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ONE LAST WORD WITH
JEFF GORMAN
Conducted by Joe Dombrowski
IWC Color Commentator / Media Correspondent
In this very special interview, we look back & ahead at the life & career of Jeff Gorman, arguably independent wrestling's greatest play-by-play commentator.
Q: What was your earliest memory of wrestling on television? How soon did you want to know you’d look to be involved in it someday?
A: I didn’t watch wrestling as a child, because I didn’t know it existed. I guess I was too busy watching the Smurfs. I finally discovered the sport at age 15 when I was about to watch Saturday Night Live, and Saturday Night’s Main Event came on instead. I never dreamed at that point that I would ever be a wrestling announcer.
Q: How far back can you trace your desire to be an announcer? Did you look up to any before you started your career?
A: I always wanted to be a sportscaster. My dream job was to announce for the Cleveland Indians. I liked Cleveland sportscasters Gib Shanley and Joe Tait for their excellent detail on the radio, which made the game come alive.
Q: How and when did you get your start in the professional wrestling business?
A: I started in the ASWA, which was based in central Ohio, back in 1994. I brought a tape to a show, and they gave me a shot on the next show to be the ring announcer. I’ve been in the business ever since.
Q: What led to you starting as a play-by-play analyst?
A: I was announcing baseball, basketball and football on local TV in Wadsworth, Ohio, so I arranged to tape the ASWA shows and put them on the station, too. That’s when I added play-by-play to my duties.
Q: Even though you’ve been working for IWC promoter Norm Connors most of your career, your Pittsburgh television debut actually came in the Pro Wrestling eXpress organization in July 1997. How did you end up there?
A: Norm was running Steel City Wrestling at the time, and we did a red-hot invasion angle that lasted for about a year. The fans were into it because they were really divided between the two factions. Norm got me into PWX as the ring announcer, and then as the play-by-play guy when they got on Pittsburgh TV.
Q: What led to your departure from the promotion some 3 months after its television debut?
A: Norm stopped working with PWX, but he gave his blessing to me and a few others who wanted to keep working there. Then one of the PWX guys announced the firing of my broadcast partner, Drew Lazario, over the Internet. At that point, Norm said he would appreciate it if I didn’t work there anymore. I left on good terms with PWX, which I’m still happy about.
Q: From there, you next popped up in the predecessor to IWC, Steel City Wrestling, working alongside Mark Madden. Reflect back on some of your favorite and least favorite memories working there?
A: I started in 1995 with SCW. I only wish we could have stayed on TV longer than 13 weeks. I think Madden and I were starting to develop some good chemistry. The wrestling was some of the best indy stuff going at the time, with Reckless Youth, Mike Quackenbush, Don Montoya, Christian York and Joey Matthews among those who joined our local crew. Stevie Richards was in for several shows as well.
Q: Steel City Wrestling closed shop in 2000. How long after then until you made your way to IWC and what did you do in between that time?
A: I worked for the Future Wrestling Alliance, which was based in Reading, Pa. That was more really good stuff, with people like Low-Ki, Homicide and Da Hit Squad along with Quack, Montoya, Drew Lazario and a lot of people from Maryland Championship Wrestling. I also worked for Chris Lash in Indiana, Pa., for the APWF.
Q: You’ve seen and called so much with IWC, it’s probably impossible to list all of your favorite moments, but what stands out as some of your favorite moments working here?
A: I really liked the first TV taping we did. We had a lot of the PWX guys together with us, and I thought everyone would start working together to create something big. I think the first Super Indy show and the next night’s Uniontown show were the launching pad that put IWC into the elite of the indies that are around today. Meeting legends like Bret Hart, Jerry Lawler, Eddy Guerrero, and Dusty Rhodes was cool too, as was working with Mick Foley again.
Q: How did you end up working for Ring of Honor in 2002 and why did they stop using you on their VHS/DVD releases?
A: Norm called me and said that ROH was looking for a new play-by-play guy, and he recommended me to them. I made two trips to Philly, doing the call for Glory by Honor, Scramble Madness, All-Star Extravaganza and Night of the Butcher. They liked my work, but they needed to cut the cost of an outside announcer to devote more money to lights, cameras and other production equipment. I understood that, because those changes have helped the product. But it was disappointing, because I was hoping that being the ROH play-by-play guy would be the career break I had waited eight years for.
Q: Did you enjoy your time there?
A: I absolutely loved it. Fortunately, they let me ring announce their first Pittsburgh and Chicago shows, as well as working on the first four Dayton shows. Being in ROH is like being on the all-star team, and it felt great to finally get that kind of validation.
Q: In your time with IWC & ROH you became one of the most well respected announcers in indy wrestling today. What qualities of yours do you think helped you become so successful over the years?
A: I tried to call wrestling in the same way I would call a baseball game. I tried to treat my audience as intelligent people and let them know how much I loved what I was doing.
Q: Who have been some of your major influences throughout your career?
A: I’ve tried to hone my own style as an announcer, but I learned a lot of moves listening to Gorilla Monsoon and Joey Styles. The internet has also helped me a lot in learning different moves. The biggest influences as far as learning the business have been Norm Connors and “Beef Stew” Lou Marconi – whom I’m proud to call two of my best friends.
Q: In your opinion, what makes a good commentator, whether it be on a national level or independent level?
A: You have to love wrestling and strive to learn as much as you can about it. You also have to listen to your work and be critical of yourself. Finally, you have to learn not to talk too much. You need to leave room for your other announcers as well as the cheers of the fans.
Q: Who would you consider some of the better announcers in recent years, nationally and on the indys?
A: I think Gorilla Monsoon is one of the best announcers ever, and I don’t think a lot people give him his props. Joey Styles was perfect for ECW and very knowledgeable. This is coming from a guy who got ripped as a Joey lookalike for years. On the color side, I think Bobby Heenan was the best during the time he teamed with Gorilla.
Q: Who have been some of the worst?
A: It’s really hard to be a good wrestling announcer, and I respect anyone who tries. With that being said, I can’t think of a lot of good to say about the work of Rob Bartlett when Raw began, nor of Steve “Mongo” McMichael when Nitro began. But both of them were in over their heads.
Q: What other promotions, other than what we’ve covered, have you provided your expertise to as an announcer?
A: I’ve also worked for Far North Wrestling and Chikara. I love those guys. I did a few shows here in Ohio for some local indies, too.
Q: In your entire history as a broadcaster…do you have one favorite match you’ve called? One particular event? One favorite moment? One favorite broadcast colleague?
A: One match that stands out is the Fight Without Honor between Low-Ki and Samoa Joe at Glory by Honor. Man, that was great. My favorite event and moment was at Ring of Honor’s first Pittsburgh show, Revenge on the Prophecy, when the fans (including my wife) cheered for me before the main event.
Of course, the entire final show I did (A Call to Arms 2) was completely unforgettable and I look forward to watching that DVD when I’m 80, if they still have DVD players then. I had a blast working with Lazario and Madden, but I’m especially proud of the team I’ve been a part of for the last 18 months with Joe Dombrowski and Kingdom James. I’ll put the work of that three-man team up against anyone.
But my two favorites are Greg Valentine vs. Brutus Beefcake from Steel City and Chris Hero vs. CM Punk for IWC. My brother Rob announced Valentine-Beefcake with me, since we saw those two team against The British Bulldogs at the first wrestling show Dad ever took us to see. For Hero-Punk, my baby girl wanted to be on my lap for the entire 30-minute match. She showed a lot of potential considering her limited vocabulary.
Q: Now, on the other side of the coin…do you have a least favorite match, live event, moment, and/or colleague? What would you consider to be your career lowlights?
A: I think my career lowlight came at a show in 1996 in Steubenville, Ohio, when they had another announcer, so they made me a referee. Big Bully Busick threw me out of the ring on my head, I didn’t get paid, and I got a speeding ticket on the way home. Not my best night.
Q: Is there any wrestler, team, or match type you wish you could’ve announced for yet never had the chance?
A: I would have liked to make it to the WWE and work with all of the biggest stars in the business. Other than that, I think I’ve worked with an impressive group of wrestlers.
Q: You’ve been considered by many to be one of the genuinely nicest individuals in our locker room, or any other for that matter which begs the question: Has Jeff Gorman ever had any legitimate problems with anyone in wrestling? And does Jeff Gorman ever swear?
A: I’m fortunate that I’ve really never had any major problems with anyone. Maybe as an announcer, I’ve been able to avoid hard feelings over spots, pushes and titles. I’ve never dropped the F-bomb or S-bomb in my life. I used to say some of the mild swear words that you can get away with on TV, but I’ve tried to clean that up. That’s my wife’s influence. Plus, I don’t want to say anything I wouldn’t like to hear out of my 1-year-old’s mouth.
Q: For those that may be unaware, remind us all as to why exactly you’ve announced your retirement.
A: People see me in Pittsburgh all the time, but I actually live in Ohio. So every show involved a 2-3 hour drive each way. I didn’t mind, but it really wasn’t good for my family to make these huge trips every three weeks or so. I think I could have achieved my goal of announcing on national TV, but realistically it was still a few years away, and it would have been unfair to put my family through that.
Q: Reflect back on how it felt seeing the birth of your child and being able to hold her for the first time.
A: I wasn’t allowed in the room for my daughter’s birth due to some complications, but holding her and feeding her for the first time is something I’ll never forget. I told her she would always be my baby no matter how big she got. Being a daddy has changed my life in an immeasurably positive way.
Q: How long have you known that retirement was going to be an eventual must?
A: My wife and I talked about it for six months. She has been so supportive of me and my career, which is doubly impressive since she’s not a big wrestling fan. Thinking about leaving the business was hard, but knowing it was right for my family has made it easier to swallow.
Q: Reflect back on your emotions as you made your farewell speech to the fans.
A: I’m surprised I was able to keep it together as well as I did. I only teared up when I was addressing my family. I’m glad Norm gave me the chance to say what I needed to say, and I’m glad I got to tell the boys how much I respect them. Everyone was weepy afterwards, but I was having too much fun announcing the show.
Q: Where do you see IWC going from here?
A: I think IWC is doing a lot of things right. I just hope the company gets the national publicity and internet buzz that groups like IWA-Mid South, PWG and CZW get.
Q: Where does Jeff Gorman go from here?
A: I’m going to take care of my family, and hopefully we’ll have some more kids. I’m also going to write a book about my life as a wrestling announcer. I’m a sportswriter here in Ohio, so I’ll keep doing that. I’ll continue to follow the wrestling business. I just have to have faith that God has something waiting for me around the corner. And even if He doesn’t, the life I have is pretty darn great.
Q: If ROH calls up Jeff Gorman and says they want you back on their DVDs, do you come back? Would anything make you come back?
A: I would listen to anything ROH (or WWE) has to say. However, I’m not expecting that to happen anytime in the next few years. If I thought that was around the next bend, I would still be around. If I could somehow make a living as an announcer, that would change everything.
Q: Looking back on your career, do you have any regrets? Anything you would’ve done differently, if given the chance?
A: I don’t have any regrets. I made a lot of friends, announced great matches, and advanced to the No. 3 promotion in the country. I accomplished everything that was under my control.
Word Association:
Norm Connors: Couldn’t have done it without him
Drew Lazario: Right Here! Can’t count how many times he’s cracked me up
Mark Madden: Should still be in the big leagues – very underrated
Jim Miller: Good longevity
Dave Prazak: Very hard-working and versatile
Kingdom James: Old-school color man in the best sense – people need to wake up to how great he is
Joe Dombrowski: Already one of the best play-by-play guys in the business at age 19 – watch what he does with what’s-his-name out of the way
Chuck Roberts: Better than me as a ring announcer – I can admit that
IWC: More big names than I ever thought I’d work with – and a great new batch of friends
PWX: A hot time – wish we could have all stayed together
SCW: A great place to learn the business and have fun
ROH: The best wrestling I’ve ever seen – it was an honor to work there
Chikara: Lots of fun – good talent is coming from there
Q: Now, as this interview comes to a close, I think there’s only one thing left to say. On behalf of all of the fans who you’ve informed, educated, and entertained over the years; on behalf of all of the broadcasters and promoters who had the pleasure of working alongside you; on behalf of every wrestler fortunate enough to have had you to add an extra touch of class and expertise to the presentation of their matches on television and home video; and for everyone in and around the professional wrestling business who have had the privilage of interacting with you: Thank you for all of your work, dedication and sacrifice through the years. It’s now time for any final thoughts, so I will let you close this interview as you see fit.
A: Thanks for caring enough about me (a non-wrestler) to do an interview with me. I love the wrestling business so much, and it’s been a privilege to be a part of it. I’ve always been proud to be a wrestling announcer, and everyone tells me it’s the coolest thing they’ve ever heard. But as I said on A Call to Arms 2, if there’s one thing I love more, it’s my family. Having such a great wife and daughter is a dream come true for me. I will always cherish my time in wrestling, but I’m really looking forward to the future.
Send feedback to iwcmc_dombrowski@yahoo.com