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#Post#: 28732--------------------------------------------------
Chat with Rockstar Spud. Talks Bully, Dixie, Bootcamp 2& Mor
e
By: ChrissiCalvert Date: August 27, 2014, 3:07 pm
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How is Madam Dixie doing? Have you and Ethan been helping her
with the recovery process?
Well how do you think she is? She’s got a broken bloody back.
God bless her, but she’s doing okay. She is back up and walking
around the office. I heard she’s giving Serg a hard time, while
me and Mr. Carter are at the shows. That’s to be expected, she’s
a pretty demanding woman. I’m pretty sure that she’s going to
recover from it, and be back better than ever.
You talk about ‘no girls allowed’ on Twitter, what exactly do
you mean by that? Does this include Madam Dixie?
(Laughs) This doesn’t include Madam Dixie, she’s a special kind
of woman. But yeah, no girls allowed, because girls just annoy,
and they smell. Girls just really annoy me, really annoy me.
When you came on TV full time, were you apprehensive at all
about being more of an on air personality, a Bobby Heenan type,
than full time wrestler? Do you see your role changing at all
with more matches, maybe in the X-Division? Are you okay with
your current role?
I was perfectly happy jumping into the role, have no problems
with the position I’m at right now. It was never an issue being
an on air personality, I feel that my strength is my
personality. So in regards to being put into more matches,
that’s great, but I honestly feel that my strength is not being
in the X-Division, I actually think that would be [kind of a]
detriment to my character. What’s great about Rockstar Spud, is
he’s constantly in the land of the giants, he’s constantly
against the odds. If you put Rockstar Spud in there with the
same height as you, then you’ve lost what’s unique about
Rockstar Spud. I don’t believe – it would be a detriment for the
character to be in the X-Division. I honestly think he should be
a little guy, the little engine that could, and will, and he’s
in the land of the giants. Because the visual of me standing
against a Bully Ray, or Rob Terry, or Knux, or any of these
giant monsters that we have on the Impact Wrestling roster, I
think there’s the visual, and there’s the entertainment. I don’t
think there’s much mileage in Rockstar Spud being in the
X-Division personally.
What were your first impressions of Ethan when you met him, and
how has your friendship with him grown? He told me had to keep
track of your potty mouth, to make sure you don’t swear around
children and old ladies.
Yeah, I’m not exactly the prince of tact. If I’ve got something
to say, I’m going to say it. Usually I’ll be oblivious to my
surroundings, I’ll be talking to my friends, and when I’m
talking to them I don’t expect anybody else to hear my
conversation, or listen in, as that’s quite rude as my mother
taught me. I am quite loud, I am quite boisterous, and usually
when I’m letting out the odd curse word, all of a sudden an old
lady will appear out of nowhere, or a small child. It could be
at a restaurant, and the parents will look over at me in
disgust, so [Ethan] does have to keep tabs on me. [Ethan]‘s a
wonderful human being, he’s a great friend, in and out of the
ring. I couldn’t ask for a better person to share moments on
screen with, we just have those kinds of personalities. We
hadn’t met each other before, and as soon as we did, we clicked.
He have the same brain in regards to pro wrestling, we think the
same way, we know our role, we know our place. We both have big
aspirations, we both want to become successful, we both want to
be the World Heavyweight Champion, we both want to be the guy.
The thing is, everyone will look at Ethan and think, that could
be a plausible claim, he could be the guy. What he respects
about me, is that even though I don’t have the physique, the
look that he does, that I also have aspirations like him of
being World Heavyweight Champion. It’s just one of those things,
we both clicked straight off the bat, and we’ve been friends
ever since. He’s one of my closest friends, he’s someone I’ll
always go to for guidance, or to blow off some steam. I can’t
believe another company just completely missed the boat with
him, because he’s the most entertaining thing I’ve seen on pro
wrestling television in the last 12 months.
What are your memories of your Impact appearances in the first
half of 2013, after winning British Boot Camp? How much did you
get to talk to guys like Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff?
I mean I said my hellos and pleasantries, but you’re not exactly
in a place where you can dictate your future, so to speak. To be
honest I look back at my sporadic appearances I had on Impact
after winning British Boot Camp, and I would have let me go. I
really would have, because there was no depth, I wasn’t
projecting through the television, and that’s an important
thing, I knew that every time I performed. When I was given the
role of Chief of Staff, it was a blessing because everything I’d
learned in OVW from Al Snow, Rip Rogers, and Danny Davis had all
sunk into me. But I just needed a fresh [start] to project it
all, and when they said we want you to be Dixie’s Chief of
Staff, I was like, ‘Yes! Thank you, and I’m going to knock this
out of the park for you.’ They were like okay, we’ll see, and I
was like, ‘No, you’ll see.’ It was just perfect timing, right
place, right time, right opportunity, and I’m very happy with
how it’s gone.
Ethan said that John Gaburick was the guy who helped him
formulate his character in TNA, did John also decide to bring
you on?
John was the man that called me, yes. I believe that there were
some thoughts on what to do with me, and they decided to go with
me as the Chief of Staff over someone else. I personally can’t
see anyone else being Dixie’s nephew than Ethan Carter, I can’t
obviously see anyone else being Samuel Shaw, other than the man
Samuel Shaw, and I can’t obviously see anyone else being a Bro
Man like Jesse and Robbie E., and I can’t see anyone else being
the Chief of Staff other than Rockstar Spud. It just shows that
you once embellish in a character, you can’t see anyone else
playing it, that’s them. That’s what’s so rewarding when you
have a writing team like we have, that just gives us the
opportunity and let’s us run with them, it’s a blessing.
Have you considered dropping ‘Rockstar’ from your name in TNA,
with that character kind of being dropped? Have you thought
about just going by Spud again?
Absolutely not, absolutely not. Every so often I’ll get someone
going, ‘Why do you call yourself a rock star? It’s so annoying,
you’re not even a rock star.’ [My response is], ‘Is it pissing
you off? Okay, then it stays.’ My job isn’t for you to like me
(chuckles), you can ask me til the cows come home, ‘Why do you
wear this stupid bowtie? Why do you wear this stupid suit?’ If
you’re asking the question, you’re obviously not that smart.
Now with some current events in TNA. TNA’s TV contract has been
extended through December with the move to Wednesdays, but
obviously you’ve seen the reports that Spike will not keep
Impact on beyond that, with rumors of Discovery’s Velocity
channel. What kind of communication has management had with you
guys regarding the deal? Have there been meetings about it? How
have you been talking to management, and getting updates on the
deal?
Well, a lot of the time I hear about meetings that have taken
place with the talent, that have not actually even taken place.
(Chuckles) So I’m always amazed you read the dirty sheets, and
what information they seem to have. But management is great at
communicating to us what is going on, where we’re at with
negotiations, and it’s awesome because we have that kind of
report with the offices here in TNA. With the move back to
Wednesday, which I think is fantastic, because Spike has been a
tremendous partner for TNA, and always has been the whole tenure
with them. They gave us another day to build our audience,
again, and we can get new fans on a Wednesday, we’ve got the
fans from Thursday, once the word gets out we can attract the
fans who have their TV schedules freed up on a Wednesday. I
firmly believe that wherever Spike put us on their channel, no
matter what day or the time, we would make it a success, because
that’s the type of fans we have. They follow us everywhere, and
they want to watch our product. So wherever Spike would have put
us, it would have been a success, and they’ve been a great
partner, so I hope it continues.
Ethan has said that Bully Ray did actually hold somewhat of a
meeting with the locker room, just to tell you guys about the
status of his contract, but that it might have been blown out of
proportion. But what do you think about Bully Ray possibly
leaving TNA?
Well I wasn’t personally there, because I was in England filming
British Boot Camp 2, and helping out with that process. If
someone like Bully Ray has to depart from the company, that
really does suck, because he brings a tremendous amount to the
company, in a backstage role and an on screen role. I’ve said
this in interviews before, if Hulk Hogan was around in the
80′s and so was Bully Ray, there wouldn’t be a Hulk Hogan
because Bully Ray would have knocked him out of the park.
Because Bubba has that connection with the audience, whether you
love or hate him, he can connect, and get inside your soul
(chuckles), you know what I mean? It would be a tremendous loss
if Bully Ray had to depart from TNA, but let’s see who is going
to step up and take that place. This is the wrestling business,
when one opportunity falls away, it’s another opportunity for
somebody else. So it would be good to see who steps up from
there, but if he leaves the company, would I be disappointed?
Absolutely, but like I said, it would be interesting to see who
stepped into that role.
How was it filming those skits at AJ Styles’ house, and working
with AJ near the end of his TNA run?
Wonderful, I mean I’ve known AJ from the independents all of the
times he would come over to England. That was fun, they did more
for the Rockstar Spud character, they did some great writing for
me, they’ve always done great writing for me. No matter what
they’ve given me, when you originally read it, I’m sure a lot of
people who are very serious about their character and
everything, I take my character serious, but when I see
something like the [AJ thing] written with me breaking into his
house, going to a bar, driving across America, or be kidnapped
by Willow, I embrace that sort of stuff. Let’s make this
entertaining TV, and I think the writers are doing a tremendous
job, and they’ve been brilliant to me. I just hope they know
that whatever they put Rockstar Spud in, Rockstar Spud is going
to make it successful and entertaining.
How was it hanging out with Vince Russo when he came by
Nashville, and what did you think about him leaving TNA?
I didn’t actually know that Vince was with TNA, up until fairly
recently obviously. He was a nice gentleman, it was just a
couple of dudes talking about pro wrestling really, and that was
it. I mean, I’m pretty sure it was blown out of proportion more
than it was, it was just a couple of dudes that met up and spoke
about professional wrestling. It’s sad when anyone leaves the
company, but as I said, that’s the wrestling business, sadly.
Did you get to work with Jeff Jarrett a lot last year when he
was around?
Very briefly, at the last couple of tapings [in 2013] he was
there. I came in mid November, and Jeff was there until the end
of the year. My brief dealings with Double J have always been
good, he’s a really entertaining man, and he’s got a good mind,
I wish him the best of luck in whatever he’s going to do.
Have you ever considered acting, or doing standup comedy?
Whenever I watch the show I think you’re one of the guys who
could cross over into that.
It’s something I’ve always thought of, and would love to venture
into. Whether it’s acting, comedy, or standup comedy. Jeremy
Borash is very successful with stand up comedy, he’s been on
some of Mick Foleys tours. I’d love to jump in two feet on that,
because I’ve heard it’s a very humbling experience, but also a
very good experience to kick you in check. It would be a nice
art form to learn, I’ve always been interesting in acting, and
any form of entertainment really. Theater I think is amazing,
sitcoms I’ve always been thoroughly interested in. I’m open to
any sort of opportunity with any form of entertainment, but
those are some of my favorites. I love standup comedy, I think
it’s a very amazing art form. Film, television, I’m a very big
movie buff as well. Hopefully if somebody sees me on Impact
Wrestling on Wednesdays doing my thing, they’ll go: ‘Oh there’s
someone there.’ You never know.
TNA have 3 or 4 tapings in Bethlehem coming up at the end of
September, just 2 or 3 weeks before Bound For Glory. Are you
guys going to be taping shows that are going to air after Bound
For Glory, and what’s that mean for Bound For Glory? Do you have
any ideas about that schedule?
I have absolutely no idea. We’ll find out in Bethlehem obviously
what we’re taping. Bound For Glory’s going to be really
exciting, a massive event for the company, because we’re going
to be taping in Tokyo, Japan. Looking forward to going back to
Japan, I was there earlier this year with Ethan Carter III for
Wrestle 1. It’s a great partnership that we have with them,
they’re tremendous. So on that front, really don’t know, but
looking forward to finding out just like everyone else.
What do you think of the tendency of heels today, especially in
WWE, still wanting to come off as cool as heels? You see it with
guys like, no disrespect towards him, Bray Wyatt, and some other
guys. There’s a lack of cheating as well. What do you think of
the art form of the heel, disappearing a bit in some of
professional wrestling?
I think you can’t draw money without love and hate. It’s the
same as a movie, where if there’s nothing for, let’s call it the
babyface, to overcome, then how are we supposed to care? I don’t
understand how you wouldn’t want to be someone who is this
badass character and not cheating, you just want to be him
because he’s beating people fair and square. It happened in
horror films, Freddy Krueger became the babyface, that’s what
happened. With that love and hate, I love this person enough
because I want to see him win, so I’m going to get off my couch
and pay money to see him win. I want to see who I love, beat the
hell out of this guy, because I hate him, I’m going to pay money
to see this guy lose and throw it in his face live. You see
these matches that everybody is chanting, ‘This is awesome! This
is awesome!’ It’s kind of like, (disinterested) oh, having a
great spectacle, but are you going to pay to see it again? Nah,
I’ve seen it man. And that’s what really bugs me about it, my
job is to get you pay money to see me get my ass kicked. It’s
not for me to turn up and have a 5 star match. My job is to
have you come and pay money to see me get beat up, and that’s
it. People misconstrue that, I think some companies directions,
they say are going away from the fundamentals of what this
business is, which is good vs. evil. But they’re actually still
doing it (chuckles), but they’re just saying it’s their way. It
just doesn’t make sense to me.
How is British Boot Camp Season 2 coming along, how it going to
be different format wise from the first one?
It’s going to be very different in regards to the audition
process, because instead of them just selecting 4 people,
they’re going to be selecting a number of people, out of a
number of people who apply in the United Kingdom. Then they’ll
go onto a big show in the capital of London, then they’re going
to find 6 people to take, so it’s going to be bigger and better,
because it’s obviously Series 2. It’s such a good concept,
everybody loved the first series, it was such a success, it’s
really cool to see people get the opportunity that I had. I’m
having the best time of my life, making some of the best
friends, having all these great opportunities. I hope someone
else gets to share what I’ve shared.
#Post#: 28733--------------------------------------------------
Re: Chat with Rockstar Spud. Talks Bully, Dixie, Bootcamp 2&
More
By: sharkboy1200 Date: August 27, 2014, 4:25 pm
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Read this just earlier today. Real cool and it sounds like
Garburick has been a real quality asset to TNA overall. People
seem to support him and if he's behind EC3 and Rockstar Spud
getting their opportunity to do what they do then he's
definitely doing good work over there. Doesn't seem to be a fan
of veteran talent though when it comes to long term contracts.
#Post#: 28739--------------------------------------------------
Re: Chat with Rockstar Spud. Talks Bully, Dixie, Bootcamp 2&
More
By: RosalindeDreams Date: August 29, 2014, 11:17 am
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Lord help me, I'm starting to like Spud-U-Like.
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