August 31, 2021 • 29 mins
The Toast of the Gulf Coast Rob Shivers joins us he talks about The Emerald Empire and so much more more..
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello everybody. This is Rob Shiversand I am the manager of the greatest
stable and professional wrestling today, theEmerald Empire. And you are listening to
the King of Wrestling podcast. Thisis Johnny Swinger, that King of Swing.
You're listening to the King of Wrestlingpodcast and don't sing it, swing
it. And you're listening to theKing of Podcast number one. Ladies and
(00:24):
gentlemen, my name is Brian PillmanJunior, and you are listening to the
Kings of Wrestling podcast. This isour land. You're listening to the King
Wrestling podcasting. And now you're host. Yes, I am the host with
the most baby, I am BrandonTurner. And well I got probably one
(00:45):
of the second greatest managers in professionalwrestling today, none other than the manager
of the Emerald Empire, Rob Shivers. What's going on? Rob? First
and foremost? I cannot tell youwhat our honor and a trivilege it is
for all of you to have meon this podcast today and second best and
then look, look, look,don't downgrade yourself so bad, brother,
(01:07):
Hey, being second best, there'snothing wrong with it whatsoever. I mean.
Look, Charles Bronkley ever won thechampionship because Jordan was around. It's
okay to be Charles Bronkley brother.Heyton, nobody's hold against you. Okay,
I can see this podcast is gonnabe going south real quick. I'm
gonna I'm gonna remove my ego forhalf a second, for half a second,
(01:30):
I'm gonna let you have the shinefor just one second. I usually
don't do this, the breathing one, don't take a backseat to nobody,
but I'm gonna let the Emerald Empirecome in for just a second and take
over. So I'm gonna let youhave the floor tonight. Okay. That's
what we do everywhere we go.Man, that I mean, you didn't
have to say that we are toyou. That's gonna happen. Yeah,
(01:51):
yeah, I'll see that. Well, mister Shivers, it is an honor
to have you on the podcast.One of the reasons that I'm ha be
that you're here. And I don'tknow if you know this yet, but
I have a problem with a certainlittle worm and I heard you took him
out at the AWF show a coupleof weeks ago, so thank you for
(02:13):
that. You know what, Iheard that you had been having a problem
with him. And I'm always aroundtoo, let's just say fixed problems.
That's kind of part of my jobas a manager. I am so sick
to death of the worm. Walterthe worm. Jeezus, you should have
(02:35):
saw him last night. All I'mgonna say is, I'll send you the
video so you can see it.But he showed up last night to APW
as the ring announcer, wearing dadreally new new balances and warm in the
ring. I don't know about you, guys, but before I leave home,
(02:58):
I make sure I have things likeI don't socks, pants, shoes.
Come on, worm, you're betterthan this. No, no,
he's not. But I'll say thisthough too. I've never seen him prepared.
You know. The night before thathe was ring announcing at Awa and
I mean I have to interrupt him. I can't, I tell him mean,
(03:21):
you cannot introduce my guys, youjust don't have the voice. Farts.
You gotta get out there because wegot I mean, I managed the
Asa Spade, the Truth Star ofthe Ace of the Awa and that's Charlie
Ace. But uh and he pickedup the wind over DJ cit Brown.
But I'm not gonna let that wormever introduce any of my talent, because
you know, you're pretty much triedabout him not being ever being prepared because
(03:45):
his parents had five kids and hewas the sixth one. D I mean,
brother, brother is a lot behind, is all I'm trying to say,
Worm, you gotta stif the gameup. I would, but you
know our host Brandon Turner here,he was correct when he said, you
can't do better, but you canat least try to do better. Kid,
Come on, yeah, you cantry, and just don't do it
with my clients. But Rob,I want to jump into this, man,
(04:08):
I kind of want to get startedwith the fact I how long did
you before you got into wrestling?Like, were you a fan growing up?
I will, I can honestly say, without one question, I can't
remember a time in my life wherethere was no such thing as there were
I didn't watch wrestling, like thestory goes, I was just a couple
(04:28):
of weeks old and up here aroundat up here in Bruton, Alabama,
there's a National Guard Army, andlike I was a couple of weeks older,
my folks took me to my firstmatches and been in it and literally
ever since. I mean, likesome kids can say I can remember I
was eight years old. Ought,I can't remember not watching wrestling. Yeah,
that's about like me. I man, when I grew up, I
(04:50):
grew up on the Mid South.I grew up on you know, WCWWWE
you know. But I used togo to the fairgrounds with my grandpa on
Friday nights and watch Cowboy Bob Kellyand all them guys back in the day.
And uh it was it was afun time. So what what kind
of sparked your interest into getting intothe wrestling business. It you've probably heard
(05:15):
of ten million times. But likewhen when up, like when you're growing
up as kids, you always seethese kids say, oh, I want
to be a fireman, I wantto be a police officer. I want
to be in the military. I'veliterally never wanted to do anything else.
Like, yeah, we all havejobs, but I mean, like,
if somebody come to me and puta gun on my hands, and you
get to do one job for therest of your life and it only one,
(05:35):
what would it be? We haveto think about pro wrestling. I'm
and like legit, most kids,like when you're growing up and you have
wrestling, you know, friends inschool like wrestling you know, you play
wrestling and this guy, I wantto be whole Covid or I'm gonna be
Andre. I legitimately understood from thetime I was a young child that I
wanted to be Bobby Eating. Ohmy goodness, baby, no wonder we're
(05:59):
great, like I mean, evenat a young age. And there stood.
Yeah, everybody bought Russellmannia three towatch Hogan and Andre, there's no
question about it. And everybody lovessteing Vos Savage, but who really taught
that program up besides the commentators likeGorilla and Jesse and Vince who sold those
tickets. Bobby, Bobby Heenvid andBobby Heenan gave was the reason. Like,
(06:27):
if Andre would have just attacked Hogan, there would have still been a
lot of fans who were on Andre'sside, But the minute he aligned himself
with Henan, it's like, okay, there's no question we hate this guy.
And I mean guys like Bobby Heenan, Jim Cornett, Gary Harp,
those guys. I've always been aheel fan. I never liked good guys.
(06:49):
Yeah, I like Hogan, okay, but my main guys were Flare
and Savage. When he was aheel. Guys like that, I was.
I was always a fan of theheels, so I got it from
a very young age. It's like, Okay, yeah, Hogan's cool,
is big, he's muscular, he'sten, he's got some hair. But
(07:10):
then you look across the rent.Then you switch the channel and you got
Rick Flair, Who's coming out,And literally you knew he was not be
asking you about he's got limousines,he's got women, money, how is
this car? So that what youknew, You could feel that, and
even as a kid, you knewthat this guy was the epitome of what
a pro wrestler was supposed to be. You really did. And you know,
(07:33):
you talk about Bobby the Brain henBobby the Brain Heenon was my inspiration
to get into wrestling. Absolutely,you talk about the heel factor and all
that. I'm gonna just say thisback in the eighties when I was watching,
I'm dating myself a little bit,but Rick Rude one of my favorites.
Yes, God, yes, Iloved him. If every wrestler could
(07:59):
look like Rick Rude and everybody talkedlike Bobby Henan, there would be there'd
be there'd be turning away fans rightnow, there'd be people still sitting outside
of the building want to buy finBy tickets. But yeah, Rick Rude,
I loved his stick. You know, Bobby Hen could talk his head
off, but all Rick Rude hadto do was say, cut my music.
(08:22):
I want right now for all ofyou inner city sweat holks to feast
your eyes on what a real manlooks like. And it was like the
dudes wanted to kill him and thechips weren't to be with him. That's
that's the ticket, That's that's arn. Anderson said it best. He said,
baby faces sell merchandise, heels selltickets. Because people legitimately fought,
(08:46):
paid money, got in the carto come see somebody steps shove it up
Bobby Hen's ass. Can we ever, by the way, what was that?
Can we cursed on here? Oh? You can do whatever you want
it. Man, you're you're free. This is a free rain. Okay.
I'm I'm trying not to drop mea bombary and feel like that.
I just didn't want to like sayasking somebody go We'll wait a minute.
(09:07):
But anyway we can edit that out, I guess. But yeah, people
bought tickets to see Hogan kind ofget his hands on, Bobby. And
that's the art of a manager.You make people hate you, but thereby
when I bring you to the ringwith me, they hate you too.
You don't even have to work atmaking them hate you. They automatically hate
you. That that's the art,and that really is And that's why I
(09:31):
modeled myself after Bobby the Brain healingon both when I do when I'm a
manager, I'm modeled by by Bobbythe brain When I do commentary, I'm
modeled by Bobby the brain heading.So you know, Bobby the brain heading
was a big part of my childhoodas a as a manager and a commentator
(09:52):
exactly. And the thing about Bobbywas he taught me Brussel, I'm sorry
he started over each taught me tomanage like you're a wrestler and rustle like
a manager. Don't have to goout there and nobody expects you to go
out there and look like rain Mystereo. You your guy lost, so you
(10:13):
your opponent's got five minutes with you. They're not expecting you to fly around
the ring like a Lucador. Theywant to see you get your ass kids,
exactly. And then if it's ahot enough issue. Maybe my guy
screws screws the fan favorite and Islide out somehow by the skin of my
teeth. Then they're gonna be like, Okay, that's it, that's it,
(10:35):
we're gonna get We're gonna come backnext next month, and we're gonna
watch or guy kick your ass.That that's just like fishing man. All
you got to do is use theright fate and set the hook. Completely
agree there. Now, I wantto get into it. What how long
have you been a manager? Howlong have you been in wrestling. I've
(10:56):
been in wrestling now for six years. I'll tell you right now. I'm
forty years old. I got intowrestling just by happen stance. I've always
been going to shows, and youknow, bought my ticket and met up
with the right people and come hookor by crook. I got introduced to
(11:18):
Seeker of the Lots and Molins andhis head booker at the time was his
son Matt, And Matt said,uh, you want to come try to
be a manager? Sure, absolutely, So I show up the first show
it's at a church, and Iget out of the truck, get all
(11:41):
the stuff inside, and Matt goeswe don't have a ring anounce. Can
you do the ring announcing? Absolutely, I just wanted a jersey. I
didn't care what position I was playingat the time. I really didn't care.
So I ring announced for that show. And at the end of the
show, Matt aka Rosie Rest inPeace Rosie comes up Tim. He goes,
(12:05):
we're having a show with the SentaRosa Auditorium next month. Come on
back. So I go out tothe ring before the show and some of
the guys that have just you know, having a little run through and they
needed a referee to work out spotsand seek As Sammy Diey goes, you
have referee shirt? I said,no, sir. He gets somebody on
(12:26):
the phone and next thing, Igot a referee shirt in my hand.
I'm referee. So I spent thelast five years referee, just being a
ref and then at the big andthen last year, of course, the
pandemic hit, so I guess wecan count We were all, yeah,
I guess we can count last yearas a year in the business or whatever.
(12:46):
But then at the beginning of theyear, mister jacobone of the Emerald
Empire, messes me up. He'slike, hey, you ever thought about
being a manager every day since Ican remember. Uh, come on,
manage us and the Renstess history.That was in January this year, and
(13:09):
I've been there manager ever since.Wow. Well, I'm gonna just say
this. I'm thirty eight, okay, so I'm right there. I'm knocking
on the forty door with you.Our pasts are very very similar. I
mean almost to the tea the firstwrestling show I showed up to, or
(13:31):
not the first wrestling show I showedit too, But the first time I
showed up, they needed a ringannouncer, and I ring announced, and
then after that I went to refereeand and then here I am as a
manager. That's how That's how itworked with me as well. And I
mean I've put in a lot oftime driving and everything. But you you've
managed the Emerald Empire, which hasgot a Gulf Coast legend himself and it's
(13:56):
Cyrus Lavay and you got jacopone inthere. Now you've the Emerald Empire has
been around for a little while,so yes, and it's a pretty good
name down are in Florida. Yes, you're trying to venture out law.
Tell us a little bit about theEmerald Empire and its members. Well,
we started out the original Emerald Empirewas managed by Mike Jacobs, who is
(14:18):
currently right now recuperating from next surgery. I guess that's how I got the
spot open for me, But thankyou mister Jacobs for paving the road for
me to come in and step in. And it was Aaron James, who
(14:39):
is now partnered up and tagging withHass Jensen. They are the Southern Stretching
Crew. We've worked in and outloosely affiliated with those guys for this past
year. But the original Empire wasJacob Holme, Mike Jacobs, and Aaron
James. And then of course,like I said, mister Jacobs had to
go off and have next surgery,and mister James decided, you know,
(15:01):
he wanted to try to tag teamseeing for a while with a new partner
and they're they're kicking ass. Sothat left uh Jacob Holme and we got
to thinking about it, and uh, you know, we we kept cyrus
On who was already a member whenI joined up, and uh Frederick Yeager,
who is one of the he's he'scoming up pretty hot, but he's
(15:24):
still uh an untapped resource in thebusiness. Uh, you got any time
look him up. Frederick Yeager speltjust like the drink. Also, we
have downtown Cleveland Biggs. Cleveland Biggsis an at mora Alabama native. He's
uh. I literally watched him hisfirst day of training there and at War
(15:46):
and the kid is has got nothingbut onward and upward for him. You
know, once he once he reallytaps into that, you know, finds
out who he is as a wrestleris going to be. How I see
great things for this kid. Butthat makes us up thus far, it's
a Jake of Cyrus Leavey, FredrickYeager in Cleveland Biggs and myself as their
(16:10):
manager. And I will tell youright now, buddy, as of last
night, we've got more gold Wegot more Golden Port Knox is all I'm
trying to tell you. That's goodto hear because I mean the Emerald Empires
coming. I'm gonna tell you something, Cyrus. I've been watching Cyrus for
a long time and so a matterof fact, I saw him the night
(16:33):
that he joined forces with Jake Caponeand Aaron James. At the time I
was at at More main event backin at More. I'll buy back in
I want to say December nineteen,maybe, yeah, it was nineteen.
I was there for that show.And I've been around and seeing Cyrus for
(16:53):
a long time. And so someof the listeners out there because I want
Cyrus on this show, you know, I don't wanting to get Syrus on.
Tell some stories, but tell thelisteners a little bit about mister leave
himself. Saras LaVey is a Iwould say nineteen twenty plus year veteran of
(17:14):
Gould Coast Wrestling. He's wrestled everywhereyou can think of really that that had
open door to it of the midSouth. He's wrestled everywhere in the South
that I can think of. I'mnot quite sure that very knowledgeable about his
experiences outside of the Southern region here, but he's one of those guys.
(17:37):
If you see him on the poster, you're gonna get a professional wrestler.
He's not out there selling candy bars, T shirts and cokes. He's out
there selling ass weapons and ARUs LaVeyis one of the true kings of living
kings of Southern professional wrestling right now. It's it's it's tough to say this,
(18:02):
but you know, the older weget the more legend we lose,
but at the same time, everylegend we lose, we get another spot
opened up for another legend to bebumped up. And Cyrus's right there.
It's a tippy talk and I'm notjust saying it because he's a personal friend.
I have this weird we had thatinstant bond because I was at a
referee there at at More's main event, and the first night we met,
(18:26):
it was like, click, Okay, let's go get this. And like
he he came to me the firstthe first show he was there, I
was gonna he's gonna punch me.He's like, you're comfortable taking a bump?
I was like, yeah, hehit me. I bumped and he'd
been good ever since. I mean, he's one of those guys that you
know when he walks in the building, it's like we get our little puddle
(18:47):
up and just do business. Nomatter what position we're in, We're just
whether they're scheming, Okay, wecan do this, this will be better
for that. I mean, wejust have a It's like that instant click,
and pretty much every one of theguys and Empires like that. I've
been like that with the Empires it'slike this business, you know how it
is. You get in the lockerroom, that'll be twenty guys. You're
(19:07):
gonna instantly click with, maybe oneor two at a time. But it
seems like all of us, allthese guys that I'm associated with, and
that's like click that. But youknow what I'm talking about when I say
that, Oh, exactly exactly,bully h. And I think the Emerald
Empires they've got a lot of stuffcoming in twenty twenty one. As long
(19:29):
as they don't step on breathing inkstoes, they're gonna be just fine.
On who's that now, brilliant ink? I don't clear clear that ear wax
out of ears? Listen, here'sa deal. Now. I'm sure over
there and miss a CSD y'aller topship, there's no question. But when
you come when you cross that stateline over there where pople can read to
(19:51):
Alabama and Florida, and that's sayingsomething about literacy, you're going to spind
out that when we step in upolding, we owned that building and we
didn't have to pay for it.Okay, well you got I stepped foot
in Alabama and I had to signit, said quiet pleasing those people couldn't
read that, so you might wantto rephrase that about Alabama. I just
(20:14):
told you, man, I'm justsee you're not listening to see turn turn
that belt one up. What I'mtrying to tell you is, yeah,
we were not We were good.But I'll tell you what we do do
we will have asked better than anybodyin the business. Okay, we're not
out here selling spoons, knives,sports networks, TV shows, uh T
(20:36):
shirts, Barbie dolls. We're notselling none of that. What we sell
is violence, and we give itout for free and then we get the
gold. Because we're only after threethings. Pay attention when I'm trying to
tell you, we're after the MPG. That's money, power, and gold.
And I'm telling you right, nasty, I don't even have to join
a gym anymore. I don't haveto work out. You know why,
(20:59):
because these boys is bringing me tenpounds of gold. Every time they go
out to the ring, they bringback more gold. I'm out here,
My back's killing me. I'm totingall their stuff, just belt, just
leather and gold. I don't haveto go out there and the PEG membership
dudes for a gym Off, CyrusLevy, Jacopone, fred Vic Yeager,
Cleveland Biggs. They're my own personalgoals gym. Literally, Well, I
(21:22):
will say, you got a goodclientele list built up there, and uh
so you said you've been in itfor six years. Hum, yes,
sir, there's nothing like it isthere. If there is, I don't
want to find it because it's it'sthere's nothing more powerful. No, there
really isn't at all, And thatyou did. It's just like anything else.
(21:44):
There are people who who are intogames thrones or football or baseball or
basketball. You know, everybody's gottheir their bug, their device, but
until you're in it. And that'swhy it's so hard, because it's I'm
supposed to be easy. If itwas easy, anybody could do it.
But it's it's the most difficult slashenjoyable good in the world because if you
(22:11):
if the fans don't believe it,they're not going to buy it. And
the first thing about it is yougot to believe it for them too.
Exactly when I walk you know,when I walk out there in that arena,
I believe every word that I'm aboutto say. Rather I could go
(22:32):
out there and read you a doctorSeus's book and have those people ready to
stabbing, because I believe it.It's just that something. I don't memorize
stuff, I don't write stuff down. I'm not going over a script.
I look out there in the crowdand I'm like, okay, we am
I gonna kill tonight. And Ijust picked the entire crowd every time,
because you know, singling out oneperson is. But if you make an
(22:56):
entire room, hey, you yougot it exactly. You're exactly right there.
And but Rob, before we do, we're gonna start wrapping up here
in just a short that I mean, let me just say this, even
though you know you've manage a goodfaction, good stable there, You're welcome
on this show anytime, no doubt. We're gonna get you on here more
(23:19):
than once. I promise you that. But before we do start to roll
on out, I want to giveyou the floor. You can plug whatever
you want. I don't care whatit is. Man. Even if you've
got cookies to sell, you cansell them right here the floors yours.
Well, you know, folks,I'm just here to tell you right now,
if you were in the sound ofmy voice, go right now on
(23:41):
your whatever device you're listening listening tothis podcast on Go type in the Emerald
Vampire and search bar, go likethat page. Then I want you to
go like the American Kai Jacopone.Then I want you to go follow mister
Red Yeager who goes by the nameof his real name. I'll tell you
(24:03):
right now. It was Samuel Austin. He's on Facebook. And then you
got Cleveland bigs. That's Cleveland,like the city Biggs b I G G
S. Go follow him. Thenwhat I want you to do is I
want you to go to Cyrus LoveBaye. That's L. That's capital L
(24:25):
small a capital V e y Cyruslove A s I R U S love
Abe. And then I want youto do the greatest thing you've ever done.
And you're like, go to yoursearch block and rob r O V
shivers shi v E r S andthere you will find us, like all
of our pages, follow us,et cetera, et cetera. Then what
(24:47):
I want you to do is findthat world we're gonna be no matter which
one of us city is. Ican't be with everybody wants. These guys
were spread out through all the Southeast. I can't be with everybody wants.
But here's the deal. Find thatwhere we are, and when you find
out where we are, get yourlittle calendar book out and type in going
to see the Animals Empire. That'sall you have to do. Whatever they
(25:08):
charge the door, no matter whatvarious ways you have are paying things,
cards, cash, bottle, spoons, mile sports, tire of you pay
for things, worre you're from,you come on down and you sit down
and get ready because you're about towatch excellence and action. Now do we
(25:29):
have all the championships? Not rightnow we don't. But in a very
very very short time. See,here's the thing. We've already got the
let's see the Brian Reese memorial cufffrom IPW alpreiser for Frederick Yeger one that
check. We've got the a wF, the Outland Wrestling Foundation Heavyweight championship
(25:51):
check. And last night Cyrus Lavaywon the SWO Heavyweight Championship check. And
in a very short time, misterLovy will be the ip W that's Impact
Pro Wrestling out of our praising Florida. He will be that company's heavyweight champion.
Now do you see the pattern onLana here for you folks, you
(26:12):
see, you folks like to runaround here. I'm gonna speak to these
enigma Alabama Crimson type things. Youlike a football Pay attention dummies. You
like to run around here, andevery year you win one championship, you
had five. See that's how youknow you're a Bama fan. You can't
(26:33):
count. You want to yell,oh we got sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
twenty one championships. Well last weekhe had teens. Pay attention dummies.
Before long, we're going to haveall of the championship gold that this
sport has to offer. See,in the amateur world of college football,
(26:56):
you heltly win one championship. Sitone of years done. We've won one
before breakfast this morning. Okay,you are looking and listening to the greatest
for wrestling manager. President Company excludedthe greatest professional wrestling manager and the sport
(27:23):
today. Notice I didn't say thegreatest sports entertainment manager in the in the
industry. Note I'm the greatest managerin the sport to day. And that's
not knocking anybody. That's like Isaid of it. Charles Barkley, Patrick,
you and all those guys Hall offamers, adulation money everywhere but though
(27:45):
championships because of Jordan, I don'twear twenty three. I just wear number
one. Okay, period. ButI'm here to tell you folks right now,
if you'll want to see excellence,come see us. But just remember
before you sit, we're the EmeraldEmpire. You're not. And I'm going
to turn it back over to misterTurner after I say this. All of
(28:07):
you are welcome. Well, thankyou. Enjoyed your speech there. I'll
pick it apart later, but butI want to appreciate you for coming on
joining this, and you're more thanwelcome to come on anytime you get ready.
Mister turned the pleasure was all ofyou. It was all of your
(28:30):
pleasures. However, you're supposed tosay that plurally if that's the word.
If it wasn't it is now.I make up words all the time.
Don't worry about it. They'll bein your dictionary next year. But you
folks be safe out there coming toten and two in front of the shows.
And because guess what we want yourmoney? Yes we do. Well,
(28:52):
thank you once again. We'll seeyou lady. Y'all have a good
weekend and we'll check you out nextweek. Right here on King Wrestling Podcast.
M h a m h this isboring Audio Zoo Production. What's your
thinking, Zoe
Hello everybody. This is Rob Shiversand I am the manager of the greatest
stable and professional wrestling today, theEmerald Empire. And you are listening to
the King of Wrestling podcast. Thisis Johnny Swinger, that King of Swing.
You're listening to the King of Wrestlingpodcast and don't sing it, swing
it. And you're listening to theKing of Podcast number one. Ladies and
(00:24):
gentlemen, my name is Brian PillmanJunior, and you are listening to the
Kings of Wrestling podcast. This isour land. You're listening to the King
Wrestling podcasting. And now you're host. Yes, I am the host with
the most baby, I am BrandonTurner. And well I got probably one
(00:45):
of the second greatest managers in professionalwrestling today, none other than the manager
of the Emerald Empire, Rob Shivers. What's going on? Rob? First
and foremost? I cannot tell youwhat our honor and a trivilege it is
for all of you to have meon this podcast today and second best and
then look, look, look,don't downgrade yourself so bad, brother,
(01:07):
Hey, being second best, there'snothing wrong with it whatsoever. I mean.
Look, Charles Bronkley ever won thechampionship because Jordan was around. It's
okay to be Charles Bronkley brother.Heyton, nobody's hold against you. Okay,
I can see this podcast is gonnabe going south real quick. I'm
gonna I'm gonna remove my ego forhalf a second, for half a second,
(01:30):
I'm gonna let you have the shinefor just one second. I usually
don't do this, the breathing one, don't take a backseat to nobody,
but I'm gonna let the Emerald Empirecome in for just a second and take
over. So I'm gonna let youhave the floor tonight. Okay. That's
what we do everywhere we go.Man, that I mean, you didn't
have to say that we are toyou. That's gonna happen. Yeah,
(01:51):
yeah, I'll see that. Well, mister Shivers, it is an honor
to have you on the podcast.One of the reasons that I'm ha be
that you're here. And I don'tknow if you know this yet, but
I have a problem with a certainlittle worm and I heard you took him
out at the AWF show a coupleof weeks ago, so thank you for
(02:13):
that. You know what, Iheard that you had been having a problem
with him. And I'm always aroundtoo, let's just say fixed problems.
That's kind of part of my jobas a manager. I am so sick
to death of the worm. Walterthe worm. Jeezus, you should have
(02:35):
saw him last night. All I'mgonna say is, I'll send you the
video so you can see it.But he showed up last night to APW
as the ring announcer, wearing dadreally new new balances and warm in the
ring. I don't know about you, guys, but before I leave home,
(02:58):
I make sure I have things likeI don't socks, pants, shoes.
Come on, worm, you're betterthan this. No, no,
he's not. But I'll say thisthough too. I've never seen him prepared.
You know. The night before thathe was ring announcing at Awa and
I mean I have to interrupt him. I can't, I tell him mean,
(03:21):
you cannot introduce my guys, youjust don't have the voice. Farts.
You gotta get out there because wegot I mean, I managed the
Asa Spade, the Truth Star ofthe Ace of the Awa and that's Charlie
Ace. But uh and he pickedup the wind over DJ cit Brown.
But I'm not gonna let that wormever introduce any of my talent, because
you know, you're pretty much triedabout him not being ever being prepared because
(03:45):
his parents had five kids and hewas the sixth one. D I mean,
brother, brother is a lot behind, is all I'm trying to say,
Worm, you gotta stif the gameup. I would, but you
know our host Brandon Turner here,he was correct when he said, you
can't do better, but you canat least try to do better. Kid,
Come on, yeah, you cantry, and just don't do it
with my clients. But Rob,I want to jump into this, man,
(04:08):
I kind of want to get startedwith the fact I how long did
you before you got into wrestling?Like, were you a fan growing up?
I will, I can honestly say, without one question, I can't
remember a time in my life wherethere was no such thing as there were
I didn't watch wrestling, like thestory goes, I was just a couple
(04:28):
of weeks old and up here aroundat up here in Bruton, Alabama,
there's a National Guard Army, andlike I was a couple of weeks older,
my folks took me to my firstmatches and been in it and literally
ever since. I mean, likesome kids can say I can remember I
was eight years old. Ought,I can't remember not watching wrestling. Yeah,
that's about like me. I man, when I grew up, I
(04:50):
grew up on the Mid South.I grew up on you know, WCWWWE
you know. But I used togo to the fairgrounds with my grandpa on
Friday nights and watch Cowboy Bob Kellyand all them guys back in the day.
And uh it was it was afun time. So what what kind
of sparked your interest into getting intothe wrestling business. It you've probably heard
(05:15):
of ten million times. But likewhen when up, like when you're growing
up as kids, you always seethese kids say, oh, I want
to be a fireman, I wantto be a police officer. I want
to be in the military. I'veliterally never wanted to do anything else.
Like, yeah, we all havejobs, but I mean, like,
if somebody come to me and puta gun on my hands, and you
get to do one job for therest of your life and it only one,
(05:35):
what would it be? We haveto think about pro wrestling. I'm
and like legit, most kids,like when you're growing up and you have
wrestling, you know, friends inschool like wrestling you know, you play
wrestling and this guy, I wantto be whole Covid or I'm gonna be
Andre. I legitimately understood from thetime I was a young child that I
wanted to be Bobby Eating. Ohmy goodness, baby, no wonder we're
(05:59):
great, like I mean, evenat a young age. And there stood.
Yeah, everybody bought Russellmannia three towatch Hogan and Andre, there's no
question about it. And everybody lovessteing Vos Savage, but who really taught
that program up besides the commentators likeGorilla and Jesse and Vince who sold those
tickets. Bobby, Bobby Heenvid andBobby Heenan gave was the reason. Like,
(06:27):
if Andre would have just attacked Hogan, there would have still been a
lot of fans who were on Andre'sside, But the minute he aligned himself
with Henan, it's like, okay, there's no question we hate this guy.
And I mean guys like Bobby Heenan, Jim Cornett, Gary Harp,
those guys. I've always been aheel fan. I never liked good guys.
(06:49):
Yeah, I like Hogan, okay, but my main guys were Flare
and Savage. When he was aheel. Guys like that, I was.
I was always a fan of theheels, so I got it from
a very young age. It's like, Okay, yeah, Hogan's cool,
is big, he's muscular, he'sten, he's got some hair. But
(07:10):
then you look across the rent.Then you switch the channel and you got
Rick Flair, Who's coming out,And literally you knew he was not be
asking you about he's got limousines,he's got women, money, how is
this car? So that what youknew, You could feel that, and
even as a kid, you knewthat this guy was the epitome of what
a pro wrestler was supposed to be. You really did. And you know,
(07:33):
you talk about Bobby the Brain henBobby the Brain Heenon was my inspiration
to get into wrestling. Absolutely,you talk about the heel factor and all
that. I'm gonna just say thisback in the eighties when I was watching,
I'm dating myself a little bit,but Rick Rude one of my favorites.
Yes, God, yes, Iloved him. If every wrestler could
(07:59):
look like Rick Rude and everybody talkedlike Bobby Henan, there would be there'd
be there'd be turning away fans rightnow, there'd be people still sitting outside
of the building want to buy finBy tickets. But yeah, Rick Rude,
I loved his stick. You know, Bobby Hen could talk his head
off, but all Rick Rude hadto do was say, cut my music.
(08:22):
I want right now for all ofyou inner city sweat holks to feast
your eyes on what a real manlooks like. And it was like the
dudes wanted to kill him and thechips weren't to be with him. That's
that's the ticket, That's that's arn. Anderson said it best. He said,
baby faces sell merchandise, heels selltickets. Because people legitimately fought,
(08:46):
paid money, got in the carto come see somebody steps shove it up
Bobby Hen's ass. Can we ever, by the way, what was that?
Can we cursed on here? Oh? You can do whatever you want
it. Man, you're you're free. This is a free rain. Okay.
I'm I'm trying not to drop mea bombary and feel like that.
I just didn't want to like sayasking somebody go We'll wait a minute.
(09:07):
But anyway we can edit that out, I guess. But yeah, people
bought tickets to see Hogan kind ofget his hands on, Bobby. And
that's the art of a manager.You make people hate you, but thereby
when I bring you to the ringwith me, they hate you too.
You don't even have to work atmaking them hate you. They automatically hate
you. That that's the art,and that really is And that's why I
(09:31):
modeled myself after Bobby the Brain healingon both when I do when I'm a
manager, I'm modeled by by Bobbythe brain When I do commentary, I'm
modeled by Bobby the brain heading.So you know, Bobby the brain heading
was a big part of my childhoodas a as a manager and a commentator
(09:52):
exactly. And the thing about Bobbywas he taught me Brussel, I'm sorry
he started over each taught me tomanage like you're a wrestler and rustle like
a manager. Don't have to goout there and nobody expects you to go
out there and look like rain Mystereo. You your guy lost, so you
(10:13):
your opponent's got five minutes with you. They're not expecting you to fly around
the ring like a Lucador. Theywant to see you get your ass kids,
exactly. And then if it's ahot enough issue. Maybe my guy
screws screws the fan favorite and Islide out somehow by the skin of my
teeth. Then they're gonna be like, Okay, that's it, that's it,
(10:35):
we're gonna get We're gonna come backnext next month, and we're gonna
watch or guy kick your ass.That that's just like fishing man. All
you got to do is use theright fate and set the hook. Completely
agree there. Now, I wantto get into it. What how long
have you been a manager? Howlong have you been in wrestling. I've
(10:56):
been in wrestling now for six years. I'll tell you right now. I'm
forty years old. I got intowrestling just by happen stance. I've always
been going to shows, and youknow, bought my ticket and met up
with the right people and come hookor by crook. I got introduced to
(11:18):
Seeker of the Lots and Molins andhis head booker at the time was his
son Matt, And Matt said,uh, you want to come try to
be a manager? Sure, absolutely, So I show up the first show
it's at a church, and Iget out of the truck, get all
(11:41):
the stuff inside, and Matt goeswe don't have a ring anounce. Can
you do the ring announcing? Absolutely, I just wanted a jersey. I
didn't care what position I was playingat the time. I really didn't care.
So I ring announced for that show. And at the end of the
show, Matt aka Rosie Rest inPeace Rosie comes up Tim. He goes,
(12:05):
we're having a show with the SentaRosa Auditorium next month. Come on
back. So I go out tothe ring before the show and some of
the guys that have just you know, having a little run through and they
needed a referee to work out spotsand seek As Sammy Diey goes, you
have referee shirt? I said,no, sir. He gets somebody on
(12:26):
the phone and next thing, Igot a referee shirt in my hand.
I'm referee. So I spent thelast five years referee, just being a
ref and then at the big andthen last year, of course, the
pandemic hit, so I guess wecan count We were all, yeah,
I guess we can count last yearas a year in the business or whatever.
(12:46):
But then at the beginning of theyear, mister jacobone of the Emerald
Empire, messes me up. He'slike, hey, you ever thought about
being a manager every day since Ican remember. Uh, come on,
manage us and the Renstess history.That was in January this year, and
(13:09):
I've been there manager ever since.Wow. Well, I'm gonna just say
this. I'm thirty eight, okay, so I'm right there. I'm knocking
on the forty door with you.Our pasts are very very similar. I
mean almost to the tea the firstwrestling show I showed up to, or
(13:31):
not the first wrestling show I showedit too, But the first time I
showed up, they needed a ringannouncer, and I ring announced, and
then after that I went to refereeand and then here I am as a
manager. That's how That's how itworked with me as well. And I
mean I've put in a lot oftime driving and everything. But you you've
managed the Emerald Empire, which hasgot a Gulf Coast legend himself and it's
(13:56):
Cyrus Lavay and you got jacopone inthere. Now you've the Emerald Empire has
been around for a little while,so yes, and it's a pretty good
name down are in Florida. Yes, you're trying to venture out law.
Tell us a little bit about theEmerald Empire and its members. Well,
we started out the original Emerald Empirewas managed by Mike Jacobs, who is
(14:18):
currently right now recuperating from next surgery. I guess that's how I got the
spot open for me, But thankyou mister Jacobs for paving the road for
me to come in and step in. And it was Aaron James, who
(14:39):
is now partnered up and tagging withHass Jensen. They are the Southern Stretching
Crew. We've worked in and outloosely affiliated with those guys for this past
year. But the original Empire wasJacob Holme, Mike Jacobs, and Aaron
James. And then of course,like I said, mister Jacobs had to
go off and have next surgery,and mister James decided, you know,
(15:01):
he wanted to try to tag teamseeing for a while with a new partner
and they're they're kicking ass. Sothat left uh Jacob Holme and we got
to thinking about it, and uh, you know, we we kept cyrus
On who was already a member whenI joined up, and uh Frederick Yeager,
who is one of the he's he'scoming up pretty hot, but he's
(15:24):
still uh an untapped resource in thebusiness. Uh, you got any time
look him up. Frederick Yeager speltjust like the drink. Also, we
have downtown Cleveland Biggs. Cleveland Biggsis an at mora Alabama native. He's
uh. I literally watched him hisfirst day of training there and at War
(15:46):
and the kid is has got nothingbut onward and upward for him. You
know, once he once he reallytaps into that, you know, finds
out who he is as a wrestleris going to be. How I see
great things for this kid. Butthat makes us up thus far, it's
a Jake of Cyrus Leavey, FredrickYeager in Cleveland Biggs and myself as their
(16:10):
manager. And I will tell youright now, buddy, as of last
night, we've got more gold Wegot more Golden Port Knox is all I'm
trying to tell you. That's goodto hear because I mean the Emerald Empires
coming. I'm gonna tell you something, Cyrus. I've been watching Cyrus for
a long time and so a matterof fact, I saw him the night
(16:33):
that he joined forces with Jake Caponeand Aaron James. At the time I
was at at More main event backin at More. I'll buy back in
I want to say December nineteen,maybe, yeah, it was nineteen.
I was there for that show.And I've been around and seeing Cyrus for
(16:53):
a long time. And so someof the listeners out there because I want
Cyrus on this show, you know, I don't wanting to get Syrus on.
Tell some stories, but tell thelisteners a little bit about mister leave
himself. Saras LaVey is a Iwould say nineteen twenty plus year veteran of
(17:14):
Gould Coast Wrestling. He's wrestled everywhereyou can think of really that that had
open door to it of the midSouth. He's wrestled everywhere in the South
that I can think of. I'mnot quite sure that very knowledgeable about his
experiences outside of the Southern region here, but he's one of those guys.
(17:37):
If you see him on the poster, you're gonna get a professional wrestler.
He's not out there selling candy bars, T shirts and cokes. He's out
there selling ass weapons and ARUs LaVeyis one of the true kings of living
kings of Southern professional wrestling right now. It's it's it's tough to say this,
(18:02):
but you know, the older weget the more legend we lose,
but at the same time, everylegend we lose, we get another spot
opened up for another legend to bebumped up. And Cyrus's right there.
It's a tippy talk and I'm notjust saying it because he's a personal friend.
I have this weird we had thatinstant bond because I was at a
referee there at at More's main event, and the first night we met,
(18:26):
it was like, click, Okay, let's go get this. And like
he he came to me the firstthe first show he was there, I
was gonna he's gonna punch me.He's like, you're comfortable taking a bump?
I was like, yeah, hehit me. I bumped and he'd
been good ever since. I mean, he's one of those guys that you
know when he walks in the building, it's like we get our little puddle
(18:47):
up and just do business. Nomatter what position we're in, We're just
whether they're scheming, Okay, wecan do this, this will be better
for that. I mean, wejust have a It's like that instant click,
and pretty much every one of theguys and Empires like that. I've
been like that with the Empires it'slike this business, you know how it
is. You get in the lockerroom, that'll be twenty guys. You're
(19:07):
gonna instantly click with, maybe oneor two at a time. But it
seems like all of us, allthese guys that I'm associated with, and
that's like click that. But youknow what I'm talking about when I say
that, Oh, exactly exactly,bully h. And I think the Emerald
Empires they've got a lot of stuffcoming in twenty twenty one. As long
(19:29):
as they don't step on breathing inkstoes, they're gonna be just fine.
On who's that now, brilliant ink? I don't clear clear that ear wax
out of ears? Listen, here'sa deal. Now. I'm sure over
there and miss a CSD y'aller topship, there's no question. But when
you come when you cross that stateline over there where pople can read to
(19:51):
Alabama and Florida, and that's sayingsomething about literacy, you're going to spind
out that when we step in upolding, we owned that building and we
didn't have to pay for it.Okay, well you got I stepped foot
in Alabama and I had to signit, said quiet pleasing those people couldn't
read that, so you might wantto rephrase that about Alabama. I just
(20:14):
told you, man, I'm justsee you're not listening to see turn turn
that belt one up. What I'mtrying to tell you is, yeah,
we were not We were good.But I'll tell you what we do do
we will have asked better than anybodyin the business. Okay, we're not
out here selling spoons, knives,sports networks, TV shows, uh T
(20:36):
shirts, Barbie dolls. We're notselling none of that. What we sell
is violence, and we give itout for free and then we get the
gold. Because we're only after threethings. Pay attention when I'm trying to
tell you, we're after the MPG. That's money, power, and gold.
And I'm telling you right, nasty, I don't even have to join
a gym anymore. I don't haveto work out. You know why,
(20:59):
because these boys is bringing me tenpounds of gold. Every time they go
out to the ring, they bringback more gold. I'm out here,
My back's killing me. I'm totingall their stuff, just belt, just
leather and gold. I don't haveto go out there and the PEG membership
dudes for a gym Off, CyrusLevy, Jacopone, fred Vic Yeager,
Cleveland Biggs. They're my own personalgoals gym. Literally, Well, I
(21:22):
will say, you got a goodclientele list built up there, and uh
so you said you've been in itfor six years. Hum, yes,
sir, there's nothing like it isthere. If there is, I don't
want to find it because it's it'sthere's nothing more powerful. No, there
really isn't at all, And thatyou did. It's just like anything else.
(21:44):
There are people who who are intogames thrones or football or baseball or
basketball. You know, everybody's gottheir their bug, their device, but
until you're in it. And that'swhy it's so hard, because it's I'm
supposed to be easy. If itwas easy, anybody could do it.
But it's it's the most difficult slashenjoyable good in the world because if you
(22:11):
if the fans don't believe it,they're not going to buy it. And
the first thing about it is yougot to believe it for them too.
Exactly when I walk you know,when I walk out there in that arena,
I believe every word that I'm aboutto say. Rather I could go
(22:32):
out there and read you a doctorSeus's book and have those people ready to
stabbing, because I believe it.It's just that something. I don't memorize
stuff, I don't write stuff down. I'm not going over a script.
I look out there in the crowdand I'm like, okay, we am
I gonna kill tonight. And Ijust picked the entire crowd every time,
because you know, singling out oneperson is. But if you make an
(22:56):
entire room, hey, you yougot it exactly. You're exactly right there.
And but Rob, before we do, we're gonna start wrapping up here
in just a short that I mean, let me just say this, even
though you know you've manage a goodfaction, good stable there, You're welcome
on this show anytime, no doubt. We're gonna get you on here more
(23:19):
than once. I promise you that. But before we do start to roll
on out, I want to giveyou the floor. You can plug whatever
you want. I don't care whatit is. Man. Even if you've
got cookies to sell, you cansell them right here the floors yours.
Well, you know, folks,I'm just here to tell you right now,
if you were in the sound ofmy voice, go right now on
(23:41):
your whatever device you're listening listening tothis podcast on Go type in the Emerald
Vampire and search bar, go likethat page. Then I want you to
go like the American Kai Jacopone.Then I want you to go follow mister
Red Yeager who goes by the nameof his real name. I'll tell you
(24:03):
right now. It was Samuel Austin. He's on Facebook. And then you
got Cleveland bigs. That's Cleveland,like the city Biggs b I G G
S. Go follow him. Thenwhat I want you to do is I
want you to go to Cyrus LoveBaye. That's L. That's capital L
(24:25):
small a capital V e y Cyruslove A s I R U S love
Abe. And then I want youto do the greatest thing you've ever done.
And you're like, go to yoursearch block and rob r O V
shivers shi v E r S andthere you will find us, like all
of our pages, follow us,et cetera, et cetera. Then what
(24:47):
I want you to do is findthat world we're gonna be no matter which
one of us city is. Ican't be with everybody wants. These guys
were spread out through all the Southeast. I can't be with everybody wants.
But here's the deal. Find thatwhere we are, and when you find
out where we are, get yourlittle calendar book out and type in going
to see the Animals Empire. That'sall you have to do. Whatever they
(25:08):
charge the door, no matter whatvarious ways you have are paying things,
cards, cash, bottle, spoons, mile sports, tire of you pay
for things, worre you're from,you come on down and you sit down
and get ready because you're about towatch excellence and action. Now do we
(25:29):
have all the championships? Not rightnow we don't. But in a very
very very short time. See,here's the thing. We've already got the
let's see the Brian Reese memorial cufffrom IPW alpreiser for Frederick Yeger one that
check. We've got the a wF, the Outland Wrestling Foundation Heavyweight championship
(25:51):
check. And last night Cyrus Lavaywon the SWO Heavyweight Championship check. And
in a very short time, misterLovy will be the ip W that's Impact
Pro Wrestling out of our praising Florida. He will be that company's heavyweight champion.
Now do you see the pattern onLana here for you folks, you
(26:12):
see, you folks like to runaround here. I'm gonna speak to these
enigma Alabama Crimson type things. Youlike a football Pay attention dummies. You
like to run around here, andevery year you win one championship, you
had five. See that's how youknow you're a Bama fan. You can't
(26:33):
count. You want to yell,oh we got sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
twenty one championships. Well last weekhe had teens. Pay attention dummies.
Before long, we're going to haveall of the championship gold that this
sport has to offer. See,in the amateur world of college football,
(26:56):
you heltly win one championship. Sitone of years done. We've won one
before breakfast this morning. Okay,you are looking and listening to the greatest
for wrestling manager. President Company excludedthe greatest professional wrestling manager and the sport
(27:23):
today. Notice I didn't say thegreatest sports entertainment manager in the in the
industry. Note I'm the greatest managerin the sport to day. And that's
not knocking anybody. That's like Isaid of it. Charles Barkley, Patrick,
you and all those guys Hall offamers, adulation money everywhere but though
(27:45):
championships because of Jordan, I don'twear twenty three. I just wear number
one. Okay, period. ButI'm here to tell you folks right now,
if you'll want to see excellence,come see us. But just remember
before you sit, we're the EmeraldEmpire. You're not. And I'm going
to turn it back over to misterTurner after I say this. All of
(28:07):
you are welcome. Well, thankyou. Enjoyed your speech there. I'll
pick it apart later, but butI want to appreciate you for coming on
joining this, and you're more thanwelcome to come on anytime you get ready.
Mister turned the pleasure was all ofyou. It was all of your
(28:30):
pleasures. However, you're supposed tosay that plurally if that's the word.
If it wasn't it is now.I make up words all the time.
Don't worry about it. They'll bein your dictionary next year. But you
folks be safe out there coming toten and two in front of the shows.
And because guess what we want yourmoney? Yes we do. Well,
(28:52):
thank you once again. We'll seeyou lady. Y'all have a good
weekend and we'll check you out nextweek. Right here on King Wrestling Podcast.
M h a m h this isboring Audio Zoo Production. What's your
thinking, Zoe
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