it's time once again for everyone's favorite column................ mine! so kids put your parents to bed cause it's time for the show to begin.
This time around let's save the best for first and do the sound off.
Sound off: Who has been your toughest opponent in the TWF and why?
Drew Blood: "Hmmm...everyone's tied for last place, but I guess I'd have to say Rockwell because he's been a pest for years. I usually end up getting the better of him, but he never seems to go away".
Joe Corey: "Shelton Benjamin, because he is the only opponent who has gotten the best of me twice and I have yet to give him a receipt".
Travis Wakeman: "Brock Lesnar. He knew me inside and out from our days as a team and he was one tough SOB".
Jordan Rockwell: "Normally I would say Drew Blood cause we battled for like two years straight but after the last two pay-per-views I would have to say my toughest opponent is Nails. He's still one tough s.o.b after all these years".
At this time I want to share with you one half of my double feature, I recntly sat down with the hardcore icon Nails prior to the Royal Rumble.
Joe Diano: "I'm here with the hardcore icon of the TWF Nails. First off, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to do this interview".
Nails: "Mo problem, I always like to take time and do as many interviews as I can, I like the attention".
diano: "Let's start at the beginning. How did you get into wrestling"?
Nails: "Well I have always been a fan of wrestling. I started out with a few indy feds then when I got a name I went to Japan and then on to the WHWF then the TWF and being trained by Terry Funk helped a bit".
Diano: "Now obviously the first thing noticed about you is your gimmick, exactly how and where did Nails come to be"?
Nails: "Good question. I first started wrestling under another gimmick like now I wrestled in mostly hardcore matches. When I tried out for the Funk Camp I wrestled a Hardcore Hell match in a Cage and Dorry Funk Jr was watching me and is to have reported to have said "that kid is as tough as Nails". The person came later on along with the hockey mask".
Diano: "Speaking of the Funk family, as you said you were trained by Terry Funk and we all know Jordan Rockwell was trained by Dory. First, being around Rockwell, did not only yourself but the Funk's also think he'd become as big as he has today"?
Nails: "Well look at who we are talking about here. The golden boy of the TWF. Of corse the Funk's knew they hit a gold mine. I was too busy with my training to really pay attention to what they were thinking about Rockwell or even form an opinion of him. I mean the kid was really good then but so was I. We were trained by the same people. My skills are just as good as Rockwell's but I guess I have the Jake Roberts syndrome".
Diano: "Secondly, when you are trained by a wrestling legend what is the pressure like when you get into the actual business? I mean was there pressure to prove yourself"?
Nails: "TThats the Bizz as they say. In pro wrestling you have to prove you are willing and able to carry the ball and being traind by real wrestling legends does add a little pressure to the whole situation".
Diano: "Now lastly on this subject, I did a bit of research into your past and spoke to a lot of people and yes Rockwell was one, and the one thing that came up the most was the fact that you let the wrong people get in your ear, namely Wally Willson and you had a falling out with Terry Funk, what exactly went on at this point"?
Nails: "Wally Willson is a touchy subject. I really can't get into details due to a class action suit I have with him. To make a long story short is the guy stole fifteen million dollars from me and other wrestlers that were once involved with the Hardcore Revoltion and the NWO. I thought Wally was going to take us to the Top of the wrestling game and he promised me a World title and he promised other people things and did not deliver. HE IS A BITCH! On Terry Funk, the first match I had ever seen was Terry Funk up against Harly Race. I was hooked on the Funker from then on. It was an honor to be trained by him and an honor to beat him. As for our falling out, Willson had a hand in that. It all started when Willson talked me into jumping ship to his WHWF and Terry really took offense to the whole deal. And the fact that I knocked up one of Terry's daughters didn't help matters at all. It all came to a head a few years ago at MeltDown and it's really simple. The fact is I beat Terry with a Fire poker. I had seen him use a fire poker to burn Mick Foley so I took that same fire poker, the same one I use today to beat people senseles and took it to Funker and that's Is fucking hardcore"!
Diano: "Now recently I know that you got into training yourself, and the first product of your camp is current Asylum member Eddie St. James".
Nails: "Yep I am proud of Eddie St. James, the kid could really do things in the TWF if he simply sticks with it. He is really on a roll and is going to be on a main card in the TWF very soon. And frankly, I think the kid could be the TWF world champ in a few years".
Diano: "Okay now for my last question, when you are done and you hang the mask up, how do you want to be remebered"?
Nails: "Simply as the guy who went out in that ring night after night and got the job done. I would also like to be rememberd as a Hall of famer and I want people to say this when they think of me. IT'S HARDCORE OR NOTHING BITCH"!
Right now let's take a look at Rampage.
1. Octane's repeat preformance: After this week's Rampage, High Octane became TWF world champion for a second time with a win over Money Mike.
2. Corey strikes again: Not only has Joe Corey made a successful return to the ring but in the process, he has dismantled three out of the four horsemen and caused Money Mike to lose the TWF World title to High Octane on Rampage. Looks like the man the people call "moneyless" is going to have to face The Show now on his own.
3. The Hitman gets magical: Over the past few weeks or so we've seen this union of Bret Hart and Travis Wakeman and they have done well, great even considering they are now the tag team champions after beating Jamal and Rosey which then lead into Wakeman going on to win the Royal Rumble.
now onto PrimeTime:
1. Rockwell buries his issues, or does he?: We all saw Jordan Rockwell bury Nails alive at the Royal Rumble, now apparenlty he has more issues after this past PrimeTime.
2. Universal title gets charisma: We all saw Christian regain the Universal title at the Rumble from Edge, question is who will step up to face the champion next?
3. Thompson's regrets: Another sad display by the former Universal champion Shane Thompson when he decided to first pick a fight with Lashley then run from him like a girl and secondly trying to run out on everyone and thing on PrimeTime that had to do with making him.
SlaughterHouse/SMW/Asylum:
These three shows continue to grow in a positive way so I take my hat off to them, their locker rooms and the powers that be of the shows. Although I do question how long SMW and Rampage star Max Ogden can pull double duty before he burns out.
Now folks it's time for part two of my double feature and an up close interview and the first interview with the new TWF World champion High Octane.
Diano: "I am here with TWF World champion High Octane Damion West and first let me say congratulations on regaining the title and thanks for being here with me for this interview".
Damion West: "No problem man, it's great to be here and even greater to be the TwF World Champ".
(pats belt sitting on his shoulder) Diano: "Now this is your second reign as champion as I said and obviously that is two times more than anyone thought you would have had the title, what was a better feeling, silencing your critics or winning it to begin with"?
West: "Ya know being a lightheavyweight in this business, no one ever gives you a chance. I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to rise to the top of the TWF. Now everyone has to respect me and the rest of the lightheavyweihts and hell, this gold looks great on me".
Diano: "Let's go back in time for a moment to your first title reign. You faced Drew Blood, a guy that is without a doubt one of the greatest heels in the sport. Any doubt in your head whether or not you could beat him"?
West: "I never doubt myself, ever. I can beat any guy in this business, and I've proven that again and again".
Diano: "Then came the rematch with Drew, it was a situation where he had more of an advantage than you did, why did you agree to that match"?
West: "Because I'm sick of champions who are afraid to fight. If you are a champion, you should be willing to face anyone, anytime. I will defend this title against all commers, and I will win".
Diano: "Which now brings us to the Royal Rumble where you faced Money Mike. What was your take on him and going into that match"?
West: "Mike is without a doubt one of the best wrestlers in the business, but I have one thing that Mike will never have, heart. If it wasn't for the interference from that loser from GSE, I would have beaten Mike easily".
Diano: "You touched on my next question, knowing the type of guy Mike is and was in the past, do you think you misjudged him? Thinking maybe he'd keep it fair and one on one"?
West: "Mike has never won a match on his own in his life, so I expected him to cheat. I just expected one of his Horsemen butt buddies to help him, not some star dude who never was anything to anybody".
Diano: "Now something I have been curious about and I am sure the fans are also, leading into the Rumble, you brought out Mike's former running buddy Mark Banks and then you took his head off with the head on collision. What was the point of this"?
West: "Well, Mike thought he was scaring me with his little Horsemen, so I had to play some mind games back. Mark served his purpose by helping me get into Mike's head, but in the end he was still just a GSE bitch, and got into a Head On Collision".
Diano: "Now we came to just the other night when you regained the title with a bit of an assist from the returning Joe Corey, which some might say is a bit of a tarnish on your second reign as champion. Do you agree"?
Octane: "Well first off, I could have done it by myself. BUT, I don't see how it could tarnish anything when I lost the title the same way I regained it. Whats fair is fair, now Mike knows how it feels".
Diano: "As I look at both situations, both Drew and Mike took you lightly in my opinion anyways, do you think in facing and beating both of them that was kind of like a symbolic way for you to finally shut up all those that said High Octane could never be champion"?
Octane: "I think there will always be people who doubt me. I'm sure me beating two of the top heels in wrestling opened some eyes, but I will always be an underdog. And thats the way I like it".
Diano: "Let's put High Octane the wrestler aside for a moment here, knowing the history of that title you have in your hands how special is it for Damion West the man to be part of it"?
West: "Ya know, since I've been in the TWF, a lot of guys have taken me under their wing. Undertaker, HBK, Hulk Hogan, these guys are the best the business has ever seen, and one thing they always preached to me was to respect the business. I'm so humbled to be holding this title after years of sweat, blood and tears. It's great to finally be on top, and I thank everyone who helped me get here".
Diano: "What do you think is the biggest difference between the High Octane we have today and the High Octane that first joined the TWF"?
West: "Well, when I first came here I was just a punk kid with Blue hair. Now, I'm a punk kid with Blue Hair and the World title". (laughs)
Diano: "Now we're obviously a little ways away from the biggest attraction in the business in WrestleMania. If you can remain champ, you go to Mania in which time you will face Travis Wakeman. Firstly, what are your feelings on Wakeman"?
West: "Wakeman is the best in the business, hands down. I've wanted to face him since I signed here and it would be an honor to go one on one with him".
Diano: "Going into Code Red, do you worry that you might not be part of the main event at Mania since obviously you have to defend it"?
West: "Nah, there's no one in this business that can beat me right now, I'm the hottest wrestler in the business".
Diano: "Is there any concern on your part knowing that one mistake is all a guy like Wakeman would need to get you in the Royal Flush and get you to tap out"?
West: "There's always a lot of pressure fighting a guy like Travis, but he needs to remember, one mistake and he'll get laid out with a Head on Collision".
Diano: "One thing that I know you have steered clear of but i want to get your comments on anyways is your mentor Shawn Michaels and the fact that he sold out all of the TWF fans just to basically stick it to Bret Hart".
West: (gets a disturbed look on his face) "No Comment".
Diano: "Okay, I can respect that. Out of curiosity, when it comes to the Head on Collision, it's basically your version of Sweet chin music. Do you think you have to work yourself harder to prove that you are not in HBK's shadow"?
West: "HBK is nothing anymore, he needs to worry about being in High Octane's shadow. What he did to Brat was low, and I have no respect for him anymore. And besides, the Head On Collision is way sicker than the Sweet Chin Music".
Diano: "Every wrestler seems to have that one great rival in their career with guys like HBK having a Bret Hart or a Seargent Slaughter having an Iron Sheik and so on, do you think you have found one"?
West: "Ya know, I've had so many great feuds, I don't think I really have one specific main rival. It just seems like everyone wants a peice of me".
Diano: "Okay, I just have two more questions for you. First, what's your opinion on the fact that Shane Thompson from PrimeTime is looking to possibly come to Rampage"?
West: "Who's Shane Thompson? (laughs) That guys a bitch, I've beaten him before and I'll beat him again".
Diano: "And lastly, when you hang 'em up, how do you want High Octane to be remembered"?
West: "Well, as I said earlier, as the blue haired kid who defIed all the odds and rose to the top of the TWF".
Diano: "Okay, that's all the time we have, I wanted to take this time to thank you again for the time".
West: "No problem bro, anytime".
In the end: In the end, I would like to take the time to congratulate High Octane once again on becoming TWF World champion for a second time. I would also like to question where exactly Money Mike's head is at because obviously it's not in the ring because the Money Mike we all know and hate would have seen Joe Corey coming from a mile away and been ready for him. And lastly, I was approached by Eddie St. James a few days prior to this and was asked to throw out a shout out, so shout out to Eddie St. James!
Well that's all the time I have for this week, so until next time, I'm ya boy JD and this has been my 2 cents which is all you dreamed it would be..... and then some!!!!!!
