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MMANews.com correspondent Michael Moody caught up with UFC Hall Of Famer and former WWE Superstar “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock at a recent Bellator media event in San Diego, California. Below is a full transcript of the interview, which you can watch in full via the video above.
On working as a bodyguard for rapper/actor 50 Cent:
“It went crazy while I was there, but really I was there because I was brought in for a special job. 50 Cent did not bring me in, I was working for 50 Cent for the company that was putting on the show. Because 50 Cent had an issue with [Floyd] Mayweather and they felt like there might be some complications there because Mayweather was gonna have a booth there. And so we were brought in separately from what 50 Cent already had as security. So we were working the perimeters [and] his guy was right on him, as the bodyguard and we were working the perimeter of the store. We would walk him in and out and walk with him and basically worked protection for him but we weren’t hired by his staff. And then when this blew up people were like, ‘oh you worked for 50 Cent and this and that,’ and we were, but we weren’t hired by him. So, it’s kind of funny how that blew up, but it was privelage. I met him, he’s a good guy. I mean, I hear everything about him, but to me he was respectful. I didn’t have any problems with him. I’m sure he didn’t appreciate people running around saying I was his bodyguard. Obviously that’s not how I wanted it to happen but you know, people will say and do what they want to do. I was there as a bodyguard for 50 Cent, but we were not hired by him. So I just wanted to clear that up, but it was a good time, he’s not a bad guy and I really enjoyed him and being around him and everybody that was around him was very respectful and good people.”
On his current relationship with Dana White:
“As far as I know we’re good. I’ve reached out to him several times and tried to get involved with them, but I know they’re really busy and they’ve got other things going on, so I respect that. They have their direction that they’re going and I’m not a part of that direction — which is fine — I’ve got no problem with that. They’re busy, they’re doing very good for themselves and they don’t need me, which is fine. So, I know Scott Coker reached out to me and said he had something he would like me to get involved with, with Bellator and I was already supporting Tito [Ortiz] on his fight. I was going to be here anyways because I wanna see him win. I’d like to see him get his revenge. So, when I realized what Scott had done, I was like, ‘man, that’s just genius!’ I mean, he’s reached out to Royce Gracie, he’s reached out to Randy Couture. I mean, obviously Tito’s here and he’s a big-time legend who really did a lot for the sport. I just see so many legends here, so many guys here that Scott Coker reached out to and said, ‘hey, we would love for you to be a part of this.’ And I thought to myself, why is it taking so long for legends — for guys who helped build the sport — who put their blood, sweat and tears in the ring and all the fans that supported them, how come they haven’t been a part of trying to support these young fighters coming up? Bringing them in and doing interviews and making them a part of this party that these young fighters are starting to fight in and giving support for them because we’ve already been there and done that and we have an insight on what’s happening. You know? Even breaking down fighters’ experiences [like] ‘one guy has this, one guy has that.’ Because we have the education for that, but it just seems like Scott is the only one that has really said, you know what? These guys are all sitting out there and UFC is not using them, nobody else is using them — I’ll use them, and once he did that, I don’t think there’s a doubt in anybody’s mind that what this has been up to this point has been a buzz! It has been a buzz! Social media has gone through the roof because I was under the roof of the same signing places as Royce Gracie. Me and Tito will bury the hatchet and I’m supporting Tito. I mean, all it was is because Scott reached out and said let’s bring in some of these legends who helped build the sport and now you see this huge social media boost for what’s going on with Bellator. Why has it taken this long to do that?! I mean, we’ve definitely earned the right to be a part of this.”
On whether or not he will ever fight again:
“Well, I’ll never say — I’ve said this many times: I just don’t like to say the word ‘retirement.’ It’s not something I like to use, although that’s not to say I haven’t slipped at times, but I just don’t like it because the way I grew up was that the only reason why I’m standing here today was because I didn’t have the word ‘quit’ in me. I didn’t have the word ‘like I’m done’ in me and the reason why I was successful in a lot of fights was because I didn’t have that in me either. I’ll never give up, and for me to say those words — and it’s not that way for everybody — it’s just because of the way I was brought up that I’ll never say that I’m done. Not until I’m dead, because there’s always an opportunity somewhere and if the opportunity is the right one, then, you know, who knows? But again, like I said, I’m never going to take away them options for myself.”
On if the rumors are true that he would like to return for another run in WWE:
“Well, of course I want to get back. There’s unfinished business there. I really felt like I earned a lot in getting a program to run for the WWF title. I believe that The Rock went ahead of me and we had great matches for the Intercontinental title and he went from that up to challenge for the WWF title and ended up getting it. I really believed I was next in line. I did everything I needed to do. We had the fan base, we had the following, the people expected it and then it was just cut off. So, it was unfinished business. So, when people ask me, ‘hey, do you wanna go back there?’ I say, ‘absolutely, I would love to go back because I felt like it would be great to be able to get a run at that again.’ But, for whatever reason, and I’ve asked — is there a reason why you’ve brought other people back and why I have not been brought back, and if there is a reason, can you at least tell me so I can walk away and understand why, because I really feel like I earned that right. And well, I’ve heard nothing. Nobody said anything to me, so it is what it is, man. Just gotta move forward.”
On what his relationship with Vince McMahon was like:
“It was rough at times, you know? Vince is a businessman and there were times where I felt like I was missing my family and I was spending a lot of time on the road. I ended up getting a divorce and I was trying to save it and Vince didn’t want the idea that I wanted out of my contract. Because I really felt my family was suffering, so I ended up being able to go. Vince let me out of my contract to be able to go home, but I don’t know if that’s the reason and if it is, there should be an understanding, man — I had to save my family. So, if that’s the reason — and I don’t know — that’s why I’m saying, I just wanna know what the reason is and why they’ve brought other people back who didn’t have the success that I did, yet those guys are coming back and I don’t have an excuse why. Maybe they won’t give me one and if that’s the case, I’m okay with that, too.”
On if he feels he’ll ever be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame:
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna happen [laughs]. Like I said, there’s a reason why they’re not talking to me. There’s something there and I believe it starts with Hunter. I believe there’s an issue there somewhere and if that’s the case, I believe being in the WWE Hall Of Fame is not going to happen [laughs].”
On issues he’s had with Triple H in the past:
“The only thing I know is when he came back, Vince …he had to do jobs and I was one of the guys that he had to put over. And I was young, coming in, and I know he didn’t like it. So, I tried to make him feel like, ‘hey listen, I know I’m young here and I appreciate you doing this for me,’ but he had an ego about it and an attitude about it. So, I was like, ‘there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m being told what to do also.’ And then, you know, he treated some people …well, I’m not gonna get into details, but he was ribbing somebody pretty hard and I ended up stepping in and telling him, you know, ‘that’s not cool.’ So, I don’t know if these are the reasons, and I don’t know because no one will tell me. It may even be with Vince, I don’t know because I got out of my contract. I don’t know the reasons, but I know there’s two of them that can be there. One of them is because I got out of my contract and the other could be because Hunter’s running the business now and we didn’t get along so well, at least I don’t think. I thought I was okay, but, you know, for me, anytime you put personal things in the way of business, you’re not going to be successful. You need to put the personal things aside and think about business and think about what the fans want.”
On the possibility of working for TNA:
“Oh absolutely, like I said, I’m open to doing things. I like to say I’m a free agent. I love entertainment — always have, and I’m always open to discussions. I’m not gonna go somewhere just to go there though. It’s gotta make sense to me.”
On the emotional documentary about his brother Frank Shamrock that he was a part of:
“I thought it was very good. It was very real. I thought my brother stepped out and really exposed himself to his ups and downs in his life. I really appreciated that. I did. I think he took a big chance on that and I think he got what he needed out of that. He got some closure and I’m happy for him. I was really happy to be a part of it. When I first started and heard about it, I was a little bit concerned because we weren’t seen in a good light, you know? We both weren’t really that happy with each other [because of'] things he had done to my dad and I’m sure he feels bad. Well, I know he feels bad about it now, but we were gonna let them things go and I’m very happy with the way that it turned out.”
On if the ship has sailed on the long-rumored and much hyped Shamrock vs. Shamrock fight with he and Frank:
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. We’re at a different place and a different time now. We’ve kind of buried that hatchet and that’s not gonna happen. If you see us together, it’ll be in a business venture.”
On where he feels the sport of MMA will be at five years from now:
“Well, I’ll tell you right now I’m very excited that I can actually say this, but, I’ve always thought the next step for MMA and for it to be successful would be to have somebody to be able to compete with the UFC, and I’m not saying that in a bad way, because I think that’s good for MMA. I think it adds excitement for fans to be able to compare one organization against the other, and then it also adds the excitement of fighters being able to have an opportunity to negotiate prices for themselves and not have to be stuck on what someone gives you and if you don’t feel it’s fair, you have no negotiating power. You take it or you leave it. I think that this right here, even the UFC should see this as being a very, very good thing for MMA because it’s gonna spike ratings for everybody.”
On rumors that Floyd Mayweather is going to promote MMA events and offer big money to the fighters:
“Well, you know, anybody can try to come in here and offer big money. We’ve seen it happen before where people start throwing money around, you know, Affliction comes to mind. Where you see money thrown around, but the bottom line is this: you either have a good business plan or you don’t have a good business plan, and you got to be smart in MMA because I’ve seen it swallow up many billionaires. Guys that come in and say, ‘I got money and we can build this,’ and the next thing you know, they’re bankrupt. This business is a different monster and you have to have the right personality and the right business plan to make it work. So, if he steps into it — he can’t just step in here and think he can throw money at them, because it’ll just eat his money up.”
For more on Ken Shamrock, follow him on Twitter @ShamrockKen. For more on Bellator, visit their official website at Bellator.com.
On working as a bodyguard for rapper/actor 50 Cent:
“It went crazy while I was there, but really I was there because I was brought in for a special job. 50 Cent did not bring me in, I was working for 50 Cent for the company that was putting on the show. Because 50 Cent had an issue with [Floyd] Mayweather and they felt like there might be some complications there because Mayweather was gonna have a booth there. And so we were brought in separately from what 50 Cent already had as security. So we were working the perimeters [and] his guy was right on him, as the bodyguard and we were working the perimeter of the store. We would walk him in and out and walk with him and basically worked protection for him but we weren’t hired by his staff. And then when this blew up people were like, ‘oh you worked for 50 Cent and this and that,’ and we were, but we weren’t hired by him. So, it’s kind of funny how that blew up, but it was privelage. I met him, he’s a good guy. I mean, I hear everything about him, but to me he was respectful. I didn’t have any problems with him. I’m sure he didn’t appreciate people running around saying I was his bodyguard. Obviously that’s not how I wanted it to happen but you know, people will say and do what they want to do. I was there as a bodyguard for 50 Cent, but we were not hired by him. So I just wanted to clear that up, but it was a good time, he’s not a bad guy and I really enjoyed him and being around him and everybody that was around him was very respectful and good people.”
On his current relationship with Dana White:
“As far as I know we’re good. I’ve reached out to him several times and tried to get involved with them, but I know they’re really busy and they’ve got other things going on, so I respect that. They have their direction that they’re going and I’m not a part of that direction — which is fine — I’ve got no problem with that. They’re busy, they’re doing very good for themselves and they don’t need me, which is fine. So, I know Scott Coker reached out to me and said he had something he would like me to get involved with, with Bellator and I was already supporting Tito [Ortiz] on his fight. I was going to be here anyways because I wanna see him win. I’d like to see him get his revenge. So, when I realized what Scott had done, I was like, ‘man, that’s just genius!’ I mean, he’s reached out to Royce Gracie, he’s reached out to Randy Couture. I mean, obviously Tito’s here and he’s a big-time legend who really did a lot for the sport. I just see so many legends here, so many guys here that Scott Coker reached out to and said, ‘hey, we would love for you to be a part of this.’ And I thought to myself, why is it taking so long for legends — for guys who helped build the sport — who put their blood, sweat and tears in the ring and all the fans that supported them, how come they haven’t been a part of trying to support these young fighters coming up? Bringing them in and doing interviews and making them a part of this party that these young fighters are starting to fight in and giving support for them because we’ve already been there and done that and we have an insight on what’s happening. You know? Even breaking down fighters’ experiences [like] ‘one guy has this, one guy has that.’ Because we have the education for that, but it just seems like Scott is the only one that has really said, you know what? These guys are all sitting out there and UFC is not using them, nobody else is using them — I’ll use them, and once he did that, I don’t think there’s a doubt in anybody’s mind that what this has been up to this point has been a buzz! It has been a buzz! Social media has gone through the roof because I was under the roof of the same signing places as Royce Gracie. Me and Tito will bury the hatchet and I’m supporting Tito. I mean, all it was is because Scott reached out and said let’s bring in some of these legends who helped build the sport and now you see this huge social media boost for what’s going on with Bellator. Why has it taken this long to do that?! I mean, we’ve definitely earned the right to be a part of this.”
On whether or not he will ever fight again:
“Well, I’ll never say — I’ve said this many times: I just don’t like to say the word ‘retirement.’ It’s not something I like to use, although that’s not to say I haven’t slipped at times, but I just don’t like it because the way I grew up was that the only reason why I’m standing here today was because I didn’t have the word ‘quit’ in me. I didn’t have the word ‘like I’m done’ in me and the reason why I was successful in a lot of fights was because I didn’t have that in me either. I’ll never give up, and for me to say those words — and it’s not that way for everybody — it’s just because of the way I was brought up that I’ll never say that I’m done. Not until I’m dead, because there’s always an opportunity somewhere and if the opportunity is the right one, then, you know, who knows? But again, like I said, I’m never going to take away them options for myself.”
On if the rumors are true that he would like to return for another run in WWE:
“Well, of course I want to get back. There’s unfinished business there. I really felt like I earned a lot in getting a program to run for the WWF title. I believe that The Rock went ahead of me and we had great matches for the Intercontinental title and he went from that up to challenge for the WWF title and ended up getting it. I really believed I was next in line. I did everything I needed to do. We had the fan base, we had the following, the people expected it and then it was just cut off. So, it was unfinished business. So, when people ask me, ‘hey, do you wanna go back there?’ I say, ‘absolutely, I would love to go back because I felt like it would be great to be able to get a run at that again.’ But, for whatever reason, and I’ve asked — is there a reason why you’ve brought other people back and why I have not been brought back, and if there is a reason, can you at least tell me so I can walk away and understand why, because I really feel like I earned that right. And well, I’ve heard nothing. Nobody said anything to me, so it is what it is, man. Just gotta move forward.”
On what his relationship with Vince McMahon was like:
“It was rough at times, you know? Vince is a businessman and there were times where I felt like I was missing my family and I was spending a lot of time on the road. I ended up getting a divorce and I was trying to save it and Vince didn’t want the idea that I wanted out of my contract. Because I really felt my family was suffering, so I ended up being able to go. Vince let me out of my contract to be able to go home, but I don’t know if that’s the reason and if it is, there should be an understanding, man — I had to save my family. So, if that’s the reason — and I don’t know — that’s why I’m saying, I just wanna know what the reason is and why they’ve brought other people back who didn’t have the success that I did, yet those guys are coming back and I don’t have an excuse why. Maybe they won’t give me one and if that’s the case, I’m okay with that, too.”
On if he feels he’ll ever be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame:
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna happen [laughs]. Like I said, there’s a reason why they’re not talking to me. There’s something there and I believe it starts with Hunter. I believe there’s an issue there somewhere and if that’s the case, I believe being in the WWE Hall Of Fame is not going to happen [laughs].”
On issues he’s had with Triple H in the past:
“The only thing I know is when he came back, Vince …he had to do jobs and I was one of the guys that he had to put over. And I was young, coming in, and I know he didn’t like it. So, I tried to make him feel like, ‘hey listen, I know I’m young here and I appreciate you doing this for me,’ but he had an ego about it and an attitude about it. So, I was like, ‘there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m being told what to do also.’ And then, you know, he treated some people …well, I’m not gonna get into details, but he was ribbing somebody pretty hard and I ended up stepping in and telling him, you know, ‘that’s not cool.’ So, I don’t know if these are the reasons, and I don’t know because no one will tell me. It may even be with Vince, I don’t know because I got out of my contract. I don’t know the reasons, but I know there’s two of them that can be there. One of them is because I got out of my contract and the other could be because Hunter’s running the business now and we didn’t get along so well, at least I don’t think. I thought I was okay, but, you know, for me, anytime you put personal things in the way of business, you’re not going to be successful. You need to put the personal things aside and think about business and think about what the fans want.”
On the possibility of working for TNA:
“Oh absolutely, like I said, I’m open to doing things. I like to say I’m a free agent. I love entertainment — always have, and I’m always open to discussions. I’m not gonna go somewhere just to go there though. It’s gotta make sense to me.”
On the emotional documentary about his brother Frank Shamrock that he was a part of:
“I thought it was very good. It was very real. I thought my brother stepped out and really exposed himself to his ups and downs in his life. I really appreciated that. I did. I think he took a big chance on that and I think he got what he needed out of that. He got some closure and I’m happy for him. I was really happy to be a part of it. When I first started and heard about it, I was a little bit concerned because we weren’t seen in a good light, you know? We both weren’t really that happy with each other [because of'] things he had done to my dad and I’m sure he feels bad. Well, I know he feels bad about it now, but we were gonna let them things go and I’m very happy with the way that it turned out.”
On if the ship has sailed on the long-rumored and much hyped Shamrock vs. Shamrock fight with he and Frank:
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. We’re at a different place and a different time now. We’ve kind of buried that hatchet and that’s not gonna happen. If you see us together, it’ll be in a business venture.”
On where he feels the sport of MMA will be at five years from now:
“Well, I’ll tell you right now I’m very excited that I can actually say this, but, I’ve always thought the next step for MMA and for it to be successful would be to have somebody to be able to compete with the UFC, and I’m not saying that in a bad way, because I think that’s good for MMA. I think it adds excitement for fans to be able to compare one organization against the other, and then it also adds the excitement of fighters being able to have an opportunity to negotiate prices for themselves and not have to be stuck on what someone gives you and if you don’t feel it’s fair, you have no negotiating power. You take it or you leave it. I think that this right here, even the UFC should see this as being a very, very good thing for MMA because it’s gonna spike ratings for everybody.”
On rumors that Floyd Mayweather is going to promote MMA events and offer big money to the fighters:
“Well, you know, anybody can try to come in here and offer big money. We’ve seen it happen before where people start throwing money around, you know, Affliction comes to mind. Where you see money thrown around, but the bottom line is this: you either have a good business plan or you don’t have a good business plan, and you got to be smart in MMA because I’ve seen it swallow up many billionaires. Guys that come in and say, ‘I got money and we can build this,’ and the next thing you know, they’re bankrupt. This business is a different monster and you have to have the right personality and the right business plan to make it work. So, if he steps into it — he can’t just step in here and think he can throw money at them, because it’ll just eat his money up.”
For more on Ken Shamrock, follow him on Twitter @ShamrockKen. For more on Bellator, visit their official website at Bellator.com.
