Former TNA World heavyweight Champion James Storm was recently interviewed by our good friends at Power-Wrestling Radio Germany. In the interview recorded in English, Storm talks about Impact going on the road, His short title run, Vince Russo, the reaction of the locker room on Impact going on the road and much more. Below is a quick recap:
On Impact Wrestling going on the road full time:
i think its a great move by tna because i think that's what they need, exposure. i know its great being in the impact zone and on the road everyone has to start stepping up; Everybody from the office to the marketing department to the guys in the ring putting on a show and i think so far everyone has stepped up.
backstage reaction to going on the road and rumors that some guys were unhappy:
I haven't seen any of those guys running around the locker room. As far as everyone that i hang out with in the locker room, we are all thrilled to do it. We are happy to get out of the impact zone. Especially being there since day one. I've been at the impact zone since we started there. You have to kill yourself to get a reaction out of those guys coming in there for 7, 8 years.
TNA cutting down to 4 pay per view events
I think its great. when i was growing up we just had the 4 pay per views, the royal rumble, wrestlemania, summerslam and survivor series. Nowadays, we have the wwe running a pay per view every month, we have TNA running a pay per view every month, we have mma. Scooby Doo is on pay per view now. I think it became too saturated.
On TNA fans having mixed reactions about Hulk Hogan coming to TNA:
Ah you know anyone can sit back and pick any body apart they want. You always see the un-named source or something like that. As far as I'm concerned every chance i have had to work with him he has helped me out a lot. he tries to pull me aside after i have a match or promo and he don't ever talk down to me or anything. He will just tell me, try this next time. Next time i try it and it will work or not work. He is the first one there when i come back.
He is also recognizable. I think he is more recognizable than our President. I mean, if you were in an airport and the President and Hulk Hogan were there, you would probably recognize Hogan first. Am I right?
On his short title reign:
To me it is what it is. i can now say i was world heavyweight champion. I don't care if it was for just 30 seconds. I can put that on my resume that i was TNA world heavyweight champion. I think i could have done a lot more with it. It's one of those things that my time will come again and when it does, I'll be ready.
This time when it comes I'm going to make the best of it and show the world what i got. Show TNA management that i am deserving of being champion. The highest rated show was when i became champion, Just wanted to throw that out there!
On the departure of Vince Russo:
I remember i used to go up to BG James, the Road dogg also Kipp Billy Gunn, they helped me out a lot. When Vince Russo was writing the show. I would take my stuff over to Road dogg and ask him 'hey do you mind if i go out and just say whatever'. He would tell me, go ahead. You see Vince [Russo] he's from the New York. New York people don't truly know how southern people talk. He isn't going to write something for a guy from the south.
I would go up to Vince and ask him 'hey can i say whatever' and say go ahead. He let me go out and ever since then I would just go out and do my own thing.
I miss Vince Russo. I had a close relationship with Vince. I really like Vince a lot and i think he did good for the company. I think whatever happened, happened. It's none of my business or whatever but as far as me and Vince's relationship. I always felt like i could talk to him and find out what was going on and where this is headed and add my input.
Source TNAInside.com - Darren Grett
On Impact Wrestling going on the road full time:
i think its a great move by tna because i think that's what they need, exposure. i know its great being in the impact zone and on the road everyone has to start stepping up; Everybody from the office to the marketing department to the guys in the ring putting on a show and i think so far everyone has stepped up.
backstage reaction to going on the road and rumors that some guys were unhappy:
I haven't seen any of those guys running around the locker room. As far as everyone that i hang out with in the locker room, we are all thrilled to do it. We are happy to get out of the impact zone. Especially being there since day one. I've been at the impact zone since we started there. You have to kill yourself to get a reaction out of those guys coming in there for 7, 8 years.
TNA cutting down to 4 pay per view events
I think its great. when i was growing up we just had the 4 pay per views, the royal rumble, wrestlemania, summerslam and survivor series. Nowadays, we have the wwe running a pay per view every month, we have TNA running a pay per view every month, we have mma. Scooby Doo is on pay per view now. I think it became too saturated.
On TNA fans having mixed reactions about Hulk Hogan coming to TNA:
Ah you know anyone can sit back and pick any body apart they want. You always see the un-named source or something like that. As far as I'm concerned every chance i have had to work with him he has helped me out a lot. he tries to pull me aside after i have a match or promo and he don't ever talk down to me or anything. He will just tell me, try this next time. Next time i try it and it will work or not work. He is the first one there when i come back.
He is also recognizable. I think he is more recognizable than our President. I mean, if you were in an airport and the President and Hulk Hogan were there, you would probably recognize Hogan first. Am I right?
On his short title reign:
To me it is what it is. i can now say i was world heavyweight champion. I don't care if it was for just 30 seconds. I can put that on my resume that i was TNA world heavyweight champion. I think i could have done a lot more with it. It's one of those things that my time will come again and when it does, I'll be ready.
This time when it comes I'm going to make the best of it and show the world what i got. Show TNA management that i am deserving of being champion. The highest rated show was when i became champion, Just wanted to throw that out there!
On the departure of Vince Russo:
I remember i used to go up to BG James, the Road dogg also Kipp Billy Gunn, they helped me out a lot. When Vince Russo was writing the show. I would take my stuff over to Road dogg and ask him 'hey do you mind if i go out and just say whatever'. He would tell me, go ahead. You see Vince [Russo] he's from the New York. New York people don't truly know how southern people talk. He isn't going to write something for a guy from the south.
I would go up to Vince and ask him 'hey can i say whatever' and say go ahead. He let me go out and ever since then I would just go out and do my own thing.
I miss Vince Russo. I had a close relationship with Vince. I really like Vince a lot and i think he did good for the company. I think whatever happened, happened. It's none of my business or whatever but as far as me and Vince's relationship. I always felt like i could talk to him and find out what was going on and where this is headed and add my input.
Source TNAInside.com - Darren Grett