Interview with ROH's Nigel McGuinness

Recently I got the chance to interview Ring of Honor's Heavyweight Champion, Nigel McGuinness via email.

For those who aren't familiar with the Nigel McGuinness, just YouTube him and you'll see just why he's set the independent wrestling scene on fire.

Born in London, England the 6'1" 220lbs phenom made quick work of legendary Les Thatcher's wrestling school.He has made his way, holding world titles everywhere he's gone.

Known for his Jawbreaker lariat, carefree attitude and his in your face style, this spiked hair warrior from across the pond is as fierce as he is cocky.

He's had notable feuds with Brian Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli.

But without further delay, here's what Nigel McGuinness had to say:

Daris Brown: I read you became a serious fan after attending the SummerSlam PPV where Bret Hart battled British Bulldog. What gave you the confidence to think you could fly to the US and succeed as a professional wrestler?
Nigel McGuinness: Movies. Hope.

DB: Who has had the greatest impact in your career?
NM: Les Thatcher. Shark Boy. William Regal. Samoa Joe. Bryan Danielson.

DB: Why is it that we see long title reigns, such as yours in ROH, where in WWE and TNA the belt changes every other month?
NM: Just a difference of philosophy.

DB: Who’s your favorite opponent?
NM: Clamdigger Danielson.

DB: Who haven’t you faced that you’d like to tie up with?
NM: John Cena on PPV.

DB: You’ve been one of the longest reigning champions in ROH, defeated the best the business has to offer, what’s left for you to do there?
NM: Create a legacy, best Joe's record.

DB: If you weren’t a pro wrestler, how would you make a living?
NM: Writer, salesman, barman.

DB:Best thing about being a pro wrestler?
NM: It's what I always wanted to do.

DB: Worst thing about being a pro wrestler?
NM: Destroying your body.

DB: If you had to start your own promotion, who would be the first person you’d sign? Why?
NM: Dragon. 2nd best wrestler in the world.

DB: What’s one thing your fans would be surprised to find out about you?
NM: I like classical music.

DB: What’s the best road story you can share?
NM: Nothing worth writing.

DB: You’ve appeared in both the WWE and TNA for brief stints, with your huge success in the independents, why haven’t you been signed by the “big two” yet?
NM: If you figure it out let me know.

DB: Any advice to those thinking about getting into the business?
NM: Don't. Unless you a. look like Brock Lesnar, or b. don't care if you make money at it.

DB: Anything you’d like to share with your fans?
NM: Their disrespect.

Interview with TNA's Eric Young

Eric Young Interview (7/15/08)

I like to thank you for taking time out to do this interview with Myrtle Beach Life.com. I’d like to talk to you today about TNA’s first ever show in Florence, SC, on Saturday July 26, and about you of course.

Daris Brown: Tell the fans what they can expect from a TNA House Show.

Eric Young: If you’ve never been to a live wrestling show and you’re a fan, or a casual fan, it’s something you really have to experience. There’s nothing like being at a live pro wrestling event. And TNA puts on the best live event in the entire industry. It’s worth the drive. It’s worth the money. You won’t be disappointed. It’s an experience.

DB: You broke into wrestling when it was at its peak. Where You A Wrestling Fan Growing Up?

EY: Yeah I’ve been a pro wrestling fan since I was 6. That’s my first memory of pro wrestling that I can remember. But I’ve been a fan my entire life.

DB: Who did you look up to growing up?

EY: There’s a pretty big list. Shawn Michaels is my favorite. But I like Owen Hart, Bret Hart of course (I’m from Canada so you have no choice), Terry Funk, Ric Flair, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Sting, the list goes on and on.

DB: You have had some of the best followings in TNA. You’re known as Paranoid Eric, Don’t Fire Eric and your association, or non association, with Super Eric. Do you ever worry that you’re not going be taken seriously as a wrestler?

EY: No. It’s the role I’ve been given and I run with it. I love what I’m doing and it’s so much fun. Things can change, I’m not worrying about it because I know I can wrestle. I don’t worry about it, I just go out there and make it the most entertaining for the fans that I can.

DB: Do you follow the online crowd?

EY: To be honest, not really. I don’t follow it. There are a lot of people out there giving their opinions and they’re entitled to their opinions. But they haven’t been in the wrestling ring. The fans have a right to criticize stuff. But to put us down just to put us down just makes it hard for us, so I don’t really follow it.

DB: With TNA being on a major network (Spike), there’s a video game coming out, TNA is on the way up and you’ve beat the WWE’s ECW in ratings. Does TNA’s roster pay attention to it?

EY: Everyone pays attention to it to a certain degree. I keep my eye on it and ask about it each week. But it’s out of my hands. I just try to make my part of the show entertaining and do the best that I can do.

DB: You were recently in a six-man tag match involving X-Division champ Petey Williams on Impact, on Spike TV, will you be challenging for his title soon?

EY: To be honest. I don’t know what the plans are. It would be fun. I’ve known Petey for years, I wrestled him in his second match ever. There’s history. We’ve been in Team Canada. So It would be interesting.

DB: TNA started off featuring stars of the X-Division. But now so many former WWE stars are jumping ship. Does the locker room fear that this is a similar path taken by WCW which gained success before going under?

EY: I don’t think so. The problems that were there, aren’t here. It’s a completely different product here. Ours is way smarter. Speaking with some guys that were there during that time it was a mess. Some fans who were watching didn’t even realize how disorganized it was.

DB: What’s something about you you’re fans would be surprised to hear?

EY: I was valedictorian of my high school. But I was also captain of rugby team, goalie in soccer, on the AAA travel hockey team. So I was definitely a jock too. I was also into drama and stuff too. So I was an ecliptic young man.

DB: Once your career is over, and you hang up the boots, what’s out there for Eric Young? Road Agent? Manager? Car Lot Owner?

EY: I would hope something in wrestling. I have an interest in film, acting, maybe some stunt work – depending on how healthy I stay. But I’ll be a pro wrestler until they kick me out.

DB: You’re known to associate with a star by the name of Super Eric. Now we know that he has no known weaknesses, but do you?

EY: Eric Young has many weaknesses. I hope to grow up and be just like Super Eric someday.

DB: TNA is coming out with a video game soon. How involved have you been?

EY: We’ve been heavily involved in the making of the game. We told them what we like about wrestling games. What we don’t like. Eric Young plays a big part of the story line. They flew me up to L.A. and I did voice over and they got visual images of my face. And now I have an action figure that I didn’t have to make myself. I can die happy now.

DB: If you can work with any wrestler in TNA, who would it be?

EY: There’s a lot that I haven’t got to work with yet. But my favorite is Bobby Roode, because we have great chemistry and out of the ring. And he’s a complete professional.

DB: Who would you like to wrestle with from the past or present?

EY: There’s a huge list of guys. But I would say AJ Styles. A lot of guys don’t even know that I know what I’m doing, so that would be great to show them. Also working with Bobby again, that’d be good.

DB: Awesome Kong is now challenging men. Are you brave enough to take her on?

EY: Absolutely not. No.

DB: Anything you want to tell your fans before we leave?

EY: Thanks for watching the product and thanks for the support. If TNA comes anywhere close to you, you have to go. Plus you can get in the ring for meet and greets. You can get autographs from wrestlers like Christian Cage, Kurt Angle and everyone else. And the matches are all good. There are no cameras so the wrestling is first. So if you get a chance to go to one, go to one.

DB: Well, Eric I’d like to thank you for your time.

EY: No problem. Have a good one.