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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 8, 2015 0:29:52 GMT -6
TNA star Drew Galloway (Drew McIntyre) recently spoke with Donald Wood, Mike Chikari and Brandon Galvin of Ring Rust Radio. The full audio is above and can be accessed at this link. Below are highlights:
Donald Wood: Arguably the biggest move TNA has made over the last year besides the jump to Destination America every Friday night at 9 PM was signing you. What was the decision process like signing with Impact Wrestling and what are your long-term goals with the company?
The process involved obviously talking with the bosses over there. I was over in Scotland for a show, for a Scottish company ICW. I spoke with them and initially I was a little apprehensive. I wasn't looking to get back on American TV so quickly to be honest. I spoke with the bosses there and they told me the plan and I got excited about. With Destination America deal and the opportunity to be a part of something on the ground floor and try to build it up, and the opportunity to just be myself. Anything you see on TNA is me, that's Drew Galloway 100%. I'm talking ad Drew Galloway, I'm wrestling as Drew Galloway, and it's no gimmicks. I get to just be a wrestler and be myself. I'm getting the opportunity to do that with TNA and I couldn't be any happier right now.
Mike Chiari: You worked almost exclusively as a heel during your time in WWE, but you've quickly become one of the most popular baby faces in TNA. What has that transition been like for you, and what is your preference between the two?
Honestly I don't have a preference, I just kind of do my thing. If you notice the way I wrestle, I do wrestle more like a heel even when I'm a face. I just have a particular style like I'm a hybrid European/American with a little bit of strong style in there. Honestly I don't have a preference. I legit wrestle how I wrestle. If the fans are on board their going to cheer, and if they aren't digging it they are going to boo. Either way I am having fun. It's weird to be cheered to be honest, I'm just used to being the bad guy. The fans are digging what I am saying because everything I say is me, it's not scripted. It's Drew Galloway speaking his mind and they feel the same way if they are getting behind it. I want to say thank you to them for loving wrestling as much as I do.
Brandon Galvin: You recently formed a stable known as The Rising with Eli Drake and Myka to go up against the Beat Down Clan. You've been part of stables before, but as the clear-cut leader of this one what are you hoping to accomplish and why do you feel like the three of you will have success as a unit in TNA?
Well the guys I joined up with are guys that feel the same way I do about wrestling. They are really young, eager, and hungry. Obviously Haku's son is a great part of the group. He's got that family tradition and he loves wrestling more than anything. Shaun Ricker is my third man there. He is a young kid that's being trying hard to get a break and just hasn't gotten the opportunity yet. He has a great look and great passion. These are a couple of guys I'm excited to be running with me. Over the next couple of weeks, especially this Friday, you're going to learn a little more about the group. We are going to be tweeting out the live tweets during the show. So if you are a fan out there, tweet what you're thinking, tweet what you want, say anything in the world, and I have a hands on approach and I'll make sure it gets on the show. It's going to be an exciting few weeks coming up and you're going to find out a lot about the Rising.
Donald Wood: After your departure from the WWE, you spent a lot of time getting back to your roots on the independent scene. How did working the indies influence your style now and did it help your confidence after being underutilized for so long?
Absolutely. It was fun to do those lengthy matches once again. When I got into wrestling, I wanted to, you know, wrestle. I'm 29 years old, everyone seems to think I'm in my mid to late thirties just because I have been around for so long. I started when I was 15, wrestled the indies for six years, I signed with the WWE when I was 21 and stayed there for eight years. All I ever wanted to do was wrestle whenever I had the opportunity. I did make a few bold statements initially when I was cut from the WWE on Chris Jericho's podcast. I told the world they never got to see the real me. A lot of people believed in me and gave me opportunities and I was very lucky with the places I have been and the titles I've won. I am currently holding five titles over three continents. Luckily I am making a name for myself and people are believing in me and giving me that opportunity. Places like TNA just giving Drew Galloway the chance to be Drew Galloway.
Mike Chiari: I think most fans expected you to become world champion in WWE because of your early success and because of the "Chosen One" moniker. It didn't come to fruition, but what do you think you learned from that situation that might help you have success as a main event guy now and in the future?
Well obviously you can't help but learn getting thrust into that position and that kind of opportunity. Unfortunately, being so young and the circumstances and stories and whatever else, you think those work out but I obviously learned a great deal. I have been wrestling for fourteen years now and I've had those big opportunities and had opportunities to show that side of my personality. I even got to show the funnier side of my personality, so you know it was fun and I got the exposure from it. Without the WWE and the exposure I never would have gotten my chance to get my name out there in the indies, get myself to where I got to, and get myself into TNA and show the world the real Drew. I can't be anything but thankful for that and now I am in my prime: I am 29 and I am ready to rock and the main event is the only place I'm going to be.
Brandon Galvin: You've played several types of characters during your career. Do you enjoy the challenge of trying to adjust to a new role, or do you prefer to stick to one character and see it through?
I would say the real answer is I prefer to be myself, I think that's the most successful character. It's a challenge but it can be fun playing a character. I played two completely different characters in the WWE and they were both night and day. Some of that is fun doing it on such a big stage, but honestly to be myself is the ultimate for me. The most successful characters were just extensions of people's personalities. In this case it's not an extension of my personality, it's loud and it's passionate but that's just me. You hear me right now, I literally just finished a match. I'm all amped up, I'm starting to fire off, my accent comes out, I probably talk to quick, but I can't help it I just love this so much. That's not a character, that's Drew Galloway, and he is a wrestling geek, and the ultimate smart mark.
Donald Wood: You talk about TNA and how they utilize you, and so far you have been utilized very well. Talking about the World title, is winning the World title your ultimate goal in TNA and how long do you think it's going to be until you're in contention for it?
Well, if you're not hoping to win the World title than you're out of your mind. That is the prize and that is the goal. Kurt Angle currently has it and I'm very excited for the chance and opportunity to wrestle Kurt. That's somebody I grew up watching and every time he came on the TV I was very, very excited to watch. The idea and the possibility to wrestle Kurt Angle for the World title, I mean, holy crap. Would you guys think if you were in a position to potentially get that opportunity would it be the dream right now? I'm going to keep working my arse off until I get there. I would be the busiest wrestler in the World. I was in Australia ten days ago, then I was in Tampa, San Jose, Scotland, London yesterday, and Belfast tonight. I am the World's busiest wrestler and I'm going to keep busting my arse till I get my hands on that TNA World title.
Mike Chiari: Since coming to TNA your message has been that you're representing the wrestling fans and what they want to see rather than promotions pushing what they think is best onto the fans. Having experienced so much in the wrestling business, what do you think are some of the fundamental problems that you'd like to help change moving forward?
Like I said, I would like there to be wrestling on the wrestling shows. When fans react to somebody and they obviously like somebody, that person should get the opportunity. In the end, it's the fans that paid to come and see, to turn on the TV show, and if you don't give them what they want their going to turn the other direction. Right now, there are so many companies offering so many alternatives for fans to watch. TNA just has such an incredible roster and guys I cannot wait to wrestle. Just getting the wrestling on the wrestling shows is fundamental. It's like watching wrestling for any other reason than to see wrestling. Fans get invested in the people through the wrestling and just give the fans what they want.
Brandon Galvin: You are just getting started with TNA and you haven't had the opportunity to work with a vast majority of the Impact Wrestling roster. Who are some of the top names you are looking forward to steeping in the ring against and why?
There are so many guys I don't want to leave anyone out backstage. Austin Aries, I have wrestled him once before at the ECW arena and that was a lot of fun. I'd love to wrestle Jeff Hardy, another guy I watched growing up. Matt Hardy and I could tangle again. There's so many guys, I don't want to be rude. Lashley is up there. Bram and I are going to beat the crap out of each other and I hope he is listening right now. I know soon enough Bram and I are going to tangle. We are buddies and go way back, but watch out for that because it's going to be an absolute war. If I am missing anyone out, you pretty much know who they are if you watch the show. The guys that are awesome are the ones I want to wrestle. As much as Bram and I are going to be a way, Low Ki and I are going to be the war of wars. I can't stress that enough. A big part of the Risings success is the heat between Low Ki and I and the animosity between us. It's real, it's very real, and when that match comes you better put the kids to bed early. It's going to be more than a war.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 10, 2015 22:21:22 GMT -6
I recently interviewed TNA star Drew Galloway, who competed as Drew McIntyre in WWE. During the interview, which will be posted in its entirety next week, I asked Galloway about signing with TNA and if the company had been on his radar.
"The truth is it absolutely had not," Galloway said. "I was looking to not be on American TV so soon. I was on there not even 8 months prior. I was establishing myself and getting a following, traveling the world and making money. I came back to Scotland on a Sunday and TNA was doing a show on the British tour. I got three missed calls from a number I didn't recognize and threw my phone away because I was sleeping. Finally Tommy Dreamer text me and said 'You may want to answer your phone, TNA tried to call you.' So I said, 'yeah I'll call back.' I spoke to a couple of the bosses and was initially apprehensive, but as soon as I spoke to them I knew it was the right decision to make.
"The opportunity to be a part of something on Destination America, the network is so behind the show. It's going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. The biggest thing for me it they were gonna let me be Drew, let me have a microphone and speak my mind. I could wrestle as myself and do my independent work that I've worked so hard on for the 8 months prior and that was really important to me. Things have just exploded and things are very exciting right now. I'm happier than I've ever been."
Galloway also discussed the changes the company has made, and is excited about the company continuing to evolve.
"I'm the biggest wrestling fan in the world, the biggest smart mark, the biggest geek," Galloway admitted. "I've always been such a fan. Since the switch was made, a lot of changes have been made. A lot of cool camera angles, it looks very different. There's obviously been a much bigger focus on the in-ring wrestling. Most wrestling fans aren't excited to see a guy talking into a microphone, but that's part of it, part of the character. I love wrestling, and that's a big focus of the show. So many of the guys are talented in the ring and that was a deciding factor. For people that have been off the product — just give it a chance.
"[Tonight] for instance, the new group The Rising, a couple of guys that are joining me in Eli Drake and Myka (Haku's son). They weren't really given an opportunity and will be appearing on the show giving our mission statement, telling you what our plans are. Good matches that I won't spoil for anyone, but we'll be doing live tweeting during the show. It's not a wrestling storyline, it's a real thing. It's really how I view it. We want to see what the fans want. Tweet your opinions and your views and it'll show up this Friday. I'm not trying to be a leader, I'm just asking everyone to walk with me. If you want pro wrestling to grow or change, don't put it on a message board. Tell me, tell TNA. We're looking to make a difference. I'm fired up that they're giving me this opportunity, so let's make a change. I don't want to sound gimmicky, but let's stand up."
You can catch Impact Wrestling on Destination America tonight at 9/8 c.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 16, 2015 23:07:51 GMT -6
Drew Galloway Talks Changes In TNA, His WWE Push, TNA Not Being On His Radar, His Goals, More
I recently spoke with Drew Galloway, who made his TNA debut earlier this year. Below is the full interview:
You recently got back from Scotland. Who were you wrestling for, was it ICW?
That's who I came for initially. I had three days of tapings in Orlando, drove back to my place in Tampa, packed my bags and went to the airport. I went straight to Australia, did two shows and flew back. Spent about a day and a half in Tampa, flew to San Jose to do three shows for EVOLVE. After my third match I flew straight to Scotland for a show. The next day I got to the airport at 7 pm, the arena at 8 pm, had my match at 10 pm. Had a couple of days off, flew to London, then to Belfast, then to Scotland and that's been my last couple of weeks.
Would you say your schedule is busier now than with WWE? I know you arrange your own schedule, but it sounds like you're doing a lot of international travel.
Oh absolutely, it's crazy. It's a night and day difference. It's me that dictates it, but I want to be the busiest wrestler in the world and I am the busiest wrestler in the world. I'm proud of that fact. I push myself. I want to be like John Cena, who has the craziest schedule of all-time. I'm gonna do the 30 matches every single day. I simply want to be the best wrestler in the world.
You're the ICW Heavyweight champion, you hold titles in Dragon Gate and EVOLVE. What's it like having all these companies putting stock into you of late?
It's such an incredible feeling. People believing in me and giving me the platform to do what I love. I've always wanted to be a professional wrestler, nothing else. I've always been crazy about wrestling. I was training at 15, having matches at 16. It's awesome doing what I'm doing now.
You had a big push coming in to the WWE. Looking back do you wish you would have started lower on the ladder or did you like being thrust right into the limelight?
I wouldn't change a thing. Especially the situation I was in, it's all about timing. The situation I've been in the last 8 months, it's all about timing and people believing in me. Trent Baretta got injured and that's why I ended up winning the EVOLVE title. Different companies gave me a lot of opportunities. If we had waited a little bit longer, maybe Vince McMahon wouldn't have done the endorsement on TV. He's never done it before, he'll probably never do it again. Just to have that that barely at 24 was such an incredible thing. Looking back that will be one of the biggest things that ever happened to me because I'm the only guy that's happened to or will happen to. I wouldn't change a thing in that aspect. There are other things, but that's wrestling. Especially in that environment where things change week to week. Now I'm in charge of my own destiny. TNA is giving me such creative freedom is unbelievable. The belief they have in me to allow me to be Drew Galloway in the ring and on the mic. Happy days right now.
You recently started with TNA after being released from WWE for a while. How long did it take to negotiate that deal? Had that been on your radar?
The truth is it absolutely had not. I was looking to not be on American TV so soon. I was on there not even 8 months prior. I was establishing myself and getting a following, traveling the world and making money. I came back to Scotland on a Sunday and TNA was doing a show on the British tour. I got three missed calls from a number I didn't recognize and threw my phone away because I was sleeping. Finally Tommy Dreamer text me and said "You may want to answer your phone, TNA tried to call you." So I said yeah I'll call back. I spoke to a couple of the bosses and was initially apprehensive, but as soon as I spoke to them I knew it was the right decision to make. The opportunity to be a part of something on Destination America, the network is so behind the show. It's going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. The biggest thing for me it they were gonna let me be Drew, let me have a microphone and speak my mind. I could wrestle as myself and do my independent work that I've worked so hard on for the 8 months prior and that was really important to me. Things have just exploded and things are very exciting right now. I'm happier than I've ever been.
It seems like the past couple of months, TNA has been producing some of their best shows. What have been your thought of Impact lately as opposed to before, and words for lapsed fans?
I'm the biggest wrestling fan in the world, the biggest smart mark, the biggest geek. I've always been such a fan. Since the switch was made, a lot of changes have been made. A lot of cool camera angles, it looks very different. There's obviously been a much bigger focus on the in-ring wrestling. Most wrestling fans aren't excited to see a guy talking into a microphone, but that's part of it, part of the character. I love wrestling, and that's a big focus of the show. So many of the guys are talented in the ring and that was a deciding factor. For people that have been off the product—just give it a chance. [Last] Friday for instance, the new group The Rising, a couple of guys that are joining me in Eli Drake and Myka (Haku's son)... I'm not trying to be a leader, I'm just asking everyone to walk with me. If you want pro wrestling to grow or change, don't put it on a message board. Tell me, tell TNA. We're looking to make a difference. I'm fired up that they're giving me this opportunity, so let's make a change. I don't want to sound gimmicky, but let's stand up.
You see a lot of times in WWE, someone is gaining popularity, getting fans and they start to lose every week. When that process occurs, is that something you're told or do you just find out at TV that you're losing week after week?
That isn't something you're privy to, it happens behind closed doors and plans change. Different stories and different shows, and you never really know what's going on is the reality. It's unfortunate, but that's the truth of the matter. You're a part of the machine, and it's a ready-made machine, you're just part of that. Unfortunately, you have to go with the flow, you don't have that unlimited creative freedom. That's a big thing for me right now. I've had goals and thankfully people believing in me and giving me opportunities. WWE provided me 8 years and without that I wouldn't have gotten these opportunities and I'm thankful for that. Now I'm just a kid who loves wrestling, being able to express his creative freedom at 29 years old.
Have you seen a change in the fan base overseas to where it is now, since when you started?
It's night and day. The UK right now is crazy, it's TNA's biggest market currently. Just like soccer or football crowds, we're crazy. Those fans want wrestling. There was no wrestling in Scotland when I started, there was nothing going on. Finally myself and a few others got the Scottish wrestling scene going and things started picking up all over the place. We got to a point where things were getting popular, especially me and Sheamus. We were in the big feud in Europe. I come back now there's so many places and so much buzz. Sell outs all over the place, left and right. ICW in Scotland is unbelievable, BBC has done two documentaries on the promotion. It's thriving and TNA is currently the biggest thing over there.
Do you think TNA is ahead of the curve with the influx of European talent?
There's a few in WWE, but now, yeah. Especially with the British Boot Camp show. A lot of the guys are getting opportunities. There's a lot of guys here that are passionate and driven. There's so much talent here, it's unbelievable, and that's all across the world. I've been working with EVOLVE and Dragon Gate, and they have some of the best in-ring competitors in the world. If people get the opportunity the cream will rise to the top, I truly believe that. Keep working, and keep the faith, and things are starting to happen for me. I never lost the faith, I always believed in myself. I get myself fired up talking about wrestling because I genuinely love it so much.
I know it costs a lot more to do TV overseas, but would you like to see TNA become more UK-centric?
I'd like to see 2-3 tours maximum. I wouldn't want to oversaturate the market. You don't want to overdo it. Just a couple of things a year to keep the fans excited. Once a year, they're rabid. They deserve at least a couple a year.
How do you compare the two experiences of taping in Orlando to the UK?
For myself, I started on the UK tour, the people were receptive to everything I did. I was speaking as a wrestling fan and people were getting on board with it. I wondered how things would be when I got to the Impact Zone, and I got there and the people were responsive as soon as I started speaking my mind as a wrestling fan. It's exciting, I love the Impact Zone. I was very nervous, but once I got out there, I loved it. I love passionate wrestling fans, and TNA is drawing them right now. I know it's at Universal Studios, but the majority of that crowd are professional wrestling fans. You feel it as soon as you walk out there.
What changes would you like to see in pro wrestling, or things that were done back in the day that you'd see brought back, or things in MMA you'd like to see brought over?
There's a few things coming your way pretty soon that are going to be exciting. The obvious thing for me is simply just fans. When they respond to somebody, maybe give that person an opportunity, because the fans dictate the wrestling. We're doing it for the fans, and our own dreams as well. It's blatant, the fans tell you who they want. If the fans are receptive to a character give them what they want, and of course have wrestling on the wrestling shows. There's a lot of cool things and cool ideas I have in store, but I don't want to spoil it. Just give it a chance. There's such a wealth of talent. If you weren't a fan in the past, you'll be a fan now.
You were busted open by the Beat Down Crew a few weeks ago. How personal does something like that make the feud?
It makes it very personal. The very first night I was there in Glasgow and tore Low Ki apart really good. Like I say, in Glasgow we don't do drive by chair shots or drive by pipe shots, we do drive by stabbings. I drew the first blood and it was a blood feud from the beginning. Things have picked up since then and it's turned in to a bit of a war. I've wrestled Kenny King, and will have a war with MVP, but the big match fans want is myself and Low Ki, and whatever you've seen on TV, the reaction is genuine.
What are your goals in TNA?
As we've said, I have 5 titles on three continents. Each of them are defended in different countries and I've made them into world titles by defending them in multiple countries. The ultimate goal is the TNA World Title, ideally wrestling Kurt Angle. I watched him when I was younger, he's intensity personified and a wrestling machine. I want to tangle with Kurt Angle. If I could win the world title and keep up the schedule I've been doing, I want to be a traveling world champion like Ric Flair. The TNA World Title would be my ultimate goal.
Do you have any final words for the fans?
Everyone, give TNA a shot. If you do, I guarantee professional wrestling and quality programming the way we wanted it growing up. You can check me out on Twitter (@gallowayspeaks) and see if I'll be in your country, and with my schedule, it's very likely that I will over the next couple of weeks. Also, check out The Rising shirts on TNAShop.com. Thank you to everyone for believing in me.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 24, 2015 18:53:58 GMT -6
TNA Star Drew Galloway recently spoke to Jack Crawford of The Daily Record about his career, and returning to Scotland for SWA shows this weekend. You can read the highlights below: Going from WrestleMania to smaller shows: "You can't describe wrestling in front of 80,000 people at multiple WrestleManias, that was my dream. Coming home and wrestling in Scotland is something else. I was barely home for eight years and worked like crazy, as I still do, but thanks to an incredible Scottish wrestling scene. I'm home from Florida every month and seeing my country men and women so excited for wrestling, and myself, brings out a pride that's indescribable." On wrestling in Paisley, Scotland for the Scottish Wrestling Alliance: "It's crazy to think that I made my professional wrestling debut 13 years ago in Paisley. Time has gone so fast and I've achieved so much, but I'm just getting started and returning to Paisley is so exciting. Making my debut there, having my last appearance before leaving to America, now making my return is pretty cool. Paisley has always been a special place in my life." You can read Crawford's full article about Galloway at this link: www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/scots-grappler-drew-galloway-performing-5570725
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