If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
** Highspots Wrestling Network hosted a virtual signing with Matt and Jeff Hardy. On top of wanting to be AEW World Tag Team Champions, Matt stated that he’s been talking with Jeff and he brought up the idea of going after the NWA World Tag Titles.
Matt: I was actually talking with Jeff [Hardy] on the way up here. Do you guys know who the current NWA Tag Team Champions are?
The reason I even bring that up was I was thinking after Jeff and I, you know, after we pick up these AEW World Tag Team Titles, maybe we can shoot and get those NWA Tag Titles. Put it on the resume. I mean just get everything we haven’t had, you know? So no team can touch us.
Elsewhere during the signing, Jeff looked back on defeating AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Title on the 8/21/20 Friday Night SmackDown. Jeff said it was strange having a moment like that with no fans in attendance.
Jeff: Yeah, my first night in the ThunderDome [was when I won the Intercontinental Title from AJ Styles]. So it was very surreal.
Yeah, it was crazy strange [having that moment without fans]. Before we went out, I told AJ, I said, ‘Man, I had the weirdest dream last night. We were having this killer match in front of like 2,100 people watching us through Zoom on these screens.’ He said, ‘What?’ ‘You know, I’m just kidding. This is gonna be strange.’ Oh my God.
** The Ringer’s ‘Masked Man Show’ has an interview with NBC ‘Young Rock’ Executive Producer and former WWE head writer Brian Gewirtz. Chris Jericho and Mickey Rourke’s once-scheduled WrestleMania match was brought up and that led to a conversation about ‘The Wrestler’ which Rourke starred in.
Gewirtz was able to see the film early because he was a part of The Writers Guild. Vince McMahon wanted to see the film but did not want to go to a theater and watch. Gewirtz recounted McMahon’s reaction to the film and Vince spoiling it for agents and writers in a meeting.
All I know is it was penciled in at one point [Chris Jericho vs. Mickey Rourke at WrestleMania] and then we were told it wasn’t happening. I will — I mean obviously, there’s — this is at the height of Oscar season and he’s coming off of ‘The Wrestler’ and this big Darren Aronofsky movie and it’s — the funny story from that was I was getting screeners from The Writers Guild, which you know, you keep very close to the vest. You don’t share those or anything. But, Vince [McMahon] really wanted — because he was wanting to bring in Mickey Rourke and he’s not going to the movie theater so he really wanted to see ‘The Wrestler’. So, I don’t know, is the statute of limitations over? It’s been 13, 14 years or whatever. [I told him] to watch ‘The Wrestler’ and return it to me and none of the agents or producers had seen ‘The Wrestler’ and Vince is in the production meeting and he basically just spoils the entire movie. ‘Yeah, you know, it was a good movie. It portrayed the business a little dark and then he goes up on the top rope and does the gimmick and dies. Anyways, seg four, what do we do?’ Everyone in the agent meeting was like, ‘Wait, I haven’t seen that yet.’ ‘Yeah, he probably dies. I don’t know. It’s a freeze frame gimmick. Anyways, seg four, who’s the match?’ Everyone was just crushed.
Gewirtz is putting out a book about his time as a head writer in WWE. He spoke about what people can expect from his book and expressed that he is going to tell the good, the bad and the crazy. He wants his book to be honest and entertaining without sugarcoating anything.
Yeah, well it’s one of those things where there hasn’t been — we haven’t made the formal announcement of it yet [Gewirtz’s book] … It’s up on Amazon in the pre-order thing with a cover to be revealed and the cover will be revealed soon. That’s what we’re working on. That’s kind of the last piece because the book is written and you know, everything — I just did the final pass. The only thing I haven’t done yet, which is the most painful for me as you can imagine is organizing the picture section, because I didn’t really take a lot of pictures. I would actually go out of my way to avoid pictures. But I do have some, so now I need to put them all together. But this is — yeah, this is a book that like, you know, you’re just thinking, I was thinking, if you don’t have stories after being in WWE for close to 16 years, then what are you doing? There’s no… there’s so many funny stories that I would just tell to friends or occasionally on a podcast, that damn, I should really get these all down on paper because it was a crazy journey, etcetera, etcetera but it really, truly is. Especially from a standpoint of there aren’t many books — there are plenty of books done by wrestlers, but there’s not many from the standpoint of a complete outsider coming into the business and surviving, thriving, whatever you wanna call it, for a decade-and-a-half from a behind-the-scenes perspective and I just felt that, you know, with the state that the business is in now with — like we were talking about earlier, like writers, even their existence being acknowledged, that it was the right time to do something like this and not in a — what I don’t like and I don’t want my book to certainly be is one of those like, all right, here’s everything wrong with WWE and they — I tried to do an expense report for a ring of paper and they wouldn’t put it through and I had to pay for it myself. Chapter two, this was the time where I didn’t get — you know, it’s not totally — it’s not that type of book. It’s more of the, you know, funny, surreal, insane stories that I experienced with the biggest names in wrestling and WWE for over a decade and Vince [McMahon] and also, you know, not to — and I don’t wanna paint anything in a way that it wasn’t so I’m putting in the good, the bad, the ugly, the crazy. Really trying to model after the Mick Foley, Chris Jericho books because I think they do a great job of being very honest and very entertaining at the same time, but also not sugarcoating anything.
** On the 3/16 AEW Dynamite, Thunder Rosa became the company’s new Women’s World Champion. She was interviewed by NBC Sports Boston and reflected on her title win.
I don’t know [how to process being the AEW Women’s World Champion]. I’m still trying to — that’s the same question my husband made for me yesterday before we went to sleep. He hugged me, he was like, ‘How do you feel? To be a champion?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know.’ I’m still trying to figure it out. I mean, I was trying to take pictures for my chiropractor because apparently, one of his clients is a really big wrestling fan and she tagged me in a picture that they have in the office. I was like, I guess I am famous now. So, that feels weird. Wednesday, when we were leaving the venue, there was maybe like 100 people waiting outside of where the trucks were and they had to drive me out of the place because as you saw, the reaction after I won, it was pretty big and I remember just feeling my Selena moment, right? I turned the window down [and waved at everybody]. They’re like following me on the thing and I’m like holy sh*t. It was really special, very special.
With her victory, Rosa became the first Mexican-born woman to win a world title in a major U.S. wrestling promotion. She expressed that it is an amazing feeling and added that she always felt she was destined to achieve something big and that title win was that moment for her.
It’s amazing. It’s an amazing feeling that a female, for the first time in, holy Jesus, like a hundred years or so? Is able to earn a championship like this. It’s unbelievable. I am a very down to earth person and every accomplishment that I earn is always like, I did it but I don’t want that to get to my head. So, I don’t know. It’s just… I don’t know. I was telling that to my dad. I was like, ‘Do you understand this is historical?’ He was just like, ‘No, I really don’t but this sounds pretty cool.’ But I don’t know. I was destined for this. I think that’s what I… my whole entire life, I knew I was gonna do something really, really [big] and this is humongous.
** The Asylum Wrestling Store presented a virtual meet-and-greet with Torrie Wilson as the featured guest. While speaking about today’s women’s division in WWE, Wilson touched on Becky Lynch’s return at SummerSlam 2021 and defeating Bianca Belair in under 30 seconds. Here’s what she had to say:
Wasn’t that — Bianca [Belair] was supposed to wrestle Carmella, right? And then Becky [Lynch] came out and Carmella — she kind of made both of them look really bad.
Fit Finlay is credited as an advocate for the women’s division in WWE during the early 2000s. Wilson further backed that sentiment and added that the likes of Eddie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero and Billy Kidman would go to bat for the women as well.
I mean Fit [Finlay] was by far the biggest [advocate for the women’s division]. He always fought for us but, believe it or not, Chavo Guerrero, Eddie Guerrero, Billy Kidman, a lot of the cruiserweights really pushed for the women to, you know, kick more butt in the ring and you know, but Fit was probably really the biggest factor. I mean he fought for us when we didn’t know he was fighting for us.
Continuing on the topic, Wilson stated that John Cena, Rey Mysterio and Jamie Noble would help and practice with them before shows.
I would say probably that same group that I mentioned [were the list of people who helped me out individually as a wrestler]. Eddie Guerrero did a lot. He would pull me to the side and talk to me, not just about moves really but more about character stuff and how I should still be a girl in between trying to be tough and Chavo [Guerrero], Chavo was always in the ring working with us, so was Billy Kidman and Jamie Noble, Rey Mysterio also, and even John Cena. We — he was always at the shows early and us women, we would always go to the house shows early to practice and learn more and he was always there throwing in some advice too.
During the meet-and-greet, Wilson not being in the more recent WWE video games was continuously brought up. She admitted that initially, her feelings were hurt by that.
You know what? [At] the beginning, it was kind of — my feelings were hurt. I was like, man, that kind of stinks. I’m in the Hall of Fame. I thought I was supposed to get in video games or something and then I was kind of like, you know what? It’s all good, I’m fine. I can focus on my fitness. You know, it is what it is.
** Josh Woods guest appeared on the Front Row Material podcast. Woods shared that he contracted COVID-19 in December and detailed his experience with the virus.
I work out every day and I try to go outside when I can and walk my dog a lot. I actually had-had COVID for a second time in December. Yeah, that wasn’t neat and nothing I could do about it. I mean I take vitamins just like everyone else. About five days, a pretty sore throat but other than that, a little bit of fevers and chills but it was done pretty quickly.
Over the past several months, Josh Woods has competed for AEW on their ‘Dark’ program. He said he would like to be with AEW full-time and thinks he could bring something different to the table as far as his in-ring style goes.
I mean that’s always on the table [doing more work with AEW]. You know, I would love to be there. I think I would thrive there. Obviously, I can’t make Tony [Khan] sign me but any opportunity — unless I can. Nah, I’m just kidding. Tony’s really cool… I think I could do really well there, just as far as what I bring is probably pretty different than everyone else there I think? Yes, yes it is. So yeah, I would like to be there if that was an option on the table. A lot of people that are there in a position of power came from Ring of Honor so I do have a really good relationship with everyone there and they’re great and if I got to be there, I would love it and if not, hey man, it’s okay too. It’s not the end of the world.
From 2014-2016, Woods was signed to WWE. He told the story of when he was at the Performance Center and The Undertaker asked him to come work with him in the ring. Woods was in the early stages of his training at the time.
Taker was there [WWE Performance Center] a couple of times and I got to drop like an elbow on Taker’s leg and work it for a couple minutes. It was really cool and this is [at] the point [where] I didn’t even learn how to lock up yet. We were just doing drills and running and hitting the ropes. He was talking to Bill DeMott; at the time, [he] was the coach and he’s talking to Bill and talking to our class so we’re the beginner class and he’s like, ‘Hey shooter, come work my leg’ and I was like, ‘What is that?’ [Woods laughed] I’m just like, ‘Well, okay.’ He goes, ‘All right man, just drop this elbow on it.’ I was like, ‘Yes sir, okay. Okay, whatever.’ I was like working it and he’s talking and working with me. I was like yes, this is the best ever because I’m a huge Undertaker fan so yeah, that was really cool for me so that was probably like the highest moment I ever had at NXT.
** The latest guest on GAW TV was former WWE Women’s Champion Candice Michelle. She weighed in on the presentation of the women’s division during her full-time run with WWE. Candice did not have an issue with the ‘sex sells’ presentation and thinks she was good at it. She brought up the Playboy magazine opportunity and shared that she made six-figures by being on the cover.
You know, I love the whole ‘sex sells’ thing. I think we were all very, very good at it. But I also love the challenge of us trying to get out of that. We were — that was our opportunity and so, I didn’t mind the Bra & Panties matches. The one I did mind a little was the WrestleMania Gown match, down to Bra & Panties with the bed in the ring and Playboy match and trying to do a suplex all in there. That was difficult, but for us, it was such a journey of proving ourselves which it’s still the same journey today and I think we all paved — everybody on here [Mickie James, Lisa Marie Varon & SoCal Val] paved a way in some way, shape or form for what it is today. I mean nobody has to do a damn ‘pudding’ match. That one, I would never do again. But I didn’t mind. Playboy, for me, was a dream. I dreamed to be in Playboy so it wasn’t like this chauvinistic thing or bad opportunity for me. That was a dream come true and so to grace it on the cover and get six figures for that, it was like I had that opportunity because of WWE so it took my dream to another level so, sex does sell and still nowadays, the women are so stunning and beautiful and it’s still there but they just get to have more time to tell their stories and show their athleticism more and I’m just so proud of them, you know? And Mickie’s still in it. I have no idea how your body handles it.
I can’t even imagine. You’re my hero. The last decade I’ve been out and still going on top and so it’s incredible to see what you’re doing.
** Sportskeeda went live on their social media platforms with Briana Brandy f.k.a. B-FAB of Hit Row. She discussed Shane ‘Swerve’ Strickland’s AEW debut and being excited for what is to come for him in the company.
So, about Swerve’s debut, I am very proud of that man. I mean he wrestled — out of all of us in the group, Swerve has wrestled the longest so for him to go on and be in AEW, I’m so proud of him. He’s gonna do wonderful things over there. I know he’s going to fit in perfectly and he has a lot of his friends over there already so, I’m super excited for him to be in AEW. His debut was amazing. I expected nothing less of this man.
** AEW’s Hikaru Shida spoke to the press after her match at Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling’s ‘Grand Princess’ show.
3.19両国大会 試合後コメント🎙
志田「私AEWのベルト獲った時、ノーDQ戦だったんですよ。そんな私とハードコア？ その心意気いいじゃないですか。これから志田光は世界中で活躍していきますよ。乃蒼ヒカリが私を捕まえて、試合をする時は今度こそハードコアでやりましょう」#tjpw #tjpwGP22 #AEW pic.twitter.com/kQFaxe46v7
— 東京女子プロレス (@tjpw2013) March 19, 2022
** NJPW New Japan Cup Results (3/20/22) Niigata, Japan
– YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano def. Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima
– Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI def. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroshi Tanahashi
– Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale) def. Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi, Jado, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
– House of Torture (Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi, EVIL & SHO) def. TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki & El Desperado
– Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI def. Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe
– United Empire (Will Ospreay, Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan) def. DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
– New Japan Cup Quarterfinal Match: Tetsuya Naito def. Jeff Cobb
– New Japan Cup Quarterfinal Match: Kazuchika Okada def. CIMA
** Dominic DeAngelo of WrestleZone conducted an interview with Big Damo, who is making his New Japan Strong debut at Strong Style Evolved.
** FOX’s Charlotte, North Carolina affiliate ran a story about the 3/18 Friday Night SmackDown in Charlotte.
** To promote WWE’s house show in Roanoke, Virginia on May 15th, Drew McIntyre appeared on WFXR.
** Pro Wrestling NOAH ‘Just Fine!’ Results (3/20/22) Kumamoto, Japan
– Alejandro & Kai Fujimura def. Kinya Okada & Yasutaka Yano
– Funky Express (Akitoshi Saito, King Tany & Mohammed Yone) def. Kongo (Hajime Ohara, Nio & Tadasuke)
– Kotaro Suzuki, NOSAWA Rongai & Super Crazy def. Atsushi Kotoge, Hao & YO-HEY
– Masato Tanaka & Takashi Sugiura def. Masa Kitamiya & Yoshiki Inamura
– HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Naomichi Marufuji def. Daisuke Harada, Junta Miyawaki & Kaito Kiyomiya
– Kongo (Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kenoh & Manabu Soya) def. Daiki Inaba, Go Shiozaki & Masaaki Mochizuki
** Big Swole on The AJ Awesome Show:
** March 20th birthdays in wrestling: Matt Taven, Jonathan Gresham, Angelo Parker (AEW), Sting, Hakim Zane (Rohit Raju).
** IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Tasha Steelz was interviewed by ‘Gimme A Hull Yeah!’
** Big Japan Pro Wrestling Results (3/20/22) Kanagawa, Japan
– Kazumi Kikuta def. Kazumasa Yoshida
– Yuichi Taniguchi def. Abdullah Kobayashi
– Akira Hyodo & Kota Sekifuda def. Chicharito Shoki & Kosuke Sato
– Daiju Wakamatsu & Drew Parker def. Kankuro Hoshino & Ryuji Ito
– Hideyoshi Kamitani, Kazuki Hashimoto & Takuya Nomura def. Daisuke Sekimoto, Yuji Okabayashi & Takuho Kato
** The Wrestling Perspective Podcast welcomed Lance Archer onto the show.
If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
