Oklafan.com v5 Beta > News > Rikishi Talks About Not Wanting To Turn Heel During the Steve Austin Hit-and-Run Angle And How Triple H Ended Up Stealing His Heat

Home
News

Rikishi Talks About Not Wanting To Turn Heel During the Steve Austin Hit-and-Run Angle And How Triple H Ended Up Stealing His Heat

Posted: Jun 12th 2008 By: CMBurnham

He's been a Samoan Swat Teamer, a Headshrinker, a Sultan, a Stone Cold Hit-n-Runner, TNA's Junior, and is currently one of the forced behind New Wrestling Evolution's huge Ultimate Warrior return. Now, the man who made the Stinkface famous, Rikishi Fatu joins ClubWWI.com for a rare 27 minute shoot interview direct from the Canary Islands that you don't want to miss.

With such a rich history in the business, Keesh had no shortage of things to discuss with James Guttman on ClubWWI.com. Topics included: Bringing Ultimate Warrior Into Nu Wrestling Evolution, His Initial Reaction To The Rikishi Gimmick, What He Was Worried About, Who Came Up With The Gimmick, His Wrestling Family, Exclusive Thoughts on His TNA Stint, Why He Hasn't Returned To WWE, The Too Cool Connection, Why Scotty 2 Hotty Was Worried, Disappointment Over The End of "The Sultan," The Stinkface, Memories of Yokozuna, The Headshrinkers, His Wrestling Family, and More.

One topic that many fans have wondered about is his heel turn in 2000, where he was revealed to be the man who ran down Steve Austin. James asked Keesh about this since it seemed like a strange time to turn him heel. Rikishi responded:
"I obviously went against Creative Services on that. The writing team. I didn't feel it was the right time for me to be turning heel at the time. I thought the Rikishi character could have went on for a bit, you know, as far as being one of the top babyfaces in there. So that's how it is. The team just decided that they wanted to go ahead and switch this Rikishi character, which I thought was a mistake at the time."

Keesh goes on to speak about the plans that he thought were in the works for his heel character and how they never seemed to pan out. After long, he realized that the future for the character was different than what he thought it would be.

JG then brings up how Triple H ended up being the "brains" behind the hit-and-run. It seemed as though Hunter, as the bad guy of it all, stole a lot of Rikishi's heat. Keesh agrees:
"Yeah. Well, that's exactly what happened. I mean anyone who knows wrestling and all the fans who really, really, understand wrestling, they see it and what had happened and I disagreed that the way they did it and it is what it is."

Rikishi spoke about so much more in his uncut interview. From The Headshrinkers to TNA to Yokozuna to Brusier Brody, it's all up on ClubWWI.com!

You can check out all the information about Nu Wrestling Evuolution on their website: http://nwewrestling.homedns.org/home.php Or, check out Keesh at: http://www.kishifatu.com

Remember, aside from Rikishi, over 120 star interviews are available on ClubWWI.com for less than five dollars a month. Among the other guests you can hear from are: Jesse Ventura, Terry Funk, Jerry Lawler, Vince Russo, Eric Bischoff, Ahmed Johnson, Bobby Heenan, Kevin Nash, The Iron Sheik, Sid Vicious, Paul Bearer, Bruno Sammartino, Sean Mooney, Scott D'Amore, Tito Santana, Paul Roma Al Snow, Tod Gordon, Charlie Haas, Tom Prichard, Jacques Rougeau, Tammy Sytch, Too Cold Scorpio, Ole Anderson, Kid Kash, Ivan Koloff, Jackie Gayda, John Heidenreich, Jimmy Hart, Jimmy Valiant, Rick Martel, Bad News Brown, Nick Bockwinkel, Dory Funk Jr, Diamond Dallas Page, Rob Conway, Sylvain Grenier, Buff Bagwell, Christian Cage, Jazz, Demolition Ax and Smash, Koko B. Ware, Ricky Morton, Dustin Rhodes, Damian Demento, Fred "Shockmaster" Ottman, Cpl. Kirchner, One Man Gang, Scott Steiner, Shawn Stasiak, Ted DiBiase, Ivory, Chris Masters, Elix Skipper, Kamala, Samoa Joe, Giant Bernard, Bill DeMott, Juvi "Juice" Guerrera, Nora "Molly Holly" Greenwald, Nick Dinsmore, Harley Race, Bull Buchanan, D-Lo Brown, Road Warrior Animal, Missing Link, Slick, Nidia, George Steele, Christy Hemme, Disco Inferno, Paul Ellering, Vito, Steve Blackman, Bushwhacker Luke, AJ Styles, Chris Daniels, Dennis Stamp, Shawn Daivari, Kevin Sullivan, B.G. James, Ron Killings, Zach Gowan, Dan Severn, Earl and Dave Hebner, Spike Dudley, Rodney Mack, Larry Zybszko, Rick Steiner, Mae Young, and many, more.

James Guttman's second book, "Shoot First...Ask Questions Later," is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Tags: Rikishi, Headshrinkers, Sultan, TNA, Ulimate Warrior, WWE

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1984 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Long Riders (Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
2005 Big Van Vader def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2005 Carnage def. John O'Malley for the IZW Hardcore Title
2005 Ryan Davidson became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
2005 The Lone Shining Star def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Tri-State Title
2005 Michael Faith def. Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
2005 The Real Impact Players (Aaron Neil & Se7en) def. The Red Dirt Outlaws (Devon Monroe & Kevin James) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2011 Fuel def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2022 Justin Lee def. Koko for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Dutch Hagen def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Heavyweight Title
2023 Tunnel Vision (Derek James & Logan Knight) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
2023 Luke Richmond def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Oklahoma Title
2023 Trench Blythe def. El Gallardo for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2023 The Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) def. Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 10-18 to Sat: 10-24

10-18 2009 Carnage def. Spoiler 2000 for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
10-18 2019 Tego def. Prince Mahalli for the ASP Inter-County Title
10-18 2019 Will Allday def. J. D. Griffey for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
10-18 2024 Luther Zay Diamond def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW Flawless Title
10-18 2024 Nashoba became the MajCW Wetumka Indian Community Centre Champion
10-18 2024 Auzzy def. Kari Wright for the TexPro Dynasty Title
10-18 2024 The Strays (Barrett Brown & Izzy James) def. K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
10-19 1976 Karl Kox & Ken Patera became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
10-19 2013 Tyson Jaymes def. Brock Landers for the SWCW All-American Title
10-19 2013 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. Nasty Swag (Ace Archuleta & Robert Lee) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
10-19 2013 Jon Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
10-19 2014 Jon Cross def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-19 2019 Luke Langley became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
10-19 2024 Anarchy [2nd] def. Damien Morte for the EPW Internet Television Title
10-19 2024 E-Bone def. Trench Blythe for the EPW International Title
10-20 1969 Danny Hodge def. Chuck Karbo for the TSW North American Title
10-20 1971 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
10-20 1986 Crusher Yurkov def. Steve Simpson for the WCCW Television Title
10-20 2001 The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) def. The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
10-20 2001 Amanda St. George became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
10-20 2001 Big Daddy Moore became the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
10-20 2007 Chris Fury became the SECW Light Heavyweight Champion
10-20 2007 Impact, Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) def. Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
10-20 2007 Tyson Armstrong became the SECW Heavyweight Champion
10-20 2007 The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) became the SECW Tag Team Champions
10-20 2012 Kevin James Sanchez def. Austin Tacious for the SWCW All-American Title
10-20 2012 The Static Knights (X-Statik & Keith Knight) def. Dynamic Storm (Justin Dynamic & Daemon Storm) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
10-20 2018 Fuel def. Alex Royal for the UWE Heavyweight Title
10-20 2018 Galaxy Cruzers (Paul Puertorico & Steven Cruze) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
10-20 2018 Dusty Gold became the UWE Apex Champion
10-20 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Dusty Gold for the UWE Apex Title
10-21 1969 Fritz Von Erich became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
10-21 1985 King Parsons def. John Tatum for the WCCW Television Title
10-21 2005 Mitch Carter def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Title
10-21 2006 J. T. LaMotta def. John O'Malley for the IZW Cruiserweight Title
10-21 2017 MVP def. Damon Windsor for the IWR Heavyweight Title
10-21 2017 Spirit Squad (Kenny [1st] & Mikey [1st]) def. Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
10-21 2022 Tego def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
10-21 2023 Wolf of War def. Martin Justice for the EPW International Title
10-21 2023 Johnny Dynamite def. Johnny Lightning for the WFC Prime Title
10-21 2023 Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) def. K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles
10-21 2023 Malik Mayfield def. Clayton Bloodstone for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
10-21 2023 Dominik Whiteheart def. Luke Richmond for the NCWO United States Title
10-22 1984 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Long Riders (Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
10-22 2005 Big Van Vader def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
10-22 2005 Carnage def. John O'Malley for the IZW Hardcore Title
10-22 2005 Ryan Davidson became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
10-22 2005 The Lone Shining Star def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Tri-State Title
10-22 2005 Michael Faith def. Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
10-22 2005 The Real Impact Players (Aaron Neil & Se7en) def. The Red Dirt Outlaws (Devon Monroe & Kevin James) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-22 2011 Fuel def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
10-22 2022 Justin Lee def. Koko for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-22 2022 Dutch Hagen def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Heavyweight Title
10-22 2023 Tunnel Vision (Derek James & Logan Knight) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
10-22 2023 Luke Richmond def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Oklahoma Title
10-22 2023 Trench Blythe def. El Gallardo for the BPW Lion Heart Title
10-22 2023 The Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) def. Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles
10-23 1965 Lee Fields & Bobby Fields became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
10-23 1967 Spoiler #1 & Gary Hart def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
10-23 1968 Manuel Perez & Pepe Perez def. The Blue Demons (Blue Demon #1 & Blue Demon #2) for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
10-23 1988 Jerry Lawler def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Title
10-23 2003 Payton Scott def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-23 2005 Matt Garza & Mr. Brown def. Brandon Bishop & John Zorthos for the ACW Tag Team Titles
10-23 2005 Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) def. Matt Garza & Mr. Brown for the ACW Tag Team Titles
10-23 2011 Javi Hernandez became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
10-23 2015 Vinny Pacheco def. Buster Cherry for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
10-23 2015 The Creepsters (Buster Cherry & Mr. Barnes) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
10-23 2021 Richie Adams def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Prime Title
10-23 2021 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. The Space Age Cowboys (Paul Puertorico & Jason Jones) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
10-23 2021 Luke Langley def. Alex Royal for the WFC Heavyweight Title
10-24 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
10-24 1998 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
10-24 2004 Se7en def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
10-24 2009 Xavior became the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
10-24 2009 Dawn of Extreme (Ty Thunder & Crucifer) def. Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
10-24 2009 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
10-24 2009 The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
10-24 2009 Rated N (Crisstopher Crow & Shane Sanchez) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
10-24 2020 Sam Stackhouse def. Alex Royal for the WFC Heavyweight Title
10-24 2021 Ryan the Ripper def. Drake Gallows for the EPW Internet Television Title
10-24 2025 Merc def. Riker for the BUW This Is Wrestling Title

10-22

Tom Jones Oct 22nd Today!
Porkchop Cash Oct 22nd Today!
George Knight Oct 22nd Today!
Red Eagle Oct 23rd
Bobby Lambert Oct 24th
Ray Durán Oct 24th
Daniel Powers Oct 24th
Bill Dundee Oct 24th
Paige Turner Oct 25th
Double D Oct 25th
Phil Shark Oct 25th
Sheriff Schultz Oct 25th
Halo Oct 26th
Eddie Williams Oct 26th
Anthony Wayne Oct 26th
Troy Graham Oct 26th
Miss Linda Oct 27th
Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th
AWOL Oct 27th
Jake Boulder Oct 28th
Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
Chris Smith Oct 28th
MVP Oct 28th
D. J. Hall Oct 29th
Mischief Oct 29th
Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
George Wells Oct 30th
Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
Debbie Combs Oct 30th
Danny McShain Oct 30th
Jayson Boss Oct 31st
Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
Assassin 1 Nov 4th
Max Leon Nov 4th

1984 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Long Riders (Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
2005 Big Van Vader def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2005 Carnage def. John O'Malley for the IZW Hardcore Title
2005 Ryan Davidson became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
2005 Michael Faith def. Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
2005 The Real Impact Players (Aaron Neil & Se7en) def. The Red Dirt Outlaws (Devon Monroe & Kevin James) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2005 The Lone Shining Star def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Tri-State Title
2011 Fuel def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2022 Justin Lee def. Koko for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Dutch Hagen def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Heavyweight Title
2023 Tunnel Vision (Derek James & Logan Knight) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
2023 Luke Richmond def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Oklahoma Title
2023 Trench Blythe def. El Gallardo for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2023 The Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) def. Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles

More Look Back In History

Most Active Members

Striker
Michael York
The Mayne Event
cphs_sweethearts
Talon

Oklafan.com v5 Beta

Rikishi Talks About Not Wanting To Turn Heel During the Steve Austin Hit-and-Run Angle And How Triple H Ended Up Stealing His Heat

Posted: Jun 12th 2008 By: CMBurnham

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

Most Active Members

Card Results

Tag Cloud