STW

In this episode of Something To Wrestle, Bruce and Conrad profile the life and career of the "original" Steve Williams, Dr. Death! The guys discuss his football and amateur wrestling days at Oklahoma, his time with All Japan, his arrival in WWF, the infamous Brawl For All and the fallout from it, and much more!
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[@marqryan5218]

I was a student at the Harley Race Wrestling Academy in 2006. Harley used to bring in a "name," for all of his shows, to help boost attendance. DR. Death was one of the first, I ever met. He had a hole in his throat at the time, and had to put his finger in it to talk. He was one of the nicest people I have ever met in Wrestling. His energy was infectious and he seemed genuinely happy to be there. RIP Steve.

[@skincarver1797]

If Vince brought in Dr. Death in the 80's he probably would've put him in some scrubs and gave him a stethoscope lol

[@loganwhitcomb6107]

And tagged him up with Issac Yankem

[@rustykuntz94]

If Dr Death was in the WWF in the late 80s he could of fit in as Billy Jack Haynes brother

[@CHICANO1975]

Probably.

[@grawakendream8980]

except yankem was 90s

[@Dredsed]

Good shxt pal haha

[@cjleight11]

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Death in July of ‘08 at an indie show in Ohio. He had wrestled with a bandana around his neck to hide the hole and when he spoke he had put his thumb over it. That’s when I found out he had cancer. He was a very humble man and will be forever remembered.

[@mattthomas1442]

The gimmick/storyline that Bruce said that they were pitching for Steve Williams about him embracing Japan and going there and becoming a hero and monster and taking up their culture is literally the same thing they did for Prince Albert and the Lord Tensai character some 10 years later.

[@warwickben]

Bag of gimmicks

[@universaltalentbookings1389]

@MR M D A . If I were the Booker, I would have booked a hell in the cell match for the world heavyweight title , The Japanese version of Prince Albert vs Outback Jack

[@dondemmeljr1765]

I have seen the Doc since high school days here in Colorado. He was a real stud in football and wrestling. He got involved in sports when his brother took him to a mall parking lot at 13 years old to wrestle a bear knowing he was big and strong. The bear didn't take him down in the time allowed so he won the cash! People cheered and he liked the feeling of hearing that....he started sports which his brother was very involved in. I did a show with Doc back in 88 or 89 at CU in Boulder. Vader was the star ...former All American at CU at the time was Baby Bull Leon White, Samoan Swat Team, Yokozuna at time was Great Kokina, Buddy Rose, Col. DeBeers, Herculoid Greg Boyd and others. A riot broke out that night great some bad boys were on that card! I went to his funeral it was huge... Barry Switzer called him the toughest guy he ever coached! He was working at DIA in Denver for Southwest and we spoke often after seeing each other at work...Great Guy! God Bless Dr. Death Steve Williams! 👍

[@BLB138]

Yes! Finally! I loved the grilling JR episode of Dr. Death. Thank you for this.

[@jrblanton8264]

4:29 story begins. RIP Dr Death.

[@karlepaul6632]

Thanks 👍

[@Stonymoj]

Unfortunately every time I hear about Dr. Death all I can think about is Bart Gunn knocking him out. R.I.P Steve.

[@FIXTREME]

Rip Bart "Eat My Shorts" Gunn's career

[@filfil9960]

I just watched the Heat episode where Ed Ferrera acted as a fan doing a JR impression and Dr Death German suplexed him right on his head lol

[@ogarstyle]

Brother Love vs JR Hell in a Cell... BOOK IT!!!! LOLZ

[@chuckivie601]

“I will assassinate!” 🤣🤣🤣 Hearing Bruce say this as Dusty made me lose it.

[@karlepaul6632]

I think the length of this podcast/video is the equivalent of real time that Dr Death was in the WWF/E.😉 Seriously tho, RIP big man

[@productreviewproductions439]

if you're going to do guys who only worked with Pritchard for 6 months can I make some requests? Jacques Rougeau? One Man Gang?

[@milkcarton6654]

I don't understand why it's always like "oh Steve Williams was a tough son of a gun that could beat anyone" but i have NEVER heard an actual story from anyone that could confirm this. He was big, he looked tough..... and he got knocked out by Bart Gunn and lost a mma fight in 20 seconds. Not to speak ill of the dead but it sounds to me like a guy that just looked tough and that people believed was because he has an imposing physique and size, no question there, but i get the feeling he wasn't half as dangerous as people make him out to be. But i'll be happy to be proven wrong if anyone has credible stories.... And yeah ok, he was a pretty legit amateur wrestler, but nobody's trying to knock anybody out in this sport. I mean i'm not trying to diminish him, ultimately i don't give a fuck if someone is a tough guy who can knock people out or not, i'd like Dr. death whether he was a genuine badass or not, but it just sounds to me here like it's a rumor more than fact.

[@albalog2449]

You are right and I'm a huge Dr. Death fan. I've watched his entire AJPW (All Japan) career. The word I'd describe Doc as is "strong", not "tough". Even Doc's real-life personality was too gentile, who always reminded me of a male version of Chyna, but more old-school. I wouldn't compare Doc with wrestlers like Meng or Dan Severn (tough), but with wrestlers like Chyna or Ahmed Johnson (strong).

[@denniscook512]

I remember seeing Dr Death in MidSouth during his early days, he was green but you could see his progress creeping in

[@CHICANO1975]

I crack up every time I hear Bruce do his impersonation of J.R. with "Sassafras".

[@Maestro..]

I wonder if Bruce has ever seen Doc's matches with Kenta Kobashi... those were some awesome matches

[@LALakersNornIron]

Dr Death and Terry Gordy in WCW was bad ass. WCW should have signed them for a multi year contract. Both there when Hogan arrived, big money matches there.

[@albalog2449]

Mid 90s WCW would've been perfect for both Dr. Death and Terry Gordy, especially the "WCW Saturday Night era" with the updated stage from 1994 to 1995.

[@LALakersNornIron]

@@albalog2449 agreed. They could have had great wars with Hogan and Savage, The Nasty Boys, Harlem Heat. The match they had with the Steiner Brothers at Beach Blast 1992 was incredible! I found that was at times one of the problems with WCW at this period they would recruit some incredible talent only for them to leave after a brief period .

[@albalog2449]

@@LALakersNornIron That was actually a dream match I had as a kid, Miracle Violence Connection vs. Harlem Heat.

[@lasvegaspilgrim]

Conrad’s “research” still involves Wikipedia and dirtsheets. The drug arrest wasn’t just for pot, a bunch of performance enhancing drugs were involved as well. Guess that phrase isn’t allowed on the podcast.

[@78bcat]

Increasingly I'm thinking Conrad is the net iteration of Russo, Dixie, Khan...because he just has to host every show, despite his slow talking style, fat guy-garble voice, and a format of simple reading Meltzer and wikipedia. If these podcasts are "successful", then Jarrett, Arn, JR, Tony, Kurt all have a different partner who is paid not just to host, to research, but to play with the format to find something original and entertaining. Take Arn. All his colleagues describe the sharp, sarcastic wit with killer one liners, but Arn is all "Aw shucks" in front of a mic. Conrad can't bring out the real Arn...maybe somebody else could.

[@gregwillams8324]

I am glad they went back to basics with this show I am enjoying it been a strong listener two years strong now

[@jon4033]

Even scores in the 500s can be approved.

[@phettywappharmaceuticalsll8842]

Lol I seriously wonder if that shit can be legit ibut too lazy to look into it

[@impalaman9707]

I've always said that Doctor Death was the son that Bill Watts WISHED he'd had! Graduated from OU just like Watts. That something Joel never did! He attended class, but dropped out. Doc was a two sport star just like his adopted father, followed in his EXACT footsteps. So of course, he's gonna get the same push that Fritz Von Erich gave his boys, because he pretty much was Bill's boy

[@dylanscally]

Miracle of Violence were two of the best.

[@account_suspended]

The zombie line made me pop. Not mad at them for making money. Something for everyone.

[@CeemPlay]

Spend my days

[@anthonyp6823]

The most popular jakks figure ever, along with Jacqueline

[@The_Sage_of_Six_Paths]

Come to think of it, I had both of those lol.

[@bubsssbunny]

Is that true? Lol. I haven't listened to the podcast fully if they mentioned it, but I figured you did cause they didn't.

[@anthonyp6823]

@@bubsssbunny I was just being sarcastic lol. Those were on the shelves forever.

[@thewrestlewrant5710]

As a kid I was actually a big mark for the Dr Death figure. He was my only BCA with the 'big man' sculpt which catapulted him to the top of my fig fed

[@bubsssbunny]

@@anthonyp6823 damn lol. I was like there's no fucking way.

[@nelsoncaban5789]

Excited

[@josephboza7448]

I think once Bart Gunn knocked out Dr Death in the brawl for all whatever momentum Steve Williams had in the WWF was gone. I always thought that Brawl for All was created to make Dr Death look good. I think he was also brought into the WWF to make JR a good heel. The problem is the momentum he kicked Cole where the sun don't shine and made him sing Oklahoma the fans in the arena cheered instead of boo!. Fans love the chemistry too that JR and King had. King was the perfect heel to JR. If King had to have been the face that was weird af.

[@FIXTREME]

Steve Williams could have definitely held the winged eagle, but as Hardcore Champion. Dr Death could have slid right into that Bob Holly spot

[@ciaranmurren]

We need a one hour video of that theme song or, better yet, a ten hour video.

[@crisdes7260]

all the southern good ol' boys pumped up doc for years as the baddest thing walkin - JR in particular (who wished he was a man of williams size and strength)......they couldnt handle it when he got ktfo by a nobody. if he had waded through the brawl for all, they probably would have a bit of a different opinion of the event. instead of it being a disaster, or 'the worst idea ever' - they would be saying ' well yea of course doc won'

[@grawakendream8980]

no one knew. the epilogue of kayfabe

[@coltoncampbell3919]

God view you for that song

[@hansjuker8296]

The top execs were caught in the wrestling bubble. They paid Dr. Death the prize money ahead of time and manipulated the bracket to give him the easiest path to victory. Then he got KTFO. Oops!

[@crisdes7260]

yep, they believed their own hype about the guy

[@WaqarDepp]

RIP

[@jaystevens2948]

Conrad Thompson is one of the best podcast host out there! And Bruce Pritchard, well if you didn’t know since the Brother Love days, it doesn’t get any better! I watch all of these to the point I have to wait for a new one to drop to not hear one for the second or third time! Keep rocking out Bruce n Conrad!

[@matttrussell1733]

D, hell yeah!

[@matttrussell1733]

Sicko-fan!!!

[@DavidxBoyd]

Bruce > JR Bruce is consistent on these and JR is a real life asshole sometimes, so it was nice to hear Bruce referring to him as a real life heal that wants to always be portrayed as a face.

[@stingrey1571]

despite being a vince kiss ass. bruce's show is more entertaining. the ross podcast at times is a very hard listen. he repeats himself.can never stay on topic, and craps on everything current.

[@retepoteil]

@@stingrey1571 I agree. Bruce is a better story teller, does voices and is very funny. I love JR but he monotone and always talking about doing pay role and working hard , I get it he busted his ass at wwf but keep it moving

[@MattSingh1]

*Stooge Prichard is a proven liar, fraud and conman. Pioneer and hall-of-famer Dave Meltzer has exposed and owned him numerous times. Same goes for Stooge Prichard's fanboys.*

[@deelux5519]

I see Bruce continues to prove that everyone who said he had a substance abuse problem was wrong.........(heh heh)

[@reallyretro]

He was damaged goods and old by the time he got to the WWF in 1998, even before the Brawl For All injury. I don't believe for one second he would have worked a program with Stone Cold for the title. Doc was never a strong promo guy to begin with, Austin would have killed him there.

[@publiusdos5925]

Pretty sure Mr. McMahon would be the one doing the promos in an alternate universe where Doc got booked against Austin.

[@thewrestlewrant5710]

Yeah, pretty sure he would have been given a manager/mouthpiece

[@MarioLabot]

Bam Bam Gordy as well.

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

His biggest success in America was winning the tag titles with Gordy against the Steiners.

[@MSF2307]

Plus Austin’s neck was fucked from 97 on. And a lot of Dr Death’s offence was suplexes that dropped guys on their head and neck. Austin wouldn’t have been taking those, especially as soon as a year after the injury, so it would’ve limited Doc to pretty much just punches and kicks. The matches would’ve sucked in 98/99. I’m a big Dr Death fan and it’s cool to think about, but WWF in 98 just feels like the wrong place and time for it to work. Especially when Austin had better options at that time in Rock, Undertaker, Foley etc.

[@anthonyclark9441]

Russo really killed the mystique of Dr. Death, with that damn Brawl For All. He could've been something big for WWF.

[@pmfg11]

No he couldn't, he was the opposite of Attitude Era and looked old and out of shape, zero chance he would've been big in the Attitude Era lmao

[@booty121212]

@@pmfg11 austin would've destroyed him on the mic lol

[@pmfg11]

@@booty121212 There's this myth that came from JR and Jim Cornette that he would've worked a program with Austun after winning the Brawl for All, this simply isn't true.

[@patrickruth153]

Also ferrera’s bodyguard gimmick kinda sucked

[@Stonymoj]

It would have came true for a fact. Why would you think otherwise?

[@fornoparticularreason7205]

Why isn't haku and barbarian in the hall of fame

[@nickbisanz]

Who booked the zombies? They should be fired. Made me miss Herb Abrams. Why was Drake Wuertz kept around so long? Bueller?

[@BrandonMobley614]

Anyone else catch Max Caster's diss to Jon Moxley on Dynamite about "Oral sessions"?

[@booty121212]

What does that have to do with dr death lol

[@CeemPlay]

Have a kayfabe cocktail

[@warwickben]

What was it and what does it have todo with dr death

[@sammy_noleafclovertalkfigh3970]

Told him he looked like a pack of newports...I was dying

[@aim6613]

Nope.

[@amerikanbully5101]

I thought he died the night bart gunn put him to sleep r.i.p

[@jamesbrock3859]

I disagree with Bruce, I think JR was a great heel.

[@909cool-oagents4]

Terry Gordy was better

[@pmfg11]

Lmao and then you wonder why WWE creative was awful whenever Bruce Prichard had any say in it. After the Mike Tyson angle with a red hot Steve Austin, Bruce Prichard and JR were talking about bringing Steve Williams to face Steve Austin in main event programs while having absolutely no talks about it with the people in creative. Good creative had Austin vs Mankind/Dude Love, Kane and Undertaker with great programs that allowed the WWF to take the advantage in the ratings and do great business while people inside the bubble like Bruce, JR and Cornette wanted Steve Fucking Williams to main event in the middle of the Attitude Era, that's pathetic. The brawl for all was for sure a terrible idea, maybe if they had done all of the great creative that Bruce Prichard has presented us in the last few years like using Slime, Zombies and hopscotch.

[@ZEUSDAZ]

Carry on with these original new shows and we'll forgive you for those shitty "Remix" BS shows that no'one gives a shit about. The more "Remix - same old shit already done but now redone" shows you do the more of us will boycott this show.

[@deepblue8143]

Speak for yourself, the remixes are great too and get me thru my day. Want to boycott over that?? Lol, so entitled over something you're getting for free.

[@sdfghjkertyuiop]

Yep fully agree, the remix shows are pretty crud, just repackaging old episodes and bung them out which I personally don't like at all, I mean no'one gives a shit about Tripple H so god forbid if they do a remix episode on him, STW was doing well but you can see It's been poor lately compared to around 20 episodes ago, you could see the anger in the comments of many of the remix episodes and those other episodes where Bruce Isn't showing much interest in some of them.