September 2, 2025 • 10 mins
AEW & ROH star Bandido joins us for an exclusive interview covering his wild month in wrestling, including his 5.75-star classic vs. Takeshita at Supercard of Honor, emotional scenes after Forbidden Door, and what it meant to win the AEW Tag Titles in London. We dive deep into balancing his reigns as both ROH World Champion and AEW Tag Team Champion, and working under Tony Khan.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast. Welcome you please for all
things provely and exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Stop being.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Welcome to a special episode of the Battleground Podcast. My
name is Josh from My Heart Radio, filing it for
Battle with Me is Always is my tag team partner Eli.
We are excited to have one of the most exciting
and decorated athletes in the world. He is currently and
two time Ring of Honor World Champion, a former r
o H six man champ, and one half of the
current ae W World Tag Team Champions. Ladies and Gentlemen
(00:47):
band detail. Welcome to the good to have you here.
How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm very excited for today and thank you for this
is space with you. Amus, You're very welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Listen, we'll get right into it. You've had one of
the wildest months in recent wrestling history and in memory.
What's going through your mind during that five and three
quarter star match at a Supercart of Honor.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
You know that was fantastic.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
This couple last months has been like crazy crazy because
I I had an injury, you know, my risk was
broken and I was out of the ring like almost
two years, and my mind is only thinking like probably
I'm not gonna go back to to the ring. So
(01:36):
after getting to the ring, this has happened, and it's
fantastic for me.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Now.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Yeah, you know, I didn't know if you knew this,
but that ratings from Dave Melcher. Of course, that is
his highest rated US match of the year so far.
How do you personally measure success in the ring compared to, like,
you know, what critics say and what the fans say
online and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Well, I really don't know. I don't know how big
is that evaluation? You know, I just the people. And
when the fans start to tell.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Me, hey, you gotta five on the three or four
almost sixty stars, that's fantastic for you. Congratulation and I say, oh,
thank you very much for that, and thank you mister
Day because I really like that.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Mister Dave likes my work, right, Yeah, yeah, for sure. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Let's talk about that moment at Forbidden Door, Tony Kahn,
he handed you a signed Raul kimenes Fulham jersey. Literally
the next day's match, you broke down in tears right
in front of the cameras. I gotta know what was
her with your mind in that moment. How did you
feel both as a Mexican athlete and as a human
when that happened.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Well, you know, that was fantastic. That was amazing, if
for for me because Raul is the best football player
Mexican football player, so that was.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
I really enjoy and and I said, thank you, Rol
because you are an inspiration. Uh he's uh his comeback
was very similar than me, so uh inspired.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Yeah, it was such a cool moment, you know after
you know, speaking speaking of Forbidden Door, you know, obviously
congrats you and Brody King became the new a W
World Tech Team champions stellar three way match against FTR
and the Hurts in the kIPS. You know, what did
capture in the tag Belts mean to you on such
a huge international stage.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
H m hm. Now it means like, hmm, I need
to take care of Brody. I really need to take
care of me. You know.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
The tack team division looks us So that's amazing and
I'm very excited for the for.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
The next months ahead.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
You know, I don't really want to do tac team
matches with every tack team here in a W.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Oh and it was really nice too to see you
match in with his brody King signature Adidas that night too.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
That was a nice touch, so definitely was Listen, you're
you're holding the r o H World title and the
a W tag titles at the same time. It's so
cool when you get to hold, you know, more than
one belt on your shoulder. You know, how do you
balance being the face of r o H while also
helping elevate a w's tag team division?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Sorry? What what's say again? Please?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
It's fine. How do you balance being the face of
r o H and also elevating ae w's tag team division?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Guys, thank you very much. Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Like I said before, I got like two years with
no luta, with no wrestling, So now I just enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
I just enjoy my world what I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
It doesn't matter if it's Ring of Honor, a W,
collige On Dynamite or Tack Team. I really love to
be in the ring and do my stuff and people
loves it.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's very grateful for.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Me, you know, oh for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
You know, when we talk about tag teams, there's this
concept of you know, thrown together tag teams, and you know,
I think you and Tony did a really good job
at the press conference after Forbidden Door, explaining, you know,
you and Brodie Lee have a big history together. You
signed with Ring of Honor together, so it's not really
a thrown together team, so to speak. But regardless, you know,
you guys ending hurt syndicates run. A lot of people
(05:52):
saw that as kind of a passing of the torch
moment and really kind of you know, celebrating you two
as a new, brand new tag team and everything.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Did you feel the weight of the.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
History in that match when you're at O t Rana,
when you're setting that attendance record at Forbid Indoors?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
That was amazing, That was fantastic And in that moment
I was very happy, same as Brodie. You know, we
we we didn't expect that moment and we live together
for our first time and that's fantastic for both. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
It's a killer, just a killer then all around.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
So I want to I want to talk about death
before dishonor. You're going to defend that RH tonight at
the RH World Championship against Hi Seto, who already pinned
you in tag team actions. So what makes him such
a dangerous challenger, especially when he's got Dan Callis in
his corner.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Yeah, a lot of people saying that he be careful
with Don Callis because Don Kali's family is never alone,
And I say, okay, okay, but let me tell you
something now, I'm not alone. I got something in my
land take. So that's fantastic for me. And I'm very
excited that lut is gonna be the main event of
(07:07):
one of the fantastic shows here in the States. That
before the snor means for me a lot of a
lot lot because bring Honor before it was.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Great, greatest show.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
So tonight's that's gonna be the the It's gonna be
the same. So I'm very excited for et Cicero and
let's let's do die, you.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Know, yeah, yeah, And if we're not mistaken, this is
the first time matchup between you guys too, right, you
guys have never faced before.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
One on one at least.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Yeah, how do you prepare for someone like when he's
known as the Alchemist of the ring and you are
you know, you're definitely known for your strength, but you're
also known for your high flying and stuff like that.
It seems like kind of a difference in styles, Like
how are you mentally preparing for him. Who could, you know,
pull anything out of the air and anytime.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well, I'm preparing, just remembering all my submissions uh keys uh,
submissions that my teachers taught me.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
You know, he's a very.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
I don't know how do you say here in the state,
but he always did a lot of submission style. Yes,
we call it Mexico javes.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Yeah, So I'm prepared.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I'm trying to record to remember all my my javes,
my submission moves to be ready for him.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, all right, A couple.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
A couple more for you, bandido real quick. We heard
that some wrestlers, like like Jake Hagler shared some mixed
feelings about working under Tony Kahn with a W. You've
had incredible career moments with both R O h N
A W sin signing with them. From your perspective, though,
what's it like having Tony kNN as a boss and
someone who clearly believes in you.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I'm very grateful with him. You know, he always believe
in me since they won and I choose a different
company in the beginning, but Tony was very excited with
me since B two BG shows and I'm just happy
(09:22):
to be here now and the Tony believes in me.
I just want to say thank you to Tony, thank
you to all the company, and thank you to all my.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Partners here because it's such a great, lucky room over here.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
Well, we kind of like to wrap things up with
a fun one, you know, just something random. So with
this being tied to a music station, here's the fun
one we like to wrap up with.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
If someone wants to go.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Through Bandido's playlist, like maybe for when you're working out
or something like that, what is the most random song
on your playlist?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Well, it's always the hardest question. That's always the hardest one.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Okay, the most random I can be like dancing with
all my Mexican stuff, and probably it can happen like
Bob Marley with could You Be Loved?
Speaker 2 (10:17):
It's listening instead of you?
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, and that's an incredible song too.
That's a good choice.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
You're going to get a cover of Bandido doing that
maybe as a we'll show concert after tonight on that.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Probably.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Thank you for joining us today. We really do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Thank you so much. Thank you to all the people
to see this, and don't forget that thank you
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast. Welcome you please for all
things provely and exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Stop being.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Welcome to a special episode of the Battleground Podcast. My
name is Josh from My Heart Radio, filing it for
Battle with Me is Always is my tag team partner Eli.
We are excited to have one of the most exciting
and decorated athletes in the world. He is currently and
two time Ring of Honor World Champion, a former r
o H six man champ, and one half of the
current ae W World Tag Team Champions. Ladies and Gentlemen
(00:47):
band detail. Welcome to the good to have you here.
How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm very excited for today and thank you for this
is space with you. Amus, You're very welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Listen, we'll get right into it. You've had one of
the wildest months in recent wrestling history and in memory.
What's going through your mind during that five and three
quarter star match at a Supercart of Honor.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
You know that was fantastic.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
This couple last months has been like crazy crazy because
I I had an injury, you know, my risk was
broken and I was out of the ring like almost
two years, and my mind is only thinking like probably
I'm not gonna go back to to the ring. So
(01:36):
after getting to the ring, this has happened, and it's
fantastic for me.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Now.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Yeah, you know, I didn't know if you knew this,
but that ratings from Dave Melcher. Of course, that is
his highest rated US match of the year so far.
How do you personally measure success in the ring compared to, like,
you know, what critics say and what the fans say
online and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Well, I really don't know. I don't know how big
is that evaluation? You know, I just the people. And
when the fans start to tell.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Me, hey, you gotta five on the three or four
almost sixty stars, that's fantastic for you. Congratulation and I say, oh,
thank you very much for that, and thank you mister
Day because I really like that.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Mister Dave likes my work, right, Yeah, yeah, for sure. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Let's talk about that moment at Forbidden Door, Tony Kahn,
he handed you a signed Raul kimenes Fulham jersey. Literally
the next day's match, you broke down in tears right
in front of the cameras. I gotta know what was
her with your mind in that moment. How did you
feel both as a Mexican athlete and as a human
when that happened.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Well, you know, that was fantastic. That was amazing, if
for for me because Raul is the best football player
Mexican football player, so that was.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
I really enjoy and and I said, thank you, Rol
because you are an inspiration. Uh he's uh his comeback
was very similar than me, so uh inspired.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Yeah, it was such a cool moment, you know after
you know, speaking speaking of Forbidden Door, you know, obviously
congrats you and Brody King became the new a W
World Tech Team champions stellar three way match against FTR
and the Hurts in the kIPS. You know, what did
capture in the tag Belts mean to you on such
a huge international stage.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
H m hm. Now it means like, hmm, I need
to take care of Brody. I really need to take
care of me. You know.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
The tack team division looks us So that's amazing and
I'm very excited for the for.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
The next months ahead.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
You know, I don't really want to do tac team
matches with every tack team here in a W.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Oh and it was really nice too to see you
match in with his brody King signature Adidas that night too.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
That was a nice touch, so definitely was Listen, you're
you're holding the r o H World title and the
a W tag titles at the same time. It's so
cool when you get to hold, you know, more than
one belt on your shoulder. You know, how do you
balance being the face of r o H while also
helping elevate a w's tag team division?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Sorry? What what's say again? Please?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
It's fine. How do you balance being the face of
r o H and also elevating ae w's tag team division?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Guys, thank you very much. Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Like I said before, I got like two years with
no luta, with no wrestling, So now I just enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
I just enjoy my world what I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
It doesn't matter if it's Ring of Honor, a W,
collige On Dynamite or Tack Team. I really love to
be in the ring and do my stuff and people
loves it.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's very grateful for.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Me, you know, oh for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
You know, when we talk about tag teams, there's this
concept of you know, thrown together tag teams, and you know,
I think you and Tony did a really good job
at the press conference after Forbidden Door, explaining, you know,
you and Brodie Lee have a big history together. You
signed with Ring of Honor together, so it's not really
a thrown together team, so to speak. But regardless, you know,
you guys ending hurt syndicates run. A lot of people
(05:52):
saw that as kind of a passing of the torch
moment and really kind of you know, celebrating you two
as a new, brand new tag team and everything.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Did you feel the weight of the.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
History in that match when you're at O t Rana,
when you're setting that attendance record at Forbid Indoors?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
That was amazing, That was fantastic And in that moment
I was very happy, same as Brodie. You know, we
we we didn't expect that moment and we live together
for our first time and that's fantastic for both. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
It's a killer, just a killer then all around.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
So I want to I want to talk about death
before dishonor. You're going to defend that RH tonight at
the RH World Championship against Hi Seto, who already pinned
you in tag team actions. So what makes him such
a dangerous challenger, especially when he's got Dan Callis in
his corner.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Yeah, a lot of people saying that he be careful
with Don Callis because Don Kali's family is never alone,
And I say, okay, okay, but let me tell you
something now, I'm not alone. I got something in my
land take. So that's fantastic for me. And I'm very
excited that lut is gonna be the main event of
(07:07):
one of the fantastic shows here in the States. That
before the snor means for me a lot of a
lot lot because bring Honor before it was.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Great, greatest show.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
So tonight's that's gonna be the the It's gonna be
the same. So I'm very excited for et Cicero and
let's let's do die, you.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Know, yeah, yeah, And if we're not mistaken, this is
the first time matchup between you guys too, right, you
guys have never faced before.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
One on one at least.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Yeah, how do you prepare for someone like when he's
known as the Alchemist of the ring and you are
you know, you're definitely known for your strength, but you're
also known for your high flying and stuff like that.
It seems like kind of a difference in styles, Like
how are you mentally preparing for him. Who could, you know,
pull anything out of the air and anytime.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well, I'm preparing, just remembering all my submissions uh keys uh,
submissions that my teachers taught me.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
You know, he's a very.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
I don't know how do you say here in the state,
but he always did a lot of submission style. Yes,
we call it Mexico javes.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Yeah, So I'm prepared.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I'm trying to record to remember all my my javes,
my submission moves to be ready for him.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, all right, A couple.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
A couple more for you, bandido real quick. We heard
that some wrestlers, like like Jake Hagler shared some mixed
feelings about working under Tony Kahn with a W. You've
had incredible career moments with both R O h N
A W sin signing with them. From your perspective, though,
what's it like having Tony kNN as a boss and
someone who clearly believes in you.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I'm very grateful with him. You know, he always believe
in me since they won and I choose a different
company in the beginning, but Tony was very excited with
me since B two BG shows and I'm just happy
(09:22):
to be here now and the Tony believes in me.
I just want to say thank you to Tony, thank
you to all the company, and thank you to all my.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Partners here because it's such a great, lucky room over here.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
Well, we kind of like to wrap things up with
a fun one, you know, just something random. So with
this being tied to a music station, here's the fun
one we like to wrap up with.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
If someone wants to go.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Through Bandido's playlist, like maybe for when you're working out
or something like that, what is the most random song
on your playlist?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Well, it's always the hardest question. That's always the hardest one.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Okay, the most random I can be like dancing with
all my Mexican stuff, and probably it can happen like
Bob Marley with could You Be Loved?
Speaker 2 (10:17):
It's listening instead of you?
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, and that's an incredible song too.
That's a good choice.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
You're going to get a cover of Bandido doing that
maybe as a we'll show concert after tonight on that.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Probably.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Thank you for joining us today. We really do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Thank you so much. Thank you to all the people
to see this, and don't forget that thank you
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