Taz - Doomed WWE Run, commentary, TNA, ECW, etc - Sam Roberts

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Sam Roberts talks to Taz, on Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast, about starting with ECW, moving on to WWE, why his run was doomed, changing his style, starting commentary, Jerry Lawler, TNA, his radio show, and more.
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[@RyanAcidhedzMurphy]

Still one of the best, if not the best catch phrases in wrestling. "Beat me if you can... survive if I let you."

[@sswolfbeard4093]

@Cognitive Chaos you sound like a fkn idiot

[@lukewarmstanhouston9957]

That's a stupid catch phrase. Taz is saying his opponent can beat him....and if his opponent can beat Taz, then how is Taz allowing anyone to survive if he is being beaten. "Survive if you can...beat me if I let you" would still sound dumb but not borderline retarded like the slogan Taz actually said.

[@Spaced92]

@@lukewarmstanhouston9957 He's saying it's doubtful you can beat him, and your survival is up to him because he's a badass, you're being purposefully obtuse if you don't get why it's intimidating especially when he delivered it as well as he did. I'm surprised really, using the word retarded you'd think you were stuck in the 90's.

[@TheRealRillo]

@@Spaced92 no hes got a point. Its backwards 😂

[@39Hundred]

@@lukewarmstanhouston9957 He’s basically saying that you might be able to pin him for a “victory” but you’ll later die in the hospital from your injuries. It won’t be an easy victory.

[@THEREV468]

I really miss Michael cole and taz on smackdown. And Jerry and jr on raw.

[@qthegreat5278]

Man GOLDEN days. I can say we had a good time watching wrestling growing up wwe was so violent back then I wish come of that intensity came back to the ring today

[@XxrandomexexX]

Hes throwin some soup bowns Cole... Shannon Moore and Matt hawrdy were tea baggin each other

[@Kentrell38baby]

It sucks now

[@raysullya.k.amassholehead817]

I liked JR & TAZZ... when it was them... I wasn't a fan of Lawler 4 some reason even though he did have some great 1 liners...

[@raysullya.k.amassholehead817]

Gordon Solie & piper kept me entertained during a shitload of squash matches 🤣.....lol

[@burningkarma]

Taz had one of my favorite debuts in WWE. Great little feud with Angle.

[@RestingBeachFace721]

Little indeed.

[@Richard__Cranium]

It really is a shame we never got to see Taz vs Samoa Joe

[@kshinokevin]

Richard Cranium instead we get Taz vs. Lawler

[@calamaty9963]

Richard Cranium nope he only managed him briefly in TNA.

[@philkhogg5618]

Dream match

[@lordgeoffrey78]

no shame, 2 overrated fatsos

[@king425onlyforrest7]

Lol why because they are both fat lol.

[@CourtCjbLand]

Taz came into the WWE as one of the hottest names from ECW, beat Kurt Angle in his debut match and they buried him right after. Maybe one of the most misused talents in the history of the company, it's a fucking shame because he used to be fucking awesome.

[@kingarthurthe22nd93]

CourtCjbLand ..... He had a good four-month run for a little while, but taz was pretty banged up by the time he came to wwe , his days as an in ring competitor were numbered anyway

[@timekeeperhd5412]

CourtCjbLand .......... if Mike Tyson was a wrestler with the same record as his boxing record, Vince would still bury him because Mike Tyson isn't something that Vince McMahon created

[@DustinBlythe]

McMahon did the same with ALL of the ECW talent. He made a splash when they came in, milked that for a while, then threw them away.

[@bobbyblue46]

CourtCjbLand Shelton Benjamin is the most underutilized wrestlers in WWE history.

[@joshuat770]

@@timekeeperhd5412 Good point

[@LordB0NER]

One of my favorite commentators. Tazz and J.R. calling the 2004 royal rumble match is my favorite of all time.

[@williamaquino355]

taz is one of the most underrated talent in pro wrestling he's rarely given credit for.his work in the ring and on the mike

[@RestingBeachFace721]

Because he's a dick backstage.

[@fakename503]

He WAS underrated until he became overrated.

[@db1machine]

Such a brutal, physically distinct style. I was bummed that it got pacified for the mainstream. He will always be my favorite ECW wrestler.

[@RestingBeachFace721]

Favorite ECW wrestler? 🙄

[@patrickcostello2872]

I went to ECW Arena every month 96-98 and Taz was freaking terrifying.

[@elmysteriousman9908]

Lol why? He's a tree stump.

[@MondoMiami]

B … 15!

[@Highrollinhunter]

New Jack is more terrifying

[@lyricsofthedancehall]

Well... here comes the pain!

[@pizzahighfive2612]

YESSSS! a very classic Taz quote. Thanks for taking me back

[@Jerry4050]

he brought out the best video game title

[@blizkid1941]

Why does taz look like an older mature dj Khalid

[@biggpapidadon7134]

brettmattson 😂😂😂 #💯 #WeTheBest

[@floggyWM1]

he gained a lot of weight

[@SeGa32xXx1]

Token's Life Matter Dude... SO much weight, enormous amount.. Easily WELL over 100lbs since retiring from in ring competition... He is just INCREDIBLY obese for his frame.

[@arjacfellhand838]

He changed... A LOT.

[@MrJfielding]

hahahhahaha so true

[@wallyrosario654]

Tazz should be in the HoF for his entire career as a whole. Regardless of his WWE career his commentary was fun in WWE, he was awesome in ECW and I enjoyed his run up until the Lawler feud.

[@ALIAN18]

Remember when Taz had a column in Pit a heavy metal type magazine back in the late 90's early 2000's

[@pizzahighfive2612]

ECW is the best, I still re watch cause it's like a freaking party it's so damn fun. Thank you so much Taz and all the ECW originals for the great memories

[@CeemPlay]

The man that made Mitchell Cole tolerable

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@DeanMoxley87 His calling of Foley's world title win is still one of my absolute favorite calls of the Attitude Era and he really helped make that moment something even more special. I respect Cole for that much. The reason Cole has subsisted in that role for so long is because he rolls over and says whatever Vince pipes into his ears, regardless of how idiotic it sounds in context, and because of that same exact reason Cole comes off as a fucking goofball most of the time. His commentary OUTSIDE of the WWE is actually quite competent.

[@fkjms73]

Michael Cole was the guy during the attitude era!! He’s a legend!!

[@mikenoftsier6336]

haha mitchell cole wtf

[@FlixCreEightR]

OMG! SO true

[@RestingBeachFace721]

I wonder where Mitchell Cole is now 🤔

[@michaelfrazia4569]

I saw Taz and Perry Saturn train regularly at a gym on long island back in the mid 90s...Taz trained hard every day and was legit strong. the attitude he talks about from the mid 90 was evident. you could tell he was focused and kept perry focused. more of a leader than a follower which I respect

[@ccmanize]

I've always thought that Taz looks kind of like a human crossed with a bulldog. Anyone else agree?

[@snubsnub1720]

ccmanize I do.

[@chuckwalker8377]

I once had a dog that looked like Taz.he was a "human suplex machine". Taz used to eat dog food and shit on carpets. Quote the Raven, nevermore.

[@rubberchix]

ccmanize the big dog guy from Arthur

[@gwallah46]

He looks like DJ Khaled

[@sleazyfellow]

Chris Jericho had him on or somebody else and they referred to Taz as a cigarette machine with a head..which got me to think, those vending machines went away a long time ago.

[@JUNKO____]

I agree with Taz, live the gimmick. If you are playing someone, the crowd can tell.

[@Wglass90]

If I were Sam Roberts, the first thing I would've asked Taz is to pick a hand.

[@merces47letifer4]

Wglass90 Damn it, beat me to it

[@Nikadeemus88]

Wglass90 what?

[@nickg3462]

Nik Reiter RVD got into a backstage altercation with Tazz. RVD asked him to pick a hand in which RVD bitch slapped him in front of everyone. Tazz didn't do anything after

[@lescw3293]

Nick G wow!!

[@hockeymind6519]

Nick G lmao you guys realize that story was horseshit and meant for marks ... R.V.D and TAZ were always friends

[@ClayMorrow91]

Every time Brock Lesnar’s music starts, I can hear Tazz’s voice in my head going: ‘Well...here comes the pain!’

[@Derekkylehealing]

i did enjoy TAZ in WWE when he first started! Those vignettes they made for his debut were perfect and for them to lean back on his career is unfortunate

[@RB-mk7ph]

I remember loving taz and cole commentary when I was younger!!

[@CSPCoffee]

Dam....taz is a good dude, bring back a ECW style back

[@billepperson2662]

I was @ the Anarchy Rulez PPV in Chicago, Tazz's last ECW show, was SO emotional 😭 . . . The ENTIRE company was on the ramp to give him his props on the way out. Had NO idea it was coming either, sure, I was 13 or so, but I've never gasped @ a finish out of shock since

[@morrill028]

get rid of otunga and bring back tazz.

[@JamesMMcCann]

Taz got me into judo. Taz got me into judp and brought me close to my mam. Thank you Taz

[@PauloTheGeek]

Tazz is one of the smartest cats in the biz. He's got the work/life balance nailed when so many in the industry struggle badly with that.

[@xelementzgaming7171]

They said the German suplex On Angle was a botch... but they sure put it in WWF SMACKDOWN 2 lol

[@Musiclover19]

Yeah, so? They still put that piledriver as a move for Owen Hart in the WWF Attitude game (his last ever appearance in a WWE game) that almost paralyzed Steve Austin.

[@xelementzgaming7171]

JJ Abeyta so? I’m just saying they tried to bring tazz down for that move yet they put it exactly the same way in the game..

[@bizzles44]

So they get mad at him for doing his job well and apparently he’s not supposed to look tough cuz he’s under 6 foot? Then why bring him in? To be cruserweight champ?

[@dacechasinghawk3910]

Lol! I remember that... Taz tells Jim Ross"I'd love to slap you in the face but God beat me to it". Wow! I remember at the time I was 22 and loved it. it even shocked me and I don't shock easy... fucking awesome, Mike Awesome!!!

[@HeartlandTalkOfficial]

Taz was a very enjoyable guest. I'd like him to come back and talk a lot longer.

[@dynad00d15]

Tazz was Suplex City before it was cool.. Loved him!

[@godzilla71067]

The Steiners were Suplex City WAY BEFORE it was cool.

[@MrMuttly55]

Suplex City ain't cool

[@atifqavi2054]

Unlike Brock, Taz did different variations of suplex and didn't get boring like suplex city.

[@Kjraider2009]

"He's gonna hurt somebody". I guarantee you it was HHH.

[@DealMagnified]

Ecw was amazing! I still remember stumbling across it as a kid Taz Ryno Sabu Dudley Boyz Rvd. Sand man Bam bam Ect

[@ir10031981]

happy 50th birthday Tazz, only two days younger than Eddie Guerrero, by the way, here's a weird fact: Michael Cole was born only a day after Kurt Angle. it's true, it's damn true!

[@0mnicide]

Tazz came to my dad's monogramming place in Plainview, Long Island the late 90s for some shirts or a hat or something and me and my brother were too shy to go and actually talk to him. We couldn't have been more than 10. We used to watch wrestling and we still have the signed photograph he gave my dad of him hanging in our basement.

[@mercyy5201]

Hang on "when this drops I would think Hardys will be gone by now" how old are these podcasts!?!

[@niceanology]

This was a great conversation Sam Roberts did a great job.. Taz was awesome

[@kshinokevin]

The Smackdown commentary for Taz, with Michael Cole was an audition. "I hate it.' "I don't want them (the WWE) to tarnish my legacy."- Taz Jim Norton, comedian (UFC Unfiltered with Matt Serra), is one funny guy. I liked the Sabu story on RAW. "I don't know why I am angry." - Taz on "living the gimmick" off stage, outside of the arena. He had a passion for radio broadcasting (10 years).

[@InkedupT-raw]

Tazz and cole on smackdown back in the day=💵💵💵

[@qthegreat5278]

You ain’t lying

[@the13th]

The angle with Jerry Lawler was my first taste of Taz. And inspired me to check everything else out, HUGE FAN

[@Mr.Derogatory316]

Sad they Hate eachothwr in real life because of ECW and because of Paul Heyman

[@leonkamran7931]

In terms of wrestling, nothing was as good as ECW at that time , or has been since. IMO

[@jusbertmeza4424]

I wasn’t alive during that era but seeing some matches I would have loved to tune in weekly.

[@dreday5880]

ECW at 1 am on MSG in NYC was INSANE at that time!!! Nothing came close!!!

[@christopherperkins761]

ECW!ECW!ECW!

[@RichLuciano1]

The former Mayor of Suplex City the in late 90s, Taz, shortly after the terms of Rick and Scott Steiner.

[@scottishmisfit]

a match i would of lived to seen is Taz in his prime vs. Brock. suplex city vs the human suplex machine

[@Baraka_Obama_]

Tazz is underrated loved his ECW work

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

Taz was too good raw and pure as a character for the WWF/E. But that's interesting I never knew he didn't want to be commentator. I thought he jumped at the chance right away cause they were doing nothing with him.

[@MC-rf8sx]

Tazz is awesome he was a great performer and strong wrestler

[@elliottparsons8656]

I love seeing him talking about him hating being on the commentary desk and him now being in AEW smashing commentary every week! Vince saying this is your future xD he was right

[@ElectrikNYCfunK]

Yeeaaaaaa The Elk's lodge has alot of awesome memories there =)

[@rizeorfall]

Taz ECW FTW

[@naywahn]

"For The Win"?! No... "FUCK THE WORLD!!!"

[@MrFunnyHandsInYourPants]

20:15 great quote for younger/ current gen wrestlers... gotta get more in the gimmick

[@TheReverendFairchild]

"Taz, you never paid your dues" - Raven

[@mrmike320]

man I used to love taz especially in ecw

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

Call me crazy, but I think if Taz would've jumped to WWF on the Raw following Summerslam '98, if he would've initiated a feud with Austin it could've easily been feud of the year (ESPECIALLY if Taz would've beaten Austin for the WWF title and taken it back to ECW... I can dream, can't I?)

[@reggiedeniro406]

+moonwalker 9705 you're crazy

[@superrobz]

moonwalker 9705 or how about being the mystery entrant to the survivor series 1999 triple threat match and being the guy who ran over Austin

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

Rob Picken That would've been cool too.

[@timestampgod7338]

moonwalker 9705 Tazz/Austin woulda been 💲💲💲

[@conor-_C]

He was 1 of guys that wwe brought but to run down Austin

[@TypetwoAbsolute]

I love that situation its so bizarre. "I hope they know who I am.." *Crowd explodes* "My career is doomed"

[@bassclay100]

I really thought when he came in he was destined to be the guy who ran over austin. He would go on to fight steve at the next mania built as whos the toughest s.o.b in the biz.

[@RestingBeachFace721]

This orange oompa loompa run over Austin? As if 😂

[@bassclay100]

@@RestingBeachFace721 well they alllowed him to squash angle? i mean no way he beats austin but i thought he could have been the driver

[@miguelmarrero6760]

@@bassclay100 Kurt was green

[@0mnicide]

Tazz once visited my dad and grandparents old embroidery shop for some hats and towels (Long Island Monogramming) in the late 90s or early 2000s. My dad told me I could come into work that day and meet him I was too shy and didn’t go in. I still have the signed picture Taz gave my dad in his man cave. Unfortunately my father passed in 2013 and while I doubt it, I like to think that my dad was the one who made some of the stuff that Tazz might have worn when he was wrestling.

[@Longlostpuss]

Always felt a certain kind of way how they just doused Taz's flame early in WWF as a wrestler, but really interesting to hear how they pushed to be a commentator. The commentary spot is an extremely important part of the production and it's become a lost art. No match has the needed spark without it, the same as a lack of storyline or controversial meaningful build up to a match.

[@wrestlerama]

But human suplex machine moniker was used by Jim Ross the night of the rumble on his debut a quite a few times after that just go back and listen to or watch I should say the first two months of his WWE run and Jim Ross uses that to describe him not his other monitors that I can recall but the human suplex machine he definitely did check it out on the network

[@Norseman311]

Taz was believing his own schtick till RVD told him to pick a hand and slapped the shit out of him, that's when he realized he wasn't what he thought he was.

[@AaronMorgan666]

I always loved Taz and Michael cole commentating! I'd be cool to see taz do some games and some cartoon voice over work.

[@MAlexanderZagorski]

The world became a better place on Wednesday October 11,1967 with the birth of Peter "Tazz" Senerchia in Brooklyn,New York.🇺🇸

[@cooter2886]

Taz debut was a huge event.

[@salesiteisina7098]

I don't think they were saying to vince "Hey vince, this guy, he is going to hurt somebody". I know and i am sure Taz knows as well they were saying "Hey vince, this guy, he is too small to mainstream against the much bigger heavy weights." Those bastards at the wwe office were discriminating against Taz's height. They may bill him as 5'9 but we all can clearly see Taz is really 5,5 maybe 5,6. Chris Benoit was billed 5'10 but we all know he is 5'7 could be 5'8 to 5'9 with boots. Taz wrestled Benoit once and you can clearly see benoit has at least 2 inches over Taz. I am not knocking Taz cause man did he have power, he is my fav ECW wrestler. But it was his height and lack of body mass that made the WWF at the time decide to fodder Taz, eventually, thankfully because of his personality make him an announcer. Eddie Guerrero was about 5'6 to 5'7 with boots 5'8 and they pushed him cause he has the body mass even being shorter then most average heavy weights. Eddie was built and had the figure Taz never had. Shame on the WWE.

[@addelinezamora2006]

Taz needs to be in the hall of fame

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY PETER SENERCIA AKA TAZ !!!

[@KD_SWAGGER]

Taz is a great talker.

[@alvinreeder7203]

*Brock Lesnar's theme hit* "Here comes the pain" - Taz

[@justinosei-owusu3059]

it's like a theme tazz: I do this want to do this Vince: it's OK your doing this tazz: sighs v.v ok fine

[@justinosei-owusu3059]

don't

[@outwithcows8785]

Went back and watched the spot hes talking about in the angle match and it barely is a noticeable hiccup stupid WWE Tazz is dope. Maybe shinsuke and Cena should of had that awareness on that reverse exploder spot the other months LOL

[@xelementzgaming7171]

Frank P if you ever play WWF SMACKDOWN 2.. they gave him the exact same German suplex lol

[@TheMartialCardist]

Are Taz & Buh Buh related? They look and talk alike

[@user-wg6ik1wi6s]

I remember watching a match Taz vs Triple H and remember thinking the size difference was Alot and that id bet WWE is going to bury him.

[@ringobarooka3192]

Taz should be the commentator for aew

[@diontaedaughtry974]

My favorite feud was Kurt Angle and I think he was good on commentary. I just didn't like how they made him look like a pushover like every time they did an alliance segment Stone Cold would embarrass him.

[@tylerxxyz8621]

Hey Taz..... say "champ-een". You already said "puh-lethura" ....

[@biglesthecat4454]

so TNA is still around? anyone know where I can catch it? been a while think last time I watched it was back in 2014 if I remember correctly Mick Foley was having a storyline with sting

[@igchef_boyarufat5649]

a podcast talking about another Podcast, yippee!!

[@InvestBetter.]

JR said the locker room decided Tazz and his suplexes was too unsafe to work with So they got to Vince, and killed his career off within a year This rumor was started by Kurt Angle, after Tazz's win in his debut against Angle

[@Bears86SB]

TAZ was the anchor character for ECW without him ECW died

[@ShowtimeThaRaptor]

Why are these uploads always monthsssss after the interview

[@JavierScheuermannMusic]

Broooooklynnn

[@FranklinMyers_]

When will the Cody podcast be up?

[@theman6705]

THENEXTBIGTHING Idk I'll talk to Sam and ask him to put it up soon ;)

[@xtrememarioplush793]

Hey Sam do more old ECW guys interviews!!

[@187mrsmith]

Yeah that made no sense to me either how do u have tazz give Kurt Angle his 1st loss which was a big deal at that moment but then demote him & get mad about him making other guys look bad cus hes too small sometimes Vince was his own worst enemy be over thinking it thats why by 2001 WWF lost its uniqueness an started becoming 2 cartoon like again Let's remember Vincent McMahon never wanted the attitude error he only did it because he was desperate to stay alive and win at all cost!

[@abdiwahabbadal3368]

Here comes the pain!!!

[@jamesteegardner2273]

They could’ve built Taz to be the New York version of Stone Cold. “Beat me if you can, SURVIVE if I let you”! He was super over in ECW, and PaulE had all the fans believing he was a legit bad ass, and if WWE would’ve just pushed him and used him like how he was used in ECW, then they would’ve had another main eventer. Vince can’t let anyone get over in WWE unless it was his creation, and he couldn’t help himself, he was able to shit all over one of ECW’s biggest stars, and that’s just what he did. He turned “The Human Suplex Machine” into a jobber, and once he got injured and couldn’t job anymore, they turned him into a color commentator. Such a missed opportunity with Taz in WWE.

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

PETER SENERCIA AKA TZ ROCKS ON SAM ROBERTS WRESTLING PODCAST !!!

[@davidcook680]

When Taz came to WWE. I was excited. He was a beast in ECW. I didn't like how they made him a joke. Dude had amazing matches.

[@tapovlac4417]

I thought the host was Dana Carvey.

[@mattg01]

"Well, here comes the pain!"

[@kylewarren5268]

I know tazz isnt really into being a commentator but he goes down right in history with cole, king, and jr. Some of my most fond memories of wwe are tazz on the mic. He was there as part of the team of four of THEE GREATEST commentators of our lifetime. Hands down. He was wasted terribly with wwe and in that bullshit he found a way to channel all that talent into something new and in a catagory he knew nothing about and he became one of the greatest ever on commentary. Smackdown was never the same ehen he left the table.

[@howieodell3257]

Taz, is the real deal !

[@neosupreme7971]

Vince took care of Tazz, because he didn't want Tazz to take care of him.

[@ericjones9975]

Taz character was the first to come out with a MMA vibe...long b4 Goldberg!

[@jaxsquier]

I said what Yaz was saying at 12 minutes in when the Wwe took him because a lot of the guys in the back and upstairs would not want to wrestle him. Could you imagine him and Hart,Henning,Benoit,Guerrero, the matches they could have had. No Shawn,Hunter,Etc. Whining about or holding him back. Wwe wasn't ready for this guy and now its Second Nature.

[@miguelmarrero6760]

LOL

[@Thebestofchris12]

Tazz Attitude Era

[@georgewilliams1470]

What amazes me is that with the exception of Terry Funk the WWE HOF has no ECW guys. And it's a shame because when you look at the talent that was in ECW they easily outshine a lot of the people who are in the HOF!

[@babalarassrah]

because every ecw wrestler are despicable persons( exemple: cm punk)

[@Maadix5793]

I miss you Taz

[@RYzE_B3Y0ND]

I really miss the Taz show.

[@stuffsomedumb5665]

Looks like the dude from Cypress Hill