"Hardcore" Bob Holly on DiBiase Jr., Punk, Steamboat, Lesnar, More...

Former WWE Superstar "Hardcore" Bob Holly recently spoke with Raj Giri from WrestlingInc.com about a number of topics.

Working with Ricky Steamboat as a jobber in WWF in 1991: I was out there and I was waiting [to wrestle] Ricky [Steamboat], and when he blew that whole flame thing out of his mouth with the kerosene, I was on the other side of the ring and I could feel the heat from across the mat. I was like, I can't believe this guy does that on a nightly basis, but anyway, we ended up having the match and everything and it was really good. It was kind of back and forth and everything. It wasn't your typical, just go out there and beat the guy up and get over him and come back. It wasn't one of those, a typical enhancement match. When we came back, he thanked me and everything, and he was pissed. He went and talked to somebody and he came back and he was mad. I was like, “did I do something wrong?” And he goes, “no, no, no. They didn't like the match. They liked it, but that's not what they wanted. They wanted me to go out there and eat you up.” And Ricky told me, and I just think it's absolutely ridiculous because that was a good match to have on TV. 

So he had to go back out there, and he went back out like a couple matches later and ended up doing it with another guy, some big, humongous overweight guy. He was absolutely unhappy with that. But yeah, that was my experience with them back then.

Not being ready for the World title picture when feuding with Brock Lesnar: "No way was I ready. I was far from it because here I went, putting people over and getting wins here and there, few and far between. Putting people over, like what I said, I had no problem doing because I was making a good living at it. They'd keep me alive here and there and give me wins and put me in little story lines here and there and stuff, but throwing me out there with Brock in the world title picture? No. I wasn't ready for it. I'll be the first to admit it, I didn't want to be in that spot. I wasn't going to tell them. It's like, let me work myself up that way first and let me get comfortable and feel it out, stuff like that. But you can't tell them oh, I'm not ready. You just have to do what they want you to do. I was just doing what I was told to do and like I said, I'll be the first to tell you, I wasn't ready."

Working with CM Punk in ECW: He's a hard worker. I honestly didn't envision him being where he is now, but he got there through hard work. I'm happy for the guy. He was great to work with. He was easy. He was rough, so it fit. I enjoyed working with him. He about knocked me out when he caught me with that knee a couple times, [laughter] but that's the way the game is played when you work with him. If you dish out you better be ready to take it. I was. That's how I liked it. 

Why he lashed out at WWE on Twitter over Ted Dibiase's release: I just got tired of seeing WWE people, executives and stuff, post stuff on Twitter saying hey, if you want to make it in WWE you have to show us you want it. You have to work hard. You have to not cause any problems within the company. You have to be able to cut good promos. You have to be able to work. Let me tell you something. Ted DiBiase has every single tool it takes to be number one. That, to me, and I talk about it in my book, because why is he not on TV right now? There's not reason why because let me tell you something, when they bring Sheamus back, because their excuse is they can't just throw him out there, but then when they bring Sheamus back you watch and see if they don't put him in something when he comes back. It's like the other guys that get hurt, like Rey Mysterio. How many times does he get hurt a year? About 15 times a year and then he comes back and they throw him right out there and put him in a storyline. You can't sit there and tell me they don't have anything for this guy or they can't find anything for him. That's the writer's jobs and when you have a talent like this, you are so missing the boat on this guy, because I worked this guy. I've seen this guy. They don't get no better than Ted DiBiase Jr. I'm sorry. It just doesn't happen. It's a shame. It really is.