First off, what have you been up to recently?
I have been living in Sevierville, TN and wrestling around the eastern part of Tennessee. It's been a long time since I have been around the independent scene in the south but I am getting adjusted.
How did you get into the business?
I started taking pictures for a magazine when I was 12 years old. My older brother Ken called up Paul Boesch (Houston promoter) and told him about my passion for wrestling and Paul allowed me to take pictures at ringside. We were going to the matches every Friday night and from there I worked my way into being a second, timekeeper, referee and promoters assistant. I worked in the wrestling office during the summers when I was going to high school. Eventually, Paul let me start going to the coliseum on Friday afternons with The Iron Sheik and some football player that thought he wanted to wrestle. He quit and I kept working out with Sheik. From there I kept being around and eventually had my first pro match on October 20, 1979.
Along with Jimmy Del Ray you were The Heavenly Bodies, working in Smokey Mountain and USWA before debuting in the WWF. How much did you enjoy tagging with Jimmy?
Jimmy was a tremendous worker in the ring. We were different people on the outside. I thought we worked well as a team but weren't all that close away from the arena.
What are your memories of your feud with the Rock N Roll Express?
I enjoyed every match with RnR because in the south the people want to get lost in watching their wrestling. Ricky Morton new how to get that sympathy from the crowd and they were over. It was a great series of matches and I have nothing but good memories from that time.
How was the WWF when you first joined them? Was it what you expected in terms of the demanding schedule?
It was and wasn't what I initially expected. The travel didn't bother me as much as just trying to be involved without "rockin' the boat."
The Heavenly Bodies run in WWF ended, and you re-surfaced on WWF programming alongside Chris Candido as The BodyDonnas. Would I be right in thinking this was far from your #1 choice of characters?
I wasn't thrilled with cutting my hair and wasn't at all comfortable with the gimmick. I love Chris Candido but there were issues with Tammy at that time that made things almost unbearable to go to work. It was what it was for the time and I kept hoping something better would come along.
After your in-ring career with WWF came to an end, you worked more as a scout and agent. I believe you were one of the guys credited with training Ken Shamrock when he entered the company. How easy was Shamrock to train? Did he "get it" quickly?
Ken had already wrestled some independents in the Carolinas when he signed with us. All he really did was come in to get some ring rust off and keep busy before he started for WWE on TV. Ken got it as far as I was concerned.
How did you adapt to your new role behind the scenes and out of the ring?
I looked forward to it. It was a new challenge and chance to stay with the company and be involved.
Late last year you were released by WWE in what seems to be a sudden departure. Was there any animosity on either side that led to your departure?
I was shocked and it stung, no doubt. I look at it as a change in the regime comes with a change in staff. I never claimed to be a "corporate guy" and before Johnny Ace got there both JR and Vince seemed to be pleased with my performance. I don't have any animosity but I can't speak for anyone else in the office.
Would you return to the company if asked?
It depends who asked and what the position would be. A lot has changed in the last six months and I don't think the current "boss" would have anything for me on his staff.
What do you think of the state of the business today? Would you agree that the industry has suffered as a result of a lack of competition for WWE?
It doesn't have to be so complicated. I think telling those simple stories with good and bad guys that people can follow and get behind can be very entertaining. The problem is there is not a lot of seasoned vets around to work with the younger guys in the ring and let them "feel it" in the ring. To many guys feel that they need to call every move in the back. That's not what the art of working is. It's about feeling what goes on in the ring. I tell people we are not acting. We're reacting. There's a huge difference that a lot of people don't get. I can't put all the blame on the young guys because most of them have only seen WWE on TV and they think that's all there is to the business. Obviously, some guys have benefited from the big money in the business, but quite a few still have the wrong impression (in my opinion) of what makes this business work.
What do you make of TNA? Can you see them becoming a serious rival to Vince?
I think TNA has already surprised a lot of people by still being in business. I am glad there is another place for talent to go besides the independents. I have a few friends working there and for their sake I hope TNA continues to grow. The reality is, to compete with Vince you must be a workaholic and have more passion and dedication than he does. I don't know anyone who works harder than Vince does.
Have you ever spoken to TNA about working down there?
Not really.
It's Wrestlemania time again. Batista and John Cena are headliners, and along with Randy Orton seem to be the "future" of the company. Do you think these three are deserving of main event pushes, and who do you think is being overlooked (if anybody)?
I do think they deserve the spotlight. I'm sure there are guys being overlooked and under rated. But that's up to the creative team to decide.
Finally, what does the future hold for Tom Prichard?
I have a positive outlook and really believe everything happens for a reason. I will wrestle until I can't or something better comes along. I have some camps lined up and am available if anyone wants me to do a camp/seminar or wrestle these days!
credit:
http://www.wrestlemag.com/interviews/prichard.html
