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Interview Conducted by Dave Anchorking and Ger Walsh on World Wrestling Revolution.ÂÂÂÂÂ
Ger Walsh mentioned that in his first match he referred to himself as Mr. Anderson. Ger asks Kennedy to give us an insight into where the Mr. Kennedy character emerged from. Kennedy says his real name is Ken Anderson. That's the Ken Anderson that writes the checks and pays the bills. Mr. Kennedy makes the money. Kennedy explains that that he met Vince McMahon. McMahon said that that there had been so many other great Andersons in the business like Ole, Gene and Arn and that he didn't want Ken associated with them and for people to think that he's related to those guys. McMahon told Kennedy he wanted him to stand alone and come up with some names that's never been heard before, something completely new. Kennedy said he called up Paul Heyman and asked if Heyman had any suggestions. Heyman said Kennedy is Vince's middle name. If he gives you that he loves you. Kennedy said he pitched it to Vince McMahon and McMahon bought it. From that night on he was introduced as Mr. Kennedy.
Dave Anchorking asks Ken who came up with the use of the old school microphone lowering down the lights and the spotlight in your entrance. Kennedy said he thought about it the day when Dave Lagana pitched him the idea. So it was Dave Lagana who came up with the idea and pitched it originally. Ger says the gimmick was intended to be a heel gimmick and to annoy the crowds but after a few weeks it started to get face pops. Ger asks Kennedy what did it feel like to get face pops when your meant to be a heel character. Kennedy said one thing he remembers is standing at the building fourth or fifth week out there and asked Vince had he any words or wisdom. Vince told him not to worry about being a heel or face. Just be yourself and get over with the people and let them determine if you are baby face or heel. After a couple of weeks, Kennedy said he started to get more entertaining and took Vince's word as a green light to do whatever he wanted to do. Kennedy said he got a little carried away with the antics involving Tony Chimmel. Vince told Kennedy to hold back a bit and get a little more serious.
Dave Anchorking asks Kennedy if Tony Chimmel enjoyed the mini feud. Kennedy said he thinks he does because it gives him some extra time on TV. Kennedy also said Tony came up with some of the ideas on House shows like Kennedy spitting water in his face.
Dave asked Kennedy about the Dublin, Ireland house show in The Point Depot when Kennedy came out to face The Undertaker, when JBL came out. Dave also asked what was it like being in Dublin and did he feel The Point Depot was a good crowd.. Kennedy said he loved it. Kennedy said one of the things he remember was when JBL ribbed the Dublin crowd. Kennedy went on to say that the fans started throwing stuff. Kennedy said it was not little pieces of candy or paper. Kennedy said it was the first time he was in an arena were he thought a riot would start. He said he wasn't scared and he had goose bumps because the fans were so patriotic.
Ger asked Kennedy about his lat tear at a house show in Italy in December '05 that forced him out of the ring for six months. Ger also asked Kennedy how he felt to miss a possible Wrestlemania match. Kennedy said it was terrible. The doctors told him it would keep him out six to eight months. Kennedy said he had known people to come back early. The doctors told him six months at least. Kennedy said he missed out on a trip to Japan, which he always wanted to do, a trip to New Zealand, Australia and Wrestlemania. Ken said he sat in the back at Wrestlemania and watched everybody do their thing. Kennedy said next year he is going to Wrestlemania and nobody is going to stop him. He will be a better person for it. Dave Anchorking asks Kennedy who he would like to face next year at Wrestlemania in Detroit. Kennedy said whoever is the world champion.
Dave asked Kennedy how did he feel to lose to Matt Hardy on July 14th and to be pinned for the first time, ending his winning streak of never being pinned or submitted. Kennedy said he has taken it out of his memory bank and can't remember how it went down. He said he thinks he rolled him up and the referee counted fast. Kennedy said he didn't lose his match and that he was screwed. Kennedy laughed. Ger asks Kennedy to cast his mind back to November 11th 2005 edition of Smackdown in what you describe as an unfortunate honor facing Eddie in what was Kennedy's first loss and Eddie's final match before he died on November 13th. Ger asks Kennedy what it felt like to be in the ring with Eddie and how the match came across to the fans. Kennedy said he remembers that day when he was told he was going to wrestle him and what an honor it was to be in the ring having a singles match with him. Kennedy said he only had tag team matches with him up to that point. Ken said he teamed up with Randy Orton against Eddie and Batista and in another match he teamed up with Bob and Randy Orton against Roddy Piper, Batista and Eddie. Ken said he didn't get much time in the ring with Eddie in either of them matches but does remember getting into the ring one on one and being excited about the deal. Ken said it was an honor to wrestle Eddie. Dave asked Ken how it felt to defeat Finley and Bobby Lashley for the US title and win his first title in the WWE. Kennedy said it was fantastic. Ken went on to say it was an honor to hold the same title that Bret Hart and Steve Austin held.
Dave asked Kennedy who was his idols growing up? Kennedy said when he was a kid he didn't really watch wrestling much. Ken said he briefly watched it in the eighties and that Junk Yard Dog was his favorite. Kennedy said he didn't know why other than the fact that he thought he had a cool entrance and the chains around his neck. Kennedy said he would go to school with chains around his neck but his mom would not allow him for some reason. Kennedy said he got back into watching wrestling around '96/'97 and that Steve Austin was the reason.
Dave asked Kennedy about his OVW experience. Kennedy said it was great. Kennedy explained how Al Snow and Lance Storm were the head trainers and how they would rotate between each of them each week. Ken said they were great guys. Ken also said Danny Davis and Paul Heyman were great. Kennedy said Jim Cornette never saw anything in him. It left a little sore spot in his heart a bit because he was busting his ass trying to get into the big leagues but said it was a good experience. Ken said he had nothing but love for OVW.
Dave asks Kennedy how much of a blow is the departure of Paul Heyman to the WWE locker room. Ken said it was a little bit of a shock to him but not a real surprise. He knew things were bad between Heyman and Vince and had to come to an end at some point. Ken said Heyman was a friend and he was doing fine. Kennedy said he would keep in touch with him.
Ger asks Kennedy if Hardcore Holly is as stiff as people say he is. Kennedy says yes and laughs. Ken says he worked several house shows with Holly when he first came to the WWE. Kennedy said Holly introduced him to the world of chops. Ken went on to say that at more than one occasion he opened up his chest, bleeding. Ken said it does not bother him. He said he enjoys working light and stiff.
Dave asked Kennedy if he thought JBL fitted in the role of Smackdown color commentator. Kennedy says yes. He also said that JBL has a wealth of knowledge and one of those guys that shoots from the hip and doesn't hold back on the things he said.
Dave asked Ken what was it like to be in a feud with The Undertaker. Kennedy said it's been fantastic. It makes it exciting to go to work every week. Kennedy said he enjoyed the blood dumped on him, beating the hell out of The Undertaker with a microphone and enjoyed his two PPV matches with The Undertaker. Ken said The Undertaker was a big influence on his career and helped him out. He said working with The Undertaker takes him to the next level.
Dave asks Ken if he can get the job done at WWE Armageddon. Ken says he has gotten the job done twice. He said he beat The Undertaker at No Mercy and threw first blood at the Survivor Series. Kennedy said were going to 3-0 at Armageddon and will be The Undertaker's last ride.
Dave thanks Mr. Kennedy for coming onto WWR.  Ken says the pleasure is all yours.ÂÂÂÂÂ
You can hear the interview at www.WorldWrestlingRevolution.com.
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