By Jonathan Williams

Having won the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship last weekend in Ohio, “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce comes to the NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend as a four-time World Champion. Though his in-ring tactics are often less than scrupulous, Pearce joins a championship lineage of wrestling greats that includes the likes of Ric Flair, Harley Race and Dusty Rhodes. Before heading to Atlanta for the fanfest, and to defend his newly-won title in Carrollton, Ga. on Saturday, Pearce talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about once again being the NWA Champion.

You regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship last weekend in Ohio. How does it feel to be coming to Atlanta as the champion, where that title has so much history?

It doesn’t matter what city you’re in. Obviously to carry the NWA Championship is a big enough deal in and of itself. But when you add to the fact that it’s in Atlanta, which obviously was a big stronghold for the National Wrestling Alliance for a number of years, it just kind of sweetens the deal a little bit. A little icing on the cake.

You’ll not only be appearing at the fanfest, but you’ll also be defending that title in Carrollton on Saturday against Total Nonstop Action Wrestling’s Gunner. The two of you are no strangers as you faced him when he was known as Phil Shatter. Will this be the first time you’ve ever faced him one-on-one for the title?

He was involved in the match where I won the championship last year in Charlotte from Blue Demon, Jr. I was scheduled to face [Gunner] one-on-one another time, but that match didn’t happen.

Gunner has obviously achieved a lot since your last encounter, having held the TNA Television Title. Having been the NWA Champion for less than a week, how have you prepared for this Saturday’s match?

With a little less than a week to prepare, you’ve just got to stay in the game and be ready to go.

This is your fourth NWA World Championship reign. How would you say you compare to some of the previous legends who have held that title?

I wouldn’t even answer that question. That’s something that the fans would have to answer. I don’t get involved in legacy or hypothetical ranking scenarios. I think that’s something for armchair quarterbacks and fans to do. I just do the best I can every time I step foot in the ring.

The NWA Championship is one of the most prestigious titles in all of wrestling. Where do you think that title stands in comparison to world titles in other promotions today?

I think the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is the godfather to every wrestling championship there is and should be treated and respected as such.

As the champion, how would you say you uphold and respect its history and represent the organization as a whole?

You tell me. What do you think?

I am an unbiased journalist.

Oh, are you? Well, I think the track record speaks for itself. I think someone who has defended that championship more in the last four years than anyone before, including when it was in TNA, means that I bleed the National Wrestling Alliance literally and figuratively. And if you are trying to, in some way, insult or denigrate how I may or may not retain my championship, then you’re a fool.

NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend. $20-$224, free for children ages 10 and younger. Aug. 4-7. Atlanta Airport Marriott, 4711 Best Road, Atlanta, Ga. 404-766-7900.

Live Wrestling Matches. $21 ($21-$35 for charter bus service from the Marriott). 6 p.m. Aug. 6. Veterans of Foreign Wars Fairgrounds, 1625 Bankhead Highway, Carrollton, Ga. 404-832-3519,  www.nwalegends.com.