Show: Wrestling Epicenter
Guest: Michael Elgin
Date: 10/10/19
Your Host: James Walsh

Michael Elgin joins us for a new exclusive here in October of 2019 to discuss Impact Wrestling Bound for Glory, the company’s transition to AXS TV, his feud and unfinished business with Brian Cage, Rhino, and much more. This one hits you with a lot in just 15 minutes. So, buckle up or he’ll hit you with the buckle bomb!

Elgin will be taking on Marufuji in a feature bout at Impact Wrestling’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view on October 20th. He also will be at All Glory the night before. Be sure and check out www.ImpactWrestling.com for all the great events happening in the next few weeks including tonight’s broadcast on Twitch and Pursuit!

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MICHAEL ELGIN:

On Impact’s move to AXS TV:
“I think it is huge because I really stand behind the fact that Impact Wrestling TV has been amazing. That goes back before I got here… As a fan watching, that is what made me want to join the company. Now that there are more eyes that can view it, I think it is going to be great. The roster is young, they’re talented, they’re hungry… Everybody wants to bring their A game. With more viewers, everyone will be even more ready to work their butts off. I’ll tell them this to their face and to them if they’re listening to this podcast, I’m going to go out there like I have since I got here and I’m going to have the best match possible. Please, please! Try to have a better match than me!”

On his feud with Brian Cage:
“I think it was the perfect way for me to enter the company. I think I was a much different opponent, stylistically, since he became champion. Even though he was dealing with injuries, I think I had that perfect mix for what he needed to really have that pull out match as champion. I think we succeeded with that. And, for those who weren’t familiar with me, I think it showed how I wrestle and what I represent as a wrestler.”

On Tessa Blanchard/Sami Callihan main eventing Slammiversary:
“I’m kind of torn on that. In one aspect, I think a company like Impact Wrestling putting inter-gender wrestling at the forefront is great. I think Tessa Blanchard is one of the best wrestlers in the world, male or female. But, I feel myself against Brian Cage should have been the main event at Slammiversary. That is not a knock on Tessa. That is not a knock on Sami. That is not a knock on the company for making that decision. I just felt that, from April to July, the main story the company went with was myself against Brian. And, if you look at that match, I think that was a main event match for a big pay per view. So, I feel that myself and Brian, we should have main evented. But, by the same token, I’m happy that it went to Tessa and Sami because a company like Impact putting inter-gender wrestling at the forefront… And, having a special talent like Tessa Blanchard in the main event, you can’t go wrong!”

On Rhino joining Impact:
“He’s a veteran competitor who can still go. And, he can put some eyes on us. He’s been a great addition. Moving forward, I think a guy like Rhino, especially with the move to AXS TV, if you see a commercial for the show and you see or hear the name Rhino, you might tune in to see him and then also see the newer, younger talent that is just blowing the roof off of places.”

On facing Marufuji at Bound for Glory:
“I was always a fan of Japanese wrestling. When I began my career in 2003 was kind of when the Japanese wrestlers were coming back to the States. There was a long time where they weren’t really featured in the US. The two big names that were coming over to the states were Marufuji and KENTA. A lot of people were KENTA fans. Myself? I was a Marufuji fan. I just thought he was amazing. My goal, in 2003, was to go over to Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH. I even did a training camp with Harley Race for Pro Wrestling NOAH. Because, I was a fan of All Japan. In 2013, I was supposed to wrestle him in Ring of Honor but he got hurt in Japan and it never happened. Ever since then, I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to wrestle him. Now, I finally get it!”

On if TJP was a like-styled opponent to Marufuji :
“Yes and no. TJP, he can strike but he moreso went to the ground game. But, he still can strike and that is something I have to watch out for with Marufuji. They are very similar in stature. The difference in strenth and speed is going to be very similar to myself and Marufuji. But, the thing TJP learned and that Marufuji is going to learn is sometimes you think you’re going to have a speed advantage against me but you don’t really have that same advantage you would against somebody else my size.”

On the wrestling landscape going into 2020:
“Man, I think this is an unprecedented time for wrestling. It really is! You have AEW on TNT, you have WWE on FOX, you have NXT on USA, you have Impact moving to AXS, you have New Japan on AXS, you have WOW on AXS, you have NWA and MLW on YouTube! This is literally an unprecedented time where you have so many avenues to see so many talents from different places. Not only that, you have the success of New Japan and their airing in the States which is opening more eyes to Japanese wrestling to where Pro Wrestling NOAH can get more eyes on it. If you ever wanted to be a wrestler, 2019 going into 2020 is the time to be one!”