Torch Talk with Paul Heyman
Original Headline: Dangerously's Top Five Draft Picks
Originally Published: August 7, 1993
Torch Newsletter #238

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Keller: If you could choose any five wrestlers to base a new promotion around, which five wrestlers would you choose? You can hotshot with big stars or build with future stars.

Dangerously: This is off the top of my head. The first five that come to mind for me in no particular order are Road Warrior Hawk, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Arn Anderson, and Sting. With asterisks, I would add Rick Rude, Brian Pillman, and Bobby Eaton.

Keller: Why not, for instance, Ric Flair or Ted DiBiase for experience and recognition? Why not "Undertaker" Mark Callous whom you've been so high on in the past?

Dangerously: I'm very high on The Undertaker. I'd love to have him, but just as far as top draft picks right now at this very moment, maybe it's my reasoning behind wanting these other people. I chose Road Warrior Hawk because you can build a lot around him. Sting, because with the possible exception of Hawk, there is not one person in this country today who could conceivably fill Hulk Hogan's shoes. And Sting is the one guy with enough charisma, with enough going for him, and after his matches against Rude and Vader, has enough ring savvy now, Sting could do it.

Keller: Why Hawk? Critics would say Hawk has limited ability, or at least limited ambitions in the ring, and as a singles wrestler he hasn't proven himself.

Dangerously: He hasn't had the opportunity yet. He hasn't been put to the test yet. He, right now, is so hungry to prove himself, it's like he's starting over again. This guy is so credible and the people believe in him. Let's put it this way, if either Hawk or Sting walked off that helicopter and slammed Yokozuna, I would predict a monster buyrate for Summerslam.

Keller: Why Anderson instead of, say, a DiBiase? Because you know Anderson personally?

Dangerously: It could be. I wouldn't do it for personal reasons. There are people in that group I named that I don't get along with personally. It's the same reason I didn't name Big Van Vader in that group. I think Vader is miles ahead of anybody right now, deserves that world heavyweight championship, and is more the man than Ric Flair is. When a man that size does a moonsault with a blown out back, when a man that size does the things he does and is willing to do for other people, that impresses me a lot more than when a 230 pound guy does it.

Anybody who knows Arn Anderson is fully aware of just how much he understands this business, and he understands this business as much as anybody I've ever met. Rick Rude because he takes pride in how hard he works. There are a million reasons to use Rude, but that's the main reason. He rolls up his sleeves every night. Shawn Michaels because he is by far, right now, in my opinion, the best wrestler in the world today. Steve Austin because he's someday going to blow Michaels right out of that position.

[ Heyman's final words were prophetic, as Michaels gave way to Austin five years later at WrestleMania 14 to officially usher in the Stone Cold Steve Austin Era. ]

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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