Ten Talk Show Segments You Forgot About

Interview segments are a big component of pro wrestling television. It is typically used for a popular wrestler or other personality (manager, commentator) who is very comfortable on the mic, to interview other wrestlers whether it is to help them gain more of a connection with the audience, or advance a storyline. 

There has been situations where a interview segment was given to a wrestler who just wasn't cut out for it, and that's ok it happens. For every popular and legendary interview segment like Piper's Pit, Funeral Parlor, MizTV and the Highlight Reel. There are several, run of the mill one's over the years and one's you down right do not remember. So here are 10 interview segments you probably completely forgot about 

10. The Smoke Show

When Scarlett Bordeaux joined Impact in 2018 she was The Smokeshow and her gimmick was bringing the "divas" era back. Using her sex appeal to her advantage.

Impact really wanted pushed Scarlett as a character, so they gave Scarlett her own segment The SmokeShow. Which honestly were backstage segments, featuring Scarlett "interviewing" male wrestlers but mainly seducing them into making fools of themselves. 

Impact at the time was going through a rebuilding phase. So most folks missed this era and it slowley disappeared before Scarlett left the company in 2019.

9. Coleman's Pulpit

Caprice Coleman is a talented wrestler and an amazing color commentator placing his own knowledgable and entertaining spin on commentating matches. In 2017 Ring of Honor debuted an interview segment Coleman's Pulpit on ROH TV.

Utilizing his background in ministry for the concept of the segment. Coleman would often spilt between an inspirational and encouraging host, a serious host, one who is trying to get to know his guest more. And sometimes quite aloof or an instigator. The segments were quite entertaining and it's a shame it wasn't a bigger platform for ROH at the time.

8. Cafe De René

In the mid-2000's René Duprée was considered a blue chip prospect in WWE. Entering the WWE at the young age of 19, the sky was the limit for the young wrestler. After the breakup of La Resistance, René was given his own interview segment on Smackdown. Cafe De René was complete with the ambiance of a French cafe. A french poodle, a table for two, and I want to say a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower was included in the set as well. The segment didn't last long, I don't even think it had more than 5 segments. Which made it very forgettable.

7. Under Cover With Sunny

When Sunny joined the WWF in late '94 she stood out among the roster. She was young, pretty, and had sex appeal and as the years passed and WWF moved more towards displaying that sex appeal. They looked for additional ways to have her on TV, when a new syndicated program called Shotgun Saturday Night debuted in 1997. The decision was made to give Sunny her own interview segment.

Under Cover With Sunny was the name of the segment. And it featured her with a microphone in hand sitting on a silk bed trying to get more in depth and personal with her guest. The segment did not last long on Shotgun Saturday Night and soon was phased out, as Sunny moved to other endeavors within the company.

6. nWo Nightcap

In the summer of 1998, after doing battle with Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone. The nWo set their sights on the next high profile target Jay Leno. That's right of The Tonight Show, so to antagonize Leno and build hype for the feud Eric Bischoff gave himself his own interview segment. nWo nightcap complete with a set that was an exact replica of Leno's set. 

Bischoff was the host, while Miss Elizabeth sat on the couch I guess as the co-host. He would interview fellow nWo members, namely Hogan to promote the upcoming match and tell bad jokes. Since it was created strictly for the purpose of hyping the match against Leno. The segment who lasted for a few weeks before DDP destroyed it ahead of the Road Wild pay-per-view that year.

5. Lava Lamp Lounge

In the summer of 2000, Vince Russo decided Mike Awesome who was a machine of a wrestler needed a little personality. So they saddled him with a 70's inspired gimmick of That 70's Guy, a blatant rip-off of the popular sitcom That 70's Show and tap into the nostalgia wave that was 70's culture at the time. To help get the character over, they gave him his own interview segment The Lava Lamp Lounge. Complete with all the groovy decorations one could find at the time to make out the set. 

Mike Awesome did the best with what was asked of him, but the segment did not amount to much. Far as I remember no significant storylines were advanced, or characters were introduced during this segment. And it kind of faded away along with the 70's guy gimmick.

4. Jive Talkin'

Continuing with the groovy theme, next up is the original 70's guy Disco Inferno. While that was his name in WCW, when he joined the upstart TNA in 2002 he went under his real name Glenn Gilbertti and had references to his WCW gimmick. Namely his own interview segment Jive Talkin' complete with a subdued 70's theme set. The segment did not amount to much and wasn't very memorable. It  was quietly and quickly ended a few weeks after it began during TNA's early years.  

3. Love Shack

Still rolling with groovy interview segments, in 1998 as Mick Foley changed his character from Cactus Jack to a character he created in his childhood Dude Love. He needed something to get help get the character over, and show he was a far different man from Mankind and Cactus Jack. Along with warning one Stone Cold Steve Austin he was coming for him and his WWF Championship.

The Love Shack was complete with it's own groovy set to get folks into the 70's mood. The segment didn't last long, maybe a month if that before Stone Cold destroyed it and we never got another edition of The Love Shack.

2. Matt Striker's Classroom

When Matt Striker joined the WWE in the mid-2000's they used his background as a school teacher to help build his character. He started a backstage segment complete with a chalkboard called Matt Striker's Classroom, where he gave lecture's to the audience. That evolved into segments in front of the audience, complete a principal's desk and chair.

1. Ambrose Asylum

During his run as the lunatic fringe in WWE, Dean Ambrose (Jon Moxley) also showed flashes of a cross between Roddy Piper and Brian Pillman. So it was only right he gained his own interview segment in 2016. With his promo skills that usually had folks tuned in at his every word, he seemed like the perfect choice.

Ambrose Asylum replaced Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel which was "cancelled" during their feud at the time. That probably was the biggest moment for the segment, there probably were less than 10 additional Ambrose Asylum editions that followed. 

Which made it pretty easy for fans to even remember it was a thing. It could have been more, but it is what it is.