1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to. 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 2: The battle Ground Battles. Let the hold. 3 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 3: What's up you guys, Welcome back into iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 3: the Battleground Podcast. It is battle and man, what a 5 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 3: time it is AEW Dynasty this Sunday, and what a 6 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 3: stacked card when you look at it from top to bottom. 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 3: And joining us on the show today is a man 8 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 3: known by many names. 9 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 2: Let's see the best bout machine. 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 3: There's the cleaner, there's the belt collector, there's the god 11 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 3: of professional wrestling, but we all know him as Kenny Omega. 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 3: Kenny Man. It's an honor to have you on the show. 13 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: Thanks for being here, Thank you for having me. It's 14 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 2: it's it's great to be here. 15 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 3: I'm so glad to have you on the show. So 16 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 3: let's kind of dive right into it. AW Dynasty this weekend. 17 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 3: The last time you had a match with MJF he 18 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 3: beats you. What is different about you heading into this weekend? 19 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: I mean, arguably I'm in a little bit better shape. 20 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: I'm not as sick as I once was. I think 21 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: that the physical conditioning that I'm in now just is 22 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: above and beyond. 23 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 2: Where it was at before. 24 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: So I think you're going to see a different version 25 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: of myself. Are we going to see a different version 26 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: of MGF? I mean, I don't know. He's the kind 27 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: of guy who thinks that his version of himself as 28 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: he is, as he is before us right now is perfect. 29 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: He's if you think of perfection in man and human 30 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: human history, you're going to think that it's going to 31 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: be MGF. Or he would think of himself as as such. 32 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: So it's less of what I'm bringing new to the table, 33 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: and what is MGF that's going to bring that's new 34 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: to the table. 35 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: I don't know. We'll see on Sunday. 36 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: So. 37 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, we'll definitely see. Of course, Dynasty is in Vancouver. 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 3: Basically it's a homecoming for you. 39 00:01:59,200 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: What is it? 40 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 3: What does it mean to be able to wrestle in 41 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 3: front of a Canadian crowd that watched you grow up 42 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:07,639 Speaker 3: for the world title? 43 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, that part of things is very interesting. 44 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: I mean it's because we started with Winnipeg and that's 45 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: where I'm actually from, That's where I grew up in 46 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: And to see an arena full of people who I 47 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: for sure, one thousand percent I have never seen before 48 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: in my life. A lot a lot of these people anyhow, 49 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: But to hear the cheers and to feel the adulation, 50 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: it's just to me as someone who's always just been 51 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: so private, And even when I was in Winnipeg, I 52 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,399 Speaker 1: was never really outspoken too much. And when I did 53 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: wrestle in the Indies, it was for a very small 54 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: amount of people, So I never would have thought anyone 55 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 1: outside of that small little bubble would have known who 56 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: I was. But to see now, you know, the arena 57 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: that the Winnipeg to play in an arena full of 58 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: people that I have never met before know who I 59 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: am and cheer for me and encourage me to do 60 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: well and to be happy that I've conquered this illness, 61 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: it was a great feeling. 62 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: And then you know, we were in. 63 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: Edmonton just a few days ago, and I kind of 64 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: told the story a little bit on TV, But I 65 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: mean that was a place that I was. It was 66 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: very much the same as Winnipeg. I would go there 67 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: once a month and there'd be very smaller crowds, maybe 68 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty people, maybe two hundred, and you know, 69 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: I would look forward to that fourteen hour drive every month, 70 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: and I feel like every performance I would get a 71 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: little bit better. But I never would have thought that 72 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: an arena full of people would know my name or 73 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: be willing and wanting to cheer me. So with all 74 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: of these new local that we're going to in Canada, 75 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: I'm always blown away by the hospitality and the kindness 76 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: of everyone. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm 77 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: a fellow Canadian or who knows, maybe they like my 78 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 1: wrestling too, but it's always very welcomed and always puts 79 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:17,799 Speaker 1: a smile on my face. 80 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 3: Absolutely, And of course you talk about Kenny Omega, and 81 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: obviously there's a name attached to Kenny Omega when it 82 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 3: comes to the history and that being Okata and those matches, 83 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 3: people call them some of the best ever in the moment, 84 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 3: could you feel that or did it only hit you afterwards? 85 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 2: Ah? Nah? 86 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: You know what so interesting story with that was that 87 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: I was very unsure how things would go, and all 88 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: I knew was that I was very fortunate and lucky 89 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,119 Speaker 1: to have the position of being in the Tokyo Domain event. 90 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: We had seen years previous where there maybe had been 91 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,679 Speaker 1: an opportunity for a foreigner to be in a main event, 92 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: and the company had always decided we're not going to 93 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: take that direction. 94 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 2: We're not going to go in this direction this time. 95 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: We're gonna We're going to stay the course and you know, 96 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: keep it keep it to the you know, keep keep 97 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: it at home, close to close to the heart, close 98 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: to the vest. And I remember even when we had 99 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: Aj Styles who was primed and ready to go as 100 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:33,799 Speaker 1: a main eventor it didn't work out for him because 101 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: you know, they had done something where they wanted they 102 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: wanted to run a vote as to who would be 103 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: the main event, and there's some title switches and a 104 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: bunch of chicanery and it just didn't work out. But 105 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: when I had seen that Aj was on the precipice 106 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: of doing something incredible, which at the time, to me, 107 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: I didn't think I'd be alive or active in a 108 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: world where you know, I could be close to a 109 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: Tokyoto main event, even tied to it. Because for me, 110 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: I mean there's a huge sense of pride even just 111 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: being a second to Aj, like you being at ringside 112 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: of Cheermont for his heavyweight title bolts, just being a 113 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: part of Bullet Club and to be an integral part 114 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: of New Japan's business. Knowing that we were selling a 115 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: lot of merchandise and all that. You know, I felt 116 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: real special just for that. 117 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: But to then. 118 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: Have the responsibility of being a Toky Doo main event, 119 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: making sure that that was a home run, maybe not 120 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: even a Grand Slam like it had to be. I 121 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: knew that I had to pour everything into that match, 122 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: not only to prove to the company and to the 123 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: world that you know, us as foreigners could do something 124 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: incredible for this company, and that even though maybe we 125 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: didn't speak the same native language, that I could communicate 126 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 1: in a way where you could feel what I'm feeling, 127 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: and I could make you feel what I wanted you 128 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: to feel in that moment as well. Those are important 129 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: to prove on that night. And also, and this is 130 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: just more more important to me than anybody else, But 131 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: that was the one of the first times that my 132 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: mother had come to watch a show, and I think 133 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: I'm pretty convinced to this day that I'm sure she 134 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: had thought. Up until that point, I was paying my 135 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: way out to Japan every trip that I was just 136 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: going out there to hang out. 137 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: I was losing all. 138 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: My money, probably involved in loan sharks to pay for 139 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: these these plane tickets. 140 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: Wasn't getting paid anything. 141 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: For her to be able to be there and see 142 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: that and to feel like, oh, you know, my son's 143 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: actually okay. You know, he's the thing that he said 144 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,679 Speaker 1: he was doing is a job, actually is a real job, 145 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: and you know he actually is employed by this place. 146 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: He's he's doing a pretty good job at doing it. 147 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: Even though I lost that match, it was it was 148 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: good to put their minds at ease, right, And so yeah, 149 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: that was a it was a really big weight to 150 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: bear for for that match, especially, But then when it 151 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: became a thing, every match that happened thereon after exponentially 152 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: became more and more difficult. And I always wonder, like, 153 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: going going back, like how did I do it? Like 154 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: not just not just the actual execution of it, but 155 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: how did I handle that pressure? 156 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 2: I don't know, because. 157 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: I mean, just I'm no stranger, maybe because of the 158 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: way that I conduct myself, or just the fact that 159 00:08:54,559 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: I I wasn't someone that was manufactured by machine for 160 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: whatever reason, that by default causes for a lot of 161 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: people to hope for my downfall, and they like to 162 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:10,839 Speaker 1: see me fail and to have so many people all 163 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: around you hoping for you to flounder, hoping for you 164 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: to screw up, hoping for you to be out in 165 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: the streets. It those are situations where either rise up 166 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: and become something that you didn't even see yourself capable of, 167 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: or you just fall to the pressure. Used to come 168 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: to the pressure, and I wasn't sure, you know, in sports, 169 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: leading up to that point, I'd always saw myself as 170 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: someone who did well in the face of pressure. But 171 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: wrestling is there's so much more that goes into a performance. 172 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: Like I said before, you know, there's a matter of 173 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: if a match is good, great, that's fantastic. But did 174 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: we our tickets? How is the merchandise? Do we have 175 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: something that we can move forward with that can bear fruit? 176 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: There are so many other factors that go into play, 177 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: and you have to sort of hit a home run 178 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: across the board. This was kind of why I was saying, 179 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: it has to be a Grand Slam. It can't just 180 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: be a home run like all across all fronts. You 181 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 1: have to have seen a success and yeah, how how 182 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: I was able to pull that off? 183 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 2: I don't know. 184 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: That's why I say it, and it comes from a 185 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: place of earnest. I don't recognize that person when I 186 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: see footage back, just that. 187 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 2: That confidence and that that. 188 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: I don't know what that what I was on, man, 189 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: but yeah, I guess I had something to prove, and 190 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: thankfully that the focus was primarily and possibly only solely 191 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: on that. 192 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: And there was never a fear of failure. 193 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: I don't think if I remembering back, I know everyone 194 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: wanted me to fail, but I never feared it for myself. 195 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: And maybe that even speaks to Okada's talents as well. 196 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: It is because it's like, man, it's Okada, and you 197 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: know he he was just the guy that was having 198 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: incredible matches with everyone up and down the card. So 199 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: I felt like, even at its worst, it's probably still 200 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 1: going to be a pretty good match. 201 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 2: You know. 202 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: Did I think it would make history, that I think 203 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: people would talk about it outside of New Japan? Or 204 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: did I think that somehow, you know, there would be 205 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: ties to the current aw with that, And I didn't know. 206 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: I didn't didn't know anything. 207 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 2: I was just. 208 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: For me. It was just I wanted to do everything 209 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: that I could for this the state of global professional wrestling. 210 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: I wanted to show the beauty of of multicultural professional wrestling, 211 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: as odd as that may sound, you know, I love 212 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 1: Japanese strong style, but you know, I love the world 213 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: of sports style in the UK. I love literally, I 214 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: love I love American you know, showbiz style. It's it's all. 215 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: It all has its place, it's all really important, it's all. 216 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 1: I've been entertained by all of it. And Yeah, in 217 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: a way, I sort of feel like back then with 218 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: Bullet Club and what we had done with it, and 219 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: then moving forward with the Elite that was sort of 220 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: already like a dry run of what AW was. So Yeah, 221 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: for us to find success in that, I think was 222 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: really sort of proving grounds for AW was a concept 223 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: to know that we would if we existed in a 224 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: world where there was US as an option and on TV, 225 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: that we could do well. 226 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, and clearly it has been because it's still on 227 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 3: TV many years later. 228 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 2: AW every week and of course you've got. 229 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 3: Dyna see this weekend and when you think about it, 230 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 3: you talk about Okata, you ended his long IWGP title ring, 231 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 3: you beat Osprey at Wrestle Kingdom, and now you're back 232 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 3: in this huge chapter with MJF this weekend when it's 233 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 3: all said and done and they're telling the stories of 234 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: Kenny Omega years from now, which rivalry do you think 235 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 3: defined you the most. 236 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of people sort 237 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: of default to the Ocado one, and I understand why. 238 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 1: But I would say that for fans that were primarily 239 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: New Japan fans, they also would argue that they've really 240 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: enjoyed my series of matches that I had with Nizo, 241 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: they really enjoyed the series of matches I had with Ishi. 242 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: And for a lot of people, and again it depends 243 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: on how it is that you first came across seeing 244 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: me or what have you. 245 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 2: Some of the people know me. 246 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: More because of the Golden Lover stuff, which is also fantastic, 247 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: And I think that was some of the most proud 248 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: storytelling that I've ever done in my career, because that 249 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: was all the onus was all on us to continue 250 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: that story forward and to always sort of implant that 251 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: in the things we had done when maybe the promoters 252 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: or the bookers didn't see the value in it. You know, 253 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: we had always sort of wanted to not insult the 254 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: fans intelligence, and regardless of what promotion we were in, 255 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: we wanted to show that there was this interconnectivity and 256 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: that there are these human emotions and that you know, 257 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: life doesn't end just because of promotion changes. You know, 258 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: relationships don't end because of promotion changes. And it was 259 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:17,359 Speaker 1: cool that we could see this multiple promotion spanning storyline 260 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: that took about geez like a decade to see like 261 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: the Grand Finale too, and to be able to be 262 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: at the forefront of an actual, real, long term story 263 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: that where the onus was completely on us to tell. Yeah, 264 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: I mean for me, that's that's that's a real pride 265 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: accomplishment for sure. 266 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely, Well. I know that we're kind of coming 267 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 3: up here towards the end of our interview because you've 268 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 3: got some other things to do, especially prepare for this 269 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 3: big match against MJF where you did put up against 270 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 3: your EVP status on the line for this title. Last 271 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 3: question I have for you because this has been taking 272 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 3: the story the internet by storm, and I have to ask, 273 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 3: because we've all seen the video was running in the 274 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: Red October's worth it increasing them? 275 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: You know. Here's the thing, man, So the Bucks are 276 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: super into shoe culture or may not know, and I'm 277 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: just sort of attached to them as like the wingman 278 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: type of guy. So I see, like, damn, it's cool, 279 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: you got such cool shoes of the time. I sometimes 280 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: have a hard time matching without fits and et cetera, 281 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: et cetera, et cetera. So I'm gonna start to buy 282 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: shoes too. If you guys go out, I'll just go 283 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: with you. And if there's a color that I don't 284 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: have or need or whatever, if I see something that's 285 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: kind of nice, I'll get it. And I had done 286 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: some work with this company and they had some super 287 00:16:55,000 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: cool collapse and it's called bait, and I was always 288 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: wearing their shirts and they always did really interesting collaborations 289 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: a lot of times, like you know, Marvel, DC, some 290 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: anime stuff too, So I thought like, man, I would 291 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: love to wear your stuff just all the time, just 292 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: you casually or whatever on TV. I'll wear it too. 293 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: And then they just kind of blew up. They became 294 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: a big thing. And I remember going to their head 295 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: offices and they had said like, hey, Kenny, you know 296 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: you've done stuff for us, this pro bono just because 297 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: you enjoyed our you know, the things that we've created, 298 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: and we never gave you any money or paid you anything. 299 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: And I said he didn't have to, Like, I just 300 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: enjoy your clothing. It's all good. 301 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 2: Stuff. 302 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 1: I said, yeah, we get it. This is but you know, 303 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: if there's something that you like in the store, you know, 304 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: we would love for you to take it. So I said, okay, 305 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: So I saw these shoes and it's not what you're 306 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: thinking because they weren't the red Octobers. But I saw 307 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: these shoes. They're looking pretty nice, and I said, well, 308 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: I don't have a colorway like this yet. So I 309 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: felt bad, but I was like, you know what, like this, 310 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: these are pretty funky. And they're like, okay, yeah, absolutely 311 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: you can't. He goes, well, what about these guys, and 312 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: in point of the red Octobers, I said, ah, I said, yeah, 313 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 1: it's cool, weird, like off red color. I don't have 314 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: anything like that, you know. Uh, I don't think I'll 315 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: ever have anything like that. It's kind of neat. And 316 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: I was like, yeah, this is I don't know if 317 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: I like them more than these guys though, And they're 318 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 1: like really and I said yeah, and they're like, well, 319 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: you know what, how a would you just take them both? 320 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 2: I said, wow, okay, geez, what a deal. And you 321 00:18:57,720 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 2: know it, when it came to. 322 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: Just like all right, we got a couple of TV 323 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: appearances and you know, I don't plan on wearing a 324 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: suit or anything, but you know, should. 325 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: I wear like a new pair of shoes or you 326 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 2: know what happened? 327 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: He's like, Okay, yeah, I'll wear new pair of shoes, 328 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: and yeah, I wear these things. And before I even 329 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: went out, the bucks were like whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, 330 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 1: Like what is that what I think that they are? 331 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: And I said, I what is what is what are 332 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: we talking about? And they said, and I think it 333 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: was Nick that I was saying, it's like, Matt, check 334 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: this out and he's like he's got the red October's 335 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: and he's like, there's no way you bought those. 336 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 2: I said, no, I. 337 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: Didn't, and they're like, well, yeah, I didn't think you would. 338 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: And I said, yeah, there's I said, what are you 339 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: talking about here? Guys like what's going on? And they 340 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: started to pull up like the stock X prices where 341 00:19:56,080 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: I was like whoa. I said, this was like one 342 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,439 Speaker 1: of the greatest thank you gifts I'd ever received, with 343 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: like unknowingly so unbeknownst to me, here I am with 344 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: these legendary shoes and not utilizing them in probably the 345 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: best way. But it's because I was a poser. I'm 346 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: a fraud. I'm just kind of trying to get shoes 347 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: just so I have different colors. It's not because I 348 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 1: actually know a darned thing about them. But that's the 349 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: story of how I procured the Red Octobers without. 350 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 2: Even knowing the legend behind them. 351 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 3: Such a great story, for sure. I mean, we could 352 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 3: sit here and talk stories all day long about shoes 353 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 3: and wrestling, but I know you've got a busy schedule 354 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 3: getting ready for Dynasty this weekend. Before we let you go, 355 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 3: anything you wanted to say to the fans watching or 356 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 3: listening to this right. 357 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 2: Now, Oh my goodness. 358 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 1: You know, I don't get a chance to do too 359 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: many interviews, whether it be because of schedule or you know, 360 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: every time that I get a chunk of time, I'm 361 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: usually trying to fill it up with some sort of 362 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: auxiliary work that I can do that probably leads me 363 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: to So it's really cool that I'm able to get 364 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: on here with you guys. 365 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 2: Say a few words, share a few stories. 366 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: I think that Red October one is maybe the first 367 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,479 Speaker 1: time EVE ever been able to tell that story. So 368 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 1: if people found it interesting, if they had a fun 369 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: time fantastic, and I will see everybody at the pay 370 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 1: per view and hopefully beyond, and maybe next time I'll 371 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: have the belt as well, just like the one that 372 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: you have above your head. 373 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 2: Whatever kind of belt that is, I can't tell, but. 374 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,479 Speaker 3: That is our podcast belt that we have it is 375 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 3: there we go. 376 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, So next time, what we'll have. 377 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 3: To do is I'll have to buy one of the 378 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 3: aw title belts. We'll put it back here behind me. 379 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 3: You come on with your belt and I'll put mine 380 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 3: back there, so we'll have fun. 381 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 2: There we go. Yeah, yeah, you do trade. 382 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 3: Absolutely well, Kenny. It's an honor and or pretty much 383 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 3: to have you on the show. We look forward to 384 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 3: this Sunday, we look forward to seeing you win that 385 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 3: title BTMJF and we're excited to have you back on 386 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 3: the show very very soon. 387 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: Again, fantastic, Thank you so much.