Source: RJTR Publishing
Recently, former TNA X-Division star Johnny Devine talked with the team over at the Alternative Wrestling Magazine. During the interview, Devine talks about his time with Team Canada and whether or not iMPACT Wrestling dropped the ball with the angle, working with Team 3D, and what it would take to get him back in the promotion. Click here to read the entire article and scroll down to read the TNA-related highlights. Enjoy!
The first real mainstream exposure you received was in TNA as part of Team Canada. How did that opportunity come about?
After working some shows for Scott D’Amore in Ontario and doing some Stampede shows with him, when TNA asked him to fill out Team Canada he asked if I would be interested. Of course I was and I loved every minute of it.
With all the talent that was in Team Canada, do you think that TNA dropped the ball with Team Canada?
HUGE!!! When Dusty Rhodes took over the booking and dissolved Team Canada I was shattered. I spent the majority of that time injured and though they kept trying to replace me, with Ruffy Silverstein, A1, and Tyson Dux. I thought our core group could have done incredible things. There were so many missed opportunities and stories! I honestly believe we could have been a modern day Northern Horsemen.
After Team Canada disbanded you then went onto Paparazzi Productions with Kevin Nash and Alex Shelley which was an enjoyable team but I could not help to think that you were the third wheel. What was that team like in comparison to Team Canada?
It was fun! Kev and Alex were friggin hilarious! And you are right, I was a 3rd wheel. It was hard to stay in the background of those segments because as a performer you want to make yourself seen and get your time and such. But Kev and Alex had such awesome chemistry I didn’t want to taint gold. So I asked to be moved.
In true TNA fashion you went from being part of Paparazzi Productions then into Serotonin. Were you ever frustrated at the time with the change in your character in a short amount of time?
Which leads us to… Serotonin. I loved Serotonin because Frankie and Matt were two of my all time favorite guys in the business. We had a lot of fun coming up with ideas for the group. I embraced the change but unfortunately the office didn’t agree with where Raven wanted to take things and there was a lot of butting heads which lead to us not getting used much.
The Serotonin group had a lot of potential how much creative input did you and the rest of the team have? Were there any ideas that never came to fruition?
We had all of it. Vince Russo came to us with the idea and we were given choices as to how we wanted to do it. So in the end we each were trying to get something new over but were labeled another flock and used as such.
My personal highlight of your time in TNA was the X-Division traitor storyline. How did this idea come about?
I had a great time with this as it was part shoot, part work, all fun. In the back being the oldest and crustiest X-div member at the time I didn’t hang out much with the Jay Lethal’s or Machine Guns. Now I have the greatest respect for everyone I worked with at TNA but I believed in the old school thoughts of a heel should be a heel and not be flashy. So I wanted to be the Anti X Weapon. Ground and pound was where I was going down the road but it never got there. I can do 450’s, shooting star presses, and all that but I always thought a well placed chop or uppercut was far more effective. So when the opportunity arose to join Team 3D I jumped at it. I loved working with Bully Ray and Devon. I learned SOOOOOO much from them and can’t thank them enough for letting me be part of the Team!
One of my major gripes with your time in TNA especially in the ‘Brother Devine’ run is that you always seemed to be putting over the other guy in the ring. Did you ever find it frustrating always putting people over and not being able to show what a talented wrestler you are?
Well this is truly part of why I left. Everyone wants to be recognised for their contributions. Everyone has a role to play and a place they fit. But sometimes when you get held in the same position for too long it becomes uncomfortable. I was very proud of how well I got people over. I made my career out of it. It was infinitely frustration. But I was happy to have the time I did and the memories I have. Not everyone gets to live their dream. I did. And now every time I hit a ring I make sure when everyone leaves its always “did you see Johnny Devine? I had no idea he could do the/be that good..etc”.
Would you ever return to TNA given the opportunity?
I would go back if the situation was right. i.e.: Team Canada or equivalent. I think anyone would.
