_________________________________________________________________ Q U E S T I O N S F O R T H E P R O S: With Rick Link _________________________________________________________________ [Interview conducted by Tony D. on June 1, 2000] TD: What's your real name, and what gimmicks have/do you use? RL: REAL NAME RICK LINK PAST GIMMICKS M.E.B., MAN MOUNTAIN LINK, BEASTMASTER, SQUASHER LINK, SIR RICKTON LINK, TD: What height/weight are you? RL: 6 FOOT 3, 375 LBS., TD: What circuits do you currently wrestle in? RL: SCW RALEIGH, NC NDW GREENSBORO, NC CCW CONCORD, NC JAPAN..... TD: What circuits have you wrestled in? RL: NWA TERRITORIES IN THE 80'S CROCKETTS MID ATLANTIC, ATLANTA, TAMPA, KANSAS CITY AND NEW ZEALAND AND JARRETT AND LAWLERS MEMPHIS IN THE 80'S.... TD: What titles have you held? RL: NWA CENTRAL STATES TV TITLE AND CENTRAL STATES TAG TEAM TITLES, NWA MID AMERICAN TITLE...AWA SOUTHERN TITLE AND WORLD BRASS KNUCKS CHAMPION..SHOOTFIGHT TAG TITLES WITH MANNY RAGIN BULL FERNANDEZ.... TD: When did you decide to become a wrestler? And how did you get started? RL: TRAINED BY JOHNNY HUNTER IN 1974 AT AGE 15 TURNED PRO AT 16 IN 1975.... TD: Who has been the biggest influence on your career? RL: JERRY LAWLER, AUSTIN IDOL, AND BRUISER BRODY ALL HAD GREAT INFLUENCES ON MY CAREER...... TD: Who is your favorite wrestler to work with in the ring? RL: ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER IS MY FAVORITE OPPONENT,..... TD: Any major enemies? If so, who, and why? RL: NO MAJOR ENEMIES OTHER THAN THE JABRONIS WHO GET IN THE BUSINESS WITHOUT PAYING ANY DUES THUS NOT PROTECTING THE BUSINESS THE OLD SCHOOL WAY I WAS TAUGHT. WHEN I BROKE IN YOU HAD TO EARN A SPOT IN THIS BUSINESS.. TD: In which promotion are you the most over? RL: OVER GOOD IN ALL INDYS IN CAROLINAS AND WAS OVER IN MEMPHIS AND NEW ZEALAND...THANKS JERRY LAWLER AND STEVE RICKARD.... TD: Do you ever consider working in the WWF, WCW or ECW if they are interested in your talent? If you had to pick WWF, WCW or ECW, where would you go? And why? RL: I WORKED NWA FOR YEARS BEFORE BECOMING WCW AND WOULD WORK ANYWHERE I COULD GET A GUARANTEED CONTRACT...... TD: Do you have a computer? If so, what do you think of the reporters and sheet writers on the internet? RL: MIXED EMOTIONS ON SHEET WRITERS YOU CAN GIVE NEWS WITHOUT SMARTING UP EVERYONE..... TD: Do you have a college degree or any other higher education? RL: YES, IM COLLEGE EDUCATED......... TD: Any advice you'd give a wannabe wrestler? RL: WANNABE WRETSLERS....ITS A HARD CUT THROAT BUSINESS BUT SUCCESS CAN BE ACHEIVED IF YOU HAVE THE LOVE, DESIRE AND HEART FOR THE BUSINESSS.... TD: Any final comments for the readers? RL: Visit My Website at http://www.angelfire.com/nc/beastmaster/