TNA’s Rockstar Spud gave an exclusive interview to the Royal Ramblings blog, his
first since signing a new multi-year deal with the company. You can read
the full interview over at the Huff Post but here’s some highlights of what he had to say:
It has been just over a year
since you left the UK as the winner of British TNA Boot camp. What have been
the highlights of the last year?
Everything’s been a highlight really and it just keeps getting
better. OVW [TNA’s Training School], believe it or not, was one of the best
things I’ve ever done in my career. I don’t regret one minute there. I advise
anyone that’s reading this – if you want to learn about the pro-wrestling
business – get yourself there. With a bit of luck Al Snow will be back there
but it was great to learn from Danny Davis and people of that caliber. Since I
was brought up to television in November, it’s been constant highlights. TNA
seems to be really getting behind people like myself, EC3, Magnus and Samuel
Shaw. I’ve signed an extended deal with the company, which I’m very happy with
and I’m making good money. That was my dream and all that I’ve ever wanted in
life – to do this as a job. Now Im doing it full time in a very wonderful
country with great people and I couldn’t be happier TNA give me creative
freedom- they give me the ball and I have to run with it and it’s great that
they trust us so much.
In the ‘Supermen’ film you
mention the attention your parents get. Has that changed now and what do you
miss most about home?
I obviously miss friends and family but the UK fans as well –
they’re the most passionate bunch of supporters in the world! You can’t
appreciate how great your country is in comparison to others until you step
outside. As for my parents, when I used to go to the pub, my dad and I would
have normal quick chat. As the wrestling picked up people would say “oh, I
saw your son in the paper or on the Telly” and now the situation is that
when I walk in, he’ll call out “SON, MY SON, COME OVER HERE!” I’m there
for him to show off now! But bless him, he’s proud. I wish he’d have been so
proud when it was in the church halls in front of 20 people – ha!
What’s it like to work with major talents like Bully Ray?
He doesn’t know this (and I’d never tell Bully this because he’d laugh at
me) but he was always someone I looked up to as a young wrestling fan. I always
wanted to be a Dudley and anyone that knows me will know my email had
‘Spudlyville’ in it rather than ‘Dudleyville’. I looked at Spike Dudley and
thought “I could be a Dudley too” and if you look at my first matches
in the industry, I even had the Dudley glasses. In my view, Bubba is the best
heel in the business. He knows how to get genuine heat to the point that people
are willing to risk getting arrested in order to attack him! But you also can’t
deny what a great babyface he is and so there’s an argument to be made that
he’s one of the best workers in the business in total.
TNA seems so popular in the UK; sold out shows, the most watched wrestling
show on TV- but in the US it seems to struggle what does the UK get that
America doesn’t?
It’s hard to compare the UK and America given some of their states are three
times the size of the UK. People lament ratings of years gone by but forget
that there’s 2-300 channels now and in today’s economy it’s incredibly
difficult to lock a stable viewership – that goes for soaps, or anything. Look
at the UK though – there’s maybe 100 channels on free digital TV and people
choose TNA all the time and that’s why we’re number one. People feel part of
the characters and they can go and meet the wrestlers [at TNA’s fan
interaction]. Being away from the people doesn’t make you look more like a
superstar it makes you look impersonal. We don’t eat without the fans and we
like to give back here at TNA and I think it does wonders for the company.
What is the atmosphere in the dressing room like at the moment?
We have so much fun. We’re all a team. I’ve never been a locker room – and
this includes in the independents – where everyone’s so supportive, offering
advice and rooting for one another. The mind-set is simple. The better we do,
the more people will want to watch each of us individually and we will benefit
collectively for it. There’s no jealousy. We have a common goal we’re driving
towards – to be number one.
Is that still the case with some high profile names leaving the company?
I believe so. Look, you agree on how much you want to be paid. You’re in
negotiations and you’re an independent contractor. You don’t feel that you’re
being paid what your worth, then obviously you state your case and if the
promoter disagrees you have to call it a day. That’s business and you look for
opportunities down the line. Of course it’s sad to see people go but it is part
of the business, it really is. My business is Rockstar Spud. I’ve entered an
agreement with TNA and we’re going to work together to exploit my talents.
That’s the way the world works.
Do you think the launch of new wrestling promotions [GFW] is a threat to TNA?
I think TNA are just going to concentrate on what we’re doing. Other
promotions coming up is good for the industry. There are more places for people
to work, do what they love to do and provide for their families. It’s not a bad
thing, it’s a good thing.
Who should we be looking out for in the coming months?
You should definitely be looking out for EC3. I believe WWE dropped the
ball so badly with him – he’s so entertaining and such a pro. Samuel Shaw –
he’s taken his character and run with it. Then there’s always Kenny King and
the Bro-Mans with Zema Ion. You want to watch out for them because they’re
going to do big things. These are the guys the company is backing for the
long-term.
What has been the best ‘rib’ on you or have you seen on someone else since
you joined the company?
I played one on Gunner recently. He was going into my bag and fishing out
a bear that I was given when I left the UK which is a reminder of home. He’s
been taking pictures with the bear all over the locker room. He didn’t think
I’d get him back but when he wasn’t looking I took his wrestling pants from his
bag. He was in the main event of a house show and as he got into the car to
leave, the lights came on, I had YMCA playing loudly and there’s me in Gunners
pants doing his full gimmick, running around the parking area. He didn’t know
what to do!
Has wrestling become too family friendly these days?
Absolutely not. I think some people miss the point now though -that goes
for the wrestlers too – and it infuriates me. I watch it all the time and it
riles me that no-one cheats. People get in the ring and wrestle but how can you
find a negative quality in someone that doesn’t cower or cheat? We don’t draw
money without love or hate. Without those two things people won’t come through
the door and won’t want to pay to see the guy they hate lose or the guy they
love win.
What role do the UK independent promotions have in helping to push the UK
Talent into the major leagues?
I think there are positives and negatives. You can learn a lot from people in
the indies but there is some delusion. Some people don’t think for the good of
the show but rather for their video camera. They focus on the reaction they get
to something in their match but if the guys in the first match under or
over-perform, all the energy can be sucked out of a main event. That’s
something I learned a while in but not everyone listens to advice.
