Wrestling101.com recently conducted an excellent in-depth interview with 2013 WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino. Here are a few highlights:

His Career Highlights:

“In those eleven plus years that I was champion I wrestled all over but some of the most memorable matches that I had were against the likes of, Killer Kowalski, Ivan Koloff, Don Leo Jonathan, Dr. Bill Miller, Gorilla Monsoon, and Hans Mortier who was also European and the list goes on. I had some big matches in Japan against Shohei Baba and we fought for over an hour many times, I wrestled guys in Australia, Mexico, and Spain.”

“One of the highlights of my career was when I picked up Haystacks Calhoun, who was over 600lbs, that was exciting because no one had ever been able to lift him and when I did lift him I thought the roof of Madison Square Garden was going to fly off, people went absolutely wild.”

“Wrestling Buddy Rogers even though it was a short match it was great because that was my opportunity to become the headliner. I was very fortunate because I got to wrestle some of the truly great heavyweights in the business, I wrestled them all so today I look back and I’m very proud and happy.”

The Movie Being Made About His Life:

“I’m very pleased with the documentary and it has been completed, I’ve seen it and I was very happy with it because it’s one hundred per cent the truth. We made three or four trips to Italy and we even went up that mountain where we hid from the Nazi’s and filmed up there and we even interviewed the people of my town that are still around who went through the same ordeal as myself.”

“I did a lot in telling the story and they interviewed a lot of people, it’s about two hours but I was very pleased with it because it was very honest, very truthful and I’m very anxious for it to show. We are speaking to a number of distributing companies as there is a lot of interest from people in Japan, Germany, Italy and England that want to see it and it will be broadcasted by one of the networks over here in America later on in the year.”

“The movie, they have finished the screen writing and I’ve been told by the producer that there are two studios in Hollywood that are interested in the film but there are some independent producers that would like to produce it as well. They are at the process of who is going to fund it, but the producer Scott Rosenfelt has told me they are going to start casting people who are going to play the part of myself and other people that are going to be involved.”

“To be honest I’m more excited about the documentary because the documentary is all factual and it involves the people that were actually involved.”

There’s much more to the interview, including his childhood during World War 2, how he got into wrestling, his relationships with Vince McMahon Sr. & Jr., his view on current WWE Superstars and more.

* VIDEO: CM Punk Says “F-U” To ‘Smart’ Wrestling Fans

TNA’s fighting lawyer, OVW graduate and Abyss’ brother Joseph Park joined the “Award Winning Best New Show” The Rack Thursday Night.

In a nearly 20 minute interview, he discussed his excitement at making his New York debut this weekend, his one year TNA anniversary, the transition from lawyer to full-time wrestler, what it was like training in OVW, defeating Bully Ray at Slammiversary, how he came up with his finisher and possible names for it, if anyone else at the firm of Park, Park and Park are looking to follow him into the ring, his Chicago homecoming with IMPACT, what it’s like to have fans, what his favorite city to visit with IMPACT so far and where he’s looking forward to visit, his thoughts on Robbie E and their upcoming match and his budding friendship with James Storm, if he has his sights set on titles in the future, his reaction to Bully Ray naming himself the President of Aces and 8’s, offering his help to Brooke and Hulk and his unique skill set, the possibility of a Joseph Park documentary and much more.

Here are some highlights of what he said about:

Celebrating is one year anniversary with TNA and the transition from lawyer to full-time wrestler: “It has been a heck of a transition, you know? I mean, I showed up about, like you mentioned, about a year ago and had no intention of wrestling; just wanted to look for my brother Abyss. I got some answers but not all the answers I needed; I couldn’t really find him and he showed up at Slammiversary and didn’t even stop to say hi to me after he helped me. You know, after that all happened, I was ready to go back to my law practice and then Bully Ray kinda got in my face a little bit and I kind of had just enough of being pushed around and stuff, so I decided to stand up for myself. Then, whole this thing just kind of rollerballed and I went to OVW, training with Danny Davis and the great folks out in Ohio Valley Wrestling and the next thing you know, here I am. So, I am still proud of my law practice but pretty excited about the future with wrestling.”

What was it like beating Bully Ray at Slammiversary and picking up his first win: “You know what, you’re right; you hit it on the head Lindsey. I mean, it has been; that match was something I’ll never forget, you know? And as you remember, I had a little assistance there from my brother; that‘s about the only time I’ve seen him since I’ve started looking for him and I actually didn’t even see him. I got to see the tape replay later but was not able to connect with him. But, to get back on your point, I was a great win for me and it kind of catapulted things and after everything that happened with Aces & 8’s; I’ll be the first to admit, Bully Ray pulled the wool over everybody’s eyes, including mine and Hulk Hogan’s and Sting’s and everybody else. So, it’s going to be interesting to see where things go moving forward.”

Making his homecoming to Chicago: “It was great. It was truly a homecoming of sort and it was ironic with the first live television, outside of Orlando, was in Chicago, IL; my hometown. So, I mean, that was incredible. All the partners of Park, Park and Park were there; I couldn’t get them anything other than nosebleed seats unfortunately because I don’t have that kind of clout yet. Hopefully, when I get kind of clout that Kurt Angle, Sting and Hulk have, maybe one day I’ll be able to get them better seats. Absolutely, I’ll get a little more clout in the office and stuff like that and hopefully I’ll be able to get some better seats for the partners for maybe the next time we come back to Chicago.”

Taking IMPACT on the road: “We’re just excited in general; I mean, Orlando and Universal Studios was great. It was fantastic to us but it really didn’t give us an opportunity to get out around the country and to connect with our fan base and this has really allowed us to do that. You know, getting out of Orlando and getting on the road and actually getting in front of fans in the Midwest and the Northeast and in the South; to actually connect with them had just made such a huge difference in the show. Orlando was great and they’re a great crowd; god bless them, we love them to death but, you know, moving out and moving on the road, and in front of a live audience every week, a fresh audience. It means the world of difference to everything and you can tell that just by watching the show and come right through your television screen; that momentum and that creativity and everything, it just comes right through your TV screen. Those fans are great on the road.

His friendship with on “Cowboy” James Storm: “James is great you know; you talk about a true, true cowboy. I mean, the guy is as much of a cowboy out the ring as he is in the ring and he’s been great to be around. I’ve learned a lot from just talking to him and I actually got to travel with him a couple of times on the road, early on in my career. He’s just a great guy to be around and he’s an intense guy to be around and I can’t think of a better guy to kind of learn the intensity and learn the ins-and-outs of this whole business from than a guy, a seasoned veteran, like James Storm. He is a lot of fun, and the thing with Storm is when it’s time to fight, when it’s time to wrestle, nobody comes more prepared than him, but when it’s time afterward to drink some beer, there’s nobody more prepared than him too. So, that’s a unique quality he has.”

His reaction to Bully Ray revealing himself as the President of Aces & 8’s: “I felt betrayed and duped, just like everybody else, you know? That’s just me, I’m sure I don’t feel as duped as Hulk Hogan does; he ended up handing his daughter over in marriage to this guy. That part really bothers me the most and the fact that he fooled everybody. He did fool everybody and he had a lot of help fooling everybody; I mean, he was behind this thing the whole time and so he did an incredible job. I’ll give Bully Ray one, he did an incredible job of pulling the wool over everybody’s eyes but now we’re in quite a jam. I mean, gosh, this guy is still married to Brooke Hogan, technically, legally. And as a guy who’s a lawyer, it’s going to be tough to get her out of that marriage; he’s not budging at all. He’s doesn’t want out of it, so it’s going to be interesting to see what happens. But I know this much, I’ll be there to help out, whether it’s physically or providing my legal skills to help resolve this whole thing.”

Tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown is a pre-WrestleMania special, featuring matches taped on Monday night prior to RAW as well as footage from this weekend’s WWE AXXESS fan fest.

Here are the matches that will air tonight:

* Ryback vs. Epico & Primo in a handicap match.

* Jack Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston.

Also appearing are Team Rhodes Scholars, Brodus Clay, Tensai the final hype for WrestleMania 29.

– All four members of the McMahon family are now on Twitter, with Shane McMahon coming on board the social networking outlet. The former WWE Superstar and executive launched his account yesterday at @theshanemcmahon. In his first tweet, he posted this picture of himself acknowledging his all-grey hair.

Thus far, all of the 1999 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year’s messages have concerned WWE and WrestleMania. He has answered some fan questions, and is also conducting a WrestleMania ticket giveaway.

McMahon parted ways with WWE in 2009 after resigning from the position of Executive Vice President of Global Media. He currently serves as the chief executive officer and chairman of YOU On Demand.

– In three days, WrestleMania will take place near AJ Lee’s hometown of Union City, New Jersey. Speaking to WWE, the lifelong wrestling fan is recalling her journey to the big show as she shows off her massive collection of Converse sneakers.

“I have probably more than 40 or 50 pairs of Chucks, which is probably unhealthy … I should see a doctor,” said Lee. “Chucks are cooler when they’re dirty. I actually stepped on somebody’s the other day because they were too clean.”