PWTorch.com - RADICAN'S "Wake Up Time To Die w/Sex Fergusun" review - character driven interview features Gallows hilarious performance

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RADICAN'S "Wake Up Time To Die w/Sex Fergusun" review - character driven interview features Gallows hilarious performance

Dec 6, 2014 - 1:36:22 PM

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By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S REVIEW SERIES
“CLIFF COMPTON – WAKE UP TIME TO DIE W/SEX FERGUSUN”
RELEASED BY HIGHSPOTS IN 2014

“Wake Up Time To Die w/ Sex Fergusun” is the first episode of a new series of interviews from Cliff Compton. I’m usually not someone that likes to watch character driven interviews outside of wrestling, especially when it comes to podcasts and interviews taped for DVD release, but for this release, I will make a big exception.

Sex Fergusun is a character I first heard on the Talk’n Shop podcast via MLW Radio that is usually hosted by Rocky Romero, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows. Gallows plays the part of Fergusun and he has such dedication to playing the grizzled veteran of 40 years that he never breaks character. I found the Fergusun character funny on Talk’n Shop, but seeing it play out with the visual of Gallows in bright blue tights, a cowboy hat, a bandana, a Ribera jacket, and sunglasses was a sight to behold.

The legacy of The Kevin Steen Show is honored, as a mannequin with a Kane mask is part of the backdrop for the set. Freight Train also serves as the Ed McMahon to Compton’s Johnny Carson and he was fantastic addition to the show throughout the interview.

Fergusun, being a veteran of 40 years, tries to roll around in the ring right next to the interview set with a very out of shape trainee early in the interview and things never really slow down from this point forward. Fergusun’s lockup stance where he puts his arm straight up in the air and walks at the trainee like bigfoot is hilarious and they do some basic headlock/shoulder tackle spots a short time later and Fergusun hilariously ends up hurting himself and gets out of the ring.

Compton questions whether or not the outrageous claims Fergusun is making are true throughout the video. Fergusun says things like he worked the Poffo territory for 17 and claims that he was supposed to be Hulk Hogan coming out of the AWA territory, but he hurt his hamstring and Verne Gagne sent him to Nigeria and Hogan got his spot. Fergusun’s claims about working the territory and the things he takes credit for are outrageous, but it is Gallows’s commitment to the character that makes this interview a must-see.

Watching Gallows play this character makes me wonder how WWE never came up with something better for him than the Festus character when he started on TV for them. The character was a kiss of death and it gets brought up during the interview with Freight Train doing a hilarious Festus impersonation, but Gallows still doesn’t break character, despite the curveballs thrown at him by Compton and Freight Train.

Fergusun’s ability to come up with great retorts to Compton’s questioning of his wrestling pedigree is fun to watch throughout the entire interview. At one point when Compton is questioning his pedigree, Fergusun says, "My mom blew George Hackenschmidt. That's pedigree in this business morherf---er.”

The interview rolls along and I really enjoyed the segment about brother love, which I’m not going to spoil, but needless to say watching this interview, it is one of the high points. There’s another great exchange between Compton and Fergusun with Fergusun offering to train Compton at finishing school for $5,000. It’s ridiculous enough that Compton would need to go to finishing school, but Compton’s line of questioning about what Fergusun would do with the money leads another moment during the interview that had me rolling on the floor in tears.

Fergusun’s ability to stay in character is finally foiled close to the end of the interview. Compton is constantly having a hard time keeping his composure and laughs at just about everything Fergusun says, but Fergusun is on a roll saying several ridiculous things. Compton turns around to Freight Train and asks him if any of it makes sense to him and Freight Train says it all makes sense. Gallows finally breaks character and begins laughing, which makes the moment that much funnier.

Overall thoughts: (9.5) – This is a must-see interview in my opinion. It’s one of the most hilarious character driven interviews I’ve ever seen. Gallows was fantastic from start to finish with his quick timing and ability to bounce off Freight Train and Compton.

I found myself laughing almost to the point of tears several times at Fergusun’s stories and Compton’s reactions to them. The segments with the out of shape trainee are hilarious as well, as Fergusun gave him tips in and out of the ring that were ridiculous.

I usually don’t watch an interview more than once, but it’s safe to say this is one of those DVDs that I will be watching over and over and showing to my friends. The entire interview builds up to a series of gut busting moments from start to finish.

I thought Gallows was really great during this interview playing the role of Fergusun and I have a new appreciation for his versatility as a performer. He plays the straight up bad guy role in NJPW, but he showed he is capable of a lot more as a performer during this interview staying in character and coming up with lines off the cuff. Thumbs way up!

You can purchase “Wake Up Time To Die w/Sex Fergusun” on DVD by clicking HERE or by visiting Highspots.com. You can also purchase this release on VOD at DIYWrestling.com. For more information on other Highspots releases visit Highspots.com.

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