Under the Ring – Page 2 – Syndication Server

AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander has found her balance: ‘I can’t be too serious all the time’

Statlander also told Under the Ring that she owes the AEW World Champion a debt of gratitude for being her biggest early supporter.

No longer billed as being from the Andromeda Galaxy, Kris Statlander has proven she’s meant to be taken seriously as one of AEW’s top talents. That doesn’t mean she can’t have fun while doing so, however.

Statlander has battled her way back from injury twice already in her AEW career. The most recent time proved how much faith the company had in her, as she defeated Jade Cargill at Double or Nothing in May, ending Cargill’s long winning streak and claiming the TBS Championship.

She’s defended that title against all comers since then, including Cargill in a rematch, as well as Britt Baker on the Sept. 16 episode of AEW Collision. Statlander has left her persona as “The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien” behind, but as she told Under the Ring host Phil Strum, she doesn’t want to be all business all the time.

“I feel like I had the transition where I stopped being the alien and I became a much more serious version of myself,” Statlander said. “Then I got injured once again, and then I came back. And I feel like now, in this version of Kris that has come back from injury a second time, and has gone through super fun alien and very serious, I feel like we’re trying to find the balance: a fun, very cool, awesome person that can also be serious when she needs to be. I feel like a lot of people kind of feel that way, but that is kind of who I am.”

As if to emphasize that point, Statlander was briefly interrupted by her dog before finishing her thought.

“I can’t be too serious all the time, because that’s just not fun, and I like having fun, and I like laughing and making people laugh. And I’m in a group with the Best Friends, and they’re all a bunch of goofballs also, so it’s hard not to have fun when you’re with them.”

Check out Strum’s full conversation with the TBS Champion to dive in deeper on:

Statlander’s athletic background, including years spent as a gymnast
What translates well from gymnastics and stunt work to pro wrestling — and what doesn’t
The inspiration behind her recent “Zoolander”-themed ring gear and what it was like for Ben Stiller to notice it
Why she started incorporating elements of ASL into her entrances
The meaning behind using “More Than a Woman” as a slogan
How she got started in AEW, and why she owes a big debt to a certain AEW World Champion

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included top free agent Richard Holliday, ECW Original and current Impact Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer, and AEW star Powerhouse Hobbs.

To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to Under the Ring on Apple Podcasts or your podcast provider of choice, or check out the Under the Ring YouTube channel to see all of the interviews in video form.

Tommy Dreamer on what differentiates Impact Wrestling: ‘It’s wrestlers running a wrestling company’

The ECW Original also talked about his potential final match at Victory Road and shared some great Terry Funk stories.

Tommy Dreamer knows what he likes in a pro wrestling company. And he should; along with his well-known status as an ECW Original, the New York native has wrestled in promotions large and small, worked as a producer and coach, and run his own school and promotion.

In short, he’s done everything there is to do in the business. Dreamer now finds himself staring down the potential end of his in-ring days thanks to a Title vs. Career match with Kenny King at Impact Wrestling’s Victory Road on Sept. 8 — and he vows that if he loses, this really is it for him.

Dreamer says he doesn’t need the money, and he certainly could take it easier and simply chill as a host on the insanely popular “Busted Open” show on SiriusXM. But he sees something special in Impact at this particular moment in time, as he told host Phil Strum on the Under the Ring podcast.

“You have a lot of hard-working men and women behind the scenes as well,” Dreamer said. “It’s wrestlers running a wrestling company, and it’s from different aspects of the industry. That’s a big key, because everybody’s who’s helping behind the scenes gets it. You get the wrestler’s point of view.

“You understand the trials and tribulations of travel or any other thing that pops up that a lot of people, or in a corporate world, they don’t understand those things.”

Dreamer also said he appreciates the way Impact has been continually innovative, noting that the company probably doesn’t always get mentioned enough in that vein.

“AEW has their stuff they do with the Forbidden Door, cool; Impact’s been doing it for a long, long time,” Dreamer said, mentioning the company recently bringing in Sanada and snagging Will Ospreay for Bound for Glory. “They’re willing to work with everybody.

“Another thing you say about Impact, I don’t think it’s ever gotten the credit for all the stuff that it’s done historically in professional wrestling, what they’ve done first. And there’s been a lot of firsts.”

Dreamer and Strum go back a long way, which you can tell by listening to their full conversation above. Among the topic they covered were:

What’s unique about the Westchester County Center, the site of Victory Road and Impact 1000 — and what the building means to Dreamer personally
Tommy’s mixed emotions about putting his career on the line, and the real life factors that got folded into his challenge to King
What Impact needs to gain more overall awareness, and the importance of strong platforms in the current era of pro wrestling
Many great stories about the late Terry Funk
How Dreamer hopes he’s remembered when he’s completely gone from the business

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included AEW’s Powerhouse Hobbs, veteran wrestler Greg Gagne, and AEW star and recent All In headliner Adam Cole (bay bay).

Powerhouse Hobbs looking forward to ‘big man hoss fight’ with Miro at All Out

Powerhouse Hobbs also told Under the Ring some great stories about who first introduced him to the legends of the California wrestling scene.

When Powerhouse Hobbs steps in the ring with The Redeemer, Miro, in Chicago at AEW All Out, it will be the first time the two big men have ever wrestled. But that doesn’t mean they’re not familiar with each other.

On the contrary, Hobbs and Miro have known each other for years. They first crossed paths at KnokX Pro Entertainment in Hobbs’ native California, where the trainers included WWE Hall of Famer (and father of The Usos) Rikishi, Reno “Black Pearl” Anoa’i and Gangrel.

But as Hobbs told host Phil Strum on the latest episode of the Under the Ring podcast, that was “quite a while back.” Now that both men are established stars, he’s looking forward to their collision (no AEW pun intended) bringing something different to AEW fans.

“As far as the fan aspect, I don’t think the fans have seen a real big man hoss fight in AEW yet,” Hobbs said. “It’s not going to be a lot of flippity-doos and superkicks, it’s just gonna be two big MFs hitting each other.

“You know, Miro calls himself the big, jacked Bulgarian. Well I’m pretty much big, black and jacked, so it’s gonna be heavy hitting.”

While Hobbs wasn’t well known to the wider U.S. wrestling audience before he burst on the scene in AEW in the summer of 2020 — he says he was “stuck in a bubble in NorCal” — part of his appeal is the authenticity in his presentation. What you see is what you get with Powerhouse, and everything from his “Book of Hobbs” promos to his take no prisoners in-ring style is shaped by his upbringing.

“I grew up in the slums, in the hood, so all we had was wrestling and sports,” Hobbs said. “Growing up where I’m from, it taught me how to be tough … It definitely shaped who I am as an adult, but wrestling did the same thing.

“The way I grew up, man, I bring that to the ring.”

Check out Strum’s full chat with Powerhouse above to hear more of his insight on:

Which matches he considers the highlights of his career so far
Why “everyone loves a good ass kicker”
What it was like coming into AEW during the pandemic era, and why that made impressing his peers even more important
Who got him into pro wrestling at a young age
What he thinks of comparisons to Butch Reed, and what it meant to him to meet Reed’s family
His contributions to AEW’s efforts to destigmatize mental health discussions
Which AEW coaches and trainers he considers mentors — and who he calls “my wrestling dad”

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included veteran wrestler Greg Gagne, AEW star and recent All In headliner Adam Cole (bay bay) and AEW referee Aubrey Edwards

Adam Cole is ready for his All In moment: ‘I feel the best I have felt in years’

Adam Cole knows how fortunate he is to be in position to main event one of the biggest shows in pro wrestling history.

It’s safe to say that the significance of AEW All In isn’t lost on anyone involved. If it is, what could end up being the largest crowd in wrestling history at London’s Wembley Stadium this weekend will make them realize it real quick. Yet for Adam Cole, the road to the main event has been even more special — because just months ago, there was real doubt about whether he’d ever have an opportunity like this again.

Cole battled back from severe concussion symptoms that kept him out of action from June of 2022 until this March. After finally being cleared to return, he’s been one of AEW’s top stars, leading to his super popular pairing with AEW World Champion MJF.

Ahead of a night that will see him both team with and battle MJF, Cole told Under the Ring host Phil Strum that he battled some self-doubt early in his return but now feels absolutely ready for what’s in front of him.

“I feel great,” Cole said. “I feel really, really good. I’ve been wrestling for 15 years, and I remember thinking nine months is both a long time, and I would also trick myself into thinking ‘nine months isn’t that long.’ You know, I’ll jump right back into it and I’ll be totally fine.”

“And there definitely was a relearning curve when I came back,” he continued. “I think a lot of it had to do with the severity of what I went through. I remember being totally relieved and so happy that I was cleared by multiple doctors. But there still was that like, ‘God what if something else happens?’ type of fear, and I’m just being totally transparent and honest when it comes to that.

“But now as time has gone on, specifically, these past few months, I feel the best I have felt in years, honestly — in the ring, on the microphone, while traveling, in my personal life. Everything that’s happening right now, I could not be happier.”

A star in ROH, NTX and other promotions before joining AEW, Cole has seen and been through almost everything in the business. Check out his full discussion with Strum above to hear him talk about:

What it means to him to headline a show the magnitude of All In
Why he felt MJF would be a big star as soon as they first met
The crowd response he expects at All In
What it was like looking in from the outside when the first All In planted the seeds for what became AEW
How important a successful and viable AEW is to the entire wrestling business
The joy he gets from being in the same company as girlfriend Britt Baker, allowing them to travel and discuss wrestling together and simply be there for each other
What made the “black and gold” era of NXT so special, and how history will view it
The uniqueness of PWG and why its audience deserves credit for its rise to prominence on the independent scene
Who his mentors were at different stages of his career

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included AEW referee Aubrey Edwards, Lucha Libre (and WCW) legend Konnan, and WWE superstar Drew McIntyre,

Aubrey Edwards on the evolution of AEW Heels: ‘It’s been a really beautiful thing’

Edwards also told Under the Ring why being a pro wrestling referee is “surprisingly similar” to being a ballet background dancer.

Along with being one of the most recognizable referees in pro wrestling right now, Aubrey Edwards wears many hats for AEW. She co-hosts the AEW Unrestricted podcast with Tony Schiavone, and is involved with AEW Games — logical, given her background as a video game developer.

Yet somehow, Edwards still has time to be one of the driving forces behind AEW Heels. Though it started as a community “where women and female-identifying fans can come together and celebrate their love for professional wrestling,” and that’s still a big focus, Edwards told Under the Ring host Phil Strum that it’s become much more than that.

“As our membership has grown — I think in the last year, we’ve tripled our membership — we’ve just, as a result, kind of had to change what we offer and how we manage this community,” Edwards said. “A number of our community members are now moderators; they’re sort of helping us run the community and making sure that all of the pillars of what we’re trying to do is held true.

“We also have started kind of offering more content that is outside of focusing on just AEW talent. We’ll talk a lot about mental health. We’ll talk about LGBTQ+ issues. Because not only are we wrestling fans, that’s sort of the thing that brings us together, what makes us unique is that we’re people with different backgrounds and different successes, different failures, different things going on in our lives. So we’ve sort of had to adjust for what the community has grown into, but I think it’s been a really beautiful thing.”

Listen to the full discussion between Edwards and Strum to hear more about:

AEW Together and how Amanda Huber has made herself an integral part of AEW’s behind-the-scenes processes
The feedback Edwards gets from Tony Khan on everything she’s doing
Why she “never, ever in a million years would have imagined” herself building a career in the wrestling business
How being a wrestling referee is “surprisingly similar” to being a background dancer in a ballet production
What qualities are necessary to be an excellent referee — and a very common misconception about the role
Which matches were the wildest ones she’s ever worked
Why it wasn’t a big deal for her to referee men’s matches in AEW
Whether all pro wrestling refs all know each other
Tons about AEW Games

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship No. 1 contender EC3, Lucha Libre (and WCW) legend Konnan, and WWE superstar Drew McIntyre,

Konnan on AAA’s ambitions: ‘We’re negotiating to come into the United States in a major way’

Konnan also told Under the Ring who he felt were the most creative wrestlers out there today.

Thanks to a career that has seen him fulfill almost every role there is to play in the pro wrestling industry, Konnan emits a sense of self-confidence that is built on a foundation of having seen and done it all. So when he says that the third part of AAA’s Triplemania XXXI — which is set for Mexico City on Saturday, Aug. 12, and can be viewed in the U.S. on PPV through Fite TV — will be a great show, it’s easy to believe him.

Just don’t expect it to be what you’re accustomed to from U.S. wrestling promotions. As Konnan told Under the Ring host Phil Strum, that would be like complaining about the lack of hot dogs at a Mexican restaurant.

“Not only do we have our own universe, we have a different style,” Konnan said. “This is Lucha Libre. It’s not American pro wrestling, it’s not Japanese pro wrestling. And so, there are things that American fans won’t understand unless they’re real big fans of Lucha Libre, and vice versa.”

But one of the things that translates across any cultural divide is talent, which Mexico has been exporting from the Lucha Libre scene for decades, from legends like Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero to one of the most talked about wrestlers in the world today, El Hijo del Vikingo.

Those kinds of performers have helped prepare fans everywhere for what Konnan says is the logical next step for AAA: delivering authentic Lucha Libre directly to U.S. viewers.

“We have our own style, we love our style, we think it’s very creative,” he said. “We think it’s very different, and hopefully next year … I can’t get into details, but we’re negotiating to come into the United States in a major way, hopefully with a TV deal.”

Listen to Konnan’s full discussion with Strum above for more on:

How AAA tries to give each Triplemania show its own personality
The importance of Mask vs. Hair and Mask vs. Match matches within Lucha Libre, and why the one at Triplemania Mexico City has so much potential
What makes El Hijo del Vikingo such a special talent — and which other current wrestlers Konnan puts on his level in one special attribute
What he looks for when evaluating talent
How he felt seeing Mysterio inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and why he thinks Rey “revolutionized” the business
His thoughts on seeing his godson, Dominik Mysterio, catch on in WWE

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship No. 1 contender EC3, WWE superstar Drew McIntyre, and long-reigning former NXT North American Champion Wes Lee.

Drew McIntyre got his WWE ring name from Wikipedia

Drew McIntyre told Under the Ring that there was definitely not a grand plan behind his WWE ring name.

When Drew McIntyre made his WWE debut in the fall of 2007, he had one big thing going for him: the presence of English veteran Dave Taylor.

One thing he didn’t have? A ring name.

It seems wild now to think that the two-time WWE Champion’s first steps in the WWE weren’t meticulously planned out, but he had previously wrestled only under his real last name. As he told Under the Ring host Phil Strum ahead of his eagerly anticipated Intercontinental Championship match with Gunther at SummerSlam in Detroit, the decision on what to call him was made at the very last minute and with the help of a unlikely if very familiar source.

“It was bizarre, because I had just gotten to America like three weeks prior and suddenly I was on SmackDown,” McIntyre said. “And I was in the Gorilla position, before you go through the curtain, and Stephanie McMahon asked me, ‘Is your real name Galloway?’ And I said yeah, and she was like ‘hmm … usually we switch the name.’ Kind of thought about it, had a quick conversation with somebody and said ‘yeah we should probably switch it.’

“So I had to run to Talent Relations with Michael Hayes, look up Scottish names on Wikipedia, and all I kept saying is it has to be three syllables, it has to be chantable when I try and do it one day.”

After dismissing McDonald since it was the name of a now deceased friend also in the wrestling business, he settled on McIntyre, and the rest, as they say, is pro wrestling history.

Check out Strum’s full discussion with the Scottish Warrior above for more from McIntyre on:

His expectations for the SummerSlam showdown with Gunther
Why he feels that Gunther has “no ceiling” in the business
His unique relationship with Sheamus — and why he’s probably done making age jokes
Where Europe stands as a talent pipeline to WWE and other major promotions
What he learned while reinventing himself between WWE stints
Who had the most actual musical talent in 3MB

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included NXT star Wes Lee, recently returned Impact Wrestling star Eric Young, and ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe.

Even after losing title, Wes Lee has found his happiness in NXT

Wes Lee may no longer have his NXT title, but he has something even more valuable thanks to his experiences there.

Wes Lee could be excused for being a little bitter. Lee was looking forward to continuing his incredible string of NXT North American Championship title defenses this weekend at the Great American Bash, but got snookered by “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio.

While losing his championship to Dom is a development he admittedly didn’t see coming, the 28-year-old Ohio native has grown immensely during his time in NXT. Though he first made a splash as a member of the tag team MSK alongside Nash Carter, he had to fly on his own after WWE released Nash last spring following abuse allegations by Carter’s wife.

Lee could have sunk, but he swam instead — to the tune of 269 days with the North American title and 20 successful defenses. More importantly, as he told Under the Ring host Phil Strum, he gained a sense of identity and confidence along the way.

“First and foremost, Wes Lee is happy,” he said. “That was one of the things that I was really searching for, was my happiness. I was lost without my partner. We really, really cut our teeth together, and we grew a bond that is honestly really inseparable to this day.

“But not having him right by my side definitely made it very, very difficult for me to go through my day to day things. And as I grew on my own within this, I began to discover more about myself that I possibly was pushing to the side or trying to neglect in some kind of way.”

Lee called it “a blessing and a curse” to be thrown into a period of self-discovery so abruptly, but that he emerged better off for the experience.

“I actually have a lot more confidence in myself, and be able to know that I can stand toe to toe with some of the best in the world because I’m kind of also in that echelon as well.”

Check out Lee’s full chat with Strum above to hear more on:

What it meant to be such a workhorse champion
His fantastic match with Dijak at Vengeance Day and what made the two of them click
How his family, especially his grandmother, helped nurture his passion for pro wrestling at an early age
Who influenced his style and career the most when he was just getting started
How wrestlers with existing pro success fit into the scene at the WWE Performance Center

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included recently returned Impact Wrestling star Eric Young, ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe, and NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champion Madi Wrenkowski

Eric Young says leaving WWE was the best decision ‘professionally, personally, morally’

Eric Young also explained succinctly why Impact Wrestling is the pro wrestling fan’s pro wrestling show.

When veteran pro wrestlers get a second crack in WWE, it’s often a highlight of their career. For Eric Young, it was more of a reminder that he probably was where he belonged all along.

Young had a memorable first stint in WWE as part of the Sanity stable that made a big impression in NXT. He was released in April 2020 as part of a round of budget cuts and made his way back to Impact Wrestling, where he had enjoyed previous success.

Though Young signed with WWE again in November 2022, he left the company earlier this year without ever making an appearance. A Fightful Select (subscription required) report earlier this week suggested he departed because he didn’t want to work with Vince McMahon after the longtime WWE owner looked entrenched in his return to power with the impending Endeavor to merge WWE and UFC.

As a guest on Under the Ring, Young told host Phil Strum that he still couldn’t speak in detail about what went down in his brief second WWE life, but did confirm it was his choice to leave.

“There’s lots of stories out there,” the 43-year-old Ontario native said. “Obviously, by law, I’m not allowed to really talk about it. I will say I signed up for one thing and was given the option to do something else. And I made the right decision being back with Impact, there’s no doubt about that. Professionally, personally, morally.”

While he’s back in his “home” in Impact, Young has had a long and versatile career. Listen to the entire interview above to hear him talk more about:

Whether Impact will address his character’s status quo after he was claimed by “the grip of death” last December
How he first met Impact president Scott D’Amore and started a long-lasting friendship
Why Impact stands out by being a professional wrestling show written for professional wrestling fans
What his creative process is like and how he’s been able to wear so many hats
Who he wants to work with now that he’s back
What made Team Canada work so well
The story behind signing his first pro wrestling contract

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe, NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champion Madi Wrenkowski, and legendary wrestling journalist Bill Apter.

Madi Wrenkowski on being an NWA champion: ‘It’s all very surreal’

Madi Wrenkowski talked to Under the Ring about her start in the business, training under some famous names, and her Side Character Spotlight series.

Sometimes, working your way up through the ranks of pro wrestling can be a thankless job. Other times, like those that Madi Wrenkowski is currently experiencing, you end up as a champion in one of the most storied promotions in North America run by a literal rock star.

Such is life for Wrenkowski, as the Texan is one half of the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champions with her M95 partner, Missa Kate. The hard work in places like Thunder Rosa’s Mission Pro Wrestling and Natalya and TJ Wilson’s “Dungeon 20” is definitely paying off, but sometimes it surprises even her.

As she told Under the Ring host Phil Strum ahead of the NWA’s HP Cares for Cooper benefit show in Highland Park, Ill. on July 8, the wrestler who calls herself Miss Reality is still letting actual reality sink in.

“It honestly doesn’t hit you right away, it’s kind of in the weird moments that it hits you,” Wrenkowski said. “Just the other day, I was at the River Walk and we went to Hard Rock Cafe. And we were sitting at the bar, and I looked on the television screen and was like, ‘Why does this man who has hair look familiar?’ And then it registered to me, oh my God, that is my boss, that is Billy Corgan with hair. … It kind of hits you that your boss is a rock star when you’re eating in the middle of a restaurant.

“So it’s kind of a whirlwind that’s slowly starting to hit me. Every time we do these podcasts and people are like, ‘oh, what’s it like being one half of the NWA Women’s Champions?’ It kind of takes me aback every time and I’m like, ‘oh yeah, that’s me!’ It’s all very surreal, it what it’s sounding like I’m saying.”

Listen to Strum’s full conversation with this rising star above for Wrenkowski talking more about:

How she feels about being part of the HP Cares for Cooper event
Why both of the two tag teams she’s in work — though in very different ways
The creation of her Side Character Spotlight series on social media, and who she’d most like to have as a guest
Her personal journey into pro wrestling, beginning with watching shows with her brother
Why a background in competitive sports is helpful to a pro wrestler
Who she looks up to most in the business … including a current WWE champion

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included legendary wrestling journalist Bill Apter, veteran grappler Barry Horowitz, and NXT star Bron Breakker.