August 12, 2025 • 19 mins
TNA stars AJ Francis and Moose sit down for an exclusive interview! AJ opens up about that brutal ladder spot at Slammiversary, why he re-signed with TNA over every other promotion, and his vision for First Cla$$, including possible recruits like Shotzi and Dakota Kai. Moose talks about TNA's rumored TV deal, WWE crossover buzz, and why he’s the one to finally take down Trick Williams.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
You play for the wrestling and exclusive interviews with some
of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Podcast stop it, What's up you guys? Welcome back into
iHeartRadio is official wrestling podcast, The Battleground Podcast. Man, it
is an exciting time to be a TNA fan. It
is an exciting time for just TNA in general. On
the show today with us two guys who have been
(00:38):
just completely crushing TNA and putting TNA on their back.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Give it up for Moose and AJ Francis joined.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
I'm glad you know what it is. I forgot to
put my hat on because I hate that the guys
on the left hand slide is ball headed with a beer.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
Actually, wow, yeah, we're the ball crew today.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
C yournd.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We'll split everything up so it's kind of like bald
hat hat bald, No, your hand.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Off, so.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Take yours off too, because I know you're bald underneath there.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Oh no, two years ago I got here, you should
have taken the over.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Let let's just jump right into this real quick.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
T n A is on fire and a J I
got a question for you because everybody's talking about it.
That latter spot at Slammiversary looked absolutely brutal.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Of course, the Internet had something to say. You weren't
having it. You clap back at the Internet, But let.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Me ask what was going through your mind as that
was happening, other than oh ship.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So I can give you a play breakdown. I actually
haven't done this on anybody show. So what actually reaping
was Casey was legitimately hurt and is legitimately hurt and
uh so at that spot in the back they were
telling case telling the rest and who eventually told Myron
(02:15):
don't let Macy take the bull. And while we're climbing
the ladder, and am I.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Allowed to cuss on this or no?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Yeah you can guzz so KNC case.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
As we're climbing the ladder, I'm hearing Myron tell k
c Yo, they don't want you to take the buck,
they don't want you to take the buk.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And Ksey says and I quote, just push the fucking ladder.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
Bro So.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
But as this conversations going on, I'm watching them and
I'm not paying attention to the fact that one of
my feet is now on the rung. It needs to
be so when the ladder's being pushed, I realized, oh shit,
this ladder, I'm gonna trip on this rope if I
don't jump over it. So I jumped over it and
at that point I'm just trying not to die.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, and uh, I wind up landing.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I literally actually land on my feet, but you rolled
through with it on the ladder. But it's the gnarliest
bump ever. And it's crazy because I've gotten so much,
people have talked about it for so much, and it's
like I add so much to an already great match
to take that bump, especially after the Moons, and I.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Did right before then, but like then, like everyone's like, aj.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Are you okay?
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? And
I'm perfectly fine, but case's actually.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Hurt, you know what I'm saying. So, but everyone's asking
me if I'm okay. So that's why it's crazy.
Speaker 6 (03:36):
To when you take those big bumps for the big
matches like that, do you does it instantly? Like are
you thinking like okay, well what can I do next?
Or you are you thinking what you just said? Like
I'm glad I didn't die, you know, like what.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Are you thinking of?
Speaker 5 (03:50):
Well?
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Luck?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I knew that was my last spot, so I didn't
have to do anything after that.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Anyone I knew that. So I took Once I took
the bump, you know, you land here.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Like okay, I'm all right, And as I realized, I'm like, yo,
my feet went right through the ladder.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
This is crazy. I bet this looks nuts.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
So then I, as I'm selling, get into positions so
I can see the jumbo tron and I look up
at the jumbo tron and they do the replay and
I'm like, oh.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Everyone thinks I'm dead. Yeah, I'm like this is awesome.
Everyone thinks I'm dead. I'm perfectly fine. So then now
I just crawl over to see and I'm like, yo
you He's like, nah, bro.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
Yeah man, that's insane.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
So we recently saw on Twitter you kind of gave
a you know, shout out if you want to call
it to Shatzi Ora Mensa and Dakota Kaya is having
a standing invite to first class?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Are there any plans to officially bring them in?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
And then who's the most likely to get the call next?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Oh man, that's a good that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
If I was going to, you know, tonight, there's a
little sh shifting first Class. Uh you know, obviously the
first person I would call would be rich Swan because
he helped build first Class with me from the beginning.
The second call actually wouldn't be even from that list
that I said. It would probably be to a Chante
(05:17):
diodonas aka to Hoodie Miles, my old tag team partner
in WWE. But uh, you know, like I said, if
you want to be the biggest heels on TNA, if
you want to be the biggest heel in the business,
join first Class. I mean that's all. Everyone loves Casey
until he stands next to me. Everyone loves rich Swan
(05:37):
until he stands next to me.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So you know all you got news. If you want
to be hated, please come over the first class.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
You know one really cool thing that there's been a
lot of buzz around TNA right now, big growth push,
possible TV deal on the horizon. You got this partnership
with WWE. Moose, I gotta know from you, how do
you see your role in he and A's new era
as it is gaining even more serious momentum.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
That's great, man, Like you guys are clown on me
earlier because I've been in TNA forever. So I was
in TNA when it wasn't so great. I remember the
days where we were happy when we got five hundred
people at the show, right to now where we get
seven eight thousand people to the show. So thanks to WWE,
(06:27):
thanks to the amazing guys and girls we have in
a roster, thanks to the new management. I wish I
could I could counted on one thing on why Tona
is so is booming and great right now, But it's
a bunch of different things, you know what I'm saying.
I think we were hitting on all cylinders right now,
and I can't wait to see what the future holds.
(06:49):
And I mean I know I've been seeing the rooms
about the new TV deal and they don't tell us anything,
so we probably won't find out. We probably won't find
out until oh, you guys find out what it's exciting.
And I hope the rumors i'm here, I'm seeing on
social media it's true. But we'll find out soon soon enough.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, absolutely, Well, we're as TNA fans, we're definitely excited
to see what's going to happen in the future holds.
And speaking of TNA fans, we recently had Carlos Silva,
and we talked to him about some things.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
And let's just talk facts for a second, Moose.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Everyone who has been in TNA that has faced Trick
Williams has failed to get that title back to TNA.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Why are you?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Why are you the one who's finally going to break
that streak?
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Oh? Because I mean when you think of those legends TNA,
the first name that most people think about in this
generation is me, right. I mean, I know back in
the day, the first people that you thought about was
AJ France's favorite wrestler, AJ Styles. But I think in
the new generation of TNA, my name is anonymous at TNA.
(07:58):
So know Trick Trick James Tricky Williams. I know he
calls himself tricking a but a good friend of mine
once told me that to be you don't need to
hold a title to be the face of the face
of a company. And like I said, once you think
of those three letters, though, one of the first names
(08:19):
that come up his mind. So I think I prove
that I've done just about everything in TNA, and when
I face Trick for that title, You're gonna soon be
calling me the full time TNA World champion, And.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Does AJ get a title shot after you beat Trick?
Speaker 1 (08:37):
So wonder because here's my question.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
First of all, I mean, but that's his boys a while,
So why wouldn't you want to Why would you want
a title shot that his boy?
Speaker 1 (08:46):
What you mean if you beat up my little brother,
I'm gonna come beat you up. That's how it works.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
Oh, I thought you were saying. I thought you were saying,
if Trick beats me?
Speaker 4 (08:55):
What if you beat Trick, does AJ get a title
shot after that?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Hey? Hey, once I whooped that Trick, anybody could come
come after this title. I mean see everybody, man, No,
I'll put them hands on you, bro. I mean, I mean,
we got we got the we got the NFL thing
(09:20):
going on. It is all love and that end of it.
But when we step in that ring, especially coming from
my title, full time TEENA world champion, Oh, I'm gonna
have to put them hands on you, bro. I'm gonna
have to put them hands on.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
The real reason Trick is the TNA World Champion right
now is because y'all only gave me one title shot. Ever,
if I would have got more than one shot, everybody
got all these shots, I'll get one shot.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Hey, you mean hey, every time I've been giving a shot.
You can look at my career, every time I've been
given a shot, I've always made a count everything time.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
So that's why I don't be few and far between.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
Hey, every time, Hey, I don't miss. What's the guy
that says that he don't miss? That's me? I don't
I don't miss. You give me a shot. I'm gonna bank.
I'm a banker. I mean, that's that's why I'm gonna
be full time team a world champion. And I mean,
is there anybody in the company right now that's hell
(10:26):
the title as many times as I am, I don't
think so.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I have four title matches in a year.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
So so one of my one of my goals is
to to break that record of being holding the title
the most. I don't know who has a record right now.
I'm guessing Jeff kert I the Jeff or staying one
of them. They might be tied. So I'm only two away.
(10:54):
So after next weekend, I'll be a full time team
a world champion and we'll go from there. Yeah, I
don't think so, you know what, you know what, it's Actually,
it's actually weird that I'm saying I want to break
that record, But that means I also want to lose
the titles so I could win it back. That's this
(11:21):
is That's basically what I'm playing, right, I want to win.
I want to beat Trick for it, the ex actually
lose it. If I can beat somebody else for it,
that I could break this record. You know, Hey, but
it's a good record I have though, So if I
that's how it goes there, then I would love to
do it.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, A J.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
You know you re signed with T and aighth end
of last year.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Did that Uh?
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Did that kind of start a new chapter for you mentally?
Like you know, did that change your mind center performance
knowing that they're reinvesting in you again for another deal?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
No, because I pay attention. I saw my run I
saw with Jovin was before and after me.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Saw when they needed to get Pco a good career
spot in his hometown who they put him with, saw
when they needed to extend the feud with Dolph Ziggler.
I'm sorry Nick NamUs and Joe Hendry, who was the
stop gap to make sure everything flowed the way it
was supposed to go. I saw it, so I knew
that they was gonna want me back because I was
doing nothing but great work. The thing is is like
(12:24):
this is the business, so like at the end of
the day, you gotta protect your interest. I love my
time in TNA. I've done everything so far. I had
no you want to talk about not missing, I ain't
missing in TNA. So I've gone out and everyone's expectations
but my own. Now, you know, Moose is about to
(12:44):
be a four time he says world champion. I've only
got three title shots, and two of them was tack teams.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Both of those tag teams. Guess what, I ain't get picked.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
You know, I feel personally that I have been underutilized
in the title picture every single time I step between
those ropes because I'm the biggest heel on this show.
So when I get an opportunity to go out there
in front of the TNA crowd, I reward them for
coming out to be a part of TNA and also
(13:21):
make every single person, whether it's rich Swan, Cason, Nevolved,
Mike Santana, Joe Hendry, Chamo.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Guerrero, I make them look better bro.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
I know the value that I bring, so I gonna
bring it to TNA long term. Love that, but that's
a business thing that we gotta talk to business. Would
love to be in TNA as long as Moss has
been in TNA. You know what I'm saying, Like that
would be great TNA. I am used in a way
that highlights my abilities. Nobody except for me and maybe
(13:51):
Tommy Dreamer star where I am today, even possibly a
year and a half ago when I signed with TNA.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Right So absolutely, and you know, you know, we AJ
talks about how he needs some title shots. I mean,
AG's out here doing moonsafts. Maybe we get him an
X Division title shot.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Tell me, I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Telling you Cook, even Moose's exta Physi champion for five
hundred days, I couldn't give one shot.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, hey, let's let's put that in the powers that be.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
I don't know, Well, we'll talk.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
To somebody there and get AJ and X Division title shot. Now,
one quick thing before we let you go, because I
know we got to. You got some other things to do.
You guys have been kind of on the same career
path you went from the NFL to professional wrestling.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Looking back, at that. Was there ever a moment that.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
You thought the whole wrestling gig was just gonna crash
and burn and you're just gonna be done.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
For me? Though?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Never No, I mean, I mean, okay, two weeks into training,
came to my school I worked at T T D.
Two turns to my school, called me in a ring
with him, after never having a single conversation with the man,
and call he called a match on the fly to
me for like, it was like a ten minute match
(15:07):
and it went through flawlessly, and Haku said, big man,
you're ready. That was two weeks into my training, So
like that was six years ago. I know that I'm
built for this business, and I know that I loved
this business.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
I love this business more than football.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
I just made a lot of money playing football, so
I did that as long as I could, you know
what I'm saying. But me and Moose both turned down
opportunities to go back to the NFL to become wrestlers.
So like, I don't think we ever had a doubt
in our mind in the restling business, not from literally
two weeks in the training that first time get to
the rig working on a fly with Haku.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
This just didn't know.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I've never had any doubts, even through the trials and
tribulations of being fired, having to go to the NDS,
getting signed back, being fired.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
I'm back. I was just back in the next TA
a month ago, and I know what I been to
the table. I'm waiting for everybody else to figure it out.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah, what about you.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
It's one of those things that once you understand just
how life works in general, Like I mean, it is
what it is. It's like I forgot. I was in
the NXT just every day and I told one of
the young trainees there, I was like, the one advice
that was given to me and he passes on to you.
You take it for what it is is no matter
(16:19):
how great or how low times are, don't let it
get to your head because it rests ebbs and flows.
So you're going to have highs in your wrestling career,
You're going to have loads in your wrestling careers, but
you just got to keep chopping wood right because they're
(16:39):
neither one of them is ever going to last long,
you know what I'm saying. So it's just one of
those things that I once I got into wrestling, just
kind of like in football and age. I can tell
you this, that's some days you go to camp, you
tied the hell you get your ass whooped. And there's
some days you're going to camp and you whoop ass.
You know what I'm saying. But but guess what, there's
gonna be another dated next to you know what I'm saying.
(17:02):
So you.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Yeah, and all the days you get paid.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
And so the mindset, you know that as long as
you you have a day where you wookdads and you
know you built for this, right and because you're going
to have bad days, everybody's gonna have bad days, you
know what I'm saying. But as long as you know
that you've had good days, that proves that you're supposed
to do this, you know what I'm saying. So I
know what, I got to train in the first couple
of days. When I got to training, I did really well.
(17:29):
And that's what showed me that or told me that
I was gonna be doing this long or and I
was gonna be good at this. But that doesn't mean
I didn't have shitty days. And that ain't mean that
doesn't mean I didn't have bad days, you know what
I'm saying. But when those bad days came.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I just kept going, Yeah, absolutely, Well, I know, I
know the time is short with us today and we
got to wrap things up. So before we let you go,
is there anything you guys want to say to the
fans watching or listening to this right now?
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Yeah, make sure you get your tickets if you're in
the Baltimore DMV Virginia area. Friday to fifteenth and Saturday
the sixteenth, we have a live plague emergence. It will
be the main event would be me versus Trick Williams.
While I have a chance of being a full time
TNA world champion. I don't know if A. J's matches announced,
(18:18):
so I can't tell you what it is. But I
do know what it is. But I don't know if
it announced or not. But he's gonna have he's been
We're gonna see if he trust the system. Uh and yeah, yeah,
So get your tickets. We have a lot of great
talent on our roster. We have the Hardys, we have
(18:41):
Nick Nemit, we got Marshall Slamovich, our t na's knockout champion,
J C. James. She's gonna be there. I'm sure she's
defending her Knockouts title, and then you never know what
surprises from NXC that we have on the show. So
make sure you get your ticket to see some total
(19:02):
NonStop action.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Absolutely make sure you get out there to watch First
Class and the greatest AJ in TNA history.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
A J.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Francis Okay,
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
You play for the wrestling and exclusive interviews with some
of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Podcast stop it, What's up you guys? Welcome back into
iHeartRadio is official wrestling podcast, The Battleground Podcast. Man, it
is an exciting time to be a TNA fan. It
is an exciting time for just TNA in general. On
the show today with us two guys who have been
(00:38):
just completely crushing TNA and putting TNA on their back.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Give it up for Moose and AJ Francis joined.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
I'm glad you know what it is. I forgot to
put my hat on because I hate that the guys
on the left hand slide is ball headed with a beer.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
Actually, wow, yeah, we're the ball crew today.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
C yournd.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We'll split everything up so it's kind of like bald
hat hat bald, No, your hand.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Off, so.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Take yours off too, because I know you're bald underneath there.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Oh no, two years ago I got here, you should
have taken the over.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Let let's just jump right into this real quick.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
T n A is on fire and a J I
got a question for you because everybody's talking about it.
That latter spot at Slammiversary looked absolutely brutal.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Of course, the Internet had something to say. You weren't
having it. You clap back at the Internet, But let.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Me ask what was going through your mind as that
was happening, other than oh ship.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So I can give you a play breakdown. I actually
haven't done this on anybody show. So what actually reaping
was Casey was legitimately hurt and is legitimately hurt and
uh so at that spot in the back they were
telling case telling the rest and who eventually told Myron
(02:15):
don't let Macy take the bull. And while we're climbing
the ladder, and am I.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Allowed to cuss on this or no?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Yeah you can guzz so KNC case.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
As we're climbing the ladder, I'm hearing Myron tell k
c Yo, they don't want you to take the buck,
they don't want you to take the buk.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And Ksey says and I quote, just push the fucking ladder.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
Bro So.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
But as this conversations going on, I'm watching them and
I'm not paying attention to the fact that one of
my feet is now on the rung. It needs to
be so when the ladder's being pushed, I realized, oh shit,
this ladder, I'm gonna trip on this rope if I
don't jump over it. So I jumped over it and
at that point I'm just trying not to die.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, and uh, I wind up landing.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I literally actually land on my feet, but you rolled
through with it on the ladder. But it's the gnarliest
bump ever. And it's crazy because I've gotten so much,
people have talked about it for so much, and it's
like I add so much to an already great match
to take that bump, especially after the Moons, and I.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Did right before then, but like then, like everyone's like, aj.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Are you okay?
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? And
I'm perfectly fine, but case's actually.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Hurt, you know what I'm saying. So, but everyone's asking
me if I'm okay. So that's why it's crazy.
Speaker 6 (03:36):
To when you take those big bumps for the big
matches like that, do you does it instantly? Like are
you thinking like okay, well what can I do next?
Or you are you thinking what you just said? Like
I'm glad I didn't die, you know, like what.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Are you thinking of?
Speaker 5 (03:50):
Well?
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Luck?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I knew that was my last spot, so I didn't
have to do anything after that.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Anyone I knew that. So I took Once I took
the bump, you know, you land here.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Like okay, I'm all right, And as I realized, I'm like, yo,
my feet went right through the ladder.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
This is crazy. I bet this looks nuts.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
So then I, as I'm selling, get into positions so
I can see the jumbo tron and I look up
at the jumbo tron and they do the replay and
I'm like, oh.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Everyone thinks I'm dead. Yeah, I'm like this is awesome.
Everyone thinks I'm dead. I'm perfectly fine. So then now
I just crawl over to see and I'm like, yo
you He's like, nah, bro.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
Yeah man, that's insane.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
So we recently saw on Twitter you kind of gave
a you know, shout out if you want to call
it to Shatzi Ora Mensa and Dakota Kaya is having
a standing invite to first class?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Are there any plans to officially bring them in?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
And then who's the most likely to get the call next?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Oh man, that's a good that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
If I was going to, you know, tonight, there's a
little sh shifting first Class. Uh you know, obviously the
first person I would call would be rich Swan because
he helped build first Class with me from the beginning.
The second call actually wouldn't be even from that list
that I said. It would probably be to a Chante
(05:17):
diodonas aka to Hoodie Miles, my old tag team partner
in WWE. But uh, you know, like I said, if
you want to be the biggest heels on TNA, if
you want to be the biggest heel in the business,
join first Class. I mean that's all. Everyone loves Casey
until he stands next to me. Everyone loves rich Swan
(05:37):
until he stands next to me.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So you know all you got news. If you want
to be hated, please come over the first class.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
You know one really cool thing that there's been a
lot of buzz around TNA right now, big growth push,
possible TV deal on the horizon. You got this partnership
with WWE. Moose, I gotta know from you, how do
you see your role in he and A's new era
as it is gaining even more serious momentum.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
That's great, man, Like you guys are clown on me
earlier because I've been in TNA forever. So I was
in TNA when it wasn't so great. I remember the
days where we were happy when we got five hundred
people at the show, right to now where we get
seven eight thousand people to the show. So thanks to WWE,
(06:27):
thanks to the amazing guys and girls we have in
a roster, thanks to the new management. I wish I
could I could counted on one thing on why Tona
is so is booming and great right now, But it's
a bunch of different things, you know what I'm saying.
I think we were hitting on all cylinders right now,
and I can't wait to see what the future holds.
(06:49):
And I mean I know I've been seeing the rooms
about the new TV deal and they don't tell us anything,
so we probably won't find out. We probably won't find
out until oh, you guys find out what it's exciting.
And I hope the rumors i'm here, I'm seeing on
social media it's true. But we'll find out soon soon enough.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, absolutely, Well, we're as TNA fans, we're definitely excited
to see what's going to happen in the future holds.
And speaking of TNA fans, we recently had Carlos Silva,
and we talked to him about some things.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
And let's just talk facts for a second, Moose.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Everyone who has been in TNA that has faced Trick
Williams has failed to get that title back to TNA.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Why are you?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Why are you the one who's finally going to break
that streak?
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Oh? Because I mean when you think of those legends TNA,
the first name that most people think about in this
generation is me, right. I mean, I know back in
the day, the first people that you thought about was
AJ France's favorite wrestler, AJ Styles. But I think in
the new generation of TNA, my name is anonymous at TNA.
(07:58):
So know Trick Trick James Tricky Williams. I know he
calls himself tricking a but a good friend of mine
once told me that to be you don't need to
hold a title to be the face of the face
of a company. And like I said, once you think
of those three letters, though, one of the first names
(08:19):
that come up his mind. So I think I prove
that I've done just about everything in TNA, and when
I face Trick for that title, You're gonna soon be
calling me the full time TNA World champion, And.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Does AJ get a title shot after you beat Trick?
Speaker 1 (08:37):
So wonder because here's my question.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
First of all, I mean, but that's his boys a while,
So why wouldn't you want to Why would you want
a title shot that his boy?
Speaker 1 (08:46):
What you mean if you beat up my little brother,
I'm gonna come beat you up. That's how it works.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
Oh, I thought you were saying. I thought you were saying,
if Trick beats me?
Speaker 4 (08:55):
What if you beat Trick, does AJ get a title
shot after that?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Hey? Hey, once I whooped that Trick, anybody could come
come after this title. I mean see everybody, man, No,
I'll put them hands on you, bro. I mean, I mean,
we got we got the we got the NFL thing
(09:20):
going on. It is all love and that end of it.
But when we step in that ring, especially coming from
my title, full time TEENA world champion, Oh, I'm gonna
have to put them hands on you, bro. I'm gonna
have to put them hands on.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
The real reason Trick is the TNA World Champion right
now is because y'all only gave me one title shot. Ever,
if I would have got more than one shot, everybody
got all these shots, I'll get one shot.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Hey, you mean hey, every time I've been giving a shot.
You can look at my career, every time I've been
given a shot, I've always made a count everything time.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
So that's why I don't be few and far between.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
Hey, every time, Hey, I don't miss. What's the guy
that says that he don't miss? That's me? I don't
I don't miss. You give me a shot. I'm gonna bank.
I'm a banker. I mean, that's that's why I'm gonna
be full time team a world champion. And I mean,
is there anybody in the company right now that's hell
(10:26):
the title as many times as I am, I don't
think so.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I have four title matches in a year.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
So so one of my one of my goals is
to to break that record of being holding the title
the most. I don't know who has a record right now.
I'm guessing Jeff kert I the Jeff or staying one
of them. They might be tied. So I'm only two away.
(10:54):
So after next weekend, I'll be a full time team
a world champion and we'll go from there. Yeah, I
don't think so, you know what, you know what, it's Actually,
it's actually weird that I'm saying I want to break
that record, But that means I also want to lose
the titles so I could win it back. That's this
(11:21):
is That's basically what I'm playing, right, I want to win.
I want to beat Trick for it, the ex actually
lose it. If I can beat somebody else for it,
that I could break this record. You know, Hey, but
it's a good record I have though, So if I
that's how it goes there, then I would love to
do it.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, A J.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
You know you re signed with T and aighth end
of last year.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Did that Uh?
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Did that kind of start a new chapter for you mentally?
Like you know, did that change your mind center performance
knowing that they're reinvesting in you again for another deal?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
No, because I pay attention. I saw my run I
saw with Jovin was before and after me.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Saw when they needed to get Pco a good career
spot in his hometown who they put him with, saw
when they needed to extend the feud with Dolph Ziggler.
I'm sorry Nick NamUs and Joe Hendry, who was the
stop gap to make sure everything flowed the way it
was supposed to go. I saw it, so I knew
that they was gonna want me back because I was
doing nothing but great work. The thing is is like
(12:24):
this is the business, so like at the end of
the day, you gotta protect your interest. I love my
time in TNA. I've done everything so far. I had
no you want to talk about not missing, I ain't
missing in TNA. So I've gone out and everyone's expectations
but my own. Now, you know, Moose is about to
(12:44):
be a four time he says world champion. I've only
got three title shots, and two of them was tack teams.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Both of those tag teams. Guess what, I ain't get picked.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
You know, I feel personally that I have been underutilized
in the title picture every single time I step between
those ropes because I'm the biggest heel on this show.
So when I get an opportunity to go out there
in front of the TNA crowd, I reward them for
coming out to be a part of TNA and also
(13:21):
make every single person, whether it's rich Swan, Cason, Nevolved,
Mike Santana, Joe Hendry, Chamo.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Guerrero, I make them look better bro.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
I know the value that I bring, so I gonna
bring it to TNA long term. Love that, but that's
a business thing that we gotta talk to business. Would
love to be in TNA as long as Moss has
been in TNA. You know what I'm saying, Like that
would be great TNA. I am used in a way
that highlights my abilities. Nobody except for me and maybe
(13:51):
Tommy Dreamer star where I am today, even possibly a
year and a half ago when I signed with TNA.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Right So absolutely, and you know, you know, we AJ
talks about how he needs some title shots. I mean,
AG's out here doing moonsafts. Maybe we get him an
X Division title shot.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Tell me, I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Telling you Cook, even Moose's exta Physi champion for five
hundred days, I couldn't give one shot.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, hey, let's let's put that in the powers that be.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
I don't know, Well, we'll talk.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
To somebody there and get AJ and X Division title shot. Now,
one quick thing before we let you go, because I
know we got to. You got some other things to do.
You guys have been kind of on the same career
path you went from the NFL to professional wrestling.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Looking back, at that. Was there ever a moment that.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
You thought the whole wrestling gig was just gonna crash
and burn and you're just gonna be done.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
For me? Though?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Never No, I mean, I mean, okay, two weeks into training,
came to my school I worked at T T D.
Two turns to my school, called me in a ring
with him, after never having a single conversation with the man,
and call he called a match on the fly to
me for like, it was like a ten minute match
(15:07):
and it went through flawlessly, and Haku said, big man,
you're ready. That was two weeks into my training, So
like that was six years ago. I know that I'm
built for this business, and I know that I loved
this business.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
I love this business more than football.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
I just made a lot of money playing football, so
I did that as long as I could, you know
what I'm saying. But me and Moose both turned down
opportunities to go back to the NFL to become wrestlers.
So like, I don't think we ever had a doubt
in our mind in the restling business, not from literally
two weeks in the training that first time get to
the rig working on a fly with Haku.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
This just didn't know.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I've never had any doubts, even through the trials and
tribulations of being fired, having to go to the NDS,
getting signed back, being fired.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
I'm back. I was just back in the next TA
a month ago, and I know what I been to
the table. I'm waiting for everybody else to figure it out.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah, what about you.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
It's one of those things that once you understand just
how life works in general, Like I mean, it is
what it is. It's like I forgot. I was in
the NXT just every day and I told one of
the young trainees there, I was like, the one advice
that was given to me and he passes on to you.
You take it for what it is is no matter
(16:19):
how great or how low times are, don't let it
get to your head because it rests ebbs and flows.
So you're going to have highs in your wrestling career,
You're going to have loads in your wrestling careers, but
you just got to keep chopping wood right because they're
(16:39):
neither one of them is ever going to last long,
you know what I'm saying. So it's just one of
those things that I once I got into wrestling, just
kind of like in football and age. I can tell
you this, that's some days you go to camp, you
tied the hell you get your ass whooped. And there's
some days you're going to camp and you whoop ass.
You know what I'm saying. But but guess what, there's
gonna be another dated next to you know what I'm saying.
(17:02):
So you.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Yeah, and all the days you get paid.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
And so the mindset, you know that as long as
you you have a day where you wookdads and you
know you built for this, right and because you're going
to have bad days, everybody's gonna have bad days, you
know what I'm saying. But as long as you know
that you've had good days, that proves that you're supposed
to do this, you know what I'm saying. So I
know what, I got to train in the first couple
of days. When I got to training, I did really well.
(17:29):
And that's what showed me that or told me that
I was gonna be doing this long or and I
was gonna be good at this. But that doesn't mean
I didn't have shitty days. And that ain't mean that
doesn't mean I didn't have bad days, you know what
I'm saying. But when those bad days came.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I just kept going, Yeah, absolutely, Well, I know, I
know the time is short with us today and we
got to wrap things up. So before we let you go,
is there anything you guys want to say to the
fans watching or listening to this right now?
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Yeah, make sure you get your tickets if you're in
the Baltimore DMV Virginia area. Friday to fifteenth and Saturday
the sixteenth, we have a live plague emergence. It will
be the main event would be me versus Trick Williams.
While I have a chance of being a full time
TNA world champion. I don't know if A. J's matches announced,
(18:18):
so I can't tell you what it is. But I
do know what it is. But I don't know if
it announced or not. But he's gonna have he's been
We're gonna see if he trust the system. Uh and yeah, yeah,
So get your tickets. We have a lot of great
talent on our roster. We have the Hardys, we have
(18:41):
Nick Nemit, we got Marshall Slamovich, our t na's knockout champion,
J C. James. She's gonna be there. I'm sure she's
defending her Knockouts title, and then you never know what
surprises from NXC that we have on the show. So
make sure you get your ticket to see some total
(19:02):
NonStop action.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Absolutely make sure you get out there to watch First
Class and the greatest AJ in TNA history.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
A J.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Francis Okay,
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