The following article was originally published with RealSport on May 10, 2018.
With Impact Wrestling continuing to make their present felt in the United Kingdom, RealSport got to speak with former Impact World Champion Eddie Edwards earlier this week. Edwards talked about working with companies like Lucha Underground and Pro Wrestling NOAH, his heated feud with Sami Callihan and oVe, and more.
On working with Davey Richards, Tommy Dreamer, and the infamous bat shot
RealSport: We last spoke in February of 2017, at which point you were firmly in the hunt for the Impact World Championship. Unfortunately, Davey Richards got in the way of that. What’s it been like working with your former tag team partner?
Eddie Edwards: You know, it was cool. It was sad. It was bittersweet, I’d say. Because, you know, we loved tagging together. That’s basically what got us to where we were at Impact [Wrestling]. We had so much history as a tag team, so we of course loved doing that, and so it was kinda sad to see the split happen. Although you know it’s the world of professional wrestling, you kind of assume or you kinda know at some point there’s gonna be a bit of a split. I couldn’t ask to work a more talented guy than Davey Richards. Going up against him, any time, it’s something cool because we have so much respect for each other and it just kinda forces you to bring out the best in not only ourselves but we helped bring it out in each other. So that was cool, and then you also have Angelina Love coming in, and then my wife Alisha [Edwards] as well. So it was cool to have us two as couples kinda going at it, but I would love to see us at some point tag again, because our tag team of course holds a very special place in my heart.
RS: When your wife Alisha entered the fray and things ramped up, it culminated in that hardcore Full Metal Mayhem match. What was it like working a match like that alongside your wife?
EE: Unique? That’s for sure. A little bit different, you know. It was cool because for so long we’ve done our own thing, you know? We obviously met through professional wrestling, so we had that history, and for so long I would do my events and she would do her stuff. We would occasionally do some smaller independent shows together, but then I went to Impact and she wasn’t a part of it. So when they brought her in, when she was able to come in, that was awesome because we’ve always wanted to do that. We’ve just never had the opportunity. So when the opportunity presented itself, it’s like, oh hell yeah! Let’s jump on this. Let’s make the best of this. So it was cool to see the way she was brought in, and then how it slowly turned into this hatred heated feud [and] it turns into this Full Metal Mayhem match. If you’re gonna be thrown into the deep end, that’s one way to do it. It’s kinda like sink or swim time, and I’m happy to say she swam real good. She took the ball and ran with it, because that’s obviously a big opportunity for her. It’s the biggest match that she’s had and that we’ve had altogether as well. So it’s like, here you go. Full Metal Mayhem. Pay per view. Go out there and kill it, and don’t screw up. And luckily it turned out well. I was super proud of how well she did. I was proud of what we all did in there really.
RS: Now I have to address the elephant in the room, the infamous bat shot you received from Sami Callihan. Now that some time has passed, with the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel looking back on that moment?
EE: Luckily I can look back on it. Obviously, at the time it sucked, and getting hit in the face with a bat can never be a good thing. But you know having said that, looking back and looking at where we are now, we have turned something that could have been an absolute disaster for not just my career but my life and my livelihood—this could’ve destroyed my eye, could have ruined my career, ruined my life, and to have that happen but to get where we are now where it’s playing into this storyline. And it’s helped create something completely unique for myself and for Sami. Did I wanna get hit in the face with a baseball bat? No, but we turned it into something that I think is really cool and really unique. Because people see it, and obviously there’s no doubt that, alright this guy just got hit in the face with a baseball bat. I think everybody can related, not to getting hit in the face with a bat, but everybody can related to pain and that emotion. That’s what this is about. It’s about that emotion and that anger, and I think that’s what has created this unique angle here where we wanna touch those emotions with people. We’re bringing out emotions in myself and bringing out emotions with the fans where they can feel that pain. They saw what happened. They know why I’m so pissed off. It makes sense to them why I’m so pissed off. It’s not just where we’re just telling them this guy’s mad because of this, no this guy’s ticked off because—I’m ticked off because I got hit in the face with a bat, and then it went on from there. Hindsight, I think we’ve done a real good job with it.
RS: As things ramped up in your rivalry with oVe, now “The Innovator of Violence” Tommy Dreamer has joined the fray. What’s it been like working with a hardcore legend like Dreamer?
EE: It’s pretty cool because obviously, as a wrestling fan, I was a fan of ECW and I was a fan of Tommy Dreamer. And for so long I’ve worked with Tommy behind the scenes. He’s done so much behind the scenes with both myself and a lot of the guys behind the scenes. He’s always there to give his opinion. You ask him anything and he’s there to help. I always say Tommy Dreamer loves professional wrestling. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that he loves professional wrestling. He takes great pride in professional wrestling and great pride in trying to continuously make it better. And that’s what he’s done for so long behind the scenes. Whether it’s gimmick wise or anything, you ask his opinion [and] he’s gonna do his best to help you. So now with the angle on TV, it’s almost like people are seeing what he’s done behind the scenes for so long, but now it’s actually on television. You know he’s trying to give his words of wisdom, and he’s trying to help me out and stuff, and he’s done that for me behind the scenes for so long. I’m happy that people get to see it progress on television like that, and it’s also cool to be in there with a guy that is a legend, a guy that I am a fan of and grew up watching. So it’s a great combination of everything.
RS: Did Dreamer give you any kendo stick swinging tips?
EE: Just swing for the fences, which I think I’ve done okay. A couple of them could’ve been better, but he gave me that kendo stick, and it’s much like getting hit with a baseball bat. You can’t really fake it. You’ve just got to do it, brother.
RS: Considering how Davey Richards and oVe have been the main focus in recent months, are you looking to work your way back into the Impact World Championship picture?
EE: You know right now it’s definitely saying focused on what we’re doing with oVe, because over the new few weeks of TV I think people are gonna be pretty happy with what we’re doing. We’re trying to push the limits in the wrestling ring and outside the wrestling ring. You know right now it’s a pretty PG time through the world, but we’re trying to push that envelope a little bit and kinda push it to the limit and bring something a little bit different and a little bit unique, because after all this storyline is so unique. Let’s run with it. Let’s make it. Let’s create something special out of it. That’s definitely my focus right now. And down the road of course I’d definitely like to be in the title picture, but I’m fully immersed into this storyline that we have going right now.
RS: Quick question just because I want to take a jab at our own Josh Benjamin, why is Boston better than New York?
EE: Why?! Come on. We don’t have that kind of time, brother.
RS: If you had to go with one reason, what would you say?
EE: Boston Celtics. I mean, New York Knicks? Come on.
RS: Back at Slammiversary, Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back DeAngelo Williams got to be a part of Impact Wrestling. Being such a die-hard Boston sports fan, as we’ve already established, if you could bring someone in from the Patriots to team with, who would you choose?
EE: I think that the safe bet would be on Gronk just because he is basically like a larger than life character anyway, so why not bring him into the wrestling ring? And besides, he’s big and he’s jacked. I’d love [that] if I could tag with him I’d know he’d be watching my back. I think he would do real well in the world of professional wrestling. And I told DeAngelo Williams that even though he played for the Steelers, and I came out and told him I was Patriots fan and that I may have to take him out, but it luckily didn’t come to that. And he did amazing.
Impact Wrestling renews deal with 5Spike to air in UK
We are pleased to announce that we've renewed our agreement with @5spiketv in the UK and IMPACT will continue to air every Friday at 11pm.
IMPACT will now also be available on demand for free every week on @GWNapp at the same time it airs in the US (1am Friday UK time).
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 18, 2018
RS: With the news that Impact will continue to air on 5Spike in the UK and will now be available on demand for free on the GWN app at the same time it airs in the US, what do you think that means for the UK fans?
EE: It’s very important. You know the UK has been such a great market for Impact Wrestling. You know, it’s unfortunate when there for a little bit there was no [Impact Wrestling on] TV [in the UK], and we hadn’t been over in the UK in quite a while. So it’s nice to be able to try to get everybody on the same page and try to show the UK fans that, guys we didn’t forget about you. We wanna be there. We wanna give you the product the same as we’re giving in the US, and at the same time, and I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
RS: On top of that, it was recently announced that Impact Wrestling will be back in the UK this September to do a live show at Wrestling MediaCon in Manchester. Are you excited to be coming back for an event like that?
EE: I am definitely excited to be doing that. Like I just mentioned, before a couple of years ago we would come over, Impact would come over every year and we would do our tour. It was such a great success and you know I—speaking for the boys side of things, we would have such a great time with fans treating us right. The behind the scenes, everybody took care of us, and you know that stuff’s all important. And I think we came over and I’m pretty sure the fans had a good time. So it’s exciting to be able to come back and show the fans here that we didn’t forget about them, and we’re trying to make our way back our. ‘Cause I think for a while it seemed like, “man, I don’t know, is it gonna happen?” I think the fans might have been a bit let down as there were no tours announced. So when this got announced I think everybody is excited from the boys, the office, and the fans I think we’re all on the same page where we’re ready to come back over and kick some ass. And doing it at a con, it’s gonna be a huge convention. There’s gonna be probably some new fans as well. Some new fans and new eyes. What better time, and what better way, to turn people onto our product than something like that.
On intergender wrestling, Lashley & EC3 going to WWE, and Daniel Bryan’s in-ring return
RS: Recently at WrestleMania 34, Ronda Rousey got to make her debut in WWE and did so in an intergender match, teaming with Kurt Angle against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. The success of that match has pushed intergender wrestling back into the spotlight as of late, is that something you’d like to see more of considering the work you did with Alisha against Davey Richards and Angelina Love?
EE: You know, I think there’s the right place and right time for it. I think, you spoke about the Ronda Rousey match at WrestleMania, that was the best case scenario for that. It was built up to this big match and that was the blowoff. I think that’s why that went so well and got such high praise, obviously because that was Ronda’s first real match and because of the story that was behind it. I think when there’s stuff like that, and stuff like me and Alisha had done with Davey and Angelina, when it’s built up right, I think it’s some of the best stuff there is. I think it’s all about the time. The right place, right time. I think if you can find that you can capitalize on it.
RS: On the note of WWE, two former Impact Wrestling stars have recently debuted there, Bobby Lashley and EC3. What’s it like seeing those two longtime Impact stars start a new chapter in their careers?
EE: Of course it’s sad to see them leave, as much because they’re my friends and I like to hang out with them. And obviously they added so much to the product, and they’ve both been two of the top guys in Impact for so long. So it’s tough to lose them, but if that’s what they choose, if that’s their goal, if that what makes them happy, I’m happy for them. They’re both two of my good buddies, and I still keep in touch and still get to see them occasionally. I just want them to be happy, and if that’s where they can find their happiness, so be it.
RS: In doing some research, I saw that you were at one time good friends with Daniel Bryan. Is he someone you’re still close to?
EE: Yeah, well I mean obviously not as close as we were when we were in Ring of Honor at the same time and traveling to Japan and stuff together, but he is still somebody I consider a good friend.
RS: What’s it been like to see Daniel Bryan finally get to make his comeback after thinking he was done wrestling forever due to injury?
EE: Yeah, man. It’s a pretty surreal. I can only imagine what he’s feeling, because as a friend and as a fan of him you see something. If you’re a friend of him or even if you’re just a casual fan, you can see how much professional wrestling means to him and meant to him before. So when that got ripped away from him it was heartbreaking. I think everybody, I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say everybody is on the same page. We keep our fingers crossed. We can only hope that down the road he would be cleared to wrestle, and that time finally came, and I could not be happier. It gave me goosebumps seeing it happen, so I can only imagine how it felt for him. And seeing the crowd reaction and the full support everyone has given him, it could not happen to a nicer guy. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, not just in wrestling but in the real world. He’s just one of those guys you can say “he is a good dude.” And you know I’m very happy for the way things are going with him, and his home life and his family, and now professional wrestling. It’s a great time for him.
RS: One thing that helps set Daniel Bryan apart from the pack is authenticity and being genuine to himself. What’s it been like using that in your own character?
EE: You know that’s a great point actually. It’s so much easier to go out there and portray yourself, as opposed to going out there and having to try and do a gimmick that is not you, you know what I mean? Like, [to] go out there and try to do a gimmick that you don’t fully understand, [instead] it’s just kind of you out there. And you know, something as simple as dressing how I wanna dress and wearing what I wanna wear and saying the things that I wanna say. It just helps the comfort level, and fans can sense when something is legit because the guy inside the ring, if I’m in the ring and I’m comfortable with it people can sense that. So it definitely plays off each other, but it’s definitely a very important thing. I don’t know if it’s an underrated thing, but I think it’s something that sometimes people overlook, so it’s something that I really enjoy. The more I get to be myself, I think the happier I am with my product.
On working with Pro Wrestling NOAH and Lucha Underground
RS: In the summer of 2017, you got the opportunity to go to Japan and work with Pro Wrestling NOAH again, eventually winning the GHC Heavyweight Championship in August and holding it until December of 2017. What was it like to work with them again, and how does it feel to be the only gaijin (foreigner) to hold the GHC Heavyweight Championship?
EE: Just hearing that, it’s still pretty surreal really. Because you look at the names that have held that championship from [Naomichi] Marufuji, Kenta, to [Kenta] Kobashi, [Jun] Akiyama, [Akira] Taue, [Mitsuharu] Misawa. You know some of the best of the best, [Yoshihiro] Takiyama, some of the absolute best of the best. Some of the legends, some current legends, some future legends, and to be able to put my name on that list and to be able to say that I’m the only foreigner in history to hold that belt, it really means a lot. It’s something that I take great pride in, because Pro Wrestling NOAH holds a very special place to me. I went over there when I was just this young kid in wrestling. I went over and I went to the dojo where I trained, and I went through that Japanese young boy dojo life. So it played such a role in me growing, not just as a wrestler but growing as a person, because I went over there at such a young age and I grew up over there for a bit. So when I got the opportunity to go back to Pro Wrestling NOAH, I couldn’t have been happier. Because I don’t just love Pro Wrestling NOAH, but I love Japan in general, the country. So I welcomed the chance to go back, and I got to go back quite a bit when I was going for that championship, building up to working for that championship, and obviously when I won the championship I was over there a lot as well. So I couldn’t have been happier with the opportunity to go back and do that. Pro Wrestling NOAH is something, a place that I will never forget and a place that’s made me who I am. It’s made me who I am inside that ring and outside the ring.
RS: With your history in tag team wrestling, is there someone you’d like to team with in Pro Wrestling NOAH?
EE: I would love to tag with Moose. Big man Moose. We did a tour together, and we’re real good friends outside the ring as well, and that always makes things better as far as traveling abroad with one of your good friends. And to be able to get in the ring and tag, I think we were hoping we would be able to do it at some point earlier this year, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. But hopefully down the road that’d be something we’d like to do. Because I mean when [Moose] went over [to Pro Wrestling NOAH] for the same tour, he really delivered and I think the fans really took to him. So I think that’d be something cool to do.
RS: Going back to working with Tommy Dreamer, you also got to work with his promotion House of Hardcore for their Hardcore for Charity event. What was it like being a part of a night like that which also was raising money for a great cause?
EE: That was real cool. It was cool to go there and see—sometimes you don’t see what you’re working for. Wrestling can be a selfish thing sometimes because we’re going out there and going to the ring, and we’re doing our thing. And we’re doing it because we love it, but to be able to go out and see we’re raising money for this great cause. And you get to talk to some of the fans who are affected, and some of the fans where that’s why you’re working, you know what I mean? Like, at the end of the show, one of the guys came back and he said that one of the kids was waiting to say hi to a wrestler all night, but he couldn’t work up the courage. And then he finally did it at the end of the show, and you know I was more than happy to go out there and talk to him. And he was being so nice, and he’s asking if I’m too sweaty to give a fist bump, and stuff like that. Seeing how happy his mother was, it’s a moment that I won’t forget. So these guys did more for me than I could’ve ever done for them. It’s awesome to see when great causes work together. When we can help out by doing what we do in that ring, that’s what it’s all about. We’re trying to bring joy and trying to raise money along the way, that’s an awesome thing. And congrats to House of Hardcore, they really took the ball and ran with it.
RS: During WrestleMania weekend, you got to be a part of the co-branded Impact Wrestling vs Lucha Underground show at WrestleCon. What was that experience like?
EE: It was cool. I keep saying everything was cool. I keep saying cool, cool. It was very awesome. You know it was, because it was basically the first step in our working relationship. Which right now in professional wrestling as far as Impact, it’s a very important thing is these working relationships. Working with Lucha Underground, working with Pro Wrestling NOAH, working with companies in the UK, working with companies in Mexico. It’s a unique time, and to be able to take part in basically the kickoff event of our working relationship with Lucha Underground, it was nice to see two different companies working together with one goal in mind to put on the best show that we could. And I think both companies went out there and hit a home run that night.
Watch IMPACT vs. Lucha Underground from IMPACTWrestling on www.twitch.tv
Impact Wrestling’s entire show with Lucha Underground from WrestleCon weekend is available above and via their Twitch channel. The show features Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Allie, who we spoke to in April, facing Lucha Underground’s Taya Valkyrie. Eddie Edwards faces Sami Callihan (as Jeremiah Crane from Lucha Underground) in an I Quit Match. The main event for the Impact World Championship saw Austin Aries defending his title against Lucha Underground’s Fenix and Pentagon Jr in a Triple Threat Match.
RS: Now that Impact has formed this ongoing partnership with Lucha Underground, is there someone from that company that you’d love to get in the ring with?
EE: Well I think, you know right now with Pentagon being the Impact World Champion, I would love to face him. I would love to face a guy like Fenix, and Brian Cage who is now a part of Impact but is also a part of Lucha Underground. It just opens the door for a lot of different matches. A lot of matches that maybe a couple of years ago or even a year ago people thought they could never even see. They could only “dream” about these dream matches, and now the fact that we are working together, there’s an opportunity that these matches could happen and most likely will happen. IT’s an exciting time for the fans and it’s an exciting time for us, for the wrestlers, as well.
RS: With Lucha Underground’s stars appearing on Impact, would you like the chance to go to Lucha Underground and compete in The Temple?
EE: Yeah, I think that would be the next step kinda down the road. Why not? Obviously, the Lucha Underground guys have come into Impact and are having matches and stuff, so I would love to get to step into there, into that arena and that atmosphere. You know I’ve heard nothing but great things from the wrestlers, and the fans love it, and the stuff that I’ve seen looks awesome. So I’d love to take part in that.