Magnus Discusses His GFW Status & Reveals Why He Left TNA, & More

Nick Aldis, the former Magnus, spoke with Sports Illustrated for a new interview. You can see some excerpts below:

On his GFW status and why he left TNA: GFW is a start-up, so I’m not under contract there. They’re not in any position to be signing anyone to a contract. I want to dispel this idea that I left TNA in order to join GFW. I certainly don’t want that to be the idea at TNA. I hate the idea that there’s a notion floating around that there are sour grapes. I have nothing but gratitude for TNA, and I’m not backtracking from anything I’ve said, but I want to make that clear. The situation with TNA is this–business wise, at the time, TNA was not in a favorable period. They said to me, “Look, your contract is coming up. The offer we would be able to make you is an embarrassment and a slap in the face to your work and your value to the company.” So I said, “OK, then don’t make the offer. I’ll venture out and see what happens.” I’d been under contract there for six years, and the majority of my adult life after signing with them at 21, and there was never any “Screw you, I’m out of here.” They were very honest, it was emotional, and there was no desire for it to end on either end.”

On his shoulder surgery and recovery: “It was a very successful surgery and I’ve been cleared by doctors. I was fortunate. It’s a rough idea, but knock on wood, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever had in ten years as a full-time wrestler. I’ve never really been sidelined by an injury until now. I’m pretty much ready to go back to full work and full booking. I’m in a limbo period in my career being a free agent and unsure where to try and attempt to go next, and unaware of where may or may not be interested. It forces you to reflect. There was definitely a part of me that had fallen into a little bit of a comfort zone, but luckily I was the person to identify that before anyone else. I’ve been going to gymnastics coaches and working on jiu-jitsu to integrate that into my work and evolve. There is a lot of emphasis now on moves and the term ‘work rate,’ and there is a real emphasis on what I call selfish workers. Their whole MO is “What can I do to make myself look good?” instead of “What can we do to take the fans on this great story?”

On possibly working with Mickie James: “We would make a pretty cool pairing at this point. We have great chemistry, and we can both talk, we can both work, and we have a deep respect and appreciation of what one another can do. We are open to it now, and it could be a really cool way to reinvent ourselves. Lucha Underground really interests me. The biggest problem with the business right now for the boys is that the remaining market share that doesn’t belong to WWE is divided up by so many companies. TNA used to have that market share, but now it’s divided up by so many entities. Financially, it’s not a great time to be a wrestler because it’s the same portion of market share divided up by more entity, but Lucha Underground is so different that it could bring in new fans. I’m very much a free agent. I just started working with [agent] Bill Behrens, who has done great work with AJ Styles and Moose. I’m absolutely at a point where I’m refreshed and my passion is back, and it’s time for me to explore more and reinvent myself. I’m going to be better than ever wherever I go.”

100% DIRECT LINK (PHOTOS): Chris Benoit’s Son Training For Wrestling?! THEY LOOK IDENTICAL!!