Teddy Long: Smackdown's Best GM! One-on-One With The Undertaker, Buckle Up Teddy & More!
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- čas přidán 13. 05. 2024
- Teddy Long is a WWE Hall of Famer known for his tenure as Smackdown and ECW General Manager and as a referee in WWE. Big thank you to Chris Hughes from Appalachian Championship Wrestling for helping to make this interview happen! Teddy sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Indianapolis, IN to talk about this legendary career as a WWE personality, his role as the Smackdown GM, his iconic lines like "One on one with The Undertaker", "Lemme holla at ya, playa" and being part of the "Buckle up Teddy" segment. He discusses how becoming friends with James Brown led to him working in wrestling, how he got hired by WWE, working as a referee before becoming an on-air personality, his dance moves, being chased by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin on an ATV and much more!
Check out Teddy Long’s podcast “Road Trip After Hours” here: / @roadtripafterhours
BLUECHEW: Use the code INSIGHT to get your first month of BlueChew for FREE at bluechew.com
00:00 Intro
00:35 What’s on his WWE Hall of Fame ring?
01:16 How he got his start as a pro wrestling referee
07:53 What did he want to do when he was a kid?
08:58 Working for the legendary James Brown
10:49 Managing The Undertaker at the beginning of his career
12:08 Having issues with John Laurinaitis
14:15 What was his relationship with Vince McMahon
15:40 Did he ever feel like he was one of the boys?
16:31 The origin of his using the word playa
17:14 When did he start doing his on-screen dance?
18:22 Adding emphasis to 1-on-1 with The Undertaker
20:58 How did he get his referee job in WWE
25:45 Being in the right place at the right time
26:58 Was he surprised about the John Laurinaitis lawsuits
28:47 Memories of Over the Edge 1999
30:59 Being the referee for D-lo Brown vs Droz
32:16 What does he hear in his earpiece as a ref
33:33 Does he think his career is over?
34:13 What’s the origin of ‘buckle up Teddy’
36:59 Being ok taking himself the but of the joke
38:37 Was there anything he ever said no to
39:18 Stone Cold chasing him with the ATV
40:14 What did it mean to him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame?
41:24 Why does he hate Mark Corrano?
43:27 His memories of working with Eddie Guerrero
45:38 Eddie Guerrero destroying his Lincoln
46:11 Why has wrestling become more popular again?
48:14 His thoughts on The Rock vs Cody Rhodes
50:01 Honesty is Teddy Long's superpower
50:23 How many suits does he own?
51:33 Prioritizing his health and staying in the gym
53:36 Did he think CM Punk was going to return to WWE?
54:22 Does he ever think he’ll be back in WWE?
56:18 Vince McMahon being stumped by him during a promo
01:00:28 3 things Teddy Long is grateful for
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Hit that subscribe button... or be prepared to go one-on-one with THE UNDERTAKER! 😱
More managers please Chris
I just did, cuz the last thing I want is to go one on one with the Undertaker 😂
Undertakkaaaa thank you
Since you're making the manager rounds! Chris buddy, you've got to get Jimmy cornette on the show, he will do it.
Now hold on just a minute, playa...
I know it's a meme, but Teddy probably understood the Undertaker character more than any other GM/boss in the WWE. He treated Taker like a force of nature, and would summon him anytime things got too out of hand to bring the WWE universe back into balance. Taker was the final boss of Smackdown when Teddy was GM. Teddy made Taker feel special.
You know I never really saw it that way but now it makes a ton of sense, it made Teddy seem distinctive and interesting from any other GM and at the same time added to Undertaker's already elusive allure
He managed "Mean mark callous"/undertaker back in the late 80s in WCW,they go wayyy back.
czcams.com/video/u46g0Y5_APw/video.htmlsi=00EEUbt16obDk8Cn
The Original Final Boss, Original Big Dog 💪🏼
For me it was Ultimate Warrior 😂
Best general manager of all time in WWE.
Teddy, Bishoff and Heyman are the GOATS
U will be facing THE UNDERTAKKKEERRRRRRRR
That gets a Holla Holla Holla!
FACTS PLAYA
Yes and it’s not even close
He single handedly made the blueprint for managing Smackdown
Yes Sir 🫡🙌🏾👍🏾💯
General Managers, period one of the greats
Hold on playa
1 on 1 with The Undertaker
It was great at SmackDown, the general manager
The fact he got his in through James Brown is insane. Teddy Long is an OG
Owwwwwwwwwwww☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾
He’s talented and does his job to the best!
Did you go one on one with THE UNDERTAKER!!
Chris got his ass whooped remember? I've just seen his grave yesterday...
Da Undatayka*
I met Teddy at an Applebee’s when I used to work there in high school. And he called me playa several times and then right when he was leaving I asked if he could give me an autograph and I still have it to this day and he wrote Playa on the autograph as well.
I've always loved Teddy, finding out he overcame heroin addiction made me respect him even more
Never knew that either
"First of all King Booker, this is NOT your kingdom!"
"Aw man"
Teddy so damn country 😭🤣 17:24 “ we was trynna learn’em how to walk” love it man
Teddy Long is in my opinion, The greatest General Manager of All Time. If you disagree you will go 1on1 with The Undertaker!
Or...a six man tag man 😂
Indeed
@@AudioGAWDhe use to love saying that shii 🤣💪🏻
Gotta put commissioner Foley right behind him
I could listen to Teddy talk for 10 hours. Reminds me of my grandfather
Facts
Maaaaan fr my grandpa used to dance and still the same way!🤣🙌🏻
Man, Teddy really survived the toxic WWE era by just no selling everything.
Teddy speaking so candidly about being friends with James Brown is such a smooth move lol. This man is a legend. What an interview!
Legit one of the best interviews.
Teddy went Katt Williams on some people 😂
I absolutely would’ve bought a Teddy Long WWE action figure. The fans have always loved him.
I always love how he came out of nowhere and told the wrestlers they having a match with the Undertaker 😂😂 their reactions always made me laugh 😂
Teddy is the absolute best!!
omg this is so true 🤣🤣🤣
CVV has just been dishing out BANGER after BANGER after BANGER after BANGER after BANGER interviews. Keep up the great work my man!
Burger after burger
Chris is Killin it
Lol I love the Burger 🍔 references
It feel like a new podcast
Listened to this on Spotify when it dropped. I didn't realize how much crap Teddy had to deal with, he's a badass
from junky to dj to referee to manager to gm to legend. amazing.
It might have only happened once or twice. But one of my favorite moments ever. Anytime something was going on in the ring and you heard "let me Holla at ya playa" out of nowhere and Teddy would come out.
Nothing better than waking up to a Chris video with one of the best general managers in the industry, what a way to start the day
Finally, the greatest Smackdown GM of all time is being acknowledged
My boy really said "we was tryna learn him how to walk"😂😂
That’s true old school 🤣💯
Respect
Yea that's was old school as hell. Remind me of my uncle, RIP
His early referee work is always overlooked! He was great to watch.
I agree! He was always one of my favorite referees, especially during the Crockett years.
I think WWE needs to have Nick Aldis take a few weeks "vacation" and have Teddy fill in for him. 😅
😂😂😂 we need a Ruthless aggression era game with Teddy as GM of Smackdown 😂😂
Go play smackdown vs raw 2006
@@maxwelltruesdalejr855I've lived SvR 06 😂 but it's nice to bring legendary managers along in the evolution of games
Teddy was awesome in my opinion.
Him and Eric Bischoff as GMs during the ruthless aggression era was my childhood fr. Best time
it was the perfect mix too with one brand having a mean evil heel gm and one having a good guy gm. It was super nicely balanced
@@marissavanhelsing7309 They're trying to do the same thing with Aldis & Pearce bit it's just not the same
I can not imagine how Teddy felt, having to work a Texas Death Match in his debut as a referee. What a unit, the man really could do it all. Awesome interview!
If you didn’t grow up watching him then I feel BAAAAAD for you, Ted was the man 🕺
One of my favorite segments of him is Vickie was about to crown Dolph as the new world champion after firing Edge, he comes back re-hires Edge, Edge beats him, then comes back out saying “oh and there’s one more thing, Dolph….YOU’RE FIRED!!!”
One of my best “YOU’RE FIRE” moments
AND FOR NOT DOING THE TEDDY LONG DANCE PLAYA, YOU GO ONE ON ONE WITH DA UNDATAKAAAA!!
He should have inducted the undertaker in the HOF since he started his career with Mean Mark... what a hell of a full circle moment
Dat boy Teddy Long will FOREVER be the OG of the WWE!
God I love this man’s honesty. One of the absolute best WWE personalities to ever do it. Him calling out Carrano for being a scumbag liar and Laurenitus for being a racist when nobody else has says a lot about this man’s integrity ❤
Teddy is a Triple OG. Glad to see him doing well.
Wish Teddy was still over one of the brands. The guys voice is so smooth, and you can tell he has a demeanor to him
16:43 I just found out why I have been calling people playa for years and forgot where I got it from lmao this interview is so goated chris thank you!
Holla holla holla playa!
😂🕺🏾🤣
Love Teddy Long best Smackdown GM ever hahaha.
Teddy needs to comeback & be Smackdown GM Teddy we need ya PLAYA!
Teddy been in the business so long he ain’t even unc no more, he’s great unc at this point 😂😂😂 great work as always Chris
What a great interviewer you are Chris, polite, respectful, kind, the questions you ask, broad, allow the interviewees to express themselves at length on that topic, on that story, and the way in which you ask them in the calm, relaxed tone of voice that uses almost always create a great atmosphere. Then the product in general is really good,production level is awesome with always perfect photography, the audio, if you can even go to their house, basically always in studios or in good locations at least. A hug from an Italian wrestling fan
James Brown needs to go in the Hall as far as I’m concerned. That’s wild!!
This is a really interesting interview!
Teddy has the best stories!
I’m from Birmingham Alabama in so is Teddy long himself in my Father grew up together …. My dad only great things to say abt Teddy !!! He’s definitely A Legend In WWE ……… 🫡🙌🏾☝🏾🔥💯
I understood what you wrote but help us out a little bit next time lol
He's the SD GM on the peak of me and my brothers watching wrestling. I don't know every WWE GM, but from back then til know he'll be at the top of my head when we're talking about the GOAT General Manager.
What a resume, work ethic and mind. Teddys name invokes so much nostalgia but also energy, he made every smack down feel like it was something special. Much love to Teddy Long !❤
This guy is the definition of a story teller. His podcast is really good too. Has some of the best stories in the business. All i want out of life now is to see the backstage footage of Vince doing Teddys dance
What a great story teller & voice he is, I hope he puts out a autobiography on Audible
Lol right it just wouldn't be the same unless he was doing the audio
Man this interview needs to be a few hours longer, Ted is an awesome storyteller.
Will always be my favorite gm lol He was pretty much the face of smackdown, so many memories of "youll go 1v1..with the UNDERTAKAAA"
Always adored Teddy. Seems like a sweetheart in real life too and a wise person as well. Always a good feeling when you realise that the people you like and admire on screen actually are good people behind the scenes as well.
We All Hu♏an.
I just want to give Teddy a big hug. He’s such a great person
Thank you for the best interviews! It makes my hour drive to work feel like 15 minutes.
I didn’t know he spoke like this. He’s a real playa playa
Nothing but love for Teddy Long❤
We're finally getting another Teddy Long action figure from Mattel (last one was in 2012 as someone in the comments reminded me), and it's a build a figure thing again where you need to buy 4 or 5 different ones from a special set in order to get all the parts. I'd have bought his figure on sight if we saw it in stores. So would lots of wrestling fans.
As would I, and that’s amazing they’re giving him his action figure! He’s a legend period
@@pri0r_t0_a_weekago...fukwi48 I might track down whichever baf comes with his head and swap it onto a suited body figure. The best would be that pink suit one, but again Mattel made that a baf thing so I'll have to settle for another.
Mattel did make a Teddy Long figure in 2012 which was also a build-a-figure. Jakks made a couple figures of him too.
@@shortinos You're right, I forgot about that older Mattel one. For some reason, I always thought that was a Jakks figure too probably because of the weirdly long suit jacket/short legs combo. I wonder how the royalties work for baf stuff.
I had a Teddy Long action figure as a kid lol.
This is one of my favorite interviews that you've done, CVV. I could listen to Teddy (and you) all day long 👍🏽. Thank you, gentlemen!
I’ve recently discovered you Chris Ang I’ve been hooked going back listening to interviews of wrestlers I have great memories of and now you got the man Teddy Long! Thank you for what you do🤘🏽
This has easily been one of the most enjoyable sits. I was hanging on every word and Chris seemed as enthralled as I was. Teddy has a way with speaking that really makes you want to listen.
I love how he’s always Teddy Long it’s not a character
Pretty sure you had a typo in the tittle Chris
It's clearly Undertaka!
I see what you did there.
Teddy is so kool. I wish they would bring him back to Smackdown. You will always do such awesome interviews Chris!
Fantastic interview as always. 👊
Chris And Teddy Such A Awesome Interview Today!!🔥🐐🐐💎
Teddy Long is just a National Treasure!! His Story, His journey, and everything this was probably one of my favorite interviews
Thank you! Chris Van Vilet
Thank you, Chris! For doing this interview. This is the interview I needed.
This interview was amazingly good. There are those who are just fantastic storytellers and Teddy Long is one of them.
Great interview. Teddy long just keeping real like nobody else. Keep up the work Chris. We need solid straight forward channels like yours. No gotcha moments or trying to catch a viral clip. Genuinely good dude. 😎
Greatest face GM of all time. He kept the heels in check and fed troublemakers to the final boss in Big Show or Undertaker when they needed to be taught a lesson. His “land of opportunity” angle was a fantastic way to elevate younger talent.
This was a first class interview with Teddy. I have watched him for years. From being a referee, to managing "Doom" and "The Skyscrapers." It's great to see how far he's come in the business. 👍
The fact that a referee was making more than Teddy Long, THE GM OF SMACKDOWN, is absolutely ridiculous.
What a humble, genuine person he is. I respect him so much and I love this interview!
What a surprisingly wonderful awesome interview. This is one of my favorites never would’ve guessed.
I learnt so much about Teddy in this interview, Chris never disappoints but this was something special.
Thank you for this, Chris! Teddy's always has been one of favorites. Just got done watching this while I'm at dialysis, and I am laughing my ass off! You and Teddy both blessed my day!
"It ain't real!" ECIII could learn a lot from Teddy Long. What a refreshing interview. Thanks CVV!
Great interview I wish you guys had more time
Loved Teddy's music and dancing, now playa great GM.
That whole interview is so good and Teddy is such a cool guy. Thank you for that wholesome hour Chris!
One of your best interviews. Totally loved it. Thanks.
This is one of my faves! Thanks Chris and Teddy
Really enjoying these videos. Chris can interview anyone and get the best out of them 👍
I am from India and watched the whole interview without knowing, Really Loved to Hear Teddy.
Thank you for sharing because I’m glad this came across my timeline
Such a great interview. Love Teddy. Miss him on WWE TV
I can literally listen to teddy’s stories all day long, such a wealth of knowledge and information
I love this interview
Best. Interview. Ever. I love me some Teddy Long. I watch him when I was in highschool tuning every Friday night for Smackdown. I know he had a career in other fields, but to me, he IS the Smackdown General Manager.
Great interview. I love wrestlers from bygone eras. When we called it Rasslin'!! Miss the good ol days.
I love teddy long. Every since he managed Doom. Thanks for this gem Chris
It's About Time That You Got Teddy Long!
Hola holla holla! This man is a national treasure. His laugh is awesome
Was really hoping we talked about his best work ever. The white boy challenge. The Deluxe Double Special White Boy Challenge was my personal favorite.
By far my favorite wrestling interview yet. Teddy is great
Absolute GOAT. I loved watching Teddy. To hear his stories, I could listen to him all day.
Never watched a full interview on this podcast but I got time today for Teddy
Teddy Long is a legend. Casually admitted he done Heroin. Love the honesty. My Dad is a big fan of James Brown in his 70's - gonna show him this video.
Definitely listening to his podcast in the future, he'a a treasure trove of insight.
BEST INTERVIEW IN THE BUSINESS. FULL OF KNOWLEDGE AND STORIES FROM MULTIPLE ERAS OF WRESTLING.
Great interview.. Teddy Long is classic