TNA star Rockstar Spud recently did an in-depth interview with the Huffington Post UK. Check out the highlights below:
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 ‘Duddlyville’. 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.
