Starrcast III is nearly here and the lineup is looking great! Former WWE and WCW legends will take center stage along with current AEW greats! From all-time legends to the hottest wrestlers on the current scene - Starrcast III will have it all! CM Punk, Mick Foley, Cody, Dean Malenko, MJF, The Women of AEW among many others!
Starrcast has been a true standout on the FITE.TV scene. Always larger than life, always bringing the hype to the fans! This true Pro Wrestling spectacle is the vision of the man himself - Conrad Thompson!
In light of the upcoming Starrcast III, FITE.TV's Editor-in-Chief Ivan Spasov sat down with Conrad Thompson to talk panels, legends and the future of Pro Wrestling!
Ivan Spasov(IS): Hello Conrad! I'm very excited to talk to you as we have a lot to discuss. But first thing's first - how are you, what have you been up to?
Conrad Thompson(CT): Oh, not much (laughs). I'm excited that Starrcast III is finally here!
IS: You've made a huge impact on the Pro Wrestling industry. I remember listening to your podcast with Ric Flair on the MLW Radio. At that time I had a serious lower-back injury and I remember laying in bed in a lot of pain but you and Ric managed to bring a smile on my face and brighten up my day. I'm sure there are lots of fans around the world that you've impacted positively as well. From Ric, to Bruce Prichard to Tony Schiavone to Eric Bischoff to Jim Ross … Starrcast and beyond. In a sense, you've enriched the life of the fans as well as your own. How has this experience been for you?
CT:Surreal. I'm just a fan. I never imagined that I would be in this position but I am very grateful to be able to do this. It is my great honor and privilege to be able to work with these guys. Sure I work on the shows but I consider myself, "the first listener."
IS: Starrcast has become the Comic-Con of Pro Wrestling. Did you ever think it would turn out so successful? What do you think makes Starrcast so special?
CT:Well first of all thank you for saying that. I'm just a fan trying to come up with a list of events that I would enjoy attending. I wanted it to be like "fantasy camp" for wrestling fans.
IS: Great! Starrcast III is nearly here. You have quite a lineup ready! Jon Moxley, Cody, Mick Foley, Dean Malenko … the list goes on and on. But one name stands out big time - CM Punk! How did that come together? Tell us more about CM Punk and the fact that you're handing him a LIVE mic on Starrcast's stage.
CT:Thinking big. I wanted Starrcast II to be bigger than the first one and the Roast of Ric Flair was my "big idea." Of course, we know that didn't come together so I really felt like I needed a big ‘surprise' for Starrcast III. There wasn't a more perfect name available for Chicago than CM Punk.
IS: Very interesting. The CM Punk panel is truly something unique. But there is something else that also piques the interest. Cody has his panel with Tony Schiavone - From Undesirable to Undeniable. With what he's accomplished in the industry, Cody has truly become undeniable. From the indie scene to AEW, he's a true trailblazer. What can the fans expect from this awesome panel?
CT:Cody was a human quote machine at Starrcast II. I don't think fans were expecting him to be as open and brutally honest in his panel with the Bucks out there. I think Cody has a chip on his shoulder and he's going to be making a lot of headlines Thursday night with his old friend Tony.
IS: Starrcast III has one gem I'm really looking forward to - the Dean Malenko panel. Dean has always been loved by fans and is a technical genius but has not been very vocal in interviews and on panels. With him being both an outstanding wrestler and a standout trainer, having a hand in training guys like Brock Lesnar, Kane, Shelton Benjamin, among many others, he truly has a lot to share with fans. Can you tease something about this panel?
CT: New. All new content is what fans can expect. Malenko has always played everything very close to the vest. He hasn't written books. He doesn't do two dozen shoot interview DVDs. He doesn't use social media. You're going to finally hear from one of the best wrestlers of all time
IS: Great! There are so many other excellent panels on Starrcast III that it's truly hard to pick a favorite. What are you looking forward to the most?
CT: I think one of the important panels is the Wrestling with Stereotypes discussion. We got rave reviews from Starrcast II for that but it wasn't on the big stage. We're excited to bring this conversation to the forefront this Friday. Certainly the most fun will be Being The Elite LIVE!
IS: So let's cut right to the chase - when will we see Starrcast IV and will there be a Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake solo panel to lead the cast?
CT: I don't have another Starrcast on the books right now. There are no buildings on hold or serious plans at this point. I do have a couple of ideas if we do another one, but I can't say that a Beefcake panel is in the cards. Great guy though!
IS: Conrad, I know you're very busy and I'm truly thankful for this interview. In conclusion, is there anything you want to say to the FITE fans?
CT: Don't
IS: Great! Thank you for talking to us!
