1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: Brown, Why from the parts Unknown Studios Walking to the 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 1: du Battle Crown, Battle the Battle Round, Battle. 3 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 2: The Battle Crowd. 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Battleground Podcast, your place for all things 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 3: pro wrestling. 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: The Battle Round, the Battle Round. 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 3: Now making their way to the microphones. Give it up 8 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 3: for your hosts. 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 4: Welcome to the Battle Crown. 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: So Impact Wrestling Week on the Battleground Podcast continues all week. 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: We've had some star studded events. We kicked it off 12 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: with Mickey James. We had Gail Kim of course celebrating 13 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: twenty years of Impact Wrestling at Clenniversary June nineteenth at 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: the Fairgrounds. 15 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 5: It's gonna be an amazing night. 16 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: And of course today we have a former guest on 17 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: the show, which we'll get into this in a second. 18 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 3: The champ is here. 19 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: Josh Alexander joined us very nice. Well, I would to 20 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: kind of go back to this because right before you 21 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 1: came on our show, you were facing Moose for the title. 22 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: We have this running I guess rule on the show, joke, 23 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: whatever you want to call it, that when people come 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: onto the show, and we told you about this, when 25 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: they come on to the show, they go on to 26 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: win the gold. Ironically enough, you came on the show 27 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: just a couple of days after you came on the show. 28 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 5: Hany gets raised victorious. 29 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 3: There was a second part to this rule, though, wasn't there? 30 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 5: There was a second part. 31 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: But we're not gonna put that on the radio right 32 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: now because you're not gonna lose. But you do have 33 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: a big match coming up on Sunday against I guess 34 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: you could say Nashville's own Eric Young. 35 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 5: Now I guess now that he's lived. 36 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: Here for a while. Yeah, So what's your thought process 37 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: going into this match with Eric Young? Especially after what 38 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: happened to you last night? 39 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 3: I mean, yeah, last night I was left beating up 40 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 3: more than anybody's ever seen me left laying in impact 41 00:01:58,320 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 3: wrestling in my three and a half years. 42 00:01:59,680 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: You know. 43 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 3: But you know they're called violent by design for a reason. Yeah, 44 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 3: something I did not expect to happen. You know. There's 45 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 3: three of them and one of me. But you know, 46 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 3: Sunday at Slammiversary, I'm in the ring one on one 47 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 3: with Eric Young, and to be champion, he's gonna have 48 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 3: to beat me fair and square. Well, you know what 49 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 3: I mean. Yeah, And I think I think as a 50 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 3: pro wrestler, when we're in that ring after the bell rings. 51 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 3: I don't think there's anyone better in the world than me, 52 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: and I have to feel that way because I am 53 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 3: representing the company as Impact World Champions. So we're gonna 54 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 3: have to see how it all chops out at the end. Yeah, 55 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 3: and it's gonna be a fun match. 56 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: And of course we're back at the historic Fairgrounds, you 57 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: and Eric Young, and of course you do you kind 58 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 1: of sit there and think though for a second, because 59 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: there's other people in violent by design, do you kind 60 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: of have to keep your head on a swallow the 61 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: entire match? 62 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, absolutely, But I mean you talk about Cody 63 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 3: Diener for one, but then you also talk up to 64 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 3: somebody like Joe Doring, who I was recently in the 65 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 3: ring with as well. Yeah, he's an undefeated giant. He's 66 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 3: a big boy, you. 67 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 6: Know, pardon my friends, he's a big bitch. 68 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 3: The deck is stacked against me, but that'll make it 69 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 3: that much sweeter when I come out on top of 70 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 3: the end of it, definitely, And. 71 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 5: That's that's what that's the goal for this show. 72 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: Because I will tell you this though, Eric did come 73 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: on our show, but he didn't go on to win. 74 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: The goal out after that, so it kind of stopped 75 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: with him, but then it rejoined up with you. So 76 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: good things there right there. But let's kind of talk 77 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: about you winning that title that night six weeks removed, 78 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: you defeating Moose at Rebellion. I mean, has it sank 79 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: in that you have that title back after Moose did 80 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: what he did to you? 81 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 4: Yeah? 82 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. I've done a bunch of interviews and stuff, and 83 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 3: everybody always refers to me as a two time Impact 84 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 3: World Champion now and it doesn't really feel like two 85 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 3: times to me. It feels like this is the singular 86 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 3: time finally had that championship, finally been able to strap 87 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 3: it around my waist, and you know, it all sank 88 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 3: in that night. I got to like stop and take 89 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 3: a second and really, you know, smell of roses as 90 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 3: they say. And you know, then the next day we 91 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: got ready for TV tapings, and the pressure all sank 92 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 3: in that. You know, I was representing this company and 93 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 3: this locker room and the crew and everybody else, and 94 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 3: you know, you have to go out there and deliver 95 00:03:58,440 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: night in, night out, and it's something that I take 96 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 3: for seriously for sure. 97 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 2: Is there any extra added pressure just knowing that you're 98 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: in one of the you know, you're the champion of 99 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: one of the biggest wrestling companies on the planet right now. 100 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, and not just that. It's because it's Impact wrestling. 101 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 3: It means a great deal to me, Like we're coming 102 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 3: up with a twenty year anniversary. Twenty years ago. When 103 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 3: the first ever pay per view on Wednesday Night air 104 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 3: June nineteen, two thousand and two, I was sitting on 105 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: my couch with all my high school friends and I 106 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 3: ordered that pay per view because I was desperately craving 107 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 3: a different kind of pro wrestling, something, something that you know, 108 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: would remind me and reignite my passion. And that happened 109 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 3: the very first match when I saw AJ Styles, Loki 110 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 3: and Jerry Lynn against the Flying Elvis Is. Yeah, that 111 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 3: was a phenomenal match. 112 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 5: No no pun intended by the way. 113 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't want to do any disservice to Jerry Lynn. 114 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 3: He's amazing. I think he was the one that really 115 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 3: cultivated that X division in the early years and helped 116 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 3: all those other guys along. But when I saw Loki 117 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 3: and aj Styles mainly, it just blew my mind. They 118 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 3: were offering me this different style of pro wrestling than 119 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 3: I'd ever seen before. Like I was a fan of 120 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 3: Eddie Guerrero and Di Malenko and all this cruiserwaights from WCW, 121 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 3: but they took it to like a completely different level. 122 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 3: And I think that's what the X Division did, and 123 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 3: I followed it from then on out. And then for 124 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 3: me to know finally sign with this company, become a 125 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 3: tag team champion, become an X Division champion, and become 126 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 3: a world champion, to be going in a Slammiversary of 127 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 3: the twenty year anniversary representing this company, like dude, it's amazing. 128 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you think back to those those years in 129 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: the the NWAT and A days, It's like I remember 130 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: seeing Amazing Red, I remember seeing Kid Cash, I remember 131 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: Jerry Lynn all that stuff, and every week you're just like, 132 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: what is X Division? Because like you said, I mean, 133 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: you knew Eddie, you knew Raymisterio, you knew all this 134 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: other stuff. But it's like they brought something different every 135 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: week for that X Division and I was like, this 136 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: is amazing. 137 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, and then they definitely didn't look like anything 138 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 2: like even if you compare like you know Eddie versus 139 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: Raymstereo Halloween, having like the X division was even past that, 140 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 2: you know, I mean, it was definitely doing things that 141 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 2: you're just like, what in the hell. 142 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 3: You know, and it completely changed the business. Absolutely, Like 143 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 3: that changed the business as much as the Knockout division 144 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 3: here changed the business in the early years. It cultivated 145 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 3: a completely different type of progress and that's completely taken 146 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 3: over the industry. Yep. 147 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 6: And that's not fluff, that's true. I mean that's the fact. Yeah, 148 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 6: I mean that's one hundred percent. 149 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 3: And you know, the IWC has all their you know 150 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 3: what you call them trolls or whatever. They have people 151 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 3: that just want to like hate on things. They can't 152 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 3: deny that. 153 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: You can't deny that because when you look at it, 154 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: you see, and we talked about this earlier in the week, 155 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: you look at it and see that Impact has made 156 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: a difference and no pun intended, Impact has made an 157 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: impact on the wrestling business. So you look at all 158 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: the other companies, you see shades of Impact and all 159 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 1: these companies. 160 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, this is this is the land of opportunity. That's 161 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 3: what I like to call it because certainly for me, 162 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: you know, I didn't sign my first contract until three 163 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 3: and a half years ago, and I was fourteen years 164 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,799 Speaker 3: into my wrestling career. I was just a pro wrestler, 165 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 3: grinding it out on the indies, getting chances everywhere and 166 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 3: being turned passed by, you know. Yeah, and then finally 167 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 3: Impact came to me and they gave me an opportunity. 168 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 3: And ever since then, all it's is, here's the ball, 169 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 3: don't drop it. Here's the ball, don't drop it. And 170 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 3: night luckily have never have much, you know, due to 171 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 3: the fact that I had fourteen years of experience of 172 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 3: fumbling the ball left and right on independent shows where 173 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 3: nobody could see me. But you know what I mean, 174 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 3: in the early years, the same thing, like we mentioned 175 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 3: all these names, like they were just given opportunities. Here's 176 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 3: the ball, go out there and you know, hit a 177 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 3: home run, and all it was was pretty much home 178 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 3: runs the entire time. Even guys like in the early 179 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 3: years of the Asylumn years, there was a guy like 180 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 3: Malice who was formerly in WCW, who I think was amazing, 181 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: you know, unfortunately, you know, rest in peace, he passed away. 182 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 3: But like that was a guy that they were just like, 183 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 3: here's the ball. The very first show. He was the 184 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 3: one that went all the way to limit to be 185 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 3: on the first champion with Ken Shamrock and to have 186 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 3: the trust in a guy like that, I think that's 187 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 3: just like indicative of like impacts entire ethos of like 188 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 3: this is your opportunity. 189 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 6: Yeah, and it's. 190 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 2: It's kind of interesting because we've we talked about basically, 191 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 2: I guess since since Anthem took over I bought the company, 192 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: really just kind of focusing more and not on old 193 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: school but just really focusing on quality matches. You know, 194 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: the behind the scenes stuff is entertaining, everything from you know, 195 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 2: Rosemary stuff to you know, they had the Impact House 196 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 2: where it was like the real world. I mean, there's 197 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: just so much stuff going on that, like I think 198 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: it's it kind of hits for everybody. But you know, 199 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: for a while there, the perception of Impact is it's 200 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 2: just WW guys, that's all it was. And I think 201 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: obviously there's some truth there, but you look at the 202 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: people that are really kind of rising to the top 203 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: or the cream as they say, aj Samoa, those weren't 204 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 2: WW guys. Those were guys that took the opportunity ran 205 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 2: with it, you know, And I think that it's it's 206 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 2: just a testament to the company that yeah, they do 207 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 2: bring in some names, but I mean a lot of 208 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 2: a lot of the talent pushing upward and pushing forward 209 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 2: are not those guys, you know. It's those AJ's, it's 210 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: those indie guys. It's you fourteen years experiencing that kind 211 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: of thing. So just to see them still bringing in 212 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 2: these new names. 213 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 6: And I mean, it's just it's incredible. You know. 214 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 2: So I have a question about your title matches. So 215 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: you fought Christian and beat him, and I know it's 216 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 2: a you know, and then you beat Moose. Did one 217 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: of those mean more to you than the other? Was 218 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 2: Moose's good just because of the revenge aspect. Was Christian 219 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: because he's legend Canadian? Like, what did one mean more 220 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 2: to you? 221 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 3: I was like, it's not a disservice to Christian at all, 222 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 3: Like it was an honor to be in the ring 223 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:20,959 Speaker 3: with him in the main event about for Glory, it 224 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 3: was something like I never thought possible, you know what 225 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 3: I mean, to be able to wrestle him while like 226 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 3: he's still a great professional wrestler, you know what I mean, 227 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 3: Like that's something I would have never imagined. Yeah, But 228 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 3: the Rebellion match, like that was where all the pressure 229 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 3: was on me to deliver because I knew that this 230 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 3: whole build, that whole like six seven months, that was 231 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 3: all building to that culmination point of me and Moose 232 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 3: in the ring finally for the first time, and there 233 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 3: was a lot of pressure on that to go out 234 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 3: there and tell a story. And I think we went 235 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 3: out and we exceeded both mine and his expectations, and like, yeah, 236 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 3: I'll never forget that. 237 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, having the family come in after that, I mean, 238 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 2: my wife, she had to she was doing something. So 239 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 2: when she got home, it was just to see that match, 240 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 2: caught the end of it, and she's. 241 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 6: Like, oh, look at him in his little thing, and 242 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 6: then I. 243 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 2: Don't you know, she was doing it more from a 244 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 2: mom's standpoint, you know, but you know, just adding that 245 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 2: actually like the real drama to it, you know, like 246 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: just that whole angle was just perfectly educated. 247 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 6: In my opinion, Yeah, we. 248 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 3: Live in an age where I think people's attention spans, fans' 249 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 3: attention spans are so small, and I think a lot 250 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 3: of the wrestling companies they kind of shock on things 251 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 3: and do things really fast, whereas Impact has really slowed 252 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 3: it down and they're just patients. Is key and like 253 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 3: that storyline is a perfect indicator of that. Like it 254 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 3: was seven months of build up and down. I had 255 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 3: to fly my way back to the championship and all 256 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 3: that stuff, and the payoff was that much sweeter because of. 257 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: It, Right, And I think everyone kind of knew well 258 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 2: was gonna happen, but still just seeing the road that 259 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 2: it took was just awesome. Yeah. 260 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: Well, of course Impact Wrestling Slammiversary is going down June nineteenth. 261 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: You can still grab ticket right now Impact Wrestling dot Com. 262 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: If you're not in the Nashville area, well drive to Nashville. 263 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: But if I can't make it to Nashville, I know 264 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: gas price high tell at the moment. Uh, you can 265 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: watch it on Fight. So you're no stranger to New 266 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: Japan Pro Wrestling, having appear on NJPW Strong as well 267 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: as a lot of the New Japan guys coming into Impact. 268 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: You actually had a banger of a match recently with 269 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: one of the guys as a fighting champion. Are you 270 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: interested in defending that Impact Wrestling title against anyone in 271 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: the New Japan roster, anyone in the world. 272 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 3: Yeah. I made it my statement after I won that championship, 273 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 3: But I think the first interview I did for Impact 274 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 3: they posted online. I said, I wanted to defend this 275 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 3: championship against the very best wrestlers in the world. I 276 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 3: will take this belt anywhere around the world because if 277 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 3: like I can put myself on the map, at the 278 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 3: same time, I can have Impact recognize that our roster 279 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 3: from the knockouts all the way through the guys, we 280 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 3: are like I have a chip on my shoulder. Guys, Oh, 281 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 3: I know, I took me fourteen years to get that contract. 282 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 3: There's this a chip a mile wide on my shoulder 283 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 3: where I got something to prove. And I think everybody 284 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 3: in this locker room has the same chip. And that's why, 285 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 3: like I stand for this place. You know what I mean, 286 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 3: This is family to me. And if I can represent 287 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 3: us and take that responsibility and do that in big 288 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: matches against the very best in the world, I will 289 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 3: do that every chance I get. 290 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 2: So, what's your opinion on the philosophy the man makes 291 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 2: the belt or the belt makes the man? 292 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 6: Which one? 293 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 3: I mean you can argue back and forth about you 294 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 3: know which one is which for other people, I hopefully 295 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 3: would like to elevate this belt. You know what I mean, 296 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 3: This belt means a great deal. But like as we said, 297 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 3: over the years, Impact has gone through its ups and downs, 298 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 3: and I think much in you know, four years ago, 299 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 3: a lot of things change management wise, and we've kind 300 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 3: of restructured the way we're doing things, and that's where 301 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 3: like the patient's kicked in and we've changed the philosophies 302 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 3: on things. And this company has been gaining nothing but 303 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 3: momentum the entire time I've been here, and I'm lucky 304 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 3: to see and be a part of it as it grows. 305 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 3: And I want to grow even more. And you know, 306 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 3: if I can do that as champion, as the face 307 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 3: of the company and make that belt mean even more, 308 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 3: make the company meet even more, you know, get more 309 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 3: eyes on us, then that don't make everything that much better? 310 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, Well this is kind of a twist because 311 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 2: I'm sure kind of like similar to you know, seeing 312 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 2: Punk who was asked every single day when you're coming 313 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,599 Speaker 2: back to wrestling, I'm sure you get a lot of 314 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: questions about Ethan Page in the North and all that 315 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 2: kind of stuff. But now that you're the Impact World Champion, 316 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: a title he was never able to obtain, would that 317 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 2: be a matchup you'd be interested in. 318 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 3: I mean, you'd have to win some matches to. 319 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 6: Ouch not a knock, but in fact, honesty is key, man. 320 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: I mean, there's what you gotta do. So here's a 321 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: fun part of the show. We've had some people ask 322 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 1: like first date questions, right, so we're just gonna kind 323 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: of throw rapid fire questions at you. 324 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 5: Nothing crazy, I like, what do you like on pizza 325 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 5: or whatnot? 326 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 7: But uh so let's let's kind of give it, right, 327 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 7: that's the headline. 328 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 5: All the dirt sheets are gonna write about it. 329 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: So let's let's kind of start with the softball favorite 330 00:13:54,200 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: memory from the old T and A days, And it 331 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: can't be Elix skipper off the top of the cage. 332 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 3: It would be uh Kurt Angle headbutting smo Joe and 333 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 3: Smojo rising up behind him in that camera shot, just 334 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 3: starting off that whole thing. Oh my god, that was amazing. 335 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 3: That's forever burn mind. 336 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think that one's there. 337 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,239 Speaker 1: And of course the Elix skipper off this top cage. 338 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: Like talk about a guy going back to the X 339 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: Division real quick. I mean that dude, like I would 340 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: watch his matches and I was like, how is he 341 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: doing that? 342 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 3: Like what degree of difficulty goes, you know there, there 343 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 3: was definitely an eighty percent chance he was gonna flop 344 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 3: that that night, regardless of how many times he practiced it. 345 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I'm very curious of how many times he 346 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: did practice that, because you got to think, like how 347 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: many times you get up there and like, okay, put 348 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: this here, put this here, because if I go one 349 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: step just over this way, I'm gonna be hanging out 350 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: with the fans ring side. 351 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 3: You know, as someone who's been in a cage match, 352 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 3: I I don't know this for sure. I'm sure somebody 353 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 3: else can inform you afterwards, but I don't think he 354 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 3: practiced it at all, because, Yeah, the top of that 355 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 3: cage I think is way too high, regardless of you're 356 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 3: falling on your feet. 357 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 2: Or not right, especially, why why injuring yourself in practice 358 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 2: when if you're gonna do it, just do it? 359 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: Well. 360 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 2: I know I'd seen some stuff like Jeff Hardy and 361 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: he's like, I don't I just get up there. 362 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 5: And do it, jump right off of it. 363 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 2: Let's say I was gonna I was gonna be Do 364 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 2: you have a favorite all time TNA performer? 365 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 3: You know, Scott More, I'm already champion guys, I can't 366 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 3: get anymore. Uh No, I mean it's I think it 367 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 3: begins and ends with aj Styles. I think he's the 368 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 3: figurehead for this company, regardless of whatever happens in the 369 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 3: future and all this other stuff. I think if people 370 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 3: want to close their eyes and think about TNA, he's 371 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 3: the first name that comes up. Definitely, for sure, it's. 372 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 6: Hard to imagine the company without. 373 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 3: Yeah. 374 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 5: Favorite movie Ooh, that is a tough one. 375 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 3: Uh The Town maybe, Yeah, that's underrated. 376 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 6: I think I think it flies under the radar, a little. 377 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 3: Really good heist movie. 378 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, Ready to Rumbles. My favorite. 379 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 3: Favorite food another tough one. If I can eat whatever, 380 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 3: I want, a good bacon cheeseburger. 381 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 6: I may do that. There's a cookout around the corner. 382 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 6: I may go for me. 383 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 2: I may eat not healthy today. 384 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: Uh. 385 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 5: Last one favorite team. 386 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 3: Team as in like sports, Yeah, oh, Toronto Raptors. I'm 387 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 3: a big basketball fan. Vince Carter. You know, when I 388 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 3: was like ten years old, Vincanity. Yeah. Man, oh that's 389 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 3: where I discovered basketball with Toronto. 390 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 5: I always wanted the Vince Carter Nike shocks. Parents would 391 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 5: ever buy. 392 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 6: Him for me? He played Uh, he played for Memphis 393 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 6: for a little bit, did he. 394 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 5: I believe he played for everybody after Toronto. 395 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 6: About two or three years he was he was a yeah, 396 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 6: he was a journeyman. 397 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: I figured you would have been a maybe a Vancouver 398 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: Grizzlies guy. 399 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 3: Oh they were. They were gone by the time they 400 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 3: were there, very short. 401 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 6: It was so weird. 402 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: But it's like now when when Memphis does it, it's 403 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: like we're the They put the old Vancouver logo on. 404 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 5: It was like, yeah, I don't know how I feel 405 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 5: about that. 406 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 3: It's like zero grizz not to be like too much 407 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 3: of a homer for this radio station and all this stuff. 408 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 3: But I am a big Ja Morant fan. 409 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: So hey, jaw ISAs the king right there. I mean, 410 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,679 Speaker 1: no offense to Lebron James. Sorry, Dude's gonna get them 411 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: a title very very soon. 412 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 6: Do you want to do one more TNA question? 413 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 3: Yeah? 414 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 2: Do you have a do your favorite TNA tag team? 415 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 6: Uh? Yeah? 416 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 3: And it's gonna be kind of unorthodox for a lot 417 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 3: of listeners, but I think Delo Brown and AJ Styles 418 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, man, I love that. 419 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 6: Delo is so underrated it drives me crazy. 420 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,479 Speaker 2: I was really it was really excited to see him 421 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 2: pop up on commentary just at least for a little bit. 422 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 6: But uh yeah, man, that because they don't they weren't around. 423 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 6: They weren't together very long either, right. 424 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 3: No, it was like for like maybe three months in these. 425 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 6: Yeah, three to four months or something. 426 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, it was yeah, awesome stuff. 427 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 2: Sometimes those makeshift tag teams are fun and then other 428 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 2: times you just know it's like. 429 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 6: Can they coexist? And then they're gonna split. 430 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 2: Up there, you know, and it's just you know, when 431 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 2: I see that stuff, I just I know it's dialed in, 432 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 2: like I don't want to do that, but like those 433 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: little things, like it's almost kind of like the Rocking 434 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: Sotock connection, Like it's just fun. You just do it 435 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 2: and you know, have a little thing for a little bit. 436 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, Well we don't want to make up too 437 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: much of your time, So real quick, where can everybody 438 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: follow you out on social media? 439 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 5: What's the best place? 440 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 3: Twitter and Instagram? At Walking Underscore Weapon, that's it. 441 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 5: That's it right there. 442 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: And of course, celebrating twenty years, Impact Wrestling is doing 443 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: Slammiversary pay per view at the Historic Fairgrounds. It is 444 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: going down June nineteenth. Course, you can still grab tickets 445 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 1: Impact Wrestling dot Com. You can also watch it on 446 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: Fight Josh, thanks for coming on the show today and 447 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: we look forward to you not. 448 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 3: Losing the title. I'm gonna correct that curse that you guys. 449 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're gonna correct it with Josh and then we're 450 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: still on a good streak. 451 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 4: We hope you enjoyed today's episode of the Battleground Podcast. 452 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 4: Make sure you give it five stars and a nice review. 453 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 4: To stay up to date with the show, follow them 454 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 4: at Battleground Podcast on Instagram.