(The following interview aired on the Jim Rome Show, on The Fan 1200 radio in Los Angeles this morning.)
JIM ROME: ... and thanks for the call. Alright clones, we're in for a treat in the next segment. Joining me in studio is former CSWA United State and World Champion, Steve Radder. Steve, welcome to the jungle.
STEVE RADDER: Thanks for the vine, Romey.
JIM ROME: Absolutely. Now Steve, the CSWA's signature event is coming up, CSWA17, aka, Anniversary, aka, we're all going to see some messed up stuff.
STEVE RADDER: Probably some midgets, at least one total beatdown, among others. On top of all that, Steve Radder once again showing that he's Mr. Showtime, that he's back, he's back on the way to #1, that The Bug better watch out, because this time Thomas isn't going to be able to save his skin.
JIM ROME: Steve, you're one of the true superstars in wrestling today, and you're coming back to your first ANNIVERSARY event in years. Tell me something: what's worse, someone not knowing what ANNIVERSARY is, or not knowing who Steve Radder is.
STEVE RADDER: Obviously the latter, Romey, as you well know and the fans know, it's always Showtime when Radder's around, which is why I'm on the card, fighting to get my shot at The Bug back. Radder lights up the lights, puts butts in the seats and then takes them right back out when I make my way down the aisle for the next beating.
JIM ROME: The Bug ... that term will never get old. As I mentioned, it's been some time since you've wrestled at an ANNIVERSARY event, how have you been preparing?
STEVE RADDER: Well, first I tried to come up with a great, flashy new nickname, but "Vacant" was taken ... coulda gone with "Absent" and we coulda formed a tag team, but you know, decided against it at the last minute. Then I just decided to bring it to the ring, beat down some chumps, and fight my way back to the top. Right where Steve Radder belongs.
JIM ROME: That's really too bad about the nickname, that could have been a total force to be reckoned with ... a quick word on your opponent, Kin Hiroshi, Steve.
STEVE RADDER: I don't have much more to say about some dude who calls himself the Muffin Man. This is the freakin' CSWA, the greatest wrestling promotion in the world, not freakin' Barney and Friends.
JIM ROME: (Laughing) ... No, it most certainly is not. I'm in studio with Steve Radder, who will appear in the Champion's Challenge Final at CSWA17 next week to fight for an opportunity to fight US Champion Hornet for the belt. Steve, you were scheduled to take Hornet on some time ago but the match was scrapped at the last moment.
STEVE RADDER: Right.
JIM ROME: Tell me how you feel about this tournament?
STEVE RADDER: Like I said before, Romey, I get put in this tournament with three schmucks, all to earn Thomas some more scratch, which Steve Radder's done in droves. I beat that costumed freak JA in Denver and I'm gonna mop the floor with the Muffin Man ... all to take back the belt.
JIM ROME: What's your motivation?
STEVE RADDER: To be the best, Romey, to get back what I deserve, to take back an opportunity that Steve Radder should never have lost in the first place. There's no motivation for Steve Radder aside from winning, being the best. Being the champion I know I can be, the fans know I can be, that Thomas doesn't want me to be.
JIM ROME: We've got an e-mail in here from a listener. Dear Rome, The Muffin Man is a very intimidating nickname, sincerely, Barney, Teddy Ruxpin, and Skeletor. Man, you know you're on a roll when you're getting e-mails from Skeletor. And, another one, Dear Rome, Kin Hiroshi was a difficult opponent, sincerely, Henderson Bramble, Mickey Mouse, and 90-year Old Grandma With A Walker.
STEVE RADDER: Sounds about right.
JIM ROME: Steve Radder, Mr. Showtime, here in the jungle with us this Friday, about a week before CSWA17, where he hopes to earn a shot at the US Title ...
STEVE RADDER: Already earned it Romey, had it taken away, but I'm gonna get it back, just like I'm gonna squash the bug and become a repeat champion. Just like I'm gonna chew the Muffin Man up and spit him back out.
JIM ROME: Steve, you've got something about you, where you know you're the best.
STEVE RADDER: I know I am, Romey, you have to know that to do anything in this business. I'm meant to win this tournament ... it's mine to lose ... which is exactly what Thomas wants. It's not gonna happen, Steve Radder's the favorite for a reason, because he's gonna win. The oddsmakers know it, I know it, you know it, the clones know it, hell, even the Muffin Man knows it.
JIM ROME: Steve, thanks for coming in to talk to us, good job, good luck next week though obviously you won't need it, on top of everything, Jungle Karma is on your side.
STEVE RADDER: That's right ... I've got to go call the hospitals in Greenboro to tell them to be ready for a broken Muffin Man, so I'm out Jim.
JIM ROME: Rack him ... a great interview. CSWA17 is coming up July 24, you can see more of our guest Steve Radder there where if Jungle Karma holds up, he's going to deliver one of the "total beatdowns" he predicted earlier in the interview. And how about that Barney and Friends blast (Chuckles.) ... that's a classic.
(End interview.)