well, I don’t know the terrible things that happened to him
but I do know him as a Kind person, very nice… him and dean malanko was always
about helping each other and others they worked with.. I only know him as very
quiet and it’s such a tragedy what happened but you know it’s too bad what
happened, I am not sure what the factor was in the case. I came to remember how
I would like to remember the image I have of him and that is a kind gentleman
and fearless..
Eddy
Guerrero……You know it’s sad, just like the name you just asked me about Chris…
Eddy died long before his time. I actually talked to Eddy the day before he passed.. he’s a
gentleman, an amazing talent, always nice to the core, great talent the works…I
miss him!
Insane
Plan: What are the good and the bad working for WCW?
Sonny
Ono: I don’t remember anything bad, I think it was difficult on the road when I
have a family, I got to experience things and meet amazing amount of people and
I got to live my dream I never thought I
could have… aside from that, I think it
was tough going on the road and I feel
for wrestlers today that are doing it
300 odd days a year… so, I think that is the downfall, the tradeoff that
would be just being in the business and working with amazing people
Insane
Plan: Any interesting stories you can share from your time with WCW?
Sonny
Ono: I don’t think People realize how tough these guys are ligament they are… I
remember one time, Tonga King Haku known as Meng was In Main with us and I use
to not drink liquor and he was approached about not drinking alcohol and we
warned him who he was and where he’s from… his father is related to a royalty main island of the South Pacific
island-kingdom of Tonga.. we told him do you know where he comes from.. his
family eats people. (laughing)
Insane
Plan: If giving the opportunity to return to wrestling would you?
Sonny
Ono: Sure, under the right
circumstances, The Business has changed so much now then it was back then, I
talked to raven a few days ago and his matches with Perry Saturn were great..
We were A part of wrestling as we know it, great time and I was very happy that
I was a part of it.
Insane
Plan: after you departed from WCW, did the WWE contact you to work for them?
Sonny
Ono: No, I had the opportunity to meet TNA a few times but no not the
WWE..
Insane
Plan: You left WCW on bad terms and not much longer after your release from the
company, WWE took full responsibility of WCW. What are your thoughts on WWE
owing WCW?
Sonny
Ono: You know, I never worked for the WWE.. My complaint was when Vince Russo
came in and things changed in WCW that I didn’t agree with. I left before this
happen and I didn’t like it because of a lot of my friends lost their job but
other than that.. it’s business
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