Credit: Ring Rust Radio
Abyss recently spoke about the evolution of his character and much more. Here are the highlights…
On TNA’s Move to Destination America: I think it’s a continuation of the growth of Impact wrestling. Destination America provides us opportunities that we never had before. I’ve been around since the beginning. Seeing the growth from the move to Wednesday night only Pay-Per-Views back in 2003/2004, going to Fox Sports, and our great relationship with Spike for almost nine years. Now our move to Destination America is a continuation of the growth of the company and were going to have opportunities with Destination America that we never had with any other network. We have the Saturday morning Unlocked show with Mike Tenay which is the best of TNA wrestling matches. You can already see a lot of commitment from Destination America so it is an exciting time for us. We just stepped up with the first round of TV shows in New York last week and they went fantastic. The locker room really gave it everything we had and I think it showed in the product.
On The Evolution of His Character: I’m so proud of the evolution of the Abyss character throughout the years. Longevity in this business is not something that a lot of talents get the privilege to experience. I’ve been able to do that and have been very fortunate and lucky to do so. I have worked very hard and I have also had a ton of support. To see the character evolve from its roots and beginning with Jim Mitchell, to not speaking, and evolving to speaking. The different phases of the character like the insane asylum character in 2008 and 2009 to working with Hulk in 2010 and 2011. Then throw in some of the Joseph Park stuff with my illustrious brother that stuff was fantastic too. I have had a lot of support along the way with number one being Dixie. My relationship with her goes all the back to 2003. With everything she provided me with, the tools, and things for me to be able showcase myself on that platform. Dave Lagana and Matt Conway the writing team, they are just fantastic in coming up with new angles and ways to present the character. It’s been a lot of support and a real team effort. I’m more proud of the fact that I have been with TNA since 2003 more so than any belt I have won or any accomplishment I have done in the ring. To be a part of the Impact team for well over a decade is something I am extremely proud of.
On The Joseph Park Character: Ya know it was a real challenge. I come from a football background so you get presented with coaching, learning/doing different things, and adapting to different circumstances. I’d be lying to you if I told you I wasn’t afraid to death when I first started the Joseph Parks character. It was a brand new adventure and you talk about a 360 degree turn from the monster Abyss and that’s exactly what it was. I really enjoyed it and it was such a fun part of my career just to be something that I wasn’t for the last 15 years and the challenge it presented. To me it was an incredible challenge: To act like you didn’t know what you were doing, being green, not know how to wrestle, the different tone of voice, how I walked, and carried myself. I gotta give a lot of credit to David and Matt for those situations they put the character in really helped it to succeed. It was really a ton of fun.
On Turning Down a WWE Offer and Potential Match With The Undertaker: I absolutely 1,000 percent would make the same decision again. I absolutely have no regrets whatsoever. Being a part of TNA since the beginning is something that I am extremely proud of. I’m not saying other places aren’t great places to go work, but for me the decision to stay on that occasion and several others is that I love TNA. I am TNA through and through and I always will be. I did have opportunities to go other places and I am proud that I was afforded that opportunity. The reason I stayed was for loyalty and no other reason. Not stage fright as Tommy joked in that interview, it had completely to do with the fact the I love TNA through and through. The company has treated me fantastic over the decade plus years I have been there. From Dixie to everyone there I am really happy there. I wanted to stay there and help build the company, be a part of something that I was with since the ground up. There is nowhere else in the World I could go and say that. That was the reason that I stayed and I have zero regrets. If I was asked to do it over again a 100 times I would do it 100 times.
100% LINK (PHOTOS): Abyss’ Arm Backstage After A Recent Monster’s Ball – OOOUUUCCCCHHHH!!!!