1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Ladder. Hey, it's Battle and 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you about Ladder. Did you 3 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: know that Ladder was founded by Lebron James and Arnold 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: Swarzenegger to change the way supplements are made. Yeah, they've 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: worked with a top scientists to formulate a line of 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: clean performance products and it's unlike any other supplement. Every 7 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: batch is tested by a third party to verify the 8 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: highest standards for quality and safety. Now, I will tell 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: you this as somebody who has been trying to find 10 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: pre workout. 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Yeah that's you're ready for the 20 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: keyword again here it is use the code better every 21 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: day for thirty percent off at Ladder dot sport. What 22 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: are you waiting for? Get your fitness on Go check 23 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: out Ladder right now Ladder dot sport. That is the 24 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: website and use the code better every day for thirty 25 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: percent off. 26 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 2: Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to the Battleground Podcast. This is 27 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: a podcast all about professional wrestling. Joined Battle and Eli 28 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: as a breakdown what's going on in the world of 29 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 2: professional wrestling with special guests, including some of your favorite 30 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 2: wrestling superstars. You never know who's gonna stop by now 31 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: making their way to the microphone. Give it up for 32 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: the greatest podcast team in the world. 33 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: Battle and Eli. A man that literally needs no introduction, 34 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: but we're gonna give him an introduction anyways, because in 35 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: our books he is gonna be a legend. He was 36 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: named twenty nineteen Ring of Honor Wrestler of the Year, 37 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: He's won championships all over the world, and he is 38 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: our guest on the show today. Matt David, Matt, how 39 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: you doing, man? 40 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 3: You know, for a man doesn't need an introduction, that 41 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 3: was quite the introduction and I loved every second of it. 42 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 3: I'm doing better now after that introduction. 43 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: I mean, you don't need an introduction, but we just 44 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 1: had to give it to you anyways because of the accolades. 45 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: I enjoy it that you've done, and I mean it's just, 46 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's honor to have you on the show. 47 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: We've had a well, I wouldn't say a friend of 48 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: yours on the show. We'll talk about that later. We've 49 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: had Vinnie on the show, and I got a couple 50 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: of questions pertaining to Vinnie, which we'll ask later on. 51 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 3: You can't refer to him as a friend of mine. 52 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 3: I mean, he's a guy that, you know, was a 53 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: friend of mine until I realized that he was the 54 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 3: scum of the earth and just the type of person 55 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 3: that would be your friend for a decade and then 56 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 3: leave a scar on your forehead for the rest of 57 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 3: your life. 58 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 4: You know that kind of guy. 59 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, that kind of guy. And we'll kind of 60 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: talk about that later in the show. But the first 61 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: thing I want to do is, let's kind of update 62 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: all the fans out there. What have you been doing 63 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: to keep yourself saying throughout quarantine? 64 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 3: Am I that's like inferring that I'm still sane. So 65 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: I mean, like I'm still trying to figure out if 66 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 3: that's the case. I mean, I'm trying to do exactly 67 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 3: what everyone else is trying to do, trying to stay 68 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 3: it in shape as much as possible, do Horme Wow 69 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 3: home workouts, which is so hard to do, I can't 70 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 3: even say it, you know, trying to get my yoga 71 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 3: game up, which is something that I've said, like, you know, 72 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 3: if I had more time, I'm gonna search a lot more. 73 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 3: So I've been trying to do stuff like that. My 74 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 3: dog's been walked more than ever. Netflix has been watched 75 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 3: more than ever. I finally get to catch up on 76 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 3: a bunch of wrestling that's been going on for the 77 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 3: past year, because it seems like there's been so much 78 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 3: of it that it's almost nice to have a little 79 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 3: break to catch up on it. 80 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 4: Right. 81 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 3: But but you know what, for the most part, just 82 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 3: trying to stay safe and trying to keep keep track. 83 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 4: Of what's going on, and just hoping for the best, 84 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 4: because as soon as we can get back to normal, 85 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 4: I think I think I will be. 86 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 3: My sanity will be much more definitely in the positive 87 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 3: instead of you know, kind of borderline right. 88 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: Now, Look it is, right, but I mean your character, 89 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: I mean, depending on the situation. It could be a 90 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: good thing or bad thing right there at the boardline, right. 91 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 3: I mean, I've been living on the borderline so long. 92 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 3: I'm afraid that this might be just too much. It 93 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 3: might just push me right over the line altogether. So 94 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: I'm holding on for dear life. 95 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: At this point, and I feel bad for whoever your 96 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: next opponent is once we get the green light to 97 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: go back. 98 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 3: I know, right, I mean, not only have I had 99 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 3: two surgeries, but now it's all this the stuff at quarantine, 100 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 3: so you can't even be around society. I literally feel 101 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 3: like I'm climbing up the walls at this point. So 102 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 3: I feel bad for anyone. You know, the first TSA 103 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 3: agent to stop me in the airport might get a 104 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 3: heathing promo that they're not expecting. 105 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: This has to be on video. If this happens, it 106 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: has to be on video. You mentioned you mentioned watching Netflix, 107 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: and a lot of people are talking about it, Tiger King. 108 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: Have you watched Tiger King yet? 109 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 3: I have. I've watched Tiger King. I even watched the 110 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 3: you know, the sham of a new episode that they 111 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 3: put out recently. 112 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: I was not a fan of it. I was expecting 113 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,799 Speaker 1: something really cool and then it was just an interview, 114 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: no offense to Joe mckel But I was just about 115 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:22,239 Speaker 1: to say. 116 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 4: The same thing. 117 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 3: I love Joe McHale, but they hosed me. They hosed 118 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 3: me on an hour right there. Yeah, but I have 119 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 3: watched Tiger King, and actually, you know, I've told the 120 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 3: story a couple of times now since Tiger King come out. 121 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 3: But on a road trip from Texas to Oklahoma, you're 122 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 3: driving down the highway. Joe Egotic had billboard strategically placed, 123 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 3: so as you're driving, you're like, what's this place? 124 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 4: Oh? 125 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 3: Should we check it out? And then the last billboard. 126 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 3: I mean, maybe my memory is a little bit off, 127 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 3: but to me, the last billboard that I think really 128 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 3: sold the van that we're going to go to this 129 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 3: place was Joe Egotic with one of the tigers, and 130 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: I was like, I need to see what is going 131 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 3: on in this place, So we actually went to Joe 132 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 3: Exotic Zoom. I would have to say, this is like 133 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 3: twenty seventeen, twenty sixteen, so years before the Netflix documentary, 134 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 3: So it's kind of. 135 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 4: Crazy to see it now. You know, after everything went 136 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 4: down and Joe ended up in. 137 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: Jail, right, so what is this crazy story that I know. 138 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: I've heard it on a couple of interviews, But some 139 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: people who haven't heard this story, what's the crazy story 140 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: connection with you and Joe Exontic Because it seems like 141 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: the wrestling world has some sort of connection with Joe Exotic, 142 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 1: like you know seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon. 143 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 3: Well, see, we didn't really put the pieces of the 144 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: story kind of together till years later, because there came 145 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 3: out a podcast like two years ago that talked about 146 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 3: Joe Exotic and what happened with him and Caroll Baskins, 147 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 3: and I think at that point I'd like texted Dalton 148 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 3: and Jay and kind of put all the pieces of 149 00:06:57,880 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 3: the puzzle together. 150 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 4: So where we finally pull into Joe Exotic Zoo. We 151 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 4: go there and you. 152 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 3: Know they're friendly, but I mean they're looking. 153 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 4: At us like, who are these guys? 154 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 3: You know it's me, it's Vinnie, you know those who 155 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 3: don't speak of DK, Flip, Gordon, Dalton, you know Jay. 156 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 3: We're all just loud and excited to be there. So 157 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 3: I mean it's like six random guys come strolling in 158 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 3: and you have to give your idea and stuff. 159 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 4: And when they looked at Jay Leaf of by Decency. 160 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 3: From or lives in Florida. Now, all of a sudden, 161 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 3: this lady of the counter like just changed her attitude 162 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 3: instantly and stopped being like this really nice, engaging woman 163 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 3: and was like, are you from Tampa? 164 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 4: Are you? Are you one of the big Cat. 165 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 3: Rescue And we were like looking at each other, like 166 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 3: what is this lady getting all hyped up about? And 167 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 3: We're like, oh, we're from all over. She's like, you're 168 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 3: not part of the big cat rescue stuff. And I 169 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 3: was like, we had no idea. We're just looking confused 170 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 3: at one another. And I think she realized from looking 171 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 3: at us and how we reacted that we had no 172 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 3: idea what she was talking about. She was like, Oh, 173 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 3: it's we have a problem with protesters here, don't don't 174 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 3: you boys worry about it and go on your way. 175 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 3: We didn't really think twice about it. And then all 176 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 3: sud years later, you know, Joe Exotic, I see the 177 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 3: headlines of him trying to kill Carol Baskins and I'm like, Okay, 178 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 3: I understand why they freaked out when they saw the 179 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 3: Tampa I d but it literally took years and now 180 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 3: that it's in you know, Netflix, We're all were texting 181 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 3: each other like do you have any pictures from the zoo? 182 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 3: And I don't know why, but none of us really 183 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 3: took a lot of pictures that day. I think we're 184 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 3: kind of late for a show when we were trying 185 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 3: to really squeeze the zoo in, so we're really in 186 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 3: and out. But it's it's really fun to kind of 187 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 3: see what ended up happening, and now it's immortalized in 188 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 3: a documentary. 189 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, have you have you watched the TMZ Tiger King 190 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: version yet? 191 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 3: I have none? 192 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 4: I have none. 193 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: That one. That one is actually fairly interesting. I guess 194 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: they're setting it up for a series. They actually have 195 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: the sheriff who is now wanting questions about Carol's husband. 196 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 3: Oh I did I did hear a little bit about this, 197 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 3: But you know, watching it, I kept feeling like there's 198 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 3: like four spinoffs here from every all the different characters. 199 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 3: And I knew that this wasn't gonna be the end 200 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 3: of Tiger King. No. 201 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: And just just think though, if he's not in jail, 202 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: like just how much of like a tension whore that 203 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: he is, Like just how much he's gonna get it once? Yeah, 204 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: it's it's crazy. So now that we've kind of talked 205 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: about Tiger King and Quarantine, let's talk about the good stuff. 206 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: Let's talk about some wrestling. Let's kind of go back 207 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: to the beginning when you started out. How were you 208 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: first approach by Ring of Honor to come join them. 209 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 3: Well, it was one of those things where there's such 210 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 3: an unbelievable scene here in the New England area, and 211 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,239 Speaker 3: so many guys have ended up all these different places 212 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: that at the time when I was first getting started, 213 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 3: a lot of guys are starting to get to tap 214 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 3: or to kind of put their toe on the waters 215 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 3: in a bunch of different areas, and Ring of Honor 216 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 3: just happened to be one of them. And Mike Bennett 217 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 3: was one of my closest friends, and so I would 218 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 3: go down with him just to help out and be around, 219 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 3: and when opportunity arrived, I was there to kind of 220 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 3: take advantage of him. And it was really just one 221 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 3: of those things where it was a snowball effect of oh, 222 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 3: you know, throw Taving in that match, he'll be fine, 223 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 3: and I would take advantage of the opportunity, and then 224 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 3: they would. 225 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:27,719 Speaker 4: Give me more and give me. 226 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 3: More, and then finally me and Mike Mondo one day 227 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 3: in Baltimore, and I really have to give all the 228 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 3: credit to Mike Mondo because he looked at me and 229 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,599 Speaker 3: he was like, hey, man, I know you're trying to 230 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 3: get a job here, but I'm also trying to stand out. 231 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 3: And he felt like he was just kind of spinning 232 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 3: in his wheels the Ring of Honor and wanted to 233 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 3: do something to really kind of get people's attention. And 234 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 3: I was like, yeah, no, let's do something that gets 235 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:59,599 Speaker 3: everyone's attention. And luckily that match was exactly what it 236 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: needs to be. And I remember when we came back 237 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 3: everyone just being so happy and talking to Jim Cornett 238 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 3: for a while and him offering me something. And it 239 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 3: took a little bit of time, but then finally the 240 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: Top Prospect Tournament came down in twenty thirteen, and that 241 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 3: was the very first time I signed any contract with 242 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 3: the major company. And I've been with Rinawannor. 243 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: Ever since, and it's been just a rocket shit for you. 244 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: I mean, looking back at some of the accolades, I 245 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: mean Tag Team Champion of course, winning the Big One 246 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: and Madison Square Gardens. So let's talk about that one. 247 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: You go back and watch the match when you won 248 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: the title, and you know, what was that feeling like? 249 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: Because I know that certain days they don't tell you 250 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: the outcome of the match until like literally probably hours 251 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: or maybe even right before you walk out the curtain. 252 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 3: Right, I mean, we didn't know what was going to 253 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 3: happen until literally a couple hours beforehand, and. 254 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 4: I had probably thought about what the outcome was going. 255 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 3: To be a million times and thought about every scenario 256 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: and how I want them to playout my mind, and 257 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 3: then finally you're given the one that I don't know 258 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 3: if I expected it the least or just you know, 259 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 3: you don't want to put all your eggs in that 260 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,359 Speaker 3: basket and kind of hope for something and be disappointed 261 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 3: if it doesn't happen. But then when you find out 262 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 3: it does, it's it all happens so quickly, it's it's 263 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 3: very hard to kind of take it in. And even 264 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 3: after the fact that you know, you win the title 265 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 3: and now it's happened, and even when you watch it back, 266 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 3: you're still so much in the midst of everything going on. 267 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 3: You know, you're traveling. 268 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 4: Still, you're defending the title. 269 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 3: You're doing this, you're doing that, that you're almost watching 270 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 3: it with a critical eye and not with any enjoyment 271 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 3: or as a fan at all. So, you know, a 272 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 3: little bit of a silver lining of what's going on 273 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 3: right now is that you have the time or I 274 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 3: personally have the time to kind of sit back and 275 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 3: reflect on a lot of those matches and Madison Square 276 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 3: government especially and kind of take it all in. And 277 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 3: I had the opportunity to kind of write something up 278 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 3: a Ring of honor the website, and it. 279 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 4: Was it was weird. 280 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 3: I mean, it's still weird to talk about because it 281 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 3: feels like such like a dream and a fairy tale 282 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 3: that you wanted to come true did and so you 283 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 3: don't want to you don't almost want to talk about. 284 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 4: It because it just seems like this. 285 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 3: Magical moment it takes away It's I don't know if 286 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: it takes away some of the fantasy of it when 287 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 3: it becomes real, but it's like it's one of these 288 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 3: things that you still look at it almost like a movie. 289 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 3: And until I watched it recently, I haven't had a 290 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 3: chance to really enjoy it. And now that I I 291 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 3: can kind of slow down and watch it back, it's 292 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 3: I have a smile on my face talking about it 293 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 3: right now, and I have a smile on my face 294 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 3: watching it, and it's such a it's hard to put 295 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 3: in the words because it's like, you know, you're in 296 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,599 Speaker 3: the driveway shooting baskets and you're like the NBA. 297 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 4: Finals three two one, here's the shots. 298 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 3: Or for me personally, you know, I'm jumping off all 299 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 3: my parents' furniture going for the world title in Madison 300 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 3: Square Garden and then you know that's me as a 301 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 3: six year old and then it happened. It's man, it's 302 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 3: still hard to kind of put into words today, and 303 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 3: it's just something so special that it's, without a doubt, 304 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 3: the greatest moment of my life so far, but only 305 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,079 Speaker 3: the beginning. And you know, there's a long road ahead 306 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 3: of me and hopefully we can have moments like that 307 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 3: for years and years to come. 308 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you know, going back and watching that, being 309 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: a member of Honor Club, which is an amazing deal 310 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: right now, you get to watch so much past wrestling 311 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: and occurrent and it's an amazing thing. So definitely get 312 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: Honor Club if you haven't got it. I mean watching that, 313 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: I'm getting goosebumps talking about watching that match again. And 314 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: then of course, hearing you talk about it, I mean, 315 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: did you have anything in your mind of like when 316 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: they said, okay, Matt, you're going over tonight, you're gonna win, Like, 317 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: did you think in your mind, okay, I can't screw 318 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: this up. Like it was a little bit more pressure 319 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: on you to perform during that match than any other match, 320 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: Without a doubt, I. 321 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 3: Think you had that pressure on you going into Madison 322 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 3: Square Garden. There was and win or lose. I wanted 323 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 3: to have the Purple Ladder involved. But now that you 324 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 3: know what's about to happen, and I'm thinking about how 325 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 3: everything's going to go down, and I'm like, here, i 326 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 3: am on top of the Purple Ladder, and I'll grab 327 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 3: the belt and I'll look at the camera, I'll do 328 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 3: this or that, and then I'm like, man, you really 329 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 3: can't drop that belt. If you drop this belt, everything 330 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 3: is ruined. And like, you know, I wear those gloves, 331 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 3: but we're sweating, there's oil, there's so many things. It's 332 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 3: leather on leather when you're when you're grabbing the belt, 333 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 3: and then like I unbuckle it in such a way 334 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 3: that it's it's very aggressive, and I'm like I'm like, 335 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 3: this is the most important thing you have to do 336 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 3: in this match. It just make sure you hold onto 337 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 3: that belt when you rip it off the canopy from 338 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 3: the top. It's like one of the smallest things is 339 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 3: that you keep almost like laughing to yourself, like, don't 340 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 3: even think about that, don't even put that in your head, 341 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 3: don't even worry about that. It's not going to happen 342 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 3: to your mind. You're like, don't drop that. 343 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: And it's like every time you go every wrung you 344 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: go up, you're like, don't drop the belt, don't drop 345 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: the belt. 346 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, or you're like, here's the moment, here's the moment, 347 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 3: here's the moment. Oh god, please don't drop the belts. 348 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 4: Queens, don't trust. 349 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: The belt because it's it's it's it's I guess it's 350 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: a bad omen if you drop the belt after winning it. 351 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: Correct in the wrestling, I mean. 352 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 3: Madison Square Garden. Everyone you know, I'm I'm the hated 353 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 3: heel and everyone is about to foo and there's nothing 354 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 3: better than to, like, you know, shove it in their face. 355 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 3: And if I drop that belt, forget it. I might 356 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 3: as well just hand it over to someone else, right, Oh. 357 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: Man, Matt Tavan is our guest on the show today. 358 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: So you kind of split your time between Mexico and 359 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: US and course of Stanton Japan. What do you feel 360 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: personally our differences and similarities between those promotions and atmosphere 361 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: of wrestling. 362 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 3: Uh, you know, it's it's it's crazy to me how 363 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 3: different those three places in particular can be, but how 364 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 3: also you see guys succeed in all those places. Because 365 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 3: wrestling is such a universal language, and whether you're even 366 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 3: able to speak the language itself, you know, you can 367 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 3: communicate to people, whether it's through your body language or 368 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 3: just your emotion that you rezuod yourself. I mean, people 369 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 3: can pick up on that. And it's funny because you know, 370 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 3: I always give American fans like a hard time for 371 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 3: kind of being snarky, but like they're they're very like, 372 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 3: you know, snarky, like huh, make me cheer, But then 373 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 3: when when you do, they're they're all into it. Where 374 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 3: Jet Japan, they're very respectful and it's almost like it's 375 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:46,959 Speaker 3: so quiet, and then once you do through something like 376 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 3: it's oh, they have such a big reaction that it 377 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 3: makes those moments even more special. And then Mexico. They're 378 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 3: just ravenous, like passion, like you've seen soccer riots happen 379 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 3: on video or whatever. Like that's the atmosphere that you 380 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 3: feel in Arena Mexico. You feel like any moment, the 381 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 3: crowd could almost rush the ring, and it's intense there. 382 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 3: So it's it's crazy to think, like how different those 383 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 3: three spots are, but that's what makes the guys that 384 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 3: can succeed in all of them so special. 385 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: Right And you know, we we've had, you know, guys 386 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: that have wrestled over in Japan on basically just kind 387 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: of what you said. I mean, it's more in Japan, 388 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: it's more of storytelling. And you know, they're not the 389 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: here in Nashville, the rednecks that are just randomly yelling, 390 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 1: you know, you know, kick his ass or whatever. It's 391 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: it's more of a show for them in Japan. And 392 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: that's that's the one thing I've taken away watching you know, 393 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: some of these matches over there. It's it's more show 394 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: and theatrics and actually entertainment and athleticism than here. You 395 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: have the redneck just yelling hit him with a chair. 396 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 3: And just for the record, I didn't say redneck you did. 397 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: I said redneck, and I'm I think I'm allowed to 398 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: say red Next is I was born and raised here 399 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: in Nashville, and you know, I think I'm allowed to 400 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: say redneck at it, so I can. I'll get the 401 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: heat for this one. Not Matt Tavian on this one. 402 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 3: Just for the record, everyone out there, I did not 403 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 3: say that I love the people in Nashville, and next 404 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 3: time I'm there, I'll be happy to shake your hands 405 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 3: and kiss you babies. 406 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you were here. Let's see. I want 407 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: to say it was for the pay per view right 408 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 1: the last time you were here, because we did win 409 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 1: a municipal a couple or a few weeks back. But 410 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: I think you're still recovering. 411 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 3: Correct, Well I was. I was there in in the 412 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 3: in the back, but yes, I was still recovering from 413 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 3: ankle surgery. I believe the last time that I wrestled 414 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 3: in Nashville was Was it the August show at the Fairground? 415 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 4: Yep? 416 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: I believe that was it because we came up and 417 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: talked to you and before the show, and then we 418 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: got there and it was I really liked that the 419 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: new Fairgrounds venu. It's a great place to have a match. 420 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: So we're looking forward to. 421 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 3: Crazy because maybe maybe it makes me feel my age 422 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 3: a little bit. But I've Yeah, one of the first 423 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 3: places I ever traveled to kind of outside of my 424 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 3: area for wrestling was Nashville and was at the Fairgrounds. 425 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 3: And now I've been back so many times and so 426 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:23,880 Speaker 3: many different companies and indies and PNA and US, and 427 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 3: it looks like NUA all these places have gone into 428 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 3: the Fairgrounds, and it's like, Wow, while there's so much 429 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 3: history there, the place keeps changing at the same time. 430 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 4: So it's uh, it's quite the The little venue I 431 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 4: was looking forward to going back. 432 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: There, right Well, the venue that that was, I guess 433 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: the historical thing is actually I want to say, they 434 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: just tore it down because they're making way for the 435 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: soccer stadium, which is a sad thing because I grew 436 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 1: up watching wrestling there every week. So one thing we 437 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: kind of want to know is if you weren't wrestling, 438 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: what would you be doing as a career, Just kind 439 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: of a little off the beaten path kind of thing. 440 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 3: Huh. You know, that's a great question, and I probably 441 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 3: still would be in the entertainment or sports industry in 442 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 3: some facet. I got a degree in sports entertainment event management, 443 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,959 Speaker 3: and so I did my internship at a record label, 444 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 3: and right out of school, I was actually hired by 445 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 3: the New England Revolution and Patriots Craft Sports Group. 446 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 4: So I was working in that. 447 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 3: In the front office for Craft Sports Group, and probably 448 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 3: that's where I would have continued. I mean, I truly 449 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 3: left there because wrestling was starting to take off and 450 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 3: it was just hard to kind of commit to one 451 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 3: or the other. And I can vividly remember a conversation 452 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 3: walking out to the parking lot at Jillette Stadium and 453 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 3: calling my father, thinking that he was going to tell 454 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 3: me I was a crazy person and that I didn't 455 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 3: go to school for four years and have this SEBT 456 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 3: for nothing, and I should probably go back into the 457 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,239 Speaker 3: office and go back to work. But I called him 458 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 3: up and told him that I was probably going to 459 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 3: quit and really pursue this wrestling thing. He told me, 460 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 3: you're only young ones, go for it, and uh. I 461 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 3: remember being almost blown away by by that. The the 462 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 3: the sign of approval there, and and I was like, oh, well, 463 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 3: I guess I'm going in right now to quit, so 464 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 3: I'll talk to you later. 465 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 4: So it's it's it's one of those. 466 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 3: Things where I'm sure, you know, if wrestling didn't didn't 467 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 3: pick up seam or didn't didn't really be my It 468 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 3: was truly my passion as a kid, and and I 469 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 3: was kind of fooling myself to think I wanted to 470 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 3: do anything else or that I should do anything else. 471 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 3: But of course if wrestling wasn't there, that. 472 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 4: I was probably gonna be my backup plan. 473 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 3: I would I would hopefully moved over to the NBA 474 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 3: at this point, since that's my, uh my true sport 475 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 3: of of passion. 476 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 1: Are you what what team in the NBA is your 477 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: Is your team? 478 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 3: Oh, it's the Boston Celtics, of course Celtic. I mean, 479 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 3: I'm I'm I'm a I'm a New Englander through and through. 480 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 3: I grew up in New Hampshire, went to school in 481 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 3: Rhode Island, move to Boston right afterwards and lived here 482 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,640 Speaker 3: of a fence, so it's hard for me to roots 483 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 3: for any other team. 484 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 4: But then again, growing up, you know, all the. 485 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,640 Speaker 3: New England sports teams were so bad that you kind 486 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 3: of had to have a secondary team because we would 487 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 3: never make the playoffs. You're like, okay, but in the playoffs, 488 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 3: I'll root for the forty nine ers, or I'll root 489 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 3: for Michael Jordan like everyone else. So but you know, 490 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 3: we've been blessed in the last twenty years to actually 491 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 3: have competitive teams in almost every sport. So it's it's 492 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 3: Boston sports all day. 493 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,119 Speaker 1: So what's your thoughts on the big deal of sending 494 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: Gronk to Tampa Bay with Tom Brady. 495 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 3: My thoughts are, I'm glad there's no NFL season this year. 496 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 3: My thoughts are, I'm looking into the Buck season tickets 497 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 3: because it's cheaper to fly myself to Tampa for every 498 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,479 Speaker 3: home game and buy probably a club seat than it 499 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 3: is to get one club seat here in New England 500 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 3: for the Patriots, or at least it was. 501 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 4: I'm sure those tickets. 502 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,439 Speaker 3: Will probably go down in the next couple of years, 503 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 3: but it's it's one of those things where I never 504 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,119 Speaker 3: thought I would see Tom Brady and the uniform and 505 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 3: now you're gonna throw Gronk on top of it, and 506 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 3: all the other no Patriot haters want to text my 507 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 3: phone and send me the graphics of Gronk and Brady 508 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 3: and their Bucks jerseys, and I'm like, all right, all right, relaxed. 509 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 3: But at the same time, for me personally, we're not 510 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 3: going to see the Bucks much and unless we both 511 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 3: end up in like the Super Bowl or something, they're 512 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 3: not really on our radar. So it gives me two 513 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 3: games to watch every Sunday now, so I don't necessarily 514 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:33,920 Speaker 3: see it as a bad. 515 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 4: Thing, all right. 516 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: And then of course we got to figure out about 517 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 1: Gronk because he's a champion and another wrestling organization, they 518 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 1: got to figure out how how that's gonna happen. Yeah, right, yeah, 519 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: I mean I've seen so many tweets of like, imagine this, 520 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: you know, three seconds left in the fourth quarter, tom 521 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: Brady throws to Gronk and boom, out of nowhere, our 522 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 1: truth comes up with a you know, a DDT or something. 523 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, so that's interesting stuff right there. But yeah, 524 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: it's New England. I have a feel that, you know, 525 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: it's it's the system. I mean, you look at what 526 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 1: happened with Matt Castle when he left New England, and 527 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: you know he. 528 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 3: Kind of I'll never take I'll never take anything away 529 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 3: from Tom Brady. But at the same time, there's a 530 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 3: reason why they've been able to plug in all these 531 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 3: different people around Tom for years. So granted, you're not 532 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 3: gonna have the greatest quarterback of all time, but I'm 533 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 3: still I I don't think we're going to be the 534 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 3: basement dwellers of the past that we. 535 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 4: Used to be in New England. 536 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 3: So no, it's it's not gonna be as as bad 537 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 3: as as probably people might think it's going to be. 538 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 3: But it's still hurts, still hurts to see Tom leave town. 539 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's that was that was kind of a shocker, 540 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,199 Speaker 1: especially here in Nashville because it was like all the 541 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: talk was Tom Brady coming to Nashville and him and 542 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: Rabel getting back together, and yeah, so it's it's he's 543 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,239 Speaker 1: in Tampa Bay. So we'll see how that goes. So, 544 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: you know, one thing kind of want to talk about 545 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: real quick is you know, we all saw what happened 546 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:58,199 Speaker 1: with wrestling over the past couple of weeks and a 547 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: lot of people getting released. Are we going to see 548 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: the band getting back together of you and Mike in 549 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 1: the future. 550 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 3: I mean, I hope so, one way or the other, 551 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 3: whether it's it's Spring of Honor or New Japan or 552 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:12,400 Speaker 3: on the Independence, I mean, we'll find a way to 553 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 3: make it happen. One one way, because it's just it's 554 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,360 Speaker 3: one of those things where I still look back at 555 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:22,640 Speaker 3: that time as one of the funnest times I ever 556 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:26,120 Speaker 3: had in wrestling. And to travel the world with two 557 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 3: of your closest friends, well, I'll never say no to that. 558 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 3: So I'm sure I'll be up for it if the 559 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 3: stars aligned and we're able to do it again. But 560 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 3: it's the only time will tell. 561 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 4: I mean, I'm rooting for it. 562 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: I think we all are and that and that's the thing, 563 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 1: because there there's got to be some unfinished business with 564 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: you two and getting some belts back, possibly maybe some 565 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: Ring of Honor, maybe going after you know, a certain 566 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: group of people in Ring of Honor that we'll talk 567 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: about here now. Of Vinny, so we had him on 568 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: the show not too long ago, and this was right 569 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: before the big you know turn d. 570 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 3: The real captivating interview because that guy, were you trying 571 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 3: to lose ratings or were like, were you mad at 572 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 3: your fans or something? 573 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 1: I don't know. I mean, we we kind of talked 574 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: about some some scary movies at the time, and we 575 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: talked about wrestling, and this was bright before you know, 576 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: the situation happened with you so, and I've seen you 577 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: guys going back and forth on social media and he's 578 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: kind of coming at you. So right now, I'm giving 579 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: you the floor to say whatever you want to Vinnie 580 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: on the show. 581 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, of course, Vinnie's trying to come at me. 582 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 3: What if Vinny else? 583 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 4: What else is he gonna do? 584 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:35,439 Speaker 3: Who is Vinnie without me? 585 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 4: You know what I'm saying? 586 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: Like? 587 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 3: Who you would never ask Vinnie to be on your 588 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 3: show if he wasn't for me. This guy is so ungraceful, 589 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 3: so unloyal, and people like that never end up, you know, 590 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 3: winning in the end. We all seen every Disney movie. 591 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,160 Speaker 3: Scar doesn't beat Mufasa in the end, Simba comes back 592 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 3: and revenges him. I'm both Simba and Mufasa. I'm both 593 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 3: the kings, I'm both the lions, all right. And and 594 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 3: that's smelly, you know, God, I would call him dreadlocks, 595 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 3: but honestly, like if you were close to him, the 596 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,959 Speaker 3: stink that comes off them is atrocious. 597 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 4: If I was Vinnie, my finishing move would just be 598 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 4: rubbing my hair in my opponent's face. But back to this, 599 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 4: up to get hand. 600 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 3: When it comes down to it, Vinnie was always my 601 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 3: puppet forever, like there's no way he's going to be 602 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 3: able to finally, you know, I'll do me or knock 603 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 3: me off my throat, and Vinnie knows that his best bet, 604 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 3: the only thing that makes him relevant in the world, 605 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 3: is tugging on my coat tails and right now, with 606 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 3: nothing else to do, because as soon as I had 607 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 3: to get my ankle fixed, no one cared about Vinnie. 608 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 3: He has to keep poking at the bear, and he 609 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 3: does not want me to come back. 610 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 4: He's hoping that I. 611 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 3: Stay on the shelf forever. But little does he know, 612 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 3: I've been working hard and I'll be back sooner them later, 613 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 3: as soon as all this madness is over. 614 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: Man, those are some strong words to Vinnie from Matt 615 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: Tavian on the show right now. You know, I don't 616 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: know what to say after that one. That's a it's 617 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 1: a tough one. 618 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 3: I mean, think about it, right, Imagine if a guy 619 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 3: made sure that your daughter had a roof over her 620 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 3: head and move on her table, and then you turned 621 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 3: your back on that guy. That'd make you a real 622 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 3: piece of garbage, right Hey, Yeah, I can see that. 623 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 3: And you know how I know he's a piece of 624 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 3: garbage because his hair smells. 625 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: Like, oh, poor Vinnie. And now we'll we'll we'll have 626 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: to see what Vinnie says once this gets posted. We'll 627 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: make sure that he's very well aware of that. And uh, 628 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: you know, did I did I read something about I 629 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: guess maybe you and Mike have a school together, A 630 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 1: wrestling school. 631 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, yes, the x W A Wrestling Kingdom in westmore, 632 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 3: Rhode Island, three bread a Lab West Workwarod Island. Unfortunately, 633 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 3: right now, you know, like everything else, because of quarantine, 634 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 3: it's it's closed up. But we are still doing our 635 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 3: zoom classes. So it's a kind of a fun time 636 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 3: to watch some wrestling. 637 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 4: You know. 638 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 3: A lot of the students will ask to watch some 639 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 3: of our old matches, which is fun to go down 640 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 3: memory lane and kind of talk about. But at the 641 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 3: same time, you know where we're all itching to get 642 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 3: back there, and it's it's a place that I personally 643 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 3: love because I get to be in the ring in 644 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 3: a couple of times a week away from Ring of 645 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 3: Honor or any of the shows. I get to be 646 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 3: in there kind of make sure that I can knock 647 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 3: the rust off off these old wheels once I'm back 648 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:22,719 Speaker 3: at it. 649 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 4: But uh, you know, make sure that I'm fresh. 650 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 3: But at the same time, it's a place I love 651 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 3: to bring a million different people in too, and kind 652 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 3: of talk to students and really make it not just my. 653 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 4: Voice or Mike's voice. 654 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 3: It's it's a place where everyone kind of just talks 655 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 3: about wrestling and everyone loves wrestling. 656 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 4: We all work. 657 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 3: Together and it's become a really cool atmosphere there. 658 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 4: Man. 659 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 1: It's and that's that's the cool thing is you don't 660 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: you don't see very many wrestling schools around, and when 661 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 1: you do, it's kind of maybe somebody that's that kind 662 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: of knows what they're doing, but not We've had some 663 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: people on talking about some wrestling schools around, you know, 664 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 1: the area, but it sounds like you and Mike have 665 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 1: some great stuff going on with that school up there. 666 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, New England is just it's such a 667 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 3: good area for wrestling because of the three main schools 668 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 3: with Chaotic US, the Wrestling Kingdom, and then Top Ropes 669 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 3: Lock Up Academy, which is where actually me, Viviy TK 670 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 3: and Mike all went to originally. It's just there's so 671 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 3: much good, good training in the area that it's great 672 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 3: because it just makes all the guys that are trying 673 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,719 Speaker 3: to get into wrestling that much better, that quicker, because 674 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 3: it's really it's been a hotbed for the last decade 675 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 3: and it continues to be. 676 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: So there it is, Matt tavan Is, our guests on 677 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: the show really do appreciate you taking some time out 678 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: and talking to us. We are very thankful for you 679 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: to be on the show, and we are honored to 680 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: have you on the show. 681 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 4: Thank you man. Always fun talking to you. 682 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 3: It's a nice break in these quarantine days. 683 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 5: We hope you enjoyed today's episode of the Battleground Podcast. 684 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 5: Make sure you give it five stars and a nice review. 685 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 5: To stay up to date with the show, follow them 686 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 5: at Battleground Podcast on Instagram.