Tag Archives: Total Nonstop Action

Christopher Daniels looks to make an “Impact” at Lockdown

Courtesy TNA Impact Wrestling/Lee South

It’s been five months since “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels and Kazarian (collectively known as Bad Influence) lost the Total Nonstop Action World Tag Team Championship to Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez. Though Daniels and Kazarian have remained in each other’s corners, they’ve focused on their singles careers since losing the tag titles. But at Lockdown Bad Influence finally gets a shot at regaining the belts in a three-way match that includes Guerrero and Hernandez as well as the current champs Bobby Roode and Austin Aries. With Lockdown shaping up to be one of TNA’s biggest pay-per-views to date, and TNA taking Impact Wrestling live on the road beginning March 14, Daniels is one of many members of the company’s roster who is ready to help take TNA to the next level in the wrestling world. As he prepares for his Lockdown match and leaving the Impact Zone, Daniels is a bit more serious (but no less confident) than usual as he takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture.

You’re going into Lockdown with a little bit of momentum, given that you, Kazarian and Gail Kim defeated Chavo Guerrero, Hernandez and Velvet Sky. What are your expectations for your three-way tag team match for the TNA Tag Team Championship?

As much as I respect Chavo and Shawn, and as much as I respect Bobby and Austin, we’re really the best team of the three. So it’s just a matter of playing to our strengths. We’ve been together longer, we’ve got better chemistry than either one of those teams, so we’re really just going in there with the mindset that we’re going to walk out with the Tag Team Championship again.

Lockdown is, of course, the first pay-per-view for TNA since scaling back to only four pay-per-views a year. And it’s being held at the Alamodome, which is a much larger venue than TNA is used to. Do you know how well tickets have sold?

Courtesy TNA Impact Wrestling/Lee South

Dixie Carter announced on Twitter that Lockdown will have the highest attendance for us in the United States. It’s going to be bigger than Slammiversary, which was a big deal for us last year in Arlington. So Lockdown could very well end up being our most-attended event in TNA history.

The following Thursday will be the first live Impact Wrestling event outside of the Impact Zone, so these are exciting times for TNA.

We’re all really excited. I think changing from 12 pay-per-views a year to four live pay-per-views gives us an opportunity to build up to things at a slower pace, and it gives everybody an opportunity to catch up with all the goings-on and hopefully build more anticipation for some of these top matches. With Impact going live on the road there’s more energy because there are new fans. After a while, we’ve been playing to kind of the same crowd at the Impact Zone and it’s gotten harder and harder to excite that crowd. So going out on the road and seeing new fans every week, this will be the first time a lot of them are seeing TNA’s television product live. We, as wrestlers, feed off the energy of the crowd, you’re definitely going to see us step up our game and put on more energized matches, which will help the product improve.

When Impact has been on the road in the past, whether it was being taped in Europe or at arenas in the U.S., it’s had a much bigger feel than it does in the Impact Zone. So I’m looking forward to seeing how that translates when you do that live from different venues.

Courtesy TNA Impact Wrestling/Lee South

A lot of that has to do with the fact that we’re in actual arenas rather than just a sound stage; there’s more space, there’s room for more fans and it’s more of an arena atmosphere. But, like I said, it also lends itself to the energy of the crowd. For a lot of these people we’re going to go see in Chicago, Jonesboro, Arkansas and the other dates that have been announced, this will be the first time that we’ve ever done television there. So there’s definitely going to be a newness to the audience coming to see us and that’s going to translate into excitement and energy and we feed off of that as performers.

For those who have been to live Impact tapings or even TNA house shows, how will these live Impact shows on the road compare to what we’ve seen previously?

It’s definitely a different vibe. Our live events are very exciting, but all we are interested in at that point is entertaining the crowd that’s in that building. On television, however, we’re playing to the cameras and the crowd. So we want to entertain the people watching at home, but we’re also interested in entertaining the people that are right there in front of us. We use that crowd that’s in front of us to translate that energy to the fans watching at home. So if we can get those people pumped up about the product, you can’t help but watch it at home and think, ‘This is really exciting, compelling television to be watching.”

As you’ve pointed out previously, you’ve been with TNA off-and-on since its inception. Having been so loyal to the company, and now being integral to its growth, would you rather continue to help take TNA to new heights or, were the opportunity to arise, do you ever see yourself going to WWE?

I’ve always said I’d never say “never” in terms of WWE, but I have to be honest and look at how long I’ve been doing this and how old I am now and look at WWE’s hiring practices at this point. I just don’t think we would be a good fit for each other. But the truth of the matter is I’m very happy with Impact Wrestling right now. It’s been very good to me and I feel like right now I’m doing some of the best work of my career. The creative team has been very supportive with all the stuff I’ve been doing with Bad Influence. They’ve put a lot of effort behind us, so I feel very loyal to the company in that respect. Right now we’re just scratching the surface of what we can do as a team and what we can do as a top-tier act. My immediate goals are to continue being the best tag team not only in Impact Wrestling, but in professional wrestling overall, and helping make Impact grow as we go on the road and try and build these television markets and make our television show more and more acceptable to the wrestling fan base.

Now that you will be on the road more, are there any particular cities you’re looking forward to wrestling for?

Courtesy TNA Impact Wrestling/Lee South

As a California guy I’m very partial to going out to the West Coast and doing some shows there. I don’t think Impact has had as much impact, so to speak, on the West Coast as we could. I look forward to maybe going to Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and cities around there. A return to Las Vegas would be great. I know that a long time ago we taped out there and with this particular crew in charge I think we’ll do a lot better if we return to Las Vegas. We need to go back to the Northeast, as well, because there’s a very strong, hardcore wrestling fan base there that would support our television show. No matter where we go, it’s going to be an opportunity to build on this momentum that we’ve gotten in the last couple of months. When I talk to Frankie, we’re in the groove right now, we’re firing on all cylinders and I feel like we’ve become one of the more entertaining parts of our television show. I’m just going to keep riding that horse.

Win or lose on Sunday, who are some other tag teams you’d like to face in the near future?

We’re open for business, man. The good thing about me and Frankie is we’ve brought a lot more attention to our tag team scene. That was one of the reasons that Chavo Guerrero specifically came to TNA was the opportunity to tag with Shawn against me and Frankie. But I love to see guys like the Young Bucks, who have performed with TNA in the past, come back to TNA and get involved with us in a long-term feud. In the last year we’ve wrestled guys like Kurt [Angle] and AJ [Styles], Kurt and Ken Anderson, Rob Van Dam, so anyone on the roster now that wants to put a team together is welcome to step up to us.

www.fallenangelchristopherdaniels.com

Jeff Hardy prepares for cage match against longtime rival Bully Ray at TNA’s Lockdown

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From his days wrestling alongside his brother Matt as the Hardy Boyz to his ascension to the top of the wrestling ladder (literally and figuratively), Jeff Hardy remains one of the most enigmatically talented men to ever step into the ring. And this Sunday at Lockdown, he faces one of his biggest challenges to date as he defends his Total Nonstop Action World Heavyweight Championship against Bully Ray inside a steel cage. Having recently re-signed with TNA, Hardy hopes to retain his title and continue to be the face of the company as TNA takes Impact Wrestling live on the road beginning next Thursday. As he prepares for this match, as well as the positive changes happening within TNA, Hardy takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about staying with TNA, getting older and his burgeoning music career.

At Lockdown you defend the TNA title against Bully Ray inside a steel cage. As a veteran, how do prepare for a cage match now in comparison to when you were younger and took a lot more risks in order to make a name for yourself?

My psychology is pretty much the same. I’m not really limited, but I try to work smarter now. I’m excited, man, because it’s a challenge. I’ve had so many great cage matches and ladder matches, so its another challenge for me to top myself. I’m a little more afraid to try big things now [because I have a 2-year-old daughter], but I’m still the same Jeff Hardy.

Now that you’re a little older, is it tougher to recover from some of the things you do in the ring?

Yeah, it’s way tougher now, just being older. But I’m taking extremely good care of myself. I see a chiropractor three days a week, I try to get massages when I can, I ice every part of my body that’s hurting after every match and I work out more than I ever have.

You and Bully have such history going back more than a decade and now you find yourselves going against each other in a pay-per-view main event. How would you say you’ve both grown as performers and what has it been like growing into the stars you’ve become today?

It’s really cool thinking about those TLC matches many years ago between the Dudley Boyz and the Hardy Boyz. To see those old matches and now to see TNA in full effect, the way Jeff Hardy looks, the way Bully Ray looks – he’s possibly in the greatest shape of his life – we’ve both reinvented ourselves over the years. It’s so exciting to be headlining such a huge pay-per-view this Sunday and just still being able to do what we do. It’s really something to be proud of and I can’t wait to see what happens on Sunday.

What do you think you’ll do differently in this match than what you’ve done in the past against someone who knows you better than anyone else in TNA?

What’s going to be different is the unknown effect of any cage match, especially with my mentality. One of my favorite cage matches of all time was against Kurt Angle last year and even coming close to topping that this year is going to be a challenge. But I’m not going to do anything differently unless I have to. I’m going to go out there and just give it my all like I always do.

Given that this is a cage match, do you think that gives an advantage over Bully Ray?

I think so, yeah. Bully’s good with tables, ladders and chairs, but I think I do have the advantage in the cage.

What are some of your favorite moments from your time tagging with your brother Matt?

As a team, there are so many amazing memories. But one of my favorite memories of Matt is when we finally got to wrestle each other at WrestleMania. The finish to that match was one of my favorites of all time. The original Twist of Fate in a chair, that will last with me forever.

This Thursday is the first time Impact airs live outside the Impact Zone. What is it like for you looking back to see how the company has grown? Will it be hard for you to say goodbye to a venue that you did so much work in?

It’s going to be a little heartfelt, but it’s time to get out on the road. But I’m sure we’ll be back in the Impact Zone for a reunion show or something.

TNA wrestlers have often said one of the things they like about TNA is the difference in the schedule. With TNA going on the road, you’re going to be busier. Was that something you considered when you were recently in contract negotiations with TNA?

Being in TNA, there are those times where I get to be at home for a week straight. But March is crazy busy for me. I just like being the alternative, the other place to be and believe in. And 15 years from now, there’s a chance it could reach those WWE heights. Time will tell.

You recently released your first album, Similar Creatures, through TNA Knockout Music. How has that album been received so far? Do you foresee doing something similiar to what Chris Jericho is doing where you pursue wrestling and music at the same time?

I don’t know how the first EP is doing. What I’ve been focused on as far as music goes is my band Peroxwhy?gen. We finished recording last week in Nashville and there are ten songs that are just on a different level as far as me as a singer, lyrically and vocally. I’ve grown so much and I’m really excited about that. Hopefully it will be out around July or August. As far as me wrestling and performing, it’s going to be something unique. I’m not sure what that is yet, but you’ll soon find out.

Given what you talked about earlier about taking fewer risks and having a harder time recovering, as well as your family, your musical project and other endeavors, how much longer do you see yourself wrestling?

I have no idea. It’s always going to be in my blood and I think my body will tell me when I need to stop. Hopefully I’ll be 45, 50 years old and still have a match every now and then. But I don’t know. Time will tell and my body will tell me.

www.impactwrestling.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where did the name Bad Influence come from?

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

Daniels: Well done, Francois.

Kazarian: Hey, it’s what I do.

www.impactwrestling.com

TNA gets TENacious with anniversary trading card set

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

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

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

www.impactwrestlingcards.com

AJ Styles has one last battle with Christopher Daniels at Final Resolution

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If any one wrestler has become synonymous with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, it’s “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles. He’s held every men’s title in the company, defeated almost everyone on the roster and been there since TNA’s first event. Though Styles has had many rivalries over the years, his perfect foil within and outside of TNA has been “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels. These two have waged more high-flying battles in 2012 than perhaps ever before and it call comes to a head this Sunday at Final Resolution in what is being billed as a “one last time” match. But before that one-on-one encounter, Styles and Daniels will be on opposite sides of the ring tonight on Impact Wrestling as Styles teams up with TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy and “The Cowboy” James Storm to take on Daniels, Kazarian and Bobby Roode. Wrestling with Pop Culture recently got to talk to Styles yet again about his rivalry with Daniels, other potential rivalries and what his plans are for the new year.

This Sunday’s match is billed as the final battle between you and Daniels. What are your memories of the first time you and Daniels faced each other and how do think you’ve both changed as competitors over the years?

The first time he and I ever got into the ring together was the 53rd Anniversary of the NWA; it was the first time I had ever met Christopher Daniels. What a match it was – two guys who knew nothing about each other going in there and having an unbelievable match. I think it’s what helped take my career get to the next level. When you have matches like that with Christopher Daniels you get noticed. My popularity has grown every since I wrestled Christopher Daniels. As far as changing over the years, I can’t tell you that there’s been that much change as far as the wrestling goes. [But] we’ve been the closest friends and bitter enemies.

The two of you have met so many times, and the bar is raised each time you get into the ring together. Fans always expect the two of you to put on a tremendous match, so is there any pressure going into this Sunday knowing it’s being billed as the final match between you two?

The thing about me and Chris is we’ve had so many matches and they’ve all been pretty good, so the bar has been raised every time. The last time we met was a last man standing match and we literally about killed each other. It was such a brutal match from both of us that ended with me putting him through a table off the ramp with a Styles Clash. It’s so hard to top something like that because we literally left everything we had in the ring and outside the ring. There was nothing left of either one of us after that match, so to have one final match is a lot of pressure because we’ve got to make it something that people will never forget. We want to put on a classic. It is hard, but I think we’ll be able to do it.

You recently lost another match with a stipulation that you won’t get another title shot until next year. How does that change your outlook on your goals and what you want to accomplish in the next year?

I don’t know. The year’s not over and who knows what my mindset will be at the end of this year? I’m not sure where this will lead me and where I will take it. Hopefully there will be loopholes, there will be some way for me to get that world title before Bound for Glory. Who’s to say that I’ll even make in the tournament? I have yet to do that, so even though I may have a shot at Bound for Glory doesn’t mean I’ll get it.

Since Sunday’s match is being billed as the last meeting between you and Daniels, what do you plan on doing to try and make it stand out amongst the many matches the two of you have had against one another?

The thing I’m going to try to accomplish in this match is make sure it’s different from everybody else’s on the card and do something people haven’t seen, or maybe they’ve forgotten about like classic wrestling, classic storytelling and everything that goes along with what professional wrestling has been and what it will be. I think the thing is to try to make it different from what we’ve done and what everybody else is doing.

Is there anyone else on the TNA roster you’d like to develop a friendship or rivalry with that might compare to the ones you’ve had with Christopher Daniels?

Rivalries? Who knows who the next guy is? I can tell you that as far as friendships, I think I’ve done enough of those little friendships and factions and stuff like that. I think it’s about time that AJ Styles do his own thing and stop worrying about everybody else and stop being the janitor of TNA and cleaning up messes and go out there and do my own thing.

Probably the one solid rule in professional wrestling is to never say “never.” Do you really believe this is the last time you two guys will meet?

You know, I’ve thought about that myself. What if he’s in the Bound for Glory Series and what if I’m in the Bound for Glory Series? How can we not wrestle each other? Just little things like that. How can we stay apart? Is there going to be some rule? Or maybe there will be one final time where I ask him to wrestle me and he accepts or something like that. That’s going to be a hard one to get around, so we’ll see.

www.ajstyles.org

Gail Kim returns to the state where she became the first TNA Knockouts Champion

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Courtesy TNA Wrestling

As one of the most accomplished female wrestlers of all time, Gail Kim has consistently been at the top of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling‘s Knockouts Division since its inception. She was the first ever TNA Knockouts Champion and has held the Knockouts Tag Team Championship with Madison Rayne. This weekend, Kim returns to the state where she first won the Knockouts Championship as the Impact Wrestling World Tour stops at the Macon Centreplex Coliseum on Oct. 20 and the Savannah Civic Center on Oct. 21. Though she’s scheduled to face Miss Tessmacher at each of these events, Kim recently told new Knockouts Champion Tara that she would come for her title if Tara defeated Tessmacher at last Sunday’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view. Before things combust this weekend, Kim shares her thoughts on the entire situation with Wrestling with Pop Culture.

Miss Tessmacher is the one who took that title from you a few months ago, and you haven’t had the best luck in your subsequent rematches. What are your expectations for your matches against her this weekend?

She’s improved over the last few months, so I guess I just underestimated her. Now I’m going to be back on my A game.

I think a lot of people underestimated her, but apparently Tara figured out a way to get under her skin.

Courtesy TNA Wrestling

She worked with her for a long time and they were [Knockouts] Tag Team Champions together. It’s always the ones that are closest to you that you know best.

You’ve had your share of run-ins with Tara, especially with her recent gloating about her celebrity boyfriend being better than your celebrity chef husband Robert Irvine.

Yeah, I’m not impressed at all. She was making fun of my husband, who she called my boyfriend. It’s funny that she made that reference to my “cable star boyfriend,” yet she made an appearance on his show last week. It was actually pretty funny. I haven’t met her boyfriend yet, but he already looks like a loser to me. What was he on, Big Brother or something like that? Did he even win?

I’ve never watched that show, but I have seen Jessie Godderz in Ohio Valley Wrestling and didn’t realize he had a reality show background.

Oh, OK. Neither have I. I’ll give him one thing, he looks like he fits the role of a wrestler in terms of his physique. He must have put some time into that.

Any idea if you might get a shot at Tara for the Knockouts Championship anytime soon?

Courtesy TNA Wrestling

Well, I hope that’s very soon. She and I have both been around for a really long time and the one positive thing I can say about her is that the fans do love watching us wrestle against one another. So I’m really looking forward to it. I got a little taste of it in my debut match back at Impact Wrestling, then we had a match maybe a month or so ago. But I would definitely love to get back into the ring with her because I think we’re the best at what we do and I just want to see who’s better right now.

You were the very first Knockouts Champion and you won that title in Georgia. Does returning to Georgia have any special meaning to you based on that milestone?

Of course. That was the number one moment of my career to be the very first Knockouts Champion. We fought so hard for that division to even happen and to be the first champion is something I’ll never forget, and it’s something that no one can take away from me. It’s all a blur now, but it was probably the most emotional moment of my career. It was such a great time and to have all those girls come in at once – I mean, we literally went from five girls to ten or more overnight – and it just became this huge success. From that point on, this company has been known for having good women’s wrestling and I love being part of it.

We’ve talked about this weekend’s house shows, but do you know what’s in store for you at tonight’s Impact Wrestling?

I’m not sure if I’m on Impact Wrestling tonight, but I am making an appearance on the British Boot Camp series that airs in the U.K. on Challenge TV. It’s a reality show competition and Madison Rayne and I are facing the Blossom Twins, the two girls that are competing on the show. That will be taped before Impact Wrestling and it’s interesting because the British talent doesn’t always get a chance to be seen my major promotions over here. It’s a great opportunity for them to be seen and show what they’ve got. I’ve heard about these Blossom Twins for many, many years, so they’ve been around. They’re nice girls, but Madison and I are going to have to kick some booty and show them what they’ve got to strive for.

www.thegailkim.com

Wrestling with Pop Culture has three pairs of tickets to this Saturday’s Impact Wrestling World Tour stop in Macon. Comment below with the name of your favorite female wrestler of all time to be entered to win a pair of tickets. Winners will be chosen by 5 p.m. EST Oct. 19.

History repeats itself as “The Cowboy” James Storm heads to Bound for Glory

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Courtesy TNA Wrestling

This time last year, “The Cowboy” James Storm had been edged out of the Bound for Glory Series by his friend and tag team partner Bobby Roode. Though Storm showed his support for Roode, who challenged Kurt Angle for the Total Nonstop Action World Heavyweight Championship, Roode came up short. Just days later, Storm got a shot at Angle and won the title, only to lose it the following week when Roode broke a beer bottle over his head in Macon, Ga. Almost a year later, Storm looked to be on track to win this year’s Bound for Glory Series to face the champion at this Sunday’s Bound for Glory. But history repeated itself and Roode in Storm’s match, causing Storm to be eliminated from the tournament and resulting in their match against each other at the pay-per-view. With TNA returning to Macon a few days after Bound for Glory again this year, one has to wonder how much history might repeat itself yet again for Storm. As he prepares for this Sunday’s Bound for Glory, Storm talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his ongoing rivalry with his former Beer Money tag team partner.

Things are coming full circle for you heading into Bound for Glory. It was just after last year’s Bound for Glory that your former partner Bobby Roode turned on you. What are your thoughts about your match against Roode this Sunday?

Courtesy TNA Wrestling

It’s the same as any other time. I just take it one day at a time and see what happens. I don’t want to get ahead of myself and put the cart before the horse, as they say. You never know what the next day might bring, and with Bobby Roode it’s just one of those things where you’ve got to be on your toes. Right now, he’s one of the best in the business.

How do you think King Mo‘s role as special enforcer might play into this match? Do you expect him to get involved in any way?

To tell you the truth, I don’t care if he gets involved or not. It is one of them things where if he gets in my face I’ll punch him. I don’t care if he’s an MMA fighter or not. I’ve beaten people up in bars before, so he ain’t gone be no different.

TNA was in Macon for an Impact Wrestling taping just after last year’s Bound for Glory, which is where you won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Kurt Angle. You’ll be back in Macon for a house show right after Bound for Glory again this year. What are your thoughts on returning to the place where you won the title and had a beer bottle smashed over your head by Roode?

We try to hit each town at least once a year and definitely go to the surrounding towns. We were just in Atlanta, but we also went to towns right around the edges and now we’re working our way down to Macon. Hopefully this deal with Bobby will be over with. If not, maybe I’ll be facing him again in Macon.

You’ve been in and out of the title picture ever since he took the title from you last year. Are you looking to get back in the title hunt after Bound for Glory?

Courtesy TNA Wrestling

Yeah. I mean, anybody who is a singles wrestler always wants to be in the world title hunt. For me it’s more special because I actually won by points in the Bound for Glory Series and I feel like I should be going on to Bound for Glory to wrestle for the World Heavyweight title. But it’s one of those things where I’ve got to get my stuff done with Bobby first, then move on.

I was at last year’s show in Macon, as well as the recent shows in Atlanta and Gainesville. You seem to get a warm reception anytime you’re down South. How does that feel for you, being from Tennessee?

It’s great. To me, that’s what wrestling is all about – just going out and having fun and putting on the best shows I can for the people. I think that comes across to them and they know I’m there to have fun. Of course, you’ve got a ton of beer drinkers in the crowd, so that goes over good, too.

www.impactwrestling.com