May 23, 2025 • 42 mins
One of All Elite Wrestling's biggest events of the year is coming to Desert Diamond Arena SUNDAY! Catch it LIVE and in-person... OR on PPV!
Future WORLD CHAMPION, Will Ospreay, stopped by the studio before his match to talk EVERYTHING from wrestling to Grant's performance enhancing drugs!
Future WORLD CHAMPION, Will Ospreay, stopped by the studio before his match to talk EVERYTHING from wrestling to Grant's performance enhancing drugs!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, Hi, Hi with your like deeper voice. Though that
a rumble.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
D a metal band? All right?
Speaker 3 (00:16):
So ae W double or nothing is this weekend at
Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale and Grant.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
How excited are we today?
Speaker 4 (00:26):
I'm so excited. Well, I feel like we have a
kindred spirit in the room. Yeah, kind of a fun
wild card type guy.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I like this international superstar, really good looking.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Man. Oh you're spoiling You've raised the ball man.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
Every time I get hit in the face, my dad says,
there's a drastic improvement. Can't be calling me a hunk
like that, boss.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
But I'm looking right here at this photo in the gaze,
bro the guy.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
It's a there's a reason why I was able to
get the missus, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I just look like that and that was it. Yeah,
that was it. She was just emotion. She was mostly
invested from that point.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So this weekend it's huge. It's the Owen Heart Tournament finale. Yes, sir,
what can we expect? Because Hangman Page is no joke either.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
No mate, Listen, Hangman has been from the company from
in the company from day one, nothing but respect and
the lineage and the legacy that he has already has
been like next level, Like I say in my interview
I had with him a while ago, but when he
came to the ring with the Dark Order, who are
these bunch of misfits? And they put that incredible like
(01:42):
cinematic video packaged together about them all like being cowboys
and when you get knucked down, you get back up,
And I was like, man, that was it was crazy, dude,
Like it was like, this isn't this is beyond wrestling.
This is actually like this is a this is actual cinema.
And I actually hate using that now because it's been
so overcoined and overturned, but that that cinema and to
be in this position now where I do feel like
(02:04):
there is like a new generation coming in and a
new generation that really appreciates the opportunity that it has
in front of them. So like being in the ring
with a guy who, like I have nothing but respect for,
and I think this is like such a good arc
for our fans to sinking their teeth into because it's
his redemption story versus my ascension story. And I feel
(02:25):
like right now I'm undeniable, Like I do feel like
I am firing on all cylinders. I don't think there
is anyone in the wrestling world like a w w W,
no One New Japan, TNA, Like, I don't think there
is anyone right now that matches me in the ring.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I do can I Can I agree? Can I agree
with you? I had an experience yesterday. I was on
performance enhancing drugs.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yesterday, what good man.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I took about three grams from USh rooms yesterday about there.
I was listening to some like some head post rock
and whatever, and I knew this. I knew we were
interviewing you today. So I pulled up. I had the
headphones going with that heavy heavy stuff, and I put
on a highlight reel. You are devastating watching you in
(03:12):
the ring like I was excited, like I was eleven
years old again, and I felt like I felt like
I was watching like Huvatu Guerrero style matches, Like we're
just like that.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Really I love that, dude, That's amazing.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Yeah, you have like this this like frenetic energy and
when you like because normally I don't know when I
think of like people that are like can do the
high flying stuff. I don't think of like people who
can like also attack somebody with a clothesline and just
murder them.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
It's because of the where I grew up, man, Like
I mean I could do the luta door style, Like
that's kind of what I grew up on, because like
Hoovey is crazy that he said him like I was
talking to him a little while ago, nothing but love
for the guy. He would come down to my school,
which was the Resistance Gallery and Definite Green and he
teaches a bunch of Lutra door stuff and like that's
I studied more lutre libre first, and then I learned
(04:02):
the British style, and then I was lucky enough to
go over to Japan and while they in corporate, like
the lucha libre style, there's something about when you just
need to stand your ground and just throw elbows with guys.
And that's where I learned, man, that's where I just
had to stand my ground and just like take elbows.
Like there's a guy in aw right now, but he
was with New Japan par Wrestling. His named Shabata, and
(04:24):
I have like stories of where like I wanted to
do like the loutre libre stuff. I wanted to pick
up the pace and this guy elbowed me harder than
I've ever been elbowed before in my life. And that's
when you realize, oh, I'm not made.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Out of glass for sure.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Like I've got a fight back, and like it's just
that animal instinct of like learning how to just stand
your ground and just throw elbows with a guy.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
I had to rewatch the one move. I it's it's
your name's in it. It's it's like a It starts
as like a power bomb and then you like spin out, stormbreaker.
God man, I had I couldn't figure that out. I
was just like, you're both hurt.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Means doesn't hurt me?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yeah, because it was just I had no it happened
so fast. I didn't know what to expect that. It
was such a cool twist on a move. I felt
like I've seen before.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
He's been practicing that move on me all week too. Yeah,
we gotta get.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You up, brother. Trying to get you up is like
jump for me?
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Is it hard to I mean because you have to
be like, hey, we're gonna we're gonna do this move tonight.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Is it?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Are there moves that like you're just like this is
this is scary? I mean, okay, yeah, it's really tough.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Okay. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
So one of the ones where like I generally had
like a fear that this was going to go wrong.
It was at Revolution, where to me it's a staple center,
it's Crypto dot Com. But like when we done that
cage match and we're like fifteen to twenty feet high
in the air, and it was just like we said,
(05:56):
all right, we're going to do a Spanish fly off
the tour bit and generally like Spanish fly for anyone
that's that doesn't know, I'm latched onto my opponent, like
I've got my arm around his neck, I've got like
I've got an underhook on him, and like normally I
do it where it's a kind of like a momentum
thing where he's running and I can turn him inside out.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
This time we are static.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
And not only are we static with fifteen feet high
in the air, and I'd said, like, dude, one of
us is getting hurt, but it was kind of like
one of this moment where we're like this is going
to live forever. This is a moment where like if
we commit to this and we do this, this is
going to be a moment where everyone's going to go yo, no,
one is topping this cage match, and to this day,
(06:35):
no one can top that cage match, man, Like, it
is the greatest cage match ever. And I'm so proud
to have like not only done it in aw but
to done it in that arena specifically, just because it's
got such a wrestling lineage and history and to have
like a little stamp just to be like, yo, that's
where like the Spanish fly happened off of the cage.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
So what what what were your influencers in terms of
like what were you watching when you were a kid
and you've said, oh my god, I got to do this,
because like you reference cage matches and there's you know,
there's a couple, there's a few that stand out.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Well yeah, I mean when you think of like when
I think of cage matches, I think of specifically you
talk about those moments, right and you see how Mick
Foley getting thrown off.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
That's yeah, that's think a cage cage is harder, man,
because the traditional one was like escape the cage, right.
So the one that came to my mind was like
Edie Grere of versus JBL, Like I love that one
where you'd like done a frog smash off the cage, right,
that was one of my favorite ones. But like when
I'm thinking about these things, I'm thinking of stuff, well,
(07:35):
just I want to leave something with people. I want
I want there to be like an uncomfortable feeling in
the air where like where like your butthole clenches because
you like get down, get down down?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
No, no, no exactly.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
And that's where like I couldn't think of a cage
match to study. That's that's the thing that made me
trip out a lot about this matches, Like I don't
really know what match I want to study because I
don't feel that emotionally invested in any of those matches.
There's never been something that's like left a real big
mark on me. So that was the mission with this one,
where was like I want to leave a mark on everyone.
I want people to be like yo. That was absolutely
(08:07):
crazy and we accomplish that mission.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Brother, so sick.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
So who did you watch growing up?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Then? Growing up?
Speaker 5 (08:14):
So obviously I used to watch like WW when I
was growing up, when I was a kid man, But
after a while, like especially after WCW got brought out nothing,
I felt nothing man. Every now and again, mate, you
would get like someone like Eddie Guerrero, which I loved him,
Edge Randall and like I used to love those guys.
But then after a while it just was like it
(08:35):
was just rint cycle repeat, and that is wrestling. Sometimes
it is rint cycle repeat. So when something special does
come along, it does go like WHOA, I need to
tune in and watch this, right, But for me, I
remember I had like all my mates around, right, We're
all around my house, We're all like fourteen years old
or something like that. Flicking through the channel fan TNA
six sided rings. You were like, yore, what is right,
(08:56):
and like I like, can't kid you? Right, So then
it was a Matt happen. Then AJ Styles walks out
red Hood, Randy Orton Sparklers behind him. So I was like, okay,
let's see what he's got. And this is the moment
I knew, right, Samoa Joe's on the outside, Christopher Daniels
is on the outside. AJ pops up into the ring.
He's got his hand on the top rope, leaps to
(09:16):
the top rope. Never seen anyone do this before. Leaps
to the top rope, shooting star press, which is a
forward backflip to the outside moment I saw that, I
was like, Yop, this is it. I'm being a pro wrestler.
So then my influences were never WWE guys. My influences
were AJ Styles, Amazing Reds, Hayabusa, named Michi Mahrifuji, and
like I'll say this and maybe this guy like OI.
(09:37):
But the moment you type these names on a YouTube,
you go like what is this world? Like what is
this what I'm watching? And like that's that. I liked
the counterculture stuff. I don't like going for the big thing.
I like going for the underdog. And I think that's
why I signed with AW in the first place, because
they are the underdog. They are the people that are
coming up from the ground up. They're the people that
(09:57):
just enjoy giving fan service back. And when I first
came in here, it was just like I kind of
want to just make this place just like the b
or and end all, Like I want to sing from
the high heavens that this is the best professional wrestling
in the planet. Like, I respect WWE and what they're doing.
They are filling houses, they are doing so well, but
like bell to bell, you are not going to find
(10:19):
better wrestling than AW what Also.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
It has an atmosphere where it feels like you're going
to a cool indie rock show. Yes, it doesn't feel
like a Taylor Swift stadium tour type thing.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
It feels like a really it's intimate.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
And it's got that it does have. The fans do
have that kind of Philly ECW vibe. Yeah, we're like
really nuts about it, which has gotta be fun for
you guys.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
It's respectable for the art man, I feel like they
understand the art form behind it and how hard it
is and they appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So they allow their voices.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
To be heard and they are supporting us, and I
think that's what like, I want that support to spread.
And I feel like it's going to take time. It's
going to be a slow, slow process. But one of
these days, man, we are going to be on top,
like and it's and it's not just me, it's Swerve,
it's Hangman, it's Moxley, it's m j F, it's the syndicate.
(11:12):
We're all firing on all cylinders and we're all like
creating this this animal right now, and at one point
we are going to be undeniable that we are the
flipping best.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
We just Adam Core recently.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, and what a lovely guy, right.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
It's awesome, dude, like you got and it's it seems
like the company has a group of guys that are
really excited. Well we even interviewed some wrestlers in the past.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Who have not Yeah that it's definitely the check.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Yeah, the check.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
And that's what I was going to say, is that
the people in a e W love the business. Of
course that's the number one priority. You're not you're not
having your high profile talent skipping events for movie premieres, right,
Like if anybody who's in AW wants to be in
(12:06):
a W. And it's so funny you brought that up
because I told Grant I was like, man, he was
in the Indies for so long, I wonder what brought
him specifically to AW. And you answered it before I
could even ask questions. So now I guess I can leave.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I'msten like I spent eight years over in Japan a
and like they took a twenty two year old kid,
and I'd say kid, Like I know a lot of
people will being like, no, you're a man at twenty two.
It's like, no, man, I'm still figuring stuff out, like
I still wondering, like what life is all about, and
like here I am amongst people that I've always wanted
(12:37):
to be around, like all these like big Japanese stars,
like I can't tell you enough about, like Okada like
looked after me. Man like took a boy and like
really nurtured him. I found out while I was over
in Japan, like I had ADHD, which like made my
brain just go like, oh, there's a reason why this happened.
There's a reason why this, and this is what I
(12:57):
could have done to correct it. And they were paid
with me, man, all of them, they like really I
was the adopted son. Man they looked after me. But
when I accomplish everything that I needed to accomplish in Japan,
I always kept an eye on AW because it was
just kind of like this is the style of wrestling
that I love, Like I love this sports presentated style,
but like we also like had flares of like of
(13:19):
like cinematic style. Like one of my favorite ones in
AW as well was like when Chris Jericho and MJF
was singing and dancing, but it was so different to
what I was seeing on my TV regularly. And I
think That's why I was like, I'm fascinated by it
because there's an opportunity to be creative and play and
do stuff that never has been done before.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
And the thing about like with I remember that that
song and dance with Chris Jericho. It feels hokey, it
feels campy, but it doesn't feel like cheesy and hoky.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
It doesn't feel like being forced to do it exactly.
It's two guys that I wanted to do it. And
at the time when it was the pandemic, I believe Yeah,
So like people were just like, we just want to
be entertained. We want to smile because the world is
scary right now. People are dying left, right, and center,
and it's just a scary place to be. So for
those two hours, let's put on like a great show.
Let's make people laugh, Let's give them phenomenal pro wrestling.
(14:11):
And we have done that consistently since that day. Man,
Like we have just we've put smiles on faces, We've
inspired kids to want to like achieve these type of goals.
We are such an intimate environment that we are just
wanting people to just come to these shows, forget what's
going on in the real world and enjoy some pro
wrestling once upon. So I feel like a kid again.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Man, Absolutely, can I ask you? Can I ask you
a question that I've thought about quite a bit. There
are all these now little think tanks that are breaking
apart wrestling right Like on the internet. There's forums, there's
YouTube channels, there's this whole thing. What do the guys
that the guys and gals excuse me, the wrestle, what
(14:52):
do they think of like the oh, this this channel
is just taking garbage, like, oh we heard this this
thing that didn't happen backstage, and they're they're making mountains
out of moor hills out of like rumors and just
garbage starts.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
So I can't talk about like other people because everyone's
like difference. But for me, I say remove the ego
because no matter what, these people are clients, they're punters,
they're people that are watching the shows, So like, remove
your ego if they're going, well, I don't like will
Ospray's matches because he doesn't do this and and like
so one thing that really like makes me laugh, right,
(15:27):
so we've just done that. The Dynamite when me and
Hangman were like face to face one another, and that's
the best time I feel like I've ever like really
talked on a microphone the best of my abilities. And
everyone's going, oh, but it's hair, Like I get it,
I get it. I can't control this hair, but like,
you know what, like I'll take it. It's a criticism
like and do you know what, fair enough watching? But
(15:48):
they're watching. So if you can remove your ego and
just listen to the criticism, maybe it's something that you
don't agree with. But if it's a clientele and they're
just going like, no, this is something that I need
to actually look into and go okay, because I'm not
just I'm not some schmuck indie boy anymore. Now I'm
on TV weekly and if I want these people to
(16:08):
be fully invested, I do need to listen. And I
feel no, like I do get it. Like a lot
of guys will go like, oh, what do they know?
They've never taken a bumps And there is there is
that level, right, there is that level of like people
that go like, oh, they've never taken a bump before.
I'm not going to listen to them. They don't understand me,
So I'm not going to listen to them, But like
there's that part of me that goes, no, break it down,
(16:30):
remove your ego from it, because this is something that
could even bring it if it's one more viewer. That's
the art to this. It is like being being vigilant
and being like ready to adapt and to change to
an environment. I love my job, man, and I love
the fact that, like I listened to like review shows
all the time because I want to get better at
(16:50):
this and I want to be the guy for this.
But I'm not going to be the guy if I'm
just like no, I'm making my money now, Like I
don't like no, if I'm complacency kills. If you are
complacent in this industry, you are not willing to evolve.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
That's such a healthy way to look.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
At once upon a time.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
It wasn't man, once upon a time, but like as
I've grown older, I've got to the point where like, no,
this is an industry. This is a business, and like
I can be like, you know what, I like doing
my goofy stuff over here, but like every now and again,
you just got to be like, no, this is this
is our clientele and we do need to listen.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
You probably had to deal with a lot of that.
Being twenty two years old in Japan, right.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Mate, I have wrestled Ricochet and the Best of Super Juniors,
where like, honestly, this is one of the most viral
like wrestling things that ever happened, Right it was. It
was a match in Japan where we just done flip
flip flip flip and we got torn. It was marmite
bro It was like fifty to fifty. Like people either
loved it or they hated it, but it was a
(17:47):
conversation topic and because of that, my career like launched
from that point, Like it really helped helped open doors
for me.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
But like instead of being like, nah, screw these guys,
I don't want to sort like they don't knows, Like no,
like I need to listen.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Well, it kind of seems like now the best thing
you can do is piss off Jim Cornette on the.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Right, guy's got his opinion and he's tenureds and he knows,
and you know, it's the style. I would just say
that maybe it's just like maybe you just you just
don't like our flavor of ice cream. And that's absolutely fine,
boss man. But like there's a whole big market here
that really does enjoy thee And here comes your vanilla boy.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Right now we're lost pray the King of He's a
cream in there if you have had to see it?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Can I ask you a non wrestling question?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
What kind of music do you listen to?
Speaker 5 (18:34):
So right now I'm actually really into like some country music.
I'm not gonna lie like I love like is it
Chris Stapleton? Yeah, I love listening to him. He's just
I think it's because me and the missus discovering him,
we like have a little dance to one another, like
I'm a sweet boy. But if you honestly want, if
I could put someone something out there to you guys,
especially because you're talked about mushrooms right, want you want
(18:56):
to get on your mushrooms? Put some headphones in right?
Allow me to tell you per Pool Disco Machine, Disco Machine. Yeah,
Exotica twenty twenty one album Awesome. Listen to track three.
It's called Fireworks. It's the greatest song. You'll like kind
of kind of music disco music, yeah, disco Machine, Yes, mate,
you will love it. It's no, it's a vibe.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (19:19):
It's so good. Honestly, if you're ever in a bad mood,
chuck that song on. You'll be You'll be flying fan
due thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
No, no, man, I'm like I'm constantly just I'm always
looking for chill.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
You're looking for a vibe.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Brother, Do you have no idea? Grant is literally I'm
always looking for a vibe.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I found it.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Id We sit in this office over here, and it's
it's there's three of us in there.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Every day.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Grant sits behind me and it's like I'm trying to
focus on what's going on, and he's like, hey, Nick,
have you heard this?
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Y have you heard the Everyone Like there's the medical
team that look after us backstage aw right, and like
they always look for new music. I said, put Purple
Disco Machine on. They love it now. Man, Everyone's like
vibe into I see everyone every now and then like
bopping their head to it.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
And I'm just like, yeah, I know my vibe. Man,
I'm a white boy with a vibe. You know it too, yes, mate, Christie, Yeah,
I love a bit of country music.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
I think once again, it's just the age thing, Like
I've grown up. I've got a little six year old
steps on that I look after and I'm just I'm
in this point now where like once upon a time,
AW didn't exist and this was never possible. Right being
in England, everybody said, you want to make it in wrestling,
you have to live in America. And I never wanted
to do it. And it's not a disrespectful thing. It's
(20:33):
just I have a wonderful life in England. I have
a family. I never wanted to do the move. So
I honestly thought I was going to be the kid
in Japan for the rest of my life. And I
was happy with that. Like I was making decent money
enough to be able to save money to a down
payment on a house and pay off for mortgage. But
then when AW came up, and it was like, I
can be a weekly TV star. Like right now, I'm
just doing a ten day tour. I'm staying in hotels
(20:54):
and I'm absolutely fine with that. But I can be
a weekly TV star. I don't have to uproot my
kid's life. I don't have to uproot my missus life.
And like my missus is coming in soon as well,
so we're going to be traveling the world together. Man,
And that's just that's such a beautiful thing to have,
and I just I'm so grateful for it, and I
feel like there was a time period where people took
(21:15):
advantage of AW and took advantage of that kindness. And
right now I'm on a mission to ensure that like
the next generation that comes through appreciates this opportunity and
appreciates what's in front of him, because once upon a
time this didn't exist. So we all need to just
be on the same side and ensure that AW is
going to be the greatest wrestling going forward.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Hell yeah, So I have to ask Chris Jericho is
my favorite restler of all time.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
And he is great, He's one of the best of.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
What is it like walking into a locker room with
guys like Jericho and Samoa Joe and Adam Copeland, Like
who've reached the top.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Of the top the pinnacle?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Like do you go in and just and watch or
do you immediately approach and be like I want to
be I always.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
First of all, like once again, my Mum raised me
with manners, right, so I always go up to every
single person that I've ever watched wrestling, like whether they
like think the world of me or not, Like I
always shake the hand and like thank them for everything
that they've done, and like I've always wanted to get
their opinion and respect. Like Jericho messaged me yesterday telling
me what a good job I've done on my promo
and that coming from him like he was the promo
(22:27):
king on.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
But like the fact that he like takes time to
watch and then constructively give criticism, Like I appreciate that
so much. I like COPX another one like Adam Copeland.
I've grew up watching you, brother, and like he's so good.
I had a conversation with him Asia, and I won't
go into details with it, but like I feel like
I needed to confine in someone just to be like
I need your advice and I need your opinion. And the
(22:53):
fact that he was just like let's go, let's go
somewhere where no one else is, and he sat there
and spoke with me for about like twenty odd minutes,
being like this is how I would do it, this
is how I would play. And I just think to myself, like, sorry,
so I didn't take any of this in because like
I need you to say it all again, because like
I'm star struck and I like I can't believe that
I'm lucky enough to have this. But like for me now,
(23:14):
it's like I look at that roster right and saying
it here like I want to be the captain of
the ship, like because I believe in myself and I
believe in my abilities, but like it's nothing if you
don't have the backing of the people that took the
bumps before you. And they've all got my back, bro,
And that's mad man, That's that's crazy to me that
all of them are going like you're the one now,
(23:36):
like go for him, man, like I and another one right,
one more? And I apologized, honestly I could MVP. I
was doing a signing a little while ago, and he
was like, come come to the parking lot, let me,
let me talk to you. And we sat there for
ages and he just spoke wisdom towards me, man, and
he was just like every now and again, like someone
(23:58):
special comes along and it's your time now, man, it's
your time to take the ball and run with this,
and like he proper gassed me up. Fam So like
at that point, I'm just like I'm ready to run
for a war, bro, Like I don't think there's anyone
that can stop me. And That's why this Sunday is
super important because it's like, it's not just about winning
the Cup. It's not just about going to the bigger
show and main event in This is about the branding,
(24:20):
bro this is about who is going to be the
person carrying that flag. That's why this match is so important.
That's why I want everyone to shar up at the
Desert Diamond Arena this Sunday because for me, now I
am confident in my abilities. I understand that this is
a redemption story for Hangman Page, but this is about
bigger than does a redemption story. It's bigger, bigger than
just one person. It's a company, and I'm ready to
(24:41):
take that responsibility.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
Brod, I'm ready to run through a long Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
If you ain't got anything going Sunday, just hit me up.
I like, I'll get your tickets sorted out. I'll make
sure that you guys are looked after.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Fam Hell yeah, dude, this is I'm I'm so excited.
I question, dumb question, go past past wrestling legend. Anyone
named one person that you were like, I could have
the most amazing matage with this person. Who would it be?
Maybe one or two that you're like, Okay, these guys,
(25:18):
even if it's like a weird matchup, I think that'd
be sick too.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
I don't know if you guys know you're Japanese wrestling history,
but like Masawa was such like a just such ah,
what's the word I'm looking for, but just an innovating
man before his time, A pioneer. Yeah, and just like that,
like he was a part of that King's Road style
that I love all Japan that I just I loved
watch him, but like could never really like I could
(25:43):
never really do it at the best of its abilities
until I got to Japan. And actually, like I feel
like a lot of people like emulated it and studied
it but never really lived it until you got to Japan.
And like I there was a wrestler that Massile wrestled
called Kwada, and I wrestled his last student, which is
tight Chip, and I actually learned to fight and do
the King's Road style, like like I've got to get
(26:04):
in there in Japan in the geeser's hometown as well,
while his family are up there watching and I'm merked him, brother,
I'm not being spark out in front of his family,
and that's where he just kind of like there is
something about that gritness to Japan where it was just
so Masawa was just like one of these guys who
like pioneered that style of I just I want to
(26:25):
I want to show the case that in in England,
I want to showcase that in America, and I just
want to take it around the world. And this is
the best thing about aw is that they take the
handcuffs off, yeah, and they go paint your art the
way that you want to paint it.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Did you enjoy first getting into wrestling watching wrestling, did
you enjoy like the deathmatch era, that Japanese style or
is that or is that just kind of one of
those things where you're like, this isn't really No.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
No, I appreciate all styles of wrestling because I feel
like if people are in the audience, then it's it's
something that we can inspire to bring those audiences over
to AW right. I appreciate it that. I think my
favorite style of death matches was FMW because it was
very cinematic and like and Hyabusa was such a huge
(27:12):
inspiration to me. I remember when I found him. I
think I found him in like two thousand and six,
two thousand and seven, and I was like, oh man,
look at how this guy moves. Look at the four fifties,
look at the shoot Star presses. And then it was
only when I found out he got paralyzed in two
thousand and one, I was.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
Like, what the spring board.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
The lion sult Yeah, And the first was like it devastates,
And that's an appreciation to know, like like this could
end one of us.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
I mean that point that was literally just slip, just slip,
just a tiny, tiny slip, and like the.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
Best thing for me is like, as I feel like
he's not appreciated as much, I'll tell you this story.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
He's not appreciated much.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
And then in my U in twenty twenty two, I
really really wanted to dorn the mask. I wanted to
wear the mask because it hadn't been dawned on a
wrestler in Japan for years, because because it was almost
like we don't want to talk about it because like
it brings up the bad memories. So I sourced out
where his daughter was and I found her on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I said, I wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Your
dad inspired me. Could I take you out for dinner
and just for and I took her out for lunch
in Japan and I asked for her blessing to wear
the mask and wear the costume at one of these
really big stages. And she she was honored.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
Man, she really she was like, no one talks about
my dad anymore, that's a lie. And like I and
not only that, she was like, thank you so much.
And then it was it got around and then the
guy who originally made his mask contacted me and was like,
can I please make you one higher busa mask to
wear a mate?
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Yeah, goosebumps. It Also, it's one of those things when
when something like that does happen that because they have
thirty years of a career or twenty years of a
career and this one incident is all that I remember. Yeah,
it's the one video. People why so they pull up
and show their friends and you're like, oh, this sucks
that this is your legacy.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
No, and his legacy is way more than that. He's
had a plethora of amazing matches and amazing moments. He's
done films, he's been a part of the backyard of it.
He's just he is like one of the icons. When
it comes to high flying wrestling, his name was the
Flying Assassin. Like that's where like a like a connection
there because I was I was the Areo Assassin. That's
where like a connection came through for that. Obviously it
(29:27):
came from Assassin's creed, but like the moment I came
from Assassin's screen, I was like, Hyabusa was the Flying Assassin,
Like I want to I want to combine that and
I want to pay homage. And that's why I like
I was so why I went to the daughter first
because a lot of wrestlers now that will just be like,
oh today I'm cosplaying as this wrestler, like and I
feel like there might be like some dark, untold truths
(29:47):
that like oh, when you pay homage to that, it
like brings up bad memories and like that's why I
like I wanted to ensure that like it was okay
to do that. And then I sold the mask and
all the money that I made from it, I said
over to the family.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Well it's it's like even even heart when you think
about that.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Today is the anniversary kids death.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, I share a birthday with him.
May seventh Man, Yeah, the best wrestles are born and
made seventh.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Dude, Like, yeah, it's one of those things like.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Playing amage, Like what a what a way to do that?
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Yeah, But it's just like when people talk like, you know,
it's funny when you meet like a new wrestling fan
and then you bring up on Heart and they're like, oh,
the guy that this happened to, and it's.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Yeah, so much.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
And like the legacy that he had in Japan, man,
like he was so respected and like I remember when
his wife started doing a little bit more interviews and
she said, like Jericho even said like, would you ever
consider going over to Japan? And she was like maybe
I was. And I said to Jericho, I was like,
if she ever comes over to Japan, let me know.
I'll look after it. I'll take her out for dinner
(30:56):
and I will shout, I'll bring it to the office
because I'd think there's like a part of like wrestling
history that is missed where she was. Like Owen was
so respected in Japan, like respected from us. Is his
name is still on the i w GP Junior Heavyweight
Championship And I would love to I'd love to to
sit I'd love the family to see how respected he was,
(31:17):
And I think that's why this is such an honor
being in the final for this because it is just
like I want to I want to do that legacy justice.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Who's your favorite heel of all time?
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Bad guy? Bad guy?
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Probably Randy autumn Man, like Randy when he was in
that like Voices era, like to be fair. I even
like the Legend Killer era because that that young brash
like get these old guys out of my way, like
do you know what I mean? I love that attitude
of just being like, it's my time, man, I'm going
to take it for myself.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Here's just didn't have to say anything. Here's the he
just come out.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
What's what's who is your favorite bad gimmick wrestler? Like, uh,
I got it, shouldn't should be good. I got into
Big boss Man like, but he's boss Man was sick,
bro dude to but I got it. I love the
Blue era Big boss Man like, honestly, I r S
(32:11):
was pretty sick too. Like that era, there were a
couple of dudes who just had bad gimmicks, but they
were great. Yeah. So like do you have any thing
that mad?
Speaker 2 (32:19):
That's a hard one. I didn't prepare for this one.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Brother Rhodes.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
No gold, No, that's that's fair man. But like that
was counter culture at the time, like a lot of
people like at first were like but like people grew
attached to it, and then the moment that you'd see,
like the way that he'd move in the ring, Like
I still love how he hits the ropes. He hits
the ropes like I'm mad, like mad.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
Talking about the clip where he did the.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
Spinner the but you're still just like, yes, bro, and
it's he should have so much respect. Like every time
here's another guy, man, I see him backstage, I'm just like, yeah,
that's that's the g that's og.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Scary when he was heavy and now that he's like fit,
yeah he's terrifying.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
Yeah I could still go, man, he can go. He
cut a promo against MJF for a little while ago
about talking about like he's seen the Devil, and I
was just like that man has that man has experienced
so much and I don't think it, like I don't
think people realize how much he he's gone through and
he's come out on the other side, and yet he's
backstage and he's just going like hey, let me, let
(33:29):
me give you a piece of advice, let me do this,
let me do that, and you're just like yo, mad.
Speaker 4 (33:35):
Was it WrestleMania twelve his backstage brawl with was that?
Do you remember that?
Speaker 1 (33:41):
I don't remember that.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
When there was a car they did the slow speed
chase through LA during WrestleMania, I can't remember that. Was nuts.
I watched it a couple of like probably a week ago.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
Him and Booker two together was like sick as well. Man,
I having so much fun, just entertaining stuff. Man, at
a time when like I really wasn't that fascinated with WWF,
so like when seeing that, I was like, man, he's
just entertaining the fact that we've got him here at
aw It's just like it's a blessing. Man, We've got
so many Another one, Jerry Lynn. I've been working with
Jerry Lynn so much, man, and he's been helping me
(34:12):
out like fix all these like little nuanced things that
I don't really think about, and he makes me think
so in depth about those things.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
I love working with Jerry Lynn.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
Do you listen to wrestling podcasts, like like not necessarily critical,
but like the like Talkers, Jericho.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Or Yeah, Chris Van Vlee insight Like I listened to
him all the time because like I want to be
more insightful and I want to understand it more like
I'll be honest, I've asked her Chris Fan Vlee. I
was like, Oh, the next time you talk to John Cena,
can you ask him this one question? Right?
Speaker 5 (34:42):
And I really mean this because I was like, at
one point, Sina just started doing like Code Reds, which
was from Amazing Red. He started doing Emerald Flosions, which
was Massawa.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
So I was like, and Springboard Stunners, And I was like,
I want to know, did you watch anything outside of WWE,
Like I'd love to know like what he would what
he would watch outside of w W. So like I've
always said, like, if you ever get him, could you
ask him that question?
Speaker 4 (35:07):
But that's interesting because I don't know much about him
before what because he was v W. Yeah he was
one of the last Was that was that where he started?
Speaker 5 (35:16):
Was that just like yeah, yeah, I think he was
just as.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Well with us.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
Are there's still people in the in the industry that
come in Like it used to be like remember like
guys like the Big Show would just go or he
just went to the power plant Goldberg just went to
the power plant, like and then they just start there
and just working like that little developed like the Triple
A's and go then straight to the w W E or.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
I mean you get you.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
You can correct me if I'm wrong, but the indie
scene is really where people are cutting.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
There right now. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (35:53):
Like so, for example, the one of the guys that's
come from now Speedboll Mike Bailey, who was just like
the indie king at one point, he was going everywhere
and just putting on some of the greatest matches ever.
And I think that's what like we're looking at more
now instead of guys that just got to let go
from WWE, and my heart goes out to them all.
But I just think like we're looking for guys that
are just like appreciative of this position and just like
(36:15):
who are grafting and improving the markets elsewhere instead of
just being like, uh, got to let go from ww
in this instantly assumed that they can come here is
like nah, man, like go go out and like prove
to other people that you're like wanted to. Yeah, And
I feel like yeah, and I my heart goes out
to all of them. But I think it should never
just be assumed of like oh, I got let go here,
(36:36):
I can just walk into AW. It's like nah, bro,
like the bar is the bar is too high now,
Like I want to see like all these guys like
cut their teeth elsewhere and improve the houses elsewhere, like
go to New Japan, go to nowhere, go to Stardom,
go elsewhere and improve their houses before you can think, oh,
I'm just gonna come here. That that's just me anyway.
Like I mean, there are certain guys like for example,
like Swerve got let go from WWE and came to
(36:58):
AW like straight away, and but he's like a special one.
He's like he's special, and like MVP is another one.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
I've got let go.
Speaker 5 (37:05):
He's special, like Lashly special, Shelton special. But like I
just want people to be like you can't just come
in and walk in. I think everyone like and I'll
be honest with you, I really do think the independents
need it right now. I think they need someone to
help guide this next generation to come through. So that
that's just me personally, like like I don't mean that
(37:26):
in any type of disrespectful way, but I think right
now AW is just like we are the best wrestlers
right now, and all those guys that have been let
go tragically, like are really really good pro wrestlers, but
like can't be just good anymore.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
He's got to be elite.
Speaker 4 (37:41):
So obviously you're gonna win on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Obviously, so obvious? Can you tell it?
Speaker 4 (37:46):
Because honestly you can't about to leave this room. And
I know with every inch of my being that you're
gonna win on Sunday. You know you're gonna take a
w to the moon. I can feel it. What other
than those two things, what's next for you?
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Winning that World championship is the next thing for me?
Speaker 5 (38:05):
But that's that's what I really want to I want
to take that belt out of that briefcase and wrap
it around my waist. It's too good of a belt.
It's too good looking of a belt to be in
a bloody briefcase, mate.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
And you're too good looking not to have a belt.
Speaker 5 (38:18):
He's hitting on me, so for me, For me personally,
travel broadens the minds. I wrestled everywhere. I wrestled in
New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Japan. I was meant to go
to Singapore and it pulled out. Unfortunately. I've wrestled literally everywhere.
My name has gone out everywhere from like small little
(38:40):
indies to large ones. I believe aw's next step is,
like I mean, we're doing it anyway. We've got forbidden,
We've wrestled this year. We're wrestling in Australia, Mexico, Canada, America, England.
I mean we've done that at like joint in Japan show.
But like I really want us to like stand in
our own ground a little bit as well. Like obviously
I feel like what we're doing CMLLL is like we're
(39:02):
running Arena Mexico as a joint show and then CMLL
are doing I think aw's got their own show as well,
and it's like it'll be like a two day thing.
But like I really want to do I want to
do shows in Australia again. I want to do shows
in France. I want to do shows in Spain. I
really want to do show, Like I want to just
wrestle everywhere. Like Island is another one. Like people really
(39:23):
underrestumate how sick the Irish fans are. They're great, but
like I think that is the next step is to
really get us out there and do like these crazy
like Grand Slam shows everywhere around the world, because that's
what's going to tell people like, hey, like there's a
new wrestling company on the block, and they are just
the best wrestlers going fan.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Yeah, I mean just looking at the card, it's wild,
like like truly.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
The best wrestlers on the planet.
Speaker 5 (39:49):
I mean for me as well, Like when I say,
like I want to be the captain of the ship,
do you realize how overwhelming it is to look at
that roster to like up and down. There's guys that
have main event in WrestleMania. There are that I've main
invented wreussell kingdoms. There are guys that have been in
like Arena Mexico like week in a week out and
just sellouts. And I look at it and I'm just
some like biling from England and I'm just like, man,
(40:11):
like this is this is truly overwhelming. But like it
would honestly be an honor to like wear that championship
and to be the captain of that ship, because it
is just it is just a blessing to be a
part of a w.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
Dude, I gotta tell you, if you came into this room,
and we're like, Grant, Nick, we're going to Mars. I'd
leave here in package.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Yeah, we're out.
Speaker 4 (40:33):
On the moon, bro, the moon would be one. I
can't believe. You're such a nice guy. You you're super talented,
and you were very generous to spend this much time
with I thank you.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
No, man, Honestly, I love talking. I'm a social butterfly.
I enjoyed talking, and this is my passion. Man, My
passion is to get a w out there, so much
so that like one of these days that I know
I can't do this every single week, on one of
these days is going to be like, all right, that's
enough for me. And I realized that. But my job
and my responsibility is to ensure that the next generation
(41:05):
comes through appreciates what this is.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
Can you put cut a promo and grant on grant.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Your airline's bad? You stop taking mushrooms?
Speaker 5 (41:19):
Live in the real worldsoms passing back to me, I'm
getting rid of it.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
That's the one thing I think you couldn't convince me of.
That's the one thing. If you walked in your grant, listen,
you give me a huge pep talk, and then you're
like you gotta stop taking mushrooms. I'd be like, have
a good day.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
No, no, no, no, keep keep doing what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
Keep flying that kite, brother w double or nothing at
Desert Diamond Arena this Sunday. If you're in the valley,
make sure you're there. If you're not in the valley.
Speaker 5 (41:51):
Yeah, Amazon Prime is on. If you're not in America,
you can watch it on Friller as well. But like
it's all up there on the website. If you can
be watching it on YouTube these days now, which is
how sick is that you can literally there's no reason
why you can't watch wrestling anymore. It's at the touch
of a button. But tickets are still on sale. But
it's we are rammed like it. It's getting close to
(42:13):
we've got to cut it off now. We're sold out.
So like, if everyone wants to get on it, it's
ae W t i X dot com. We'd really appreciate
you guys all coming here, Like, listen, this has been
a dream of mine to just be at the forefront
of it and just to be the captain of the ship.
I came from a small small area in England. I've
somehow made it over it. I don't know how I
got your lads, I'll be honest with you, but it's
(42:35):
truly an honor to have this level of support.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
Hell will, Hell yeah, thank you brother Easy Maybe
Hello, Hi, Hi with your like deeper voice. Though that
a rumble.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
D a metal band? All right?
Speaker 3 (00:16):
So ae W double or nothing is this weekend at
Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale and Grant.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
How excited are we today?
Speaker 4 (00:26):
I'm so excited. Well, I feel like we have a
kindred spirit in the room. Yeah, kind of a fun
wild card type guy.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I like this international superstar, really good looking.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Man. Oh you're spoiling You've raised the ball man.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
Every time I get hit in the face, my dad says,
there's a drastic improvement. Can't be calling me a hunk
like that, boss.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
But I'm looking right here at this photo in the gaze,
bro the guy.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
It's a there's a reason why I was able to
get the missus, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I just look like that and that was it. Yeah,
that was it. She was just emotion. She was mostly
invested from that point.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So this weekend it's huge. It's the Owen Heart Tournament finale. Yes, sir,
what can we expect? Because Hangman Page is no joke either.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
No mate, Listen, Hangman has been from the company from
in the company from day one, nothing but respect and
the lineage and the legacy that he has already has
been like next level, Like I say in my interview
I had with him a while ago, but when he
came to the ring with the Dark Order, who are
these bunch of misfits? And they put that incredible like
(01:42):
cinematic video packaged together about them all like being cowboys
and when you get knucked down, you get back up,
And I was like, man, that was it was crazy, dude,
Like it was like, this isn't this is beyond wrestling.
This is actually like this is a this is actual cinema.
And I actually hate using that now because it's been
so overcoined and overturned, but that that cinema and to
be in this position now where I do feel like
(02:04):
there is like a new generation coming in and a
new generation that really appreciates the opportunity that it has
in front of them. So like being in the ring
with a guy who, like I have nothing but respect for,
and I think this is like such a good arc
for our fans to sinking their teeth into because it's
his redemption story versus my ascension story. And I feel
(02:25):
like right now I'm undeniable, Like I do feel like
I am firing on all cylinders. I don't think there
is anyone in the wrestling world like a w w W,
no One New Japan, TNA, Like, I don't think there
is anyone right now that matches me in the ring.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I do can I Can I agree? Can I agree
with you? I had an experience yesterday. I was on
performance enhancing drugs.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yesterday, what good man.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I took about three grams from USh rooms yesterday about there.
I was listening to some like some head post rock
and whatever, and I knew this. I knew we were
interviewing you today. So I pulled up. I had the
headphones going with that heavy heavy stuff, and I put
on a highlight reel. You are devastating watching you in
(03:12):
the ring like I was excited, like I was eleven
years old again, and I felt like I felt like
I was watching like Huvatu Guerrero style matches, Like we're
just like that.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Really I love that, dude, That's amazing.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Yeah, you have like this this like frenetic energy and
when you like because normally I don't know when I
think of like people that are like can do the
high flying stuff. I don't think of like people who
can like also attack somebody with a clothesline and just
murder them.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
It's because of the where I grew up, man, Like
I mean I could do the luta door style, Like
that's kind of what I grew up on, because like
Hoovey is crazy that he said him like I was
talking to him a little while ago, nothing but love
for the guy. He would come down to my school,
which was the Resistance Gallery and Definite Green and he
teaches a bunch of Lutra door stuff and like that's
I studied more lutre libre first, and then I learned
(04:02):
the British style, and then I was lucky enough to
go over to Japan and while they in corporate, like
the lucha libre style, there's something about when you just
need to stand your ground and just throw elbows with guys.
And that's where I learned, man, that's where I just
had to stand my ground and just like take elbows.
Like there's a guy in aw right now, but he
was with New Japan par Wrestling. His named Shabata, and
(04:24):
I have like stories of where like I wanted to
do like the loutre libre stuff. I wanted to pick
up the pace and this guy elbowed me harder than
I've ever been elbowed before in my life. And that's
when you realize, oh, I'm not made.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Out of glass for sure.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Like I've got a fight back, and like it's just
that animal instinct of like learning how to just stand
your ground and just throw elbows with a guy.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
I had to rewatch the one move. I it's it's
your name's in it. It's it's like a It starts
as like a power bomb and then you like spin out, stormbreaker.
God man, I had I couldn't figure that out. I
was just like, you're both hurt.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Means doesn't hurt me?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yeah, because it was just I had no it happened
so fast. I didn't know what to expect that. It
was such a cool twist on a move. I felt
like I've seen before.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
He's been practicing that move on me all week too. Yeah,
we gotta get.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You up, brother. Trying to get you up is like
jump for me?
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Is it hard to I mean because you have to
be like, hey, we're gonna we're gonna do this move tonight.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Is it?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Are there moves that like you're just like this is
this is scary? I mean, okay, yeah, it's really tough.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Okay. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
So one of the ones where like I generally had
like a fear that this was going to go wrong.
It was at Revolution, where to me it's a staple center,
it's Crypto dot Com. But like when we done that
cage match and we're like fifteen to twenty feet high
in the air, and it was just like we said,
(05:56):
all right, we're going to do a Spanish fly off
the tour bit and generally like Spanish fly for anyone
that's that doesn't know, I'm latched onto my opponent, like
I've got my arm around his neck, I've got like
I've got an underhook on him, and like normally I
do it where it's a kind of like a momentum
thing where he's running and I can turn him inside out.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
This time we are static.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
And not only are we static with fifteen feet high
in the air, and I'd said, like, dude, one of
us is getting hurt, but it was kind of like
one of this moment where we're like this is going
to live forever. This is a moment where like if
we commit to this and we do this, this is
going to be a moment where everyone's going to go yo, no,
one is topping this cage match, and to this day,
(06:35):
no one can top that cage match, man, Like, it
is the greatest cage match ever. And I'm so proud
to have like not only done it in aw but
to done it in that arena specifically, just because it's
got such a wrestling lineage and history and to have
like a little stamp just to be like, yo, that's
where like the Spanish fly happened off of the cage.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
So what what what were your influencers in terms of
like what were you watching when you were a kid
and you've said, oh my god, I got to do this,
because like you reference cage matches and there's you know,
there's a couple, there's a few that stand out.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Well yeah, I mean when you think of like when
I think of cage matches, I think of specifically you
talk about those moments, right and you see how Mick
Foley getting thrown off.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
That's yeah, that's think a cage cage is harder, man,
because the traditional one was like escape the cage, right.
So the one that came to my mind was like
Edie Grere of versus JBL, Like I love that one
where you'd like done a frog smash off the cage, right,
that was one of my favorite ones. But like when
I'm thinking about these things, I'm thinking of stuff, well,
(07:35):
just I want to leave something with people. I want
I want there to be like an uncomfortable feeling in
the air where like where like your butthole clenches because
you like get down, get down down?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
No, no, no exactly.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
And that's where like I couldn't think of a cage
match to study. That's that's the thing that made me
trip out a lot about this matches, Like I don't
really know what match I want to study because I
don't feel that emotionally invested in any of those matches.
There's never been something that's like left a real big
mark on me. So that was the mission with this one,
where was like I want to leave a mark on everyone.
I want people to be like yo. That was absolutely
(08:07):
crazy and we accomplish that mission.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Brother, so sick.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
So who did you watch growing up?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Then? Growing up?
Speaker 5 (08:14):
So obviously I used to watch like WW when I
was growing up, when I was a kid man, But
after a while, like especially after WCW got brought out nothing,
I felt nothing man. Every now and again, mate, you
would get like someone like Eddie Guerrero, which I loved him,
Edge Randall and like I used to love those guys.
But then after a while it just was like it
(08:35):
was just rint cycle repeat, and that is wrestling. Sometimes
it is rint cycle repeat. So when something special does
come along, it does go like WHOA, I need to
tune in and watch this, right, But for me, I
remember I had like all my mates around, right, We're
all around my house, We're all like fourteen years old
or something like that. Flicking through the channel fan TNA
six sided rings. You were like, yore, what is right,
(08:56):
and like I like, can't kid you? Right, So then
it was a Matt happen. Then AJ Styles walks out
red Hood, Randy Orton Sparklers behind him. So I was like, okay,
let's see what he's got. And this is the moment
I knew, right, Samoa Joe's on the outside, Christopher Daniels
is on the outside. AJ pops up into the ring.
He's got his hand on the top rope, leaps to
(09:16):
the top rope. Never seen anyone do this before. Leaps
to the top rope, shooting star press, which is a
forward backflip to the outside moment I saw that, I
was like, Yop, this is it. I'm being a pro wrestler.
So then my influences were never WWE guys. My influences
were AJ Styles, Amazing Reds, Hayabusa, named Michi Mahrifuji, and
like I'll say this and maybe this guy like OI.
(09:37):
But the moment you type these names on a YouTube,
you go like what is this world? Like what is
this what I'm watching? And like that's that. I liked
the counterculture stuff. I don't like going for the big thing.
I like going for the underdog. And I think that's
why I signed with AW in the first place, because
they are the underdog. They are the people that are
coming up from the ground up. They're the people that
(09:57):
just enjoy giving fan service back. And when I first
came in here, it was just like I kind of
want to just make this place just like the b
or and end all, Like I want to sing from
the high heavens that this is the best professional wrestling
in the planet. Like, I respect WWE and what they're doing.
They are filling houses, they are doing so well, but
like bell to bell, you are not going to find
(10:19):
better wrestling than AW what Also.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
It has an atmosphere where it feels like you're going
to a cool indie rock show. Yes, it doesn't feel
like a Taylor Swift stadium tour type thing.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
It feels like a really it's intimate.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
And it's got that it does have. The fans do
have that kind of Philly ECW vibe. Yeah, we're like
really nuts about it, which has gotta be fun for
you guys.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
It's respectable for the art man, I feel like they
understand the art form behind it and how hard it
is and they appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So they allow their voices.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
To be heard and they are supporting us, and I
think that's what like, I want that support to spread.
And I feel like it's going to take time. It's
going to be a slow, slow process. But one of
these days, man, we are going to be on top,
like and it's and it's not just me, it's Swerve,
it's Hangman, it's Moxley, it's m j F, it's the syndicate.
(11:12):
We're all firing on all cylinders and we're all like
creating this this animal right now, and at one point
we are going to be undeniable that we are the
flipping best.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
We just Adam Core recently.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, and what a lovely guy, right.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
It's awesome, dude, like you got and it's it seems
like the company has a group of guys that are
really excited. Well we even interviewed some wrestlers in the past.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Who have not Yeah that it's definitely the check.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Yeah, the check.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
And that's what I was going to say, is that
the people in a e W love the business. Of
course that's the number one priority. You're not you're not
having your high profile talent skipping events for movie premieres, right,
Like if anybody who's in AW wants to be in
(12:06):
a W. And it's so funny you brought that up
because I told Grant I was like, man, he was
in the Indies for so long, I wonder what brought
him specifically to AW. And you answered it before I
could even ask questions. So now I guess I can leave.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I'msten like I spent eight years over in Japan a
and like they took a twenty two year old kid,
and I'd say kid, Like I know a lot of
people will being like, no, you're a man at twenty two.
It's like, no, man, I'm still figuring stuff out, like
I still wondering, like what life is all about, and
like here I am amongst people that I've always wanted
(12:37):
to be around, like all these like big Japanese stars,
like I can't tell you enough about, like Okada like
looked after me. Man like took a boy and like
really nurtured him. I found out while I was over
in Japan, like I had ADHD, which like made my
brain just go like, oh, there's a reason why this happened.
There's a reason why this, and this is what I
(12:57):
could have done to correct it. And they were paid
with me, man, all of them, they like really I
was the adopted son. Man they looked after me. But
when I accomplish everything that I needed to accomplish in Japan,
I always kept an eye on AW because it was
just kind of like this is the style of wrestling
that I love, Like I love this sports presentated style,
but like we also like had flares of like of
(13:19):
like cinematic style. Like one of my favorite ones in
AW as well was like when Chris Jericho and MJF
was singing and dancing, but it was so different to
what I was seeing on my TV regularly. And I
think That's why I was like, I'm fascinated by it
because there's an opportunity to be creative and play and
do stuff that never has been done before.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
And the thing about like with I remember that that
song and dance with Chris Jericho. It feels hokey, it
feels campy, but it doesn't feel like cheesy and hoky.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
It doesn't feel like being forced to do it exactly.
It's two guys that I wanted to do it. And
at the time when it was the pandemic, I believe Yeah,
So like people were just like, we just want to
be entertained. We want to smile because the world is
scary right now. People are dying left, right, and center,
and it's just a scary place to be. So for
those two hours, let's put on like a great show.
Let's make people laugh, Let's give them phenomenal pro wrestling.
(14:11):
And we have done that consistently since that day. Man,
Like we have just we've put smiles on faces, We've
inspired kids to want to like achieve these type of goals.
We are such an intimate environment that we are just
wanting people to just come to these shows, forget what's
going on in the real world and enjoy some pro
wrestling once upon. So I feel like a kid again.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Man, Absolutely, can I ask you? Can I ask you
a question that I've thought about quite a bit. There
are all these now little think tanks that are breaking
apart wrestling right Like on the internet. There's forums, there's
YouTube channels, there's this whole thing. What do the guys
that the guys and gals excuse me, the wrestle, what
(14:52):
do they think of like the oh, this this channel
is just taking garbage, like, oh we heard this this
thing that didn't happen backstage, and they're they're making mountains
out of moor hills out of like rumors and just
garbage starts.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
So I can't talk about like other people because everyone's
like difference. But for me, I say remove the ego
because no matter what, these people are clients, they're punters,
they're people that are watching the shows, So like, remove
your ego if they're going, well, I don't like will
Ospray's matches because he doesn't do this and and like
so one thing that really like makes me laugh, right,
(15:27):
so we've just done that. The Dynamite when me and
Hangman were like face to face one another, and that's
the best time I feel like I've ever like really
talked on a microphone the best of my abilities. And
everyone's going, oh, but it's hair, Like I get it,
I get it. I can't control this hair, but like,
you know what, like I'll take it. It's a criticism
like and do you know what, fair enough watching? But
(15:48):
they're watching. So if you can remove your ego and
just listen to the criticism, maybe it's something that you
don't agree with. But if it's a clientele and they're
just going like, no, this is something that I need
to actually look into and go okay, because I'm not
just I'm not some schmuck indie boy anymore. Now I'm
on TV weekly and if I want these people to
(16:08):
be fully invested, I do need to listen. And I
feel no, like I do get it. Like a lot
of guys will go like, oh, what do they know?
They've never taken a bumps And there is there is
that level, right, there is that level of like people
that go like, oh, they've never taken a bump before.
I'm not going to listen to them. They don't understand me,
So I'm not going to listen to them, But like
there's that part of me that goes, no, break it down,
(16:30):
remove your ego from it, because this is something that
could even bring it if it's one more viewer. That's
the art to this. It is like being being vigilant
and being like ready to adapt and to change to
an environment. I love my job, man, and I love
the fact that, like I listened to like review shows
all the time because I want to get better at
(16:50):
this and I want to be the guy for this.
But I'm not going to be the guy if I'm
just like no, I'm making my money now, Like I
don't like no, if I'm complacency kills. If you are
complacent in this industry, you are not willing to evolve.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
That's such a healthy way to look.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
At once upon a time.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
It wasn't man, once upon a time, but like as
I've grown older, I've got to the point where like, no,
this is an industry. This is a business, and like
I can be like, you know what, I like doing
my goofy stuff over here, but like every now and again,
you just got to be like, no, this is this
is our clientele and we do need to listen.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
You probably had to deal with a lot of that.
Being twenty two years old in Japan, right.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Mate, I have wrestled Ricochet and the Best of Super Juniors,
where like, honestly, this is one of the most viral
like wrestling things that ever happened, Right it was. It
was a match in Japan where we just done flip
flip flip flip and we got torn. It was marmite
bro It was like fifty to fifty. Like people either
loved it or they hated it, but it was a
(17:47):
conversation topic and because of that, my career like launched
from that point, Like it really helped helped open doors
for me.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
But like instead of being like, nah, screw these guys,
I don't want to sort like they don't knows, Like no,
like I need to listen.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Well, it kind of seems like now the best thing
you can do is piss off Jim Cornette on the.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Right, guy's got his opinion and he's tenureds and he knows,
and you know, it's the style. I would just say
that maybe it's just like maybe you just you just
don't like our flavor of ice cream. And that's absolutely fine,
boss man. But like there's a whole big market here
that really does enjoy thee And here comes your vanilla boy.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Right now we're lost pray the King of He's a
cream in there if you have had to see it?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Can I ask you a non wrestling question?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
What kind of music do you listen to?
Speaker 5 (18:34):
So right now I'm actually really into like some country music.
I'm not gonna lie like I love like is it
Chris Stapleton? Yeah, I love listening to him. He's just
I think it's because me and the missus discovering him,
we like have a little dance to one another, like
I'm a sweet boy. But if you honestly want, if
I could put someone something out there to you guys,
especially because you're talked about mushrooms right, want you want
(18:56):
to get on your mushrooms? Put some headphones in right?
Allow me to tell you per Pool Disco Machine, Disco Machine. Yeah,
Exotica twenty twenty one album Awesome. Listen to track three.
It's called Fireworks. It's the greatest song. You'll like kind
of kind of music disco music, yeah, disco Machine, Yes, mate,
you will love it. It's no, it's a vibe.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (19:19):
It's so good. Honestly, if you're ever in a bad mood,
chuck that song on. You'll be You'll be flying fan
due thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
No, no, man, I'm like I'm constantly just I'm always
looking for chill.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
You're looking for a vibe.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Brother, Do you have no idea? Grant is literally I'm
always looking for a vibe.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I found it.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Id We sit in this office over here, and it's
it's there's three of us in there.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Every day.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Grant sits behind me and it's like I'm trying to
focus on what's going on, and he's like, hey, Nick,
have you heard this?
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Y have you heard the Everyone Like there's the medical
team that look after us backstage aw right, and like
they always look for new music. I said, put Purple
Disco Machine on. They love it now. Man, Everyone's like
vibe into I see everyone every now and then like
bopping their head to it.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
And I'm just like, yeah, I know my vibe. Man,
I'm a white boy with a vibe. You know it too, yes, mate, Christie, Yeah,
I love a bit of country music.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
I think once again, it's just the age thing, Like
I've grown up. I've got a little six year old
steps on that I look after and I'm just I'm
in this point now where like once upon a time,
AW didn't exist and this was never possible. Right being
in England, everybody said, you want to make it in wrestling,
you have to live in America. And I never wanted
to do it. And it's not a disrespectful thing. It's
(20:33):
just I have a wonderful life in England. I have
a family. I never wanted to do the move. So
I honestly thought I was going to be the kid
in Japan for the rest of my life. And I
was happy with that. Like I was making decent money
enough to be able to save money to a down
payment on a house and pay off for mortgage. But
then when AW came up, and it was like, I
can be a weekly TV star. Like right now, I'm
just doing a ten day tour. I'm staying in hotels
(20:54):
and I'm absolutely fine with that. But I can be
a weekly TV star. I don't have to uproot my
kid's life. I don't have to uproot my missus life.
And like my missus is coming in soon as well,
so we're going to be traveling the world together. Man,
And that's just that's such a beautiful thing to have,
and I just I'm so grateful for it, and I
feel like there was a time period where people took
(21:15):
advantage of AW and took advantage of that kindness. And
right now I'm on a mission to ensure that like
the next generation that comes through appreciates this opportunity and
appreciates what's in front of him, because once upon a
time this didn't exist. So we all need to just
be on the same side and ensure that AW is
going to be the greatest wrestling going forward.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Hell yeah, So I have to ask Chris Jericho is
my favorite restler of all time.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
And he is great, He's one of the best of.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
What is it like walking into a locker room with
guys like Jericho and Samoa Joe and Adam Copeland, Like
who've reached the top.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Of the top the pinnacle?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Like do you go in and just and watch or
do you immediately approach and be like I want to
be I always.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
First of all, like once again, my Mum raised me
with manners, right, so I always go up to every
single person that I've ever watched wrestling, like whether they
like think the world of me or not, Like I
always shake the hand and like thank them for everything
that they've done, and like I've always wanted to get
their opinion and respect. Like Jericho messaged me yesterday telling
me what a good job I've done on my promo
and that coming from him like he was the promo
(22:27):
king on.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
But like the fact that he like takes time to
watch and then constructively give criticism, Like I appreciate that
so much. I like COPX another one like Adam Copeland.
I've grew up watching you, brother, and like he's so good.
I had a conversation with him Asia, and I won't
go into details with it, but like I feel like
I needed to confine in someone just to be like
I need your advice and I need your opinion. And the
(22:53):
fact that he was just like let's go, let's go
somewhere where no one else is, and he sat there
and spoke with me for about like twenty odd minutes,
being like this is how I would do it, this
is how I would play. And I just think to myself, like, sorry,
so I didn't take any of this in because like
I need you to say it all again, because like
I'm star struck and I like I can't believe that
I'm lucky enough to have this. But like for me now,
(23:14):
it's like I look at that roster right and saying
it here like I want to be the captain of
the ship, like because I believe in myself and I
believe in my abilities, but like it's nothing if you
don't have the backing of the people that took the
bumps before you. And they've all got my back, bro,
And that's mad man, That's that's crazy to me that
all of them are going like you're the one now,
(23:36):
like go for him, man, like I and another one right,
one more? And I apologized, honestly I could MVP. I
was doing a signing a little while ago, and he
was like, come come to the parking lot, let me,
let me talk to you. And we sat there for
ages and he just spoke wisdom towards me, man, and
he was just like every now and again, like someone
(23:58):
special comes along and it's your time now, man, it's
your time to take the ball and run with this,
and like he proper gassed me up. Fam So like
at that point, I'm just like I'm ready to run
for a war, bro, Like I don't think there's anyone
that can stop me. And That's why this Sunday is
super important because it's like, it's not just about winning
the Cup. It's not just about going to the bigger
show and main event in This is about the branding,
(24:20):
bro this is about who is going to be the
person carrying that flag. That's why this match is so important.
That's why I want everyone to shar up at the
Desert Diamond Arena this Sunday because for me, now I
am confident in my abilities. I understand that this is
a redemption story for Hangman Page, but this is about
bigger than does a redemption story. It's bigger, bigger than
just one person. It's a company, and I'm ready to
(24:41):
take that responsibility.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
Brod, I'm ready to run through a long Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
If you ain't got anything going Sunday, just hit me up.
I like, I'll get your tickets sorted out. I'll make
sure that you guys are looked after.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Fam Hell yeah, dude, this is I'm I'm so excited.
I question, dumb question, go past past wrestling legend. Anyone
named one person that you were like, I could have
the most amazing matage with this person. Who would it be?
Maybe one or two that you're like, Okay, these guys,
(25:18):
even if it's like a weird matchup, I think that'd
be sick too.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
I don't know if you guys know you're Japanese wrestling history,
but like Masawa was such like a just such ah,
what's the word I'm looking for, but just an innovating
man before his time, A pioneer. Yeah, and just like that,
like he was a part of that King's Road style
that I love all Japan that I just I loved
watch him, but like could never really like I could
(25:43):
never really do it at the best of its abilities
until I got to Japan. And actually, like I feel
like a lot of people like emulated it and studied
it but never really lived it until you got to Japan.
And like I there was a wrestler that Massile wrestled
called Kwada, and I wrestled his last student, which is
tight Chip, and I actually learned to fight and do
the King's Road style, like like I've got to get
(26:04):
in there in Japan in the geeser's hometown as well,
while his family are up there watching and I'm merked him, brother,
I'm not being spark out in front of his family,
and that's where he just kind of like there is
something about that gritness to Japan where it was just
so Masawa was just like one of these guys who
like pioneered that style of I just I want to
(26:25):
I want to show the case that in in England,
I want to showcase that in America, and I just
want to take it around the world. And this is
the best thing about aw is that they take the
handcuffs off, yeah, and they go paint your art the
way that you want to paint it.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Did you enjoy first getting into wrestling watching wrestling, did
you enjoy like the deathmatch era, that Japanese style or
is that or is that just kind of one of
those things where you're like, this isn't really No.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
No, I appreciate all styles of wrestling because I feel
like if people are in the audience, then it's it's
something that we can inspire to bring those audiences over
to AW right. I appreciate it that. I think my
favorite style of death matches was FMW because it was
very cinematic and like and Hyabusa was such a huge
(27:12):
inspiration to me. I remember when I found him. I
think I found him in like two thousand and six,
two thousand and seven, and I was like, oh man,
look at how this guy moves. Look at the four fifties,
look at the shoot Star presses. And then it was
only when I found out he got paralyzed in two
thousand and one, I was.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
Like, what the spring board.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
The lion sult Yeah, And the first was like it devastates,
And that's an appreciation to know, like like this could
end one of us.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
I mean that point that was literally just slip, just slip,
just a tiny, tiny slip, and like the.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
Best thing for me is like, as I feel like
he's not appreciated as much, I'll tell you this story.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
He's not appreciated much.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
And then in my U in twenty twenty two, I
really really wanted to dorn the mask. I wanted to
wear the mask because it hadn't been dawned on a
wrestler in Japan for years, because because it was almost
like we don't want to talk about it because like
it brings up the bad memories. So I sourced out
where his daughter was and I found her on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I said, I wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Your
dad inspired me. Could I take you out for dinner
and just for and I took her out for lunch
in Japan and I asked for her blessing to wear
the mask and wear the costume at one of these
really big stages. And she she was honored.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
Man, she really she was like, no one talks about
my dad anymore, that's a lie. And like I and
not only that, she was like, thank you so much.
And then it was it got around and then the
guy who originally made his mask contacted me and was like,
can I please make you one higher busa mask to
wear a mate?
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Yeah, goosebumps. It Also, it's one of those things when
when something like that does happen that because they have
thirty years of a career or twenty years of a
career and this one incident is all that I remember. Yeah,
it's the one video. People why so they pull up
and show their friends and you're like, oh, this sucks
that this is your legacy.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
No, and his legacy is way more than that. He's
had a plethora of amazing matches and amazing moments. He's
done films, he's been a part of the backyard of it.
He's just he is like one of the icons. When
it comes to high flying wrestling, his name was the
Flying Assassin. Like that's where like a like a connection
there because I was I was the Areo Assassin. That's
where like a connection came through for that. Obviously it
(29:27):
came from Assassin's creed, but like the moment I came
from Assassin's screen, I was like, Hyabusa was the Flying Assassin,
Like I want to I want to combine that and
I want to pay homage. And that's why I like
I was so why I went to the daughter first
because a lot of wrestlers now that will just be like,
oh today I'm cosplaying as this wrestler, like and I
feel like there might be like some dark, untold truths
(29:47):
that like oh, when you pay homage to that, it
like brings up bad memories and like that's why I
like I wanted to ensure that like it was okay
to do that. And then I sold the mask and
all the money that I made from it, I said
over to the family.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Well it's it's like even even heart when you think
about that.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Today is the anniversary kids death.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, I share a birthday with him.
May seventh Man, Yeah, the best wrestles are born and
made seventh.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Dude, Like, yeah, it's one of those things like.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Playing amage, Like what a what a way to do that?
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Yeah, But it's just like when people talk like, you know,
it's funny when you meet like a new wrestling fan
and then you bring up on Heart and they're like, oh,
the guy that this happened to, and it's.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Yeah, so much.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
And like the legacy that he had in Japan, man,
like he was so respected and like I remember when
his wife started doing a little bit more interviews and
she said, like Jericho even said like, would you ever
consider going over to Japan? And she was like maybe
I was. And I said to Jericho, I was like,
if she ever comes over to Japan, let me know.
I'll look after it. I'll take her out for dinner
(30:56):
and I will shout, I'll bring it to the office
because I'd think there's like a part of like wrestling
history that is missed where she was. Like Owen was
so respected in Japan, like respected from us. Is his
name is still on the i w GP Junior Heavyweight
Championship And I would love to I'd love to to
sit I'd love the family to see how respected he was,
(31:17):
And I think that's why this is such an honor
being in the final for this because it is just
like I want to I want to do that legacy justice.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Who's your favorite heel of all time?
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Bad guy? Bad guy?
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Probably Randy autumn Man, like Randy when he was in
that like Voices era, like to be fair. I even
like the Legend Killer era because that that young brash
like get these old guys out of my way, like
do you know what I mean? I love that attitude
of just being like, it's my time, man, I'm going
to take it for myself.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Here's just didn't have to say anything. Here's the he
just come out.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
What's what's who is your favorite bad gimmick wrestler? Like, uh,
I got it, shouldn't should be good. I got into
Big boss Man like, but he's boss Man was sick,
bro dude to but I got it. I love the
Blue era Big boss Man like, honestly, I r S
(32:11):
was pretty sick too. Like that era, there were a
couple of dudes who just had bad gimmicks, but they
were great. Yeah. So like do you have any thing
that mad?
Speaker 2 (32:19):
That's a hard one. I didn't prepare for this one.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Brother Rhodes.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
No gold, No, that's that's fair man. But like that
was counter culture at the time, like a lot of
people like at first were like but like people grew
attached to it, and then the moment that you'd see,
like the way that he'd move in the ring, Like
I still love how he hits the ropes. He hits
the ropes like I'm mad, like mad.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
Talking about the clip where he did the.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
Spinner the but you're still just like, yes, bro, and
it's he should have so much respect. Like every time
here's another guy, man, I see him backstage, I'm just like, yeah,
that's that's the g that's og.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Scary when he was heavy and now that he's like fit,
yeah he's terrifying.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
Yeah I could still go, man, he can go. He
cut a promo against MJF for a little while ago
about talking about like he's seen the Devil, and I
was just like that man has that man has experienced
so much and I don't think it, like I don't
think people realize how much he he's gone through and
he's come out on the other side, and yet he's
backstage and he's just going like hey, let me, let
(33:29):
me give you a piece of advice, let me do this,
let me do that, and you're just like yo, mad.
Speaker 4 (33:35):
Was it WrestleMania twelve his backstage brawl with was that?
Do you remember that?
Speaker 1 (33:41):
I don't remember that.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
When there was a car they did the slow speed
chase through LA during WrestleMania, I can't remember that. Was nuts.
I watched it a couple of like probably a week ago.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
Him and Booker two together was like sick as well. Man,
I having so much fun, just entertaining stuff. Man, at
a time when like I really wasn't that fascinated with WWF,
so like when seeing that, I was like, man, he's
just entertaining the fact that we've got him here at
aw It's just like it's a blessing. Man, We've got
so many Another one, Jerry Lynn. I've been working with
Jerry Lynn so much, man, and he's been helping me
(34:12):
out like fix all these like little nuanced things that
I don't really think about, and he makes me think
so in depth about those things.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
I love working with Jerry Lynn.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
Do you listen to wrestling podcasts, like like not necessarily critical,
but like the like Talkers, Jericho.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Or Yeah, Chris Van Vlee insight Like I listened to
him all the time because like I want to be
more insightful and I want to understand it more like
I'll be honest, I've asked her Chris Fan Vlee. I
was like, Oh, the next time you talk to John Cena,
can you ask him this one question? Right?
Speaker 5 (34:42):
And I really mean this because I was like, at
one point, Sina just started doing like Code Reds, which
was from Amazing Red. He started doing Emerald Flosions, which
was Massawa.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
So I was like, and Springboard Stunners, And I was like,
I want to know, did you watch anything outside of WWE,
Like I'd love to know like what he would what
he would watch outside of w W. So like I've
always said, like, if you ever get him, could you
ask him that question?
Speaker 4 (35:07):
But that's interesting because I don't know much about him
before what because he was v W. Yeah he was
one of the last Was that was that where he started?
Speaker 5 (35:16):
Was that just like yeah, yeah, I think he was
just as.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Well with us.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
Are there's still people in the in the industry that
come in Like it used to be like remember like
guys like the Big Show would just go or he
just went to the power plant Goldberg just went to
the power plant, like and then they just start there
and just working like that little developed like the Triple
A's and go then straight to the w W E or.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
I mean you get you.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
You can correct me if I'm wrong, but the indie
scene is really where people are cutting.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
There right now. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (35:53):
Like so, for example, the one of the guys that's
come from now Speedboll Mike Bailey, who was just like
the indie king at one point, he was going everywhere
and just putting on some of the greatest matches ever.
And I think that's what like we're looking at more
now instead of guys that just got to let go
from WWE, and my heart goes out to them all.
But I just think like we're looking for guys that
are just like appreciative of this position and just like
(36:15):
who are grafting and improving the markets elsewhere instead of
just being like, uh, got to let go from ww
in this instantly assumed that they can come here is
like nah, man, like go go out and like prove
to other people that you're like wanted to. Yeah, And
I feel like yeah, and I my heart goes out
to all of them. But I think it should never
just be assumed of like oh, I got let go here,
(36:36):
I can just walk into AW. It's like nah, bro,
like the bar is the bar is too high now,
Like I want to see like all these guys like
cut their teeth elsewhere and improve the houses elsewhere, like
go to New Japan, go to nowhere, go to Stardom,
go elsewhere and improve their houses before you can think, oh,
I'm just gonna come here. That that's just me anyway.
Like I mean, there are certain guys like for example,
like Swerve got let go from WWE and came to
(36:58):
AW like straight away, and but he's like a special one.
He's like he's special, and like MVP is another one.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
I've got let go.
Speaker 5 (37:05):
He's special, like Lashly special, Shelton special. But like I
just want people to be like you can't just come
in and walk in. I think everyone like and I'll
be honest with you, I really do think the independents
need it right now. I think they need someone to
help guide this next generation to come through. So that
that's just me personally, like like I don't mean that
(37:26):
in any type of disrespectful way, but I think right
now AW is just like we are the best wrestlers
right now, and all those guys that have been let
go tragically, like are really really good pro wrestlers, but
like can't be just good anymore.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
He's got to be elite.
Speaker 4 (37:41):
So obviously you're gonna win on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Obviously, so obvious? Can you tell it?
Speaker 4 (37:46):
Because honestly you can't about to leave this room. And
I know with every inch of my being that you're
gonna win on Sunday. You know you're gonna take a
w to the moon. I can feel it. What other
than those two things, what's next for you?
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Winning that World championship is the next thing for me?
Speaker 5 (38:05):
But that's that's what I really want to I want
to take that belt out of that briefcase and wrap
it around my waist. It's too good of a belt.
It's too good looking of a belt to be in
a bloody briefcase, mate.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
And you're too good looking not to have a belt.
Speaker 5 (38:18):
He's hitting on me, so for me, For me personally,
travel broadens the minds. I wrestled everywhere. I wrestled in
New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Japan. I was meant to go
to Singapore and it pulled out. Unfortunately. I've wrestled literally everywhere.
My name has gone out everywhere from like small little
(38:40):
indies to large ones. I believe aw's next step is,
like I mean, we're doing it anyway. We've got forbidden,
We've wrestled this year. We're wrestling in Australia, Mexico, Canada, America, England.
I mean we've done that at like joint in Japan show.
But like I really want us to like stand in
our own ground a little bit as well. Like obviously
I feel like what we're doing CMLLL is like we're
(39:02):
running Arena Mexico as a joint show and then CMLL
are doing I think aw's got their own show as well,
and it's like it'll be like a two day thing.
But like I really want to do I want to
do shows in Australia again. I want to do shows
in France. I want to do shows in Spain. I
really want to do show, Like I want to just
wrestle everywhere. Like Island is another one. Like people really
(39:23):
underrestumate how sick the Irish fans are. They're great, but
like I think that is the next step is to
really get us out there and do like these crazy
like Grand Slam shows everywhere around the world, because that's
what's going to tell people like, hey, like there's a
new wrestling company on the block, and they are just
the best wrestlers going fan.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Yeah, I mean just looking at the card, it's wild,
like like truly.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
The best wrestlers on the planet.
Speaker 5 (39:49):
I mean for me as well, Like when I say,
like I want to be the captain of the ship,
do you realize how overwhelming it is to look at
that roster to like up and down. There's guys that
have main event in WrestleMania. There are that I've main
invented wreussell kingdoms. There are guys that have been in
like Arena Mexico like week in a week out and
just sellouts. And I look at it and I'm just
some like biling from England and I'm just like, man,
(40:11):
like this is this is truly overwhelming. But like it
would honestly be an honor to like wear that championship
and to be the captain of that ship, because it
is just it is just a blessing to be a
part of a w.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
Dude, I gotta tell you, if you came into this room,
and we're like, Grant, Nick, we're going to Mars. I'd
leave here in package.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Yeah, we're out.
Speaker 4 (40:33):
On the moon, bro, the moon would be one. I
can't believe. You're such a nice guy. You you're super talented,
and you were very generous to spend this much time
with I thank you.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
No, man, Honestly, I love talking. I'm a social butterfly.
I enjoyed talking, and this is my passion. Man, My
passion is to get a w out there, so much
so that like one of these days that I know
I can't do this every single week, on one of
these days is going to be like, all right, that's
enough for me. And I realized that. But my job
and my responsibility is to ensure that the next generation
(41:05):
comes through appreciates what this is.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
Can you put cut a promo and grant on grant.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Your airline's bad? You stop taking mushrooms?
Speaker 5 (41:19):
Live in the real worldsoms passing back to me, I'm
getting rid of it.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
That's the one thing I think you couldn't convince me of.
That's the one thing. If you walked in your grant, listen,
you give me a huge pep talk, and then you're
like you gotta stop taking mushrooms. I'd be like, have
a good day.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
No, no, no, no, keep keep doing what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
Keep flying that kite, brother w double or nothing at
Desert Diamond Arena this Sunday. If you're in the valley,
make sure you're there. If you're not in the valley.
Speaker 5 (41:51):
Yeah, Amazon Prime is on. If you're not in America,
you can watch it on Friller as well. But like
it's all up there on the website. If you can
be watching it on YouTube these days now, which is
how sick is that you can literally there's no reason
why you can't watch wrestling anymore. It's at the touch
of a button. But tickets are still on sale. But
it's we are rammed like it. It's getting close to
(42:13):
we've got to cut it off now. We're sold out.
So like, if everyone wants to get on it, it's
ae W t i X dot com. We'd really appreciate
you guys all coming here, Like, listen, this has been
a dream of mine to just be at the forefront
of it and just to be the captain of the ship.
I came from a small small area in England. I've
somehow made it over it. I don't know how I
got your lads, I'll be honest with you, but it's
(42:35):
truly an honor to have this level of support.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
Hell will, Hell yeah, thank you brother Easy Maybe
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