1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: Battle Brown Why from the parts unknown Studios to the 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: Battle Crowd, the Battle Round, the Battle Crowd, Welcome to 3 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: the Battleground Podcast, your place for all things pro wrestling. 4 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 2: The Battle Road. 5 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 3: The Battle Crowd now. 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: Making their way to the microphones, sec give it up 7 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: for your hosts. 8 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 4: Welcome to the Battle Crown. What's up you guys? Welcome 9 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 4: back to the iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, the Battleground Podcast. 10 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 4: And this weekend is a very very big weekend for 11 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 4: all ely wrestling. It's a homecoming for our guest today, 12 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 4: Swerve Strickland joins us. Swerve, how you doing, sir? 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 3: What's going on? Yo? Walking off the Seattle right now? 14 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 4: It's perfect weather there, of course it's it's a homecoming 15 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 4: from you from being from Tacoma. We're at Wrestle Dream 16 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 4: this Sunday out of Seattle. First things first, let me 17 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 4: ask you how's your hand after the pin attack from Hangman. 18 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 3: I can't show it on camera right now. It's too gruesome, 19 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 3: so I'm just gonna leave it at pat. You'll see. 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 3: I'm probably gonna have to wrap up this weekend. 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I think there's some payback coming for. 22 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 3: The good I see it. I see it as a 23 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 3: badge of honor because I'm an agitator and he guy 24 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 3: exactly what I wanted out of the man. 25 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 5: So that was very uncharacteristic of him too. So making 26 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 5: him break, that's that's a good psychological tool. 27 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: That's good. 28 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, he won a motivation, he found it. 29 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 4: Absolutely, he's gonna have the flight of his life come 30 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 4: Sunday at Wrestle Dream And uh, you know, this is 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 4: something that's that's been great for the business. Twenty twenty 32 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 4: three has been a monster year for wrestling as a whole. 33 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 4: Do you see this year as one of the biggest 34 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 4: of your career? 35 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 3: Oh? For sure, absolutely, just just the amount of I 36 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 3: would say this year for aw has had a lot 37 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 3: of pressure on us, for sure, just like the fourth 38 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 3: year of the very young company that's still striving doing 39 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 3: very great things. And right now, especially with wrestled Dreaming, 40 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: a very brand new pay per view that's being brought 41 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 3: to the brought brought to the forefront of the company, 42 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 3: and me being one of the marquee matches to sell 43 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 3: it at this point following All In and All Out, 44 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 3: it's pretty big and grand Slam on top of that, 45 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 3: So right now, this is this spot is really tough 46 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 3: for us, but man, the fans have been supporting really big, 47 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 3: you know, and there's a lot of interest in this, Like, uh, 48 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 3: not too long ago, didn't Tony Kahan just come out 49 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 3: and say, this is the new era of AW I 50 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 3: truly believe that. I truly believe we're seeing a whole 51 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 3: new regime of like different waves of talent kind of 52 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 3: fluctuating into a really big spot. You Like, you got 53 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 3: your Chris stat Landers and Julia Harts right now really 54 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 3: coming into their own getting the opportunity on prime time 55 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 3: television and a pay per view title match situations. You know, 56 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 3: you got Jay White like just jumping ahead as far 57 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 3: as like one of the top guys of the company 58 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 3: and stuff like that. They're seeing a lot more of 59 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 3: the guys that have been on top going into the 60 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 3: Multiman's a little bit more now. You're seeing Jericho in 61 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 3: that situation. Don Kallas is becoming a way more of 62 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 3: an importance on the show. Seeing Christian with the resurgence 63 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 3: of a lifetime man, Like you're just seeing so many 64 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 3: like myself and the mobile Embassy now not'm making a 65 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 3: resurgence going viral the way he does you know that 66 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 3: you're seeing this A lot of guys are like really 67 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 3: hungry and grasping for those spots and we're getting them, 68 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,839 Speaker 3: which is doesn't always happen in the wrestling business. See, 69 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 3: it's very unforgiving and there's a lot of front like 70 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 3: loopholes to jump through. You're seeing a lot of these 71 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 3: guys get their opportunities and not handed to them, but 72 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 3: they're earning them and you're going to see more. You know, 73 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 3: that's a lot to look forward to. And I don't 74 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 3: want to jump to twenty twenty four just yet because 75 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 3: we still got a lot of meat left on the 76 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 3: bone with twenty twenty three. But right now it's a 77 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 3: very exciting, very important time for the company, you know, 78 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 3: I mean. 79 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 5: I mean the last two months have been incredible for wrestling. 80 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 5: I mean, like I mean, I was we were talking 81 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 5: before we got on. I haven't even started Heels Season 82 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 5: two because I'm like, I have so much aw going 83 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 5: on right now, I can't focus on anything but no. 84 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: But speaking speaking of you know. 85 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 5: Recently, you know all in Wimbley, we were not too 86 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 5: far away from that largest show in history. You were 87 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 5: in one of the most buzzed about matches. You and 88 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 5: Christian took on Derby and Steeing coffin match. What was 89 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 5: the highlight of that match for you? And you know, 90 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 5: what was it like being in a ring with Sting 91 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 5: and Christian. 92 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 3: Honestly, I highlight me personally as the young wrestling fan 93 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 3: of me came out of the match a little bit 94 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 3: was being Christian hitting double spears on Darby, and early 95 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 3: in the match, I was like, this just happened. It 96 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 3: happened that kind of moment because I grew up on 97 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 3: like the freaking triangle ladder matches, the you know, the 98 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 3: table tlcs. I grew up watching that and that's kind 99 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 3: of what made me go insane the way I did 100 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 3: early on in you know, my wrestling career and stuff 101 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 3: like that. But that was probably the not the moment 102 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 3: that everybody talked about as much in that match, but 103 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 3: for me, that was so symbolic for me and my 104 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 3: childhood inner child was just screaming inside after that, and 105 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 3: then I went back into just serious mode. All right, well, 106 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 3: I'm here to here to win this match. 107 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: You know, right, I mean we are. 108 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 4: I mean, going back looking at that match, that that 109 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 4: was a fun match for sure. I mean Obviously it 110 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 4: didn't happen the outcome and happened the way that we 111 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 4: were hoping it for you to win that night. But 112 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 4: you gotta think when you're sitting there in front of 113 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 4: eighty thousand people, like the biggest wrestling show to date, like, 114 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 4: do Nurse Chick in it for a little bit for 115 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 4: sure Strickland during that match, or do you just think 116 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 4: of it as just it's this is another match just 117 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 4: in a much bigger grand scheme of fakes. 118 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 3: I look at it as I know how to ride 119 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 3: a bike, now, just got to ride a bike in 120 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 3: front of eighty thousand people. That's how I got to 121 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 3: kind of like situate it, like I know what I'm doing. 122 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 3: I've done this thousands of times in front of like 123 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 3: fifteen people. I've done it in front of fifteen hundred people. 124 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 3: Now I've done it in front of twenty thousand people. 125 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 3: Never done in front of eighty thousand people. But it's 126 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 3: probably the same as as doing it in front of 127 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 3: fifteen people. So but afterwards, after it was all said 128 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 3: and done, the job was done, we're off air, off camera, 129 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 3: you know, I'm in the back. I can honestly be like, yeah, okay, 130 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 3: now I can feel it. But before that, I was 131 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 3: a prize fighter walking to the ring ready for the battle. 132 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, and this okay again, going back to it, It's 133 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 4: probably been one of my favorite shows so far this year. 134 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 5: That I. 135 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:19,119 Speaker 2: Look. 136 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 4: So, you know, you continue to get some of the 137 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 4: loudest pops whenever a e W travels, and then of 138 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 4: course now non I gets pops as well as dance moves. 139 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 4: What do these insane reactions say about your relationship to 140 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 4: the audience. 141 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 3: I feel like they are growing with me, and I 142 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 3: feel like they're understanding me more too. They're understanding why 143 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 3: I'm there, what my purpose is, and but also they're 144 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 3: at the edge of their seat to know what I'm 145 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 3: about to do, right, Yeah, I mean what I'm about 146 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 3: to say. They don't know how I'm about to go about. 147 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 3: What's like, they don't. They just don't know. They don't. 148 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 3: Anything can come about. I can be happy, go lucky, 149 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 3: or I could it could turn really really bad and 150 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 3: somebody gets a center block, somebody gets this, it can 151 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 3: go I have such like great range of not just 152 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 3: emotion but probability with this character, and with Nan out 153 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: of there and the mobile embassy is always lurking somewhere 154 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: and stuff like that, you know, And I think that's 155 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 3: what's good about a viewer. There's always it's always kind 156 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 3: of like tense. It's always a suspense of like we like, 157 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 3: oh no, that's not gonna happen, but it could, yeah, right, 158 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 3: you know, And I think that's where the audience is 159 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 3: understanding about anymore. 160 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 5: And I think last night, even like when Nana was 161 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 5: coming down and you just did that like that alone, 162 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 5: just you know, you turn up the heat a little bit, 163 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 5: like that's what they wanted, and you're like, Nope, this 164 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 5: is my time. Like that's a perfect example exactly. 165 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, like you don't know. 166 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, not right now. 167 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 5: So you know, talking about when of your accolades with 168 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 5: Keith Lee swearing our glory, capture the world tag team titles, 169 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 5: they had a there's a very can they exist relationship 170 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 5: going on in most situations, there's a blowoff match with that, 171 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 5: and we we haven't really gotten that yet. 172 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 2: Are you still looking over your shoulder for Keith Lee? 173 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 5: And would you entertain kind of a one on one 174 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 5: match down the road with him to kind of settle 175 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 5: all that. 176 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 3: I'm still looking for Keith Lee. Where has he been, 177 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 3: so you know, that's probably the best question, as I'll settle. 178 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 3: I'll settle any score anywhere, it don't matter to me. 179 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 3: You're not right, Yeah, Like it's almost like those fighters 180 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 3: in boxing fight, so like you'll just make the fight, 181 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 3: make the fight. Oh, I mean, hey, I'm not the 182 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 3: I'm not the booker, I'm not the I'm not the 183 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 3: guy like controlling the money on this whole thing. Set 184 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: the fight up. I'll be there. Of course I might 185 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 3: lose the way in, but I'll be there for the fight. 186 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 4: You're not gonna go down without you know, without a fight, 187 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 4: for sure, speaking fight. I mean, this Sunday, it's gonna 188 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 4: be insane. We've got our very first edition of wrestled 189 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 4: Dream coming live from your home city, your hometown, Seattle, 190 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 4: and it's on pay per view. Let me ask you this, 191 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 4: how important is this match against Hangman in your hometown 192 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 4: and is this a have to win situation for you? 193 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 3: I feel like I look at every matches have to win, 194 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 3: but this is more of a how can I not 195 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 3: win situation for me. You know, I've elevated in such 196 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 3: a way that you know it's showing on statistics. Right 197 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 3: at this point, you know, no matter how high you go, 198 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 3: there's always going to be a people always going to 199 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 3: try to raise the ceiling for you not to break through. 200 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 3: But my ceiling is my floor at this point, and 201 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 3: Hangman is like the perfect person that I needed for that, 202 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 3: And I'm also the perfect person that Hangman needed to 203 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: get back in the that that that that visual of 204 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 3: the for the fans, it's like, oh man, he's this 205 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 3: is something I'd never seen from Hangman. And all the years, 206 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 3: all the matches, all the promos, all the great stories 207 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,079 Speaker 3: he's been telling, this is still something new for him. 208 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 3: And I think that's the beauty of what we're both 209 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 3: providing each other. Yeah, I feel like that's the interest 210 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 3: of the match itself. That's what's selling it. Like once again, 211 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 3: you don't know what's going to happen, you don't know 212 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 3: which way it's going to turn, you don't know what's 213 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 3: going to come out. Now we've seen what is capable 214 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 3: of Hangman. What's I pulled out of him on Wednesday night. 215 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 3: Now it's like, okay, what is he is? That? What 216 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 3: is he's going to have to try to keep that? 217 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 3: Going into Russell Dreams. I've already had that I don't 218 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 3: need that. Yeah, and like this is this arena is 219 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 3: way more of an enemy than I could ever be too. 220 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: Right, So you're essentially you're looking for the dog and. 221 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 3: Hang man, right, Yeah for sure? 222 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, gotcha. 223 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 5: So one of the promo that mentions last night, you'd 224 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 5: mentioned becoming, uh, you know, the first African American AW 225 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 5: World heavyweight champion. There's a large obviously a large fan 226 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 5: base that supports that. What would it mean to you 227 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 5: to become the first African American aw World champ? 228 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: And what would you. 229 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 5: Bring to the table that maybe the current champ, MJF doesn't. 230 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 3: That's already a tough tough selling it as it is. 231 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 3: I can't bring anything more than MGF because MGF is 232 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 3: doing top tier work. But what I can do is 233 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 3: bring something different. I can bring something unique that MGF 234 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 3: can't bring. It's not necessarily more, but it's unique in 235 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 3: a different lane, you know what I mean? I what 236 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 3: I have been doing, Like as far as like the 237 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 3: outside media has already been untapped in any part of 238 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 3: pro wrestling. I've there's never been any pro wrestler inside 239 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 3: Double XL magazine as an artist himself, you know, I 240 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 3: one of the few wrestlers that's like red carpeted the Grammys. 241 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 3: H I'm one of a few wrestlers that's actually worked 242 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 3: with Grammy winning artists. Yeah, and producers and stuff, you know, 243 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 3: like bringing Rick Ross, like doing all these other things, 244 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 3: all these like I was this past weekend. I was 245 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: in a revot ward with Diddy, then going the following 246 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 3: like a couple of days later being in the office 247 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 3: with Coach Prime at Colorado. You know, like that's a 248 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 3: lot of things I'm doing without a title. Imagine you 249 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 3: give me more power. Imagine you give me more of 250 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 3: a trophy that I can You know how much more 251 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 3: I can really ring rein it? You know this is 252 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 3: already the limited sources. Give me the real Now you're 253 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 3: going to give me the apple of Eden? How can 254 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 3: I walk through this world with that? That's what the 255 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 3: aw World Championship means to me as an African American male. 256 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 3: And that's that's almost That's also very scary for a 257 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 3: lot of people too. It's a lot of there's a 258 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 3: lot of fear in that because there hasn't been one yet. 259 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 3: You know, being in the first is always a lot 260 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 3: of there's a lot more judgment. There's a lot more fear, 261 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 3: there's a lot more like waiting for you to fail 262 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 3: as well. And that's and I feel like that's the 263 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 3: that's when I bring the uniqueness to holding that championship 264 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 3: because I know I won't fail. Right for good answer, Very. 265 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 4: Good answer, because I mean you talk about like you said, 266 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 4: there's a lot of pressure on you. I was there 267 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 4: the night that Ron Killings Our Truth won the NWA 268 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 4: World Heavyweight Championship. 269 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 3: Very special moment that doesn't get talked about enough in 270 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 3: my opinion, and like I. 271 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 4: Was there and we've had him on the show talking 272 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 4: about that moment, and he was like when they first 273 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 4: told him backstage, hey, you're going over you're the You're 274 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 4: the champ tonight, And he thought they were joking when 275 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 4: they told me. They're like, you are the first African 276 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 4: American NWA World Heavyweight Champion out of all the years. 277 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 4: And he's like, that is one of the greatest accomplishments 278 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 4: I've ever had this business. 279 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 3: Yep. And that's just just for that accomplishment alone in 280 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 3: the Hall of Fame career. Then he went on to 281 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 3: do twenty more years after that. Yeah, Yeah, and feuded 282 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 3: with Sina Like, you know, it's like that. I don't 283 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: think he gets talked about enough in that right, in 284 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 3: that world, right. 285 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 2: And he's multifested too. 286 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 5: He does music, he can do comedy, he can do 287 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 5: physical like he's. 288 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 3: He's a multi tool. He's a five tool player. Oh 289 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 3: you know, five tool player. 290 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 4: Absolutely. So I want to go back to something you 291 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 4: said last night during your promo that had the Internet buzzing, 292 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 4: And it was one sentence that you said, what's a 293 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 4: buck shot to a kill shot? Everybody and their mom 294 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 4: started flipping out on social media because you mentioned kill shot. 295 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 4: Now we had a question get submitted to us on 296 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 4: social media saying I'm sure the answer is know since 297 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 4: that chapter of his career is over, but I'd love 298 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 4: to know if you would consider putting on the kill 299 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 4: shot mask just one more time. 300 00:15:59,160 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 2: And this is. 301 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: You know, I told you, I told you these answer 302 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 3: be quick. 303 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 5: Yeah, we're going back to, uh, you know, being all 304 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 5: around different medias and stuff you contendue to expand your 305 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 5: reach over multimedia's Uh, what is coming up for Swerve 306 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 5: next in the world of music? 307 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 2: Do you have anything you can give us some behind 308 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 2: that scenes up? 309 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 3: Oh? Dude, like I got two music videos dropping this weekend. 310 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 3: So September thirtieth is the day of Collision. That's my 311 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 3: birthday as well. I have the work it yeah, thank you. 312 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 3: I have the work in music video dropping that day, 313 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 3: and both my music videos are produced and directed the 314 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 3: songs and the music videos by Prophet, the producer who 315 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 3: won two Grammys with Kanye West on the Don daut 316 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 3: So just those two videos, like when we shot those 317 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 3: three days in a row, two different three different venues, 318 00:16:54,280 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 3: all before doing Dynamite that Wednesday, and then added two 319 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 3: matches that Wednesday, that's the That's when I kicked aar 320 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 3: Fox out of Mobile Embassy and then later on that 321 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 3: night had to face off against and an eight man 322 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 3: tager gets to see him funking them. So that's was 323 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 3: the That was. 324 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 2: A busy week's Yeah, that was. 325 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 3: A busy That was a busy day itself. And then 326 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 3: so now then we did a cipher at at three 327 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 3: am in Atlanta, So that's dropping October second, So we 328 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 3: have September thirtieth. Mark this on your calendars, don't forget it. 329 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 3: September thirtieth. Work At music video by Swar of the 330 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 3: Realists feature and Fireman who has a lot of writers' 331 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 3: credits with Chance the rapper and Kanye who's currently in 332 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 3: Italy right now working on Kanye's next album, so he's 333 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 3: on the video and some cameos in there. Check for that. 334 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 3: Then the next night, October first, we have These Dreams, 335 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 3: followed by Russell Dreams pay per view. That night we 336 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 3: have These Dreams with Zombie Juice who's part of the 337 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:00,120 Speaker 3: platft Zombie feature in there, Anthony King who does the 338 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 3: aw wrap ups every week on social media, and my 339 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:07,959 Speaker 3: co host Mattez, who just performed for Samuelbar at Grand Slam. 340 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 3: Oh yeahs I my Tz's on that record as well, 341 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 3: produced by Profit, that drops October first, early in the 342 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 3: day for Russell Dream or before Wressel Dream. It's called 343 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 3: the songs called These Dreams. And then the next day, 344 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 3: October second, we dropped the m and freestyle featuring myself, 345 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 3: Anthony King and Mantz just a snippet of another mixtape 346 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 3: working on and EMA stands for every Move Made includes 347 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 3: the team that is our little trios and we get 348 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 3: together and we form Ulltron. So all that's all this 349 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 3: stuff you need to be looking forward to YouTube dot 350 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 3: com backslashtor City podcast check on that. It's going to 351 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 3: be matter of fact, just subscribe, hit the ball for 352 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 3: the notifications because it's coming your way this weekend. Happen. 353 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 5: I have to say, you know, historically wrestlers the dabbled 354 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 5: in music. 355 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: It's been really whack. 356 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 5: I mean, there's not a lot of good examples of 357 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 5: quality music from wrestlers, but you're definitely the exception, just 358 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 5: like you are in the ring too, So kudos to 359 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 5: you on that. 360 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 3: You only get better get in the room with better people. 361 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 3: Like so, a lot of times music is a very 362 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 3: you can kill your creativity if it kills your confidence. 363 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 3: So if you get in there with people that are 364 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 3: willing to like let you know you're not the best here, 365 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 3: you're not the best at this, and you take that 366 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 3: on the chin and you build with those guys, you 367 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 3: can truly grow and become actually really good at your craft. 368 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 3: And that's what I'm just working with. I'm working with 369 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 3: top level guys in the industry that are literally truly 370 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 3: wanting me to grow and working with me to grow. 371 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 4: That's amazing, man, And you know, it's an honor to 372 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 4: have you on the show. I know we talked to 373 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 4: you last time, and a lot of things have changed 374 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 4: since the last time we talked to you. And you 375 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 4: know how this show goes on. You come on here, 376 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 4: you go on to win gold. Well, you came on 377 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 4: last time, you went on to wind gold, you went 378 00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 4: on to win the aw Tag Team. 379 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: You come on now. 380 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 4: I believe that title above my head is gonna be 381 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 4: yours within the next year. 382 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,959 Speaker 3: I've been staring at this entire interview and I'm getting hungry. 383 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 4: I mean, I'm not gonna say it's that one. I'm 384 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 4: gonna say it's this one that's right here. 385 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 3: Yes, I mean I kind of want yours too, Yeah. 386 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I will. I will meil it to you 387 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 4: and you get happy as your your name and it's 388 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 4: all yours. We'll swerve. It is an honor to have 389 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 4: you on the show. We're looking forward to you bringing 390 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 4: the dog out and hangman page and then after Sunday 391 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 4: night on wrestled Dream, we're gonna hear and your winter 392 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 4: is swear Frecklent And then we could see no not 393 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 4: do his dance. 394 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 3: Maybe if I allow it, yeah maybe maybe if he's 395 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 3: a if he's good, I'll allow it. But it is 396 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 3: my city, so maybe I'll treat you. I don't know yet. 397 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,959 Speaker 6: We hope you enjoyed today's episode of the Battleground Podcast. 398 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 6: Make sure you give it five stars and a nice review. 399 00:20:58,040 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 6: To stay up to date with the show, follow that 400 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 6: at Battleground Podcast on Instagram.