Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come. WrestlingWire sat down and conducted a one-on-one interview with Matt Borne, 'The Original' Doink The Clown! First off, I'd like to thank Matt for giving us some of his time to answer these questions. We appreciate it greatly! OK...now onto the interview!
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WrestlingWire: Hello, Matt. Thanks for taking time out of your day to conduct this interview with me. Let's get straight to the questions. Michael Bakos from Merrillville, Indiana sent in a question asking who came up with the Doink The Clown gimmick?
Matt Borne (Doink the Clown): Well, Mike...it was George [the Animal] Steele's idea. He was one of the match makers and bookers then and what a great guy to work with.
WW: Ryan Anderson Payne from Horn Lake, Mississippi would like to know what was your first reaction when approached about the Doink The Clown gimmick?
MB: To tell the truth, Ryan, I didn't think it'd work but I was willing to do anything that they wanted me to do...and I think it worked out well for a lot of people.
WW: Michael Bakos had another question for you. What was your favorite storyline?
MB: It was the storyline with Bam Bam Bigelow. It was an awesome storyline and was put together well.
WW: I just want to thank everybody that sent in questions. We're not even halfway done yet. Nick Perruzza of Vaughn, Ontario, Canada wants to know what your feelings are towards the character you portrayed and the following it had with the variety of other wrestlers who used that gimmick?
MB: Well, Nick, after my contract was up it didn't matter who did it as you could see no one was able to do it the way I did it. That's why Doink isn't in WWE anymore.
WW: Staying on the subject of other wrestlers taking the job as Doink The Clown, Colby Anderson of Matthews, North Carolina wanted to know when all of these, let's say 'impostors', on TV of Doink came around, were you flattered or annoyed?
MB: Colby, all I can say is that after watching the independents I only ever saw one guy do Doink that I thought it was me but I never had an ego and didn't care what others were doing. That's why I did Borne Again in ECW.
WW: OK...I promise, this is the last question about other wrestlers taking up the Doink The Clown gimmick. Karyl Anne of Louisville, Kentucky wanted to know your thoughts on WWE's latest Doink The Clown run using Nick Dinsmore a.k.a. Eugene?
MB: Karyl, Eugene doesn't look like Doink The Clown and he by far isn't as smart but it's an awesome gimmick and whatever works, run with it.
WW: Colby Anderson has another question. This time he asks if you still watch WWE and if so, what would you do differently to make it better if you see any problems with it now?
MB: Well, Colby, I’m very sorry but I don't watch WWE anymore. I couldn't even tell you who the champion is...
WW: Chris Cunningham of Millis, Massachusetts wants to know which wrestler/entertainer inspired you to go into the pro wrestling business and why?
MB: Good question, Chris. I was inspired by the Moondogs. Rex as awesome mind in the business but I loved George The Animal Steele'd gimmick.
WW: Would you ever consider a return to the WWE? Thanks to Charles Haun of Morristown, Tennessee for that question.
MB: Charles, I would if the money was right and the time was right. I don't miss it all that much to beg for my job back. Vince knows where to find me.
WW: Brandon Gould of Boston, Massachusetts wants to know what was your favorite wrestling moment and who, in your opinion, was the greatest wrestler that you fought?
MB: Brandon, there was a lot of good times and a lot of sad but I would say the good out weigh the bad. A time that stands out more than any other is WrestleMania. There's no feeling like being at the Superbowl of wrestling!
WW: OK, we're getting down to our final half of questions. David Lucas from Northeast Maryland sent in a few questions. For the first, he wants to know what was your favorite match of 2004 so far?
MB: Well, David, I would have to say I don't know because I haven't seen any in 2004.
WW: And David's second question is what was your favorite WrestleMania match, besides WrestleMania 20's triple threat?
MB: WrestleMania 9...me and Bam Bam!
WW: Daniel Blackmore of England sent in two questions for you. The first is...If you were given the opportunity to wrestle one current WWE superstar in a high profile Pay-Per-View match, who would it be?
MB: Daniel, I would love to wrestle Raven in NWA-TNA with Raven's Rules and The Rock because it would be my a$$ he would be smelling!
WW: Daniel also sent in this...Over the past 15-20 years we have seen many great and legendary figures step into the ring. Some of these performed in matches that are completely off the chart, and raised the bar for future superstars. In your opinion, what is the best match you have ever been apart of in your career and what is the greatest match you ever witnessed?
MB: Well, Daniel, the best match I ever saw with my own two eyes had to be the Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels match at WrestleMania. But The WrestleMania 9 match between me and Bam Bam still ranks high up there!
WW: Can't forget that match. OK, the last question sent in by a visitor. Chris Cunningham sent in his second question asking what advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a wrestler?
MB: Well, Chris, that is easy. Go to college, study up and get a degree in something just incase it doesn't work out as planned. Plus, wrestling careers don't last a lifetime. And don't forget to go to a good wrestling school and get trained by somebody who knows how to work!
WW: Well, that was all the questions sent in. I do have a few of my own. First though I'd like to thank everybody who sent in the questions: Michael Bakos, Ryan Anderson Payne, Nick Perruzza, Colby Anderson, Karyl Anne, Chris Cunningham, Charles Haun, Brandon Gould, David Lucas and Daniel Blackmore. Thanks again! Now onto the questions I have for you. Tell me about some of your favorite ribs that you pulled while on the road or maybe that were pulled on you.
MB: Well, I would have to say that one time someone, who I am not going to name, but he got me a midget stripper for my birthday...[laughs]. The best I ever did was I had some 400lb. women meet Dink for dinner on a blind date.
WW: [laughs] Oh my! Good ribs there. I only have a few more questions, don't want to keep you busy too much longer. How do you think that having only one national wrestling company will damage the sport as a whole?
MB: There's a lot of good independent federations out there. One of them or two is going to break thru and shine and Vince will want to buy them out. To just name a couple: NWA-TNA, WPW, and 3PW. There are awesome independent wrestling federations.
WW: Well, time for my last question. You wrestled for all the bigger promotions...WCW, ECW and then-WWF. What was your favorite promotion to work for out of these three and what were your schedules like?
MB: Well, my run with WWF was the most fun. On the road 265 days out of the year was nuts. A lot of plan flights and limo rides but I was doing what I like to do and wrestling is in my heart and that's all that mattered. Having a midget with you for most of the time made it even more fun. And before I run...Tiger a.k.a. Dink, if you read this, I miss you little buddy, it was a lot of fun and I would do it all over again the same way.
WW: Thanks a lot for the time. I appreciate it and couldn't thank you enough. Thanks!
MB: Thank you.
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I'd like to thank everybody who sent in the questions, once again. Without you guys there wouldn't have been an interview. Also, thanks to Matt Borne - 'The Original' Doink The Clown for answering the questions and taking time out of his day to do so. Also, thanks to Pinky of World Professional Wrestling [WPW] for all his help! I appreciate it all, folks! For those who didn't get their questions in, sorry but I couldn't ask all of them. You ALL were entered into the contest though, so you could be a lucky winner! The winner's name will be announcer shortly..
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