Johnny Valiant: thecheappop.com interview

A Luscious interview
By Mike Johnson

Before Hulk Hogan and The Rock made it cool to transition from professional wrestling to show business, there was Johnny Valiant. Johnny’s wrestling career is highlighted by his two stints as WWF Tag Team champion (Hall of Famer at that) and his highly successful managerial career leading such greats as Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake and the newly single “Hulkster. ” More recently, Johnny has made a name for himself as Carmine Lupertazzi’s bodyguard on The Sopranos, and as a stand-up comedian with a popular one-man show titled, “An Evening With Johnny Valiant” which he performs around New York and New Jersey. Johnny gave the pop a good chunk of his time recently to discuss his career, Paulie Walnuts, and the best mustaches in the history of wrestling (see sidebar from the other day).

Tell me a little about the stand up career and how it came to be.

I didn’t answer an add in the phone book and I didn’t have anybody teach me. I got my start at the east side comedy club out on long island. A guy I was commentating with in the WWF was bringing me to the airport after they let me go and he asked me what I was gonna do. He had me get in touch with his brother who worked at the east side comedy club and it went from there.

I had a background being in front of people so I wasn’t shy about that. Although there are some very shy comedians that end up doing really well, they’re able to hide behind their persona. Woody Allen, one of the greats, would be an example of that. People have different personas and you try to find your voice as you go on. Growing up I always liked Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, and especially Jonathan Winters, but I wouldn’t call myself a big fan of the stand up that’s out there now. I’ve done my share of open mics around New York and New Jersey, and I can do a little over an hour now.

It’s easy for me to talk about my life. I intertwine different experiences in and out of the ring, before, during, and after the wrestling business. It’s still a work in progress as far as I’m concerned.

I guess it always is. Most comedians would say they never feel like their act is complete.

I feel that’s true. Too often people look for the results instead of just enjoying the process of it all.

Are you still involved with wrestling in any capacity?

No, I can’t really say that I am. If I do a couple wrestling matches a year as a manager I’m lucky. Thank goodness I don’t have to depend on that to pay the rent and auto insurance. But I still hear from promoters from time to time and sometimes it’s worth my while and sometimes it’s not.

I did a couple shows this summer, but the economy is making things tough on the wrestling business. I don’t know if there are that many independent shows anymore. With gas being what it is, wrestlers can’t afford to go from town to town, and it’s also tough on the fans with personal appearances and autograph sessions. Things like wrestling can definitely suffer.

What did you enjoy more between the wrestling and the managing?

When I was a young guy I certainly never would have wanted to be a manager. I always wanted to be in there and wrestle. I wanted to take the body slams and the back drops, kick, punch, jump off the top ropes. That’s the stuff that drew me towards the profession. I really jumped into it. I started out as a ref but I had no aspirations of being a manager. I guess back in the day you have guys like Mr. Fuji, the Grand Wizard, certainly Captain Lou Albano, Freddie Blassie, Bobby Heenan and Jimmy Hart. At that time managers played a big part so I tossed my hat into that ring managing singles, tag teams, in addition to the commentary, and in between the cracks a little bit of my humor got to flow, even if it was just poking fun at myself. I never took myself too seriously.

Who told the best stories on the cast of The Sopranos?

The stories on The Sopranos were just the actors themselves. A lot of them didn’t have to make much of an adjustment in terms of getting into character. Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico) is a tough guy by nature and he pretty much portrays life as he sees it. To be up close and personal with the guys as they were preparing was great. James Gandolfini was always nice to me and he really fills up a room when he enters the scene. He’s a very imposing figure and he probably would have been a good professional wrestler.

How many times in your life have you rubbed a lit cigar in somebody’s eyes?

I don’t think I’ve done that too many times. Maybe to myself by accident. There’s a cigar shop on 5th Avenue in New York City that has a darn good selection of cigars, and the owner there remembers when I used to do that back in the spectrum.

Do ever still feel the wrestling business in terms of aches and pains?

Oh yea I still feel it. I kind of get up in sections. I had a wrestling buddy tell me he sets his alarm at 630 a.m. every morning. Problem is he doesn’t get up til quarter to eight.