What We’ve Learned In Conversation With…Crowbar
Wrestlebuddy’s Andy and myself (Griffin) recently had the honor to interview Chris “Crowbar” Ford. Best known for his time in WCW’s Hardcore title picture in 2000, he has also worked for ECW, WWF, TNA and ROH. In our discussion, we learned a lot about the star’s time in the wrestling business as well as some news-worthy information.
You can watch the whole interview in full on YouTube here:
Crowbar Attributes His Early Success to Mike Sharpe and Tracy Smothers
Crowbar spoke about his wrestling trainer, “Iron” Mike Sharpe, with fondness as the guy who started his career. He states: “Mike was a guy guy – super nice, very OCD, all those stories are 100% true”, this last part is in reference to the WWF enhancement talent’s apparent obsession for cleanliness. He continues that Mike always trained in his ring gear, which Crowbar says is odd in hindsight but as a 17-year-old kid at the time “it seemed perfectly normal.”
As for his include, Ford says: “I learned a lot of the basics at Mike Sharpe’s” and also mentions how he was taught elsewhere and performing in front of an audience aided his learning. When asked about his competing in 1994’s NWA World title tournament (the one after Shane Douglas’s historic throwdown), he credits Tracy Smothers work. Losing to him in the quarter-finals, Crowbar says, he was “nervous as Hell” and “honored” to compete against the “Young Pistol” Smothers. He continues, saying it “helped launch my career” and that Tracy “treated me so well in that match for a new, green kid that knew nothing and I was always super grateful to him for that.”
The WWF Had Little Interest In Him
Although not too well-documented, Ford had a number of WWF bouts in 1997 and 1998. A number of these were dark matches with tag partner Ace Darling. Likely his biggest match was a Light Heavyweight tournament quarter-final loss to eventual inaugural champion Taka Michinoku.
Crowbar recalled, “It was at that time, ‘we need wrestlers now’. WCW was killing it with their light heavyweights.” He says there was no long-term ideas for him and that he was brought in by Jim Cornette. “Cornette brought me in for that, I had a few matches there…WWE had no on-the-road trainer and I was also full-time in physical therapy so it was discussed back-and-forth for a while with Jim Ross about, potentially, after I graduated going on the road with them – being an opening match light heavyweight guy and then after that being the on-the-road physical therapist but that never materialized”.
After being released by WCW (not staying on a Time Warner contract) only weeks prior to closure, I asked whether WWE were interested in bringing him in. He remarked “it simply didn’t happen.” He says he was “bummed out” but says in hindsight it was “a blessing in disguise”.
He Appreciates Both Russo & Bischoff
Crowbar detailed how both Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo aided his career.
He says he’ll “always be eternally grateful to Bischoff as he gave me my first job.” Whilst he also states he will always be “appreciative to Vince Russo” for turning him into a figure on Nitro. So whilst there was a clear power struggle between the two, Crowbar respects the actions of both.
“I Think [Chris Benoit, Jr.] Should Go Under Whatever Name He Wants To Go Under”
When asked if Chris Benoit’s son should use the name of his father after his notorious murder-suicide, Crowbar spoke: “I don’t know…what happened has nothing to do with that kid. That’s his name…if people want to hold that name against him, that’s pretty messed up. I think he should go under whatever name he wants to go under…In ring, the Benoit name is still incredible unfortunately what happened outside…I don’t know…I don’t think the sins of the father should reflect the sins of the son…whatever he decides will be the right decision.”
Crowbar wrestled Chris Benoit on a 1996 edition of Saturday Night.
DDP Got Him Into Physical Therapy
When asked about Diamond Dallas Page’s work with DDP Yoga, Crowbar had this to say: “I have been doing DDP Y since it was YRG…It works, it helps, it’s safe. I’ve integrated aspects…I’m 47 and I feel like a move better than I do when I was in my 20s…I do it regularly…He makes it fun and cool…I recommend it to anybody.”
Crowbar himself has been doing physical therapy for 23 years, having studied the art in school even during his early years in wrestling. When not wrestling, he is likely running his physical therapy business which he has done for years.
He met DDP when both were in WCW together.
He Felt Disregarded In TNA
In 2002, NWA TNA debuted. Seeing stars from WCW and ECW who did not go to WWF and legends from the past came to the promotion to aid in name value. Everyone from Curt Hennig to Ron Killings were in TNA and Crowbar was one of them. Wrestling only a couple of matches, he explains why this was.
“The battle royal was fun…The Disciples Of The New Church – loved that gimmick!…There were a new promotion and they basically gave me a call and said “We need you to move down to Tennessee or else we can’t use you”. I knew they were flying other guys in they didn’t have an issue with so that told me I was not a priority, I was expendable…Me being there was not as valued as other people.”
He explains having been married, having a child and buying a house was a huge commitment and moving down to be used when others could be flown in turned him off Total Non-Stop Action.
He Loved ROH But Has No Plans To Return
In 2018, Crowbar showed up in Ring Of Honor and I decided to ask why that time and that company. He would say that he took a rare booking outside his New Jersey territory and decided to just show up and see what stuck. He was originally supposed to work with PCO but that turned into working with Eli Isom.
“It really was great…I always had this idea” – he would further explain the idea behind Venecian masks and his managers within his alliance. “I think we mixed new with old school which is really what we’re trying to do” he would further add.
When asked if he planned to return he said: “Right now, no, I do not” before explaining there had been discussion but “no concrete dates yet”. It seems his future is more focussed on exterior activities outside the wrestling ring.
Everyone at Wrestlebuddy would like to thank Crowbar for coming on, he can be followed on Twitter here:
About Author
