Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Kyle Fletcher Is Wrestling's Next Big Star, AEW, Will Ospreay, TNT Championship, Hangman Page

Episode Date: December 16, 2025

Kyle Fletcher (@kylefletcherpro) is a professional wrestler currently signed with AEW. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Houston, TX to discuss his breakout year in AEW, the match where he felt he had his breakout moment, how close he came to signing with WWE before joining AEW, his steel cage match with Will Ospreay that included a Spanish Fly off the top, why he wears pink gear, how the screwdriver became his weapon of choice, future AEW dream matches, and more!Please support our sponsors!   PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/?ref=tibcloux FACTOR: Get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year with the code INSIGHT50OFF at https://factormeals.com/INSIGHT50OFFSTASH: Go to https://get.stash.com/INSIGHTto see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures   SEAT GEEK: Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/CVV2025 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount   NORDVPN: Exclusive deal! https://nordvpn.com/cvv Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!FACTOR: Use code INSIGHT50OFF at https://factormeals.com/INSIGHT50OFF to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year!GLD: New customers get 50% Off with code INSIGHT at https://GLD.com PRIZEPICKS: Download the app today and use code INSIGHT to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!  TIMELINE: Go to https://timeline.com/insightto get 10% off your order of Mitopure!   VUORI: Get 20% off your first purchase! Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/cvv   ROCKET MONEY: Join Rocket Money today and reach your financial goals faster: https://rocketmoney.com/cvv MIRACLE MADE: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://trymiracle.com/CVVand use the code CVV to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF   ZOCDOC: Instantly book a top-rated doctor today at https://zocdoc.com/insight   BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv   BLUECHEW: Get your first month of BlueChew for free with the code CVV at https://bluechew.com   For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast or Spotify? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.    Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris. We're alive. I got to say I'm a big Hot Mulligan fan. Oh, yeah? Yes. When did you discover them? They opened for Census Fail when I went to see Census Fail in 2019. Awesome.

That's cool. So I go back. Yeah, that's awesome, man. Hell yeah. I hope the theme song was a nice surprise for you. It was. I was like, wait a second. Because I knew Hot Mulligan were wrestling fans.

Uh-huh. But then to cross over and do a theme, that's a completely different thing. Yeah, absolutely. How did you make that happen? So I had been a fan of them, I would say probably like since COVID times, followed them on socials or whatever it was. And then when I started doing stuff with AEW, I think they started following me back.

And like I was sharing their songs on my posts and like they were commenting on them and stuff. And then it just turned into like an Instagram conversation one day. And just I had this urge. I was like, you know what, I'm just going to ask. I'm just going to like it's, it's, One of those things that you always think about, like, it would be so cool if one of my favorite bands did, like, a theme song for me that I could walk out to. So I just popped into my head. I was like, what's the worst that can happen? They say no. So I just, I just asked, and they were like, dude, this is something we've wanted to do forever. Like, I think this would be so cool. Let me start talking to people. And then it was just a matter of putting AWW in touch with their manager. And then they sorted it all out. And then they're like, yeah, we'll send you through something when we have something. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, it was pretty cool. So then when you heard the first cut where you're like, Incredible. This is it.

Yeah, pretty much. Yeah, it was, yeah, it was pretty, it's hard to, it's hard to picture it when you first hear it. I think that's, that was the thing that I had to wrap my head around. It's like hearing that first draft, it's like, okay, how, how am I going to look walking out to this? It's, you really got to try and visualize it. So it's kind of, until it, until you walk out with it and you see the final product, it's hard to know how it's going to come across. but like after walking out that first time and feeling walking out with it

and then watching it back after I was like oh yeah now it makes sense now it's all come together pretty well I mentioned something on my podcast a while back that I was like I never owned a vintage Austin 316 t-shirt and then I got a DM from Hot Mulligan they were like we listened to that episode

and we'd like to send you some vintage t-shirts that is so cool what are you talking about what do you mean oh man that's so awesome And a week later, I got a package of all these vintage t-shirts. And I was like, not only they want of my favorite bands, oh, they're my favorite human beings. Yep, they're just cool as hell.

Oh, yeah, just takes them to that next level. Yeah. What a year you've had. Yeah. Unbelievable. I mean, we've got the proof of the pudding right here, TNT Championship. How can you wrap your head around this year? In a lot of ways, I don't think I have still.

I think it's one of those things where I'm doing my best. to just take it as it comes and just approach every opportunity and just do the best I can with it. And then it's weird because doing that, it just accumulates and everyone starts going like, oh my God, look at this run you having. And I'm like, oh, thanks, man. I'm just thinking about next week, thinking about the next match type thing. So it's cool to look back on. But yeah, I try my best to just look forward.

to live in the present and just focus on what I'm doing right now. Not every wrestler has that definitive moment, though, where they get to go, I was this, and now I'm this. Totally. You have that, right? It's you in the ring, shaving your head. It's a very clear statement of like, I'm not that guy anymore. Yeah, totally.

Where'd that idea come from for that segment? So it started off. It was when you were going to do this Osprey feud, and that was what we were leaning towards. and it was just one of those things where I was getting sick of my hair, my blonde hair, and I was wanting to change it anyway. So I just broached the idea. I can't remember who I said it to originally,

but I was just, it might have been in the room with Tony. I was like, hey, I want to get rid of my hair. Is there some way we could use it in this storyline. The way we landed on was, yeah,

me shaving it myself. It felt like a definitive change, a definitive moment of like, to me, I was literally shedding the skin of being an Osprey shadow. Like I was trying to get out of that. So yeah, it was, it started with me, but then it was, oh, yeah, that's a pretty good idea. Let's run with it.

So, yeah, it was, it was cool the way it came off in the end. There's a lot of things that can go wrong with a segment like that. Big time. Like the clippers may not turn on. Maybe they're not cutting for whatever reason. Yep. Everything seemed to go off without a hitch. It's got to have that blind trust.

Just hope for the best, man. live TV. Were you nervous? Oh, totally. Yeah. I also hadn't had, uh, like a buzzed head since I was five or six years old or something like that. So I'd never seen like the shape of my head as an adult. So I'm like, man, what if I go on TV and I have like weird, weirdly shaped lumps or something like that? I don't know. So yeah, it was, uh, it was pretty nerve-wracking. But it, it went so well, right? It was this defining moment of like, I'm not going to be that anymore. And even, Even the promo. And I think that people sleep on that promo. Thank you.

People talk a lot about the moment of you shaving your head. But the promo leading up to it, man, you're cutting this promo like you're a 20-year veteran in there. Thanks, man. Yeah. Yeah, I think that was a very... Whenever you have a big moment, like the head shaving, obviously that's going to be the thing that sticks in people's head the most. But yeah, that promo was really important for me.

I think it was the first chance I'd ever had it really. telling like a deeper than surface level story or deeper than like a couple of matches or one or two matches type thing. So for me that was first time I'd had a live mic and it was just all right, go out there and make this story, make it into something. So like, yeah, it was a pretty big deal for me. And yeah, I'm just happy. Happy I didn't, didn't shit the bed too bad. You turn the crowd. Yeah. Because they were starting to get maybe a little bit bored and chanting, wrap it up. And you just like, you paused.

You had so much poise. And then you just kept going and like, it was almost like, just wait till you see what I've got that store here. Yeah, totally. Where does that come from? Man, that's a good question. I think it, it's just time, I think is all it is. I've been wrestling for, I'm 26 years old,

but I started training at 14. So I've been doing it a while, and I think it is one of those things where it just takes reps and it just takes time. And it takes really finding that confidence in the ring and finding that confidence within yourself and like trusting that you can bring the crowd back and you can take them where you want to go and you can take them on this journey. But yeah, it's really just trusting yourself and trusting those instincts and that confidence that you have, I think. Who were the promo guys you looked up to when you were a kid? I think the very, this always gets a bit of a laugh. Growing up, I'm a little bit younger than a lot of wrestling fans. One of the people that first drew me in with their promos was The Miz.

He was great on the mind. I know, yeah. A lot of people have things to say about him now, but like I still think he's one of the best. I always thought that. He's just starting to get his flowers now. Totally. And that's always how it happens as well. It's like right when they're on the way out, it's like, well, yeah, you know what?

he was pretty good. Yeah, that thing he did in 2011 was pretty good. Right, yeah. But I was 12 years old and 2011 going, this is the best, I'm awesome. So yeah, that was probably my first one. I think Sina is far and away, like, the best promo guy I've ever seen, like,

the stuff in his final run. There have been a couple where I've just been, like, sitting there glued to the screen, just like, how is this guy just so amazing at what he does? Roman obviously now and then there's like hangman I think is one of the best guys on the mic Joe every time he's on the mic

I'm so drawn into him MJF as well those are kind of like probably where I draw the most inspiration from I'd say those guys The thing that all of those have in common is it's believability totally and they make you believe what they're saying and that's how I feel about your promos too

thank you because they're not just like words you've written down or words that someone's come up with Like it just feels like you're just out there with a mic, you're talking. Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's part of not just with my promos, but something that I've always found very important in pro wrestling. It's like if you want somebody else to feel an emotion or feel something when they watch you, you have to feel that emotion organically yourself.

And that's what helps it resonate with other people. So that's something that I've really, really tried to work on for me. Before you shaved your head, you were going to. getting a ton of comparisons to Will Osprey. How did that make you feel? It's one of those things where for a hot second, you take it as a compliment. And it's like at service level, it's like, oh, thanks.

Like I think Will's incredible at what he does. So I take that as a compliment. But then I feel like the more I sit with it and the more I hear it, the more it makes me go, you know what, I don't want to be anyone else. I don't want to be a second coming of Will Osprey. I think after shaving the head, I got a lot of Randy Orton's, and it's like the same feeling of at first that's really cool. Like, that's a great comparison.

But I really want to start carving my own path. And I don't want to be the second anybody else. So yeah, I think that's kind of what I'm focusing on and just trying to carve my own path now. Well, I think it's like the Randy Orton comparisons come from shaved head, right? Of course. But like, you're so jacked now. Thank you. sleeve tattoo like i i understand it totally like i it's not like i hold any ill will towards

people that that say that to me like it's a it's a huge compliment i i think the world of both of those guys um but yeah for me it's now more important to start finding my individuality and finding who i am as a wrestler and and that being the first thing that people think when they see me instead of a second someone else right What made you dial in your workouts and dialing your nutrition as much as you have? Man, it's, it's been a, it's been a bit of a process. I think the first thing, it was during COVID. I moved back to Australia.

I was living in the UK at the time. Everything shut down, so I moved back to Australia with my family. And I couldn't wrestle. I had to get a normal job or whatever it was. And I kind of, what was it? I was working in a warehouse for a, I guess, I guess like a furniture, like a, what's the comparison I would make over here? Like, what's a department store?

Like, Macy's? Yeah, something like that. Was it like more like IKEA? They had like furniture. They had TVs, they had fridges. It was kind of just like a one of those everything type stores. Okay. So yeah, stack and warehouse shelves and whatever.

And it was during that, actually, I remember feeling super defeated, obviously, about everything. and I kind of had decided in my brain, I was like, oh, I'm just going to, I don't know, I'll be a wrestler, but I could never be one of those jacked guys. I'll just not be a body guy. Like, I'll just be like a good wrestler that looks whatever. And then I remember thinking that and then almost instantly like thinking myself like, what am I talking about?

Like, why would I not want to try my best and work my hardest? Like, that seems ridiculous to me. So that was when it started. I had a lot more time on my hands. I wasn't wrestling as much. So I really started working on my learning about nutrition for the first time, learning about my training for the first time properly. And then from there, when I move back to the UK,

I started working with the same coach that I work with now. His name's Justin Reese. He's been great. And then it got difficult for a while because I was still traveling a lot, doing Japan trips back to Australia, the US as well. So like when you're traveling that much, it's so hard to keep your nutrition in track. I did the best I could, but like it's still not the same. And then when I got signed to AEW back in 2023, for the first time I had like a schedule and a home base and like somewhere that I could always go back to.

And that was really where it changed for me. It was like every I would be on the road for a couple of days a week. But then as soon as I got home, it was like, all right, I'm in my kitchen. I have my gym. I have my bed. I have this routine. And I can really dial in everything. So that's kind of where it was.

I've been working with my coach and just along with everything else that's been happening like with my career and this past year or whatever. I just have this new renowned sense of I just need to work as hard as I possibly can. I have this like awesome opportunity in front of me. I'm 26 years old. I'm in a place that so many people would die to be in. And if I don't work as hard as possible, I'm kind of not doing it justice. Yeah.

And being put in this awesome spot, I would be cheating myself if I didn't do everything I could to put my best foot forward every day. So that's kind of the mentality behind it all. Well, it comes down to discipline. Yeah, genuinely. Are you willing to eat like this? Are you willing to go to bed on a routine? Are you willing to find time to go to the gym?

Yeah. And the answer for a lot of people is no. Yeah. And that's okay. No judgment. But you're saying those are important to me. I'm going to work my day around making time for those things. Absolutely.

Yeah. And it's been one of the biggest blessings in my life, falling in love with the gym. It's like it's taught me so much about myself and about life and about my career and just the mentality that I've had to develop in order to get to where I am. So yeah, I think it's probably one of the most important things and one of the reasons that I'm finding success, just everything that the gym has taught me, really. But if we look at a picture of you from just one year ago, and we look at you now, like, completely different. Totally.

Like huge transformation. And I think that comes down to just that always wanting to progress and always wanting to move forward and just using every day as an opportunity to get 1% better. And I think getting 1% better every day over a whole year, it amounts to massive change. Pink seems to become, has become a theme for you. Where did this come from? Yeah, so that kind of started. It was earlier this year. I think it was a random tweet that jogged my memory.

It was like not enough men wear pink in wrestling. And I screenshot it and I sent it to my gear designer, the guy that designs all my gear. And I was like, I have this idea. And I'd done like a triple red gear before. But in my brain it just like popped. I was like triple pink, just for whatever reason. That was my idea. And then I just sent that to him and then we were like, all right, great.

And you cooked this thing up. And I saw the design. I was like, this is the best gear I have ever had. I'm so excited. And then it ended up coming in time just as I found out I was going to be in the Owen tournament. So I was like, oh, that makes sense. I'll just wear it for the Owen tournament. That's great.

You think about the hearts. You think about pink. It's perfect, right? So I wore it for that. It was Dynasty earlier this year. I wore that gear for the first time. And just the reaction that it got, like, it was polarizing. It was like people loved it.

People hated it, whatever it was. But I think whenever something like that happens, it's like, it set something off of my brain of like, that's something, whatever that is, like something that organically gets that much like reaction either way. It's like, that's something to tap into. So I was like, all right, I'm going to keep. wearing this gear for a little bit, see what happens. And then, like, I think I wore that one set of gear for a month or two. And by that point, everyone was like, pink is your thing now. Like,

I think it's just like synonymous with you. So I was like, okay. And then since then it's just been every set of gear I've had. It's like, all right, what can we do with pink this time? Let's, let's change it up. Let's do something else. And then, yeah, the suits and stuff as well. Yeah, I think I've just found my thing. I found my niche. Yeah, not only do you have a pink tie on, you've got the pink window pane of course in the suit yes so amazing uh-huh yeah got it i'm sticking to it now i kind of have to i'm sure it will evolve to be like pink accents in of course your gear absolutely it's it's it's gonna be a test of how creative can i get with the color pink right literally how many shades of pink exactly yeah we'll see we'll see how long it takes before

i run out i didn't know proto star was a real word yeah like i thought you were taking the word prototype and star, putting them together. Yeah, so that's kind of my spin on it. That's the spin that I've put on it. But the original word, the original, I guess, Monica came from the word and the definition of proto star. Which is like, it's a, it's a very, it's like the baby form of a star. You want to get the actual definition?

I opened it up here. It's a contracting mass of gas. There you go. Which represents an early stage in the formation of a star before nucleosynthesis has begun. There you go. Protista. So like an early version of a star. Exactly.

Yeah. And when I got given the name, it was like, yeah, it was kind of, that was the direction I was heading. It was like, oh, it looks like you're going to be a star. So it just made sense and it's kind of stuck. It has stuck. I mean, sounds really cool. Totally.

Yeah. Yeah. It was kind of stumbled on it accidentally, organically. But yeah, now I'm stuck with it. Just like the pink. Shopping for a car should be exciting, not exhausting. But between misleading prices and hidden fees, it can feel like a maze. That's where Car Gurus comes in.

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Just head to zbiotics.com slash CVV and use the code CVV at checkout for 15% off. Do you feel the weight of your colleagues, your friends, fans, fans saying you're going to be a future star? In a lot of ways, yes, but I think none of it even comes close to the pressure that I put on myself. I think my whole life, I've kind of felt this. this like even before I knew I wanted to be a wrestler, I felt this like this calling that I was meant to do something big that I was meant to be somebody. So when I fell into wrestling and I was like, yes, this is my thing. I always, I always knew I wanted to be the best. I knew I wanted to be world champion. So I think it's more so the pressure that I put on myself. And yeah, it's, I think

when I hear other people say things like that, it's almost more reaffirming to me that this thing that I felt, this drive that I feel that it is paying off and it's for a reason and that I'm just exactly where I'm meant to be. If slash when you become world champion, you'll be the first Australian born man to be a world champion. That's huge. It's pretty cool. Yeah. It's historic. Yeah. I think the more Yeah, it's crazy because I, starting out in Australia back in 2013, it was like no Australian had ever made it to WB at the time or like majorly overseas. So now to have not only me, but so many other Australians doing awesome things, it's so cool. And if I can be the first man to become a world champion, that that means.

a lot to me because I remember what it was like to look, look at the big leagues and not see a single Australian and be like, oh man, this, this dream that I have seemed so far-fetched because I haven't seen anyone do it. So if I can be somebody that can show even not just young Australians, but young people in the world that even if a dream seems far-fetched that it's possible, then yeah, that's just another awesome cherry on top. Who was it early on? I mean, Nathan Jones, I guess. Nathan Jones, but that was even before me. That was like 2000. Early 2000. So I was born in 98, so at that time I wasn't watching wrestling.

So then after that, it's Teneal? Teneal and Buddy, I think, were the first ones that I saw. Yeah, in NXT. And then from there we get the Iconics. Obviously, Rhea, Grayson Waller. Yep. Like, it's become this Australian influx. I don't know if you saw it. Grayson was on my show recently. Yeah, yeah, totally.

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I was actually, I don't know if I was there the day that Grayson started, but we started at the same school and I started a couple years earlier than him. So I was there for his early days at the Pro Wrestling Academy in Australia. So it's, yeah, just stuff like that. It's so cool to see just people from back then, people from all over my travel was doing so cool. Not like at the same place or like on the same path as me, but like being able to watch it from afar. it's really rewarding for me as well.

I think one of the biggest parts of your story that doesn't get keyed in on enough is you knew you weren't going to make it in Australia, so you moved to the UK. Yeah. Like that is such a massive move to move half a world away. Yeah. Just on the hope that it might work out. Pretty much, yeah. Yeah, it was, I remember, I think it was like my last year of school all throughout I was

trying to be like, I just know that it isn't going to work here, like have to do. do something. Like, what is the next step? How do I put that next foot forward in my career? And and I just, I had, I was for, the UK scene was popping off. I had some mutual friends that had gone over for a little stints or whatever it was. And that was, that was the easiest next step. It was easy for me to get a work visa. So yeah, I was 18 years old and I straight out of school. I, I had applied for my visa and just moved. I had maybe one mutual friend, Trent 7, he was the one that let me stay in his house. He's sublet to me. And from there, it was just, yeah, it was fend for yourself, pretty much. But a lot of people have a dream and they're not

willing to go to the town over. Yeah. They're not willing to leave the comfort of what they know. Yeah, totally. And here you are going, I'm going to go to another country and try to figure it out. Yeah, man. It just came down to how bad did I want it? How, how, how, bad did I want to be successful. And I think, um, I'm, just from that alone, it was, I was willing to sacrifice my whole life, sacrifice that the comforts of, of home where I grew up, just on, like you said, the chance, just the hope that it would happen. Um, and I think I made the right call. I said, it's working out for you. Yeah, exactly. When did you move to the US? Um, so I officially didn't move until I signed with AEW in 23. So it was like, May, we signed contract in June

officially moved into apartment. Where's home for you now? Chicago. Okay. Yeah, with the area of Sky Blue grew up. That was the easiest place. Sounds cold. It's getting cold.

I'm from Toronto. I get it. It's getting cold, yeah. But I will say, growing up in Australia, we never got to experience, like, all the seasons. So, like, for me, it's now getting cold, and the leaves are turning red, and all the leaves are on the ground. This is a great time of the year.

And Chicago's an amazing city. Every time I walk outside, I'm like, oh, this is so cool. And then there's going to be snow on the ground soon. I'm going to be like, this is cool. And then the snow stays until about April, and you're like, and then I got to shut up my driveway, and then I'm like, oh, why did I do this to myself? Yeah.

I get it. But, Daniel Tosh had this bit. He's like, I love the seasons. I just picked the best one and always live in it. Yeah, I mean, it's fair. Yeah. I can see myself in a couple of years, maybe changing my mind. We'll see.

Who knows? but like, I think that there's a lot of opportunities, like living in the U.S. Yeah. Like your quick flight away from most of the A.A.W shows. Yeah, absolutely. Makes things easy. Yeah, Chicago's, I mean, I have direct flights everywhere, so I'm set for now. What gave you that belief in yourself that it was going to work out?

Oh, I think it just comes back to that. It's hard, it's really hard to describe, but when you, young and you just have that feeling that you meant for something and you meant for something big and you don't know exactly what it is, but you just feel this like this calling, whatever it is. And for me, that was pro wrestling. I just loved it with everything I was. And I just knew, I didn't know what the end picture looked like. I didn't know what the path looked like, but I just knew that that was my calling.

It called to me. And I was like, this is the only thing that makes me happy. This is the only thing that I want to do with my life. So, like, I, it doesn't really matter what the end goal is. Like, this is my thing. And I'm just going to pursue it. And wherever I end up, I end up and I'll figure it out. Like, yeah, it's very hard to describe what that feeling is.

Because even now, like, I can't tell you what it was. And I can't tell you what it was that called me towards it. But I just knew that this was what I was meant to do with my life. So I just went after it, relentless. Before you sign with AEW, I know there was some interest from WW. Sure. How close were you to signing there? Yeah.

It was a toss-up for a while. We had one kind of like official, at the time was myself and Mark Davis as Ozzy Open. We had like a Zoom call with them. We kind of spoke about what the deal would entail and that sort of thing. and I think when it got to that point, it just didn't feel like the right fit at the time. So we didn't get super close. It was kind of like at the point where there was options there.

But AEW was just the right fit for us at the time, for sure. What made it the right fit? I think we were lucky enough that we'd worked there a couple of times. We got broadened as a part of New Japan to do a couple of things. And I think it was, it was the vibe there. It was, I think, to me it was, I don't want to say the freedom, but I think there's a lot of trust there to, that I can produce the wrestling I want to produce, and I can wrestle the way that I love to wrestle.

And I think experiencing that beforehand and knowing that, I think that was what kind of drew me towards AEW for sure. You get signed as a tag team wrestler. You've now had this breakout year as a single star. How different has it been adjusting to working as a singles guy? Yeah, I think being in a tag team a lot of the times, it was almost like a crutch, not in a bad way, but it was really, it was a good thing. I was always able to bounce my idea off at least one other person. And it was a collaborative thing.

It was like the matches that we would create, it was like, you know, you know, one idea from here, one idea from here, one idea from here, and then it meshes together to create something really awesome. Whereas when you're a singles wrestler and you're doing your own promos and your own matches, it's a lot of the creative stuff just comes from your own brain. So I think I had a lot of stuff to get over where like I was second guessing my own ideas and opinions because it was just, it was all my brainchild. If I go out there and I do something that like is totally my idea,

if it sucks, then I feel terrible. I'm like, oh, my idea sucks, dude. So I think that was kind of the biggest hurdle to get over. But now, and I think when I found that confidence and started trusting my own instincts, I think that's when it really switched for me. What do you think was the breakout match for you? I think it has to be full gear with Osprey for sure. I think maybe before that

the first match we had on dynamite I think that was kind of the first man there's so many I feel like I keep talking about one you're talking about the cage match right no so I was talking about the full gear match was the first pay view on we had but before that we wrestled

right after he had signed full time back in March of 24 we wrestled on a dynamite and that was the first time I'd been given it was dynamite main event we got given three segments. It was my first big TV match. And I think that, after that, a lot of people came out and they were like, man, I didn't

know you could wrestle like that. And then before that, it was like in one week, I wrestled Brian Danielson and Kenny Omega in like the same week. I think that was the first one where I was like, okay, this is weird. This feels crazy. But also that they're trusting you to be in that space. Yeah, that felt pretty cool for sure. But then like that and then to go out there have a cool match and then afterwards have them be so like complimentary and like putting me over and like that that was a mind trip for sure. But yeah, I think probably like you said, the first one where I kind of felt felt comfortable. I felt that confidence for the first time was that full gear with Osprey, I think was the real turning point. There's definitely something about the way you work with Osprey. We're like, Like, you guys aren't afraid to hit each other hard.

Not even a little bit. I think we're both the same kind of insane. Where, like, we, that is the wrestling that we both love to watch. So I think when we're in there, we, like, have that relationship where it's like, I'm, if I get backstage and he kicked me square in the face, like, we're going to laugh it off afterwards. So, like, we just care about putting on the best pro wrestling possible. And like we're talking about earlier, it's that believability. I think I love that believability so much that I'm like, yeah, man, if you want to kick me in the face, that's even better.

Like, it just makes it that much better. We're both a little bit insane like that. That cage match that you had with Will Osprey was wild. Thank you. And, like, not only was it hard hitting, but, like, you guys were just insane. Yeah. You can't practice a Spanish fly off the top of a cage. No, you cannot.

How did you know it would work? Well, the funny thing is I don't think we did entirely. I think it's a lot of trust in each other. I think that was the main thing. I think we have this level of trust with each other where it's like, no, I literally, I trust you with my life, and I feel like he feels the same. So I think we both went out there

and we wanted to make a moment. We wanted to make it something people would remember forever. So I think that was kind of where we landed. We were like, yeah, why not? How bad did the styles clash on the tax hurt? Not as bad as you'd think. I think. It's a very sensitive area that you landed on.

So it was the funniest part was it was mostly like my bare thighs and my quads that got the tax. So like for the next two weeks or whatever it was, it was like, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, just all these dots all over my clothes. That was pretty funny. But yeah, it's funny, man. Like, in those big matches, especially one like that, the adrenaline is so high that, like, even if it hurts a little bit, like, it doesn't even register in my brain.

Like, I'm more so thinking, like, whilst it's happening, I'm thinking about camera shots and selling and my face and, you know, there's so many things going through my brain at the time. It didn't even cross my mind, really. How has the screwdriver become your weapon of choice? Blame Don Callis for that one. Yeah, I don't know. I'd like to think I've gotten pretty good at stabbing people, though. It looks vicious.

Hell yeah. I mean, when you jabbed it in Dustin Rhodes' leg. Yeah, man. It's like, oh, I don't know how you can fake that. Yeah, pretty much. Yeah, it's, I like it because it's something that a lot of people not can relate to. They can't relate to being stabbed with a screwdriver. but most people have held a screwdriver in their hands.

Yeah, most people have a screwdriver in their house. Exactly. Right. So, like, I think they could pick up a screwdriver and go, he got stabbed with this? What the hell? That's crazy. Yeah, yeah.

So that's kind of why I like it, I think. What's been the most painful thing you've done in a match? Wow. Honestly, I took a... It's one of the most random things, and you would never expect it. I think it was the Continental Classic match I had with Mark Brisco. We did, I was just climbing up the guardrail.

He came and stopped me and we did like a little baby superplex is what we called it. Baby superplex off the guardrail to the floor. For whatever reason, whatever angle I hit the ground, it was like all tailbone. and I swear I felt like I was hissing blood. I felt like my butthole had fallen out. It was the craziest feeling I'd ever felt in my life. I was like laying on the ground like, please leave me here for a good 10 seconds at least.

I need to figure out if I'm okay right now. And it's not even like a super cool move. Nope. It's really not. Did you actually piss blood? No, I did not. I was totally fond. But like whatever feeling I felt at that time, I was like, it felt like everything it exploded. And I was just not having a good time at all.

Yeah. I feel like the match you had with Hangman was like that was like a star making match. I mean, it's a world title match. There's a lot on the line, a lot of eyeballs on that match. Yeah. But you did some like crazy things in that match. Like I think it begins with like it's the superplex or suplex on the outside. Yep.

And I'm just like, oh, that's a rough landing. Yeah, man, the match itself and the whole buildup to it was, I mean, we talk about that that feeling, that belief that I'm going to be something. That was like, that's what you dream of. That's what I dream. Like that first world title match, those like big world title matches, main eventing pay-per-views, that's like, that has been the dream my whole life to get to that point. So like that whole just being presented with that opportunity was was crazy to me.

And we go back to that, that pressure that I put on myself. That's the most pressure I've felt in my whole life in the lead up to that and being out there for that match. So just the fact that it went off as well as it did and got spoken of as highly as it did, it was, yeah, it was pretty cool for me. The dead eye off the top rope. Yeah. Come on. Yeah. I don't know, man.

I'm a bit insane. What do you want from me? You landed on your head. Yeah, man. That could have gone so bad. Yeah, it didn't, though. Okay. I'm good.

Yeah. We're gravy. I think what doesn't get talked about enough is, I don't know, a few minutes before that, the dead eye to the outside through the table. Yeah. Was nasty. Yeah, I think if you go back and watch it, I think that one was worse because hangman's knees they like kind of scoched the table out of the way,

I pretty much go like even more headfirst directly to the ground from the apron. So I feel like that one was actually, didn't look as crazy, but that one felt a bit worse. Is there any trepidation as you're putting the match together going, that might not go right? Nah. There's like half a second of it,

but then like in my head I go, no, it would be really cool, though. And then I just do it anyway. I feel like it's, for me, it's just that I'm, I'm so committed to this and so in love with this that like, if it's going to make the match cool and it's going to make the match even crazier, then I'm like, yeah, let's do it, why not?

But is there a line that you won't cross? Because there are a line of like, that's a bad idea, but would look really cool, but let's not touch it. I haven't got there yet. So I'll let you know. I think the Spanish was probably the one where I was like, this is getting close to the line. I was pretty,

we were pretty close to not doing that one. What made, what pushed it over the edge? I think it was that trust that we have in each other. I think if it was anybody else, he probably would have said no, but I think because it was me and we have that, that real life trust.

in each other, he was like, fine. I kind of pushed his, whatever it was, pulled his arm a little bit. This is a slippery slope, though, Kyle. It is. Because the next time you have a cage match, what am I going to do? You're going to have to out do that. That's a promise. But that's, that also sounds like a threat. It is. But like, do you have like a note section in your phone where you're like, oh, next time I work with so-and-so, next time I have this stipulation of a match, Oh, yeah? Oh, yeah. I nodding.

Every time I have a notes app of just like random ideas. And then I have every time I know I have a match coming up, I start like a specific notes for that person or that match specifically. So I have, yeah, there's a lot of random ideas floating around. This episode is brought to you by GLD. Buying men's jewelry used to be a nightmare. especially around the holidays. It was either cheap stuff that broke after a week

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So who's the person you haven't worked with yet that you can't wait to get in there with? I think the one that I keep talking about is I really want to get in there with Samoa Joe. I think that would be a really cool one for me and a really cool test for me. It's someone that I've been watching for a decade plus, so that's someone that I would love to get in there with. And other than that, I've been pretty blessed. I've been lucky enough to get in there with a lot of the people that I looked up. with, looked up too, like growing up. So I don't know if there's a lot of people left, man. It's

pretty cool. Pretty cool. He got to work with Dustin Rhodes. Yeah, absolutely. And not just work with Dustin Rhodes, work with him in the kind of match that you worked with him in. Totally. And also to win this championship here. Yeah, yeah, it was pretty special, man. He was, uh, yeah, another one that I probably saw him wrestle for the first time when I was eight years old or nine years old or whatever it was. So like, yeah, there's a lot of moments like that where, uh, they feel pretty special and this one especially. And he was so, so cool and so good to work with. And I think even more so like when someone like that is, is giving you that kind of praise and that kind of like that stamp of approval, that that's a pretty cool feeling. Whose idea was it for the glove with

thumbtacks on it? It was Dustin's idea. Of course it was. Yeah, that was, he was so like, he's so polite and so nice. He's like, it's fine, it's fine. If you don't want to do any of this, if it's fine, it's whatever. Like, no, man, come on, give it to me. Stab me in the head with thumbtacks, whatever. It'll be cool. It'll look cool.

It was a brutal match. Yeah, yeah, it was very cool. And he was very giving, very, very excited and just, yeah, he's, God, I don't know how old he is now, but he's, I think it's 56. There you go. You know better than me. But to be 56 years old and doing some of the stuff that he's doing, man, the stuff that he did in that match, man, I have to respect it.

I just hope I'm like half the wrestler he is at that age. It's crazy when you break it down. I believe he's 56. We'll look at him up in a second here. But you're less, like he's more than double your age. Yeah. When you think about it like that. He's been wrestling longer than I've been alive, like literally.

That's right. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. I'm going to look this up right now. I believe it's 56. Are you able to put into words what being the TNT champion means to you? Oh, I can try. 56.

Hey, wow. Knowing your numbers. I don't know. I don't know a lot of things. You pull that out of noise. But I knew that one. Yeah. Hell yeah.

Man, being TNT champion, it's kind of like, It's hard because wrestling championships are not real, right? They're not technically like a real achievement. A lot of people are very quick to tell you, like, they don't matter. They're prop, like, whatever. To me, like, this is a physical thing, something that I can hold in my actual hands that represents all the hard work I've put in to get to. to this point. And AEW was a company that I've watched since the beginning from afar.

It's somewhere that I've always wanted to get to. It was like something I strived for. The T&T Championship, I remember it being introduced for the first time. And like, it didn't even seem like something that was attainable at that time. When like, when I saw it get brought out for the first time, when I saw the belt for the first time, it didn't feel like, something that could even happen. It didn't even cross my mind. But like to now be sitting here and actually like this thing is in my suitcase every time I travel for work. And like every time I open it up at TSA like it's there and it's like this physical thing. And it's, it's 10 years, it's 12 years. It's my whole life. It's something that I can actually hold in my

hand. And I think to myself every time, I'm like, this is what I worked. hard for and this is everything I've dedicated my life to. So yeah, I guess that's kind of what it means to me. I love that. It's beautiful. Thanks, man. Does this come out every time you go through TSA? Has to. I would, I just put my bag through a lot of the times and like not take it out. Yeah, and that's every time. Every time. They have to take it out anyway. So like now, before I go through, I take it out and put it in its own little tray, then everyone starts going. Oh, what's that? Who's the champion? What's the number one question you get when you're going through the TSA line?

Ooh. I think it's, it's, I think it's who's, who's the, because I'm always with Sky as well. So I think a lot of the time they're like, who's the champion is the question. They look down the line and they go, who's the champion? Or like, when, if it does get pulled, it's, it's, who's the champion? Who's the champion? Yeah. And they're like, are you, is it boxing?

Pretty much. Wrestling, M.A. Literally. And then I have to stand there for five minutes answering questions. It's great. Good times. Are you best friends with Chris Jericho? Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Definitely. My guy. Big fuzzy guy. I mean, Fuzzy has some great hits. They do. Yeah. Where does it go from here?

There's all, like you talked about, you put this pressure on yourself. There's this outside pressure that people are putting on you. You're taking this one day at a time. But if you look ahead, one, two, three years. Yeah. What does it look like for you? I think every time I get asked question, my big overall, my big picture goal, the one that I've always had is to be the greatest of all time. And I think that is such a big, big thing and a big,

Like, big, uh, whatever, question name, like, big thing to put on myself of like, that's where I want to get to. The house of gore. That's, yeah. And, and I think I'm the kind of person where I always want to be working towards something. So to put a goal that massive in front of me, it assures that I will never stop. working towards something.

I think it's also something that is like, it's not a material thing. It's not tangible. Exactly. Like if you say my goal is to make a million dollars, it's tangible. My goal is to win X amount of championships. It's tangible.

Yeah. And I think for me, every time I've had a goal like that, and I've been lucky enough to achieve a lot of goals like that, it's always the next day, or the next week or whatever it is, I end up feeling like empty in a way because I've achieved it.

Well, it's like what's next. Exactly. And it's a hard thing to wrap your head around, but I think putting a massive goal, like, greatest of all time in front of me. What does that even mean, though? I don't know. I don't know what that means.

What does it mean to you? I think to me it means when I'm done, when I've wrapped it up, I want to believe in my heart that I reached my fullest potential. I think I have hopefully a lot of potential still to come, a lot of things, a lot of goals that I want to achieve. And I think, yeah, when I'm all said and done, I want to be, I want to feel like I did everything I could. And I want other people to, I want to be spoken about for years after I'm done. years after I'm not on this earth anymore. I want to be spoken about in that best of all time conversation. And that's kind of, it's not something that is, like you said, tangible. It's not

something that I can get to a certain point and be like, all right, I'm done it now, like whatever. It's something that I'll always be working towards, which I think is what I want. Is that something you measure by matches, promos, championships, maybe all of that together? I think all of it. Yeah, I think there's so many different ways to to view success, especially in professional wrestling. I think it's also the relationships that I make along the way in, like, how people that I work with view me and did they enjoy working with me? And was I pleasant to be around and that kind of thing? So I think, yeah, there's a lot different ways to measure it. And I think it's just being the best at or the best that I can be

at every single one of those things. You're in AEW for a while, it seems. You just signed a new contract. I did, yeah, this year. How does that feel? Man, it felt really cool. I was on a beach in Jamaica when I signed my contract. Oh, my goodness.

Yeah, I was on. And you're getting this great news of like, yeah. Pretty much. Yeah, it was pretty surreal, man. It was one of those ones where one of those moments that I thought about my whole life, signing that like that first big deal and it's like it gave me a bit of like uh i hate throwing around like buzzwords but like imposter syndrome it made me feel like i was like man when i was growing up i thought there were maybe one or two people with these kind of contracts in the whole world

of professional wrestling and like here i am like it it's a very weird feeling it's a very weird feeling It's very weird to realize that like, man, this spot that I'm in is, it's pretty cool. It's pretty big. It's pretty special. Not a lot of people get to this level. It also speaks to the hard work that you put in. Yeah. Like going back to what we were talking about earlier, betting on yourself, moving to a new country, hoping it might work out there, figuring things out.

It's all coming together. Yeah, totally. It's pretty amazing how that can work out. Yeah. it's it's it's just the journey of life man like you just stuff just happens and opportunities present themselves and you this one opportunity you meet someone and then it just goes this way and then this random thing happens and you go back this way and then somehow you end up here it's just it's just the way life works it's funny man where do you draw your inspiration from it may not even be

wrestling it may be other sports or movies or tv yeah um i think a lot of a lot of my inspiration is a bunch of different things. I think bodybuilding's like a big one for me now, especially. Are there specific bodybuilders? Yeah, like Tom Platt's, Ronnie Coleman, more recently, like Chris Bumstead's a guy that I love to watch. Ers is another one that's coming out now. Just the way they think about life and the way they think about their life and the way they think about their craft and like perfecting their craft and their bodies and the amount of like time and work that goes into it. I think that is something that I've drawn a lot of inspiration from and then like in turn not only put that into the gym but taking that over to wrestling as well and like having that feeling of like this is what I'm meant to do and then pouring everything that you possibly can into it. That's something that I think I've kind of got from from that. I love listening to Seabum on podcast.

Oh, yeah. Because like that idea of discipline is like whether you want to do it or not, you're doing it. You're going to be on the stair climber for an hour today. You're going to eat these macros. And you're going to, it's chest day today. So you're going to, you have to do these exercises. And I love that if you break it down to like this granular level, it's, it's, you don't think of success as this one big thing.

You think of it of like, if I do this and this and this and this and this today, today is a win. Yeah. And then if I wake up tomorrow and I also have that agreement with. myself that I'm going to do this and this and this and this, then I win tomorrow too. Yeah. I love that idea. It's so cool. Yeah, you nailed it.

I think for me, the bodybuilding side of things and like the work that I put into my body and nutrition and whatever, it gives me those daily goals and those daily tasks and those like, when you have a goal like greatest of all time, it's so easy to get lost in looking at that. Whereas if I have things every single day that I know if I do those things every single day, and I do that today, and I do that tomorrow, and I do that the next day in 20 years time, that's what's going to get me to greatest of all time. No one's going to see that work.

People are going to see the end goal, but that's the stuff that it takes, the stuff that nobody sees. Yeah, yeah. What about promos or athleticism? Where else do you draw the inspiration? Yeah. I mean, I've been, I've been like a sporty person my whole life. I grew up playing sports. So like the athleticism side of things was always kind of there.

What's points? My biggest one was rugby, rugby league in Australia. Of course. Yeah. So I grew up before I fell in love with pro wrestling at like eight or whatever it was. I was convinced I was going to play in the NRL. I was going to play for the Manly Sea Eagles. So that was like, that was my first like big dream, big goal.

So that's, yeah, and then I grew up, I did martial arts, Kempo karate, up until I was, probably started wrestling training. I was the first Dan Black Belt in Kempo karate. So, like, yeah, I've been athletic my whole life. So that stuff comes pretty easy to me. And then other than that, like promo-wise and stuff, I've tried to take a lot of inspiration from, like, big villains and big superhero movies and stuff like that. Like, I'm a big Marvel movie guy.

So, like, a lot of the, I mean, you look at, and then, like, big Dragon Balls-E guy as well, big anime guy. So, like, if you look at those villains in a lot of those, they're kind of, the way they speak and their reasonings for doing a lot of things, they're. they become this like insurmountable, like, strongest person and like the good guy has to like do all this stuff to get strong enough to overcome this big evil villain. But like, the villain also has these layers and it's like they have the reason they're like this is because of this thing that happened to them and like in their brain, everything they're doing

is the right thing to do. Yeah, they justify. They justify. They have their own why. Totally. Yeah. And I, I think that's something that I've really tried to emulate in my wrestling and in my character. I think, like, we're talking about the first shave head promo that I did. I think in that promo, a lot of what I wanted to do was like justify why I stabbed my best friend in the head with a screwdriver. Like, you look at that and you go, why would you do that? And like, in my head, I'm explaining why I did it and exactly why. it was the right thing to do.

So that was something that I tried to kind of draw from that kind of side of things, those big villains and books and stuff. I'm fascinated by the idea that the bad guy in a movie, the villain in a movie, doesn't think that they're the bad guy. They are completely justified in their actions. I think it was best done with Thanos. Absolutely.

Why does he want to get rid of half the world's population? Oh, wow. Huh. If I put myself in his shoes. Makes sense. I kind of empathize with him a little bit. I mean, it's totally insane, but like, yeah, I guess it makes sense. I guess what he's coming from.

Yeah, and I think that that's a fascinating thing. No Bond villain thinks that they're the villain. They're like, no, you've got to see it through my perspective. Yeah, totally. Yeah, I'm fascinated by that, and I love how you've brought that to wrestling. Yeah, absolutely. Of like, if you can just see my why, if you can just understand the way that I see it, it'll make sense to you.

Exactly. Yeah. In my story, maybe, it's why a lot of people are, people in interviews always ask me or like people on the street, it's like, oh, you're a, you're a good guy or a bad guy. It's my answer's always. Depends on your perspective. To me, to me, maybe I'm the good guy. Maybe I'm the one that's doing everything right and I'm living to my values and my morals and I'm abiding by those. So, yeah, it's perspective. Yeah, I'm not a good guy. I'm not a bad guy. I'm just doing my thing. Pretty much. Yeah.

Do you want to get as big as a bodybuilder? In a dream world, yes. That would be cool. I think so. I think I, like, just from a, I would love to compete at some stage. That is something that, like, a big goal that I would like to work towards. But like I said, I don't really do anything half-assed, so I don't want to do it until I'm, like, confident that I'm going to win a show, if that makes sense. So I think, yeah, it's a big goal somewhere down the line I would like to, for sure. So what are you way right now?

Monday morning I was 2.30, just over 230, 2.30.2.30.6 or something like that. So you'd want to be 250, 260? So, yeah, I think, so I kind of go up and down. Like, I'm doing balks and cuts kind of, uh, so I always like moving in a certain direction. So at the moment, I'm trying to put on some more size. And then at the end of that, I'll cut back down. But then when you put on some size, you lose some abs. Exactly. It's a scary thing. So yeah, the goal now I would like to get up to the heaviest I've been before is like two, just under 2.35. I would like to go, I'd like to crack 240 at least. I'd like to get close to 50. See what you look like. See what I look like. And then it's all about shredding the fat off, keeping the muscle and then seeing what I look like then. So like at the end of that phase, if I could be, I think at the end of my last big cut, I was like two, just under 210. So if I could be at the end of that next cut closer to 220, that's a good, that's a good goal to work. And a shredded 220?

Exactly. Yeah. I think you're a lot bigger than people realize. Sure. Like, I don't know if people realize that you're, what, 6'3? 6.4, yeah. 6, 4, yeah. Yeah, like, so you're as tall as Randy Orton, too.

Yes. So not only do you... Not quite here yet, but, you know. That man, he's got that dad's strength now. Tell me about it. What do you say he was, like 280 recently? I think so. The dream.

Just eating Nutella out of the tub. Man, that's, oh, I'll get there. But I don't think people realize that. I don't, for whatever reason. Yeah, I think I, TV is like a weird thing. It's very, it's not the same as seeing someone in person. Like, you can see someone on TV for, for years and then you see them in person. It's, you, are blown away by how big or small they are.

It's like a very, it's a weird perception thing. So like, I get it a lot. It's like, oh, you're tall than I imagine. You're bigger than I imagine. It's just, it's just, it's, it never really sinks until you're in person sitting next to someone. Like, we'll post the photo from this interview. Yeah. And people will either say that I'm way shorter than they thought or that you're way taller

than they thought. Definitely. It'll be one or the other. Maybe it's a little bit of both. A little bit of both. Who knows? That's cool, man. What are you?

What are you? Six. Oh, it's very kind of you. My height does not begin with the six. Okay, never mind. That's very kind of you. You can edit it. No, I'm five, I'm five, ten.

Oh, that's close enough to six foot. One 806. Oh, but, yeah. The shirt's doing you nice, you know? It's a good. It's a good. Yeah. The Camrat's 10 pounds.

Totally. Yeah, yeah. Very kind of you. Doing good. Don't worry. Yeah, 6-1, 2-10. Yeah. bump it up to 220, bro.

2-20. No one knows. Yeah. I can say whatever I want. Definitely. I'm like 270, you know. Easily, for sure. Yeah, for sure.

6-7. Definitely. Yeah. Seven, you know? 7 foot. Yep. Me and Satim Singh like this. But congratulations on an incredible year.

Thanks, man. You know, to be able to sit here towards the end of 2025 and look back on this. year. Amazing. Yeah, it's pretty cool. And then to look ahead at what's next. That's it. It's exciting. I try not, I don't like reminiscing too much. It's nice to reminisce, but it's always about what you do next and it's always about moving forward. So I'm looking forward to what's next. I think it's important to look back to see what you've accomplished and how far you've come. Yeah. To realize like, oh my gosh, I thought that was good. Yeah.

And look what I'm doing now. But then think about another year from now. Right. You think that you've climb the mountain and then someone goes, oh, no, that's actually the summit. Exactly. And then you get to that one and you go, oh, no, no. Yeah, look up even more. Uh-huh. That's it. I love that.

That's the dream, man. The United States Soccer Federation present the U.S. soccer podcast. My name is David Goss, and I'm joined by my co-host, Megan Clemenberg. And now we're giving people an inside look at the World Cup. Time's ticking. I think you can feel the intensity. All the guys are wanting to really take their claimant. and they want to be on that World Cup roster.

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Absolutely, thank you. Gratitude is such a huge part of my life, a huge component of my life and what I do. What are three things in your life that you're grateful for? right now, Kyle? Firstly, I am grateful for my health, my body, the fact that I am able to do what I do, that I am able to go to the gym every day and train my hardest and just having the physical capability of doing that.

I realize that's something that not a lot of people, a lot of people don't have and they wish they did have. So I'm very grateful for that. I'm very grateful for my career, I guess, is what you'd call it. The fact that I have a life driven by purpose, something that I love so, so deeply that I'm able to pour every single second into, every single ounce of energy that I have goes into this and I'm grateful that I have something I love and care about that deeply and that I can that gives me purpose and something to work towards every single day. And I'm grateful for the people in my life

and the relationships that wrestling has given me. Most of the people that I love deeply, the people that I hold closest to people that I've met through wrestling. And I'm grateful for all of those people, the support they give me, the fact I wouldn't be able to do any of this without that support. my family back home, my mom has been my biggest supporter, my whole life. It's not easy to let a 12-year-old get on a train and go to a couple hours down south. Like, I'm just going to go wrestling some random person's backyard. It's fine. Don't worry about it, Mom.

She was great and she's been my biggest support my whole life. My family's been maybe a support obviously moved across the world. It's not an easy thing to do. but everyone in my life has been so supportive of this dream of mine. And yeah, I'm very grateful for them and grateful that I have such a good support system in my life. And yeah, I'm just very, I'm a very blessed man in general. What a way to hand it. Hell yeah.

Thanks again. Appreciate you. Thank you. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. Back in the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock. But there was one band that had a lot. at all. Hammer Alley. Whatever happened to Hammer Alley?

How did they go from top of the rock? I'm looking for a music video. They're a band from 1987. Hammer Alley. Ever heard of them? To Rock Bottom. Dude, I was born in 1987. I can't believe he's doing this.

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