SportsKeeda recently caught up current GFW Champion, Alberto El Patron during Impact Wrestling’s tapings in India. The two parties went over numerous wrestling topics including: Alberto’s decision to join Impact, wrestling Bobby Lashley & much more.
Here are the highlights:
Alberto On His Instant Success:
“I always wanted to come to Impact Wrestling. I was actually about to join the company 3 years ago but some circumstances didn’t let it happen. This time, everything was perfect and in line for me to join Impact. They had the right people owning the company, the right people directing it and the right talent, so it was the perfect time for me to sign. As I’ve been doing my entire career, I came here to win titles and I want the company to grow. I also want to refresh my image and give something new to my fans.”
His Thoughts On Bobby Lashley:
“Bobby Lashley is a fantastic competitor. He is one of the best wrestlers/fighters in the world. There are actually 3 hybrid pro wrestlers/fighters in the business: Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley and Alberto El Patron. We made the transition from amateur, to professional to MMA. There’s only the 3 of us and because of that, I have a lot of respect for him. He’s one of the best in-ring performers, we have a lot of chemistry. That’s the reason why we had such an amazing match on my very first night on Impact.”
Plans After Retirement:
“I’m sure I’ll be involved in wrestling in some way; as an agent or maybe as a producer. I’d love to stay in the business in a different role. Like with MMA, I don’t fight anymore but I’m involved in the business in a different role; I’m the president of a company called Combate Americas. We’re doing fantastic and we’re growing, going to new places every month and getting new fighters. That’s something that I want to do with pro wrestling because, at the end of the day, pro wrestling is my love and passion. I ended up doing stuff in MMA because of destiny but I’d love to stay in pro wrestling in a different role.”
His Thoughts On The Crowd In Mumbai India:
“To be honest, when I cut the promo in the ring saying I was completely exhausted and not feeling well, I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t feeling up for it but when I crossed the curtain and entered the arena they were chanting “Si, si, si” and “Patron”, they gave me an adrenaline boost and because of that, I was able to perform. To be honest, it’s like that on a lot of nights. Sometimes we get caught in the moment and after so many years, we sometimes need that to keep us going and that’s what happened in Mumbai. I don’t remember how many fans we had in the arena but hearing them all chanting “Si, si, si” caught me by surprise.”
What Convinced Him To Sign With Impact:
“It’s a company that I’d always wanted to work with. I’ve worked with all the top pro wrestling promotions in the world from Japan, Mexico and Europe to the US with the only one missing from my list was Impact Wrestling. As I mentioned before, all the elements were there for me to sign this time; friends that I met while working for WWE are here at the moment, they have the right people behind the wheel taking the company to the next level and they have the right owners, it just felt right.”
Thoughts On Who He Wants To Face In The Six-Sided Ring Match:
“Like I said, it’s more about them wanting to face me than me wanting to face them. All the wrestlers know that I’m a multiple time champion, they know I’m a big name in pro wrestling so it’s about them wanting to face me and get better. I just go out there and wrestle, I don’t care who it is and I don’t look down on any wrestler. The other day I faced Eli Drake, who according to Impact is a wrestler in the process of becoming a big star and just because he was in the ring with me, he brought the best out of himself and he fought me. We gave the fans an amazing match.”
