WF: Hello Duane, firstly I would like to thank you for taking this time to take part in an interview for www.wrestlingfever.de.

Gill: No problem, thanks for having me here man.

WF: How did you break into the wrestling business ?

Gill: Well uh, well…long story kinda. I was young, probably somewhere in my mid-20’s and I was so interested in the NWA, I absolutely idolized Ric Flair. Well, I was approached by Larry Sharpe and he had potential in me. Back then I was known as Lord of Discipline Pain, but first Duane Gill. And then in 1989 I debuted. Vince McMahon had come to Sharpe’s place and when I got there on the day of….March 3rd, 1994….everybody was saying “Duane! Vince came and he’s looking for you!” Everybody knew who McMahon was. I called the WWF and there it went, Gillberg was born.

WF: Do you remember how the idea of Gillberg arised and how the WWE came into contact with you?

Gill: It was in April and Vince had an idea of a Dusty Rhodes “son” gimmick for me where I’d be Dusty’s other son that he didn’t know about and I’d be just like him and imitate everything he did. Well a couple weeks later right when Vince had his mind set, Mark Callaway (Taker) saw a part of Monday Nitro and saw that big SOB on Nitro, Bill Goldberg. Mark called me and Vince, told us the idea, and Vince really liked it. He gave up the Dusty Jr. gimmick and I became the Goldberg imitation, Gillberg.

WF: Sure a dream became true for you...

Gill: Yeah, two actually. The first dream that came true was when I was hired by Vince and the WWE, I loved it! I was the happiest man alive! And the second most happiest moment of my life was when my daughter was born in 1992. I was the happiest man alive.

WF: Gillberg was a definitely a parody on the WCW Goldberg Gimmick, but with the difference, that you should have a "defeat-series". No one would ever sign a WWE contract under this conditions today. How did you react on the idea, the character and the storylines?

Gill: Well, I hated being a jobber at first, and Vince was trying to push me to get on steroids that way I can be a full imitation of Bill, I just wouldn’t do it and I told him to his face I wouldn’t do steroids, so that’s when I became the jobber of the whole WWF/WWE. I loved the character Gillberg though, he was a complete maniac! The idea was great, I was glad that Callaway thought of it.

WF: How did William Goldberg react on your gimmick? You talked about this, didn't you?

Gill: Bill was laughing his ass of when I talked to him about the whole gimmick when we first got Gillberg on the show. During the whole Rock/Goldberg saga, he was still laughing his ass off and he thought the whole gimmick was funny, actually.

WF: How was the peoples reaction on you backstage? You had (have) any friendships or did you perhaps also have to take some pranks?

Gill: I had to deal with the heat from the bigger boys in the back, that were either there longer and/or bigger in muscle than me. I was one of the guys who wouldn’t do steroids, so I was one of the little guys. I had to deal with the harassment and heat, that’s the only part I hated.

WF: During your time with the WWE you accomplished a lot, winning the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship and worked with several stars such as the Rock, Chris Jericho, Shane McMahon and the Original Goldberg. What are your memories of working with these stars and winning the Light Heavyweight Championship?

Gill: I loved winning the Light Heavyweight Championship, that was one of the proudest moments of my life and I was finally glad that Vince let me get ahead of the game for a while. I finally hit the big boys playground. As for working with Jericho/Goldeberg/etc. it was a great time for me. I appreciated working with Bill and Chris, they are great stars in and out of the ring.

WF: Did you have (had) a favourite wrestler(s)?

Gill: The Nature Boy. He was my all-time favorite and I was glad to meet him when I came to the WWF/WWE.

WF: When The Rock had his feud with the "real" Goldberg you either played a role. It was your job to annoy Goldberg. You two even stood in the ring for a few seconds and you attacked him. How do remember this scene and what did you have in mind? In the end The Rock saved you...

Gill: I remember I was at home for a small break, resting nagging injuries, and Vince called like day after I was off the road saying that Bill Goldberg was having a feud with The Rock and they wanted me a part of it since I was already in a feud with Johnson. I accepted the offer and loved it. When I mocked Goldberg, it was funny as hell, Rocky Johnson was losing it, about to laugh his ass off! I liked it when I finally got to participate with Goldberg, it was a great moment and it was funny!

WF: You worked as "Jobber" and your only victory as Gillberg came on a February 13th, 1999 taping of Raw is War, defeating Dustin Runnels (Goldust) with help from the Blue Meanie. Great Memorie, or?

Gill: It was a good moment, kind of. I appreciated the win as Gillberg and I had finally won as Gillberg, but the only part I didn’t like about it was that people would still call me a Jobber and I know I would’ve returned to my jobbing position.

WF: On the 15th Anniversary of RAW you returned and participated in the 15 Man Battle Royal, but you was eliminated almost immediately by every superstar in the match.. A Sidekick to Goldberg?

Gill: I can tell that Vince has heat with me, he never really liked-liked me, just because I wouldn’t do steroids, he thought since I couldn’t become one of the “juiced up freaks” that I would never be a main-eventer.

WF: You are running your Gillberg-Gimmick in the independents, too. How do the people react on this gimmick outside the WWE?

Gill: I like the gimmick I have in the independent circuit. I’m doing some personal appearances and the fans still realize who Gillberg is kinda, but they still believe I’m a Jobber from the WWE.

WF: How are you doing today? What is "Gillberg" doing after his "big" WWE time?

Gill: Well, nothing really. I haven’t been doing much appearances for the indy circuit, I’ve been spending time with my family, taking care of my daughter, and she’s expecting a child so I’m gonna be a grandpa for the first time, I’m doing great. And yes, Gillberg still occasionally appears for the indy promoters.

WF: Are you personally interested in Wrestling? Do you take a look on any other promotions like TNA (How is your reaction)?

Gill: I’m thinking of finally retiring, I have a family and I possibly have enough money to live off of from my past appearances and wrestling events, I still watch Raw weekly, I still watch any wrestling every so often, and I still make some appearances if I want to. I have considered TNA and ROH as main places I’d prefer to go. I’ve been contacted by TNA but I haven’t made any decisions whatsoever. You never know, I might come back to the WWE but that’s a small chance.

WF: How would you describe your character?

Gill: He’s a total maniac. He is an imitation of Goldberg but you know, he has his own personal style. When I am Gillberg, I change into another crazy person, except crazier. Gillberg is way different that Duane Gill, but the similarity between the two is both of them love the fans and absolutely love when the fans chant “Gillberg” over and over.

WF: Thank you Duane Gill a.k.a GILLBERG!

Gill: No problem, thanks for having me here for the interview. Hope to catch up with all of you soon. If ya need something, just email me on my MySpace!

www.myspace.com/officialgillbergmyspace

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