Tommy Dreamer on Fighting Bullying and Proving Doubters Wrong

Fred: Fred Richani here for The Sports Courier, joined by pro wrestling legend Tommy Dreamer. I know you’re kicking butt in the ring tonight for FWE, but what are you really kicking?

Tommy Dreamer: We’re kickin’ it for bullying. There’s a whole bullying problem going on in the world right now. I’ve said it before: As a celebrity, or someone people look up to, it’s my responsibility to try to pass on knowledge and be a role model. I have two kids of my own, twin girls, and as a dad, as a parent, as a celebrity, whatever, bullying is easily stopped by making people more aware of the situation. It’s a vicious cycle, and if you don’t stand up and do something about it, it doesn’t end. That’s why we’re here.

Fred: One of the things this organization preaches is individualism. In wrestling, you sometimes have to break the mold, because it gets stereotyped to one look and one size. Your character was far from the mold. You clearly broke it, did your thing and became a world champion in ECW and in WWE’s version of ECW. What advice would you give kids about being themselves, since a lot of kids, even if they aren’t being bullied, are afraid to be themselves for fear of getting picked on?

Tommy Dreamer: I was actually bullied for liking wrestling. Wrestling wasn’t mainstream when I loved it, and this has been my dream since I was 9 years old. A lot of kids said, “Oh, wrestling’s fake,” and those same people have come back to me years later asking for tickets or telling me what big fans their kids are, and I reminded them of how they made me feel. What you said is right. I should not have made it in WWE or had my career, but heart, passion and believing I could do it are what made me do it. Rey Mysterio was always told he was too short. Taz was told he was too short. Little Guido was told he was too short. You know what? They all made it too. No one in the world should hold you back or make fun of you for any reason.

Fred: Your character is one of the most beloved in wrestling because you were kind of an everyman that a lot of people could relate to. How much did being bullied, being friends with everybody and standing up to people play into your character and inspiring others?

Tommy Dreamer: Tommy Dreamer really wasn’t a character, like you said. This is the real me. I live it. I go to the grocery store with my wife every Monday, and people say, “Hey, Dreamer, what’s up?” One time, John Cena and I went to the gym in Kansas City, and a guy came up to me and said, “Yo, Dreamer, John Cena’s here.” I said, “Yeah, I’m with him.” That guy viewed me as Tommy Dreamer from Gold’s Gym, not Tommy Dreamer, the guy who’s there with John Cena. It’s been a blessing, and I’m as real as you get. I deal with every type of issue, because I have kids. I have to go to PTA meetings, and it’s funny, because my butt does not fit in those little desks. But it’s cool, because I’m still doing what I love while trying to make a difference.

Fred: I’ll get you out of here on this. What advice can you give kids watching at home, and where can they find you on Twitter for advice?

Tommy Dreamer: You can follow me on Twitter @THETOMMYDREAMER. My advice is this: If you’re different, different is special. If someone is bothering you, contact a parent or someone in authority at school. And if you have nobody else, or feel you have nobody else in the world, reach out to me. Please do.