Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2021/05/17/post-news-update-tony-khan-to-yuji-nagata-please-come-back-anytime/
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.
** Yuji Nagata appeared on AEW Dynamite last week and challenged Jon Moxley for the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title. Upon returning to Japan, Nagata did an interview with Tokyo Sports and spoke about the match. He said AEW President Tony Khan told him to come back anytime.
Everyone was pleased that I came, and itās a strange feeling. I donāt think itās evaluated in Japan, but I feel that itās being evaluated very much worldwide. Iām surprised too. , āPlease come back anytime.ā
Nagata hopes to return to the United States. He says he is going to get vaccinated and described the atmosphere of being in Florida and particularly at an AEW event.
One thing I found out when I went to the United States is that I can see the future of the Coronavirus. Iām going to get vaccinated and I can in Japan, (NJPW) STRONG or go abroad.
** Gerald Brisco and JBL welcomed Fit Finlay onto their āStories with Brisco and Bradshawā show. The topic of conversation transitioned over to Fitās children, specifically David Finlay. With the recent COVID outbreak in Japan, Fit shared that when talents arrived at the airport to leave the country, most of them tested positive for the virus. At the time of the recording, Fit said David and Jay White were quarantining in Japan. Fit added that David is confused about what his next move will be career-wise.
Heās government hotel but then they made a deal and they put them in the dojo so, my son David and Jay White are in the dojo, quarantined there for another ten days or so which is ridiculous so, the COVID has just ā the whole world had just put everything on standstill for a little bit and weāll get over it but, heās doing well there. I donāt know how New Japan are going to handle this new outbreak or ā I donāt know, no one does. But, heās a little bit confused at the minute as what to do next, you know? Is he going to stay in Japan, does he want to try here, like WWE or whatever. But him and I are gonna sit down when he does eventually come home and try and figure it out but he just needs a little bit of wisdom put in his head. Not that I have any.
** Jerome āNew Jackā Young passed away on 5/14 after suffering a heart attack. His longtime friend and former on-screen partner DāLo Brown joined Busted Open Radio to talk about New Jackās life and career. Brown recalled receiving the news about Jackās passing:
I was hurt, and Iāll tell everybody, full disclosure, letās break down the fourth wall. Yesterday I was standing in the locker room and I was talking to some talent and as I turned around, I see Tommy Jack lived like he was gonna die tomorrow. I just didnāt think today would be the day he would go, and it hurt me. I had to walk away, I had to go sit down for a minute and Jack was my friend. Jack was someone I talked to regularly and Jack was someone ā if he was your friend, he was your friend for life. If he was your enemy, he was your enemy for life. Iām still right now hurting because of it.
DāLo is a commentator for IMPACT Wrestling and he heaped praise onto X Division Champion Josh Alexander. DāLo called him this generationās Kurt Angle.
Josh Alexander, which I am ā I canāt wait to see this play out because I just think those are two great and talented wrestlers and Josh Alexander is probably one of my personal favorites just because heās like ā heās this generationās Kurt Angle in my opinion. Just putting it out there.
** Sonny Kiss was a part of a signing with K & S WrestleFest. Sonny claims that Anthony Ogogo was supposed to debut at AEWās 2020 Fyter Fest show that was going to emanate from the United Kingdom pre-pandemic.
So we actually were supposed to be in the U.K. as of last year. So what was it? Was it Revolution ? So Anthony Ogogoās debut was supposed to be in London. That was the original plan. We were supposed to have plans for London and also had plans for Canada, a couple Canada dates.
** Lanny Poffo shared his thoughts about the A&E/WWE documentary about his brother, āMacho Manā Randy Savage.
** The Hindustan Times chatted with Charlotte Flair for an exclusive interview. She followed up on recent comments made by Ric Flair as he said he was not comfortable with the storyline involving Lacey Evans. Charlotte was not pleased with it either but for another reason and it led to some frustration on her part.
It wasnāt so much about Lacey. It is very difficult with my dad. I had an extensive amount of time off for the first time ever in my career, I was eager and excited to come back and start fresh. I wanted to add layers to my character as I felt stale. I wanted these changes. When my dad got brought into the picture, I was like, āMan I have to be on TV with my dad? I donāt want anyone to think that is selfish, anyone would love to share screen with their dad. But if anyoneās followed my career, all I have done since day one is pave my own legacy. Yes, I do a lot of his personal trademarks but it is also to acknowledge me as a separate performer. So thatās why I was frustrated at home because selfishly I wanted the screen for myself and not with my dad.
CM Punk commented under a post of Charlotte Flairās on 5/12. It was an image of Flair at the commentary desk on Raw. Punk joked that Vince McMahon was in Flairās ear and telling her to watch the monitor and stop saying the word āwrestlingā.
No one is buzzing me in my ear. I have known Byron Saxton and Corey Graves for a very long time. It was just great to be out there with them, feeling as confident as ever. No, Vince doesnāt buzz me in my ear about anything.
** Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net welcomed Tom Lawlor onto his Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast. While Lawlor did not get into the specifics of his contract details with Major League Wrestling, he discussed how he is able to do MMA and compete on NJPW Strong while under contract to MLW.
I canāt really speak to the specifics of my own deal or other peopleās deals. You know, Iām sure my contract is different than Hammerstoneās contract, itās different than Fatuās contract, itās different than, you know, anybodyās contract Iām sure. Thereās certain stuff in my contract such as provisions for me to compete in MMA, commentary, things like that-that I donāt think other people have in theirs so thereās certain agreements that were made beforehand and during the time Iāve been with MLW, theyāve allowed me to do these things so, the deal with appearing on New Japan Strong, it was presented to me through MLW so, without that relationship, I donāt know what the status would be.
** Part two of Kota Ibushiās interview with NJPW1972.com is live. Ibushi shared that on night one of Wrestle Kingdom 15, he either sprained or tore a ligament in his foot. He went on to wrestle Jay White on night two. Ibushi added that heās had to train around the injury.
It was that first match with Naito, January 4. I think it was when I took a Frankensteiner off the top, and just landed right on my instep. So I think it either sprained or tore a ligament. Itās an injury soccer players get from time to time; I was told itās best not to move it for three months, but then I had Jay White the very next night. I got to the building early the next day and got it patched up and treated well enough to just about wrestle.
I was able to jump, and put some power into it. Then it was really a matter of getting what treatment I could and working around it. It wasnāt so much about healing as it was to stop it getting worse.
Itās about the same as it was around when I wrestled SANADA. Iām having to train around it, since I canāt really run like I would normally.
** Comicbook.com published their interview with Cesaro prior to his Universal Title match at WrestleMania Backlash. That match was Cesaro first opportunity at a world title in WWE and he recalled being told early in his WWE run that it would take a while for him to get a world title shot.
And if you wouldāve told me that, and certain people did tell me that, when I just started in WWE, it was a year into it, and they were like, āOh for you, it will take a while, but youāll get there but it justā¦ It takes a while.ā You donāt want to hear that. Whatever, youāre like, āOh, what about this guy who just walks in and gets a title shot?ā But now I feel people can relate to that and that makes it so much more special. So Iām very nervous and Iām super excited for Sunday.
There have been comparisons made between Cesaro and actor Jason Statham. Cesaro said he has pushed for there to be some interaction or crossover with he and Statham.
Iāve been pushing for that for so long. Iām always like, āOkay, so when are we going to make this happen? Does he need like a big brother or a younger brother or a taller brother or something? His evil nemesis gets cloned and here I come?ā That will be awesome.
** Riddle was the latest guest to appear on El Brunch de WWE with host Quetzalli Bulnes. Riddle dove into his partnership with Randy Orton and how it came to be. He mentioned that he caught Ortonās comments about not originally liking him and Riddle said that adds up because Orton did not talk to him during the initial stages of them being around one another.
In my head, I had this vision board and Randy thought we were gonna tag. I think they were just like, āYou guys are gonna fight, have a feud, Randy versus Riddle,ā you know? But then, we started talking. Some people think Iām really annoying and I get it. I can be really annoying at times but Iāll tell you this: My whole life, people have either loved me or hated me and I got a feeling Randy, he kinda ā I think he loves me more than he hates me, at least at this moment and Iām going to take full advantage of that. Yes Iām excited, I saw this happening. RK-Bro, Riddle and Randy, Orton and bro and together. You can call us Bro-ton, whatever. We are the future of the tag team division.
When asked if he would like to team with Rob Van Dam, Riddle stated that he and RVD have wanted to work together before WWE. The money just had to be right for RVD to do the appearance and/or match.
Well, if The Viper turns his back on me and leaves me high and dry, I think I can always call my bro, RVD and yeah, I mean that team, you donāt even need a storyline, it writes itself, you know? The bro and RVD, itās something we wanted to do for a while. We wanted to work more even before WWE but, you know, the moneyās gotta be right to get RVD out of bed. But, yeah, I would love it.
** Arab News chatted with several WWE talents to reflect on the 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia. One of the talents the outlet spoke to was Sheamus. The current WWE U.S. Champion said he cannot wait to return to Saudi and said it will not be too long before he does.
Let me tell everybody in Saudi Arabia, Iām looking forward to the day when I can come back and hold the championship up above my head in front of all the great Celtic Warrior fans, and it wonāt be too long.
** Dolph Ziggler was the most recent guest on Ryan Satinās Out of Character podcast. Ziggler was candid about his relationship with Vince McMahon and how throughout the years, there were stretches when Ziggler felt McMahon loved his work and there where stretches when he felt McMahon hated his work.
There is a trust that so few of your favorites have that I have and itās wild because without complaining, Iām not the main event guy at the moment and a lot of times when it comes down to something special, Iām the guy just a match away or so but I know from that relationship , and you have to earn it and itās not just, āOh, I earned this a few years ago and now Iām fine.ā You gotta re-earn it every day, and I do and if I mess up which I do all the time, I say, āI screwed this up. Itās on me. I will fix this for next timeā but, even all those years of the 15, eight or nine of them felt like, āMan, Vince hates my fāing guts. What the hell is happening here?ā And then thereās those five or six where you go, āI get it now. This is ā heās pushing me, heās challenging me because only I can do these thingsā and Iām very blessed to be doing them and still kicking ass doing it which has been great.
Upon Drew McIntyreās return to WWE Raw, he was paired with Ziggler. The two went on to capture tag team gold but Dolph was aware that Drew was going be āthe guyā coming out of the team.
Yes, of course I did I say āfunā, it wasnāt laughing, joking around. It was so good when he got to talk, I got to talk and we got to add layers to what weāre doing and we got to fight with The Shield, two out of the three here and there and then we just got to make moments where we talk trash, kick some peopleās heads off so we can build up a team instead of just being jerks that stroll out there and lose most of the time.
Ziggler has been a part of WWE since 2004. He said thereās not a doubt in his mind that he can still be a top player for the company.
Oh, I mean absolutely proactive and help things out, but sometimes, right now, for the first time in years was a break from singles action and focusing on tagging, just to, I think, when the time is right, make it extra fresh to have me at some point by myself.
** AEW referee Bryce Remsburg joined F4WOnlineās āLeft My Walletā show. He was asked if he watches other referees from other sports/genres and within his response, he talked about being on the more āanimatedā side in the ring.
I donāt always but I guess it depends. Iām a more animated referee so I guess I get noticed more often. Like youād notice the more animated umpires and some people love āem and some people hate āem and some people angrily tweet at them every Wednesday night but thatās okay, itās whatever. It rolls off my back.
** K & S WrestleFest hosted a virtual signing and āCowboyā Bob Orton was the guest. Orton stated that he would likely only return to wrestling if it was to work with his son Randy on-screen.
Oh, if I was doing something with Randy but that would be it. I wouldnāt wanna risk getting hurt at this stage of my life. I know Randy could protect me.
He does not watch much of the current product outside of Randyās matches. Bob said he gets āhome sickā if he watches too much wrestling.
Actually I just watch Randy matches and every once and while Iāll watch for a few minutes but, not much. I get home sick. I get home sick when I watch the wrestling too much. But I like to watch Randyās matches.
** Eric Bischoff and Conrad Thompson covered TNAās 2011 Sacrifice event for an episode of 83 Weeks. Karen Jarrett was in action on that show and Bischoff heaped praise onto Karenās on-screen performances. He feels sheās the most underrated performer of the past 20 years.
Karen is the most underrated performer of the last 20 years. Not the most important, didnāt draw the most money. But Iām talking about raw, pure, unadulterated talent. Sheās phenomenal. Sheās got a way of becoming that character. You would think sheās trained in the Stanislavski school of acting. I mean, sheās amazing. She really is and itās unfortunate that we didnāt see more of her, but yes, she did a phenomenal job. I love Karen Angleās work, Karen Jarrettās work, Karen Angleās work, whoeverās work.
Bischoff was a part of Brian Pillman Sr.ās Dark Side of the Ring episode. While conversing about Pillman Jr., Bischoff admitted that he was initially worried about Pillman Jr. when he first started wrestling and explained why:
I met Brian Pillman Jr. about ā gosh, Iāve kind of lost track of time over the last four or five years but, I would say four years ago is when I first met Brian Pillman Jr. and he came up and he introduced himself to me. He was just as polite and nice as he could be, and I remember thinking to myself, I hate to say this but, I was afraid for Brian Pillman Jr. I thought, āMan, I know what heās trying to do, I know why heās trying to do it, I admire him for trying to do it but unless youāve got a really solid foundation underneath youā and Iām talking about everybody who gets into any form of the entertainment business. This is not exclusive to professional wrestling. The entertainment business, once you commit to it and commit to doing it for a career and not just a hobby is a horrible ā not a horrible, it can be wonderful but it is an amazingly challenging journey and you have to be mentally and emotionally prepared and have a good foundation and what little I knew, I knew a little about Brian Pillman Jr.ās life growing up and it was dysfunctional and to come out of a dysfunctional family, having lost your father at such a young age under those circumstances in particular and then trying to follow in his footsteps which is hard for anybody. Under the best of circumstances, itās incredibly hard in the professional wrestling industry to follow in your fatherās footsteps, particularly when your father casts such a large shadow as Brian Pillman Sr. did.
** While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Stevie Richards shared that throughout his pro wrestling career, he has undergone 19 operations on his throat. Back in 2007 during WWEās revival of ECW, Richards did a sit-down interview segment with Joey Styles and was told to say a lesser number for TV when questioned about his operations.
Thatās when I had the second implant put in from there and that was the ECW goes, āYou gotta knock that number down.ā So that number you see in the ECW promo is different, is much lower. They gave me the number. They told me how many surgeries I had which I had to laugh about, itās so funny.
** Steel Chair Magazine pushed out their chat with former IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Champion Rachael Ellering. She was released from WWE in April of 2020 and she detailed how much that impacted her. Rachael feels she needed to get through that hardship in her life to get to where she is today.
I think thatās one hundred percent spot-on, specifically the last two years that were the hardest of my entire life. I went through some really, really tough times where I just felt lost and I had to do a lot of work on myself and self-reflection and growth within myself to get back to this point right now. It was not easy and I know a lot of people, especially over the last year, have kind of gone through a lot of ups and downs with the pandemic and, whether thatās being away from family or job situations, itās tough. For me, like you mentioned, being fired from NXT during their cuts right at the start of COVID really rocked me because that was my dream job. My whole adult life, thatās what I had worked for so long and so to kind of lose that, I lost a bit of myself at that time but then it worked out exactly how it was supposed to because not that Iām glad I was one of those cuts but I can sit here now and know that Iām exactly where Iām supposed to be.
Iām a good person and Iāve grown so much and Iāve got some people in my life that really, really love me and care about me and have helped me through a lot of tough stuff in the last year or two. You just learned that, āHey, empathy goes a long way and caring for others goes a long wayā and thatās the kind of people I want to be surrounded with. So I learned what I want out of my career, what I want out of people I spend my time with. I learned so much about myself and I truly feel that Iām the best version of Rachael that Iāve ever been right now and in the absolute best possible place that has embraced me and loves what I do and cares about me as a person as well as a performer. Thatās hard to come by in professional wrestling but I have found that with Impact, even in just the short time Iāve been here. Iāve found that here.
Rachaelās father, Paul Ellering was not big on letting his children watch wrestling. Rachael said it took a while for him to get on board with her pursuing a career in the business.
That is absolutely true, my dad did not let us watch wrestling. He kept his work life and his home life completely separate. So it really wasnāt until I was, you know, 15 or 16 years old and kind of rediscovered it if you will on my own and fell in love with that on my own that I knew this was what I was born to do, I am meant to be a professional wrestler and a great one at that. I had to kind of find that on my own. My dad, even when I told him that-thatās what I wanted to do, did not love that idea, he told me to accept one of the scholarship offers, I had to go to college, get my education and figure it out from there and I did that. I went to college, I had my Bachelorās degree and Iām a professional wrestler so it ended up working out for both of us. It took a little while to get him on board with me doing this but I think now he knows that, above all else, I truly love professional wrestling more than anything, itās the greatest thing in the world. When someone feels that way about something, you got to let them do it.
** Zach Gowen was cut from WWE in 2004. U.K. outlet āMetroā caught up with Zach and he says he saw his release from the sports-entertainment company coming because of the number of issues he had with fellow talent in the locker room.
I definitely saw it coming because I had so much heat in the locker room with the other wrestlers and the office. I didnāt wanna get fired ā I didnāt wanna quit! But I was so immature emotionally, not only as a wrestler but as a human being, that I couldnāt handle the gift that was being given to me. I wasnāt equipped, I didnāt have the tools to navigate through that level of success successfully.
** Kris Statlander is returning to AAW on June 11th to defend the promotionās Womenās Championship.
** Baron Black, who has been appearing on AEW programming since April of 2020 chatted with 411 Mania. He reflected on contracting COVID-19 in the Summer of 2020 and how he navigated things coming out of his positive test.
I mean yeah, it and then you had the asymptomatic people starting to creep up and I was one of them because I didnāt even know I had it at that point so, but yeah. That set me back from some opportunities but, as long as I got through it, thatās all I cared about at that point. So I got through it. I had probably a bad 36 or 48 hours then everything cleared up from that point and I was really back on my feet in like a two week, two-and-a-half-week period. But I still took some time because there was so many unknowns about COVID and the virus. I still took some time to gradually get back into my workout schedule. I didnāt just jump right in to where I left off, you know? Just wanted to take some time, make sure my body healed up completely for it and ever since then, I actually felt stronger after I had it so it was a really interesting thing for me.
** Ahead of his North American Title defense on the 5/18 NXT, Johnny Gargano spoke to Matty Paddock for an exclusive interview. Gargano feels that his heel turn was 100 percent needed and it was something he was thinking about for quite some time.
100% it was needed. There were only so many times you can see a white meat Johnny Gargano go out there and overcome the odds, get beat down and put in an ambulance ā I donāt know how many times you can watch that! Creatively itās something been thinking about for so long. I have a notepad on my phone full of ideas and Iād just been waiting for this moment and for this challenge ā and thatās what it is, too, a challenge. Itās a challenge for NXT and for me. Iāve been wanting to turn this thing upside down and take everything you know about Johnny Gargano and change it 110% and it is scary, changing something youāre comfortable with ā and it is a comfort zone. For me, I wanted the challenge of going out there and making people hate me because I know I am capable of it. Everyone had kinda felt it coming, but I definitely brought it to them as much as possible. It was definitely the way to go. I was very adamant about it and was very excited about it.
** That Hashtag Show released their interview with Allysin Kay. When asked about her dream opponent for a Bloodsport show, Kay named Shayna Baszler as that opponent.
I will say in particular, Bloodsport dream match would be Shayna Baszler.
I think we would have a very interesting match. I think itād be a little exciting, just a little bit. Can we get her fired? Iām just kidding, we donāt wanna do that. Iām just kidding. But, maybe one day in the far future or I donāt know, maybe her place of employment will start doing those matches, I donāt know.
** Prior to WrestleMania Backlash, Rhea Ripley spoke with India Today and told the site that it is still registering that she could be one of the leaders of WWEās womenās division going forward.
Itās so weird for me to think that I could help carry the womenās division forward. Itās so crazy for me to think that way. I do see that happening with people like Bianca Belair, Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai. I see it happening with all young girls, I do hope that one day all the NXT girls come up and we carry the womenās division forward. We can do exactly what the men have done. But itās a crazy thought. A little girl from South Australia, who just loved wrestling, now I am here as the RAW Womenās Champion and see myself as the current and future of the womenās division. Itās exciting and yes, I do see it happening.
** Cultaholic conducted an interview with NXT UKās Rampage Brown. Brown reflected on his first go-around with WWE as a part of FCW. He believes that him departing and gaining the experience that he did was the best road to lead him back to WWE.
So my time in developmental was in 2010 and it was a completely different place to now. And I was in a different place too. I think I was 24 or 25 at the time and it was a completely different world, what Iād come to, to what I was doing at the time.
I think that me leaving and going away, and getting another ten yearsā experience ā growing, maturing and seeing things differently ā that definitely helped me as a performer and is helping me with returning to be in this position. As soon as I hit the ground, Iām ready to go. Everybody knows what Iām here for. Itās definitely a different turnaround to last time.
** Jim Ross talked to talkSPORTās Alex McCarthy about the first time Vince McMahon saw Brock Lesnar.
** Mid-Day.com conducted an interview with Drew McIntyre. He offered his thoughts about the return of Jinder Mahal and McIntyre praised Mahal for not wavering, despite the obstacles that have been placed in front of him over the past several years.
Very excited for Jinder. He and I go way back as everybody knows on screen, but off-screen too. And he was part of my wedding party. We had him in a kilt and heās educated me in Indian culture over the years. He just went through a lot of injuries back-to-back and heās not wavered his work ethic or let them affect mentally. Itās great to see him back in the ring and looking so physically incredible as he always does.
** Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins and Adam Cole are scheduled for this Wednesdayās WWE The Bump for the programās 100th episode.
** Episode 256 of Being The Elite:
** Wrestle Carnivalās āCarnival Of Honorā show on September 12th, 2021 is going to air on Ring of Honorās āWeek By Weekā show on the ROH YouTube channel.
** Rich Swann joined the NextGenTN Podcast.
** Tatsumi Fujinami & Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Masahiro Chono & Jushin Thunder Liger:
** Fightfulās interview with Johnny Gargano:
** Wrestling Inc. spoke to EC3 for an exclusive interview.
** Rey and Dominik Mysterio are going to be on the next episode of WWE After The Bell.
** Daniel Boal of the āEvening Expressā detailed his experience learning how to wrestle with Aberdeen, Washingtonās own Len Ironside and Leo King.
** The Daily Item covered WXW C4ās show that took place on Saturday in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Promotion owner and former WWF Tag Team Champion Samu spoke to the publication about the show.
** Steel Chair Magazine ran their interview with Bianca Belair.
** Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald spoke with Jim Ross.
** Drew McIntyre appeared on the debut episode of Sportskeedaās inSide Kradle 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.