08:13:02
Ron "The Truth" Killings
On
what winning the title means to him…
"It’s definitely an accomplishment. It means a great deal
to me, especially being the first black world champion of
NWA. That belt signifies like a great big medal. I paid
my dues being in the wrestling business. When I first started,
I was making five or ten dollars a night—I really busted
my ass and paid dues.
"WWF
was a good run. I was introduced to the world and the world
saw my talent. But being over here in NWA-TNA, and they
believe and see that much in me, it just makes me think
I have to go even harder now. I love it."
"Them
and They"
"I am that type of wrestler, type of character—I will push
the envelope just about where you think you see what you
think you see, but it’s not really there. It’s like an illusion.
I never for one second said anything about race. I never
said "them" or "they" was the white man, or the black man,
or any colored man holding me down. I just said "them" and
"they". "
If
you can recall, when I spoke to Ricky Steamboat about that,
he asked me if I was talking about authority "them" or "they"
or color of the skin "them" or "they". I told him specifically,
‘You know what, let’s talk about YOUR WWF career.’ I’m hoping
that the fans can see between the lines and that "them"
and "they" can be any color they are. "Them" and "They"
is the office. They are the powers that will be there, you
know, that grants us everything that we’re doing out here
now. That’s what "them" and "they" are. Never said nothing
about race at all. I think the fans picked that up, maybe
sort of critics picked that up because I was pushing the
envelope so much.
"As
you saw, I hung Scott Hall, a white man, but I came back
and hung Norman Smiley, a black man. You know what I’m saying,
they (critics) very much overlooked that. I got no problems
with blacks or whites, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Japanese,
good Lord, nobody. It’s just "them" and "they"."
On
the possibility of the belt turning him into a "them" or
"they"…
I doubt it. I don’t forget where I come from. And me having
this belt means…I became a legend a week ago. First black
man to have the NWA strap. I became a legend, I made history.
So it’s not gonna be like taking candy from a baby to get
this belt from me. People haven’t really seen me pulling
nothing out of the woodwork yet, but pretty soon I will
be pulling a can of whoop ass out. And you will see all
the things that K-Kwick, K-Krush, Ron Killings can do.
Reaction
from other wrestlers about "breaking the barrier"…
"I received a lot of phone calls from my friends that were
nothing but compliments and congratulations. And they basically
said that I deserve it. I haven’t got any negative feedback,
not yet I haven’t got any. You know, negative feedback is
gonna be there regardless. Only negative feedback I’ve gotten
is are you going to push that envelope to where you open
it up. That’s it.
"With
me, how I grew up, I don’t take nothing personally. It’s
not like it was back in the days, but it’s not changed that
much either. You understand what I’m saying. So, I know
that there’s going to be situations, there’s going to be
jealousy. And a lot of times it doesn’t have to come from
a white person, it can come from a black person. "I don’t
ever want to pull that race card because I feel like, God
has something meant for me and I’m going to get it no matter
who tries to stop it. It may take me a minute, but I’m destined
to have it. So I don’t really want to get into, because
I’m black it’s going to be hard for me to get into it. I
think that because I’m black, I’m gonna go harder at it
and get it."
On
teaming with Jeff Jarrett for a shot at the NWA Tag Titles…
"Yeah, that’s going to be interesting to see. I don’t think
me and Jeff will be able to do the tag match. I don’t know
what his problem is now, but we about got into last week.
And as you see, AJ and Jerry Lynn they’re not close friends
at all. So it will be interesting to see if we are able
to do a tag match.
On
chance for leaving Wednesday with two belts…
"Which would be great, but Jeff is concentrating on the
World strap right now. He wants the strap that I have. He’s
not happy with competing for the tag titles, he wants the
strap that I have so that’s where he and I have a problem
at."
On
giving Jarrett a title shot, is it an NWA decision…
"No problem at all, I’ll give him a title shot. Exactly,
and he’s gonna have to do it the right way to get a title
shot. Him coming out and calling me out won’t get him a
title shot. It will get him an ass-whupping, but it won’t
get him a title shot."
Ironic
that "The Truth" was given a title shot after calling out
Steamboat…
"Oh yes, definitely. (laughs) I was speaking the damn truth.
He had no choice but to give it to me, I spoke the truth."
On
Jarrett’s claims of reverse discrimination…
"I don’t know where Jeff came up with that. I think Jeff
is trying to plot his own way, trying to creep in and get
a title shot. He’s coming up with anything he can to get
a title shot."
On
just how interesting tonight may be and what his plan will
be…
"I’m gonna try and get there early. I don’t even trust Jeff.
And I’ll be totally honest with you, I don’t even trust
him at this point. He started some things with me last week
when I won the strap and it’s like I don’t even trust him
now. "I really don’t even want to tag with him. I’d like
to if I could talk to Ricky about that and I will. But,
I really prefer not to tag with Jeff. "I think I’m gonna
find Jeff Jarrett and ask him face to face what’s his problem
with me. And ask him I he wants to postpone this title match
and we just have a match ourselves. I want to make sure,
if we’re gonna do a tag match, I have to know this is my
partner I can trust when I climb in the ring. I don’t feel
comfortable with Jeff as my partner in the ring right now,
cause I have something that he wants. So I want to find
Jeff and confront him face to face and see how feels about
me. Really how he feels about tagging with me and I think
I’ll go from there.
On
rather he would prefer to face Jarrett than get the Tag
Titles shot…
"Oh yes, definitely. And I’m telling you how it T-I-tis.
There’s no reason to go behind my back to get me. I’m straight
forward and straight front with any and everybody. No reason
to go behind my back. Be a man and come face to face. If
you want it, you can come and try and get it."
On
the help from Elix Skipper and dislike for Monty Brown…
"No deal with us, Elix just did a favor for me. I needed
a favor done, and he did a favor for me. No doubt at all
and that’s the truth. "Monty Brown came in and interrupted
my promo. I was doing a very personal speech and he interrupted
it. He had to let me know that "they" gave him an opportunity.
It was "them" that gave him a chance to play NFL football.
I don’t give a damn about "them" and "they" and plus you’re
interrupting my time."
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