Source: Rob Leigh of The Mirror (UK)
In a recent interview with The Mirror, TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode commented on a variety of topics. Included in those topics were his thoughts on whether iMPACT Wrestling will miss Ric Flair, whether or not the weekly television program should be taped in a location other than the iMPACT Wrestling Zone, working in the United Kingdom, and going live this summer. You can read highlights from the interview below, but I suggest that you save yourself a few minutes to go and read the full interview by clicking here.
On iMPACT Wrestling Going Live This Summer
It’s huge – a win win situation for all of us, fans and those of us in the company. When you go live, anything can happen. It excites me because it means I have to be on. When the camera’s on whatever happens, happens. And I’m sure that anticipation applies across the board in the locker room, too. Everyone feels the same way.
On Ric Flair’s Relationship with iMPACT Wrestling
I think just the name, having that legendary name around was beneficial. But I don’t think it is going to hurt us, we have a lot of talent. I think Impact Wrestling can stand on its own without Ric Flair but its always nice to have a guy like that around. He has always been a pro. He’s a fun guy to be around. During the best of five series we had with the Motor City Machine Guns, we came into the back and the first person to shake our hands as we came through the curtain was Ric Flair. He’ll always be the Nature Boy. He has been one of my main inspirations. I really don’t know [about the legal situation] and I really don’t care to know.
On Taping the Weekly Show Outside of the iMPACT Wrestling Zone
Obviously, I’m not the man who pays the bills; I’m not the wallet, so to speak, But in order for us to take that one step further I think it’s a necessity for us to step away from Orlando and do our television tapings elsewhere in the country. With the Impact taping [in the United Kingdom] we took a chance and it paid off. It was a huge success and we’re going to come over here and do it again next year. Speaking as a fan, even when we taped in Huntsville, Alabama and Macon, Georgia it was seemed that much better to me. It had to do with the crowd and the look and the arena as well as the talent, it had a big time feel. As a wrestler, we thrive on that. Hopefully in the near future we can move outside of Orlando. For us to be… I’m not going to say ‘legit’, because I believe that we’re a legit company but it’s just… for that more professional look and a different look it’ll make our company that bit better.
On Working in the United Kingdom
We always try to do something special for the UK fans. Two years ago we had Ric Flair over for the ‘Wooo’ tour and last year it was Sting and Hulk Hogan. And of course there were the Impact tapings at Wembley which we’re bringing back next year. Hopefully the reactions from the crowd will be off the charts again.
