83 Weeks - Diamond Dallas Page [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today our topic today Eric is one who’s a good friend of both of ours…Diamond Dallas Page!

DDP is turning 67 on April 5th and you two have long been linked together throughout both of your careers and time in professional wrestling.

With Dallas starting late in the business - 31 - the odds were against him were they not?

The Master of the Diamond Cutter is doing what guys like him that looked like him would be doing in their early 30s - running night clubs in Fort Myers - Norma Jeans as it was called - with that pink cadillac. Dallas was always a character was he not?

When you join the AWA - your knowledge of DDP is none is that right?

You wrote a great story in your first book - Controversy Creates Cash - about how you and Dallas did not gel - do you remember that night in Rochester, Minnesota?

Eric’s book:

“During my time with AWA, I crossed paths with many guys who’d play an important role in my later career. One was Diamond Dallas Page—though things between us started out very rocky.

At the time, Page was managing the tag team of Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka. We were all in Rochester, Minnesota, for an event, which I had put together as the AWA promoter. We were in this bar, and Page was there, along with a lot of other wrestlers. Page was a very loud and sometimes obnoxious individual—and actually still is. He wore white leather pants and snakeskin cowboy boots and looked real flashy with his “Diamond Dolls” (a couple of local strippers) hanging off him.

Page was being rude and loud, and, well, just being Diamond Dallas Page. He said something at one point that struck me wrong.

I don’t know what I said back, but it was probably pretty aggressive. Then either he called me out or I called him out. I put down my drink and followed him to the door, muttering to myself, “I’m going to kick this guy’s ass.”

I got outside, and the only thing I saw was Page going down the street, driving away.

On one level, I was proud of myself that I didn’t get into a fight in the bar, because that would have been inappropriate. I was probably somewhat relieved that we didn’t end up getting in a fight in the parking lot, because even if I had kicked his ass—and I sure thought I could—it would have caused a scene. And my ego was pretty happy that this loudmouth who thought he was a tough guy thought twice about it and left.

I went back inside and proceeded to pound a couple more beers. Then my wife and I went back to my hotel. We got in the elevator to go to our room. When the doors opened, Diamond Dallas Page stood right in front of me.

We had a few more words. I don’t remember how intense it was, and I don’t remember how or why we decided not to get into a fight there and then, but he went back to his room and I went back to my room.

I woke up in the morning, and I just felt like an idiot. I knew the way I’d handled myself was wrong. So I went to Page’s room and knocked on the door. He came out looking like a hundred miles of bad road. I’m not sure what he was thinking—he’s got his version of the story, naturally, and I have mine—but I said, Hey, I just wanted to come by and apologize. He kind of chuckled and shook my hand.”

Did all this lead to a friendship with Page - or was that later on?

What struck you the most about Dallas early on in the AWA?

You two had a very similar career path - oddly enough. He would get an announcer tryout in 1990 with the WWF and if you’ve ever seen the clip of him & Lord Alfred Hayes online - you would know why. Did you two ever discuss your WWF announcer attempts in the early 90s?

If no one believed in DDP like himself, Dusty Rhodes was very high on him was he not?

You weren’t surprised to see him eventually in WCW were you?

Did you keep in contact with him after the AWA had folded?

DDP comes in as manager of the Freebirds and  notably managed the Diamond Studd - Scott Hall and Vinnie Vegas - Kevin Nash in 1991-1992 but also was doing color commentary.

That would lead to your WCW audition and the man you would be working with - of course is DDP. You wrote this in your book:

“Aw fuck!

The guy I almost came to blows with in Rochester, Minnesota, a few years back?

This is the guy I have to work with? He hates my guts. I’m toast. I didn’t say any of this to Keith, of course. Even though I pretty much knew I was sunk.

I hung up the phone and proceeded to call Page, who already knew what was up. To my great surprise, he was very gracious. And not only gracious—Page went out of his way to tell me what he knew about what WCW was looking for in a play-by-play guy.”

This is just Dallas in a nutshell isn’t it?

What advice did he give you? Do you remember?

How did the audition go?

If you & Dallas didn’t talk ahead of time - how different is things for you?

We use the word Grateful a lot - especially with your book - but without you running into him at that bar that night - and all of that going down - man how different your life could’ve been Eric…

You guys work together for months for WCW Pro beginning at the start of your career for WCW. What are some of your favorite memories of those recording sessions?

Page has this innate ability to draw it out of everyone around him doesn’t he?

Did you know at that time that he had plans of being a wrestler?

35 years old to begin the process - did you have any doubt his age was working against him?

Just like he had offered up advice to you - did you offer any to him?

In August he would debut as a wrestler - did you see any of his early matches?

Did you ever picture, back in 1991, and we’re talking about a guy who in his debut would lose to Tom Zenk in 90 seconds - would ever be the World Champion?

The story is that eventually Kip Krey would ban him from being a wrestler and it would take a petition for him to return and his first big match is against WCW champion Sting in a non-title match on Saturday Night and obviously lost - but were you seeing progress in his ring work?

Was Dallas building any momentum or do you think they just kept throwing him out there with guys like Scott Hall, Raven, Kevin Nash - to help him learn?

He’s anything if not a hard worker - and he’s written in his book that he would attend the Power Plant as much as possible back then. To go from the guy driving the pink cadillac & running night clubs to making sure to show up for wrestling classes - he wanted it didn’t he?

Page tears his rotator cuff in a match against the future Godwinns - Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce - and would later get fired in December of 1992. Was this just a budget thing, do you know?

Did you talk to Dallas when it happened?

There was no doubt he was going to continue to push to achieve his dream right?

Dallas would eventually return to the company after seeking the advice of Jake Roberts to improve his “psychology” in December of 1993. Did you have anything to do with his return?

Did you keep in touch with Dallas during the year he was out of the company?

His return would take place on December 19th, 1993 - and how’s this for how odd wrestling is - he loses to Scott D’Amore via count-out in his return…yes that Scott D’Amore.

Kimberly also comes along with Dallas this time - and we can’t tell this story of Dallas without Kimberly. When do you first remembering meeting her?

Did you think it was a good idea to bring Kimberly with him - either on the road - or being put on television together?

He would also add Max Muscle later on - and here is Dallas building a stable again in WCW. Why do you think he almost always had people associated with him early on in his career? To help him get over or to help them get over?

The story would begin with him holding open arm wrestling challenges and Max would always help him win. This isn’t exactly a big buff powerlifter doing this - but it gets great heat doesn’t it?

Then the story is he would amass $13 million by winning these challenges all over the country - that’s not that outlandish is it Eric?

Just to show how over DDP is - he’s put into a program with Dave Sullivan - yes that Evad Sullivan - when Sullivan defeats Dallas in an arm wrestling contest to earn a date with Kimberly.

Dallas wasn’t really given a lot to work with - but I guess back then - the people he was working with weren’t given a lot to work with either were they?

When did Dallas move next door to you - or was it vice versa?

Dallas first pay-per-view match is with Dave Sullivan at Bash at the Beach 1995 in Huntington Beach, California in front of 100,000 people that Tony Schiavone said were there…

Dallas gets the win with the Diamond Cutter after multiple distractions - but you can start to see the package between himself, Max & Kimberly is starting to gain some traction - fair to say?

The feud with Sullivan would continue - and include Ralph the Rabbit - Dave’s pet - as well. This wasn’t the high water booking for WCW was it?

Renegade would come to Sullivan’s rescue on a WCW show and it would lead to Fall Brawl where DDP earns his first WCW title and capture the TV title. Was this a reward title win - something he earned I’m sure - but did he deserve at this point?

This would lead to a program with Johnny B. Badd which would feature one of the most classic angles done correctly. DDP is scheduled against Badd on Saturday Night but Badd is unable to make it due to car trouble. Badd accuses DDP and Max of having something to do with it - and when Max makes mention of how unlucky having all 4 tires go flat - the jig is up and Badd says he never said anything about 4 tires and brawls with them. Classic old school wrestling here is it not?

Getting Dallas time with someone like Marc Mero - was important to continue his development as a worker was it not?

At Halloween Havoc 1995 in Detroit, Michigan - the night Hulk Hogan threw the Giant off the roof - Dallas drops the title to Johnny B. Badd after 17 minutes when Muscle’s interference cost him the match. 17 minutes for Dallas on a live pay-per-view - was he ready for that?

Was he bummed to lose the title that quickly - or did he get it at this point?

Dallas would demand a rematch for his TV title - and when Badd saw how Dallas was treating Kimberly - well Badd agreed to put the title up for grabs if he was able to get the services of Kimberly as well.

Problem is - the money Dallas had won was really the Diamond Doll’s from playing bingo - and it was revealed that he had embezzled the money from her. Dallas would lose the match, his valet, Max Muscle & him would break up, and then he started to get things repossessed. His glittery robes, expensive cigars, jewelry, everything. Was this story all Dallas’ idea?

As 1996 rolls in - the feud continues between Dallas & Badd… - but due to a contractual issue - Badd leaves WCW high and dry - and who steps in to take his place in the feud - but Brutus the fucking Barber Beefcake - also known as the Booty Man.

The Booty Man.

THE BOOTY MAN. Eric chat me up - are you sure you were friends with Dallas?

Not being funny - but the last appearance of Badd on TV features him getting hot at Kimberly for being distracted - I’m sure you don’t remember how this was supposed to end right?

The Booty Man - now with the Booty Babe by his side - defeats Page in a Loser Leaves WCW match at Uncensored and his career is done - again.

Vignettes started airing on WCW television with DDP now a broke, down on his luck homeless man. He would beg for money by washing people’s car windows, selling tickets to events that already happened etc, etc. While DDP was on the sidewalk panhandling, a limousine pulled up next to him and the door opened as DDP got in. Before you knew it, a high powered attorney convinced WCW management to allow DDP back in the company. Eric - where in the hell was this idea going?

DDP returned to WCW seemingly with money again. WCW announcers began to question who was in that limo that DDP got into. The person was being referenced as a “mysterious benefactor” that saved DDP and his career. Who was that rich benefactor? We never found out, as the entire storyline was dropped with no explanation or resolution. Sadly, this became a common theme in WCW for many years did it not?

It’s reported that Dallas had wanted the angle to continue to play out and have a proper ending. He approached Eric Bischoff and asked him repeatedly to resolve the angle and Bischoff’s answer was always “No.” When Page continued to press Bischoff for a reason why, according to Page, he simply said, “Because nobody cares, that’s why.” Just like that, the mystery of the secret benefactor was never revealed.” Is that how you remember it?

Somehow - DDP is back in now to the company - takes part of Lethal Lottery at Slamboree - teams with the Barbarian to get a victory over Meng & Hugh Morrus - and then the Booty Man & Rick Steiner - gets into the Lord of the Ring battle royal…

Listen to this crew of 8 men - DDP, the Barbarian obviously, Johnny Grunge, Rocco Rock, Scott Norton, Ice Train, Bobby Eaton, and Dick Slater.

THESE ARE THE 8 GUYS FIGHTING FOR A TITLE MATCH AS ADVERTISED FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH ERIC!

DDP wins because Nick Patrick never saw him get thrown out 90 seconds in - and he wins the ring and the title shot.

Thankfully - the match never happens at the Great American Bash - but Dallas’ contribution to this time period cannot be understated. From your book:

“Scott Hall was friends with Diamond Dallas Page, who lived near me and who would occasionally stop by on a Saturday afternoon for a beer. One Saturday, Page came by and we started shooting the shit. He said, “Hey, I’ve been talking to Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. They’re interested in making a move.”

That one comment - changes everything doesn’t it Eric?

Dallas wasn’t looking for anything was he? A program…a spot…he just wanted to make the company better and his friends happy right? Is that Dallas in a nut shell?

Do you think at the end of the day that when the deal comes together for them, the nWo gets hot - you knew at some point - you would circle back to Dallas and give him a push because of it?

Instead of his WCW title match at Great American Bash he would defeat Marcus Bagwell - but it is noticeable how his finish - the Diamond Cutter - is picking up steam. When did you first notice that?

Page would defend the ring he won at Slamboree against Jim Duggan in a Taped Fist match at Bash at the Beach - were you getting rave reviews from people working with Page - especially veterans like Jim?

Page would lose the ring to Eddie Guerrero on a Clash of the Champions - but for two completely different people, styles, whatever way you want to call it - they did very well together didn’t they?

When Kevin & Scott come in and they’re working with all the top guys obviously - did they ever say to you - hey Eric - let’s elevate Dallas have him working with us?

The US title is vacated and the Page/Guerrero story would continue to them meeting against each other in the finals…but in the weeks building up to it…the nWo was attempting to recruit DDP - but DDP would rebuff them. Finally the nWo got their chance for revenge - costing Dallas the match and helping Guerrero get the win.

Why was DDP better suited against the nWo compared to inside the nWo?

We covered the night DDP says no the nWo in the archives - go check it out as it’s really one of the biggest pops you’ll see on Nitro at the Super Dome in New Orleans when DDP rejects them…was Dallas ready you think for this push?

The Diamond Cutter is on absolute fire and so is Dallas - but even with rejecting the Outsiders - it’s Randy Savage who Dallas is programmed next with. Why Randy instead of Scott & Kevin?

Savage does whatever he can to help elevate Dallas and he does a damn good job at it and so does the creative. DDP would come out dressed as La Parka - and surprise everyone in a match against Savage on Nitro by hitting the diamond cutter for the pin and taking off the mask to reveal himself in one of the most classic Nitro moments is it not?

How good did Randy make Dallas?

Dallas would have 3 tremendous pay-per-view matches with Randy spanning most of 1997 - Spring Stampede, Great American Bash & Halloween Havoc - which we’ve covered all in the archives. Did you see a new top guy growing right before your eyes?

Dallas has given all the credit to Randy being unselfish - taking his finish - losing to him - how important was all that in making Dallas seem credible?

At Starrcade 97 - Dallas gets his big singles title win by defeating Curt Hennig for the US title. How proud were you to see how far Dallas had come?

He seems to lose some steam as 1998 opens - was that just the issues with creative and adding Thunder do you think?

DDP would eventually lose the US title to Raven at Spring Stampede to transition it to Goldberg the next night - but that title wasn’t doing Dallas any favors was it?

Coming out of Spring Stampede though - the build to the biggest match of DDP’s career begins. Dennis Rodman is returning to WCW and is going to be in a tag match at Bash at the Beach with Hollywood Hogan - and it’s DDP & Rodman’s NBA Finals opponent Karl Malone on the other side. Were DDP & Malone friends?

Why trust Dallas in this spot?

Could you had done it with anybody else do you think?

Later on this year - how about this for a tease - we will cover Bash at the Beach and the 25th anniversary of it - from soup to nuts so stay tuned for that!

Did anybody ever give you any shit about having Dallas in this spot? There’s always been the - well Dallas is Eric’s boy - type talk. Was it all behind your back? Did anyone have the balls to say it to you face to face?

Dallas is one of those guys when you look back at things - and the narrative that you stole all these guys from the WWF and bought Vince’s stars…Dallas - and really Booker & Goldberg - are the guys who rose through the ranks of WCW to become top guys not because of what they did in the WWF but how they came up in WCW are they not?

The build to Road Wild is going to feature more celebrities and it’s Jay Leno this time and you’re going to be also in the ring. You wrote in your book that since the whole angle was sheer entertainment you couldn’t pair Leno up with Sting, Flair, Bret or Goldberg as it would hurt their credibility.

Why was Dallas different?

You also wrote that Dallas wasn’t the guy you saw as wearing the title for a long period of time and lead the company…what did you mean by that?

Dallas makes the whole match in Sturgis with you, Leno, & Hulk doesn’t he?

It’s time to put Dallas in the title picture but with the champion being Goldberg - was there any hesitation on waiting until he dropped the title to work with a heel instead?

DDP would win War Games at Fall Brawl and have his epic match against Goldberg at Halloween Havoc. He’s also rewarded with a big contract bump, as in 1998 - with all the pay-per-view main events and success he only makes $300,000 according to contract data, but in 1999 - he’s bumped up to a $1 million. He had certainly earned it didn’t he?

Speaking of things he earned - at Spring Stampede 1999 - DDP wins the World Title by pinning Ric Flair in a four-way match with Hulk Hogan & Sting and Randy Savage as referee. Look at that level of talent Eric - and it’s DDP getting the win with help from Savage.

What do you think it meant to Dallas?

The tainted victory leads to Dallas becoming heel - was the character stale and needed a freshen up?

From the Torch:

“Page’s title win is being seen in the locker room as a favor by Eric Bischoff to his long-time friend and neighbor. Also, the belief is it may have been a trade-off to get Page to agree to turn heel since he continued to lobby against the turn. Page’s popularity probably peaked about 18 months ago. His Nitro title defense the night after the PPV against Scott Steiner drew respectable 4.5 and 5.4 ratings in its two segments.””

Chat me up Eric - what do you say this Wade Keller report? Was Dallas hesitant to turn heel? Was it a favor to your long-time friend & neighbor?

The turn is slow until it goes into overdrive in a match with Goldberg on Nitro where he destroys Goldberg’s leg and is run off by Kevin Nash. Was there a plan for what the heel DDP was going to accomplish?

I ask that because two weeks later on Nitro, he drops the title to Sting in the first hour of Nitro and then regains it in another four-way over Sting, Nash & Goldberg in the main event. Did this booking help anyone?

Page drops the title back to Nash at Slamboree 1999 - Savage comes out - interferes to cost Kevin the match - somehow you’re a babyface now and you order the match to continue - and Nash gets the win after a power bomb. Was Page’s title run exactly what you thought it would be - or was it a flop?

The turn Dallas fought against to happen - sees him drop down the card immediately after and start teaming with Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Kanyon as the Jersey Triad. They are the new Freebirds, winning the WCW Tag Team Titles and having any two members defend them. Was Dallas happy at this - or was he the one who just did the work and kept moving?

How was Dallas to deal with as your time in WCW was winding down? Was he someone you spoke with too in confidence?

What about after you’re reassigned? Was he someone you could continue the relationship with without talking about business?

In the time while you were home - was he “reporting” back to you…letting you know what was going on or anything like that?

We can’t talk about DDP without talking about - David Arquette. When you return to WCW - the plan is put in motion for DDP & Jeff Jarrett to be the top guys fighting over the title. At Spring Stampede - DDP and Jeff face off and Kimberly turns on DDP to help Jeff win the WCW World Title. Why DDP in this spot? Was it based around Ready to Rumble coming out and needing the publicity?

Would you had done something different when you returned if that movie wasn’t coming out?

Dallas wins the title from Jeff on Nitro on April 24th - which sets up the infamous tag match where David Arquette pins you to become WCW Champion. We’ve talked about it before Eric - but it was a while ago. What was going through everyone’s minds here?

Is this as bad for business as everyone still paints it out to be years later?

From the Torch:

-As organized as Thunder (May 3) was going into the show, it didn't prevent some embarrassing mistakes during the show that might have posed problems to the post-production crew the next day. When Asya was walking on the stage during the main event, she stepped on the gimmicked part of the stage where an angle was to take place at the end of the match. The stage crew was able to quickly rebuild the gimmicked set in time for the planned angle. The planned angle was for Jeff Jarrett to fight Dallas Page up onto the stage during the ending sequence of the battle royal. David Arquette was supposed to come out and swing the guitar at Jarrett, but miss. Jarrett was then going to use the guitar against Page and knock him over. Page was going to bump through the gimmicked part of the stage to the floor underneath as the final angle leading into Sunday's PPV. It didn't go as planned. When Arquette came out onto the stage, the cameraman was in his intended path so we walked around him, but right onto the gimmick part, so he fell through it before Page could. Two people took a fall through the floor who weren't supposed to.

This is just LOLWCW isn’t it?

Slamboree is the night for the big Arquette turn on Dallas - but he almost didn’t make it…

“-Dallas Page came very close to not making it to the PPV Sunday. While orienting himself to the triple decker cage, he was on the hardcore middle level talking to Jeff Jarrett who was moving about on the top level. Page was looking up and stepped right into the hole in the middle of the second tier. He fell and caught himself with one leg and one arm, but injured his shoulder in the process. Had he not caught himself, he could have broken his neck. He felt relatively okay the rest of the day, but the next morning was incredibly stiff from the fall. Page and Jarrett requested that a trap door be put on the floor of the middle tier to protect them from falling through the cage accidentally at the PPV. The door was welded on the spot on Sunday morning. During the match Jarrett closed the trap door shortly after both he and Page began fighting on the middle tier.”

Are you there for this, Eric? What goes through your mind when you see or hear about this?

When everything goes down with Hogan, Russo and you’re caught in the middle and go home again - what do you remember of your conversations with Dallas?

Was Dallas figured in as a big part of WCW if you had ended up purchasing it?

Have you ever talked with him about his move to the WWF, his program with the Undertaker, taking the buyout?

Were you disappointed with how the WWF used him?

Were you surprised he wasn’t able to transition to the audience, or do you think it was more the backstage politics of the Invasion?

Dallas would be forced to retire with a neck injury before you come into the company - did you expect to ever see him back in the ring again?

He would get back in the ring, working on the indies, even doing a run in TNA, but his career was effectively over wasn’t it?

Did Dallas talk with you about DDP Yoga and launching that? What an amazing business man he turned out to be wasn’t he?

Not only that - he effectively has changed the lives of really millions but Scott Hall & Jake Roberts especially. Is there a better man in wrestling than DDP?

How honored were you to be the one who inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2017?

How did that all come to be?

Was it emotional for you?

What is Diamond’s legacy in the business?

What is Dallas’ legacy with you?