September 12, 2025 • 18 mins
Adam Barnard is joined by MLW star Alex Hammerstone for TheSportster! Alex and Adam talk about his time in TNA, coming home to MLW, his Texas Death Match against Matthew Justice, and his epic 2021 match with Jacob Fatu.
Special thanks to 10th Ward Barbershop - Proudly serving the historic 10th Ward in Lawrenceville and surrounding areas, 10th Ward Barbershop is a full service barbershop offering quality haircuts, beard trims, and hot shaves. Schedule your appointment with Finn Balor and Corey Graves' favorite barbershop today.
Host/Executive Producer: Adam Barnard
Additional Production/Narration: Sam Krepps
Engineer: Carl Pannell
Intro Music: Carl Pannell
Outro Music/Musical Accompaniment: Enrichment
Instagram/X/Threads/Bluesky: @thisisgoober | @fndradiopod
A Butts Carlton Media production. Butts Carlton, Proprietor.
Special thanks to 10th Ward Barbershop - Proudly serving the historic 10th Ward in Lawrenceville and surrounding areas, 10th Ward Barbershop is a full service barbershop offering quality haircuts, beard trims, and hot shaves. Schedule your appointment with Finn Balor and Corey Graves' favorite barbershop today.
Host/Executive Producer: Adam Barnard
Additional Production/Narration: Sam Krepps
Engineer: Carl Pannell
Intro Music: Carl Pannell
Outro Music/Musical Accompaniment: Enrichment
Instagram/X/Threads/Bluesky: @thisisgoober | @fndradiopod
A Butts Carlton Media production. Butts Carlton, Proprietor.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Foundation Radio was brought to you by tenth Ward Barbershop,
a full service barbershop offering high quality haircuts, beard trims
and hot shaves. Tenth Ward Barbershop proudly serves the historic Lawrenceville,
tenth Ward and surrounding Pittsburgh areas. Adam frequents tenth Ward
Barbershop when he swings through the area and loves Ryan
Kainsley's their sharp precision on both his hair and beard needs.
(00:22):
But you don't have to take his word for it.
WWE superstars Finn Balor and Corey Graves frequent tenth Ward
Barbershop for their hair and beard needs. The team at
tenth Ward except walk in. The schedules fill up quickly,
so the best way to see them is to make
an appointment at Tenthward Barbershop dot com. That's one zero
thh Ward Barbershop dot com. Make sure to grab some
(00:43):
silk pans or hair products in shop or online while
you're there. Schedule your appointment today to see Kane, Jordan
and the rest of the team at tenth Ward Barbershop today,
and we thank them for sponsoring the program. This is
(01:11):
Foundation Radio. Here is your host, Adam Barnard, Peace.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
World, and welcome to a special conversation for the Sportster.
My name is Adam Bernard. Thank you so much for
joining me again today. My guest is the former MLW
Heavyweight Champion and can be seen on MLW fight Land
on September thirteenth in a Texas deathmatch against Matthew Justice
Alex Hammerstone.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
How are you, sir, I'm doing well.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I appreciate your time, sir. Welcome back first and foremost
to MLW. I know you're excited to be back with
the company you returned earlier this year at Battle Riot.
Talk to me about your journey back and a little
bit about your time working with TNA and also how
much you've enjoyed being back at MLW.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah, you know, the wrestling world, the wrestling landscape is
something that's so crazy, so unpredictable. It's gonna you a
myriad of different directions, and you know you're gonna make
choices at different times and try to go down whichever
path you know might look but look the best at
the time. But you know, the thing is, like I
(02:15):
have I don't want to say anything bad about my
time with TNA. I got a lot of great opportunities.
I loved the locker room there. There's a lot of
great things there. But despite being there for a year,
I never felt like it became my home. You know,
I just I don't know how to put it in
(02:36):
words other than that, whereas mlw that you know, that
was my home and court and I stayed in touch
all throughout my time away, and so when it came
time that I reached free agency, you know, I feel
like he was kind of chopping at the bit a
little bit, and I, you know, I was very you know,
(02:57):
just try to make the right to say decision and
not trying to rush into anything. But you know, as
soon as we got on the phone and start chatting,
it was like, man, I'm missing you know, I miss
everyone there, I miss you, I miss the company, I
miss you know, the atmosphere they create. And so it
was pretty it was a pretty easy negotiation process to
(03:18):
get me back in the flow of things, and yeah,
immediately get back in the groove. I thought there might
be like some hostility from certain people in the locker room,
or I thought things might have changed so much now
I wouldn't feel comfortable, but it was like putting on
an old pair of shoes, you know. It was just great.
And yeah, I mean everything I've done there since i've
(03:40):
been back, I've really enjoyed and I think we're just
getting started with some really great things on the horizon.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
That's amazing. I wanted to talk to you.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I know.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
One of the highlights I would say about this was
your spot on NXT competing against at the time, the
North American champion Obafemi. It was a brutal bout, talking
about big men crashing together. I really enjoyed watching it
and one of the things that actually, when I spoke
to Obafemi late last year, get a lot of really
complimentary things to say about you. He referred to you
as a lovely bloke and a lovely fellow. Tell me
(04:09):
about more about that match and the moment that you
had in the ring with Obafemi.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yeah, you know, that was overall just a very positive experience.
You know, It's something where kind of felt like a
full circle moment because I had spent time at the
Performance Center. It was not my first time in that building,
but to go from being like just just another guy
hoping for an opportunity going through a tryout where they're
(04:36):
treating you like almost like boot camp and get up,
do another one, this and that, and they just you know,
you're just another You're just another the number on the chart,
versus walking to that same building and have the coaches
go hammer is so great to see you, you know,
welcome this, that and the other, you know, make sure
(04:56):
making sure everything was so comfortable for me. And then
of course getting faced Oba, who's just so incredibly talented
and he was just such a pleasure to work with.
It was just it was just such a cool experience,
you know.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Now you have this major violent match coming up, the
Texas Death Match with Matthew Justice.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Let's talk about it. Let's peel it apart a little
bit here.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Tell me about your feelings about how you got to
this point, because by my rate of things anyway, sir,
looks like Matthew Justice did you a little a little
bit dirty here, and I'm gonna.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Get to him. Yeah, he did it more than dirty.
He inserted himself into my match, which prior to that
we had no connection whatsoever. Inserted himself with my match
cost me the match. I never lost, that match never pinned,
was never submitted, but now I should be national Opinay champion,
(05:49):
and I am standing here without that championship. So it's like,
not only is that a belt i'd ever lost, but
even when I get a chance to get it back,
I guess screwed out of it. And after the thatch,
Matthew Justice has the audacity to throw hands with me.
So yeah, he's uh, he's gonna get what's coming to And.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
One of the things I know that he said recently too,
is that you quote left for greener pastors. But when
I think of MLW, I think of Alex Hammerstone. What's
your response to him regarding that particular comic, because that
feels like a direct shot across the bow there.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah, it's it was not ever about leaving for greener pastors.
The thing about professional rustling is that I always just
want to feel like I have something to chase, something
somewhere to grow. And outside of MLW, I pursued some
new things. I went on some new ventures and I'm
still going on new ventures. And that's the thing when
me and Court got in a touch, like it's very
(06:46):
clear that I have a lot of projects that I
want to venture out and pursue and he's letting that happen,
and he's facilitating that, and MLW is facilitating that, and
I feel like I'm in a much better spot in
that regard. So you want, I'll say I left for
Greeno Pastors, but I'll say this, I left for a
year and people are still talking about me as the
(07:06):
face of MLW. So go ain't nobody associated Matthew Justice
as the face of MLW. So he could run his
mouth all he wants, But at the end of the day,
I've I've left so much of myself in that company
that it's built with bricks with my DNA. You know.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Now, the Texas Death Match, I know I'm familiar with.
This is a longtime wrestling fan. It's probably one of
the most my most violent matches that can ever happen.
And you're joining a long list of incredible performers who
have competed in this match. Now, you don't look like
the kind of guy that gets concerned about too much, right,
But are you concerned about anything heading into that match
that Matthew Justice may try to employ and is there
anything particular that you're looking forward to doing in the match?
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I mean, I'm concerned with how the match happened in
the first place. This was definitely Matthew pulling some strings
because I am a professional wrestler. Between those ropes, there
are very few people who are as proficient as I am.
I am not let's play with kendos sticks and steel
chairs and thumbtacks kind of wrestling. That is not my stick.
(08:16):
I think that's garbage. I think that's trash. I think
Matthew Justice does that because he can't hold a candle
to what I could do in the middle of that ring.
So he wants to have a Texas death match. I'll
give him this Texas death match, but let's just say
I'm gonna make sure he's on the receiving end of
the punishment.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I am very much looking forward to this match, Star,
looking forward to you getting your hands on him. But
I also want to talk about your history again. We
talked about you being the face of MLW, which absolutely
I agree with, but you also have a lot of
history with fight Land Now. I was there in Philadelphia
at the twenty three hundred Arena with that incredible match
that you had with Jacob Fattu when you won the
MLW Heavyweight Championship, and we'll say it was twenty twenty
(08:57):
one unbelievable match. Tell me about your memories about this
match and that war with Jacob Battou.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Well, it's, uh, it's crazy because that match just the
build to it was so long, it was so it
you know, a lot of things get fired off prematurely
in professional wrestling. People want to see something and get
given to them. But because of what had happened with
the pandemic and all the timing of things, it's, uh,
(09:30):
we kind of got positioned in this excuse me if
we kind of got positioned in this like one and
one a type spot, and it was like a ticking
time bomb, one of these guys going to face each other,
whether they're going to face each other. And then even
once we got back to business, there was still, you know,
that anticipation for it. So it was a really incredible moment,
(09:53):
just like going out there and standing across the ring
from Jacob and feeling that electricity through the building. My
memories of that match are like a little bit tainted
because you know, I got injured mid match, and but
I pulled through, you know, on one good ankle, and
(10:17):
I always think like It's funny because that's the match
that everybody talks about. That's the match why everyone's oh,
that's so great. I watch this match, and I'm certain
I love this match. I still get to this day
like people are like, you know, I'll be on a
merch table on a completely unrelated show and people are
bringing up that match, you know, or people on Twitter
are like, oh, you got to see this, and I
(10:40):
just I can't. There's just this part of me that
can't let it go. It goes, but could it have
been even better if I didn't get hurt? And I'm like,
I'm torn between did that ad to the story or
did it take away from the technical wrestling? And I'm
always gonna.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Be I was gonna sy I don't even rep it,
but if you want my opinion, because I feel like
it's a question from someone who was there. I felt
like I couldn't really tell in the moment, right, Like
you couldn't really sell because you did a good job
hiding it, and Jacob, you know, to his his credit
as well, did too. I couldn't really tell there was
anything wrong, But then when I did, it was like,
oh my god. Now for me, the stakes are higher
because I've been waiting for this for so long, because
(11:16):
I'm so excited for it, and now I want to
see him go over.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I want to see him beat Jacob.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Now it's even more for me that it added to
the drama and the mystique of the match, at least
in my personal opinion.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
If that helps you at all.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Yeah, that's uh, that's the positive light that I try
to view the matches. So it's it's all great. I
just I always want to live up to a certain standard,
and when you're in there with someone who's talented is Jacob, Uh,
that standard gets very high.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Well, like I said, it's one of my favorite. It's
one of my favorite live matches I've ever seen live.
And I have some film photographs that I took of
you and Jacob while you guys were in the ring together.
I'm happy to send them to you after this conversation.
So they're amongst my favorite work. So I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I love that, I appreciate the opportunity to be there.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
But somebody else, I want to somebody else I want
to ask you about because he's a friend of the show,
and I know that he showed up at MLW the
same time you did Battle Riote this year.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Bishop Dyer.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Tell me about your experience working with him and what's
it been like having him in the locker room with you.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Well, it's all been very limited to this, to this moment,
you know, being in the being in the battle right together.
I can't even think off the top of my hand,
if we even you know, laid hands on each other
at any point, we might have made it through that
match without even making contact. That being said, that guy's
(12:39):
just super talented, you know, such a professional. I feel like,
like I want to say, he's always been so underrated.
I feel like he's the guy that started getting his
flowers late because, like, you know, he was in this
time in WW where all these indie indie darlings were,
(13:00):
you know, coming to the main roster and being pushed
and but then it was like he'd get pushed over
guys or he'd get spots over guys, and I feel
like there's like this weird bitterness towards him, like he's
not one of the guys right now, like it was
like he was during the time where like the industry
was shifting, he was kind of still like the old
school thing where it was like, oh, he's big, he's tall,
(13:22):
so he's he's getting he's getting all the all the rewards, right.
But then like once people like lost that jaded bitterness
and just kind of appreciated the fact that he could
have a great match with anybody. Like he started getting
his appreciation later in his career, and you know, he's
(13:42):
still performing at that high level. And it's always great
to see somebody who on the back end of such
a successful run, when they made all the money they
need to make, and they're still doing this. They're not
just doing it for a cash crowd. He's not shown
up to MLW because they're paying him. He's showing up
to work. He showed up to wrestle and he showed
up to proove something. And that's something that I think
(14:04):
anyone can respect absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Like I said, welcome back to the company. You're again
you're the face of MLW at least to me. Where
do you see yourself going long term here with MLW?
What's the next step after you for this Texas Death Match?
Speaker 4 (14:18):
I mean there's a lot of steps to take. I
feel like, as because you know we talk about we're
talking about oh, me as the faces of the company.
We're talking about me and Jacob Flatto, We're talking about
stuff that I did five years ago. You know. So
I'm very much focused on creating those new moments that
(14:39):
people start talking about, whether that's going to be the
Text Death Match, whether that's going to be me going
back after the National Open Championship, whether it's be going
after Matthew Riddle, whatever it is. It's like, I'm very
focused on the future. And you know, one thing I
said to Court was like, I do not want my
legacy to be people talking about a match I had
(15:00):
five years ago. Like that's great, that's very complimentary that
people still care about that. But at the same time,
it's like, my priority and my prerogative is not to
rest on my laurels. It's not to say, hey, I
should get something because look what I did back then,
and say hey I should get something because look what
I'm doing right now. So I'm just focused on whatever
(15:25):
balls thrown at me, hitting out of the park.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I'm I was very excited to hear that you were
coming back to the company.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I always enjoy you there.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I'm looking forward to you as the future of MLW
one last thing before I let you go here, sir,
any final words you want to say before the big
match to Matthew Justice and the floor is yours.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Well, I mean, I think I said a lot already.
I think I think I said enough to tick him off.
I think he's gonna be pretty pretty pretty pissed off.
But I'll just say this, the Texas Death Match, that's
his playground. That's this whole show. Oh, this whole event
when it comes to me and him is cater to him.
It's he's got the handicap advantage. He's gonna be doing
(16:10):
exactly what he likes to do, jumping off ladders, playing
with tables, play with chairs, getting weapons, and I'm at
a disadvantage and I'm still gonna whop his ass.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
I have no doubt about it, sir. I'm looking forward
to watching you get your hands on this man. And
you can get to watch Alex Hammerstone face off against
Matthew Justice in their Texas Deathmatch at MLW fight Land
on September thirteenth, live from the Nitech Sports Center in
North Richland Hills, Texas. Tickets are currently on sale right
now at MLW Dallas dot com. It'll be linked in
(16:41):
the article and in the video notes down here as well.
You can also stream it live on the MLW YouTube channel.
Check your local listings for stark times in your area.
Alex Hammerstone, what a pleasure to speak to you, sir.
I'm looking forward to watching you whoop some ass on
the thirteenth.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Sounds great man.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
This episode of Foundation Radio is hosted, recorded, and produced
by Adam Barnard. Additional narration and production is provided by
the executive Voice Sam creps Our Mixing and engineering as
well as our intro music is by Carl panell. Our
outro music and additional musical accompaniment are produced by Enrichment.
Follow Adam on X or Twitter or whatever and Instagram
(17:34):
at This is Goober, and follow the show on x
and Instagram at FND Radio Pod. Find our entire show
archive at Foundation Radio dot net. This has been a
Buttz Carlton Media production. Butts Carlton proprietor
Foundation Radio was brought to you by tenth Ward Barbershop,
a full service barbershop offering high quality haircuts, beard trims
and hot shaves. Tenth Ward Barbershop proudly serves the historic Lawrenceville,
tenth Ward and surrounding Pittsburgh areas. Adam frequents tenth Ward
Barbershop when he swings through the area and loves Ryan
Kainsley's their sharp precision on both his hair and beard needs.
(00:22):
But you don't have to take his word for it.
WWE superstars Finn Balor and Corey Graves frequent tenth Ward
Barbershop for their hair and beard needs. The team at
tenth Ward except walk in. The schedules fill up quickly,
so the best way to see them is to make
an appointment at Tenthward Barbershop dot com. That's one zero
thh Ward Barbershop dot com. Make sure to grab some
(00:43):
silk pans or hair products in shop or online while
you're there. Schedule your appointment today to see Kane, Jordan
and the rest of the team at tenth Ward Barbershop today,
and we thank them for sponsoring the program. This is
(01:11):
Foundation Radio. Here is your host, Adam Barnard, Peace.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
World, and welcome to a special conversation for the Sportster.
My name is Adam Bernard. Thank you so much for
joining me again today. My guest is the former MLW
Heavyweight Champion and can be seen on MLW fight Land
on September thirteenth in a Texas deathmatch against Matthew Justice
Alex Hammerstone.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
How are you, sir, I'm doing well.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I appreciate your time, sir. Welcome back first and foremost
to MLW. I know you're excited to be back with
the company you returned earlier this year at Battle Riot.
Talk to me about your journey back and a little
bit about your time working with TNA and also how
much you've enjoyed being back at MLW.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah, you know, the wrestling world, the wrestling landscape is
something that's so crazy, so unpredictable. It's gonna you a
myriad of different directions, and you know you're gonna make
choices at different times and try to go down whichever
path you know might look but look the best at
the time. But you know, the thing is, like I
(02:15):
have I don't want to say anything bad about my
time with TNA. I got a lot of great opportunities.
I loved the locker room there. There's a lot of
great things there. But despite being there for a year,
I never felt like it became my home. You know,
I just I don't know how to put it in
(02:36):
words other than that, whereas mlw that you know, that
was my home and court and I stayed in touch
all throughout my time away, and so when it came
time that I reached free agency, you know, I feel
like he was kind of chopping at the bit a
little bit, and I, you know, I was very you know,
(02:57):
just try to make the right to say decision and
not trying to rush into anything. But you know, as
soon as we got on the phone and start chatting,
it was like, man, I'm missing you know, I miss
everyone there, I miss you, I miss the company, I
miss you know, the atmosphere they create. And so it
was pretty it was a pretty easy negotiation process to
(03:18):
get me back in the flow of things, and yeah,
immediately get back in the groove. I thought there might
be like some hostility from certain people in the locker room,
or I thought things might have changed so much now
I wouldn't feel comfortable, but it was like putting on
an old pair of shoes, you know. It was just great.
And yeah, I mean everything I've done there since i've
(03:40):
been back, I've really enjoyed and I think we're just
getting started with some really great things on the horizon.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
That's amazing. I wanted to talk to you.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I know.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
One of the highlights I would say about this was
your spot on NXT competing against at the time, the
North American champion Obafemi. It was a brutal bout, talking
about big men crashing together. I really enjoyed watching it
and one of the things that actually, when I spoke
to Obafemi late last year, get a lot of really
complimentary things to say about you. He referred to you
as a lovely bloke and a lovely fellow. Tell me
(04:09):
about more about that match and the moment that you
had in the ring with Obafemi.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yeah, you know, that was overall just a very positive experience.
You know, It's something where kind of felt like a
full circle moment because I had spent time at the
Performance Center. It was not my first time in that building,
but to go from being like just just another guy
hoping for an opportunity going through a tryout where they're
(04:36):
treating you like almost like boot camp and get up,
do another one, this and that, and they just you know,
you're just another You're just another the number on the chart,
versus walking to that same building and have the coaches
go hammer is so great to see you, you know,
welcome this, that and the other, you know, make sure
(04:56):
making sure everything was so comfortable for me. And then
of course getting faced Oba, who's just so incredibly talented
and he was just such a pleasure to work with.
It was just it was just such a cool experience,
you know.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Now you have this major violent match coming up, the
Texas Death Match with Matthew Justice.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Let's talk about it. Let's peel it apart a little
bit here.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Tell me about your feelings about how you got to
this point, because by my rate of things anyway, sir,
looks like Matthew Justice did you a little a little
bit dirty here, and I'm gonna.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Get to him. Yeah, he did it more than dirty.
He inserted himself into my match, which prior to that
we had no connection whatsoever. Inserted himself with my match
cost me the match. I never lost, that match never pinned,
was never submitted, but now I should be national Opinay champion,
(05:49):
and I am standing here without that championship. So it's like,
not only is that a belt i'd ever lost, but
even when I get a chance to get it back,
I guess screwed out of it. And after the thatch,
Matthew Justice has the audacity to throw hands with me.
So yeah, he's uh, he's gonna get what's coming to And.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
One of the things I know that he said recently too,
is that you quote left for greener pastors. But when
I think of MLW, I think of Alex Hammerstone. What's
your response to him regarding that particular comic, because that
feels like a direct shot across the bow there.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah, it's it was not ever about leaving for greener pastors.
The thing about professional rustling is that I always just
want to feel like I have something to chase, something
somewhere to grow. And outside of MLW, I pursued some
new things. I went on some new ventures and I'm
still going on new ventures. And that's the thing when
me and Court got in a touch, like it's very
(06:46):
clear that I have a lot of projects that I
want to venture out and pursue and he's letting that happen,
and he's facilitating that, and MLW is facilitating that, and
I feel like I'm in a much better spot in
that regard. So you want, I'll say I left for
Greeno Pastors, but I'll say this, I left for a
year and people are still talking about me as the
(07:06):
face of MLW. So go ain't nobody associated Matthew Justice
as the face of MLW. So he could run his
mouth all he wants, But at the end of the day,
I've I've left so much of myself in that company
that it's built with bricks with my DNA. You know.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Now, the Texas Death Match, I know I'm familiar with.
This is a longtime wrestling fan. It's probably one of
the most my most violent matches that can ever happen.
And you're joining a long list of incredible performers who
have competed in this match. Now, you don't look like
the kind of guy that gets concerned about too much, right,
But are you concerned about anything heading into that match
that Matthew Justice may try to employ and is there
anything particular that you're looking forward to doing in the match?
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I mean, I'm concerned with how the match happened in
the first place. This was definitely Matthew pulling some strings
because I am a professional wrestler. Between those ropes, there
are very few people who are as proficient as I am.
I am not let's play with kendos sticks and steel
chairs and thumbtacks kind of wrestling. That is not my stick.
(08:16):
I think that's garbage. I think that's trash. I think
Matthew Justice does that because he can't hold a candle
to what I could do in the middle of that ring.
So he wants to have a Texas death match. I'll
give him this Texas death match, but let's just say
I'm gonna make sure he's on the receiving end of
the punishment.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I am very much looking forward to this match, Star,
looking forward to you getting your hands on him. But
I also want to talk about your history again. We
talked about you being the face of MLW, which absolutely
I agree with, but you also have a lot of
history with fight Land Now. I was there in Philadelphia
at the twenty three hundred Arena with that incredible match
that you had with Jacob Fattu when you won the
MLW Heavyweight Championship, and we'll say it was twenty twenty
(08:57):
one unbelievable match. Tell me about your memories about this
match and that war with Jacob Battou.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Well, it's, uh, it's crazy because that match just the
build to it was so long, it was so it
you know, a lot of things get fired off prematurely
in professional wrestling. People want to see something and get
given to them. But because of what had happened with
the pandemic and all the timing of things, it's, uh,
(09:30):
we kind of got positioned in this excuse me if
we kind of got positioned in this like one and
one a type spot, and it was like a ticking
time bomb, one of these guys going to face each other,
whether they're going to face each other. And then even
once we got back to business, there was still, you know,
that anticipation for it. So it was a really incredible moment,
(09:53):
just like going out there and standing across the ring
from Jacob and feeling that electricity through the building. My
memories of that match are like a little bit tainted
because you know, I got injured mid match, and but
I pulled through, you know, on one good ankle, and
(10:17):
I always think like It's funny because that's the match
that everybody talks about. That's the match why everyone's oh,
that's so great. I watch this match, and I'm certain
I love this match. I still get to this day
like people are like, you know, I'll be on a
merch table on a completely unrelated show and people are
bringing up that match, you know, or people on Twitter
are like, oh, you got to see this, and I
(10:40):
just I can't. There's just this part of me that
can't let it go. It goes, but could it have
been even better if I didn't get hurt? And I'm like,
I'm torn between did that ad to the story or
did it take away from the technical wrestling? And I'm
always gonna.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Be I was gonna sy I don't even rep it,
but if you want my opinion, because I feel like
it's a question from someone who was there. I felt
like I couldn't really tell in the moment, right, Like
you couldn't really sell because you did a good job
hiding it, and Jacob, you know, to his his credit
as well, did too. I couldn't really tell there was
anything wrong, But then when I did, it was like,
oh my god. Now for me, the stakes are higher
because I've been waiting for this for so long, because
(11:16):
I'm so excited for it, and now I want to
see him go over.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I want to see him beat Jacob.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Now it's even more for me that it added to
the drama and the mystique of the match, at least
in my personal opinion.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
If that helps you at all.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Yeah, that's uh, that's the positive light that I try
to view the matches. So it's it's all great. I
just I always want to live up to a certain standard,
and when you're in there with someone who's talented is Jacob, Uh,
that standard gets very high.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Well, like I said, it's one of my favorite. It's
one of my favorite live matches I've ever seen live.
And I have some film photographs that I took of
you and Jacob while you guys were in the ring together.
I'm happy to send them to you after this conversation.
So they're amongst my favorite work. So I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I love that, I appreciate the opportunity to be there.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
But somebody else, I want to somebody else I want
to ask you about because he's a friend of the show,
and I know that he showed up at MLW the
same time you did Battle Riote this year.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Bishop Dyer.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Tell me about your experience working with him and what's
it been like having him in the locker room with you.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Well, it's all been very limited to this, to this moment,
you know, being in the being in the battle right together.
I can't even think off the top of my hand,
if we even you know, laid hands on each other
at any point, we might have made it through that
match without even making contact. That being said, that guy's
(12:39):
just super talented, you know, such a professional. I feel like,
like I want to say, he's always been so underrated.
I feel like he's the guy that started getting his
flowers late because, like, you know, he was in this
time in WW where all these indie indie darlings were,
(13:00):
you know, coming to the main roster and being pushed
and but then it was like he'd get pushed over
guys or he'd get spots over guys, and I feel
like there's like this weird bitterness towards him, like he's
not one of the guys right now, like it was
like he was during the time where like the industry
was shifting, he was kind of still like the old
school thing where it was like, oh, he's big, he's tall,
(13:22):
so he's he's getting he's getting all the all the rewards, right.
But then like once people like lost that jaded bitterness
and just kind of appreciated the fact that he could
have a great match with anybody. Like he started getting
his appreciation later in his career, and you know, he's
(13:42):
still performing at that high level. And it's always great
to see somebody who on the back end of such
a successful run, when they made all the money they
need to make, and they're still doing this. They're not
just doing it for a cash crowd. He's not shown
up to MLW because they're paying him. He's showing up
to work. He showed up to wrestle and he showed
up to proove something. And that's something that I think
(14:04):
anyone can respect absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Like I said, welcome back to the company. You're again
you're the face of MLW at least to me. Where
do you see yourself going long term here with MLW?
What's the next step after you for this Texas Death Match?
Speaker 4 (14:18):
I mean there's a lot of steps to take. I
feel like, as because you know we talk about we're
talking about oh, me as the faces of the company.
We're talking about me and Jacob Flatto, We're talking about
stuff that I did five years ago. You know. So
I'm very much focused on creating those new moments that
(14:39):
people start talking about, whether that's going to be the
Text Death Match, whether that's going to be me going
back after the National Open Championship, whether it's be going
after Matthew Riddle, whatever it is. It's like, I'm very
focused on the future. And you know, one thing I
said to Court was like, I do not want my
legacy to be people talking about a match I had
(15:00):
five years ago. Like that's great, that's very complimentary that
people still care about that. But at the same time,
it's like, my priority and my prerogative is not to
rest on my laurels. It's not to say, hey, I
should get something because look what I did back then,
and say hey I should get something because look what
I'm doing right now. So I'm just focused on whatever
(15:25):
balls thrown at me, hitting out of the park.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I'm I was very excited to hear that you were
coming back to the company.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I always enjoy you there.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I'm looking forward to you as the future of MLW
one last thing before I let you go here, sir,
any final words you want to say before the big
match to Matthew Justice and the floor is yours.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Well, I mean, I think I said a lot already.
I think I think I said enough to tick him off.
I think he's gonna be pretty pretty pretty pissed off.
But I'll just say this, the Texas Death Match, that's
his playground. That's this whole show. Oh, this whole event
when it comes to me and him is cater to him.
It's he's got the handicap advantage. He's gonna be doing
(16:10):
exactly what he likes to do, jumping off ladders, playing
with tables, play with chairs, getting weapons, and I'm at
a disadvantage and I'm still gonna whop his ass.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
I have no doubt about it, sir. I'm looking forward
to watching you get your hands on this man. And
you can get to watch Alex Hammerstone face off against
Matthew Justice in their Texas Deathmatch at MLW fight Land
on September thirteenth, live from the Nitech Sports Center in
North Richland Hills, Texas. Tickets are currently on sale right
now at MLW Dallas dot com. It'll be linked in
(16:41):
the article and in the video notes down here as well.
You can also stream it live on the MLW YouTube channel.
Check your local listings for stark times in your area.
Alex Hammerstone, what a pleasure to speak to you, sir.
I'm looking forward to watching you whoop some ass on
the thirteenth.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Sounds great man.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
This episode of Foundation Radio is hosted, recorded, and produced
by Adam Barnard. Additional narration and production is provided by
the executive Voice Sam creps Our Mixing and engineering as
well as our intro music is by Carl panell. Our
outro music and additional musical accompaniment are produced by Enrichment.
Follow Adam on X or Twitter or whatever and Instagram
(17:34):
at This is Goober, and follow the show on x
and Instagram at FND Radio Pod. Find our entire show
archive at Foundation Radio dot net. This has been a
Buttz Carlton Media production. Butts Carlton proprietor
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