MMANews.com correspondent Michael Moody caught up with UFC Hall Of Famer and former WWE Superstar “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock at a recent Bellator media event in San Diego, California. Below is a full transcript of the interview, which you can watch in full via the video above.
On working as a bodyguard for rapper/actor 50 Cent:
“It went crazy while I was there, but really I was there because I was brought in for a special job. 50 Cent did not bring me in, I was working for 50 Cent for the company that was putting on the show. Because 50 Cent had an issue with [Floyd] Mayweather and they felt like there might be some complications there because Mayweather was gonna have a booth there. And so we were brought in separately from what 50 Cent already had as security. So we were working the perimeters [and] his guy was right on him, as the bodyguard and we were working the perimeter of the store. We would walk him in and out and walk with him and basically worked protection for him but we weren’t hired by his staff. And then when this blew up people were like, ‘oh you worked for 50 Cent and this and that,’ and we were, but we weren’t hired by him. So, it’s kind of funny how that blew up, but it was privelage. I met him, he’s a good guy. I mean, I hear everything about him, but to me he was respectful. I didn’t have any problems with him. I’m sure he didn’t appreciate people running around saying I was his bodyguard. Obviously that’s not how I wanted it to happen but you know, people will say and do what they want to do. I was there as a bodyguard for 50 Cent, but we were not hired by him. So I just wanted to clear that up, but it was a good time, he’s not a bad guy and I really enjoyed him and being around him and everybody that was around him was very respectful and good people.”
On his current relationship with Dana White:
“As far as I know we’re good. I’ve reached out to him several times and tried to get involved with them, but I know they’re really busy and they’ve got other things going on, so I respect that. They have their direction that they’re going and I’m not a part of that direction — which is fine — I’ve got no problem with that. They’re busy, they’re doing very good for themselves and they don’t need me, which is fine. So, I know Scott Coker reached out to me and said he had something he would like me to get involved with, with Bellator and I was already supporting Tito [Ortiz] on his fight. I was going to be here anyways because I wanna see him win. I’d like to see him get his revenge. So, when I realized what Scott had done, I was like, ‘man, that’s just genius!’ I mean, he’s reached out to Royce Gracie, he’s reached out to Randy Couture. I mean, obviously Tito’s here and he’s a big-time legend who really did a lot for the sport. I just see so many legends here, so many guys here that Scott Coker reached out to and said, ‘hey, we would love for you to be a part of this.’ And I thought to myself, why is it taking so long for legends — for guys who helped build the sport — who put their blood, sweat and tears in the ring and all the fans that supported them, how come they haven’t been a part of trying to support these young fighters coming up? Bringing them in and doing interviews and making them a part of this party that these young fighters are starting to fight in and giving support for them because we’ve already been there and done that and we have an insight on what’s happening. You know? Even breaking down fighters’ experiences [like] ‘one guy has this, one guy has that.’ Because we have the education for that, but it just seems like Scott is the only one that has really said, you know what? These guys are all sitting out there and UFC is not using them, nobody else is using them — I’ll use them, and once he did that, I don’t think there’s a doubt in anybody’s mind that what this has been up to this point has been a buzz! It has been a buzz! Social media has gone through the roof because I was under the roof of the same signing places as Royce Gracie. Me and Tito will bury the hatchet and I’m supporting Tito. I mean, all it was is because Scott reached out and said let’s bring in some of these legends who helped build the sport and now you see this huge social media boost for what’s going on with Bellator. Why has it taken this long to do that?! I mean, we’ve definitely earned the right to be a part of this.”
On whether or not he will ever fight again:
“Well, I’ll never say — I’ve said this many times: I just don’t like to say the word ‘retirement.’ It’s not something I like to use, although that’s not to say I haven’t slipped at times, but I just don’t like it because the way I grew up was that the only reason why I’m standing here today was because I didn’t have the word ‘quit’ in me. I didn’t have the word ‘like I’m done’ in me and the reason why I was successful in a lot of fights was because I didn’t have that in me either. I’ll never give up, and for me to say those words — and it’s not that way for everybody — it’s just because of the way I was brought up that I’ll never say that I’m done. Not until I’m dead, because there’s always an opportunity somewhere and if the opportunity is the right one, then, you know, who knows? But again, like I said, I’m never going to take away them options for myself.”
On if the rumors are true that he would like to return for another run in WWE:
“Well, of course I want to get back. There’s unfinished business there. I really felt like I earned a lot in getting a program to run for the WWF title. I believe that The Rock went ahead of me and we had great matches for the Intercontinental title and he went from that up to challenge for the WWF title and ended up getting it. I really believed I was next in line. I did everything I needed to do. We had the fan base, we had the following, the people expected it and then it was just cut off. So, it was unfinished business. So, when people ask me, ‘hey, do you wanna go back there?’ I say, ‘absolutely, I would love to go back because I felt like it would be great to be able to get a run at that again.’ But, for whatever reason, and I’ve asked — is there a reason why you’ve brought other people back and why I have not been brought back, and if there is a reason, can you at least tell me so I can walk away and understand why, because I really feel like I earned that right. And well, I’ve heard nothing. Nobody said anything to me, so it is what it is, man. Just gotta move forward.”
Interview continued on page two, click below …