EWA Examination - Taz - Hostho

RJ CITY: My name is RJ City and this is EWA Examination where I, RJ City, sit down with some of the biggest stars in the world of EWA and get to know them and what they’re all about. This week, I am honored to have the captain and leader of Team Taz. A man with a long and rich EWA history, Taz! Taz, thank you for joining us.

TAZ: You’re welcome! Could’ve made that intro a little longer.

RJ CITY: First things first…the name of the group. Team Taz. Was your first choice taken? Cause it just seems like that might have been your backup name.

TAZ: No, that was definitely my first choice. Why you askin’?

RJ CITY: I’m just saying, we’ve got some creative names in EWA. We have The Bloodline and the Vegas Connection and Insurexxxtion and then…’Team Taz.’ Just seems kind of simplistic is all.

TAZ: I mean, that’s kinda the point. We’re a team, I’m Taz, it’s my team. Hard to forget that. Why, do you have some recommendations?

RJ CITY: Of course, I never come to these interviews without being prepared. How about ‘Hostho?’ Hostho. That’s the beginning letters of the last names of Hobbs, Starks and Hook.

TAZ: Hostho?

RJ CITY: Hohost?

TAZ: Like the little… the chocolate snack cakes?

RJ CITY: No, those are Hoho’s. Unless you’re talking about Hostess.

TAZ: No no, I’m not talkin’ about you.

RJ CITY: You say that Team Taz builds assassins. Who is your favorite assassin of all time?

TAZ: Anton Chigurh from ‘No Country For Old Men’. The guy just exudes badassery. He thinks he’s an instrument of fate, it’s pretty cool. Other than that, the boys. Hobbs, HOOK, Ricky, me.

RJ CITY: It seems blasphemous to say, but mine is Lee Harvey Oswald.

TAZ: The guy who shot Kennedy?

RJ CITY: Oh, there was a second shooter. Don’t you worry. I’ve seen some stuff on YouTube that would really blow your mind.

TAZ: Seems a little tasteless to pick a guy who shot an American president.

RJ CITY: I’m Canadian, so it’s ok. Your son, Hook is a part of Team Taz, or Hostho - -

TAZ: Team Taz.

RJ CITY: We’ll workshop it. Your son, Hook, is a part of your team. What’s it like getting to watch your son be out there in the ring?

TAZ: At first, it was strange. It felt like it hurt more than my own in-ring career, and I broke my friggin’ neck! Watchin’ someone I spent my whole life tryna protect get his ass kicked and kick people’s asses. Now? Hell, he’s teachin’ me things.

RJ CITY: Was there any desire or thought to name your son after another looney tunes character when he was born, like his old man? Maybe Elmer or Pepe?

TAZ: Marvin.

RJ CITY: Really?

TAZ: God no, I wouldn’t name my worst enemy ‘Marvin’.

RJ CITY: I would pick Petunia…or maybe Granny. Were you contacted about being in the Space Jam movie or remake of it?

TAZ: The original, actually. But Jordan shut it down. He didn’t want anybody to think I was givin’ him a rub, y’know? Gotta be the biggest star in the thing. I got it, the politics of it all. Looks kinda silly have a guy like me play second fiddle to MJ.

RJ CITY: If you were going to play two on two basketball with the rest of Team Taz, Hostho - -

TAZ: Team Taz.

RJ CITY: Right, who would you pick to be your teammate in a game of two on two pickup basketball?

TAZ: Hobbs. We’ve got a good big man, little man dynamic that lends itself to the sport. It’d be like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, y’know? Spurs were a really good team, man.

RJ CITY: All these references are lost on me. I’m more of a hockey guy.

TAZ: Cause you’re Canadian.

RJ CITY: Correct. You and your team had a good measure of success in the SuperBrawl match back in December. Your team was a measurable favorite heading into the Civil War match but wound up falling short there. How do you bounce back as a group from that?

TAZ: It’s difficult, y’know, ‘cause anybody else would see that as a failure. But Team Taz, we don’t. We see that as motivation. I’ve got it drilled into my guys’ brains that they never fail, that’s a negative thing. We’re a very positive group.

RJ CITY: Well, chemistry within a group or faction is super important. One could argue that men like Hobbs, Starks and Hooks are three vastly different men. How do you keep them all on the same page?

TAZ: A lot of yellin’. Makin’ them do the same exact trainin’s as each other so none of ‘em felt like I was bein’ unfair. It also helps that over time, they’ve kinda bonded amongst themselves. Always there for anything the others need, offerin’ advice. They’re like brothers now, which is a good thing… ‘til they all decide to mess with me.

RJ CITY: Seems that you do a great job of staying on top of things as a manager. When does your manager’s license expire?

TAZ: I actually just got it renewed a few weeks ago, so I’ve got a new lease on life. Nowadays, the licenses are good for like 10 years. Before, you had to get it done every year. Fonzie used to drive me up the friggin’ wall.

RJ CITY: Any plans on stepping back in the ring once managing is done?

TAZ: Haha, God no. Maybe if you plan on steppin’ back in the ring when interviewin’ is over.

RJ CITY: Oh no, my interviewing license is good through 2029.

TAZ: You’d have a good couple of weeks in you, I think.

RJ CITY: If you weren’t managing Hostho - -

TAZ: Team Taz!

RJ CITY: I feel like it’s growing on you. If you weren’t managing, what do you think you’d be doing?

TAZ: Interviewin’. It’s a pretty easy gig, I did it for a little bit back in the day. I’m most natural when I’m talkin’ to people.

RJ CITY: Oh, absolutely. I’m sure anybody with half a brain and Google could be an interviewer.

TAZ: Speakin’ from personal experience, I didn’t need Google.

RJ CITY: You made your in ring debut back in 1993. That’s thirty years ago. A lot of things have happened in the last thirty years. However, the Mets, Knicks and Jets have a combined zero championships in that time.

TAZ: Wait a second now…

RJ CITY: The Yankees, on the other hand, have - -

TAZ: Wait just a second! I know you didn’t call me to do this interview just so you could talk smack about the Mets, Knicks and Jets. Say you didn’t just do that. Who is your favorite team, huh?

RJ CITY: Oh, I just like hockey. You probably wouldn’t even know my favorite team.

TAZ: Bud, I think we’re about done here.

RJ CITY: Well, it’s been a pleasure having the leader of Hostho here today…

TAZ: …

RJ CITY: …that’s called ‘growth.’ Taz, I wish you and your group nothing but the best of luck in the future. Thank you for joining us and I look forward to watching Hostho continue to succeed in the EWA.

TAZ: …Team Taz.