Ring of Honor announcer Bobby Cruise was recently interviewed by Wrestling Epicenter's Interactive Wrestling Radio. You can see highlights below, and the full interview above.
How he got to be close with Steve Corino:
"That company I started announcing for in 1994, as we got into the late 90's, I took over booking for in 1999. When ECW was starting to fold, we were running what you'd call "bought shows" where you'd bring in different named talent at the top of the card. We were looking to bring in a couple different people. As ECW was going down, I came across Steve's name. I said, "That's someone different. That's someone who hasn't done a lot of indies around the New England area." So, i reached out to him. He came in for an event. I was not only booking it, I was also announcing it. He pulled me aside after and said, "I really liked your announcing. I have the PWF down in Pennsylvania, I'd like you to come announce for us down there." That was really my first announcing outside of New England. It was exciting to get out a little bit and get a little more exposure. That was the first time I met Steve and thank God I did. I've said before, Steve Corino and Cary Silkin are the two guys who helped my announcing career the most by far."
Being Steve Corino's heel announcer in his debut in ROH:
"Him and the old AOL IM! (laughs) He caught me on that one night. He said he was going to return to Ring of Honor to feud with Homicide. He came up with the idea to have his own personal ring announcer and he wanted me to do it. He told me what he wanted and I was like "This is amazing." Usually as a ring announcer, you have to be serious and not really involved. With this, I could be the biggest ass in the building every time I was announcing him. I was the one holding the microphone so they had to listen to me. Those were an absolute blast. I loved those. I was so happy when Ring of Honor released his Worst of Steve Corino DVD, those intros were on the DVD set. Those were a lot of fun!"
