Jerry Wiseman Interviews Sherman Tank

Sherman Tank

When I first met Sherman Tank my initial impression was, this is one big dude. Intimidating just from his size Tank has a presence that is vital to being successful in the world of professional wrestling. Tank can move like a man half his size, he can work circles around some of the top talent in the WWE and he is one of the biggest stars both literally and figuratively for W.A.R. Wrestling and Respect. WAR Wrestling will be offering their annual “Free for All” show on June 26 with a 7:30 bell time and a show that is sure to be one of the best of the year.

Sherman Tank is often associated with “Metal Head” Steve Stone, the current WAR champion as Stone’s protector, enforcer and ringside confidant. Tank will be part of the June 26 show for WAR but he has wrestled across Ohio, Canada and the mid-west for years perfecting his craft, honing his skills and becoming one of the most talented and talked about indie workers in the mid-west.

Tank can talk the talk and walk the walk when he traverses the aisle to the ring and once he steps between the ropes, you know you are about to see something special. A pleasure to talk to, a funny and genuine person and one helluva worker, I am proud to present my conversation with Sherman Tank.

Q. Your dream opponent would be?
A. Mickie James in leg scissor bikini match?

Q. What is your best road story?
A. Well we left Columbus one day, it was 60 degrees out. We get to Canada and there’s three foot of snow…Um…NEVERMIND. Anyway…one of the best was we were doing a double shot for OCW and the first night was in St. Clairsville, OH. This (bought) show was organized and promoted by a guy who had no business organizing and promoting a Ginseng commercial, let alone a wrestling show.

So we get to the fairgrounds and there are 100 large wrestling posters all over the place promoting the show. That would be great, except the fair was about two months away. So we get inside and Jeff Cannon groups most of us in a corner somewhere and tells us that this guy didn’t do any advertising, no sponsors, nada and if we wanted to leave he would understand. Well we worked the show (with Buff Bagwell) in front of maybe 30 people. Afterwards we all decide to go to BW3’s and drown a bad day. The promoter surprisingly shows up as well. Well some of us get a little hammered while eating some wings. Before heading back to the hotel another worker and myself went and grabbed some beer and a few novelty items from the local Kroger. When we get back to the hotel, we go looking for Matt Mason and Jeremy Madrox’s room.

Well when Tank gets a little drunk he can get a little stupid…so this Tank guy (wearing a big mullet wig and recently purchased princess tiara, wand, and loads of silly string) comes running down the sidewalk as only a 350 princess in drag can…we all have a few drinks and laughs until someone in the next room comes out and talks to us. It was actually two big gentlemen of African decent (nice guys actually), and they were in need of some help. They asked us if we had any protection and Jeremy Madrox jumped into the room and slammed the door. Matt Mason and I looked puzzled and soon realized what kind of protection they were inquiring about. A 5’3 pretty little half-naked blonde walked out of their room and being the gentleman that I am, offered her a beer. Well after telling these two guys that I wasn’t armed for the evening, Matt had a good idea. He went into the room and pulled out the plastic bags out of the trash cans. He said try this (Matt is always thinking safety first), and they did.

After having this surreal moment, Matt and I decide to go mess with Buff a little. So this crazy drunk ass Tank in drag knocks on Buffs door and well he was eating BW3s take out on his bed, watching Sports Center. He was amused at our rib, but was fading fast so we decided to go back to my room. Little did we know but the promoter who booked this fiasco of a show was next door to me. Matt and I invited ourselves into his room where we literally scared a gallon of piss out of this guy and during a quick trip to the john, Matt noticed that nasty pile of hair in the trash can. After investigating myself, we noticed a whole pharmacy of marital aids, pills (enter the Ginseng commercial), potions, lotions, and toys that this freak had in his room. Apparently this freak was stalking a local BW3s waitress and she no-showed him and his little rendezvous at the hotel.

After doing our best Stone Cold impression and toasting a six pack of Bud Light all over this guys room, we went back to my room where we thought we’d help this pour bastard out. We told this guy that we know this girl that was really looking for some action and we had Matt’s girl, Jayme, call this guy and get him all hot and bothered. He wanted the room number and we gave it to him. It was the room with the two big gentlemen of African decent and the 5’3” pretty little half-naked blonde. Sad to say we haven’t heard from that little bastard since.

Q. Who is someone you always like to watch wrestle?
A. Basing this when I was younger – Rock n Roll Express, Arn and Tully, Flair, Shawn Michaels, Hogan.

Q. As a promoter who would be in your money match?
A. I know they already worked, but, Michaels (’96) and Flair (’87).

Q. Do you think tag team wrestling is a lost art?
A. Yes. There are very few teams out there that actually put in the time to look and act like a team. Guys with mismatched gear and one guys tan the other guy’s pasty white. There are no similarities and that irritates me. Luckily we have guys like The Hi-Def Supernovas, The Soul Shooters, and Team Clash locally that take me back to the days of RnR Express, Midnights, Hart Foundations, etc; all great teams that actually looked like a TEAM!

Q. If you got the call from New York, would you change your gimmick and to what?
A. I have been thinking about this a lot recently and I would really fight to keep my current gimmick no matter whether it was a call from New York, Philly, or Nashville.

Q. Do you think titles need to mean something again?
A. Yes. I hate that people think of belts as props. You want a prop go join a f#cking play. I’ve always thought that if a promotion gives you a belt it means that they value you and your ability to put the promotion over, the angle over, build your opponent and what have you. It should mean something for sure.

Q. You own a promotion, who are the first five workers you hire?
A. Nationally if I can pick guys from different eras… Flair (’87), Savage (’92), Hogan (’86-7), Michaels (‘96), Rude (’90).

Q. What is the craziest match you have done?
A. I don’t do crazy matches, but a close one would probably be OCW War Games in Rittman, OH a few years back. It was The Hi-Def Supernovas and I against Jeff Cannon, Jeremy Madrox, and another guy. It was such a special night for all of us on so many different levels. There was a story in a story in a story and it was six guys that went out there did something very special, at least in my eyes.

Q. Do you prefer hardcore, traditional or a mix of the two for your own matches?
A. Old school with a bit of new school.

Q. Besides you, who is the best to ever step into the ring?
A. Well isn’t this a loaded question…Best Entertainer – Hogan. Best Wrestler – Flair. Best Sports Entertainer – 3way tie – Austin/Rock/Michaels.

Q. Who is your favorite opponent?
A. I would classify a favorite opponent by the quality of the match that we have. Back in the day I had a lot of solid matches with a wrestler out of Central Ohio named Shank Dorsey. Those were fun hard hitting stiff matches. In the last five years, I’d say some of the guys I’ve had the best chemistry with in the ring has been Jeff Cannon, Robby Starr, Brian Beech, and Matt Mason. I know I’m leaving some guys out, but those are the names that come to mind.

Q. If you could change one thing about the business, what would it be?
A. I would go back to the “golden age” of wrestling, as I knew it back in the 80’s. You had a couple national companies, yet you still had some territories and they were all doing well financially. If you could do that in today’s market, I’d consider that heaven.

Q. Does wrestling need a union?
A. It is a nice vision, but it will never happen.

Q. What drew you into the business?
A. I’ve been involved with the business since I was a young teenager and what initially drew me to the business were the championship belts. They were so amazing. As a kid, I was lucky enough to bump around in rings all over the Midwest so that was a unique experience as well. Finally how the crowd reacted to guys they did and didn’t like kind of sealed the deal for me.

Q. Do you think heels and faces need to be clearly defined again?
A. I don’t think it’s necessary, but it helps. I think you need guys who are good, evil, and a few that are a shade of gray to really keep people interested.

Q. In the annals of wrestling, what do you want to be said about you?
A. I’d like to be known for a guy that wasn’t the tallest or had the best body, but I used what I was given to put on the best matches possible. For a guy as big as I am to move the way I do and do the moves that a guy my size shouldn’t be doing; I take great pride in that. When fans of all ages come up and say they were really entertained by my work; I take pride in that. It really means that much more when I come through the curtain and the boy’s kind of look at me with their mouths wide open going, wow that was awesome. It wasn’t until recently that I have been able to accept this as a compliment. It really has become a good feeling.

Q. What decade, the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or 00s do you think best defined wrestling?
A. Not too familiar with 50s or 60s, but I’d say the 80’s wrestling did it for me. I guess that’s when I fell in love with the business so I’m pretty partial. The mid 90’s were fun too though.

Q. Do you think internet PPVs would help indie promotions?
A. If done right it could definitely. You have to have a good lockerroom, a good announce team, quality equipment and knowledgeable staff, impressive setup, and probably most importantly a lot of marketing/advertising. And all of this cost a lot of money that most promoters don’t have.

Q. What is one thing you want fans to know about you?
A. I’m a Taurus. I like long walks on the beach and…nevermind. I don’t know if I want the fans to know this, but I do a lot more than just wrestle in regards to the business. I work with some promotions doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff like improving their show layout and design entrance way setups. I work with the wrestlers on the gimmicks, merchandise, and gear. I really have a passion to make the promotions and workers that I work close with, look the best that they can to give the fans the best all around professional presentation that is possible.

Q. Have you ever had aspirations of trying MMA?
A. No not really. I can watch it, enjoy it, and respect it. It’s just not really me. Don’t get me wrong. If you piss me off enough, I will punch you in the face.

Q. Do you think the proposed changes that a lot of state athletic commissions will help or hurt the sport?
A. Depends on which ones you’re speaking about. I think there are too many crappy promotions out there taking advantage of fans who haven’t really been exposed to good wrestling. So if the commissions did something to regulate who can/cannot be a promotion and who can/cannot be a wrestler that would be great. I don’t necessarily believe in the commissions saying you can’t strike with a chair, or belt, or whatever. I know they think they are trying to protect us, but it will hurt the business. Most commissions could not care less about wrestling anyway.

Q. Who is someone you would not want to work again?
A. There are a long list of guys that I encountered in this business whom I want nothing to do with again in any realm of life, but one person that stand out among the pack is a guy that went around calling himself Cactus Sak. The back story on this is that in 2001 I left every promotion I was working with. I was burned out and betrayed by a lot of people I was close to, so I came home to Canton after I graduated from The Ohio State University. Somehow I met up with this guy Tim Shady (yes that Tim Shady… I know…I know) and he booked me in a “MCW Tryout Match” against this guy – Cactus Sak. The night before this match I went to the MCW training school in Massillon where I met Shasta and this Cactus Sak and I worked out a bit to clean off some ring rust.

While I was working out, I severely sprained my ankle (if I wasn’t wearing my wrestling boots, I’m sure I would have pulled a Sid Vicious and poked my femur out the bottom of my leg). As I talked to this Cactus Sak, he led me to believe that he was part of the MCW clique, so out of respect I let him lead the match. I get to the bar (the old BB McClain’s in Canton) where the show’s at and he shows up with this stripper. Now I was told by Shasta that if this guy f#cks up to totally shoot on him and when we have this match what does he do…he f#cks up. So I’m remembering what Shasta told me, to really f#ck up his day…but then I start thinking, well what if it’s a set up; I’m an outsider and he’s part of their clique and if I start beating his ass, is the locker room going to clear (now I don’t consider myself a pu$$y, I’ll throw down against a few guys if I have to, but I’m not stupid enough to fight an entire locker room)?

Well the match was the shitz because I was wrestling on one wheel and this guy was the king shitz. The crowd hated us both but throwing all dignity in the crapper this stupid f#ck told the crowd that if they cheered him he would tell this girl to get naked. They still booed him and he’s still not on the MCW roster. If I see him today, I will honor Shasta’s request and shoot all over him.

Q. Do you think blading is a necessary evil in the sport?
A. I think blading of any kind should be used with discretion and only used when necessary. It’s been over done and doesn’t mean that much anymore.

Q. Is the punishment you take worth the money you make?
A. No, but we are all stupid for doing what we do and will continue to do it because we have some sort of warped love for this business.

Q. We are all marks; have to be to love the business, how big a mark are you, what is your favorite piece of swag?
A. I’ve been around for a long time so my markish ways have kind of worn off over the years, but I agree that we are all marks to some degree to be involved in the business. My favorite piece of swag would be my real, 1987 NWA inspired United States Championship Belt that was made by Joe Marshall (the maker of the current WWE belts). I loved this belt a lot back in the 80’s and I had to have it. A few years ago, I had the belt’s leather strap remade by Dave Millican and he did a great custom job with the belt. So it’s a unique piece of wrestling swag in that it is made by two of the top belt makers today.

Q. Is there any match you would refuse to do?
A. Have no interest in any garbage death match bull.

Q. With more and more ladies taking on the men in the ring, would you have a problem doing a job for a woman?
A. It wouldn’t make sense for me to do that, but I wouldn’t be against it. Hell as big as I am, I’ve bumped for refs a third of my size to pop the crowd. So I do what I need to do to get somebody over, put an angle over, or make the crowd go home happy. How’s that for an ego?

Q. How big of an impact do all the recent deaths of the boys have on the business?
A. I’m sure we all think about the deaths all the time. There have been some great workers that we’re all fans of, cut down in their prime from various causes. However I believe that everybody cuts their own deal, you know…If you know the risks and you take this pill or that pill, or sniff this, or drink that; then by now you know the consequences. We’re all adults at least physically.

Q. Using steroids is still a sore subject among some of the boys, especially now that Ivan Putski came out and admitted using and Bruno Sammartino is against them but used them when they were legal, what is your feeling on them?
A. I’m not against people using them responsibly, but again people should be, by now, aware of the potential side effects. If you accept responsibility for the side effects and your actions being under the drug, then that’s what being an adult is about.

Q. Does there need to be more competition in the business and do you think TNA is the answer or does someone else need to come along and step-up?
A. I think a lot of the boys would love more competition. TNA is the closest thing we have to competition. ROH is somewhere in there too, but I would love for a handful of promotions to put a solid business plan together with intelligent wrestling minded personnel to give Vince a run for his money. Hollywood writers need not apply.

Q. Does it take an addictive personality to be a pro wrestler or what type of mental attitude do you need to make it in the business?
A. I don’t know if it takes an addictive personality, but it definitely attracts people with addictive personalities. We’ve lost a lot of good guys and girls to sad addictions. On the other hand, if you’re going to be in this business, you need to strive to be the best. You need to look and act like someone who is bigger than life itself. Almost “God-Like.” I think it takes a very intelligent person, who is very tough mentally and physically, to truly be a pro wrestler. Unfortunately some people need to use foreign substances to achieve or maintain this feeling. Then there are the posers that have no business being in, nor near a wrestling ring. These people that are really ok with working in front of 20 people (mostly friends and family) in a dive bar and have the balls to call themselves “wrestlers”. Don’t get me wrong, some guys use those little shows for experience to get better and I’m ok with that. It’s the other 75% of guys that “play” wrestler to feel big and important in their ebay or Wal-Mart branded gear. It really waters down our business and ruins the image of wrestling to the crowd.

Q. What kind of pre-match ritual do you have before you go through the curtain?
A. I try to get to the building early and chill…I like just laying in the ring and listening to music or stretching and talking with my boys. When I get dressed I try and do the same thing every show. Tape wrists, put shorts and pads on, boots and just walk around like that until it’s almost match time and then put my jersey on. Right as my music is playing I put in a piece of gum, drink a shot of water and think of my dad and my two little boys…wait for the cue in my music and then it’s on.

Q. Do you find yourself giving 100% no matter if there are 25 people in the crowd or 2500?
A. I try. When I first broke in, we were wrestling in front of a couple thousand people so going out there hearing that response; it was easy to give 100%. Going out there with 25 people in the crowd, I still try and give 100% but do it in a way that I’m not going to kill myself in the process. I don’t want to penalize the crowd for either a promoter not doing his job, a town that just won’t draw, or whatever the reason is. Maybe if they like what I’m doing they will each bring one more person with them next show.

Q. Do you ever practice cutting a promo in front of a mirror?
A. Yes. Sometimes I want to go grab our cameraman because those promos are heads and shoulders above what I normally cut.

Q. How do you define yourself as a pro wrestler?
A. A big man who has the mobility like a large cruiserweight.

Q. What is the weirdest thing you have had happen while in the ring?
A. I don’t know if it’s weird or just bad luck, but I was wrestling in Canada (we did a lot of Canadian shots back in the late 90’s) and it was a tag team match. Well I’m in the ring against The Casanova Cliq and during one of their tag moves, I was kneed in the head and pretty much knocked out on my feet. I was then whipped to the far rope and as I was running, my head was running faster than my feet. I hit all three of the opposing ropes with my face. Hit the top rope twice. Hit the middle rope twice. Hit the bottom rope…you get the idea. And then hit the canvas. Luckily I tagged out and came to on the apron to finish the match, but yes that sucked and has been the subject to a lot of good laughs over the years.

Q. Fans either love you or hate you, what has been your worst experience with a fan?
A. In 15 years I can’t really recall a really bad experience until recently. A few weeks ago I was working for CAPW in London, OH in a tag match. I was teaming with Mitch Ryder against Tommy Rich and Doug Gilbert. Right at the bell the match was turned into a no dq match and I paired off with Doug Gilbert. We literally beat each other’s ass all around that building, up the bleachers and in front of the crowd. Well when I was beating Doug down the aisle, I bumped into a trashcan, and thought, “hey, use the trashcan.” Well as I was picking it up to use it, I heard someone scream “Watch out for the baby” and as I turned to look with this trash can over my head, ready to hit Doug Gilbert with it, trash fell all over this 4 year old kid and his mom. I felt horrible and she was pissed. The trash was mostly chip bags and empty pop cans so it wasn’t really disgusting, but it was still trash and I couldn’t have felt any worse. I guess she left, but I think Matt Mason tried to talk to her and I think he kind of smoothed things over a little, so if you’re reading this Miss… I totally apologize for accidentally dropping trash on you and your son. (laughs) In my defense, a lot of people said that she was sitting in the front row and should have moved away like the other people did. But I still feel bad.

Q. If you could go back to any era and wrestle for one night, where would you go and whom would you step into the ring with?
A. Again I’d be in the late 80s. I’d dropkick Robert Gibson out of the ring and Ricky Morton and I would be defending the NWA Tag Team Titles against the Midnight Express.

Q. What move do you think is overused and just does not get over now, like the carotid clutch in the 70s?
A. The Lockup…(laughs)…No, um…I don’t know. There are a ton of moves I can think of off the top of my head that are overused, but they get over so I’m going with my first answer the lockup…