Dr. Tom Prichard on Life After WWE, His Training Book and Zeb Colter

Fred: Fred Richani for The Sports Courier, here with a professional wrestling legend who has a new book out as well, Dr. Tom Prichard. How are you doing, Doctor?

Tom Prichard: I am doing great. We’re here at PWS, and they’re saying there are even more people here tonight than last night. What a great crowd. I miss New Jersey. I really miss New Jersey, gosh darn it.

Fred: So what brings you here?

Tom Prichard: I came tonight for a special autograph session and to plug my book, but there’s also a big surprise happening tonight at PWS that I’m not at liberty to let everybody in on yet. You’re going to stick around, right? It’s a huge announcement, and the officials at Pro Wrestling Syndicate have allowed me to come here tonight and drop it. I don’t want to say “bombshell,” but I’ll drop a bombshell on everybody here in New Jersey. I’m pretty excited about it.

Fred: You’ve mentored some of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and you recently parted ways with WWE. How has the downtime been? Have you gone back to mentoring wrestlers from state to state, or have you turned it down a notch to relax and smell the roses?

Tom Prichard: I don’t think there’s any time for smelling the roses. One of my friends, a Japanese reporter who’s here for WrestleMania, used to come down to Tampa and cover Yoshi Tatsu and many of the things we did in FCW. Since I severed ties with WWE, I did start a wrestling school, but that’s by the wayside now, because wrestling schools in Tennessee don’t necessarily work. People have sent me matches on Facebook and by email to critique and give advice on, which I’m always willing to do, and I’ve written a blog on my website about various things I’ve done this past year. So yes, I’ve helped and mentored a few wrestlers along the way, but right now I’m doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Fred: So is life a little more stress-free lately?

Tom Prichard: I’ve got to say it is. I’m very happy with what I’m doing and where I’m at. We moved from Tampa to Knoxville, Tennessee, and things have calmed down. But I’m going to be a wrestling fan till the end of my days, and I’m going to help as many people as I can, when I can.

Fred: There’s another Prichard in Impact Wrestling doing a great job. The show has tremendously improved in the last couple of years since Bruce has been there. Could we see Dr. Tom stroll in there and mentor some young talent?

Tom Prichard: The thing I’ve always learned in this business is that you can never say never. At this time, I wouldn’t say I’ll be there anytime soon, but you never know, Fred. You have to keep your ears and eyes open at all times, especially since, as I said, I have a big announcement tonight. That might intertwine with TNA, it might intertwine with WWE, and I know it’s going to intertwine with PWS. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know it’s going to be a great card tonight with a great house, a lot of great people and some old friends. That’s as far as I’m going. I take it one day at a time from now on.

Fred: We’ll talk about your book, but one guy who’s written a couple of books is now in WWE having a bit of a career resurgence: Dutch Mantel, aka Zeb Colter. What are your thoughts on how he’s been doing, getting all that heat, especially on Twitter?

Tom Prichard: I’ve always felt Dutch Mantel was a tremendous character with a tremendous mind for this business. He understands what this is about, and I really appreciate that WWE now sees that. They’ve seen it, but they hadn’t acted on it until now. I think it was a big boost not only for Jack Swagger but for WWE and the fans, because it gives them something else to sink their teeth into. I believe he’s going to do well going forward, because he has a good mind and he’s a good man, and I appreciate it when good people get great positions and work for them. Dutch is going to work for it, and he’s going to do a great job no matter who he walks to the ring with or mentors. I don’t think a lot of people are going to disagree with that.

Fred: Why is this book essential for young wrestlers?

Tom Prichard: There are a lot of things you can take away from it. Right here it says: “You have your way, I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way and the only way, it does not exist.” So this is a suggestion and a manual on how to plan a one-year training program for up-and-coming wrestlers or seasoned pros. There are also some stories, including how I became a doctor in professional wrestling. Two people have asked me that tonight, and I explained that in professional wrestling, poof, you’re a doctor. But that’s not what happened. There’s actually a story behind it. There are top 10 lists, including how to send a promo package to WWE, TNA or any company, and training tips, not trips, although I have some of those in there too. You’ll find it informative, comical or just plain true, and you can argue with me all day long. I started training people in 1996, had an interruption in service in 2004, came back in 2007 and had another interruption, but I’m not going to stop being a mentor or helping anyone who asks for my help. That’s what I do. I love this business, I love professional wrestling and I love the people in it, and I think it’s going to be a great business for years to come. Triple H is doing a great job with WWE, and I believe my brother’s doing a great job in TNA. If they keep finding talent and bringing it up in both companies, we’re going to have a great business for years to come.

Fred: Well said, sir. Where can fans find you online?

Tom Prichard: You can go to my website, DrTomPrichard.com, and I’m on Twitter @DrTomPrichard. Send me an email or a comment on my blog, whatever it is, and I’ll respond.

Fred: Excellent. It’s definitely an honor to talk to you, sir. Thank you so much for your time.