Recently, Douglas Nunnally of TheWrestlingVoice.com conducted an interview with Tyler Black of ROH & WSX fame. In it, he talked about his whole career from IWA-MS to ROH to WSX as well as talked about Chris Benoit, steroids, uniona, and much more. Below are the highlights of the interview:
Douglas Nunnally: So let’s start off with a blunt question – how great was it to main event ROH’s fifth PPV knowing that you’ve been in ROH less than a year?
Tyler Black: Six months exactly and progression is always a good feeling, so knowing that I had progressed enough in such a short amount of time to put myself in a situation of that caliber is a nice pat on the back. Luckily, I am a perfectionist so I know I have a long, long road ahead, but stopping to smell the roses, it felt pretty damn good.
…
Douglas Nunnally: How did the idea of Age Of The Fall come about and where did you come into it get involved?
Tyler Black: AOTF started as Project 161 in Chicago with the Briscoes. It was the brain child of Jimmy and to an extent Gabe, but once I was brought on board we all collaborated to make the angle flow and change into a movement. It’s really evolved a lot since the first ideas were tossed around.
Douglas Nunnally: What was your overall impression of Gabe Sapolsky, the booker of ROH, at first?
Tyler Black: Nice guy, great mind, and looked nothing like I imagined.
Douglas Nunnally: What did you think about the debut with Briscoes in the controversial 161 angle?
Tyler Black: I thought it was gold. I think Jimmy’s promo was really underrated too. I thought the execution & build was done really well and I think it will go down as one of the most remembered moments in ROH history. I am glad I was able to be a part of it.
Douglas Nunnally: What was going in your mind when you were told that you would be ending the Briscoes reign?
Tyler Black: It was a quick decision and I was really nervous. Not so much about ending their reign, which was a great honor, but mostly about wrestling in the main event in Manhattan. It was only my second match in NY and my first was against Sugarfoort & lasted like a minute. I was a little jittery for sure.
…
Douglas Nunnally: How did you think WrestleMania weekend went for Ring Of Honor?
Tyler Black: Probably in the top five of best double shot weekends ever. That weekend was great for the business as a whole as well. I can only hope that it becomes a stepping stone for a great 2008.
Douglas Nunnally: How nervous would you say people were backstage in ROH?
Tyler Black: Not at all nervous. Everyone in the ROH locker room is a top notch performer and they just went out and did what they do which is be the best wrestling company in the world.
Douglas Nunnally: Sad you got to miss out on Ric Flair’s Hall Of Fame induction?
Tyler Black: Little bit. Much sadder I had to miss his last match though.
Douglas Nunnally: Did you ever get round to seeing it and his goodbye the next night?
Tyler Black: I watched Mania at a local Hooters with my buddies and then I watched the goodbye ceremony the following night on Raw. Some people will be naysayers and shit on it, but I am a mark & I love Ric Flair and I think WWE took the right steps to honor his career.
…
Douglas Nunnally: What was your impression on Wrestling Society X?
Tyler Black: Wasn’t really a company, more of a production, and it was very business-like. It felt like Hollywood, as opposed to Indy wrestling, which was a nice change of pace.
Douglas Nunnally: How did the taping schedule and crowd type compare to the other crowds you’ve wrestled in front of before?
Tyler Black: The taping schedule was the shits because we’d get to the set every day early and have to stay in gear all day. On days we wrestled twice it was the worst because your body gets really tight after a match and loosening back up is a pain. The crowds were fine. The difference was we had to play to a camera and not a live crowd, which was something I had no experience doing.
Douglas Nunnally: Did you think WSX had a place in wrestling?
Tyler Black: I think it was a lousy attempt at a good idea. It was poorly managed and promoted as well, but I think it could have done good things for bringing in new fans had it been pushed a little harder by MTV.
…
Douglas Nunnally: Would you say the Benoit tragedy has influenced or changed you or your style of wrestling?
Tyler Black: Nope. I have never taken any steroids. Never had any addiction problems and I never will.
Douglas Nunnally: Have you seen its influence on the Indy circuit at all?
Tyler Black: Yeah, I think guys were more cautious at first, but now it’s starting to get back to normal. It’s hard for people to learn until it happens to them. I think the next decade will see a lot of crazy stuff going on.
Douglas Nunnally: How did the ROH locker room react to Chris Nowinski speaking to them on concussions? Do you think it paid off?
Tyler Black: It’s not like he sat us down and gave a big speech or anything. He was just there and I know a lot of guys had questions regarding his book & his studies. It was an educational process for a lot of us and I think guys are a little more cautious now about certain bumps & taking time off.
To read the interview in its entirety, just click here.
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |