Category Archives: Interviews

Matt Morgan looks to regain TNA Tag Team Championship at Victory Road

Since his Total Nonstop Action Wrestling debut in 2007, “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan has been one of the company’s most dominant forces in the ring. Often referring to himself as “the DNA of TNA,” Morgan has been on the verge of title contention a few times, but only recently tasted singles success by becoming the first Heavyweight Champion for Ring Ka King, TNA’s Indian promotion. But it’s been his tag team success with the equally dominant Crimson that has kept American audiences watching as the duo has battled the unlikely pairing of Samoa Joe and Magnus for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. Having lost the belts to Joe and Magnus last month at Against All Odds (and failing to regain them a couple of weeks later in an Impact Wrestling rematch), Morgan and Crimson look to get back on the same page this Sunday at Victory Road and regain the title belts. As he prepares for this pay-per-view event, Morgan takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his recent successes.

You and Crimson have made a formidable tag team despite your differences as of late. What do you think it will take for the two of you to get back on the same page and get your titles back this Sunday?

That’s a very good question, and you hit the nail on the head as far as the differences going on between the two of us. I think our Achilles’ heel is not so much miscommunication. The way we started, we tried to outshine one another. But I’ve been in other tag teams where that just doesn’t work. Sting put us together for a reason and that was to go get the Tag Team Championships and hold those damn things for a very long time, not to lose them to Joe and his boyfriend Magnus. So we just need to put our competitive natures aside and put them in the right direction, which is Joe and Magnus, do what we do best and go out there and dominate. There’s no reason in hell why the two of us should not be the most dominant tag team in pro wrestling today, other than pure ego. I’ve got a hell of an ego, I can admit that. But I put that thing in check for the greater good of the team and he needs to do the same damn thing.

You’re obviously focused on this big tag team match this weekend, but is the tag team scene where your heart is? You’ve been on the verge of title contention a few times and some people think you’re long overdue for a singles reign.

I couldn’t agree any more with that. Winning the Tag Team Championships is ultra important and one should take pride in wearing them. But at the same time, I got into pro wrestling for one reason and that’s to be the top dog and be the World Champion. I know it sounds like a catch phrase, but that’s what I truly believe. I came out of my mom’s womb a future World Champion and I’m sick of waiting.

TNA recently had success in India with Ring Ka King and also drew some large and enthusiastic crowds in England. Do you think TNA has the potential to grow in other international markets?

When we did the Ring Ka King thing in India, I’ll be the first to tell you I had no idea what was in store. I had never been there before. I know we get a lot of Indian fans tweeting and saying, “Why doesn’t TNA come to India?” Lo and behold, we launched Ring Ka King. I haven’t been to enough other markets to answer that properly, but I would imagine with the success of Ring Ka King there’s got to be some places out there that are just dying to have a wrestling show of their own. That’s what Ring Ka King is. The Indian fans have something they feel is their own and when they’re energetic about something they come out in droves. I’m talking about when you’re leaving the show they stop your car and they’re shaking it. They treat you like you’re a Beatle down there, no exaggeration. I would want to be a part of it if there is a project in store to go to another market and do another company under the TNA umbrella. I think Ring Ka King’s been a great blueprint, pardon the pun. So why not try it in other markets?

It’s funny that you refer to Magnus as Joe’s girlfriend considering that they’ve gotten the better of you and Crimson more than once, including matches for the tag team title. It was also Magnus who defeated you for the Ring Ka King Championship. What makes you think you and Crimson can get back on the same page and win the title back this Sunday?

Would you rather me refer to him as his girlfriend? Magnus has gotten a lot better, and in my opinion this is nothing he hasn’t been capable of doing since he started. I wrestled Magnus in his very first match with our company at a house show in England – Gladiator vs. Gladiator I believe was the billing. He’s very young, he has great aptitude, he’s very intelligent and he’s a good promo. In the meantime, I think he’s also stepped up his in-ring ability. I think that happens with every wrestler. When you get an opportunity to be put into a spotlit angle and the attention is on you, it’s easier for you to get more confidence out of that. You’ve got to be really bad to blow that opportunity, but Magnus is the opposite. He’s stepped up and really has improved in the ring.

I noticed his confidence rise when we were over in India. It was a good opportunity for all of us to go over there and I was the first champion. We established who our babyfaces were and now there’s a heel group RDX led by Jeff Jarrett with Abyss, Scott Steiner, Sonjay Dutt and Magnus. Once you put the title in the hands of that group, it’s that much more dominant. So now the fans are just dying to see a group of babyfaces, or one babyface, come out there and serve those bad guys their comeuppance. That’s what this business has been built upon for years and that’s what I think has been so successful in Ring Ka King.

What makes us think we can beat those two? We’ve done it before and to be perfectly honest, we’re bigger, stronger and way more athletic. If we are on the same page, I like us being on the same page better than those two being on the same page. That’s why I think we can beat them.

Your partnership with Crimson has kind of outlasted many people’s expectations. Going into Victory Road, do you think this match will show what each of you guys can bring to the table individually?

The four of us have been working together for a long time, especially me and Joe. We were working together for a little while and developed some really good chemistry. We threw Crimson into that mix in a three way on one of the pay-per-views and we stepped up putting together better matches with the three of us. Now throw Magnus in, who I have been working with previously for months in India, and worked earlier on with with the British Invasion when I tagged with Hernandez, so I knew what all four guys could do. And so does Joe. When we’ve teamed together in these matches, we’ve tried the best we could to showcase each of our talents, hide our weaknesses, play to our strengths and go out there and put on the best matches possible. I can’t stand how I keep hearing that tag team wrestling is dead, it’s not what it used to be. To a degree, there are certain truths to that. So it was up to us to check our egos at the door, go out there and put the match first. When you have four guys like us who don’t put ourselves first, but put the match and the story first, the result will be the match we had at the last pay-per-view. And I’m hoping we can go out there and do even better this next pay-per-view.

As a wrestling fan, are there any other matches you’re looking forward to seeing?

I’m a huge wrestling fan at heart. I wouldn’t be staying away from my wife four days a week if this wasn’t something I had crazy fandom over. I like Austin Aries a lot. He goes out and performs his job as a villain and makes those fans boo him. I’ve got respect for a guy who does that. No matter how many times the fans might cheer for him and might be impressed with the moves he can do, at the end of the day the guy still goes out there and makes sure he performs his job. No matter who he’s wrestling against, they’ll end up getting cheered as a result. That’s a heel’s job at the end of the day, so I respect Austin for that alone. But his in-ring ability is just ridiculous. I like his storytelling, I like everything about his promos and I’m very much looking forward to his match.

For more information, go to www.impactwrestling.com.

Former WWE star “Badd Dogg” Rodney Mack joins the UCW roster

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By Jonathan Williams

Rodney Mack is likely best remembered by wrestling fans for his White Boy Challenges of the early 2000s, where, under the managerial guidance of Theodore Long, he gave many Caucasian members of the Raw roster opportunities to last five minutes in the ring with him. Though he was a dominant force for most of his WWE career, he was only there for a few years before returning to to the independent circuit. Trained by the Junkyard Dog, Mack has continued to be a tenacious competitor mostly in Mid-South promotions, showing many competitors (not just white guys) why he is often called the Badd Dogg. Alongside his wife Jazz (who has held many titles, including the WWE Women’s Championship), Mack also runs Downsouth Championship Wrestling, one of the Mid-South’s biggest promotions. This week Mack returns to action in Universal Championship Wrestling, an Atlanta-based promotion featuring many former World Championship Wrestling and WWE talents such as Buff Bagwell, Luke Gallows and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. As he prepares for three big UCW shows this weekeend at Hiram High School, the North Atlanta Trade Center and the Inspiring Kids Academy, Mack talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his recent achievements and his role in UCW.

You’ll be part of three UCW shows this weekend. Have you worked with UCW before?

I’ve worked with UCW in the past and I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s one of the few companies that I still choose to work for out there for the simple fact that it’s old school, man. It’s kind of like Mid-South [Wrestling] in the way that it’s not all about glamor and glitz. It’s just old school, old fashioned wrestling and that’s why I’ve been part of it.

Do you know yet who you will be facing at each of this week’s shows?

No. I don’t really know. But it really doesn’t matter because I train seven days a week. The only time I don’t train is when I’m actually at an event. So it doesn’t matter. I’ll be ready for anybody.

UCW has monthly shows scheduled throughout the Atlanta area for 2012. Do you plan on continuing to work for the promotion and becoming a regular member of the UCW roster?

Yes. I was working with UCW regularly at one time, but they slowed up for a while. But I am officially on the roster.

There are several titles in UCW. Is there a certain title you plan on pursuing or do you have any other particular goals in this promotion?

Not necessarily. In every company that I’ve worked for, I’ve always put being the champion on the top of my list. In each and every promotion I’ve worked for, that’s just how I am. I want to be the best and that’s just how it is. Honestly, I really think I have the experience and the knowledge to go out there and represent the company in a respectful way. I can hold my own and dominate the other guys. I have a lot of confidence in who I am and I think I can really represent UCW as its champion.

Are you and Jazz still doing well?

Yes, we are. We train together every day. We have a set of twins that’s three years old and they actually train to wrestle with us every day, too.

Wow! They’re getting an early start. Does Jazz still wrestle actively as well?

Yes they are. And yes, she’s still very active. Matter of fact, we’re both honestly in the best shape of our lives right now.

Of course most people remember you from your days in WWE working with people like John Cena, Shelton Benjamin and Mark Henry. Do you foresee yourself ever returning to WWE, or maybe working for Total Nonstop Action, Ring of Honor or any of the other bigger promotions?

No. If I went back to a bigger promotion, it would be WWE. But I’m not really looking for that. I’m having a blast and I’m accomplishing what I’ve always wanted to accomplish in the business, and that’s being as successful as I can possibly be. I still study every day and I’m still getting better every day. So if I went back to WWE, that would be great. But TNA doesn’t really interest me.

What other promotions to you wrestle for on a regular basis?

Well, I work for Downsouth Championship Wrestling, which is my own promotion. I also work for NWA Battlezone in Mississippi, Oldskool Wrestling down in New Orleans and NWA Wildkat, which is out of Slidell, Louisiana. Those are the main ones I work for. And, of course, UCW.

Do you hold titles in any of those promotions at the moment?

Yes. I am the current NWA Mississippi Champion, the DCW Champion and I’m the number one contender for the Oldskool Heavyweight Championship.

Who are some of the other talents on your roster in Downsouth?

Oh, there’s a lot of guys. I have Kevin Douglas, who once was a student of mine, out of Dallas, Texas. I have Chaos from Lafayette, Sweet Daddy Jones out of Mississippi, Jazz, of course, and Angelina Rush out of Missouri. We’ve got quite a troupe from various states.

For more information, go to www.ucwtv.com.

Wrestling with Pop Culture has free tickets to all three of this week’s UCW shows. Just comment below with how many tickets you’d like for each show (up to six per person per show) and we’ll email you with details on how to get your tickets.

Follow the adventures of Puppet “The Psycho Dwarf” on the new “Half Pint Brawlers: Season 1” DVD

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By Jonathan Williams

Professional wrestlers are typically mammoth men with larger-than-life personalities who settle their differences in the ring. But when it comes to Kato, Beautiful Bobby, Turtle and the rest of the Half Pint Brawlers, the personas are just as big as (if not bigger than) their larger counterparts despite their smaller stature. Proudly calling themselves midgets, dwarves and the like, the group previously known as the Bloody Midgets doesn’t shy away from political incorrectness. As seen in the first season of their TV show on Spike (now available on DVD), there’s actually not a lot that these guys will shy away from. From pulling pint-sized pranks on each other to wrestling hardcore matches in locales such as bars, a Southern pride festival and a maximum security prison, the show captures the in-ring action as well as the behind-the-scenes workings of one of the most controversial bunch of little guys to ever grace the wrestling ring or TV screen. As leader of this group, Puppet “The Psycho Dwarf” talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his controversial shows and the success he has seen as a result of the TV show.

The first season of Half Pint Brawlers was unlike any other wrestling show on TV. What were some of your favorite moments from the first season?

We got to go to a lot of interesting places, especially when I got the call to go to the maximum security prison down in Louisiana. At first I was a little hesitant and I didn’t really understand why we were going down there, but when I started talking to them a little bit they told me how we could inspire the guys and how everybody has a chance to do things in life. Knowing we might inspire some of those guys to change their lives is what got me to go down there and it was quite a learning experience having the door slammed shut behind you and feeling what it’s like to be in prison. We actually ate with them in the mess hall and talked to them a little bit and I’ve got to say that’s a memory that’s always going to stick with me.

We also pulled off something that’s never been done. We closed off Bourbon Street and put a ring right in the middle of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. It was packed and the people were going crazy and that was a good time. When we went to Mexico and got to wrestle with the luchadores, which was always a dream of mine – the whole thing was an experience. That’s what’s great about this thing is I never know where this company’s going to lead, what we’re going to do, it’s something new all the time and we’re always off on new adventures, and the cameras are there to follow us.

When you went to Mexico, Half Pint Brawler Mad Mexx “The Immigration Sensation” was conspicuous by his absence. Why wasn’t he on that show?

He had a back injury and was not allowed to go. So I had to get Teo back for it. It was unfortunate for him, but he couldn’t fly at that time. He was a little disappointed.

Puppet's looking like an angry little elf. Photo courtesy Half Pint Brawlers

How did things change for the Half Pint Brawlers after you did this show?

We’ve been around for 18 years, but the show definitely got us more into the mainstream. We always had the loyal underground fans that kept us alive. We’ve always had fun with it, but when the television show came out it got us a lot more mainstream into the media and into different venues. For example, we’re closing deals with Paramount Parks. We’re doing Kings Island, Worlds of Fun and this upcoming year we’re negotiating stuff with all ten of them around the country. So we’re getting bigger and better shows. As we progress and things go on, we’re kind of getting out of the bars a little bit and doing bigger venues. We’ve got some concert venues that are calling, so hopefully we can hop on some of those tours for 2012. We’re in negotiations with movie networks now, so we’re just taking it one step at a time. I just like to follow whatever direction it allows me to go and I just charge that way.

You were also in Jackass 3D. What other movie plans do you guys have?

Yeah, we were in the barroom brawl in Jackass 3D. I got into a brawl with Wee Man, then the guys came in and at first they didn’t know it was a prank. There was a police officer, the medics and all that other stuff and we would charge into bars and Wee Man was supposedly hitting on my girlfriend and we just played out that stunt there.

Doing the Half Pint Brawlers gave us a lot more opportunities, even in film work. I just got off Sam Raimi’s Oz: the Great and Powerful for two months. It’s been a wonderful year this last year and we’re just growing and expanding. We’ve also got a lot of new wrestlers coming into the Half Pint Brawlers. We’ve got Eric Smalls, J-Mazing, Ricky Benjamin and all these new talents. It’s a lot of fun and these guys are exciting, so it adds a lot more to the show.

Puppet delivers a Puppet Bomb off the top rope. Photo courtesy Half Pint Brawlers

Have any of the other guys had opportunities to do movies since the show came out?

J-Mazing was actually in the Oz film with me. He got to do the stunt work in it. Kato did some local stuff in Kansas City. Turtle is in Vegas right now doing a show at Planet Hollywood. So we’re really venturing out and doing a lot of different things. Plus we will be touring a lot in 2012, but we’re still finalizing dates now.

We usually take a break in December because what we do in October and November with the parks is four shows a day. In January we really kick in again. But we’ve been nonstop this year, doing three shows a week and traveling all year.

On the TV show we get to see a lot of what happens behind the scenes and outside the ring. How would you say the TV show compares to going to a live Half Pint Brawlers show?

I like to keep the guys on their toes, so I always try to find some fun entertainment. Being on the road as much as we are, things get really old. If I can find fun activities for them to do it keeps them fresh and shows up in the show. A lot of times we’ve been on tour, you go from one place to another, you never know where you’re at, all the hotels look the same and it gets draining. Life is short, I’m going to enjoy it so I play pranks and do fun activities as we travel.

Whatever town I’m in, I have to try the local food and that’s all I eat for the week. If I’m in Louisiana I eat gumbo, if I’m in Philadelphia I eat Philly cheesesteaks. Wherever we’re at I like to ask the locals where the local places are. I don’t like to hang out where all the tourists are, so I like to meet the people in the towns and really have fun.

Are you working on a second season of the show?

There’ll be a season two. We’re in negotiations with the networks now. It’s going to be another network and it will be on very soon.

Not long after Half Pint Brawlers came on, Hulk Hogan’s Micro Championship Wrestling show started airing on another network. How do you think that show compares to your show?

To tell you the truth they’re God awful. They’re not wrestlers. They’re a lot of little guys that actually tried to work for me, but they really wouldn’t train. It’s like a tall guy saying he’s a basketball player because he’s tall. A lot of these guys, because they’re small or midgets or dwarves or whatever, they just want to call themselves wrestlers because they spent two hours in a ring. You see how bad they are on the show. They’re not wrestlers. It’s an insult to the industry. If they’re not going to train, not only are they going to hurt themselves, they’re going to hurt somebody else. And it’s not going to be one of my Brawlers. They can hurt themselves if they want to. If Hulk Hogan wants to be responsible for that by putting them out there without training – you see it on the show, they admit it straight out – it’s digusting. It’s a weak show. [Eric] Bischoff and Hogan knew that I was doing this show when we were working with TNA and they tried to copy it. You can imitate, but you can’t duplicate us.

For more information, go to www.halfpintbrawlers.com.

High-flying Jeff Hardy looks for a new beginning in TNA at Turning Point

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When Jeff Hardy made his Impact Wrestling return on Spike TV recently, there was an overwhelmingly positive response from the audience. Considering that his last outing with Total Nonstop Action was a 90-second loss to Sting in the main event at Victory Road last March (not to mention he had turned his back on the fans just months before by joining Immortal), the fact that he was welcomed back so quickly might be a bit of a surprise. But I suppose surprises come with the territory when talking about “The Charismatic Enigma.” As he heads into a marquee match against Jeff Jarrett this Sunday at Turning Point, Hardy takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his return, how he’s preparing for the pay-per-view and more.

Courtesy Impact Wrestling

I was at the Impact Wrestling TV tapings in Macon, Ga. a couple of weeks ago, where you got another very positive response from the crowd. What were your expectations coming back to TNA? Were you surprised to have gotten such a positive response?

Not at all. I’ve been fortunate to have such support from the fans, even going back to when I first came back in Knoxville. I’ve always been real fortunate with that and I think I’ve always given the fans a lot, so I always get a lot in return. I think people have respect for me. Macon was great. It’s really good to get out of the Impact Zone every now and then to get to these fresh, bigger crowds, especially for TV tapings, so I think it was phenomenal.

It looks like you haven’t missed a step, but how has it felt to be back in a TNA ring?

I’ve been doing really well. We just got back yesterday from doing four live events in Michigan, Dayton, Ohio and Canada and we had four great shows. Physically, I’m in really good shape. I run every morning, I work out more than I probably ever have in my whole life, so everything’s extremely positive and I think that’s playing a big part in the way I feel in the ring. I feel awesome. Each match I’ve had since I’ve been back has felt really good. I’m excited about my future.

Before you returned to the ring, it seemed like there was a lot of hesitation in the locker room to accept you back. Do you feel like the rest of the roster is being more supportive now that you’ve proven yourself in the ring again?

I think so. Naturally, it was questionable coming back to a lot of the guys. It takes a while. I had decided that for the next year, I’m going to do whatever it takes to prove myself to these guys. I think it’s happened faster because I’ve been feeling really good and I think I’ve proved myself to everybody. The shows are great, I’ve been feeling great and I think that forgiveness has pretty much happened. We’re on an extreme roll in TNA and, like I said, I’m very excited about the future.

Courtesy Impact Wrestling

Going into Turning Point this Sunday, you’re facing Jeff Jarrett. When you were last in TNA, you were part of Immortal with Jeff Jarrett. With all that’s gone on since then with you, Immortal and TNA, what do you think you have to prove in this match and how are you preparing for it?

I think that’s real simple. It’s going to be challenging out there in the ring with Karen at his side, that’s for sure. But I beat him and that’s pretty much it as far as I’m concerned. I think I’ll prove something to him by beating him in the middle of the ring in my first actual match back at a pay-per-view. So I’ll beat him in the middle and see what happens.

Anything can happen out there. I’ve been to a lot of live events preparing for this match, but the couple of loops I’ve been on Jeff Jarrett hasn’t been there. So I might be at a little bit of a disadvantage. I’ve been doing a few more shows while he’s been resting up, but I’m going in there confident and I’m going to do what I always do and hopefully get the 1-2-3. But I feel better than I have in a long time in the ring, so I’m just going to try not to injure myself, but at the same time be entertaining in beating Jeff Jarrett.

WWE’s Sheamus takes on the Muppets for Halloween’s Raw SuperShow

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By Jonathan Williams

As a former WWE Champion and United States Champion, Sheamus has been one of the fastest rising stars in WWE history. The Irish-born grappler has dominated top tier talents such as John Cena, Randy Orton and, most recently, Christian. But on the Halloween edition of the Raw SuperShow in Atlanta, Sheamus (and the rest of the WWE roster) will face something they’ve never faced before: the Muppets. I recently spoke to Sheamus for a Creative Loafing article about this madcap match-up, but you can read the entire interview here on Wrestling with Pop Culture. You can also listen to Georgia Wrestling Now at 8 p.m. Oct. 30 to hear the full interview and more about the Raw SuperShow featuring the Muppets.

Courtesy WWE

Obviously you came up in Europe as far as your wrestling background goes, but you have had some pretty important moments in your career in Atlanta. First, at the Royal Rumble last year you had a successful WWE title defense against Randy Orton. Then this year at WrestleMania you defended the U.S. title successfully against Daniel Bryan.

Atlanta is somewhere that I travel through an awful lot, actually. I fly from Tampa, so I always know that Atlanta goes wherever I need to go. Of course, a lot of superstars live in Atlanta, and past superstars like Fit Finlay, are from Atlanta as well. So it’s up the road, but if feels like a local town.

Is there anything that sticks out to you about your matches in Atlanta or coming to Georgia?

The Royal Rumble was very special for me just because I hadn’t been on the road very long. I think it was my third pay-per-view and it was a very unique match. That was, I think, really when Randy Orton started getting real positive feedback from the crowd. Randy had been getting a lot of negative response from the crowd, especially during his feuds with Triple H and Cena. But I remember being in there and the whole Atlanta crowd started chanting, “RKO! RKO!” It was special to me because it gave me a chance to go against a competitor like Randy Orton when he was getting his first positive response. It was pretty cool to know they hated me that much.

Of course, the local guy Cody Rhodes got involved in that match, too.

Yeah, he jumped up there to get a cheap shot at me.

Things have changed quite a bit for you. Like you said, in that match you were clearly not the fan favorite. Coming back for Raw on Halloween, do you know yet what your match will be?

No. We don’t really know until we get to the building. Sometimes we have advertised main events on Raw, and there’s always the dark match that goes on after the show goes off the air. It is a Raw/SmackDown SuperShow and I was on Raw for a long time. Actually, my career started on Raw, then I was traded to SmackDown. I’m a workaholic, I like to do as much as I can. Careers don’t last forever, so I like to do what I can. And the Muppets are going to be there. I’ve been a big fan of the Muppets since I was three years old, so I’m very excited about that. Even Beaker’s going to be there, so maybe Sheamus and Beaker can tag team together. Who knows? It’s going to keep everyone on their toes, including the superstars.

I was going to ask if you know how the Muppets thing is going to work. And it’s on Halloween, so that throws another whole element into the mix. Of course I’ve thought about the Miz and Kermit, Vickie Guerrero and Miss Piggy, but I hadn’t even thought of you and Beaker teaming up.

You’re on the ball, fella. I actually forgot that the Miz looks like Kermit. Kermit’s better looking, though. Miss Piggy and Vickie is a great one, too. I don’t know who Animal would be with. Maybe John Cena. But I definitely hope me and Beaker run into each other during the show. There’s so much variety, especially with them hosting the show. It’s fun to keep things fresh and mix it up. With some of the Muppets and WWE superstars, it could be super chaos in the form of entertainment.

Were the Muppets big in Ireland when you were growing up? Did you see them as much as we saw them here?

I’ll put it this way, me and all me mates, when we were in kindergarten and grade school, the Muppets sold duvet covers, posters, school bags, it was everywhere. Muppets was as big in Ireland and the U.K. as it was in America. There was Muppetmania all over the globe.

Courtesy WWE

What would Sheamus normally be doing on Halloween if it wasn’t the Muppets hosting Raw?

I’m just a normal fella sporting a beautiful Irish tan and spikier hair. I love this time of year, fella, because I don’t have to wear sunscreen all the time. It’s my favorite time of year when the sun goes away, the days get shorter and I can walk around Florida in T-shirts and shorts when everyone else is covering up. During the summer I’m covering up while everyone else is wearing T-shirts and shorts. But this Halloween, Sheamus will be making Christian’s life a misery. If I can keep doing that, I’ll be a happy man.

I know you’ve been a big part of WWE’s anti-bullying campaign, but it wasn’t that long ago that you were one of WWE’s bigger bullies. Why have you had the change of heart over the last few months?

The first thing about it is, we’re global entertainment and what we do onscreen and what we do away from screen is not exactly the same. We are real people and a lot of what happens on television isn’t exactly the same as what happens away from the screen. Our biggest audience is kids and families and we’re trying to give them a positive message to let the kids know that bullying is wrong. We want kids who are getting bullied to talk to adults and talk to teachers, trust them and let them know what’s happening. We believe we have a responsibility as superstars with the voice that we have across the world.

As far me and my character, after I got in that feud with Mark Henry, I think my character has just relaxed a lot more. I felt I had something to prove or felt that the world was against me for a long time there, but now I’m just enjoying the crowd, enjoying the experience, enjoying being on television every week and looking forward to being back in Atlanta on Halloween night with the Muppets at the Raw/SmackDown SuperShow.

Raw SuperShow. $24-$93.05. 8:15 p.m. Oct. 31. (also on the USA Network at 9 p.m.). Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 404-878-3800, www.wwe.com.

AJ Styles is ready to move up or move on in TNA

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By Jonathan Williams

Before he became a “Phenomenal” standout star in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, AJ Styles made an equally impressive debut at National Championship Wrestling and NWA Wildside, a Georgia-based National Wrestling Alliance promotion (now known as NWA Anarchy) that has been the breeding ground for numerous other professional wrestling talents such as Abyss, Gunner, R-Truth, New Jack, Evan Bourne and Jimmy Rave. With TNA returning to Georgia this Wednesday for an Impact Wrestling taping in Macon, I spoke to Styles last week in an interview for my new Georgia Wrestling History radio show, Georgia Wrestling Now.

Courtesy Impact Wrestling

In the interview, which will air in its entirety tonight, Styles seems frustrated by the direction his career (and TNA as a company) has been going as of late. Though he seemed poised to carry the company to new heights as the TNA World Heavyweight Champion early last year (as the Hulk Hogan/Eric Bischoff regime assumed power of TNA), he has since fallen to mid-card status while Fortune stablemates Robert Roode and James Storm have become title contenders.

Despite his victory over Christopher Daniels at Bound for Glory earlier this month, as well as Dixie Carter’s return to power in TNA (thanks to Sting‘s victory over Hogan at Bound for Glory) and Storm‘s TNA World Heavyweight Championship victory over Kurt Angle on last week’s Impact Wrestling, Styles does not seem optimistic about TNA right now.

For someone who has held every men’s title in TNA (many on multiple occasions), Styles says there is someone who “still says I don’t possess whatever ‘it’ is.” And whether he’s receiving the ire or accolades of the fans, Styles says his main goal is to entertain them as best he can.

Courtesy Impact Wrestling

“I prefer, first and foremost, that the fans are entertained by me,” he says. “I believe they like to watch me wrestle, so I guess that kind of makes me a good guy. But in the end it’s not me who decides what the fans want; it’s the fans who decide that. That’s the most important thing. That’s how it should be done and hopefully that’s how we’ll do it here in TNA. I’m sorry, Impact Wrestling. I don’t even know anymore. Do I say TNA Impact Wrestling or do I say Impact Wrestling TNA? I’m just going to say Impact Wrestling to go on the safe side.”

Tune in tonight at Blogtalkradio.com/psp to hear the entire interview. And catch Styles at the Macon Coliseum this Wednesday and on Spike TV on Thursday.

For more information, go to www.ajstyles.org or www.impactwrestling.com.

Bobby Roode seems Bound for Glory in his main event match against Kurt Angle

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By Jonathan Williams

Best known for his multiple Total Nonstop Action World Tag Team Title reigns with “The Cowboy” James Storm as Beer Money, Bobby Roode has proven himself as a capable singles wrestler after winning the Bound for Glory Series last month at No Surrender. As a result, he now finds himself just days away from the biggest singles match of his career as he challenges Kurt Angle for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship this Sunday at Bound for Glory. Having overcome Angle’s gauntlet on Impact Wrestling (pitting Roode against his Fortune stablemates in singles matches over the past few weeks), Roode appears to be in his prime heading into his first world title match. As he prepares for the main event at TNA’s biggest pay-per-view of the year, Roode talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about how ready he is for the match.

With all that’s going on in TNA with Hulk Hogan, Immortal and older wrestlers, including Kurt Angle, how do you plan on helping usher in a new era for TNA if you become the new World Heavyweight Champion?

If I become the champion, obviously just having a new face in the main event is something that a TNA original like myself, who has been with the company from day one and has never left and has been very loyal to the company, it gives a TNA original a chance to be a main eventer, to carry the company and to defend the title on a regular basis. It just opens new doors for new competitors to put on some fresh matches. So I think it’s just the beginning.

Your match is one of a few that could potentially have bigger consequences for the future of TNA. Where do you think it would leave Fortune and the other younger TNA talent if you aren’t able to defeat Kurt Angle for the title at Bound for Glory?

The way I look at it, failure really isn’t an option for me this Sunday. I honestly haven’t thought about the consequences if I didn’t win. This match is huge for me and it’s something I’ve been waiting for my entire life. If I don’t win the match, it just means the younger guys are going to have to pull up their socks and work that much harder. I think it’s going to be in the hands of myself, James [Storm], AJ Styles, even guys like Samoa Joe, the TNA originals, the guys that have built the company from scratch and have been here through thick and thin, the good times and the bad, to really step up and steal the show. Regardless of who’s going to be in the main event, they just have to prove to the world and to wrestling fans that really we’re the ones that are carrying the company.

You’ve obviously been a very accomplished tag team wrestler throughout your TNA career. This being your first singles title opportunity, how would you say your background as a tag team wrestler and being part of factions like Fortune and Team Canada may have prepared you for a match like this one?

Obviously people identify me as a tag team wrestler and the success I’ve had as a tag team wrestler has been documented with Team Canada and with James and Beer Money. But I got in this business 13-plus years ago to be a world champion and the only way to be world champion is to go out on your own and prove yourself. After almost nine years with this company, being in tag team situations pretty much my whole career, it’s time for me to step out and really prove to everyone what I’m about. Not just for me, but for James as well. I think our match last Thursday was just the tip of the iceberg of what we can do as singles guys. I think it’s just going to be a new start for this company, giving us an opportunity to step outside tag wrestling and improve ourselves. As far as preparing myself, I’ve been prepared for this my entire career. This title is something that I’ve dreamed about and aspired to for as long as I can remember.

I don’t recall you ever having a singles match against Kurt Angle. Will this be your first one-on-one encounter with him?

I actually faced Kurt a couple of years ago on Impact. It was a Thanksgiving day tournament with me and Kurt. It was a TV match, but this is probably the most important match I’ve ever had with anyone, let alone Kurt.

His tactics over the past few weeks, pitting you against your Fortune teammates each week, seems to have kind of backfired on him. Instead of causing dissension, it seems to have solidified Fortune as a unit. How do you think that will effect things going into your match on Sunday?

The matches I’ve had, I’ve obviously been successful in. Obviously my confidence level has risen being able to step in the ring against my friends and beat them at their best. The matches I’ve had with Kazarain, AJ and last week with James were some of my favorite matches to date. To be able to go out there and have great matches and be victorious in these matches has really boosted my confidence. By booking these matches over the last month, I think Kurt thought it would go in his favor. Obviously it hasn’t, so if anybody is worried about the outcome this Sunday, I think it might be Kurt, the way things are going.

Bound for Glory. $12-$153. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16. (also on pay-per-view and in movie theaters at 8 p.m.). The Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Penn. 800-298-4200, www.impactwrestling.com.