Kazarian interview - part 2
Feb 20, 2005 15:44:43 GMT -5
Post by The Doctor on Feb 20, 2005 15:44:43 GMT -5
Frankie Kazarian: Yeah there was a meeting with Dusty (Rhodes) when he
first took over with all of the X Division talent where he claimed we
would be getting mic time to develop our characters. Which we thought
was good. As far as Michael Shane and I specifically, after the AJ
Styles storyline which Vince Russo had a big hand in writing, and I must
say Vince Russo is a friend who I respect and he always had our best
interest in mind, we were never told anything from mid-November until
the last PPV what we were doing. I am a company guy but we were never
given a specific angle we were just told go out and wrestle. We were
sitting on the bench waiting to be put in to play.
AW: You and Michael were put back in the game at the Turning Point PPV
when you were paired with Kid Kash to take on Sonny Siaki, Sonjay Dutt
and Hector Garza. The match wasn’t really hyped to the viewing audience.
Do you prefer a match with a storyline and how do you get the fans into
a match that is put together?
Frankie Kazarian: Well if I am in a match with little or no storyline I
tell the story in the ring. If it’s a match with two guys the fans
aren’t exposed to they need to tell their own story to get the fans
interested. Our match told a great story because of the other talent
beside me and Michael. Sonjay Dutt is another guy I respect and it
worked out for what we were given before going to the ring.
AW: At the next PPV which was Final Resolution you and Michael were
teamed with the “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels to take on the 3 Live
Kru. What’s it like to take on a trio that have held the NWA World Tag
Team titles with interchangeable partners?
Frankie Kazarian: It was fun and all three of them are veterans we can
learn from every time they get in the ring. Christopher Daniels is one
of the best wrestlers in the world as well as a great friend. The three
of us have great chemistry, which seems to be the most overused word in
this interview (laughs.) I was psyched to mix it up with 3 Live Kru.
AW: Before moving into the next angle we will speak about in a second
you and Michael met up with another NWA World Tag Team championship
team, Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens AKA The Naturals. Talk about
working with them and were they a team you guys would have liked to have
been with more?
Frankie Kazarian: We only worked them one time in a short match. We
talked to them and America’s Most Wanted about doing a storyline. In my
honest opinion Michael Shane and I could have done great business with
AMW. It’s a shame that it never happened.
AW: After the Final Resolution PPV at an Impact taping the live audience
saw a video where you and Michael came to the ring as 3LK and TNA
analyst Jeff Hammond worked out in the ring. It wasn’t until we saw it
on Friday afternoon we knew you two had issues with Mr. Hammond being in
a wrestling ring. What was your initial reaction to being asked to take
part in the storyline that led to Against All Odds?
Frankie Kazarian: I tried to look at it as a positive chance for a
crossover since Jeff Hammond is respected on the NASCAR circuit and is
part of the FSN TV announcer teams. I did feel good that they asked us
to be part of it. That first spot could have been done better since you
couldn’t hear what we were saying to him and 3 Live Kru. I thought the
build up was decent and we did the best we could.
AW: Before the PPV we had some conversations that now are going to
become public about your dissatisfaction with the promotion as to where
your character was going. Was it just the lack of direction the
character Frankie Kazarian was going in that led you to have thoughts of
leaving TNA?
Frankie Kazarian: I am not sure it was just the direction of the
character per say since I am not one to say I think my character should
be doing this or I should be in that spot. I’m not in a spot on the
roster because TNA was busy in other areas. I am sure we would have
gotten our shot. I mention to you I thought if Michael and I could have
been given the ball by TNA and not only would we have scored the
touchdown we would have won the game. There was a sense of urgency in me
to get that done; I wanted to have some weight put on me. I thought I
was stuck in neutral.
AW: I wish to sidetrack from TNA one more time to mention your recent
debut with Cyber Space Wrestling Federation. What was it like to be
there and with business ties to TNA; do you see any more trips to work
with CSWF?
Frankie Kazarian: I am booked on their next show but I haven’t heard
much recently. It was awesome to work up there and wrestle the amazing
Chris Candido. I had a fun time and you mentioned some of my TNA buddies
were there. It was great to be back in front of the New Jersey fans and
I hope to be there again soon.
AW: In regards to the match between the duo of Shazarian against Jeff
Hammond and BG James, several newsletters brought up the following item:
"There was one major incident backstage stemming from the planned Jeff
Hammond & B.G. James vs. Michael Shane & Frankie Kazarian match. Shane &
Kazarian were really upset about having to get pinned by Hammond. They
complained a lot. Management blamed a lot of it on Shane Douglas, who is
considered Michael Shane's mentor, as they believe he made a bad
situation worse by telling them it was b.s. for either of them get
pinned by a 48-year-old race car announcer. It got bad enough that Jeff
Jarrett was considering firing Douglas and maybe even Shane & Kazarian.
The feeling is that Hammond is a major player at FSN, knows the
president of the network and this is something to win brownie points
with the network in the quest to get that Monday night TV show which is
their big dream. Other wrestlers told them that in wrestling, this
wasn't a big deal and it's just part of the business."
Time to play rumor killer, how much of this incident is true or fiction?
Frankie Kazarian: Not only will I kill the rumor, I will cremate it,
bury it or whatever be needed to end it. It’s silly since I don’t know
who started that one. There was some discussion as to the direction the
match should go in. We had lots of laughs about it. Jeff wasn’t there
until late due to other business. So we talked it out with BG who is a
good friend and human being. When Jeff arrived he came to us and asked
us what he should do in the match since he was nervous. We did business
and afterwards he shook my hand. I did some interviews and went to the
hotel. The angle and that match had nothing to do with my decision. That
rumor is just hysterical.
AW: I have to ask being a non-racing fan, who had the idea to wear the
Daytona 500 shirts and what did you think of the fans chanting “NASCAR
Sucks” and “NASCAR is Fake” during the match?
Frankie Kazarian: I came up with the shirts but we had ideas of driving
go-karts to the ring to mock NASCAR, then we wanted to wear the
firesuits that the drivers wear to race. We didn’t have any chance to
get that in since most of the match was written already. I would have
liked to have been given a chance to have gotten more heat on Michael
and me. We wore the shirts and subsequently ripped them off and I don’t
think TNA was expecting the fans chanting “NASCAR Sucks” or chanting to
me and Michael “You’re the Coolest.” The fans have a mind of their own
and the crowd that night was not filled with NASCAR fans. Honestly it
was kind of funny.
AW: Before either of us arrived in Orlando for the Against All Odds PPV
you said you were going to speak with TNA management about your
situation. Was there anyone in TNA or other promotions you spoke to as
to what you should do with your career path?
Frankie Kazarian: I kept things very hush hush and with the exceptions
of our talks, I spoke with my family and some real close friends for
some perspective on the career options. I spoke to Konnan who I have
known since we met on a tour of Lebanon a few years ago. Konnan has been
everywhere and I respect his views of life and wrestling. I am going to
miss him. Another person I talked to and who I respect is Christopher
Daniels, he was my roommate and travel partner in TNA. He is probably my
best friend in wrestling and has a huge wealth of knowledge. As it got
closer to the PPV I spoke to some of the great agents in TNA like Scott
D’amore and Terry Taylor for their prospective. I can’t express my
gratitude to all of them to help me through this.
from Alan Wojcik (http://alanwojcik.com)
first took over with all of the X Division talent where he claimed we
would be getting mic time to develop our characters. Which we thought
was good. As far as Michael Shane and I specifically, after the AJ
Styles storyline which Vince Russo had a big hand in writing, and I must
say Vince Russo is a friend who I respect and he always had our best
interest in mind, we were never told anything from mid-November until
the last PPV what we were doing. I am a company guy but we were never
given a specific angle we were just told go out and wrestle. We were
sitting on the bench waiting to be put in to play.
AW: You and Michael were put back in the game at the Turning Point PPV
when you were paired with Kid Kash to take on Sonny Siaki, Sonjay Dutt
and Hector Garza. The match wasn’t really hyped to the viewing audience.
Do you prefer a match with a storyline and how do you get the fans into
a match that is put together?
Frankie Kazarian: Well if I am in a match with little or no storyline I
tell the story in the ring. If it’s a match with two guys the fans
aren’t exposed to they need to tell their own story to get the fans
interested. Our match told a great story because of the other talent
beside me and Michael. Sonjay Dutt is another guy I respect and it
worked out for what we were given before going to the ring.
AW: At the next PPV which was Final Resolution you and Michael were
teamed with the “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels to take on the 3 Live
Kru. What’s it like to take on a trio that have held the NWA World Tag
Team titles with interchangeable partners?
Frankie Kazarian: It was fun and all three of them are veterans we can
learn from every time they get in the ring. Christopher Daniels is one
of the best wrestlers in the world as well as a great friend. The three
of us have great chemistry, which seems to be the most overused word in
this interview (laughs.) I was psyched to mix it up with 3 Live Kru.
AW: Before moving into the next angle we will speak about in a second
you and Michael met up with another NWA World Tag Team championship
team, Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens AKA The Naturals. Talk about
working with them and were they a team you guys would have liked to have
been with more?
Frankie Kazarian: We only worked them one time in a short match. We
talked to them and America’s Most Wanted about doing a storyline. In my
honest opinion Michael Shane and I could have done great business with
AMW. It’s a shame that it never happened.
AW: After the Final Resolution PPV at an Impact taping the live audience
saw a video where you and Michael came to the ring as 3LK and TNA
analyst Jeff Hammond worked out in the ring. It wasn’t until we saw it
on Friday afternoon we knew you two had issues with Mr. Hammond being in
a wrestling ring. What was your initial reaction to being asked to take
part in the storyline that led to Against All Odds?
Frankie Kazarian: I tried to look at it as a positive chance for a
crossover since Jeff Hammond is respected on the NASCAR circuit and is
part of the FSN TV announcer teams. I did feel good that they asked us
to be part of it. That first spot could have been done better since you
couldn’t hear what we were saying to him and 3 Live Kru. I thought the
build up was decent and we did the best we could.
AW: Before the PPV we had some conversations that now are going to
become public about your dissatisfaction with the promotion as to where
your character was going. Was it just the lack of direction the
character Frankie Kazarian was going in that led you to have thoughts of
leaving TNA?
Frankie Kazarian: I am not sure it was just the direction of the
character per say since I am not one to say I think my character should
be doing this or I should be in that spot. I’m not in a spot on the
roster because TNA was busy in other areas. I am sure we would have
gotten our shot. I mention to you I thought if Michael and I could have
been given the ball by TNA and not only would we have scored the
touchdown we would have won the game. There was a sense of urgency in me
to get that done; I wanted to have some weight put on me. I thought I
was stuck in neutral.
AW: I wish to sidetrack from TNA one more time to mention your recent
debut with Cyber Space Wrestling Federation. What was it like to be
there and with business ties to TNA; do you see any more trips to work
with CSWF?
Frankie Kazarian: I am booked on their next show but I haven’t heard
much recently. It was awesome to work up there and wrestle the amazing
Chris Candido. I had a fun time and you mentioned some of my TNA buddies
were there. It was great to be back in front of the New Jersey fans and
I hope to be there again soon.
AW: In regards to the match between the duo of Shazarian against Jeff
Hammond and BG James, several newsletters brought up the following item:
"There was one major incident backstage stemming from the planned Jeff
Hammond & B.G. James vs. Michael Shane & Frankie Kazarian match. Shane &
Kazarian were really upset about having to get pinned by Hammond. They
complained a lot. Management blamed a lot of it on Shane Douglas, who is
considered Michael Shane's mentor, as they believe he made a bad
situation worse by telling them it was b.s. for either of them get
pinned by a 48-year-old race car announcer. It got bad enough that Jeff
Jarrett was considering firing Douglas and maybe even Shane & Kazarian.
The feeling is that Hammond is a major player at FSN, knows the
president of the network and this is something to win brownie points
with the network in the quest to get that Monday night TV show which is
their big dream. Other wrestlers told them that in wrestling, this
wasn't a big deal and it's just part of the business."
Time to play rumor killer, how much of this incident is true or fiction?
Frankie Kazarian: Not only will I kill the rumor, I will cremate it,
bury it or whatever be needed to end it. It’s silly since I don’t know
who started that one. There was some discussion as to the direction the
match should go in. We had lots of laughs about it. Jeff wasn’t there
until late due to other business. So we talked it out with BG who is a
good friend and human being. When Jeff arrived he came to us and asked
us what he should do in the match since he was nervous. We did business
and afterwards he shook my hand. I did some interviews and went to the
hotel. The angle and that match had nothing to do with my decision. That
rumor is just hysterical.
AW: I have to ask being a non-racing fan, who had the idea to wear the
Daytona 500 shirts and what did you think of the fans chanting “NASCAR
Sucks” and “NASCAR is Fake” during the match?
Frankie Kazarian: I came up with the shirts but we had ideas of driving
go-karts to the ring to mock NASCAR, then we wanted to wear the
firesuits that the drivers wear to race. We didn’t have any chance to
get that in since most of the match was written already. I would have
liked to have been given a chance to have gotten more heat on Michael
and me. We wore the shirts and subsequently ripped them off and I don’t
think TNA was expecting the fans chanting “NASCAR Sucks” or chanting to
me and Michael “You’re the Coolest.” The fans have a mind of their own
and the crowd that night was not filled with NASCAR fans. Honestly it
was kind of funny.
AW: Before either of us arrived in Orlando for the Against All Odds PPV
you said you were going to speak with TNA management about your
situation. Was there anyone in TNA or other promotions you spoke to as
to what you should do with your career path?
Frankie Kazarian: I kept things very hush hush and with the exceptions
of our talks, I spoke with my family and some real close friends for
some perspective on the career options. I spoke to Konnan who I have
known since we met on a tour of Lebanon a few years ago. Konnan has been
everywhere and I respect his views of life and wrestling. I am going to
miss him. Another person I talked to and who I respect is Christopher
Daniels, he was my roommate and travel partner in TNA. He is probably my
best friend in wrestling and has a huge wealth of knowledge. As it got
closer to the PPV I spoke to some of the great agents in TNA like Scott
D’amore and Terry Taylor for their prospective. I can’t express my
gratitude to all of them to help me through this.
from Alan Wojcik (http://alanwojcik.com)