Aubrey Edwards Talks AEW Culture, Forbidden Door & MORE

1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,680 Hey, what's going on? It's battle. It's been a minute since we've 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:08,919 actually released an actual episode on the podcast feed. Uh yeah, and I 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:13,720 will tell you that I've I've been a very bad podcaster host whenever you want 4 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,239 to call me, because we kind of started to focus on our YouTube channel 5 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,280 because we've film these interviews every time we do them, and so we've started 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,640 to try to build up our YouTube channel, which, by the way, 7 00:00:24,679 --> 00:00:29,800 YouTube dot com Slash Battleground Podcast. I know the last episode that you heard 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,320 in this feed was with Nick Aldis and since then we've had interviews posted up 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:39,399 on our YouTube channel with Speedball, Mike Bailey, rear Ripley, Kofi Kinston, 10 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,000 and uh, well, today's episode which if you could watch it in 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:49,960 ten ADP, yes high definition, AEW referee Aubrey Edwards is on the show 12 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,399 to date, and if you'd like to watch that interview, you can just 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,399 go to YouTube dot com Slash Battleground Podcast, subscribe to the YouTube channel, 14 00:00:58,759 --> 00:01:03,159 and uh you can watch the interviews as well as listen to them. Here 15 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,799 enough of me rambling, and uh here's the theme song that you've missed hearing 16 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:19,120 boy from the Parts Unknown Studios into the Battle Crowd, Battle Crown, the 17 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:26,879 Battlefround, Battle the Battle Crowd. Welcome to the Battleground Podcast, your place 18 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:34,640 for all things pro wrestling. Little Crowd, the Battle Frown, the Battle 19 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,840 Brown now making their way to the microphone and sex get up for your hosts 20 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:46,640 to the Battle Crowd. Yeah, what's up you guys. Welcome back into 21 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,680 the Battleground Podcast. I Heart Radios Official Wrestling Podcast. It is an exciting 22 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:56,079 week here on the show. Normally Eli will have a certain shirt on for 23 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,599 who we have on the show today, but today he's got Grateful Dead. 24 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,879 So I enlisted the help of my six year old to tell you who's on 25 00:02:02,879 --> 00:02:07,159 our show today, because as you can see, she is hanging up here 26 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,400 on the shelf next to the title. Let's go ahead and bring Yeah, 27 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:15,800 we have the action figure Aubrey Edwards, and the real Aubrey Edwards joins us 28 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,560 on the show to name how are you? I am good? I like 29 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,400 the action figure. That's a that's a commitment man, because that thing comes 30 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,639 with the full ring that's at My six year old was very mad when I 31 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,199 told him that I needed to borrow his referee for this interview and I had 32 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,159 to sneak it out of his room, because yes, he does have the 33 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,000 ring. And currently right now you are calling a match and I'm looking over 34 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:46,000 I believe it's Adam Cole and somebody else and there's somebody hanging in a cage 35 00:02:46,039 --> 00:02:50,280 on his makeshift thing over there. I don't know what kind of I don't 36 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,719 know what kind of match it is at the moment, but I think it's 37 00:02:52,759 --> 00:02:55,840 a Judy Judy backs Baguel on a Paul match? Is that what it is? 38 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,520 That that's probably what it is. That's probably what it is. Let's 39 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,280 skip to that question. How awesome is it to have your own Action figure? 40 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:07,000 Yes, it's it's wild. It's like it's it's kind of one of 41 00:03:07,039 --> 00:03:09,319 those like it's been a while since it's been out. I think it was 42 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,199 like the first time, like last year, but I distinctly remember the first 43 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:17,360 time someone like bringing it to a signing like the whole box even, and 44 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,599 they like drove four hours with this box and they're like, I want you 45 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,840 to sign it. So I literally signed it. This is the first one 46 00:03:23,879 --> 00:03:25,960 of these I've ever signed. And then like Cardona and all of them that 47 00:03:27,039 --> 00:03:30,360 do their Action Figure podcast, So like, do you realize how much money 48 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,199 you just made that guy. I'm like, oh my god, hopefully that 49 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,800 guy's not going to be that guy and turn around and sell right exactly. 50 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:38,439 I was like, man, I don't know. I hope he keeps it. 51 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,599 But it's it's been wild, right, Like it's even just to think 52 00:03:42,639 --> 00:03:46,879 like how crazy it is to have an action figure as a referee, but 53 00:03:46,319 --> 00:03:52,000 knowing that there are like three to four women in the referee role at the 54 00:03:52,039 --> 00:03:55,159 highest level for how long wrestling has been around, It's that itself is kind 55 00:03:55,159 --> 00:03:59,400 of insane, and it's a nice little like way for me to check in 56 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:01,680 and realize, like, man, this this is crazy. Like, right, 57 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,719 I was in a completely different field five years ago, and now I'm 58 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,400 sitting in a hotel room in Toronto talking to you guys about my action right. 59 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,599 I didn't mean it was a video game too, right, right? 60 00:04:12,879 --> 00:04:16,279 Yeah, I mean there was a time where you know, the females didn't 61 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:20,920 have I mean, that wasn't even an option. I mean wrestlers anything. 62 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,879 I mean, I think they kind of like you'd see like dolls or something 63 00:04:24,879 --> 00:04:28,720 occasionally, but like, I mean, it wasn't too long ago where a 64 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:31,920 female action figure wasn't even on the table exactly. So anyways, I got 65 00:04:31,959 --> 00:04:35,279 sidetracked. I was a good segue that was perfect, and that's and that's 66 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:39,120 the thing. It's like, it's it's a cool moment to go and say, 67 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,680 hey, I have my own action figure. Not many people can say 68 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,000 that. My mom bought three of them. One of them exclusively hangs in 69 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:50,120 the Christmas tree at Christmas time. It's kind of like Elf on the shelf, 70 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,759 but now it's something different that she move it around Aubrey in the tree 71 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,480 thanks to a strawberry, because she literally has like a strawberry ornament. It's 72 00:04:58,519 --> 00:05:00,439 pretty great. That is you seen out from the shelf, get ready for 73 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:04,120 Aubrey and the tree right doesn't have the same ring to it, but it's 74 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:09,079 like gay, more sassy and just as authoritative. I think Tony Kann could 75 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:14,439 probably sell it them. They could a lot of people buy it. Something 76 00:05:14,519 --> 00:05:16,959 really cool recently happened and we were very excited about this. A lot of 77 00:05:16,959 --> 00:05:26,160 people are excited. You made your aw wrestling debut last Friday night on Rammage 78 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,319 getting Karen Jarrett to tap out in the figure four. I mean it mixed, 79 00:05:30,319 --> 00:05:32,600 Tagg. That's that's an amazing thing, right, there there are a 80 00:05:32,639 --> 00:05:35,160 lot of people jealous of that position you were in, by the way, 81 00:05:35,639 --> 00:05:40,600 because a lot of people would would want to just inflict damage on her, 82 00:05:40,639 --> 00:05:44,600 according to what we've seen on the internet. But how long had that been 83 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,519 in the planning stages? And what was it like getting Karen to tap out 84 00:05:48,199 --> 00:05:53,000 um, I mean just to peel back the colonel A little bit like the 85 00:05:53,079 --> 00:05:58,040 story itself between like me and Jeff Jarrett and his posse had kind of like 86 00:05:58,199 --> 00:06:03,079 started sort of at our Seattle show back on January fourth, where there was 87 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:08,920 sort of some hullabaloo the ref didn't see the finish. We thought Jay Lethal 88 00:06:08,959 --> 00:06:11,959 and Jeff Jared hadn't won the tag titles. And then I run in because 89 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,000 hey, I'm local and this is going to get a big reaction from the 90 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,120 crowd. I overturned the match, we restarted, and the Heels end up 91 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:21,839 losing. So it's kind of this thing and just it it kind of kept 92 00:06:21,879 --> 00:06:26,439 finding ways to sort of weave itself together with everything we were doing, whether 93 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,480 I was ref in their matches or we'd have a ref bomb, someone would 94 00:06:29,519 --> 00:06:32,639 run in, whatever it might be, and that's sort of culminated at double 95 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,040 or Nothing, where I end up getting hit in the head with the guitar 96 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:42,199 and out of context. This is really fun to explain. So I'm glad 97 00:06:42,199 --> 00:06:46,839 people know this as a wrestling podcast. They're like, yeah, and it's 98 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,399 one of those things like with wrestling, it's really important to have storytelling and 99 00:06:49,439 --> 00:06:54,120 long term pay payoffs for our fans. Right. So it's one thing to 100 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,560 say, yeah, sure we're gonna hit a referee with a guitar and she's 101 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,920 gonna go down, But that's cool in them, but where does that go? 102 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,879 And when you have the traditional heels and baby faces, if the heels 103 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,120 don't get their come uppance and the baby faces don't end up on top at 104 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:13,000 the end, then you've just really you know, upset your fans, like 105 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,079 why are they getting invested? Then? And this is traditional storytelling. We 106 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,879 have three X we follow. It's as old as Shakespeare even older. Right, 107 00:07:19,319 --> 00:07:23,800 So from that, like the moment of double or nothing, where did 108 00:07:23,839 --> 00:07:26,560 the guitar shot happened? That's where we sort of started talking like okay, 109 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,720 well, what is the next logical step for this? And they asked if 110 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:32,680 I was willing to wrestle, and I said, dude, I can't even 111 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:38,399 lock up correctly, like I'm a dancer, and then twenty two years about 112 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,120 I didn't teach me how to do like like a headlock takeover, like those 113 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,079 those don't translate, man, right right right, right, right right. 114 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,879 This is a different form of entertainment. Yeah, very difficult, still physical, 115 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,279 but very different form of entertainment. And it just came down to like, 116 00:07:51,319 --> 00:07:54,920 well, how can we really play this up and how can we have 117 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,959 fun with this? And it was really cool to get like opportunities like I 118 00:07:59,199 --> 00:08:01,360 got to choke chair carrying out in a promo. UM. I had a 119 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:07,040 live promo on Rampage which was insane um. And then you know, it 120 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,560 ended up coming down to the match, which was great, and it just 121 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,120 felt really cool, Like it felt really cool like the way we kind of 122 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,560 structure everything, like I went over with the figure four, but that's also 123 00:08:16,639 --> 00:08:20,519 Jay Lethal's move. So there's like that little bit of like uh meta nous 124 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:24,399 that the long term fans really appreciate because they get it in the moment like 125 00:08:24,439 --> 00:08:28,600 oh this is this is that deeper story and that part of wrestling that's really 126 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,680 nice. It's not just on the surface who wins and loses, but what 127 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,399 are those little details that reward us as viewers watching this product for so long 128 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,679 it was it was cool. I'm glad it's over. I'm retiring undefeated. 129 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:45,480 I think you're the only undefeated wrestler on the roster right now. I believe 130 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:52,320 I think so up there. But those are tags. Yeah, not splitting 131 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:56,639 hairs, but Jay think it wasn't Trio's match, but for the record, 132 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:01,639 like it does count as So yeah, well I'm retiring from entering competition. 133 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:07,480 Not being able to talk for like two days without Payne. Yeah, it's 134 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:09,960 like I never want to do that game. Yeah. Well, you brought 135 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,080 up a good point too, because I mean, part of the whole reason 136 00:09:13,159 --> 00:09:18,279 AW was even developed and founded and everything was kind of what you mentioned about 137 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,639 storytelling, kind of like leaving the dangling fruit, like not finishing the three 138 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,960 acts and just start stop start stop, start stop. So I mean this 139 00:09:26,039 --> 00:09:28,519 is technically, like you said, going back to jenerally, this is a 140 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:33,200 six month story that a lot of companies still aren't I won't say who, 141 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,120 but a lot of companies don't do that. And so and then it bled 142 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,480 into this week's Dynamite that had the concession stand, which coming from West Tennessee 143 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,559 that's like my bread. But that's what I grew up on, so I 144 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,759 go, oh yeah, oh yeah sou. And it's still going. I 145 00:09:45,759 --> 00:09:48,320 mean there's still there's still layers to it they're going to develop. So yeah, 146 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,759 it's very awesome. So being with aw as long as you have, 147 00:09:54,759 --> 00:09:58,120 what do you think has been If there is one single thing, what do 148 00:09:58,159 --> 00:10:01,879 you think has been the biggest change since your day one too? Now? 149 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:05,440 Has it been the production value? Has it been the I don't know, 150 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,159 I'm just spitball. What do you think has been the biggest change since day 151 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:13,120 one? I think, honestly, like the biggest change has I think it's 152 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,639 it's twofold. It's both internally how we feel the company, but I think 153 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,600 also externally how the company is viewed. Like when we started, we were 154 00:10:20,639 --> 00:10:24,559 small, we were scrappy, we were the alternative, we were different, 155 00:10:26,039 --> 00:10:30,200 and I come from the corporate world, so I liken it a lot too. 156 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:31,720 We're a startup. There's a couple of people with an idea and a 157 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,320 lot of passion and we're just going to put it out there and see how 158 00:10:35,399 --> 00:10:39,200 it works. We're going to put in the time and hopefully eventually like it 159 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,240 breaks through and then we get all of this acclaimed for it, right, 160 00:10:41,639 --> 00:10:46,519 and then fast forward and now we've got all these people who are who are 161 00:10:46,639 --> 00:10:50,840 legends in wrestling joining our company. Like we've just been talking about Jeff Jarrett 162 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,879 and Jay Lethal, who are synonymous with TNA and ROH. So like we've 163 00:10:54,919 --> 00:10:58,600 got j White, We've got who just came over, We've got Staying, 164 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,320 We've got Billy Gun, We've got our understand we have like all these people. 165 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,759 We have Tony Shirvanni, who was the guest on my post of my 166 00:11:03,759 --> 00:11:07,480 podcast. So it's like this is insane, right, Yeah, we have 167 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:11,240 this sort of like we started as this like young, scrappy thing and now 168 00:11:11,279 --> 00:11:13,480 it's like, no, we're a main player because we haven't announced a single 169 00:11:13,519 --> 00:11:20,120 match for Wembley and we're at sixty five thousand tickets. Yeah, it's wild. 170 00:11:20,159 --> 00:11:22,559 So I think internally it feels like there's been a ton of growth, 171 00:11:22,639 --> 00:11:26,600 like so fast that you're just like I'm totally like lost and nauseous now. 172 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,519 But externally, as a fan, it's been really awesome to see this thing 173 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,759 that we've been investing, because at the end of the day, we're all 174 00:11:33,799 --> 00:11:37,480 fans right to see this thing that we've all been investated grow to be the 175 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,600 juggernaut that it is. It's insane. I love it. Yeah, and 176 00:11:41,639 --> 00:11:43,440 it's great to see because you have a little bit when you watch AW, 177 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:48,799 have a little bit of every fan base that can tune in and watch something 178 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,799 like you know, there's some places that you watch and it's kind of cookie 179 00:11:52,799 --> 00:11:54,159 cutter and you know it. But when you watch AW with my six year 180 00:11:54,159 --> 00:11:58,159 old, he is like I tuned with wrestling, Like he knows which night 181 00:11:58,279 --> 00:12:03,159 is, which would shows on and he will sit there and watch every single 182 00:12:03,279 --> 00:12:07,399 thing that goes down. Good kid. And the thing is is like he's 183 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:11,440 extremely smart when it comes to wrestling because he's like he knows who the bad 184 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:13,120 guys are, he knows who the good guys are, and then he's like 185 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,759 asking the questions, why did this happen? Why did that happen? And 186 00:12:16,919 --> 00:12:20,960 the great thing was watching on Wednesday nights and of course now on Friday and 187 00:12:22,039 --> 00:12:26,159 Saturdays as well, like you extend that storyline even further. And he's always 188 00:12:26,159 --> 00:12:30,960 got to make sure that if he misses Wednesday night and being six, he's 189 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,519 like, what happened? What's going on? Ye? And that's the great 190 00:12:33,519 --> 00:12:37,639 thing about it is you got normally you could just miss a week and still 191 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,600 be caught up the next week, right you guys like, if you miss 192 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,000 something, you're gonna have to either try to figure out some bootleg way to 193 00:12:45,039 --> 00:12:48,039 watch it on Twitter or yeah, I mean if you like, if you 194 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,759 miss this the Go Home Dynamite, I mean it was stacked. I mean 195 00:12:52,799 --> 00:12:56,000 there was tons of stuff happening, and I think kind of bounce off what 196 00:12:56,039 --> 00:13:00,279 you're saying. I mean, this is unprecedented territory. I mean, most 197 00:13:00,279 --> 00:13:05,399 wrestling companies within less than five years are getting TV deals. I don't know 198 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:09,120 the actual you know, I mean Wimbley, I mean, you know, 199 00:13:09,159 --> 00:13:13,679 even going back to the name we won't say in North, I mean they 200 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,840 weren't doing this five years into their car. You know what I mean I 201 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:20,480 mean is this really is uncharted territory. So for the fans that have been 202 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,840 unfulfilled for all those years to see it get to where it's added this quickly, 203 00:13:22,879 --> 00:13:28,159 it's yeah, very awesome to see. It's it's super awesome to see. 204 00:13:28,399 --> 00:13:31,879 And speaking of awesome, I mean, what has been in your mind 205 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,960 the loudest aw show or atmosphere that you've been a part of so far, 206 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:41,080 Oh, that's a tricky one. I think, like there's a handful that 207 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,559 stick out, and part of it is like I'm sitting in Toronto right now, 208 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:48,000 and when we did our Toronto debut back in October, like that crowd 209 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:52,600 was insane. There's something fun about Canadian fans and they just get it and 210 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:56,799 they're on board with it. They invest everything in it. So I'm really 211 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:01,320 excited for Forbidden Door this weekend because knowing how the fans responded to us when 212 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,399 we were first here, and like everything feels a little bit bigger with a 213 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,639 pay per view right, Like you've got a ton of dream matches happening this 214 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,120 weekend that as fans were like, wait, we're getting what? Like away 215 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,720 in any lifetime, anyone would have thought we would have seen Brian danielsoner in 216 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,399 Okada, Like what is that? How? What? We didn't deserve this? 217 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,559 Who are we? Right? So, so, I like Toronto is 218 00:14:22,559 --> 00:14:28,919 always a really great city, um I think like really it stands out like 219 00:14:28,559 --> 00:14:33,440 Punk's debut at United Center when he came back to wrestling for after seven years, 220 00:14:33,519 --> 00:14:37,600 Like that was insane because United Center had sold out so quickly on the 221 00:14:37,679 --> 00:14:41,519 like rumor that he had been Yeah, and then as soon as that like 222 00:14:41,679 --> 00:14:46,519 riff hits in his song, the crowd just erupts. I don't want to 223 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:48,519 tell you how many times I've watched that debut in the last few years. 224 00:14:48,639 --> 00:14:52,080 If I just made a little boost, I'll kind of my wife will be 225 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:56,639 like get like yeah and yeah, So anyways, sorry, yeah, I 226 00:14:56,679 --> 00:15:00,679 mean there's I mean another one. It's just so many like moments. Like 227 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,559 my one of my favorite matches I've done was Eddie Kingston versus Chris Jericho Revolution 228 00:15:05,039 --> 00:15:09,120 and it was the first match to start the show, hot crowd. Jericho 229 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,360 is in the ring, Eddie Kingston comes in ring the bell, Jericho gets 230 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,039 dumped on his head and it's just immediately the crowd's like, oh my god, 231 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:16,919 like this is insane, as we caught right to the action. So 232 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:22,080 there's just so many little things, like every crowd is great, every every 233 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:26,399 show is great. There's just all these memorable moments that are happening constantly. 234 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:31,639 Yeah. I was at the first double or nothing when Moxley debuted and that 235 00:15:31,759 --> 00:15:35,000 was that was that was loud. That was loud. Oh my god, 236 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:39,360 and you're just sitting there and why is everyone looking oh whoa, okay, 237 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:43,679 okay, cool? Yes what yeah? That one was yeah very loud. 238 00:15:43,879 --> 00:15:48,799 Um where were we? Oh? So let's let's talk about your podcast with 239 00:15:50,039 --> 00:15:54,759 Tony Shovanni. Um, are there unrestricted? Um? What is do you 240 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,159 do? You have a dream guess that you have not talked to yet? 241 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:03,039 Is there anybody floating around like why have we not got this person yet? 242 00:16:03,639 --> 00:16:07,720 UM? I don't know. It's tricky because it's the advantage we have is 243 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:11,799 it's the official AW podcast, right, like new episode every Thursday. Yeah, 244 00:16:11,919 --> 00:16:17,720 we're talking to people that but like you, anyone you see on TV 245 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,200 is fair game for us and it's great. UM. I feel like Jamie 246 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,759 Hayter has been a little elusive. UM. I would really love to have 247 00:16:23,799 --> 00:16:29,120 her on. The timing's just never really worked out yea, And I know 248 00:16:29,159 --> 00:16:32,039 that she's she's out for a bit and she just dropped the title, but 249 00:16:32,039 --> 00:16:34,840 she was just a phenomenal women's champion, So I'd love to have her on. 250 00:16:36,559 --> 00:16:40,360 UM. And then there's so many people that we interviewed super early, 251 00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:42,600 like John Moxley was our first ever guest. We had JR. We had 252 00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:48,960 the Bucks and that was all pre pandemic, so we've all changed as people 253 00:16:49,279 --> 00:16:52,480 itself has changed. I think it'd be great to honestly have them back on. 254 00:16:52,919 --> 00:16:56,320 Oh yeah, that would be awesome because I sit here and think about 255 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:00,000 like what you what you were saying, like when we first started this podcast 256 00:17:00,159 --> 00:17:03,279 and when you guys first launched, like going back to the original time when 257 00:17:03,279 --> 00:17:07,759 we had Cody on, Like Cody made the announcement on this podcast, is 258 00:17:07,799 --> 00:17:11,759 like what do you think about aw Dynamite? And it's like and then you 259 00:17:11,759 --> 00:17:14,640 you progress over the years and think about how many people have come on this 260 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,799 podcast, like we're the same boat. And uh, I think maybe the 261 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:22,799 internet would probably go out on the the IWC with a lot of chatter right 262 00:17:22,799 --> 00:17:29,319 now. Maybe Goldberg could be a guest on Unrestricted. Oh who knows? 263 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,480 Who knows? Yeah, who knows? Um, we have the Fight Forever 264 00:17:33,519 --> 00:17:37,319 game coming out next week. What are you most excited about that? What 265 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,240 can you tell us from what you've seen and all that. So, so 266 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,920 this is this is funny because I feel like a lot of people just assume 267 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:49,240 that I've been like super focused on the game because that's so whatever. Someone's 268 00:17:49,279 --> 00:17:52,319 like, wait, you don't work on the game. I'm like, no, 269 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,680 I'm working on other cool stuff I can't talk about right now. Um, 270 00:17:56,039 --> 00:18:00,200 but yeah, it's like I have not played Fight forever at all. 271 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,920 Oh really, yes, I have seen a couple clips, all the ones 272 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:04,559 that people tag me. I'm like, hey, you know you're in this 273 00:18:04,599 --> 00:18:08,480 game as someone's like chopping the crap out of me, which has been super 274 00:18:08,519 --> 00:18:14,519 fun to see. So I'm just excited to play it. And it seems 275 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:18,160 sounds like a really basic question, But like as a game developer, when 276 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:22,599 you talk to people who work on games, if they're at this point in 277 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,279 development and they're still excited about it and talking to Kenny Omega and talking to 278 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,160 like, no one knows who Nick sobiks because he's this high level executive who's 279 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,559 been on this project since literally day one and he's my boss, and he's 280 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:38,440 just so giddy about this game. And to not be completely jaded and so 281 00:18:38,519 --> 00:18:42,119 done with it and knowing it's going to be out means that it has stood 282 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:47,519 the test of time that despite through all of the troubles, they're excited for 283 00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:49,880 the game. So I'm excited to play it because I know that if people 284 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:55,359 involved with it are still happy with it three four years later, it's going 285 00:18:55,359 --> 00:19:00,640 to be good and all in everything I've heard is indicated that it is the 286 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,359 game that they set out to make. It is the old school and sixty 287 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,759 four era wrestling game. It's our Katie. They didn't do mo cap, 288 00:19:06,839 --> 00:19:11,279 they did like individual animation, so everything kind of feels more gamy like that's 289 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,759 it sounds very generic, But I'm excited to play the game. That is 290 00:19:15,799 --> 00:19:18,440 probably absolutely yeah. And I'm also excited that the fact that it's going to 291 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,960 be available on all platforms, because I went out and I will tell you, 292 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:26,119 I've pre ordered it for the PS five and my six year old got 293 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:27,720 mad because he can't really figure out how to play a PS five yet, 294 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:32,000 so I had to order it on the switch as well. So they're getting 295 00:19:32,079 --> 00:19:34,720 double money for me when the game comes out. Not gonna complain. Yeah, 296 00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:37,039 And you know, some people were kind of up in arms when they 297 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,160 kind of started some of the mini games started getting out. I'm just as 298 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:45,079 excited for those as I am. I mean, you have people over they're 299 00:19:45,079 --> 00:19:47,880 not wrestling fans, Hey we got these little mini games. I mean there's 300 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:49,319 so many ways that you can spend that, you know, I think it's 301 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:53,920 gonna be a really good addition to the game. So one of the things 302 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,480 I really like about the mini games is kind of how how more wrestling I 303 00:19:57,519 --> 00:20:02,480 think they are than people realize exactly. Kind of said, like with wrestling, 304 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,000 there's a little bit of something for everybody. Like Orange Cassie is my 305 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,960 favorite example. People may have never watched wrestling, but then as soon as 306 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,799 they see a guy who's fighting with his hands in his pockets, they're immediately 307 00:20:10,799 --> 00:20:12,400 on board. Ye right, it's like, okay, cool, my suspension 308 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:17,279 of disbelief is intact. We can do this. It's it's fine. So 309 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,839 kind of like you said, it's the whole couch multiplayer aspect of if someone 310 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:23,200 sits down and goes I don't really know wrestling, but like sheet is, 311 00:20:23,279 --> 00:20:29,240 swinging a kendo stick in a baseball game sounds cool. Yeah, And that's 312 00:20:29,279 --> 00:20:30,839 the thing that gets people hooked. You're not quite sure what it is, 313 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:34,680 but if you if you let people into the buffet, they will find something 314 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,799 that they like and maybe it'll stay a while. Right. I can't wait 315 00:20:37,799 --> 00:20:42,599 for Wardlow to hit a home run and that thing just wow, that's gonna 316 00:20:42,599 --> 00:20:47,480 be some fun stuff. So, of course Sunday, big big things happening. 317 00:20:47,559 --> 00:20:52,319 It's Forbidden Door happening live in Toronto. It's gonna be available on pay 318 00:20:52,319 --> 00:20:53,920 per view as well, so like movie theaters, which is pretty awesome around 319 00:20:53,920 --> 00:21:00,279 the country. How important is this event to both companies AW and New Pan 320 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:06,440 and how important is it to the wrestling fans in general? I think Forbidden 321 00:21:06,519 --> 00:21:10,359 Door is an extremely important event, and all of our pay per views are 322 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:15,240 important just from like fan perspective, from how we measure success as a business. 323 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:21,279 But Forbidden Door itself is just so unique because it's both AEW and New 324 00:21:21,319 --> 00:21:25,680 Japan Pro Wrestling, and back in the day before AW you could never even 325 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:30,960 imagine major companies coming together to work together like this. So the fact that 326 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:34,359 it's happened once, it was so successful and we're doing it again, it's 327 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,920 great for the fans because last year, we know Forbidden Door, we had 328 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,119 this great idea and then all of these injuries started happening, and the card 329 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:45,880 that we got, while still excellent and still an award winning show, was 330 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,319 not the card we expected. So it kind of itself left so much more 331 00:21:49,839 --> 00:21:52,240 on the table of like, well, we could get this, and we 332 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:56,160 could get this, and we could oh my god, what if we did 333 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,319 this and now like Ryan Danielson, who wasn't even on the show last year, 334 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,480 now has this crazy pun match with Okada, who somehow he's never wrestled 335 00:22:03,519 --> 00:22:08,440 before. You see Will Osprey and Kenny Omega tear it up again. I 336 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,440 think the last one they did was like six and three quarters stars, so 337 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:15,160 it's like, how many more stars can we give them? Right? It's 338 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,880 going to be excellent. So I think from a wrestling fan perspective, it's 339 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:23,319 great because you know that there's so many more options for how amazing matches are 340 00:22:23,319 --> 00:22:27,599 going to be served you. I think from the business perspective, it can't 341 00:22:27,599 --> 00:22:30,799 be seen as anything less than great because it just opens the doors for all 342 00:22:30,839 --> 00:22:34,839 these new opportunities no pun intended. I think for AW it's great because it 343 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:38,720 introduces a lot of our people to the Japanese market, and then for New 344 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:42,720 Japan introduces a lot of their fans to the AW market. So it's just 345 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:48,079 overall fantastic concept and I'm so happy we're doing it again. Yeah. And 346 00:22:48,599 --> 00:22:49,559 to go to your point too, I mean, if you go back to 347 00:22:49,599 --> 00:22:53,519 the eighties kind of when you had a bunch of these promoters get together to 348 00:22:53,599 --> 00:23:00,599 kind of go against any kase. You know, it generally ended being kind 349 00:23:00,599 --> 00:23:03,759 of a disaster. You know, they were cannibalizing each other and couldn't agree 350 00:23:03,759 --> 00:23:07,240 on things, and then they were drawing like five thousand people, and it's 351 00:23:07,279 --> 00:23:10,400 just you know, even though last year had its difficulties and then you know, 352 00:23:10,799 --> 00:23:11,960 Adam Cole got injured out of it, so there, it was a 353 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,599 trying time, but it's still I mean, I loved it. I enjoyed 354 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,720 it from top to bottom, and this year definitely feels a little bigger. 355 00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:22,839 But I think being in Toronto is gonna make it real special because, like 356 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:26,799 you said, those fans are just incredible up there and start on the whole 357 00:23:26,839 --> 00:23:30,119 new level. And the Owen Cup starts up this weekend too, heading into 358 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,359 that, so seeing that startup or the associated with Canadas, that would be 359 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,880 very good too. So yeah, we've got a couple of weeks in Canada, 360 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,680 so doing the Owen Hart run, yeah, and then having it culminate 361 00:23:40,759 --> 00:23:42,839 in Calgary, like it's just the timing could not be better. It's so 362 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,240 great. This is like the best summer to be a wrestling fan. I 363 00:23:45,279 --> 00:23:48,720 can't wait to see Owen in the video game too, because I mean just 364 00:23:48,759 --> 00:23:52,680 see like doing a match like with him in Orange or him and Ricky Ricky 365 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:56,240 Starks. I mean, it's just like physically would have never been possible. 366 00:23:56,279 --> 00:23:59,359 You know, It's just it's crazy. Well, you mentioned earlier that you're 367 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,680 working on something that you can't mention. Is there anything on your plate right 368 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,480 now you can disclose? Yeah? Yeah, here, let me take off 369 00:24:06,559 --> 00:24:10,359 one of the like twelve halts on. Yeah. So I do a lot 370 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,079 of different stuff at AW. Like obviously you see me on TV yelling at 371 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:17,720 you know, people rolling around in a ring, feeling rules, and sometimes 372 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:19,759 they listen, sometimes they don't. When I'm not in a wrestling ring, 373 00:24:19,759 --> 00:24:23,160 I have a number of different projects I'm involved in. I'm working with AW 374 00:24:23,319 --> 00:24:30,119 Games on a few unannounced projects, and I post the podcast aw in Restricted 375 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,880 new episodes every Thursday. One of the other things I'm doing is I'm one 376 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,519 of the leads on this thing called aw Heels, which is a female focused 377 00:24:37,519 --> 00:24:41,559 fan club, which is not something that's ever really existed before in wrestling, 378 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:45,880 And that's something that's very near and dear to my heart because I think, 379 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,920 even as as unbiased as I could be, because obviously I'm very biased, 380 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,880 but as a woman in wrestling, it's something that I see there being a 381 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:59,440 need for because it's a very very male dominated space and being a female and 382 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,839 a male do nator role, I feel it even that much more that I 383 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,440 want wrestling to feel like it can be something for everyone. So this is 384 00:25:07,559 --> 00:25:11,160 a really fun thing to work on and see people come together make friendships that 385 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:15,480 wouldn't exist otherwise, and they're all basically bring brought together because of wrestling. 386 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,640 Yeah, now, this is a fun thing. And before we let you 387 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:25,839 go dream match that you get to call, why would that be? Oh 388 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:33,000 good? I do? I mean, I have no idea, Like, 389 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:37,599 I have no idea, and it's not a cop out, but like literally 390 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,279 we're talking about Okada and Brian this weekend, right, and no one thought 391 00:25:40,279 --> 00:25:41,680 it was possible. We thought, like seven years ago Brian was never going 392 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:48,079 to wrestle again. So I can't even fathom one of my dream matches because 393 00:25:48,079 --> 00:25:52,440 it might even happen, because that's what wrestling is nowadays. And honestly, 394 00:25:52,519 --> 00:25:56,400 like, I'm just happy to work with all different kinds of people, Like 395 00:25:56,440 --> 00:26:00,759 I've had the opportunity to work with Jericho constantly, I have with Sting, 396 00:26:00,839 --> 00:26:03,000 I have you know Jeff, Jarrett, Jay Lethal, all of these guys 397 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:08,519 that have been all through everywhere forever. So I mean, it's it's really 398 00:26:08,519 --> 00:26:11,599 hard to answer that question because it's like, just give me everything right, 399 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:18,359 kind of piggybacking off of that when it comes time for I guess the match 400 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,400 selection of the night, Like do you all get to like get around be 401 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:22,440 like I wish I could. I would like to call this one or this 402 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:25,920 one or is it kind of already like assigned when you get there and this 403 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,799 is the matches that you go with, So this is a fun one. 404 00:26:29,079 --> 00:26:33,279 Our senior official is actually Paul Turner. He's known everyone kind of at the 405 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:37,400 highest level, like the Bucks and Kenny and Hangman the longest because they all 406 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,440 came from ROH together, so when he came in, he had the most 407 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:45,119 television experience of all of us. And Paul is an absolutely incredible senior official 408 00:26:45,559 --> 00:26:48,400 because he makes sure that we all get something cool at the end of the 409 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,240 day. So if you have would actually say two three minutes cool, the 410 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,720 next one are gonna get as a title match. So it's like there's always 411 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:59,119 something fun and he's always thinking about like, oh, this person likes to 412 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:02,559 work with this person, so he'll pair us up together. Like Bryce Ramsburg 413 00:27:02,559 --> 00:27:04,319 and Orange Cassidy have a ton of history together, which is why you end 414 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,039 up seeing them in the ring a lot because they're friends, like behind the 415 00:27:07,039 --> 00:27:11,160 scene. So it's great. I obviously work with Jericho a lot. Knox 416 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,359 works with the Bucks. Like there's just history and whatnot, and Paul's really 417 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:18,640 respectful of maintaining that, but he's also very respectful of just making sure we 418 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:22,400 all get cool stuff. So I will find out on Sunday what I'm doing, 419 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,000 and based on the card we have, I will be happy with whatever 420 00:27:25,039 --> 00:27:26,160 I am a sithe, Yeah, I mean it's a stack card. For 421 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,839 sure. You're gonna be able to watch Forbidden Door on pay per views, 422 00:27:30,839 --> 00:27:33,480 so like movie theaters across the country. Real quick, before we let you 423 00:27:33,519 --> 00:27:37,319 go, is there anything else that you'd like to tell the listeners? Where 424 00:27:37,319 --> 00:27:40,759 could they keep up with you online before we let you go? Promote whatever 425 00:27:40,799 --> 00:27:42,559 you'd like to promote? Right now? This is your floor. Sure, 426 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,440 you can follow me on Twitter ref Aubrey. You can follow me on Instagram 427 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,319 ref Aubrey. You should definitely listen to the aw Unrestricted podcast New episodes every 428 00:27:49,319 --> 00:27:53,480 Thursday. You should watch Dynamite, Wednesday's Rampage, Friday's Collision on Saturdays. 429 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,000 And if you're not tuning into this pay per view and you're a wrestling fan, 430 00:27:56,079 --> 00:27:59,599 you're lying to yourself because you're only a wrestling fan if you watch the 431 00:27:59,599 --> 00:28:03,480 show, because it is just a tribute to wrestling fans. Boom, that's 432 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,880 not an endorsement. I don't know what it is. Yes, we'll just 433 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,200 end it like that one. Aubrey, it's an honor to have you on 434 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:11,400 the show. Thank you for taking the time out and hanging out with us, 435 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:15,160 and we look forward to seeing you when you guys come to Nashville in 436 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,720 August. Thank you for retreating my action figure with respect and make sure that 437 00:28:18,759 --> 00:28:22,640 you please return that to your son and thank you well he will, he 438 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,799 will. He will hit me with a guitar like Karen did you And I'm 439 00:28:25,839 --> 00:28:26,799 sorry about that. That was the only thing that popped in my head. 440 00:28:26,799 --> 00:28:30,799 But you got payback and made her tap out. We'll take on all the 441 00:28:30,839 --> 00:28:34,799 splinters out of my hair. It was fine. We hope you enjoyed today's 442 00:28:34,839 --> 00:28:38,480 episode of the Battleground Podcast. Make sure you give it five stars. And 443 00:28:38,599 --> 00:28:41,839 a nice review. To stay up to date with the show, follow them 444 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:55,359 at Battleground Podcast on Instagram,