7. He Wasn't From England, But Everyone Believed That He Was
I did some research and settled on Newcastle, England as my home town. I didn't want to be from Stratford-upon-Avon or London and use the typical upper-crust royal accent that everyone else did when putting on a British voice. I wanted to be more of a, F**k you mate, wot you talkin abaht? kinda guy. Brian Johnson from AC/DC was from Newcastle and he described it as a gritty and grungy place, which was exactly what I wanted. A real industrial, blood and guts, working class town. The first time I met Adrian Street, a veteran British grappler from the World of Sport era who had moved to the States, he asked me, So what part of the country are you from my love? I flashed him a smile and said, Baltimore!. He was stunned. Baltimore!? Youre not from England? He was so amazed that he called over his manger/wife Miss Linda to tell her.Hes from America! Hes from Baltimore! he told her in astonishment. I would not have believed it. You do it so well, she said. Steve Austins ex-wife Jeanie Clarke (a/k/a Lady Blossom) - who was from Southend, England - was similarly convinced. Oh, it is such a pleasure meeting a fellow countryman, she told me when we met. I told her that I was from Baltimore, and she remarked, Thats eerie how you are able to do that. Doing voices and impressions is something I have always had a knack for. I find it easy to pick up on dialects or a voice. I have been that way since school.