Lance Storm Reflects On 14 Years Wrestling With Memories From ECW, WCW, WWF & More
Article courtesy of Stormwrestling.com:
Happy Anniversary
October 4, 2004
I had forgotten myself but this past Saturday was the 14th anniversary of my Pro-debut. If not for a late night phone call from Chris Jericho it would have completely slipped my mind. I was driving back form an OVW house show in Cloverport, KY and he was driving from a show in Burlington Maine. Chris and I, if you don't know, debuted together so it was his 14th anniversary as well. I think last year I called him, but at least one of us always remembers. With both of us driving through the middle of no-where our cell phones kept cutting out but a stubborn Jericho stayed with it and after about 6 call backs we finally stayed connected to chat about the 14 years behind us and what lies ahead for both us and the business. I don't miss being on the road, but calls like this remind me how much I miss the boys.
At the gym today one of the guys asked what my favourite memory from the last 14 years would be. I don't think I can narrow it down to one, but I thought doing a commentary on some of great memories would be fun instead.
Summer Slam: Edge vs. Lance Storm: This may be my all time favourite Singles Match. This match had everything to make it special. A hot crowd, a big build up, good execution and a PPV stage to showcase it. Likely my best singles performance and doing it with a good friend makes it even better.
Smack Down: Kurt Angle vs. Lance Storm: This was the single most important TV performance for WWE, in my opinion. It was the only night in my WWE career that I felt the pressure was on me. They were turning Kurt Face and expected a lot out of me in achieving that end. We opened the show with an in ring promo and finished with a real solid match. It was one of the only times that I felt like the "office" felt like my performance really mattered in the big picture of the company and I delivered.
MSG Storm 108: Edge vs. Lance Storm: Edge was a big part of my WWE career. Our IC Title re-match at Madison Square Garden was were Storm:108 was born and I remember that night fondly and always laugh to my self at the fact we had to do a match in that little time.
Calgary Saddle Dome: WCW Invasion: This ended up being no big deal, as the Invasion wasn't the history making angle people expected, but at the time starting the whole thing off in my Home Town was extremely cool. I was both relieved and thrilled at the huge Home Town pop I received. Finally making "the big time" is also a cool moment.
Amarillo TX: Lance Storm vs. Terry Funk: I did a whole commentary on this one. I defended my US/Canadian Heavy Weight Title against Terry Funk in his Home Town. I always wanted to work with Terry and this was the perfect set up. The crowd was so incredibly hot for this match it was amazing. I don't think I've ever had more fun in a match, and to make in better Terry pinned me to capture the Title and the Amarillo crowd erupted. This match is what live event wrestling is all about.
NBR PPV WCW: Lance Storm vs. Mike Awesome: Oddly enough the match itself I'd like to forget completely, but the pre-match and the post-match are two of the greatest moments of my career. Coming home to Canada for my first big match in Canada since "making it" with 3 "Canadian" Titles was incredible and the Hero's welcome I received from the Vancouver crowd was unbelievable. The TV broadcast didn't do it justice because it was 10 times louder live. The post-match celebration with Bret Hart is also a real crowning moment in my career. The photo I have of us standing in the ring together is the most important piece of memorabilia from my career. I only wish they didn't over booked the match like they did, and let me have the match I wanted to and the crowd deserved.
World Title Match: Lance Storm vs. Booker T: We actually had two of these and both were great. In each match we went to the "Maple Leaf" Half Crab near the end of the match and the crowd bought it. For those few moments the crowd believed I was going to be World Champ. I never planned or hoped for a World Title run and even getting one doesn't necessarily mean you deserved it, but knowing the crowd believed and saw me in that light, means a lot.
Nitro: Lance Storm vs. Sting: I'm not sure why this one was so important to me. Perhaps it was the mark in me coming out, because I was such a big Sting fan. Perhaps it was because I was so proud of my performance (some of which was during the commercial break) or perhaps it was the huge compliment Ric Flair paid me after the match. For whatever the reason, I both liked and respected Sting and will always remember this match favourable. I also have a WCW poster with a shot from this match.
ECW Anarchy Rulez PPV: Lance Storm vs. Jerry Lynn: This was the first ECW PPV shown in Canada and it was one of our best crowds ever. Jerry and I opened the show and our back and forth near falls in the middle of the match got a standing ovation from the crowd. That amazing show of appreciation from the fans makes all the aches and pains worth while. Gratitude like that is what made ECW fans something special. Thank you!
ECW Barely Legal: Post show celebration: There was a lot about my PPV match I didn't like but when the show went off the air Paul Heyman and all the boys got in the ring and we got a standing ovation and a monstrous "Thank You" chant. I had never experienced anything like that before, and it was at that moment that I knew ECW was a special place.
ECW Arena: The Impact Players vs. Jado & Geto: This was a match I pushed for real hard. I had worked with Jado and Geto while in Japan and I knew they wanted to work the ECW Arena. Paul finally gave into me and booked it. The night before, they worked with two other guys in Asbury Park, NJ and stunk the joint out. Before the match at the Arena everyone though I made a huge mistake and was expecting the worst. When Jado and Geto hit the ring you could have heard a pin drop, no one cared, by the end they were chanting FMW...FMW... It took all 4 of us but still, I have never been more proud.
WAR Koroukean Hall, Tokyo: Storm-Yasuroaka vs. Liger-Samurai: This was an inter-promotional match and the Main Event of an important show for WAR. I put the whole thing together and it came off without a hitch. Tenryu (My boss) put the Ball in my hands that night by moving us to the Main Event and I ran with it and scored.
CWA Hanover, Germany: Lance Storm vs. Hiro (Tenzan) Yamamoto: This was one of my best matches and it actually happened in 1993. We had a European Jr. Title match and it was awesome. We got a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of it; something I was told was unheard of. The crowd thought they were cheering for me but they were really showing respect to both Hiro and I.
CWA 1995: Lance Storm vs. Fit Finlay: This was a European Mid Heavy Weight Title match and I was flown in as the advertised Main Event Special Attraction. CWA promoted Title matches better than anyone and this was a special night. We of course had an awesome match (Fit always did) and with the pre-match National Anthems Ceremony this had a real World-Wide "Olympic" feel. I wonderful memory.
CRMW Calgary...Alberta, Canada: Lance Storm vs. Johnny Smith: This was the longest single match of my career. We did a 45-minute time-limit draw in front of a local crowd of maybe 150 people. I loved working with Johnny and the 45-minute draw was my idea. A draw is usually a flat ending but we got a solid round of applause from the crowd for a good match. I always wanted to do the 1-hour but I guess this will have to do.
That's going to have to do for now. I could likely go on forever. I may do a similar commentary with some of my more silly and down right stupid memories.
Lance
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