Anytime we sit down for an interview with Raven, it is the most interesting – if not entertaining – 30 minutes spent with any wrestler in the business. We never know what Raven’s going to say . . . perhaps because Raven probably doesn’t know what he’s going to say. Or does he? The master mind manipulator met with WCW Magazine recently and there is still no more insight into the mysterious man with shaggy hair, a bunch of tattoos, body piercings. And a hardcore attitude.

Q. Is this a new Raven we’re seeing these days?

A. “No, it’s an old Raven. It’s just a side of Raven who I haven’t shown to you. Or maybe you were too stupid to realize it existed.”

Q. So then, tell us: Who is the old Raven?

A. “It’s the character you see on TV.”

Q. Yeah, but we see you despondent and moaning . . .

A. “Mental illness is a strange thing. You know I’m manic-depressive, so I swing back and forth; the term is bipolar. Maybe you need to look that up in your psychology textbook. Do some research will ya?”

Q. You seem almost happy these days, like you are enjoying life. Is that true?

A. “Well, if you had the kind of money I’ve had, you’d enjoy life, too.”

Q. Nowadays, you’re a bit more flippant, shall we say?

A. “The demeanor you’re seeing is how I normally am. On TV, I just bring out the most miserable, wretched, unseemly side I can. But the other side is how I normally am. Actually, I go back and forth. Nobody is in one particular mood all the time. I guess I just tend to bring out my shitty mood in the arena.”

Q. What are you like away from the arenas?

A. “Depends what kind of mood I’m in. It depends on what I’m doing, where I’m at. Mental illness is a strange thing. It seems that most creative geniuses are afflicted with it . . . and I am one of each; creative and a genius.”

Q. Are you a modern day Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde?

A. “You could say that. You could say that. There’s definitely some psychoses going on . . . that has nothing to do with the Mexican high-flyer.”

Q. What’s up with you and Kanyon nowadays?

A. “Kanyon is my sidekick. Every great star has a sidekick: Butch Cassidy had the Sundance Kid; Abbott had Costello; Dean Martin had Jerry Lewis; Kevin Nash has Ross Forman.”

Q. What’s the inside story on Kanyon’s new threads?

A. “Kanyon was a bum, so I decided to take him out of the gutter with some new clothes. I figure if he’s gotta parade around my house, he at least should have to look nice.

Q. How’s the family – mom, grandma, and sister?

A. “My mom’s a pain in the ass. The only reason I tolerate her is, I haven’t yet taken over the company. When I do, there won’t be anything for her to worry about. As it stands now, we rank among Fortune Magazine’s Top 500 families and she’s the primary stockholder. But I will be taking over her company. Then I will own the company.”

Q. What number among the top 500?

A. “Look it up for yourself. All I’ll tell you is, it’s in the top half.”

Q. What is the family business?

A. “Import and export . . . a diversity of holdings which I don’t want to discuss. You name it, we’ve got our hand in it”

Q. You spent a few months in late 1998, early 1999 away from the wrestling scene. Tell us about that time. Where did you go, what did you do?

A. “It was a pleasure to get away. The reason I acted so miserable was so WCW would want to get rid of me and my mom would worry about me and I could get some time off. It’s the only way I can get a vacation around here. ‘Where did I go?’ To strip bars, I know ‘em all, all around the country. And I know the women at each on a first-name basis and they, no doubt, know me.”

Q. Dare we ask, what else do you enjoy doing away from wrestling . . . you know stuff for fun, thrills, chills, spills, etc.?

A. “I sleep a lot. I’ve been up for, oh, about 17 years straight, so I thought it was finally time to take a nap.”

Q. What is your impression of Bam Bam Bigelow?

A. “He’s a helluva talent, but Bam Bam is a pretender to my throne, as is Hak. They are all pretenders to my throne. I was the original King of Barbed Wire City. I was the ECW heavyweight champion. And, frankly, I’m appalled and insulted that they would wait until I was off, on an extended vacation, to boast, brag, and make their claims, especially when everyone knows that title is mine. I was the one who put people through tables; I was the one who drop-toe-holded people onto chairs. I was the one who brought violence to ECW, then to WCW. I would have easily won that match if it hadn’t been for my lowlife sister.”

Q. Any particular encounters with Bam Bam that stand out to you?

A. “On an independent show about six or seven years ago, we wrestled. The thing that stands out to about the match is, he went to press me over his head and I raked his eyes and he dropped me right on top of him and he had his elbows up, so he smashed my jaw and split my lip open. That’s all I remember from the match, other than the fact I pinned him.”

Q. Any particular encounter with Hak that stands out to you?

A. ‘I’ve wrestled him millions and billions of times. He’s nursed me out of gutters; I’ve nursed him out of gutters. He took me to rehab when I went, which of course didn’t work . . . but that’s neither here nor there. I’ve been in cage matches against him, and also barbed wire matches. In fact, the first barbed wire match I was ever in was against him. And if I recall correctly, I pinned him that day.”

Q. What’s ahead for you?

A. “Let’s see, I’m 30 now, so I probably have 15 plus-years to go . . . so I’m in nohurry to get my hands on anyone. But when I do pick someone I want to stomp, I’ll do it like bikers at a rally.”

Q. What else would you like to talk about?

A. “Let’s talk about you people. Why do you constantly aggravate me with questions?”

Q. Because everyone wants to know about you.

A. “People do dig me, don’t they? Especially girls. In fact, according to Colin Bowman, the publisher of this magazine, there have been many letters (sent to the magazine) directed to me from women all around the world . . . or maybe Colin was just trying to kiss up to me so I would answer your questions.”

Q. Let’s try to get back to some matters of more importance, such as Saturn, the man in a dress. What do you think of his change in character?

A. “Well, I’ve always known he’s a crossdresser. I’m just surprised it’s taken him this long to come out of the closet. Now that he’s out of the closet, I’m sure you’ll find that what’s in the closet is a pretty snappy wardrobe. I think it’s good for him. I think everyone should come out of the closet, if they’re in the closet. Personally, I have nothing to do with the closet. I can deal with people in the closet or out of the closet . . . just as long as they are tattooed pierced freaks.”

Q. What about your sister, Chastity?

A. “She’s pretty good looking, don’t ya think? She’s just like the rest of my family, a deceptive, backstabbing slut and you gotta love that!”

Q. What about championship gold?

A. “Conspiracy. Obviously you have to know someone to get championship matches. I hate to sound like Jericho when I rant and rave about this, but WCW just isn’t gonna give me a title shot. So, since I’m not gonna get one, I’m just gonna entertain myself.”

Q. Any questions for us, Raven?

A. “Yeah . . . is this going to be a cover story?”

Q. Yeah, without a doubt.

A. “Are you lying to me?”

Q. Yes, we are.

A. “I like that. If you’re lying to me, at least be honest about it.”

Q. How about a final thought, please?

A. “Revenge is a dish best served cold.