Category Archives: Interviews

Georgia Wrestling Now welcomes A.J. Steele and Timothy Zbyszko

The rivalry between A.J. Steele (left) and The Jagged Edge (right) plays out on this week’s Georgia Wrestling Now! Photo by Harold Jay Taylor/Headlocks and Headshots.

As the temperature rises in Georgia, things get even more heated on this week’s Georgia Wrestling Now. Wrestling with Pop Culture introduces new co-host Charles Anschutz and welcomes two huge guests! First we talk to Universal Independent Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and Global Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion A.J. Steele, whose rivalry with Southern Fried Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and GWN co-host The Jagged Edge gets even more intense here. Then we talk to “The Living Legacy” Timothy Zbyszko about being the son of WWE Hall of Famer Larry Zbyszko, possibly being involved with WWE‘s upcoming season of Tough Enough and his match against Alex Kai at UIW’s Sixth Anniversary Event on May 16. Listen live at www.blogtalkradio.com/psp every Monday at 7 p.m. and call 347-324-5735 for questions or comments.

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Mick Foley discusses one-man shows, Georgia history and being Santa Claus

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Wrestling fans know him as the Hardcore Legend whose extreme antics included losing an ear in a match, being thrown through a table from the top of a cage by the Undertaker and using a dirty sweat sock named Socko to help him win matches. Others are more familiar with Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, the flannel-wearing intellectual who writes best-selling memoirs, supports good causes and dresses up as Santa Claus. When it comes to his Hardcore Legend: An Evening with Mick Foley one-man shows, you’re likely to hear about all these things and more as Foley recounts various moments from his life and career in candid detail. Currently on the Southeast leg of his comedy tour (including performances on Nov. 14 at the Superstars of Wrestling fan fest and on Nov. 16 at Atlanta Improv, 56 E. Andrews Drive NW, Atlanta, 678-244-3612, www.theatlantaimprov.com), the WWE Hall of Famer talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about wrestling, comedy and his new film I Am Santa Claus.

When I saw you perform at The Punchline last year, you had just become an official Santa Claus. And I’m not certain how to properly phrase that.

I had just graduated with a degree in Santa Clausology from the International University of Santa Claus.

Well that time of year is approaching and you’re the producer and one of the stars of a new documentary called I Am Santa Claus. What can you tell me about that?

It’s a project I began as a subject in that intended to follow Santa’s ambassadors around to find out what they did during the rest of the year. My role in the documentary was going to be the rookie, the guy who’s dabbled in that world but never really plunged into it. I got a chance to plunge into it and I loved it. When I did emerge, as long as we’re going with the plunging motif, I really loved the idea of being in that chair and being in that suit and doing it every year for the foreseeable future.

Is there anywhere in particular you’ll be doing the Santa thing this year?

It’s a hobby for me. I can kind of do it wherever I want to. So I’ll be on stage with my friends in Puss N Boots, Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper, actually singing as Santa on Dec. 11 in Brooklyn. Then I’ll be doing a lot of things behind the scenes, like making visits for a group called Christmas Magic, which helps make the magic of Christmas morning possible for families with very limited means on Long Island. And I’ll be doing a book signing with my son Hughie for a Christmas story he wrote. So I’m all over the place. I’m doing a few photo sessions and a bunch of appearances for good causes.

You tend to draw an audience of wrestling fans for your comedy shows for obvious reasons. But tomorrow’s Superstars of Wrestling show will consist of an especially concentrated group of wrestling fans. Do you expect that show to be much different from a show at a comedy club?

The fan fest signing and meet-and-greet is right after my show and there’s no extra charge for that. I’ve done a couple of other shows at fan fests and you get the really passionate fans, which is great because they’ll get all the subtleties. Of course I’ll work in some special material just for those guys. And it’s fun to come to an area like Rome or Atlanta where I have history. I think I last wrestled at the Alpharetta Auction Barn in 1994, about an hour away from Rome. Of course I lived in the Atlanta area for five years. So I’m excited about it. I love doing it and I think people get that within the first ten minutes that I’m on stage.

How different is your show from one night to the next? If someone goes the show in Rome as well as the show in Atlanta, will they see similar sets?

I try to make them largely different. I might have a couple of core stories that I include both nights. I’ll go out of my way, especially since they’re only about 70 miles away, to make sure they are different shows. I’ve done weekends at a club where I’ll do four different shows over two days and the owner will be like, “No one does that!” It goes back to my days as a wrestler and thinking I’d be disappointing one or two people who may have driven 300 hours if I didn’t do something special. I’ll even ask when I’m doing the late show, “Anyone here from the early show?” One person will raise their hand and I’ll go, “I’m doing an entirely new show.” It’s just a point of pride with me.

Speaking of your history in Georgia, do you have any favorite memories from your time wrestling in Georgia?

Yeah. One of the stories that I do tell on the current tour is about getting the call from WCW for the big tryout. When I arrived, I was under the impression I’d be getting a promotional push from the company only to find out that my opponents for that evening were the Steiner Brothers. I momentarily contemplated quitting the wrestling business until finding out they actually had a unique idea for me. It’s a fun story and it’s always great to tell the story in the city of its origin, in this case Atlanta. But I’ll have plenty of material for the fans in Rome and Atlanta. Every night we do a Q&A, which means every night we get different questions and the potential to take off in different ways.

I was a big fan of your work in WCW, particularly the matches you had against Sting. Do you have any favorite moments from your feuds with Sting?

Oh, yeah. Sting was one of two primary opponents that put me on the map. It was Sting in WCW in 1991 and the Undertaker in WWE in 1996. Without those two rivalries, you and I are probably not having this phone call. When it comes to Sting, the big moment would be busting out of the box on Clash of the Champions and dropping the finest elbow of my career – an elbow that was so good that I specifically asked for it to be included in the Santa Claus documentary.

Any speculation on what his role might be in WWE?

I have no idea. I don’t know if he’s going to wrestle or if he’s just an ambassador. But he’s clearly a big iconic figure and a great gain for WWE.

You’re also involved in Blanc/Biehn Productions‘ Hellevator Man coming out in 2015. What can you tell me about this film?

I did one of my shows in the Los Angeles area, drove out at midnight, shot until 6 a.m. and was back on the road. That was really just my chance to work with Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, who had helped me find my way to The Artie Lange Show when I had no idea where I was. She saw this very confused-looking guy and guided me to the show. I looked her up and sent her a nice message and she had no idea who I was. She had no idea that this guy she had helped out was this noted wrestling figure. I really enjoyed it. I hadn’t acted in a while, but I look forward to doing more acting projects, especially Santa-related projects, in 2015.

Hellevator Man doesn’t appear to be a Santa-related project.

No, it’s a horror film. I do have another project coming out called Dixieland. It’s a really cool independent film that stars Riley Keough, who is Elvis Presley‘s granddaughter, and Chris Zylka, who was in the last Spider-Man movie and I believe [will portray] Venom in the upcoming Spider-Man movie. He’s such a big fan of mine and got such a kick out of me playing myself in a dream sequence at a strip club with Elvis’ granddaughter.

You always seem to be working on something new. Do you have any other books or movies coming out anytime soon?

I just started getting some thoughts of doing a memoir about my experiences as Santa, one of those heartwarming 20 to 30,000-word mini memoirs as opposed to the vastness of Have a Nice Day!.

You recently appeared on Raw, just before the Hell in a Cell event. Do you have any plans of being on WWE TV again anytime soon?

I don’t know when I’ll be on the main show, but I imagine I’ll be doing something in the future. I believe WWE will be airing my one-man show special on the WWE Network in 2015. That will forever answer the question of, “What does he do?” Because 90 percent of people who think enough of me to put their hard-earned money down to come to my show have no idea what to expect. So it’ll be a real relief, knowing that the shows outperform people’s limited expectations, to just have something out there for people to go, “Oh, I see.” My feeling is that people will be much more inclined to come watch it live.

www.realmickfoley.com

Rockstar Spud prepares for X Division Xtravaganza, British Boot Camp 2 and more

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After winning Total Nonstop Action Wrestling‘s British Boot Camp in 2012, the undersized Rockstar Spud has evolved from wrestling underdog to being a major part of Impact Wrestling each week as the Chief of Staff for TNA President Dixie Carter. Honing his skills in Ohio Valley Wrestling (where he is a former OVW Television Champion) last year, Spud was added to the main TNA roster late last year and remains a fixture on TV and pay-per-view. As part of the One Night Only pay-per-view X Division Xtravaganza debuting Aug. 1, as well as the upcoming British Boot Camp 2, Spud has plenty to talk about, as always. In a recent media conference call, here’s what Wrestling with Pop Culture and others had to ask the unlikely wrestling star.

You were the winner of the first British Boot Camp. What have the past two years been like for you since winning that competition?

It’s been an absolute whirlwind, to be honest, since I’ve been brought up to television. I’ve had two weeks off and I honestly don’t know what to do with myself. It’s been nonstop for me. I’m living the dream. British Boot Camp was absolutely everything that it promised to be. It was an amazing time for myself, Marty Scurll and The Blossom Twins and it’s one I’ll never forget. I recently saw the finale from the first season for some advertising they’re doing and it just brought back all the same emotions I had that day when they told me I was the winner. It’s amazing. It’s everything I dreamed it would be.

I was at OVW for a year just learning so many elements of professional wrestling, which was amazing. Then to be brought up to the roster and to be in the position I am, it’s just been amazing. I’m main eventing live events with Ethan Carter III, I’m main eventing television and I’m in main story lines on pay-per-views. I honestly couldn’t be happier with life right now.

British Boot Camp 2 is about to start and there’s a lot more competitors in this edition. What would your advice be to the wrestlers taking part in the new British Boot Camp?

I don’t envy any one of them because of the amount of talent there is in the country, and the talent that’s already been announced so far and how good they are. The person that wins this series is really going to be an absolute superstar to stand out above everybody in the country. I was against three other people on the show. These people have got an unlimited amount of people they can potentially be against. Just capture the camera and entertain and if you’re a character that people are interested in, a character that people find entertaining and a character people want to watch, your journey’s going to continue. I’m looking forward to watching the process and seeing who’s going to step up because they don’t realize what an amazing opportunity this is. It’s such a small window in the pro wrestling business for a company to even look at someone. It’s an amazing opportunity, especially in our country because we rarely have TNA come over and look at our talent. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m sure everyone in the U.K. is as well.

You wrestled for so many years before entering British Boot Camp. What did you get out of that experience and how did that help ease your transition into TNA in the United States?

With regards to British Boot Camp, I had been wrestling for nine or ten years on the independent scene across the world. You pick things up as you go along, but it’s obviously a slow process because you’re not wrestling every day of the week; you have to go back to your normal job to pay the bills, then wrestle on weekends. But at the same time, you’re also wrestling people that are on the same experience level as you. So you’re not going to be picking up those intricacies as often as you would if you were wrestling more experienced talent, or being trained by more experienced talent. When I went to OVW, I was wrestling every day of the week, performing three or four times a week and it was constant wrestling. So it was able to sink into my mind as it was my job now and I was able to devote 24/7 to it. That was the real difference. Everything I learned at OVW after British Boot Camp, I really attribute to my success going into TNA.

Since making your debut on camera, you’re a natural on camera. Was there any initial intimidation with working with Dixie Carter, your boss, in front of the camera and off camera?

Absolutely not. The only times I’ve been nervous about being on camera with Dixie is when I’m going to save her from a near-death experience. At points like that I have to be here because I’m literally saving the woman’s life. I was born a hero and this is what I was born to do. There’s never any intimidation because I taught myself to be comfortable in front of a camera. That’s what pro wrestling’s about. It’s not about how great a technical wrestler you are or how great an athlete you are, if you can engage an audience to feel a certain way about you through the television screen where millions of viewers are. There was never any concerns with that. Like I said, any time Dixie’s in peril, that’s when I fear for my life because if I can’t save her I’m going to be in dire trouble and probably will lose my job.

You’ve worked in many promotions around the world now and have had an amazing time in TNA. What does the future hold for Rockstar Spud? Are in the position you imagined, both creatively and as a talent in the company, or do you picture yourself taking a different route in the future?

I’m a professional wrestler, so my job is to turn up and do exactly as I’m told. When they tell me to do certain things, it will be done the way Rockstar Spud would do it. We did our shows in Florida, we did our shows in New York, we did our shows in Pennsylvania and every day I just want to work. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings and what they’ve got for me tomorrow. It’s a challenge every day and I just want to knock it out of the park. I want to be a guy the company can rely on and someone they can put absolutely anywhere and know I’ll be able to do a good job for them. I just want to be an asset, and I feel I’m going to be an asset, to this company going forward. With their constant faith in me, which is always greatly appreciated, I’ll continue doing this to the best of my ability.

What are your thoughts on working with Team 3D, Tommy Dreamer and Rhino as we saw last week on Impact?

Well, I didn’t come out of the match how I walked in. There was a lot of limping, a lot of pain. But I wouldn’t have changed a damn thing because that was one of the best moments of my career so far. Watching the people you grew up watching, seeing them walk down the aisle with you or against you, I’m very obliged to be in TNA and to be able to do these little things that my close friends at home who aren’t in the wrestling business will understand. While they were going out drinking and socializing, playing football and different kinds of sports, I was at home watching professional wrestling, emulating these people and admiring these people. So to be in the ring with them is a real honor. It’s even more of an honor to know I beat these people on national television.

How were you brought into your current role on TV as Dixie Carter’s right hand man instead of competing full time?

I was in OVW and they said, “We’re bringing you up to television. You ready to go?” I put the suit on, put the bow tie on and away we went. It’s been a whirlwind ever since. If you can see anybody else being Chief of Staff that’s not me, I would be very surprised because I feel that I’ve owned the job and it’s mine. No one will be taking the Chief of Staff away from me.

Physically you don’t fit the mold of the typical professional wrestler, so you were a bit of an underdog in the first British Boot Camp. You’ve clearly found success in OVW and on Impact Wrestling. Given that you’re not the biggest guy on the roster, what would you attribute your success to and what attracted you to pursue a career in professional wrestling?

I’m not going to give you the sympathetic bullshit story that everybody will give you. When I was growing up I identified with pro wrestling because I enjoyed the larger-than-life characters, the lights, glitz and glamor as everybody does. But I was also told at school that I was too short to do absolutely every spot that I loved. I was too small for football, cricket, rugby – you name it, I tried it and was too small. When I first started wrestling and was told, “You’re too small for this,” I actually was like, “No, I’m not.” I actually believed I could make a difference in pro wrestling being small. I’ve never shied away from my appearance. Obviously I have to look after myself athletically and cosmetically, but I never shied away from the fact that I am 5-foot-4, I am 150 pounds. There’s one thing you can never take away from me and that is that my personality is the personality of someone that should be 7 feet tall, 500 pounds. That was the one thing that I was like, “I just need someone to notice this.” And that’s what British Boot Camp was. The right time, the right people, the right opportunity and the right situation – it really was that case with British Boot Camp. You do judge a book by its cover with me. I’ve had many, many pro wrestlers that have been around the business for years that have said to me, “When I first saw you I didn’t see anything in you.” The more that they experienced watching me or being in the ring with me, they understood more and more, which is a complete blessing. It’s so nice to here that. So I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and as long as people are watching and paying their money to see us, that’s all that matters to me. I just want people to come see TNA, come see Impact Wrestling, whether they want to cheer Rockstar Spud or they want to boo him, as long as they are paying money to see him that’s all that matters to me.

What will your role be in One Night Only: X Division Xtravaganza and British Boot Camp 2?

In the One Night Only pay-per-view I will be in the qualifiers for the Ultimate X match. I believe I will be facing Sonjay Dutt, who is a gentleman I’ve crossed paths with for many years in the U.K. and coming in and out of TNA. But I’ve never stepped in the ring with him, so we shall see. As it’s going to be Sonjay Dutt and Rockstar Spud, you’re guaranteed to be entertained.

In regards to the British Boot Camp process, I can’t actually say what my involvement will be or if there will be involvement from me. But I don’t think you can have British Boot Camp without having the original winner, Rockstar Spud.

The United Kingdom has produced a number of wrestling greats over the years. Did you watch footage of any of these people? Who did you grow up watching and possibly emulating later on as you became the pro wrestler you are today?

Believe it or not, British wrestling had passed me by by the time I became a fan. I became a fan instantly when I first saw a picture of Hulk Hogan with the Hulkamania bandana and the American flag draped over him. That was when I became a fan of pro wrestling. I’ve watched World of Sport many a times. … They really, really made you believe it’s competition, with the rounds and everything like that. It’s something that was really ahead of its time. Because of the lack of channels back then, that’s why they drew millions and millions of viewers every time. As a student of pro wrestling, I watch World of Sport regularly just to look for little intricacies that I can pick up, maybe adapt my character, especially being diminutive like I am – there’s a lot of crawling through the legs, there’s a lot of haha. So there’s little things that you’ve probably never seen in the U.S. that I’ve incorporated into my character that you think’s revolutionary. As a student of wrestling and a student of entertainment, I just try and put little intricacies here and there.

The six-sided ring was recently brought back to TNA at the New York tapings. What has that been like for you?

Great! There’s more room. When I was watching TNA as a fan, I always thought the six-sided ring gave TNA an identity where as soon as you watch it you’re like, “Oh! That’s different. What’s over there? Let’s have a look.” That’s what always drove us to TNA because as fans you like what’s different. If something’s different you’re going to want to take a look at it and go, “We’re used to four sides.” Then you see the X Division jumping around like Mexican jumping beans and you’re like, “Wow!” It was just so impressive to watch. I think the six-sided ring brings an identity to our company and our company needs that identity. I think it’s a wonderful thing. I’ve got no problem with it. In fact, I enjoy it and embrace it.

You mentioned your suits and bow ties earlier. Where did the idea for these suits come from? Is that your normal attire outside the ring or did you adopt that as part of your persona on TV? Where do you get them? Are the custom made?

I actually do dress like this 24/7 outside the ring, believe it or not. People know who I am whenever I walk through an airport. So there you go. The suits were not an idea put into my head. I’ve personally been given free reign, which I love about TNA, over the direction of my character in regards to the look, the way I present myself and the way I perform. This is me. I am a jerk in and out of the ring. I throw my weight around like I’m 7 feet tall whether I’m in or out of the ring. I have a place called OppoSuits that sends me them specifically because the know how the Chief of Staff likes to dress. And a place called Loudmouth Golf who’ve made clothing for numerous celebrities all over the world. They’ve sent me some little numbers as well to wear on Impact. It’s been great so far. I’ve got some special ones coming up for the New York tapings in August, so watch out for those. Every week on Impact you know it’s going to be something different for Rockstar Spud. You never know what I’m going to turn up wearing next.

www.impactwrestling.com

Micro Championship Wrestling is the biggest little show around

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Though its competitors aren’t nearly as big as their WWE counterparts, midget wrestling is a big deal in Micro Championship Wrestling. With a custom-sized wrestling ring, unique entrance music for each competitor and an overall production value that rivals larger promotions, MCW has every reason to call itself “the greatest little show on Earth”. Led by former wrestler Johnny G, who serves as owner, booker and the chainsaw-voiced ring announcer, among other things, MCW has already had its own truTV reality show, its own comic book and received the endorsement of Hulk Hogan. After recent shows in Florida, MCW returns to The 120 Tavern in Marietta for an event that will have lasting repercussions on the company as its first champion Blixx wrestles what he says will be the last match of his career. As Johnny and his pint-sized companions make their way to Georgia, Wrestling with Pop Culture talks to some of them about the future of MCW.

Hillbilly Bob, you’re the current champion. When did you win this title and how long have you held it?

Bob: I won it two days ago in Bradenton, so I’ve been champion for just a few days. This is my third time holding this title.

You’ll be at the show this Saturday at 120 Tavern, so I assume that title will be on the line.

Bob: Buddy, the title is on the line every night.

Who did you defeat to gain the title this time?

Bob: It was a battle royal and came down to me and Angel, the Flamboyant One. I hit him with the spear, came off the top with a big frog splash and threw him out of the ring. That’s how I won the title.

Where is this Flamboyant One at the moment?

Bob: He’s getting his beauty sleep, putting on his makeup and all that stuff. Fixing his hair and stuff.

Angel: I’m brand new to the company. They just pulled me down from the heavens above and I came down as a savior of the world.

You almost won the title list night, so I would assume that puts you in line for a title shot sometime soon. Do you know when your rematch will be?

Angel: I’m not worried about titles. I’m just worried about… the world!

You’re an awfully mysterious addition to the MCW roster. How did you get involved with wrestling and what is your goal in MCW?

Angel: My goal in Micro Championship Wrestling is to make everybody feel happy. It’s a very complicated thing, but I will make it happen because I will get everyone close together with open arms! Hillbilly is happy to have won the title and I got to partake in a battle royal. Unfortunately I came up a little short.

No pun intended there, right?

Angel: No!

Do you know who you will be facing this Saturday night at the 120 Tavern?

Angel: Whoever puts the name on the line, I will drop down from the heavens. It don’t matter. I will spread my wings and we will all get together!

Well, I appreciate you taking time away from doing your hair and makeup to talk to me for a few minutes.

Angel: It’s a mighty long task, and you interrupted it!

If you need to get back to that, please do.

Johnny G: I know he might sound a little strange over the phone, but that was “The Flamboyant One” Angel from the heavens above. He’s different from all the other guys in MCW. When all the other guys in MCW were little kids playing Little League baseball, Angel was playing with his dolls. While the other kids were playing pee wee football, Angel was at home trying on his mother’s makeup. So he is definitely a little bit out there and different from all the other guys.

Hillbilly Bob is from the middle of nowhere Kentucky. He’s known for his possum stew, his moonshine and I found out he not only has the skills in the ring to be a champion, but he also has rapping skills. He recently sold over 10,000 copies of his latest CD “The Hillbilly Rap,” which is his theme song when he comes out to the ring.

Is Bob still on the line?

Johnny G: Hillbilly’s standing outside signing autographs now. When these guys go anywhere from Walmart to Disney World to walking down Hollywood and Vine, you’ve got eight midgets wearing MCW colors of black and green. We stop traffic, bro. The paparazzi go nuts. Wherever these go, they get stopped. Our TV show had more than a million viewers a week here in the United States, not including the other 62 countries we were in. The best way to describe how we do our thing is the MCW superstars can do anything the big guys do, probably better in many cases. But we add a flair of comedy to it. We get out there and kick ass and take names, but we also throw in a good time for the fans. When you come to an MCW show, it doesn’t matter if you’re 12 or 125, you’re going to have a good time, brother. You’re going to enjoy the wrestling, the hard rock action and the comedy.

I’ve been to two of your shows, including your last show at the 120 Tavern. So I can attest to the entertainment value of the shows. Speaking of your TV show, is there any chance of seeing MCW on TV again in the near future?

Johnny G: Yeah, bro. We just had some really interesting talks with a former executive from WCW. We’re putting together a Saturday or Sunday morning television show for kids, kind of like the Harlem Globetrotters style comedy, that will lead into a cartoon for us. Last year we had our first comic book come out and we’re working on the second edition with some new characters. We also just announced a merchandise line that includes dolls, stickers, hats, shirts, toasters, the works. We’re just taking baby steps and trying to do everything right.

Hulk Hogan was involved with the first MCW show I attended, which was recorded for the TV show. What is his current role in MCW?

Johnny G: Hulk Hogan has been a friend of mine for 25 years. We’re old gym buddies because I used to be a bodybuilder. But Hulk’s an incredible businessman, so when MCW was running wild at night clubs all over the country and the reaction was great, the next logical step was to go to TV. So I talked to Hulk Hogan, he said, “Johnny, I see what you’ve got here. Let me see if I can talk to somebody about pitching it as a reality show.” So he talked to Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey, they got ready to shop it and the first place they took it, truTV, bought it. The deal we have with Hogan is pretty simple. I handle running the show and calling all the shots inside the ring. But when it comes to TV, the Hulkster takes care of that because that’s his forté. I’m not going to pretend I know the TV world the way Hulk does. He’s obviously done very well with Hogan Knows Best and things like that.

Do you have any insight when it comes to his status in the wrestling world? It seems as though he is done with TNA, there’s speculation he’ll be involved with WrestleMania XXX, but no one really seems to know anything for sure.

Johnny G: I can’t really comment on Hulk’s career or his decisions because I don’t want to become a liar. As you know, the wrestling world, especially with Vince McMahon, takes twists and turns every day. Today he may have plans to be part of WrestleMania, tomorrow he might have plans to never wrestle again and go to Japan.

I do want to say one thing, brother. Our first MCW Champion was Blixx. He’s the world’s smallest professional athlete at 38-inches tall and 75 pounds. This is his retirement tour after 17 years in the ring. He’s still got the talent, the smarts and the gift of gab. But his little body is just not able to push the limits the way he used to. By anyone else’s standards, he’s a main evener. But his standards are so high in MCW that he doesn’t want to do it unless he can give the fans 110 percent. Just out of pride he’s hanging up his boots and his last match is on Saturday, Jan. 18. It’s very emotional for everyone at MCW because Blixx has been here since day one, he’s the original MCW Champion and he was presented with the first championship belt by Hulk Hogan himself. If it was up to me it would be at Madison Square Garden, but we’re going to give him a proper sendoff at 120 where people can show their respects. Wherever he goes, he’s the most recognizable MCW superstar we’ve ever had in the company. He’s a prick, he’s an asshole, but the fact is, he is one talented individual and he gets the job done like I’ve never seen anyone get the job done. So this is a big week for MCW letting Blixx go, but he’s in talks about doing some movies, his own reality show and lots of other things.

Do you know who his opponent will be for his final match?

Johnny G: I’m not sure because I’m going to let Blixx pick his final opponent. I want to give him the respect of choosing the person he thinks will put on the best match for his retirement match. I will tell you this, he will have just as much of a shot at winning that belt as anyone else that night. He came in as the first MCW Champion and it wouldn’t surprise me if he walked out of that door with it. But that’s up to him and how he wants to play it. When that man puts his mind to something, he’s unstoppable. As a matter of fact, here he comes now.

Blixx, any parting words regarding your retirement match this Saturday?

Blixx: My body can’t take it anymore. It’s one of those things where I have to, but I don’t want to. There’s going to be a lot of surprises Saturday night. I just want to be able to go out there and give 110 percent and give the fans what they want one more time. Hopefully my body will hold up for the rest of this week and Saturday night we can go out with a bang when I say goodbye. I’ve got a few people coming out, so it’s going to be a very special night. I’m ready for it. It’s surreal right now and I’m sure the emotions will be really high this Saturday night.

What’s next for you now that you’re leaving your wrestling career is ending?

Blixx: I’m working on a couple of things with some producers. I’ve also had some offers to do training seminars and a couple of other things that will keep me in the business. It won’t be the last time you see my face on television or at a show. I’m not going to be a professional wrestler anymore, but I’ll still be around.

www.mcwusa.us

Marko Polo discusses Fernbank’s “Marco Polo: Man & Myth”

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Marco Polo was a 13th-century Italian world traveler whose journeys were made famous upon the publication of The Travels of Marco Polo. “Marvelous” Marko Polo also claims to have traveled the world as a male model while simultaneously showing off his physique in wrestling rings throughout Georgia. After recently winning the Pro Wrestling Resurrection United States Championship, Marko took a rare respite from wrestling and modeling to spend some time at home for the holidays. As part of his vacation, Marko accompanied Wrestling with Pop Culture to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History to check out the Marco Polo: Man & Myth exhibit of artifacts and writings (on display through Jan. 5). After spending a day at this museum with one of indie wrestling’s most cultured characters, the following exchange occurred.

I suppose the most obvious question, at least given the subject matter, is if there is any relation between “Marvelous” Marko Polo and Marco Polo, the explorer that is the subject of this exhibit.

“Marvelous” Marko Polo poses with the original Marco Polo. Photo by Jesse Pollak/Dizzy Focus.

There is no family history or anything like that. I chose the name because of the person himself. What I didn’t like about the exhibit was they made it too educational. I want to hear about the women he traveled around the world to meet. That’s the stuff I want to hear about. Everything else is too educational and I couldn’t care less about it. I can read a history book to find out about that stuff. I’d like to see the stuff they didn’t show.

Jonathan Williams, you asked me to do this interview. But what does this have to do with wrestling? I want to talk to you about what’s going in with Marko Polo in wrestling right now. That’s the stuff I thought we’d be talking about.

We’ll get to that. But given the similarities between your lives and, uh, explorations, I wanted to get your thoughts on the Marco Polo exhibit.

There are a lot of similarities. I’ve traveled the world; I’ve been to France, Spain, Canada. You travel around, you meet a bunch of women, you do a bunch of stuff that … the difference is he wrote it down. I don’t like to put my business out like that. I do it with a little more swag than he did, but he was 100 years ago.

Well, a few more years ago than that.

A few more then. So I updated it. Probably a few years from now – a hundred, a thousand, whatever – they’ll do an exhibit on this Marko Polo. Then there will probably be another one come around in a thousand or so years after that. That, in itself, is awesome because they can finally call it Man, Myth & Legend. They just have Man & Myth on this one, but now they can add the moniker of Legend and that will be me. Then they’ll have my black face scattered across all these billboards rather than that Italian guy looking like Lanny Poffo.

What’s the inspiration between the slight variation of spelling between Marco Polo and “Marvelous” Marko Polo?

The slight variation is the right way to spell it. It’s spelled just like it sounds. Mar-ko comes from a K, it’s not Mar-so. People need to understand that a little more and the way I spell it they know exactly how to say it. Marco Polo was a world traveler. I also am a world traveler. So it’s a match made in heaven. It’s a no brainer.

Your travels are a result of your male modeling career. How did that segue into pro wrestling?

Marko Polo models some of the fine linens in Fernbank's gift shop. Photo by Jesse Pollak/Dizzy Focus.

Marko Polo models some of the Marco Polo-inspired fashions in Fernbank’s gift shop. Photo by Jesse Pollak/Dizzy Focus.

Like I said in the Georgia Wrestling Now interview I did with you before, pro wrestling saved my life. Me being bullied in school and fighting every day, it was pro wrestling that helped me keep the bullies away. When my father took me to a house show at the Joe Louis Arena and I saw Hulk Hogan, the wheels were already turning. So the first change I got to get into the ring and learn, I took it. Now I’ve been wrestling for three years and I take on all comers.

Marco Polo is known for collecting silks, pottery and other cultural artifacts during his journeys. Having now seen the exhibit, how do his journeys compare to yours? What will be featured in the Marko Polo exhibit?

I’ve seen the silks of women’s panties all over the place, but I don’t know if I kept those. Somebody will make it educational and fit for kids, but my memoirs will probably have to be edited down at some point to make it TV friendly.

You’ve touted the lavish lifestyle you live, so I wouldn’t expect you to be much of an outdoorsman. Yet you did seem particularly drawn to the ger he lived in while traveling. What was it that drew you to this particular part of the exhibit? How does that lifestyle compare to how you live when you travel?

“Marvelous” Marko Polo relaxes in Marco Polo’s ger at “Marco Polo: Man & Myth”. Photo by Jesse Pollak/Dizzy Focus.

Oh, yeah. I could put that in my back yard or down in my spare room. Do you know what kind of freaky stuff I could do? Just keep going with that thought right there. That is just too awesome to pass up, so I may see if I can buy that thing at some point. When I travel I stay in a hotel. Something like that is just different. Of course I’m not going to sleep outside, but when we went to this exhibit I told you that ger reminded me of the Jeju Spa. Just going into those spa rooms and having aromatherapy in that room would let me max out and relax. If all those people hadn’t been in there, I probably would have fallen asleep in there. It just seems comfortable.

As is pointed out in the exhibit, there is some speculation about the accuracy of some of Marco Polo’s writings. How much of his legend do you think is truth or myth? How accurate will your claims of world travel and other exploits be once you decide to fully share them with the rest of the world?

When you start doing things that nobody else has done before, a lot of people are going to say it’s bullshit. But I know what I’ve done and he knows what he’s done. So what if he embellished it a little? You weren’t there, how are you going to prove it? Same with me; if I go to Japan or even to Florida and I do something and come back and tell my friends about it, the only people who are going to know are me and the people who were there. There’s no way to prove it unless you have video, and there there’s no video from back then to prove what he did and didn’t do. Me, myself? I’m a private person. I don’t like to do videos. I can prove it if you want by doing it again. But what’s the fun in that.

Some people might pay good money to see the Marko Polo sex tape.

No. I don’t need a sex tape to be famous. I’m already famous.

Aside from the ger, what other parts of the exhibit were particularly impressive to you?

Photo by Jesse Pollak/Dizzy Focus.

There was a quote where Marco said he saw a unicorn, which was actually a rhino. It’s awe inspiring for someone like that to do what had never been done. Traveling the world was just unheard of aside from Christopher Columbus, who was a convict. But for someone to just travel around and be welcomed in by all these tribes and all these different women, if you really think about the artistic value of it, that’s pretty much Captain Kirk. That’s what they based Captain Kirk off of was Marco Polo. He traveled around, goes to these different lands, has sex with these alien beauties – what’s the difference? They just updated it.

Are you implying that your life is similar to Captain Kirk’s?

Yeah!

You wanted to talk more about your wrestling career earlier in this interview. So, where will you be wrestling in the near future?

I am now officially the PWR U.S. Champion. I stole it before and I’ve got no problem saying that. But I officially won it fair and square by defeating Kevin Blue. Kevin Blue was a worthy task. He rocked me a couple of times and even hit me with my own cane. But I broke that cane on his leg and now he gets to be one of the many who have fallen to the Beauty Mark and it sucks to be him. Now there’s a level of class to that title. When you see a picture of that belt around my waist, there’s a level of prestige that’s added to that belt just because I’m wearing it. And that’s true of any belt. So you’ll see me looking to obtain other titles the first and third Saturday of each month at Platinum Championship Wrestling. When I return to NWA Atlanta or Syndicate Promotions Wrestling remains to be seen, depending on the dates of their events. I’ll be doing some traveling to Mississippi, Florida, Kentucky and a couple of other places. I’ve also been contacted by Southern Fried Championship Wrestling. A lot of the indies from all around are calling, so I’m pretty much going to be appearing everywhere at some point in time in 2014.

Marko Polo could learn many things from Marco Polo’s travels. Photo by Jesse Pollak/Dizzy Focus.

I don’t think Marco Polo ever claimed to have competed in a wrestling ring. If you were able to somehow come face to face with Marco Polo, what would the relationship between the two of you be? Do you think you’d be opponents, tag team partners or might he provide managerial advice to “Marvelous” Marko Polo?

With somebody like that, I can’t really say he wouldn’t be a good manager. I mean, he’s been there and done that, so he could teach me. I can sit here and meditate and channel his ghost and learn some different stuff. From the stuff I’ve seen in this exhibit, I’d definitely like to know more about the ancient Chinese secrets that he learned.

Bully Ray keeps us guessing as Bound for Glory approaches

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As one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers of all time, Bully Ray achieved his highest singles honor earlier this year by defeating old rival Jeff Hardy for the Total Nonstop Action World Heavyweight Championship. Since then, Bully Ray and his Aces & Eights have, for the most part, run rampant on the rest of the TNA roster. On Oct. 20 Bully Ray defends his title against AJ Styles in a no disqualification match at TNA’s biggest annual pay-per-view Bound for Glory. As he prepares for one of his biggest title defenses to date, Bully Ray talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his history with Styles, the current whereabouts of the rest of the Dudley Brothers and his transition from tag team to singles success.

You’ve had some intense matches with AJ Styles in the past, and he recently took your brother Devon out of the TNA picture for the time being. Given your history with him and his unpredictable behavior as of late, what are your expectations going into your title match at Bound for Glory?

My game plan is pretty obvious: go into Bound for Glory and retain my World Heavyweight Championship, tear the house down and give the people one of the most hard-hitting and exciting matches they can possibly expect. Every time I go into that ring – weather I’m talking, fighting or wrestling – I always go out there to steal the show. And if you’re going to steal the show, AJ Styles is a hell of a guy to have in there to fight. About two years ago, me and AJ had a last man standing match that people were talking about. He’s a hell of a competitor, he’s a great athlete, he’s a great wrestler, he can stand there and go toe-to-toe with you. So it’s going to be a great match. It’s going to be entertaining and hard hitting. But my goal is to come out of Bound for Glory the World Heavyweight Champion.

What have been some of the biggest challenges for you transitioning from a tag team wrestler to a singles competitor?

I’m not trying to sound too pompous here, but there really haven’t been too many challenges. I’ve enjoyed the transition. It’s not something I ever thought I was going to do and not something I ever really wanted to do. I got into pro wrestling to be a successful tag team wrestler. So I guess the biggest challenge was getting into the shape I’ve gotten myself into. I had never been in phenomenal shape – not that I’m in phenomenal shape now – but I’m in the best shape of my life. The other real challenge is being in the ring without a partner. When you wrestle all over the world for 15 years and you’re used to having somebody by your side, it’s a little different to turn around and look at that corner and there’s nobody there. But as far as real challenges are concerned, I’m pretty happy with the way everything has gone so far.

You’re currently a heel in pro wrestling, but you’ve also been a babyface in the past. Do you think there is still a place for a pure heel or babyface or do you think the lines are more blurred these days?

The world has had good guys and bad guys ever since Jesus Christ and Satan. You always need the black hat and you always need the white hat. There are a lot of guys who choose to go down the good guy path and there are guys who choose to go down the bad guy path. I have always said I’m not a good guy and I’m not a bad guy, I’m not a babyface and I’m not a heel. I’m me and I’ve always been me. I have been me from day one. The difference between me and a lot of other guys is I can be loved on Monday, hated on Tuesday and loved again on Wednesday. As a performer it is your duty to your art form to be able to take those people on an emotional roller coaster ride and get them to respond the way you want them to respond. That’s what I have been able to do. I do think there is plenty of room for good guys and bad guys, whether it’s in movies, sports or pro wrestling. You always need good and bad people. But I don’t choose any one path. I just go out there and I do Bully Ray.

We’ve seen a lot of behavioral changes and blurring of these lines as of late in TNA with AJ, Dixie Carter, Aces & Eights and others. Where do you think everyone fits into the grander picture with all these different dynamics at play?

I can’t speak of anaybody else’s character and why they choose to do the things they do. I pat Dixie on the back. Why shouldn’t I? She’s such a nice lady. Everybody loves Dixie. It’s about time she stood up and told everybody to go to hell. When you talk about personalities, pro wrestling, even today, is entertainment and in entertainment such as soap operas or sitcoms or movies you need different types of characters. You can’t just have people that are loved, you can’t just have people that are hated. You need some middle-of-the-road people and you throw it all in a big pot and hopefully it works.

We recently saw Hulk Hogan quit TNA. If he is really gone for good, what do you think TNA will lose by losing Hulk Hogan?

No matter how I feel about Hulk Hogan and what’s been going on with me, him and his daughter, whether it’s been inside the ring or outside the ring, you’ve got to say this – it’s Hulk Hogan! He’s the Babe Ruth of the wrestling business. He’s the guy that put pro wrestling on the map back in the early ’80s. I do think there is a place for Hulk Hogan in TNA. You always want an icon like Hulk Hogan around. He brings credibility to your product, people love to see him, he can give advice to the younger guys, he’s definitely an asset. Plus I’d like to keep him around if I want to wrestle him because I’d like to kick his ass.

Given the success you’ve had both as a tag team and a singles wrestler, have you started to consider your retirement or maybe focusing more on your wrestling school?

I have no plans on retiring. I am fully invested in my wrestling school. I am there as much as I possibly can be to help train the stars of tomorrow. I thoroughly enjoy what I’m doing. As far as going back to tag team wrestling, there’s not a damn thing left for me and Devon to do as a tag team. I don’t know why we would, why we should. We can’t top what we’ve done and I’m having a blast doing what I’m doing right now. It’s new, it’s enjoyable and it’s like having a brand new girlfriend. But I’m definitely not retiring. I’ve got too much left in me. You can’t stop rock ‘n’ roll and you can’t stop me.

Once your in-ring career comes to an end, do you think you’ll ever be involved in the creative side of wrestling?

When I eventually retire and no longer want to wrestle, I definitely plan on getting into some of the more creative end of pro wrestling. It’s actually one of the reasons me and Devon opened a wrestling school about six years ago to be able to help cultivate quality wrestlers and put them back into the system, wrestlers with respect for the industry and wrestlers who can go out there and earn a great living for themselves. Once I do finish wrestling I want to continue training wrestlers at the Team 3D Academy. I would also like to work with the company where we can help build wrestlers up, whether its in the ring as wrestlers or as characters – whatever it takes to help build the wrestlers of tomorrow.

The Dudleys used to be a large faction in the wrestling world. We know where some of them are today, but others are a bit of a mystery. How often do you talk to the rest of the Dudley family? Do you foresee any other Dudley reunions in the near future?

Actually, just a few weeks ago I saw my good friend and brother Sign Guy Dudley out in Vegas. We hadn’t seen each other in probably ten or 12 years, so we had a bit of a reunion. As far as the other guys are concerned, I’m not really sure where they are. I miss my brother Big Dick Dudley very much. He’s up there riding his motorcycle in heaven. That’s all the information I’ve got for you on that.

You’ve always been confident in yourself, but what was it like for you when you became the World Heavyweight Champion and the top guy in the company?

I go out there and I know what I’m capable of doing. We did it in ECW, we did it in WWE, we’ve done it in Japan, we’ve done it all over the world. The only difference was now I was going to do it on my own. When I broke away from Devon and invented Bully Ray, I knew I could be successful. I knew there really wasn’t anything that could hold me back. I knew what worked in the past and I said to myself, “If I stick to the plan, if I reinvent myself, if I get into great shape and offer up a persona that is so disgusting and hated and gets under so many people’s skin with the tone of my voice and the venom that I spit – if I just do me – it’s going to work. And it has. And it really always has. I think TNA sat up and took notice and it gave me an opportunity to go out there and shine. So it’s all good and Bound for Glory is going to be a great show with a lot of great matches. As a student of pro wrestling, I’m always watching what’s going on. When I sit back and look at the TNA locker room I can honestly say it’s the best cross section of pro wrestlers, entertainers and athletes that is out there. You’ve got icons like Hogan and Sting; you’ve got guys who have been doing it at a top level for a long time like myself, Kurt [Angle] and Jeff Hardy; then you have the most important level, the workhorses of the company, the guys like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, [James] Storm, Kaz, [Christopher] Daniels, [Austin] Aries; you’ve got great X Division wrestlers; you’ve got some of the hottest girls out there – everything you could possibly want, need and ask for in a pro wrestling company, you can find in TNA.

How would you say the recent departures of Devon, Mr. Anderson and DOC have effected the Aces & Eights?

I look at the Aces & Eights as any other faction that wrestling has ever had. There’s the rise of a faction and there’s the fall of a faction. Right now the Aces & Eights, in your eyes and in the wrestling world’s eyes, is coming to an end. Things are not going so well. It looks like the Aces & Eights are being torn apart. It looks the Aces & Eights are about to self destruct. Maybe that’s just what I want you to believe. Maybe it’s all an elaborate plan. Maybe you’re going to see every single member of my club back sooner than later. Or maybe I’m picking them apart one by one because I’m so much of an egomaniac I want more of the spotlight for myself. That’s the difference between me and everybody else; I can keep you guessing and I can pull the wool over your eyes as many times as I want. David Copperfield goes out there every single night and makes people believe that the elephant disappears. That’s because he’s so good at mental manipulation, and that’s what I’m good at. So if I was you I’d keep my eyes open because you think you’ve seen the last of the Aces & Eights. I’m not too sure about that.

www.impactwrestling.com

Netherworld’s Goblin King discusses The Dead Ones and MCW

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Since 1997, the creatures of Netherworld have helped make Halloween quite a frightful time in the Atlanta area. In recent years, the hideous Goblin King has been a sinister presence whose singing or sheer terror have had souls surrendering to his control. As you traverse the aquatic agonies, undead horrors and other malevolent maniacs (including a giant roach!) in this year’s main haunt The Dead Ones, be wary of what resides inside the Goblin Cave. At Netherworld, the Goblin King is just one of many monsters vying for your demise. But this year the Goblin King is venturing into another monstrous realm as Monstrosity Championship Wrestling takes over the Axis Arena in Gotham City at Six Flags Over Georgia for Six Flags Fright Fest. As both attractions get under way Sept. 27, the Goblin King takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his cruel intentions for anyone who crosses his path.

The Goblin King emerged from the Netherworld a few years ago. Tell me a little bit about yourself and why you’ve chosen to enter our realm through the Netherworld.

The Goblin King is from the Dark Night. This is my third year at Netherworld, sitting on my throne in the Goblin Cave terrorizing people as they come through. I warn people as they wander through my cave that they’re lucky if they make it through.

I visited Netherworld on Friday the 13th this year. As I entered the Goblin Cave, you were telling people to “Bow down to he Goblin King.” Is that a request you often make as people enter your cave?

Oh, yes. I want all to bow to me. You’ve entered my kingdom, so you must bow and surrender yourself at my throne., Everybody must bow to the Goblin King.

Sometimes you greet people in a very different manner, such as with operatic singing. What’s the story behind that?

My first year at Netherworld, when I became the Goblin King, I would sing opera to hypnotize people as they came in to lead them towards me. Once they came towards me, I’d have them bow at my feet and surrender their souls.

This year the Goblin King is part of The Dead Ones. Tell me about The Dead Ones and where the Goblin King fits into this attraction.

Oh, the Dead Ones. That’s my favorite one. The Dead Ones are all the ones from the past who are coming back to take over the Dark Night again. The Goblin King is going to usher you into the new realm of what we call The Dead Ones.

When the Goblin King takes someone’s soul, what becomes of that person’s soul?

You become one of our servants and worship us. We mostly take the souls that will make us more powerful and stronger than ever.

Rumor has it the Goblin King is also involved in professional wrestling. Tell me a little more about that.

Oh, the Goblin King loves professional wrestling. The Goblin King takes over everything he goes to. He’s going to take over the world and take over the souls of those within the squared circle. Beware the Goblin King! Wrestling is my main strength because I love to take on anything that comes through my path.

Does wrestling exist in the Goblin King’s realm? If so, is it similar to the wrestling we know on this plane?

Yes, it does. It’s very similar. The Goblin King can not be controlled because I’m the king! Everywhere I go, people will be hypnotized by by my presence because I will take the souls of anyone who crosses my path.

I understand the Goblin King will be making his Monstrosity Championship Wrestling debut this weekend at Six Flags Over Georgia. What can you tell me about your involvement with MCW at Fright Fest?

Oh! When I come to MCW, prepare to bow to the king. Prepare to surrender all souls to the Goblin King. I’m coming to terrorize everything that comes through my path. Six Flags, beware! I’m looking for someone creepy that I can cast under my spell to add to my kingdom. I will turn monsters and human wrestlers alike into my goblins!

www.fearworld.com