Conrad Thompson was one of the guest interviews on Matt Koon‘s latest episode of Total Engagement on MLW Radio. In his interview, Thompson discusses possibly working with Jim Ross, what’s up with the Undertaker, and much more.
Check out highlights below:
Transcription by WrestleZone.com Senior Editor Tyler Treese.
On if he’s working with Jim Ross:
Westwood One wanted me to spend a couple days in New York and I went up. We chatted about how we could do more together and what the next deal needed to look like. Jim Ross’ name came up in conversation and I casually mentioned that I thought he was a goldmine and that he should double down on nostalgia rather than talking the current product. Some of them in the room didn’t understand my product, so I just got a wild hair and said, “Hey Jim, what about this?” It wasn’t a real polished pitch, just a rough idea, and we did a quick call [a couple days later] and laid out the business model. He was really excited about it but we didn’t finalize anything. So, I was just as shocked as everyone else when JR alluded to it on his podcast. We’re all excited. He has a story unlike anyone else.
If you’re a JR fan, it’s cool to hear him talk to Jay Lethal, but what I really want to hear on a Jim Ross podcast is JR. I want to hear him talk about the little nuggets of information he got booking with Bill Watts, working with Dusty Rhodes, or alongside Vince McMahon. Those are the stories [we want to hear].
On booking The Undertaker for Starrcast II:
I wanted to do something different and swing for the fences. I didn’t think in a million years that I’d get The Undertaker to agree to come to Starrcast but I had enough [guts] to swing for the fences. What’s the worst thing that could happen? He would say no. Well, he didn’t say no and we settled on terms rather easily. I don’t know what [Vince McMahon] is thinking but the narrative that I impacted his business is ridiculous. I don’t buy that at all. Let’s not overstate this. Undertaker agreed to take pictures and sign autographs. He’s not interrupting the main event of a pay-per-view from a competitor. It’s huge, I agree, but it’s far-fetched to act like this is something that couldn’t happen.
What Dead Man Talking is:
I just thought it was a cool name. I’m not trying to be coy. I thought it was a cool name. Nobody trademarked it. There is another podcast with that name that doesn’t cover anything remotely wrestling related. I don’t know if I’ll be awarded that trademark. We have talked to Undertaker about there being a second booking or a stage show, whatever would be involved with that, but I don’t have anything confirmed with anyone. I can’t imagine that Undertaker would do anything outside the WWE besides one-off appearances. I just thought it was a cool name.
Listen to the full podcast below:
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