Robert Parker Talks The Genesis Of Tennesee Lee

Col. Robert Parker was recently interviewed by Wrestling Epicenter’s Interactive Wrestling Radio. You can see highlights below, and the full interview above or at this link.

Steve Austin leaving WCW and becoming the huge star he is now:
“I was with Steve for about a year, maybe more, in WCW. We had the run with Brian Pillman and the Chicken Match and all that. It was just a real good time. During that time, I was making a trip with Steve and he told me he would be leaving. I was just shocked because he had a good contract, a really good contract. One well up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars! He had said he was done with WCW and wanted to go to WWF. As an old timer, I advised him “You don’t burn these bridges because if you do, you can never go back. If you do, things are never the same. Maybe you should do your year up and finish your contract and doing business on the up and up and then going in (to WWE).” He was like, “No, no, no. I’m very unhappy.” Of course, he did not advise me about the new character of “Stone Cold” and shaving his head and all the stuff that had happened that made a lot of his success take place. Nevertheless, he went against my advice. When I saw Steve when I went in there in 1998 in WWF and he was doing so well and he and Vince were having the big feud. That year, he had made $10,000,000! (laughs) He was able to look at me from across the dressing room and laugh. He said, “You know, Col. He’s got all his stuff together. He’s got everything. But, don’t let him handle your money!” (laughs) He was exactly right!”

His relationship with Jeff Jarrett:
“It is funny how things come back to help you after you help somebody. I had also spent time with Jeff Jarrett working for his father in the USWA. He was having trouble. Guys said he was too young or too small and they didn’t want to put him over or do anything for him. I went in and I said “Hey, I can really do something with this kid.” I went in and we worked a program for probably 2 years, he and I. He never forgot it so when I finished up in WCW, they called me right away at the WWF. They said “Jeff Jarrett needs a manager. We can bring you in right away as Tennessee Lee.” I was just sitting around considering retirement and all of a sudden, because of all the nice things I had done for Jeff, I wound up in this position and getting some time up there with WWF.”