Author Archives: Jonathan Williams

Christopher Daniels and Kazarian continue to be a Bad Influence as TNA changes its pay-per-view format

Collectively known as Bad Influence, the tag team of “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels and Kazarian spent a large part of 2012 as the Total Nonstop Action World Tag Team Champions. Since losing the titles to Chavo Guerrero, Jr. and Hernandez at Bound for Glory last October, however, the two have been more focused on singles competition. Having defeated AJ Styles last month at Final Resolution, Daniels faces “Cowboy” James Storm this Sunday at Genesis, which means you can expect to see both members of Bad Influence on tonight’s Impact Wrestling. And with the recent changes to TNA’s pay-per-view schedule, Daniels and Kazarian will also be part of the new TNA Wrestling: One Night Only specials being taped this Saturday. It’s a lot to keep up with, but Wrestling with Pop Culture gets some interesting insight from the duo as it prepares for this exciting and busy weekend.

Following Genesis this weekend, the next pay-per-view is Lockdown in March. What is your take on TNA running fewer pay-per-views in 2013, as well as doing additional tapings like X-travaganza and the Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament to fill that programming for different markets. With so many big shows in such a short period of time, what is the mental and physical preparation like for you guys in comparison to a regular pay-per-view weekend?

Kazarian: I think dropping the number of pay-per-views down by a few is a smart business move. The pay-per-view market is oversaturated with pro wrestling as it is. I, myself, have always been a fan of more big pay-per-views as opposed to just standard pay-per-views every month. It gives our program a lot more time to develop and put a lot more importance on matches. As far as this weekend goes, it is unique in that we have a big pay-per-view and this additional content, which will be a tag team tournament and an X Division Ultimate X cage match. For guys like us, we’ve been the workhorses for the entire existence of TNA so a weekend like this is tough, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. It’s business as usual. If TNA is booking and promoting it, we want to be part of it. It’s going to be a heavy workload, but it’s nothing we can’t handle and we’re excited to be doing it.

Daniels: And let’s be honest, if TNA wants to get people interested in watching these things, of course they’re going to have the two most entertaining parts of their roster on the X-travaganza, on the tag team tournament, on Genesis, on television every week. The top two guys in the company are Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. That’s just science. Four out of five doctors agree, and the fifth doctor is a quack, so of course we’re going to be there. As far as cutting the number of pay-per-views goes, TNA has always been more about quality than quantity and that’s fine with us. If they’re going to cut some stuff, that’s going to make all the pay-per-views that we do do (I can say do do) more entertaining and get people excited to watch these shows. As far as these X-travaganza and Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament tapings go, fulfilling these pay-per-view obligations overseas is going to give those fans over there a chance to see something that maybe the fans in the United States won’t get, give them a special treat. Of course they’re going to have me and Frankie on there. I mean, if you found out Frankie and I weren’t going to be on there, you probably wouldn’t buy it.

A quick note, that fifth doctor in that poll is actually D.O.C. from Aces & Eights and he’s a surly individual anyway, so he doesn’t count.

During your recent World Tag Team Championship reign, you emphasized the word “world” by introducing yourselves as the World Tag Team Champions of the World. Given that you will be traveling to Ireland, Scotland and England later this month, do you anticipate regaining and defending those titles in other parts of the world in the near future?

Kazarian: As soon as we get the opportunity – as soon as Hulk Hogan and the powers that be give us the opportunity to wrestle for the tag team titles, we’re going to get them again. And of course we’re going to take them on tour. They love us in Dublin, they love us in Glasgow, they love us all over Europe – it’s common knowledge. So to rightfully defend the World Tag Team Championship of the World, we have to tour the world, which is exactly what we intend to do.

Daniels: As soon as Chavo Guerrero III and Shawn Hernandez, Jr. stop defending the titles against tag teams that haven’t won any matches yet, when they decide to give a chance back to the actual World Tag Team Champions of the World, the best tag team in the biz-a-ness (that would be Francois Kazarian and myself), as soon as they decide to give us that opportunity once again, we’re going to regain those titles and we will bring them to the U.K., we will bring them all over this country, all over this world, because that’s what fighting champions do. That’s what Frankie and I were when we were World Tag Team Champions of the World. And that’s what we will be when we regain the championships.

Officially in Glasgow, the Christopher Daniels Museum has been alive and kicking for the last seven years. Look it up, it’s true. Check Wikipedia.

From the Zubaz pants to the “Gangnam Style” dances, what goes into your creative process and how much time do you dedicate to that?

Kazarian: When you talk about the creative process, you’re talking about looking inside the minds of Christopher Daniels and myself and that’s a place I don’t think you want to go. We are two of the most creative, fun-loving individuals in the business. Anything you see us do is basically our creation, our idea and/or a request or dare. A lot people don’t think we have the balls to do certain things and we do them. Most everything we do literally comes from the noodles of Chris Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. Is it entertaining? Of course it is because it comes from us, the most entertaining tag team in the business.

Daniels: We’re 25/8 as far as being creative. All we’re doing during the day is thinking of ways we can get under people’s skin, ways we can entertain, ways we can get people talking about us at the water cooler the next day. Whether it’s “Gangnam Style,” whether it’s Throwback Thursdays, whether it’s the appletinis, whether it’s being a national treasure, being the man with the rear that makes the girls cheer, being the physical fascination like Francois is, all of these things are ways to make people excited to watch the best tag team in the world – that’s Bad Influence. People are excited to watch us, people are excited to cheer for us, people know that when we walk down the ramp into the Impact Zone, when we walk down the ramp at the live events, whenever we do that dance on the pay-per-views, they know that we’re the best thing on the show.

Kazarian: On a side note, Zubaz pants’ stock has risen 88 percent since Throwback Thursdays [began]. So we’re talking to their people right now.

Where did the name Bad Influence come from?

Kazarian: That name’s kind of been hopping around the brains of both of us for a while. A lot of people have kind of dubbed us a bad influence and called us bad individuals, especially after us exposing the truth about what a scumbag AJ Styles was. (I say “was” because he’s gone.) People say “bad influence” in a bad way and we say it in a good way. And you know our thing is, once you’re under it, you can’t get over it.

Daniels: Well done, Francois.

Kazarian: Hey, it’s what I do.

www.impactwrestling.com

Georgia Wrestling Now announces the 2012 winners of the Georgia Wrestling Awards

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On the first Georgia Wrestling Now of 2013, Team All You Can Eat’s Matt Hankins and Wrestling with Pop Culture are joined by Georgia Wrestling History‘s Larry Goodman to announce the winners of the Georgia Wrestling Awards for 2012. Many of the winners join us as we make these prestigious announcements.

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Bigfoot rocks Monstrosity Championship Wrestling with a wooly stomp

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When the name Bigfoot is mentioned in the same sentence as Monstrosity Championship Wrestling, one might assume a sasquatch is going to issue an open challenge. But the Bigfoot that will be appearing at the Jan. 4 MCW event at the Asylum is a much louder (and only slightly less smelly) creature that’s more likely to leave your ears ringing than to leave an over-sized footprint. Featuring former members of the Rock City Dropouts, Artimus Pyledriver, Gonzalez and the Spectremen, Bigfoot does have a heavy stomp and a wooly ’70s hard rock sound. Having previously performed alongside MCW at last year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Monster Bash, Bigfoot is ready to party it up with the Wolfmen and other creatures that will do battle in the ring. As a lifelong fan of monsters, wrestling and rock, guitarist “Evil” Jim Wright talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about this and other upcoming shows.

Guitarist "Evil" Jim Wright plays sasquatch-sized riffs. He also likes wrasslin'.

You’re clearly a big monster movie fan, and I know you’re also a fan of pro wrestling. So performing at a monster wrestling event seems like a no brainer for you.

We’re all big wrestling fans. The rest of the guys may not watch Monday night Raw like I do, but they’re fans of the old-school stuff. Our drummer Kevin [Watford]’s brother is a huge Nature Boy fan, but I doubt they know who Santino Marella is.

But Bigfoot is no stranger to MCW since you performed at the Monster Bash alongside the monsters in the ring. What did you think of seeing real live monsters doing battle in the squared circle?

Yeah, I enjoyed it. If you’re going to show monster movies, drink beer and play loud rock, you might as well watch wrestling, too. It’s right up there with corndogs; it makes perfect sense. And the fact that its monsters is like a two-for-one. Instead of getting a 12-ounce beer, you’re getting a 16-ounce beer. It’s a little bit more of something good.

Front man Jett Bryant was in the movie Dear God No!, which also features the real Bigfoot monster. That being said, do you guys have anything special planned for your sets at tonight’s show?

Well, we’re currently working on a new record called Double-wide Gonzo and we’ll actually be playing a couple of songs that will be on that record. One’s called “Throwing the Goat” and, like most of our songs, there’s “New Song 1” and “New Song 2.” We don’t have a lot of song titles, but we’re trying some new material on rock fans and wrestling fans just to see if they look at us like, “Really? That was it?” New year, new beer, new songs. That’s what I’m looking forward to, and the Wolfmen wrestling, of course. But those Wolfmen might know more than I do about the real Bigfoot.

The Wolfmen have vowed to be there.

Will they be drunk on moonshine again this time, though?

I think they are always a little bit intoxicated.

Well, then keep them away from my singer.

I think your singer is a Wolfman, isn’t he?

Yeah. But a sober one (usually) when we’re on stage. But when he gets with another Wolfman, the next thing you know there’s bad wrestling and a bad singer.

Your previous record was produced by Rachel Bolan from Skid Row and came out in 2011. Will he be producing this next album?

No, he ain’t doing this one. But we’ll still play all those songs. We’ll be playing “Sign it in Blood,” “Ride with Me” and “Carry the Cross” from that Bigfoot EP, which means we’ll probably do about everything we have. We’ll definitely be playing “Goddamn Pussy Gettin’ Machine,” but sometimes people don’t like the word “Goddamn.” On the set list it says “Goddamn,” or it just says “pussy.” And no one ever realizes it’s really about anyone who owns cats. But, you know, whatever. I mean, every monster fan should own a black cat. I own one. It’s awesome.

The MCW event is your first show of 2013. Where else will you be playing in the near future?

We’re playing the Tattoo Culture Magazine Launch Party with Six Shot Revival and True Widow at The Basement on Jan. 10. Then we’re playing the Rockets to Ruin reunion show at Smith’s Olde Bar with The Casket Creatures and The Dreaded Marco on Feb. 16. And we’d love to play the Monster Bash again, as well as the Drive Invasion at the Starlight Six Drive-In Theatre. But I’m always at Dragon*Con that weekend anyway, and I always go see the wrestling at Dragon*Con and get a monster T-shirt. And drink beer.

Georgia Wrestling Now welcomes Matt “Sex” Sells, Najasism and Cru Jones

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Just hours before we ring in the new year, Team All You Can Eat’s Matt Hankins and Wrestling with Pop Culture host the final Georgia Wrestling Now of 2012. And we’re going out with a bang as we have three guests who will begin the new year in big ways. First, we talk to Matt “Sex” Sells about his standup comedy show at the Laughing Skull Lounge on Jan. 2, as well as his Platinum Championship Wrestling return on Jan. 5 (his first match since injuring his knee last March). Then we hear from ProSouth Wrestling Tag Team Champion Najasism, a star in the rings of PCW and Anarchy Wrestling, whose band performs at the Masquerade on Jan. 5. Then we hear from NWA Atlanta Georgia Heavyweight Champion Cru Jones about his upcoming matches in Monstrosity Championship Wrestling and NWA Atlanta, as well as Hot Like Lava‘s controversial departure from Rampage Pro Wrestling. Say goodbye to 2012 with Georgia Wrestling Now, listen every Monday at 7 p.m. in 2013 and call 347-324-5735 for questions or comments.

A high-flying star in PCW and Anarchy Wrestling, Najasism shares his musical talents this Saturday.

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TNA gets TENacious with anniversary trading card set

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From celebrating its tenth anniversary to transitioning into a live Impact Wrestling format, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has had one of its most impactful years in 2012. To help commemorate the company’s accomplishments over the past decade, TNA has released the TENacious trading card set through Tristar.

The set includes grapplers from throughout TNA’s history, including James Storm, Hulk Hogan, Jeff Hardy, Sting, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode and Abyss. It also features non-wrestling talent such as Mike Tenay, Taz and Socal Val, as well as special subsets such as the Top 10 moments in a wrestler’s TNA career, Looking Back At… TNA’s Early Years and From the Desk of Dixie Carter, featuring the TNA president’s recollections on important TNA moments. But aside form the base cards, the TENacious set features several limited-edition cards including autographed cards from past and present stars (some with multiple autographs on each card), Celebrity Signature Cards featuring autographs from the likes of Chris Rock, Dennis Rodman, Tom Arnold and others who have appeared in TNA, Jeff Hardy art cards, and cards featuring pieces of ring-worn clothing from Mickie James, Rob Van Dam, Ric Flair and others.

These TENacious cards are not only a collectible way to remember one of TNA’s best years to date, but also to reflect upon the company’s first decade and its accomplishments during that time. Who knows? These things might actually become valuable again someday.

www.impactwrestlingcards.com

Pine Street Market carves new carnivorous creations for the New Year

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Abdullah ain't got nothing on this butcher. Photo courtesy Pine Street Market.

Located just a few blocks away from Academy Theatre, where Platinum Championship Wrestling competitors used to send each other to proverbial slaughter every Friday night, Pine Street Market is an old-fashioned butcher shop that prides itself on offering only the highest-quality artisan meats. And the butcher behind the bacon, bratwurst and beechwood-smoked speck is Rusty Bowers, a meat-cleaving madman who takes locally-farmed meat from Gum Creek Farms and turns it into the most delicious sausages, cider-brined pork chops and smoked pepper bacon you’re likely to ever taste. Having sponsored and supported events at the Plaza Theatre, Academy Theatre and Dad’s Garage Theatre‘s BaconFest, as well as entities such as the Atlanta Rollergirls and the Libertine, and artists like H.C. Warner and Dirk Hays, Pine Street Market definitely doesn’t mind feeding its fellow artistic types. Bowers, who has been known to take on a Leatherface-like persona from time to time, even donated a $100 box of meat to be raffled off at last month’s Monstrosity Championship Wrestling event, which ended up being a big hit with all the ghouls and creatures in attendance. As he prepares for the New Year, Bowers meets (or should I say “meats”) with Wrestling with Pop Culture to ham it up about meat, monsters and other merriment.

How did you end up opening your own butcher shop and why did you choose Avondale Estates as the locale?

I had been a chef for about 15 years working in Jacksonville, Fla., Maui, Austria and Upstate New York. I was always the butcher and picked up different tips along the way working in different restaurants. So this was always my passion. Then I met up with Farmer Tom at Gum Creek Farms out near Carrollton, Ga. with humanely-raised pigs that live outside and forage for food. I’d been friends with Bart Webb and Layne [Whitehead-Lee] at Sweet N’ Sinful bakery and always liked Avondale, so that’s how I wound up here with a big art community and lots of local support.

One thing that has been popular for Pine Street Market is the Meat of the Month Club, which is a great introduction even for people who don’t live nearby. Tell me a little more about that.

An assortment of artisan meats at Pine Street Market. Photo by Prime8Photo.

The Meat of the Month Club is an online meat CSA (community-supported agriculture). You can sign up for three, six or twelve months, with price breaks at six and twelve, and it ships out to you the middle of each month. It’s whatever exciting new stuff we’re working on. The most recent one was a five-pound holiday ham. You’ll always get a pound of bacon, it will feature lamb merguez sausage, smoked andouille, black truffle salamis, a recipe card with descriptions and all different new and exciting things each season. It’s $40 a month, including shipping, and it ships nationally.

Don’t you also offer something similar for local Pine Street shoppers?

We just launched our in-town meat CSA, which is the Meat of the Month Club times many, many more. You can come in the store and pick it up instead of having it delivered to your house, so it’s for the local Atlanta, Decatur and Avondale residents to come in. It’s $75 a month and includes all these wonderful fresh cuts like whiskey-brined ham steaks, pork shoulder roasts, different cuts of lamb like lamb porterhouses, a couple pounds of bacon, beef ribs and all sorts of fresh cuts that aren’t always in the deli case. I like to call it the “deeper cut” because it’s the stuff you can’t always find in the butcher shop. If you’re a Pine Street regular, you can get this package at the beginning of the month and put some in your freezer so you have a bunch of stuff to look forward to rather than just wander into the shop every week to see what we have.

For those who want to chop their own meat, you also offer Butcher Boot Camps and other classes. What can you tell me about those?

A closer look inside Pine Street Market. Photo by Prime8Photo.

In the Whole Hog Class you actually break down a whole hog. You season your own bacon, I cure it for you and you come back and pick it up two weeks later. There’s also a Sausage-Making Class where you decide your own flavorings for sausage and make a couple pounds of sausage that you then come pick up later. New for 2013 is the Butcher Boot Camp. If one class isn’t sufficient for your curiosity, it’s a series of three classes, three Saturdays in a row. The first one’s in January, the second one is at the end of February and into March. It’s a more in-depth class than the Whole Hog Class because you get to break down a pig and you also get to break down a lamb and you end up with more than $100 worth of meat to take home from the three classes. And you learn a lot more about the butchering process.

At last month’s MCW event, your box of meat was a huge success in the raffle. What will you be including in the box of meat to be raffled off at the next MCW event on Jan. 4?

The next one will definitely contain the bacon, some tasso ham, which is good for red beans and rice, some smoked andouille, a couple of fresh links, definitely some ground beef from Gum Creek Farms (they grind the entire cow, they don’t pull out the steaks) and an “I ♥ Bacon” Pine Street Market T-shirt.

www.pinestreetmarket.com

Georgia Wrestling Now welcomes Jen Holbrook Sells and Rick Michaels

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While most people are putting their kids to bed before Santa comes down the chimney to deliver presents, Team All You Can Eat’s Matt Hankins and Wrestling with Pop Culture welcome wrestling veteran Rick Michaels for a very special Christmas Eve edition of Georgia Wrestling Now. This is the final installment in our Rick Michaels trilogy and if you’ve heard the previous two editions (listen to the October episode here and the November episode here) you know that Michaels is never lacking in stories and opinions. And with recent developments in Pro Wrestling Resurrection (where he is still Heavyweight Champion), Southern Wrestling Association, Peachstate Wrestling Alliance (where he is still a Tag Team Champion) and NWA Atlanta (where he recently became a Tag Team Champion), as well as his Christmas night Georgia All-Star Wrestling match against Mark Grason, he’s sure to have some interesting things to talk about. We also hear from PWR’s Jen Holbrook Sells about the upcoming Jason Speed Memorial event in Gainesville. Listen live every Monday at 7 p.m.

Rick Michaels and Stoney Hooker at Peachstate Wrestling Alliance's Turkey Bash II. Photo by Harold Jay Taylor/Headlocks and Headshots.

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