Source: The Ross Report
On this week’s episode of The Ross Report podcast Hall of Famer Jim Ross interviewed former TNA Knockout Champion Gail Kim. Among the topics touched on in the interview were how Kim became a wrestling fan, who her favorite wrestler was when she was growing up, and the major differences between WWE and TNA. Highlights of the interview are noted below and I encourage you to download and listen to the entire podcast by clicking here. Enjoy!
On When She Became a Wrestling Fan
I watched wrestling as a little kid with my sister. My memories go as far as trying to stay up and keep my eyes awake to watch Saturday Night’s Main Event. Like I’ve said in numerous interviews – it was in the days when everybody watched wrestling when it was at it’s biggest point probably.
On Who Her Favorite Wrestler Was From That Time Period
Tito Santana! Obviously, I loved all the babyfaces because I was a kid. I remember watching Ricky Steamboat and Jake the Snake… but I loved Tito for some reason! I think it was because at that time he was more kind of like if you would call it the high flyer the fast action – and RS as well, but I was just drawn to Tito for some reason.
On the Major Differences Between Working for TNA and WWE
Number one with WWE – I feel like that company you have to give your life to them. I mean, they want you to eat sleep drink everything wrestling. And that’s fine for, I think, someone, you know, early in their life. I’m married now and I’m just as passionate as anyone in this business, but I also know what’s important which is my family. And it’s just hard – you have to sacrifice a lot more there. And I find that the second major thing for me was – I was always nurtured in iMPACT/TNA with my talent and they saw my talent and gave me that spotlight and platform. Whereas with WWE I always felt like they wanted everyone to feel scared for their jobs, they wanted everyone to feel like – you know ,I’m not a manipulative person. I’m not wiling to politic behind someone’s back. And I’m not saying that has to be that way there, but that was just the way I felt. I never felt like – it wasn’t a supportive environment. For example, if we had pretapes – that was never my strong suit. My talent laid in the ring in wrestling. So when I would do a pretape, even if someone, for example, in the past like Vince Russo said, “Gail, you know, you need to stay with it.” It would encourage me and be positive. Whereas with WWE I felt more nervous and second-guessing myself. I react more positively to a supportive environment than that type of environment. Those are probably the two major things that stick out in my mind. And the schedules, of course, but that goes with the sacrifice.
