Bob Armstrong Interview: Talks about his career, family in the business
On Tuesday, August 16, 2005 at 3:04 PM EST The following was transcribed by Betsy Byrd of wrestlingweekly.com:
"Bullet" Bob Armstrong talks to Doc Young and Les Thatcher about 40 years in the business, why he prefers working in the South, and the weight lifting accident that took off his nose:::
"Bullet" Bob Armstrong, the unstoppable 65-year-old pro wrestling legend, joined Wrestling Weekly hosts Doc Young and Les Thatcher August 14 to discuss what got him into pro wrestling 40 years ago, what he experienced during his lengthy career, and what keeps him going strong after all these years.
Les and Bob reminisced about working together in 1966 in Savannah, Georgia and what a "tremendous babyface" Bob was, according to Les. Bob described how as a boy his father took him to see Gorgeous George wrestle and witnessing the crowd's response to this flamboyant man throwing gold bobby pins into the crowd from his hair. He said it "fascinated" him and "I remember it like it was yesterday."
Les also asked him why he chose a wrestling career over his job at the time working for the Marietta Fire Department in Georgia. He said he started wrestling at the same time that he started at the fire department and after doing both for seven years, he said, "I chose wrestling because I love it the most," never regretted his choice.
He not only has had a successful wrestling career throughout the Southeast but has also sired four sons who followed in his footsteps. Brad, Scott, Steve, and B.G. James (a.k.a. "Road Dogg"), apparently were not frightened off by seeing Bob come home every night with stitches and broken bones. Admittedly, he and his wife were tough on the boys but he is very proud of the men they've become what they've accomplished in their lives.
When asked who he thought was the best in the wrestling business, he said he thought that although it was a hard question, he thinks Ric Flair takes top honors. "He has a suave way about him" but then added, "Of course, the Funk brothers were awfully good." He recalled when a wrestling show he was on with the Funks outdrew Elvis. He went on to add that Gene Kinisky was the "toughest."
However, Bob's success in the business stayed primarily in the South and Southeast. He spent a little time up North but found it hard to adjust to the cold and to the people. He said three weeks up North "was enough." He hated the snow and the people were different which led to his decision to not work with Northern feds including WWF. He said, "I just like it down here better."
Les asked him about his workout routine and he described how he works out four times a week, focusing on a couple of body parts per session. This may be how the nearly 66-year-old grappler can still work cards with his sons and be seriously considering not retiring until 70. In fact, he recently appeared on a card in the Birmingham, AL area with three of his sons, Brad, Scott, and B.G. James. And coming up, he is anticipating working in Philadelphia with Brad in a father/son tag team match against Don Muraco and his son.
Always keeping himself in shape, Les asked him about an accident he had in Huntington while working out doing pullovers in the gym. While lifting 180-200 lbs.. the bench he was using gave way, causing the weight to fall on his face. His son, Brad, "Pistol" Pez Whatley, and Ronnie Garvin went with him to the hospital where he eventually endured $38,000 of plastic surgery to repair his ruined face. He said the force of the weight took his nose completely off. Luckily, he found a surgeon at the Ohio Medical Center who was able to mend him. He jokingly added, "I won't tell you where they took the skin but I'll give you a kiss!"
Tune in Sunday, August 21 when Doc Young and Les Thatcher welcome Lance Storm and Jimmy Jacobs to Wresting Weekly.
Wrestling Weekly Radio featuring Doc and Les can be heard every Sunday from 6:00-8:00 pm EST at http://www.wrestlingweekly.com.