1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: What's up, guys. It's Wardlowe here with the Battleground Podcast 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: telling you to check out ae W Dynamite live from Nashville, 3 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Tennessee at the Municipal Auditorium. Its gonna be a hell 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: of a show. 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: Why from the Parts Unknown Studios into the Battle Crown. 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 3: Battle the Battle, the Battle Crowd. 7 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Battleground Podcast, your place for all things 8 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 2: pro wrestling, the Battle Rowd. 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 3: What's up you, guys? 10 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 4: Welcome back into another episode on the Battleground Podcast. 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 3: It has been two years. 12 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 4: For two years since a W has been in Nashville. 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 4: Every year we have everybody on from AW. When are 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 4: you coming back to Nashville? When are you coming back 15 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 4: to Nashville? Well, finally we get the answer. AW makes 16 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 4: their return to Nashville on Wednesday, February sixteenth, and it's 17 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 4: batt toym. Of course, you can still grab tickets right 18 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 4: now at aw ticks dot com. That's awtix dot com. 19 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 4: Bringing in my tag team partner Eli repping the AW 20 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 4: over there. 21 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 3: I see that. 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 4: I'm pretty excited about tomorrow because I mean I look 23 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 4: back to when we first saw AW Nashville. We were 24 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 4: like one of maybe the first handful of like dynamite 25 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 4: shows that rolled through yep. 26 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, they started October twenty nineteen, and then they were 27 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 5: in Nashville November, and our guest before we got on 28 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 5: the air, we were reminiscing. I guess it was the 29 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 5: night orfore my birthday in twenty nineteen and it was 30 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 5: our guests actual debut in aw So. 31 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 6: It's kind of a full circle. Yeah, and with all 32 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 6: the news going on today, yeah, kind of a lot 33 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 6: going on. 34 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 4: So let's bring him in Wardlow joins this show the 35 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 4: big Man himself. 36 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 3: Thank you for coming on the show today. 37 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: Man, what's up, guys? Thank you for having me. 38 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 5: Kind of a maestro with that symphony you're conducting. 39 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 7: You know, you're kinda you know, that does kind of 40 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 7: scare me, the conductor of violence, as they say, here 41 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 7: you go. Yes, the power Bomb Symphony is something that 42 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 7: has certainly taken off, and I think we'll be getting 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 7: encore after encore, after encore. 44 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,119 Speaker 4: I know a lot of fans kind of hope there's 45 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 4: an encore maybe a power Bomb Symphony for a certain MJF, 46 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 4: which we'll talk about that later in the show. But 47 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 4: you know, right before we came on to get this 48 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 4: set up. Of course, the the the IWC, the Internet 49 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 4: wrestling community is buzzing over the big news that happened 50 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 4: earlier today. Of course, Cody and Brandy have left AW. 51 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 4: They've parted their ways. And let me ask you this 52 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 4: because you actually just posted earlier and I've got the 53 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 4: photo because we we kind of talked about this, but 54 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 4: you were involved in one of the first cage matches 55 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 4: in AW and I'm posting this photo up on our 56 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 4: thing right now and it's you and Cody and that 57 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 4: that's a hell of a shot. 58 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 6: By the way, what is moonsalt? 59 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 3: It is? Yeah, how do you possibly put this into 60 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 3: words or sum this up? 61 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: Man? You really can't. And you know, people I get 62 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,239 Speaker 1: asked about it all the time. Obviously. It was such 63 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: an iconic moment for the company, first ever cage match. 64 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: For me personally, that was my first match ever with 65 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: AEW ever on TV. So that whole night there, it 66 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: was almost like a blackout type of inexperience. It was 67 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: so much pressure, so much emotion going in to one moment, 68 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: and in the blink of an eye, that moment's gone 69 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: and you're kind of left standing there going what just happened? Yeah, Fortunately, 70 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: what had just happened was history in the making, and 71 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: that night, you know, most definitely cemented my career, and 72 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: that will be a match in a night that will 73 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: forever be very, very spec to me. I still say 74 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: it's it was the best night of my life up 75 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: until up until the show in Cleveland. Now, now that's 76 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: equally the best night of my life. 77 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 6: Well we'll talk about that one too. Yeah. 78 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 5: Well, in in the event that you know all all this, 79 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 5: you know, the smoke still kind of clearing on the 80 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 5: Brandy and Cody news. In the event that that's all true, 81 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 5: they are done with the company, I mean, what would 82 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 5: you kind of what. 83 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 6: Would your parting words be? I mean, what would you 84 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 6: say to them on the way out? 85 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: You know, I was, you know, I'm just as surprised 86 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: if as everybody else I woke up to see the news. 87 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: You know. So I'm still very much in the dark 88 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: on the situation. But you know, like I said, I 89 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: could speak on the situation for an hour straight, maybe longer, 90 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: but for right now without really knowing too much detail, 91 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: you know, all I can say to them is thank you. 92 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: You know, they they invited me in their house, you know, 93 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: he invited me to a school to take a look 94 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: at me. He made my dreams come true. I'll never 95 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: have a bad word to say about Cody. I've never 96 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: had anything other than a positive interaction with him, and 97 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: he legit made my dreams come true. And I will 98 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: forever be in his debt. I will forever think thank 99 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: him and be thankful for him and the opportunity he 100 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: gave me, because I wouldn't be sitting here talking to 101 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: you guys if it wasn't for him. So if this 102 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: is it, I would just say thank you to him, 103 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: and uh, I just hope him and his family the 104 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: best with whatever they decide to do. You know, I 105 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: messaged him earlier doing doing what's best for you and 106 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: your family is never a bad decision, right, no matter 107 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: who it affect. So I just wish them the best 108 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: and that's that. 109 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 6: Definitely, that's the best way to do it, man. 110 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 5: I mean, if you can leave and people like that 111 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 5: send out those kind of words, I mean, that's the 112 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 5: best kind of outcome you can expect. 113 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 6: I think so for sure. 114 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 4: And you know the best outcome is tomorrow night, Wednesday 115 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,119 Speaker 4: night in nash Film, in this auditorium, aw makes its return, 116 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 4: you've got a big match. Of course, we're going to 117 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 4: talk about that here shortly. But something that we've all 118 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 4: been watching is wrestling fans, we're gonna jump back into 119 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 4: the wrestling thing. Something we've all been watching and you 120 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 4: see it a lot on Twitter, and you kind of 121 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 4: start to see some cracks in the foundation of the pinnacle. 122 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 3: You've seen that over the past couple of weeks, and 123 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 3: I saw that last. 124 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 4: Week because I texted Eli and I was like, they're 125 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 4: like completely overlooked looking Wardlow right now during this celebration 126 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 4: that's happening, and it's like all this stuff. 127 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 3: That's going on. So let's kind of go back. 128 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 4: How did you get aligned with MJF before we get 129 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 4: to what's happening with these cracks? 130 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, for a lot of people that don't know, I mean, 131 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 5: how did you guys even get kind of paired up? 132 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: Essentially, when aw started, Max just reached out to me 133 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: and basically, long story short was, Hey, I'm about to 134 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: make a lot of enemies and I need somebody to 135 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: watch my back. And he wrote up a contract and 136 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: he said essentially he would hire me to basically be 137 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: his bodyguard or take care of business for him, and 138 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: I agreed to do so. And now after a couple 139 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: of years. You know, I don't think there's too many 140 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: people that have a tremendous relationship with their boss. And 141 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: just like any normal job, you know, your boss can 142 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: get on your nerves. And we've seen many examples of this. 143 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: So for now, he signs my paychecks. I'm still under 144 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: contract with him, and uh, you know, we'll just see 145 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: what the future holds. 146 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 3: How much longer do you have in that contract? 147 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 5: Does it say it sounds like is it like it's 148 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 5: kind of bordering on slavery or something like? 149 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 3: Are you getting out? 150 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 6: And he done sooner? 151 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: You know, Max and his lawyers seemingly change this contract. 152 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: Every time I think something is settled, there's a there's 153 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: a new page of the contract that magically appears. Of course, 154 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 1: so it's there's things that are being looked into. 155 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 5: Maybe maybe Jade can let you borrow a smart mark 156 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 5: and he'll take a look at it or something. 157 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: Well, that's the whole problem, is he is the one 158 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 1: dealing with. 159 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 6: Well, there you go, he's the one doing it. 160 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, realistically, I would like to power by Mark Sterling 161 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: before MJ. 162 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 3: There you go. 163 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, Well he made it to a GCW show here 164 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 5: recently and got out alive. 165 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 6: So I don't know, I. 166 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 3: Don't know how he did that. 167 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 5: But so on television, you you and mj have you're 168 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 5: you're you're relationship definitely is painted as a financial agreement 169 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 5: or arrangement I should say, I mean, would you classify 170 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 5: you guys as friends or would it be more specifically 171 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 5: like you said, he's the boss, you're the employee kind. 172 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 1: Of deal, very much a professional relationship. 173 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 3: Okay, we leave it at that. 174 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 4: We'll see how things kind of unfold. Of course, a 175 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 4: W makes a return to Nashville Municipal Auditorium tomorrow night. 176 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 4: Municipal Autorium tickets aew ticks dot com. That is ae 177 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 4: W t i x dot com. Now this is this 178 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 4: is another cool thing is wrestling fans, and we finally 179 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 4: got to see this. The world finally got to see this. 180 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 4: CM Punk versus m JAM resulting in Punk's first loss 181 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 4: and aw ring. Do you feel any responsibility in regards 182 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 4: to Punk's loss because you kind of played a role 183 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 4: in it. 184 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: I mean, realistically, I think I am the responsible one. 185 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: I find myself responsible for the majority of mjf's wins. 186 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: I'd say, yeah, So so yeah, I mean, I'm you 187 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: most definitely can point the finger at me. I think 188 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: Punk said it himself. I was the one that beat 189 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: him in Chicago. 190 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 6: He wants that rematch. 191 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: So yeah, that that sounded me. 192 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 4: Hmmm. 193 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 5: So yeah, you you mentioned this earlier, and then let's 194 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 5: just get into it. AW was recently in Cleveland and 195 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 5: you came out and you pretty much got a Heroes 196 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 5: welcome and you you know, you just said it earlier 197 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 5: that that is tied with your debut in Nashville. Now, 198 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 5: what was it like being in front of your hometown 199 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 5: crowd and and you know, a sold out AW show. 200 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: Uh, that was the epitome of your dreams coming true. 201 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: You know, I've been wanting to do this my whole life, 202 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: So I vividly remember conversations in high school with you know, 203 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: my best friend in high school saying, you know, one 204 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: day we're gonna be downtown Cleveland. You guys are all 205 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 1: gonna be front row and I'm gonna be performing live. 206 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 1: And there they were front row, My my friends that 207 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: I graduated with, my family, you know, my mother, my sister, 208 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:32,359 Speaker 1: my nieces, and just having everybody that I cared about 209 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: sitting front row and then being able to do what 210 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: I love in a place that I dreamed of doing 211 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: it forever just made such a special night. Man, it 212 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: was I could relive that night every night. It was 213 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: just incredible. 214 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 6: Well, it's like, you know, who needs the Browns? When 215 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 6: you got Wardlow? You know, I mean, we'll just we'll 216 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 6: rally behind him, you know, right. 217 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 3: There, and you know we watched that. 218 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 4: You could here like I got and thinking about it, 219 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 4: and I'm sure you got it, Like what's going through 220 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 4: your mind right before you go through that curtain and 221 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 4: as you're walking down that ramp, like you just hear 222 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 4: the entire place erupt for you. 223 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, It's it's hard. I'm I'm still getting comfortable. I'm 224 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: still working on actually absorbing the crowd and taking the 225 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: time to just appreciate the moment. I get so focused 226 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: in such tunnel vision when it comes to matches that 227 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 1: I never allow myself to just relax for a moment 228 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: and appreciate the moment you're in. So I'm still working 229 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: on that. In Cleveland, I try to. I tried to 230 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: kind of look around and absorb it a little, but 231 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, you know, I have 232 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 1: a job to do, and you know, so it was 233 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: still a little bit. It just happened so fast. Yeah, 234 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: It's just it's there and it's gone, and you're like, man, 235 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: I wish I could have been out there for another 236 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: hour soaking that up. But yeah, amazing feeling to come 237 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: out and to hear that crowd reaction. I just I 238 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: wasn't expecting all that and to see the signs. It's 239 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: just a very unique feeling. 240 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely for sure. 241 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 5: As Mere Mortals, we you know, we try to live 242 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 5: through it through television, So for sure brank up this 243 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 5: round down like I'm there so. 244 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 4: Something and something that's really cool that's happening when aw 245 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 4: returns the Municipal Auditorium. There's a big match that you're 246 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 4: involved in. We h, I feel as if the symphony's 247 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 4: going to break out for this one. But it's the 248 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 4: you know, the the faces of the Revolution qualifying match 249 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 4: and the face of the Revolution ladder match. 250 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 3: You and Max Cast going at it. 251 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 4: I mean, going into this match, you know he's gonna 252 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 4: try to at least get in your head beforehand with 253 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 4: his rap. 254 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,359 Speaker 3: How do you prepare for somebody like Max castor. 255 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: So few things here Uh, you mentioned being in Nashville. 256 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: So it's a big match in Nashville, which means a 257 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: little extra for me because my debut November thirteenth, twenty nineteen, 258 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: I came through the crowd in Nashville and jumped Cody 259 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: Rhodes and that was the debut of Wardlow, the first 260 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: time anybody had ever seen me. So coming back to 261 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: Nashville already has a little extra fire in me, which 262 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: which is not good for Max. 263 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 3: You you gonna shove that microphone down his throat? 264 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: Oh my lord, Yeah, I'm already parted up. But realistically, 265 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: you ask how I prepare for somebody like Max. You know, 266 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: I treat every opponent the same. It doesn't matter if 267 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: it's you know, Marco Stunt Fuego in front of me. 268 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: I don't care if it's Lucasaurre or Keith Lee. It 269 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: doesn't matter who's in front of me. I train the same. 270 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: I train to kill, so when I step in the ring, 271 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: I am prepared to go to war with a monster. 272 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: So if it just so happens to be Max cast 273 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: across the ring or Marco Stunt across the ring, I'm 274 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: still coming at you like I'm trying to kill a monster. 275 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: So yeah, man, it's just it's never good for whoever's 276 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: across the ring, for me, monster or or Max. 277 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 4: Max might as well just go ahead and just lay 278 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 4: down and just be like all right, just go ahead. 279 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 4: I'm gonna do my wrap on wardlow real quick, and 280 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 4: then I'm just gonna roll in the ring and take 281 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 4: in real quick. 282 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. The crazy thing is, I'm a fan of Max 283 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: Caster and Anthony Bowen's big fans of those guys. But again, 284 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: when you're in the ring with me, doesn't matter if 285 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: I like it, It doesn't matter if we're friends. You are 286 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: no longer a human, You're a target. Sure. 287 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 5: Yeah, Well, speaking of so you actually have a background 288 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 5: in boxing and jiu jitsu, and then over the last 289 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 5: I don't know, it seems like the last two to 290 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 5: three months, the power Bomb Symphony is really starting to 291 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 5: like explode, like Pops and the Arenas and stuff like that. 292 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 5: Who were in you know, obviously your lifelong fan who 293 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 5: were some of the wrestlers you admired growing up that 294 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 5: maybe you know, maybe you've based some of your skill sets. 295 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: Around so growing up it started with Brett Hart and 296 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: mister Perfect. Yeah, yeah, Brett Hart was the first one 297 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: that made me fall in love with wrestling, and then 298 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: Mister Perfect, and then it was Kevin Nash and The Rock, 299 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: and then it was very much Jeff Hardy for a 300 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: number of years. 301 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 6: I mean, that's a pretty solid line up there, Yeah. 302 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: Yes, and then and then it was Big Dave Batista. 303 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, Bautista. And when I started growing and 304 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: hitting the weights, Brock and Batista, we're starting to blow up. 305 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: So it was just timed out right where I looked 306 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: at those guys and went, yeah, that's what we're going 307 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: for now. 308 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, definitely. 309 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 6: I can get some traces of some young Batista in 310 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 6: some of your Matt Matt skills, So yeah, appreciate that. 311 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, this is the one thing that we 312 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,479 Speaker 4: We've loved to talk to every wrestler about it, especially 313 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 4: since Tony Kahan has coined the forbidden do Our phrase, 314 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 4: and there's continuous talks of this every single week with 315 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 4: AW continuing to sign and work with some of the 316 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 4: best in the world. Are there any dream opponents you 317 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,640 Speaker 4: would love to face an AW ring And you mentioned 318 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 4: that you kind of hinted on talking about favoriting Jeff 319 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 4: Hardy and Jeff Hardy and Matt have been talking back 320 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 4: and forth and could that be a potential match and 321 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:54,479 Speaker 4: is there anything else you'd like to see? 322 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 3: I see the smirk, So I see that smile. 323 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: Yes, I mean, just sharing a locker room with Jeff 324 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: Hardy Wood mean the world to me. To be involved 325 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: in any type of match with him would be amazing. 326 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: I personally would rather team with Matt and Jeff to 327 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 1: take on three others rather than Jeff myself. 328 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 3: I had a cough real quick. 329 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 5: I mean, can you imagine Wordlow and the Hardy Boys 330 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 5: against FTR. 331 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 3: And JF like only shit? 332 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 6: That would be awesome. 333 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: That would be pretty wild. 334 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 6: John, are you taking notes over there? Thanks? 335 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: So Unfortunately, you know, my career started h much later 336 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: than I anticipated, So I feel like I kind of 337 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 1: missed my opportunities with what I would consider real dream opponents. 338 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,880 Speaker 1: I think it's kind of past most of my dream 339 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 1: opponents times, but the ones that still exist, actually the 340 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 1: top one still in aw and that being Kenny Omega. 341 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: He's kind of like my ultimate dream opponent, you know. 342 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: I think if myself, if I ever found myself in 343 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: the same ring as brock Lesner, I think that has 344 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: money just pouring out of the idea of it. I 345 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: think him and I would just murder each other. I 346 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: don't know if there's a ring that could hold the 347 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 1: two of us. Yeah, but beyond that, not necessarily any 348 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: real dream opponents. I just want to work with the best. 349 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 1: I just want to be challenged. I want whoever thinks 350 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: they're the best in the world. That's who I want 351 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 1: to wrestle. 352 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 6: I mean, that's pretty much the best answer, I. 353 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 3: Think, so definitely for sure. 354 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 6: So this is a hypothetical. 355 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 5: So let's assume that the relationship you have with MJF 356 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 5: continues to kind of go this path and we kind 357 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 5: of kind of go and kind of go. It's to 358 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 5: the point where the money's not enough anymore, I mean 359 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 5: how much. 360 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 6: I guess. 361 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 5: The way I'm trying to ask is like, if MJF 362 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 5: crosses you, how bad is it going to be? I mean, 363 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 5: what are you going to bring after everything you've dealt 364 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 5: with with him, after you know, being his employee? 365 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: Oh man, you know, obviously every man has a breaking point. 366 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: And as much as I love making a lot of money, yes, 367 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: there's certain things where money's not worth it when it 368 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: comes to being disrespected. You know, Max says things without speaking. 369 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 1: He has no filter, and he often comes across as 370 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: being extremely disrespectful. And he has said things that maybe 371 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: the average person wouldn't get away with saying to me. 372 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:05,199 Speaker 1: But he's never done anything so disrespectful that's you know, 373 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: made me question, you know, my job or anything like that. 374 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 1: He's never put his hands on me. I know he's 375 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: smarter than that. But after a couple of years, you know, 376 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: just the little comments and some of the things he's 377 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: some of the way he's treated me, and most importantly, 378 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: some of the things he's altered with the contract. That's 379 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: what really has upset me. And that's where I feel 380 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 1: the disrespect comes in. So, like I said, I'm looking 381 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:39,199 Speaker 1: into some things. I'm most definitely reaching a point with him, 382 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: and I don't want it to boil over because I'm 383 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: afraid of what will. 384 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 3: Happen that's gonna be let me know, and I'll give 385 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 3: him my wallets. 386 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 4: I could buy a plane ticket and flight for whenever 387 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 4: that match is gonna happen. But I will tell you 388 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,159 Speaker 4: this and everybody just come on the show, and this 389 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,120 Speaker 4: is kind of our thing, and we proved this last 390 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 4: week everybody that comes on the show goes on to 391 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 4: win the title. So you're in good company because we're 392 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 4: expecting a title. I would say that that TNT title 393 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 4: is gonna be coming home to you soon. But I 394 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 4: will go ahead and put this out there as February 395 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 4: fifteenth that within a year there's gonna be an aw 396 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 4: World heavyweight title around Wardlow's waste. 397 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 3: What about that? 398 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna mark that on my calendar. 399 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 3: I'm gonna make sure that that happens. 400 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 4: Because again, everybody that's come on this show has gone 401 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 4: on to win some sort of championship. Last week we 402 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 4: tacked h Matt Cardona. What happens over the weekend champion. 403 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 4: So I mean, you're in good, good graces on this show. 404 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 4: You're in the I guess the good battleground odds. So 405 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 4: there's gonna be a title coming Wardlow's way within the 406 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 4: next year. 407 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: I appreciate that. Yeah, Well, speaking of the man, this week, 408 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: if I win, I qualify for the Face of the 409 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: Revolution ladder match, so that will be I think Keith 410 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: Lee or yeah, Keith Lee's already qualified. Yep? Is he 411 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: the only one? Is it? 412 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 6: Just he's the only. 413 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 4: One that was last week was the first match. You're 414 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 4: the second match for this. 415 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: Okay, so potentially myself, Keith Lee, four other guys that 416 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: we don't know yet, all in a ladder match, which 417 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:35,199 Speaker 1: in itself is insane. But yes, if I win that, 418 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 1: I will have a shot at the TNT title. According 419 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 1: to Max, if I win that that will be handed 420 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: right over to him, he will. 421 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 3: But you no finger doom here anymore. 422 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: I am anticipating getting that title absolutely. 423 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 3: And that's the plan. That's what we call it on 424 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 3: the show. 425 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 4: Well, we don't want to take up too much of 426 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 4: your time, but we've kind of been having the little 427 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 4: scroll well going down to the bottom where people get 428 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 4: follow you up. But for those that are listening to 429 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 4: this instead of watching this, where can people keep up 430 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 4: with you online? 431 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: Online? I'm on Twitter and Instagram at real Wardlow. Other 432 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 1: than that, you can just check out AW Dark matches 433 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: and any AW highlights on YouTube. And that's about it. 434 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: Tomorrow we are in Nashville, Tennessee AW Dynamite eight o'clock 435 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: Eastern time and it is going to be a hell 436 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: of a show. 437 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:42,880 Speaker 4: Well Wardlow again, thank you for coming on the show. 438 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 4: We're looking forward to AW Dynamite tomorrow. We're gonna be 439 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 4: in the crowd yell and make sure you win that match. 440 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 3: And well, if you hear us, it'll be saying go Wardlow. 441 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: I'll keep an eye out for you guys. 442 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 3: Well Warlow again, thank you for coming on the show. 443 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 4: It's an honor to have you on and definitely look 444 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 4: forward to getting your back on very very soon, especially 445 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:03,919 Speaker 4: when you have that gold around your waist. 446 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: Absolutely yeah, we are. Yes, within the next year we'll 447 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: get that title. We'll get back on and talk about it. 448 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:12,360 Speaker 3: Definitely for sure. 449 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,959 Speaker 4: Well Wardlow again, thanks for coming on the show and 450 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 4: we'll see you tomorrow night in Nashville. 451 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,360 Speaker 1: Thank you, guys, I really appreciate it. 452 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 8: We hope you enjoyed today's episode of the Battleground Podcast. 453 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 8: Make sure you give it five stars and a nice review. 454 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 8: To stay up to date with the show, follow them 455 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 8: at Battleground Podcast on Instagram.