[Editor's Note: This interview with Bill DeMott was conducted shortly before WCW folded ... in fact, we were restricted from asking questions about the sale of WCW and Eric Bischoff. Another side note ... this interview was conducted shortly before the "fake" Hugh Morrus interview ran amok online. DeMott's website would vanish shortly thereafter.]

Pinfalls: How old were you when you started wrestling and who were your influences?

DeMott: I WAS 24 YEARS OLD WHEN I STARTED TRAINING WITH JOHNNY RODZ IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Pinfalls: When you came to WCW, you dropped "Crash the Terminator" and became "Hugh Morrus." How did the character of Hugh originate?

DeMott: WHEN I CAME TO WCW, I WRESTLED MY FIRST DARK MATCH AS "CRASH" BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT TWO GUYS (STING /ME) WITH PAINT WAS TOO MUCH--AND THE FACT THAT AT THE TIME BRYAN ADAMS WAS "CRUSH" WITH VINCE WAS TOO MUCH AS WELL.

Pinfalls: If you could compile a list of 3 favorite opponents, who would they be?

DeMott: MY 3 FAVORITE OPPONENTS--IN NO CERTAIN ORDER WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN a) LANCE STORM, b) RANDY SAVAGE and c) TNT [aka Savio Vega] IN PUERTO RICO.

Pinfalls: Wrestling has obviously changed over the past few years with an emphasis on (sometimes adult oriented) story lines over wrestling. How do you personally view these changes?

DeMott: I THINK EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT THE BUSINESS IS ALWAYS CHANGING. I NEVER REALLY BOTHERED TO LOOK REAL CLOSE AT THE CHANGES UNTIL I BECAME A DAD AND REALIZED IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REGULATE WHAT MY KIDS WATCHED AND HOW OTHER PARENTS WOULD FEEL ABOUT WHAT WE DO. AS FAR AS THE BUSINESS--WE HAVE CHANGED JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS ON TV. SOAP OPERAS, MOVIES AND PRIME TIME TV. IT ALWAYS NEEDS SOMETHING NEW TO GRAB THE PEOPLES ATTENTION. AND IF IT WAS THAT BAD IT WOULDN'T BE GETTING THE RATINGS IT IS GETTING.

Pinfalls: On those same lines, while once protected, the veil of secrecy over the industry has been completely lifted. Which do you prefer--a protected or unprotected business.

DeMott: I DON'T REALLY CARE FOR ALL THIS INTERNET STUFF. I LIKED IT A lOT BETTER WHEN THE FANS HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT. I THINK THE PEOPLE ARE MORE INTERESTED IN KEEPING THE BOYS GUESSING MORE THAN THE PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO PROMOTE AND GET CERTAIN THINGS OUT THERE BUT, I PREFER THE WAY IT USED TO BE!

Pinfalls: On several occasions, Internet rumors have had you leaving WCW ... did any of these rumors portray the truth?

DeMott: YES! THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RUMORS ABOUT MY DEPARTURE FROM WCW. THERE WAS ONLY ONE TIME IN MY SIX YEARS WHERE I DID WANT TO LEAVE, BACK IN 98-99. I HAVE BEEN WITH WCW FOR GOING ON SIX YEARS NOW AND WOULD LIKE TO STAY AS LONG AS THEY FEEL I AM USEFULL AND CAN HELP THE COMPANY.

Pinfalls: Following the same theme, what was the strangest Internet report regarding yourself that you ever read?

DeMott: I THINK THE STRANGEST THING I HAVE READ ABOUT MYSELF WAS THAT I WAS THE GUY DRIVING PRINCESS DIANA'S LIMO!

Pinfalls: Who do you prefer portraying more--The General or Hugh?

DeMott: I DON'T REALLY HAVE A PREFERENCE AS TO WHETHER I AM RECTION OR MORRUS. TO ME THEY ARE THE SAME PERSON. I HAVE BOTH OF THOSE GUYS ON MY MIND EVERY DAY. AND JUDGING BY WHAT THE FANS WANT--THAT'S WHO THEY GET. I KNOW THAT WHEN THE FANS WANT THAT "GUNG HO" BABY FACE THAT RECTION WILL BE THERE. AND WHEN THEY WANT THAT "CRAZY FUN LOVING MENTAL CASE" MORRUS IS READY.

Pinfalls: With the question marks on Hugh's tights and his manical laugh (reminscent of Batman's The Riddler), were you ever a comic fan?

DeMott: I AM A HUGE FAN OF BATMAN AND THE OLDER COMICS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE LAUGH CAME ABOUT. EVERYONE THINKS IT IS SOMETHING I WORK ON BUT I DON'T. IF YOU KNOW ME THAT'S THE WAY I AM 90% OF THE TIME. PLUS, IT'S COOL BEING PUT IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS FRANK GORSHIN (THE RIDDLER).

Pinfalls: In all your years in the ring, what was the weirdest incident you've ever seen?

DeMott: THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY THING THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN MY 11 YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS. I THINK THE THING THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME STEP BACK IS WHEN A FAN TRIES TO GET INVOLVED AND THEN CATCHES A BEATING, REALIZING THAT IT IS ALL NOT JUST ENTERTAINMENT!

Pinfalls: Your moonsault is one of the best--if not the best--in the business. What made you pick this move for your finisher and how long have you been using it?

DeMott: NO NO NO ! I DO NOT THINK "MY MOONSAULT" IS THE BEST--WELL MAYBE. I HAVE BEEN USING THAT FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS NOW. I WAS TAUGHT THAT MOVE BY SOME GOOD FRIENDS ONE OF WHICH IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES WITH US NOW, RICKY SANTANA. I WAS TAUGHT THAT IN A SWIMMING POOL IN PUERTO RICO. I WAS REALLY HONORED TO HAVE GONE MOONSAULT FOR MOONSAULT WITH MUTA DURING A TRIP TO JAPAN!

Pinfalls: The angle involving your "Crazy Pop" lasted one week then re-emerged during the MIA for yet another week or so and vanished again. What were your views on this angle and why didn't it stick?

DeMott: THAT WHOLE POP THING WAS BROUGHT IN FOR HUGH MORRUS RIGHT BEFORE I BECAME THE GENERAL. THEN HE WAS BROUGHT BACK. IT WAS KIND OF HARD WORKING WITH SOME ONE WHO WAS A TRAINED ACTOR AND HAS HIS OWN AGENDA.

Pinfalls: You had a great match with Vampiro at Pillman 2000. Overall what were your feelings on the 2000 show and are there any plans for you to attend The Pillman Memorial Show this year?

DeMott: I ENJOYED WORKING WITH VAMP. AT THE PILLMAN. I AM GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW BENOIT AND REGAL! THAT WAS A GREAT HONOR AND I GOT TO SEE MY FRIENDS WHOM I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO SEEE IN A WHILE (THE RADICALS). I HOPE TO BE BACK THIS YEAR. ITS GREAT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THE BOYS DO FOR ONE OF OUR OWN.

Pinfalls: Have there ever been any angles or gimmicks that you have personally felt were out of line or too controversial?

DeMott: I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THERE WERE ANY ANGLES THAT FAR OUT THERE--BUT LOOK WHO YOU ARE ASKING!

Pinfalls: When you watch wrestling, be it WCW, WWF or ECW, who do you personally enjoy watching?

DeMott: I TRULY ENJOY WATCHING THE CRUISERWEIGHTS IN ANY OF THE THREE COMPANIES. I LOVE TO WATCH MY BUDDIES WORK. I DON'T LIKE WATCHING TOO MUCH OF MY STUFF BECAUSE I AM MY OWN WORST CRITIC.

Pinfalls: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in the sport?

DeMott: MY BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT (IN MY EYES) IS COMING BACK FROM THE INJURIES I HAVE SUFFERED FROM IN THE PAST. BRAIN DAMAGE IS NOTHING TO TAKE LIGHTLY BUT IT WASN'T TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE. BEING HONORED BY ALL MY PEERS IN IRVINE, CALIFORNIA IS BY FAR THE HIGH LITE OF MY CAREER.

Pinfalls: One of the most criticised moves of recent memory was David Arquette winning the WCWworld title. What was your view of this controversial decision?

DeMott: HEY--I THOUGHT WOW! IF DAVID ARQUETTE COULD BE CHAMP I STILL HAD A SHOT!

Pinfalls: 10 years from now, where do you see the general state of the industry (The "Big Two" and the Indies) and what will the position of Hugh Morrus be?

DeMott: I WISH I COULD SEE AHEAD TO WHAT THE NEXT TEN YEARS HOLDS FOR THE BUSINESS AND HUGH. I BELIEVE THAT THE TABLES ARE TURNING AGAIN IN THE BUSINESS AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE HUGH IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. GOD WILLING!

Pinfalls: Pick a wrestler from any era that you personally feel would be your own dream match (i.e. someone you;ve never wrestled or never had the opportunity to wrestle?)

DeMott: I HAVE BEEN THINKING AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE I WOULD LIKE TO MIX IT UP WITH THAT I HAVENT WITH ALREADY. ALTHOUGH--UNDERTAKER AND HHH COME TO MIND. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED ENOUGH TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES THIS BUSINESS HAS EVER SEEN ... HOGAN, FLAIR, SAVAGE, STING, CACTUS JACK, ARN, THE LIST COULD GO ON A WHILE.

Pinfalls: Outside the ring, who is the most dangerous man in wrestling?

DeMott: I THINK IT WOULD BE HONEST TO SAY THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN OUTSIDE A WRESTLING RING WOULD BE THE GUY WHO BELIEVES HIS OWN HYPE! BESIDES THAT, I WOULDN'T SUGGEST CROSSING ANY OF THOSE ISLAND BOYS!

Pinfalls: Did M.I.A. end as planned or was a longer tenure in store?

DeMott: NO! THE MISFITS DID NOT GO FULL CIRCLE AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST OF THE GROUP. WE PROVED WE WERE A STRONG GROUP ON AND OFF CAMERA. AND YOU NEED THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP AND COMRADERY.

Pinfalls: The removal of Van Hammer and the admission of The Wall into M.I.A. seemed like an impromptu move and a radical role change for his character. Whose idea was that?

DeMott: THE FACT THAT WE HAD "LOST" HAMMER WAS A SUDDEN THING. WHEN WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHO TO REPLACE HIM IT SEEMED A NATURAL TO GET ONE OF THE BEST BIG MEN AROUND. SOME ONE WHO WAS LIKE US--A MISFIT! I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT THE FOUR OF US WOULD BECOME FAN FAVORITES.

Pinfalls: How do you view the mass release of WCW's women, in particular Major Gunns?

DeMott: I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET IN TO TOO MUCH ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THE WOMEN--ALL I CAN SAY IS "DON'T BLAME ME--BLAME CANADA!"

Pinfalls: A lot has been made of many wrestlers in unhappy locker-rooms--mostly due to problems with booking (who is pushed and who is not). In simple terms, speaking for yourself and for your colleges, let's pretend we live in an ideal world. What can a promoter do to satisfy a performer and likewise, what can an earnest grappler do to earn the promoter's respect.

DeMott: I WISH WE WERE LIVING IN A PERFECT WORLD. THEN I WOULD BE "CRUISER WEIGHT CHAMP!" AS FAR AS THE QUESTION, THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME ONE OR A GROUP OF GUYS WHO ARE NOT COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH HIS "PUSH," THAT'S THE NATURE OF THIS JOB. THE MINUTE YOU ARE HAPPY YOU ARE DONE. I DON'T KNOW ANY ONE PAST PRESENT OR FUTURE WHO CAN SAY THEY ARE/WERE HAPPY WITH THEIR PUSH. EXCEPT ME!!!!!!! RESPECT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET A JOB. MOST OF THE TIME WRESTLING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WRESTLING!

Pinfalls: When you're not watching wrestling, what are you watching?

DeMott: WHEN I AM NOT WATCHING WRESTLING (WHICH I RARELY DO) I AM WATCHING MOVIES WITH MY TWO LOVELY DAUGHTERS, OR CATCHING UP ON MY DREW CAREY!

Pinfalls: And finally, what's the most frequently asked question posed by fans and if you could answer it one last time and never have to answer it again, what would that question be?

DeMott: THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL ANSWER THIS QUESTION. YES! IT IS AS REAL AS ANYTHING ELSE YOU OR ANY ONE ELSE DOES FOR A LIVING. WE GET HURT. WE SEE DOCTORS AND WE BLEED JUST LIKE THE "NORMAL" PEOPLE. AND WE DO IT 5-7 DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR JOB AND WE LOVE TO GIVE YOU GUYS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY "THANK YOU" TO ALL THOSE FANS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME IN THE PAST AND NOW. YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY HELPED KEEP ME GOING. EXPECT TO SEE A LOT MORE FROM THE LAUGHING MAN! GOD BLESS! HUGH