Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Mustafa Ali: Hilarious Undertaker Story, Brock Lesnar "Get A Life, Kid", Scariest Moment In The Ring

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

Mustafa Ali (@MustafaAli_X) is a professional wrestler signed to TNA Wrestling. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet at INSIGHT Live in Chicago to discuss his guitar coffin match with Elijah on TNA Impact, a terrifying moment that took place when he was dragged to the back by a horse, Brock Lesnar telling him to "Get a life, kid", a hilarious Undertaker story, returning to WWE NXT to challenge for the North American Championship, getting advice from AJ Styles at TNA's AMC premiere, and more! Please support our sponsors: HELIX SLEEP: Flash sale! Go to https://helixsleep.com/cvv for 27% off sitewide! COZY EARTH: Go to https://cozyearth.com/CVV for up to 20% off! BEAM: Go to https://shopbeam.com/INSIGHT and use code INSIGHT for up to 40% off Beam’s Dream Powder DELETEME: Use the code INSIGHT to get 20% off your DeleteMe plan at https://joindeleteme.com/INSIGHT FACTOR: Get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year with the code INSIGHT50OFF at https://factormeals.com/INSIGHT50OFF 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/cvv SEAT GEEK: Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/CVV 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! PRIZEPICKS: Download the PrizePicks app today and use code INSIGHT to get $50 bonus credit in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://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

Chicago, what's good? So, that, huh? Sold out. Beautiful. Welcome back to Chicago. Yeah, I mean, I was here already, but Fend you. You've been back, let me do. Welcome back to Chicago, Chris.

Yeah. Welcome back also to, like, you maybe, like, I thought you weren't going to be able to walk after that guitar casket match. Did you guys see this? Oh, my gosh. I would say single-handedly one of the roughest nights I had

that thing that was constructed it was I think it was 500 pounds so you know when we think about Cassie matches my hope is to use the damn thing at some way but it was very weirdly shaped obviously it's shaped like a guitar so I'm looking at I'm like oh there's no safe way for me to

actually like get tossed into this you know what I mean so like there goes half of my ideas And when we got there, I was like, man, we're just going to have to kill each other. So that's kind of my head. Well, I die more and more. But yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah, if you haven't had a chance to watch it, it's on YouTube.

I watch it. Please, I have scars all over my value. What hurt us most in that match? My pride. I think everyone thought the backdrop off the ramp onto the chairs would have stuck. It didn't. It was a choke slam into that damn thing. Because we had, you know, I have a very acoustic person.

And I don't mind talk about you a little inside baseball because it's 2026, girl the fuck out, right? He do swear, right? Okay, here. Say whatever you want. Can he make a ball? Can he swear? Fuck here.

I'll try to keep the swearing now. It's Ramadan right now. So I'm sure we battle you'll be able to play with her too. But there's like a lot of like acoustics that go into the MASH planet. So at one point, Tasha steals accidentally, gets hit with the guitar by me, and then the gray hands also go through a table. And then I was like, man, if I take this choke slam into a casket, it's just going to go,

but acoustically doesn't sound, sounds like it was my dumb idea to put a door on top of it. And man, that damn thing, they ripped me up. Yeah, so like my back was bleeding all of a sudden. But like I said, man, it was one of those things that, even though the casket closed on me, I'm crying inside. But you just hear the rumble of the crowd as a standing ovation. You can hear their call on for replays and stuff. But we got back to the locker room and, you know,

Carlos Silver was there and Tommy Dreamer and like it. That's one thing I will say about TNA. Like, man, I've never been in a locker room like that. We're like, it's legit. Everyone's rooting for each other. You know, I mean, nine times out of ten, I had masks the night. I mean, it did it, but it is, right? But it's like the locker room really is pushing the product.

and each other. And, like, it's one thing when you go out there and, like, it means the world to me, trust me, when the audience gives you that reception

at standing ovation, but to come back and your peers and do, like, Matt and Jeff Hardy are standing there. He's saying, you're saying, you're... Jeff Hardy's looked at me,

says, you're crazy. It's... I go, respectfully, there's rebels in this, and you're... No, bro. You're... Probably one of the greatest

compliment. am I sorry. I feel like you don't do a lot of $450s anymore. You save them for special occasions. And in that match, you did want off the top rope to the outside through a table. Yeah. So the problem with that one, too,

this damn casket is so big, like I talked about. You know what I mean? So, I mean, it's no one's fault. It's Elijah's fault. It's no one's fault. But when he had positioned the table, It was kind of off. So, you know, we move on to spot.

And I looked like, oh, shit, the way he's laying on it and the way I have to come off the ropes because the caskets right there, his knees are like where I need to land. I'm supposed to land on this horse of. I go, well, either I'm about to break my ribs or he's about to break his knees. Good luck to you, Elijah. And I went for him.

Little did I know this, motherfucker. That last second he decided to put his knees up. So it was my ribs. Everyone's fine. I'm indestructible. But yeah, so that, yeah, I would say actually I take it back. No, wait, maybe it was the guitar to the face. I don't know. It all hurt, man. It all hurt. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, that one sucked, too.

What's been the scariest moment you've ever had to match? For some reason, it's always tied to Elijah. It was not in the master. Well, technically it was part of the match. So back in December, we were in El Paso. An incident that is now named the Lassau and El Paso. It was the Rascals. Shout out to the Rascals. I hope they're doing well.

We're doing this thing where, like, I've had enough with a match. And I'm out of here. I'm taking the higher road. And the lights go on and off and off and off and on. And then Elijah appears behind on a horse. And the idea is that he attacks me, ties me off he lasso's me, and he pulls me out of the arena on a horse. That's not the scary part.

Right. A little context. So I'll give you twofold. There's a story behind the story. Earlier the day, we're rehearsing this stunt. And this is just when TNA has announced its partnership with AMC. So there's like AMC, exact stare and all and stuff like that. And there's a director named George, who's been with TNA for a long time. And we're kind of walking through this rehearsal. And, dude, it is not happening. So the horse is getting scared. The lapsos becoming undone. Elijah's not tying it right. The cameraman's out of position. everyone's messing up except for me and the director George's like hey I'm going to pull the plug on this we're not doing this stunt we got to come up with something I'm like George I'm telling you we can pull this off and he goes you don't understand AMC's here this is the bad impression we're not doing it

and I don't know what overcame me I said George let me do this stunt I put my job on it if it goes wrong you'd be fired me on the spot and without any heads a dish he goes remember what you said Shit, why do I get myself me use predicting this.

So, oh, yeah, Elijah's my homie, but I'm telling me, go, dude, we have to do it this way. Trust. I kid, there's a handma, there's a guy that handles horses. Let him tie the damn lasso. No one's looking at him.

They're looking at you. He's 300 pounds of muscle. They're looking at you, dude, relax. So we had the handler do the lasso off screen. You just don't see it. And then it looks like Elijah did it. So the stunt goes,

according to plan. I don't get fired. but I almost die. This is what you guys don't see is when the horse pulls me away, you see me screaming and all the stuff when we go down this hallway. The thing about this hallway is there's another horse. No one told me there was two horses. The hammer, because of me, was on stage doing the tie.

No one is manning the horse. You guys ever see when one horse run, what another horse does? No, first it gets scared and it starts kicking. Oh. So the hallway is about, I don't know, from this, it's about you. It's slim, and there's a horse right there. So as I'm kind of going, yay, I've done it.

I turn around, there's a horse. And the horse is kicking and screaming and jumping, and I was like, all right, this is it. And this is how stupid wrestler is ours. My first thought is, and there's not a cameraman to get my guy So I just cover up I say thank you God for the good lies

And I just curled up and did the horse Just missing like right here I felt like it's tail almost And I'm yelling, stop, Elijah, stop, stop, stop. So luckily the security came and stopped the horse. I'm a very pleasant person Despite what people hear I got some students at the Chicago Wrestling Center out there

I was very pleasant, right guys? Yeah, I don't get that. I was, I was on one that day. I thought, oh, I'll put this horse out here. There's a whole middle of horse. So yeah, I'd never had a scary experience as bad as that in the rain. It was definitely the horse and an El Paso. I'm alive. I'm alive. Relax. Relax. You're like. You had this moment in a match

with Cedric Alexander where you did the suicide dive to the outside. You don't get caught. And you like, face plant to the ground. That wasn't, I mean, look terrifying. Once again, not my fault. I'm sitting sick. I kind of felt bad about what happened. And like, I'm at the stage of my career now, man,

where I try protecting and like really, really, like, going out of my way to make sure no negativity comes towards people. But now I'm at the stage of my life where, like, if something happened and you messed up or you fucked up, it's on you. What originally happened was, I gave very clear instructions to the people that were accompanying me to the ring then. In TNA, I have this big secret service entrance, and I have this whole political-ass character.

And I gave them instructions. I go, when you guys advance on Cedric, stay here. I don't want Cedric close to the rain because this dive, I'm sending it. It's this big show. We're at USB Arena. We're trying to sell this thing out. And I just had that vibe. but like no one had talked about AMC or the network.

I just, I had this intuition. I go, I think something big is going to happen for TNA, and I want to be one of the reasons why it happens. So I just had this mindset. Like, they're not giving me the ball, but I'm going to take it. I was it. So very clear instructions, like, see what that tripod is. I go, stand there.

Well, I start running, and all of a sudden, the guys that were supposed to stand by the tripod have advanced way closer. At the end of the day, could I have put on the brakes? Sure. I don't do that. So I go all the way. I clip Cedric barely. And, yeah, I just, I remember the ramp was, like, graded.

So I just remember, like, the grades, just peeling, like, the skin. And I roll up. And you think I'd stay down, but I had to get up and, like, I'm indestructible. I get, for the person I said. And then we went by and everyone thought that was the death of me. But, no, here I am, Scandy once again. Chicago motherfuckers are tough, man. It's strong, cute.

We saw you back. in NXT recently. You had this amazing match for the North American Championship. Some might say it was the best match of the year in NXT. Against Ethan Tage. Some might. Did you say,

oh? Some might. I suppose to illustrate. You're this... This is her voice out. So this great North American Championship match with Ethan Page. What, like the finish,

if you guys remember this, your legs wrapped around, like, the cable like this. Oh, yeah. I get a trome. Yeah. So what was the plan for this? The whole NXC appearance was It was therapeutic in a sense

Backstoy to the story as well That I actually got to sit down with Shaw You know what I mean? Was this the first time you saw him since being released? Yeah, yeah So I mean he had called me when I got released And he was It's one of those things where you can kind of tell

When someone's being fake With like, oh my God, it was not He was like, what do you mean what happened? He literally found out as I found out because that weekend yeah it was that weekend I think I got to let go on a Tuesday and I was supposed to wrestle

Dominic the Serio for the North American Championship on the Saturday yeah I remember it too but I was like I remember I'm like it haughts my dream and you were supposed to with the North American Chevy show and I feel like such a

I feel like such a dude because I got like you're made for a too like the Northern American I think it worked out in my favor so yeah he had we had talked then and then we stayed in touch you know like he was very proud of the pw i cover like uh he just said he just sent me he goes i just want to let you know i'm always watching i'm like that was it's sean michael right it's like one of those things like

matt jeff sean like these guys that do like you grew up like watching it like you know emulating to some degree when they compliment you it there's a lot of weight to it so um yeah that was the first time i saw sean it was the weak fire who's for the like the promo to the challenge So I get there and, you know, this writer gives me this, this promo and I'm reading it. I go, man, like, I get it. But I kind of disagree. Let me go talk to you. And that's how I've been my whole career.

Like, no, no pardon to you, but like, you're not going to change it. He's going to change it. He's going to change. So I go up and beat my case to Sean. I go, hey, listen, I understand that you want me to talk about what's happened. And, like, you know, I was promised this championship. I'm like, I don't want to come off whiny. I was like, in TNA, I'm like this really like,

presidential, political, weasel, like politics his way and the stuff. I go, I think it'd be more fun. Like, we want to have fun when we watch wrestling. Everything doesn't need to be dramatic sometimes. And I go, so what if I just, like, politic my way into this match? I goes, oh, yeah, yeah, I kind of see it. And I kind of told him what I want to say. He's like, all right, yeah, like, we can do it that way.

That's fine. Like, all right, cool, Paulson. I'm like, I don't even work here, and I'm causing dramas. I shit you not five minutes before we go out. So, you know, Ethan's been updated. Ali's been to change his word with all. So five minutes before we go out, Sean's like, no, I think you're wrong. I want you to do the problem of the way I written.

He goes, I'm telling you, Ali, people resonate with you because when you, he's like, you put up the facade sometimes, but when you're real, you're real, you just got to tell people what happen. I was like, I can't believe I said that you're going to tell you. I think you're wrong, but if you ask me to do something, I'll do it. You told Sean Michaels you, maybe he's wrong. What a sentence. I, uh, that's what's going to get clipped too, right?

Like, you think I would have learned my lesson right now. Sean Michaels was not wrong. I go out and like, yeah, as I'm saying the words, it's just like, man, like, you could tell this isn't a promo. I'm telling you, like, you, like, I was busted my ass and right when I was going to get a reward, you pull, you know, and I've thought about this, this, this. And I come back and just the reception, especially online, like, I don't try to pay too much attention. But I hate with people like, I don't read it. Like, no, it's feedback. It's, it's an opinion.

I will digest it. And sometimes some people have some shitty takes. But like, for the most part, it was like, yo, that was real. And like, there is a real story. Like, is this dude cursed? Like any elimination chambers, like all these like Kofi mania, this stuff. Like, this all comes at the expense of me. So like, hopefully this is a nice little redemption.

So part of it was like, oh, man, he's definitely going to do something they haven't done before. and like putting a championship on someone that doesn't work in. Who knows, right? So Sean was totally right with that. To the finish, your original idea. Once again, I had to probably trouble wherever I go. If you guys remember when Finn Baller wrestled Roman Rain, but Jen was the demon and the top rope rope,

and they never really like kind of like paid that off. And I was like, oh, man, the idea is that Ali's Kirk's. Like, he's about to win the damn top rope rope. Like, you know, this guy's at the worst luck. So I pitched that to him, and he's like, oh, I love this. Let's find out, like, if it's physically possible. Logistically possible is the word I'm looking for it. Because we weren't, we were like in the middle of the show.

So the answer was, yes, it's possible. But there's a high risk that we could mess up the rest of the show. And there was like a big men survivor series style match to, Sean. I just don't think it's worth the risk. Do we come up with something else? and then Ethan had said Hey me and Ricky Saints did something With the cable where like I think Ricky got tied up

And like counted out or something Or like I think he was able to get a cheap shot And then that got my mind to us Oh what if we went over the table And like and it's just the luckiest things happen sometimes So we go over the table And yeah there's a there's a there's a warrant It's planted for me that you know kind of like

You know hook my ankle into it But as I'm walking I naturally got tied up it to Booker T's headset and he got mad for a rip I pull his headset and his headstick and you hear stole my excuse

he's not happy and then Vic puts it over too so everyone really thought Booker's headset because it really was just a random headset and now I think about it like oh that would have been confused I'm like why are both commentators talking

and there's this magical headset like who's headset? Whatever like whatever but it just a happenstance that I was knocked myself out on that one, so thank you. Thankfully, it was the end of the match. But, yeah, it was another thing, man. I just come back and I have these really, I don't think in wrestling,

and this is, don't feel sad for what I'm about to say. I've come to the realization, I don't think I'm ever going to actually get, like, for the lack of better, like my flowers, instead of speak. Like, I don't think everyone's going to go back. I'm like, oh, look at his career, but within the industry, I have Like Sean Like

I'm trying to I think it's okay to say this He said And this is again This is John Michaels He says You should have gotten a lot more For what you're given

I know man I feel like you're getting the respect now With what you're doing Yeah His one of those things For like Man I really hate them I'm about to turn forward

You know what I mean So it's like man Like And I'm I'm not a hater I'm so happy As this next generation It's coming up but it's like, it's one of those things

where wrestling is this right time, right place. Like, Javon Evans is amazing. But could you imagine what happened to him if he came up as a 205 letter? Vincent hated that stuff. Like, he was like, grab a damn hole, God damn it, like you threw it in here. But Jambon, right place, right time,

the styles accept it. They're more accepting. And I go, yeah, man, 205, Ali. Like, you know, he was like, I was going to yell there weekly about that. So it's like, man, like, and again, not to sound from a bitter place, But, like, I think that's what wrestling is sometimes.

Just, like, Eps and flows, man. You know what I mean? Like, you look at his accessory. And, like, now you look at, like, presentation and culture. Like, Ricky Sosa's, like, tramping all the time. Like, Trick Williams. Like, but they're bringing their culture, like, to the front. You know, I mean, there was a time before it was like, no, none of that.

Like, pull it, push it all behind. So it's like, that's, I kind of accepted what I'm trying to say. It's, like, I think, like, maybe I was in, like, the wrong era. They're making it sound like you're going to retire. You've got so much more time. Time time sticking, my friend. Yeah, we'll see. We'll see.

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. Times ticking. I think you can feel the intensity. All the guys are wanting to really stake their claim, and they want to be on that World Cup roster. There's no doubt about it. Hosting the World Cup on the Home Solar.

comes with its pressures, but we're just really excited just as the people are. The U.S. Soccer Podcast, presented by Henco. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been so close so many times. So tell me the story behind having the money in the bank briefcase in your hands. The collective groan. You guys? It just got it for Move Box Broad.

And Boots brought. And I'll tell you what, then they moved a lot of words. I should have got to cut the med of meagabide. It's at your expense. As the story goes. I hate to like, whatever. Brock was cool, man. Like, he was super chill about it.

I'm sure you guys heard the story, so I kind of keep it short. Yeah, everyone's very good luck. The whole day, they're telling me I'm winning this damn thing. So they even had to climb the ladder and they're like readjusted the brief days. So it's like perfectly within like grabbing this and stuff. man, man, everyone's congratulating me.

I'm like, Rand Jord pulls me aside. He's like, you know what this means, man. Like, they're really giving you it all. Give it, like, all your Harvard's about to pay. And, like, they're really, like, but here's the thing. No one knew. No one was like, and everyone's like, oh, this was one giant rid by Vince. It wasn't.

Like, Vince literally wanted to get Brock, like, crazy heat. So they even, like, did a documentary about me, like, a, the speccom at the WWE Network Days. You remember that? Here, I got Chronicle, all rest of peace. Yeah, we're like, What was the price? 9.

You guys ate him and Joel Romano right up and up. Best deal. I know, bro. Oh, that's so... So, uh, chronicle. I did, I did chronic,

which was so cool. And, like, again, like, it's just perspective. It might not mean something to you, but it meant something to me. Like, Joey Bologna, he was still works at, uh,

uh, that baby. He's an amazing, uh, videographer. He's so... Yeah, it was amazing.

Uh, you followed me around. And, like, I was the first time that, like, then maybe produced something. I'm of the Muslim faith. And he followed me into like a monks.

And he sold me to like fast. And my little girl was like six or seven. She's like, you know how like you guys that celebrate Christmas. You like depraig the house. We do the same thing for Eid. So like it was like, man, I don't know who it maybe is not familiar with Islam or Muslims. It's now able to see that like we're just the same. And we're celebrating a holiday.

And my girls are going to get presents. on like a special day and like we're decorating the house and like you know I got in trouble because like you know I forgot to call my wife right after my met but everyone's seen the normal that we're just normal people I guess so like that was a cool thing that the

Chronicle got to do like you got to see me outside of the rain who I am as a person but back to the instrument's money of the bank thing so yeah the whole day they're telling me that you're winning this damn thing so the matches

the engines as it started The participants are going out. And I like to be a picture for you, A's and down. I wish I had my control over the lights out of there. At the time, I'm wearing, like, this light up here. I have a light up mass of, like, pulsates, and I have this light up jack. Everyone, they make you feel good when they remember.

Damn, right. So, you know, I'm in guerrilla, and it's very dim. It's very dark. M2. Stop in the water here. Sorry. Jamie, no looking on that debis. Hey, hey, boss me, what's not you?

The boss man wants to talk to him. And I was like, oh, he's nervous. This isn't good. So I walk over and Vince is there. He's wearing his little spectacles. Damn, what's going to happen? As I, you know, lean in to talk to him, it's dark. I have red LED lights.

Vince is completely red. We may or may look like Satan. He goes. Change plans. Want you to call you. climb up the ladder and crowd the briefcase with both hands. You got it? Yeah?

And he goes, and that just reese, jump move. Someone's going to come down and knock you off the ladder. And you stay down. You understand? And at this point in my head, I go, it's Brock. I go, yes, sir. And literally, I said, yes, sir, my music plays. So I had no time to process the thing.

Nobody the match notes written. Jesse. Randy doesn't know. Van Ballard doesn't know. Andrade. Corbyn. Drew McIntyre was in there. Rick and Shway. Brother, they were... Yes.

To make matters worse, I'm climbing the ladder. I go, okay, this motherfucker's gonna... It's gonna come down on a gig base. I grabbed this briefcase. And, man, did I feel like an idiot? I'm just... I'm gonna... To totally grab this and just run right now.

To make matters worse, when Brock, I don't know if you guys have, I know you see him on T-D, when you see him in person, he's the size of this pole, right? He's running and he hits a ladder that tips over it and hits a camera guy in the fakes.

And I see blood splatter out of his head. Rico, and he goes down, and I'm like, you know what, maybe, maybe scariest moment. I take that bull. Four second, Brockville, like this. So,

But this gargantuanian man comes in and he grabs the ladder and I'm like, I'm going to die. And then this part I hate, I feel like he looked up and he goes, you're ready, kid? And I go, yeah. And just the nicest, gentlest, punch, I was so hyped up that he's going to kill me that I like overshot myself. I hit my mouth on the top rope. I bust myself out of the, my mouth is bleeding. And I go, that was entirely your fault because he had nothing behind it. And we just later, and if you go back and watch the match specifically,

you should look for Randy Orton's reaction. He was not, because I think it came down to respecting. Like, Randy is like, why did you guys, you know, tell me that thing? But yeah, it was one of those things that came back. Everyone priced me. They were hot at me. And everyone, you know, guys, I just found out. I would go, go, bullshit.

I swear to God, I just found out. And then, he helped caron. I was there kind of like, hey, he didn't know, he didn't know. So, yeah, it worked. I mean, people were a livid about it. And, yeah. Earlier during the AskC-EV, I told a little bit of an Undertaker story. And I understand that you have a great Huntertaker story.

Yeah, do you guys know, Mustafa Ali and Undertaker hang out a lot? There was an anniversary show for Rod. I think it was the 25th anniversary. I could be wrong, what was, like 2018, 19, something like that. And it was when Rob was doing the Barclays Center and the Manhattan Center at the same time. You remember this episode? Yeah. Yeah.

So. Yeah. Great brother. The Manhattan Center, there's a bunch of people that had paid a lot of money to attend this event, right? But here's the problem that they didn't blame. There was no actual matchets there. It was just promos. There was legends coming out and cutting a promo.

So about almost an hour into it, the fans start realizing, hey, we got jiped. There's no matter. And they start booing, recklessly. So Triple H is at the Manhattan Center. He gets on the phone, and he calls over to the Barclays Center. He goes, I need matches, and I need them now. So Mark Kronk goes, oh, I know, the cruiserates. So he snuffs a bunch of cruiserades into, like, a van,

and just sends us whining. Manhattan Center. It's like, one, Hideo Tommy's driving, like, he's a, where am I going? I don't know. We get saved. So we're running upstairs And like everyone's like panicking like go go go Go upstairs we're running with our gear

Because we're all coming from barfiz And Triple Age basically goes guys This is a situation There's no matches During the commercial break I just need you guys to go out there And do the craziest shit But threw it in like two or three minutes

Everybody de Kala But all right fool So like a vote or something else So I was wrestling Lindsay Dorado And we run upstairs and like you know, we have our bags, so we just open this door. We throw our bags, and we close the door. We start talking.

Like, maybe this is, you know, something quicker. And the referee comes up and goes, hey, guys, where are you changing? Like, we're right here. And then we look up. Private locker room for the Undertaker. Yeah. Yeah. So I go.

So I go. Yeah. They like open the door sheepishly. Me and Lindsay, we took this. Hello, sir. I'm Ali. This is Lindsay. We've got to hear.

huge mistake. We're just going to grab our bags and we're going to leave. And we go to reach for our bags. And he goes, hey, you guys don't want to hang out with the motherfucking undertakes. Before I can say this, Vince-A Dragl goes, hell yeah, we want to do it. But yeah, we just pulled up a chair next to them that we're chained and he's like, asking us about, you know, I told him I was a former police officer. And he was like, oh, shit that, you know, we're talking about this and that and that, and Lindsay was a former teacher. And he was like, isn't that crazy? Like, we're talk into The Undertaker about life and then we kind of forgot that we had to come

under the rubber like, guys, you're all the number. Oh, sh, you know, so we just ran out and did a match up. And then, yeah, it was just one of those wild experiences that the Undertaker told me to come hang out of it. What a story. Do you imagine, had he not been so cool?

There's such a difference between The Undertaker and Mark. And you got to hang out with Mark. That's pretty cool. In my mind, it would still be entertaining. I meant to ask you this last time you were on the show, and, like, you left, and I went, I can't believe I didn't ask you about it. Get a life, kid.

Or Brock Lezer said this to you. What's the story behind it? So it's a little two-fold, right? So I get that it was really funny, but if I tell you guys a real story, and you can show really, really sad. So I'll share it what I can. You know what the thing is?

I would tell you guys, but I don't want people to get in trouble. Yeah. But that was a shot at me from someone very high up. And not directly, the backstory is, and I'll keep it to this,

so I hope you guys can understand. I was sent to go do like media, like public relations for an upcoming event in Saudi Arabia called by the champ meets, right? So I go there. I'm not on the show.

I'm just going as token brown guys on heavy. So I'm going there and makes everybody happy. And just because it's, you know, like, you're always going to relate to someone that looks like you, right? So, like, you know, I do these little events. I'm like, you know, obviously I'm very appreciative of the turnout here. But the turnout there was the same.

Like, they're expecting 500 people. There was like 3,000 people. So the guy is like, Lothamishu. Oh, this Mustafa Lee, very, maybe he does the show. And I was like, oh, you know, it's the night of champions. You have to be a champion to be on the show. I'm not a champion. and I didn't realize I was talking to like the president of the G.A.,

which is this general entertainment authority that basically runs the show visit Saudi Arabia. And he goes, you leave it to me. I sort of it. You. And I go, no, no, no, no. I go, no, no, no, I'm going to request that you're on the show. I think what happened was someone told Vince what to be.

And he's like, oh, okay. So the whole day, I kind of. I could sense the nervous tension about something that was going to happen, and I had this promo, and I was supposed to be very, but I'm reading it, and it was like, and then what happens? They go, well, Brock's just going to walk by. I go, yeah?

And last second, you know, let me ask you guys this question. Let me ask you, but don't what happened via preface it. When someone's doing a backstage interview, where does it happen? That stage, not you all said at the same time. not right by the guerrilla entrance, right? Like, that's not, you know, so they go last second, I'm getting ready to. Oh, we're moving the shot to gorilla now. And I go, right.

Okay, here it comes. So I don't know he was going to say that. So when he said that and he walked off, there was his dead signs. Because everyone that was there that weren't, they knew what happened. They're like, oh, they're just, they're trying to send a message. You know what I mean? But it's like, why does it have to be my experience? So it's just one of those things.

I think because of the frustration. and because of like what had happened. I think that's why Sean had reached out to Hunter about NXT because right after that when I made my NXT appearance. But like, again, not to cry over like that. It is what it is. The way the cookies are in a crumple the way it crumbles, right? Like, I know when I look at WWE,

I know that I knocked on every door and presented every idea. I never said no for the most part. And I did good word, man. I'm like, I've never going to look in the mirror and feel like, oh, man, I fail. And like, I talk to a lot of my peers that are, unfortunately got let go, you know, while I was doing it. I go, you know, are you doing okay?

And they all said the same thing. They go, man, I just wish I tried a little hard. I wish I wasn't mad and like, you know, did this. I go, when I got like go, I didn't say, I just go, well, there was nothing else that I could have done. I tried everything, comedy, serious, you know, being the little guy, this guy, whatever the hell. You know what I mean? So I walked away with that. And then, you know, when Brock said, go get a light kid, I quite literally did that.

I'm the fucking man now. What's the highlight for you in your WWE career? Man, I think it was kind of calling my shop with Randy Orton. Randy's done everything, man. He's like, he'll go down as a goat out of this. I mean, he already is a good, right? So maybe it was 2019 like that. And it was one of those things, too, with the frustration was like,

oh, Randy is the one that gave me this big concussion that made me miss elimination. chamber which gave the birth to COVID-Mania. So to me, like, the story kind of writes itself, right? Like, the biggest opportunity of this young kid's career gets taken away, you know, by Randy Orblings, one of the greatest heels in the industry. And it was just like, oh, we're just going to do a match. And I was like, you know what, I'm going to do something.

Like, you know, they're not going to give me a story. I'm going to wow them. So I had pitched to Randy and go, hey, with all due respect, you know, if you don't want to do it, I understand. But, like, would you be open to me countering the RKO? depends on what the counter is, you know, and I kind of explain them what I do. And he's like,

he's thought about it for a good minute. He's kind of looking away. I was like, oh, man, he's, he's, like, hate anything. He's, he probably hates the idea.

He goes, I'm not concerned about, like, protecting the art hell. He goes, I'm more concerned for you. I go, well, so, he goes,

if you box this bullshit and Stan theme that you're trying to do, you don't go, you do that flippy shit, right? So he's like, If you botched that, he's like, they're just going to think that you took a really shitty RKO.

He goes, they robbed the RKO. So he's like, they're going to boo you. And he's like, they were thinking you botched it. And this thing goes, I think it's a bad idea. I just looked at them and I go, Randy, there's no way I fuck this up. I go, please let me hear the movie. And he goes, all right, don't say I didn't warn you. And dude, when I hit it and I pinned them, if you like turn the volume all the way up,

You can hear Randy as a man. He goes, fuck, yeah. So even, like, after, I mean, I was here, like, Randy wins, like, 10 seconds later like that. But at the end of the match, you kind of see him give me the little, like, like, the suck, like, K's we got it, Rand. And so, like, even to this day, like, if I had an issue, something, not to name drop, but, like, if I have an issue of a question, like, he's someone I can go to and, like,

he's still taking, say, we talk to me or whatnot. But, like, I think that's my biggest, like, you go up to, like, one of the biggest stars in the industry, you call your shot. and you hit it. And he was, yeah, yeah. So that was a very rewarding. But people bring it off all the time. I had such a cool-looking counter.

Nobody's done anything like that ever. To me, the big is, like, I did almost mess it up at one point. When Rainey jumps up and you, like, you know, you kind of grab this guy in there. You're like, oh, my God, this is a massive individual. I go, I've done this before. But with guys, like, my size, I go, when he hits the mat, the whole ring moves with you. So I was like, oh, my. elbow buckles or my wrist

lips like that, I'm going to crash just like you said. So like last second, I'm like, you cannot mess this up and I grabbed the math as hard as I can. But like, yeah, other than that, that was the only thing I didn't calculate the massive side of the ran york. Hey, I win. You're in this position now where you're

the veteran. You're teaching the next generation, especially with your wrestling school here at Chicago. What do you think when someone walks in, what are the tools they need to succeed in this business? us. When they walk in the first thing, I go, oh, you've made a terrible decision. No, you know, like, you know, there's a couple.

Shout out to the Chicago Wrestling Center here. We're in the house. Yeah, I see. It's like, you know, there was a time where I was, like, still protective of wrestling. Like, you got to love this and you've got to, you know, breathe this and you eat and sleep. And it's all wrestling. And to a degree, I still very much am protected and appreciative. because wrestling has given me the ability to provide for my family.

Like, that's the most important thing. But there's this genuine love I have for it, man. It's the only thing that I think about. I don't go to concerts. I'm not a big sports guy. Like, I've been doing this as I was 16. I kind of a loser, really honest. But, like, it's all that I want to do.

I just want to wrestle. And I hate working out. I only work out for wrestling. Like, I think about wrestling. Like, it's just wrestling, right? So I now met that age where I realize, well, everyone's not going to meet your passion at that moment. Like everyone's not going to be obsessed with dressing here.

So on the first day, I sit down all the students and I go, hey, I need you to be perfectly honest with me. Don't just say what you think I want you to say. I go, what do you want out of this course? It is okay now, in my opinion. If you just want to try it out, if you're like, hey, I'd just been a lifelong fan, I kind of want to see how it goes. And I go, but just realize that's how I'm going to train you then.

I go, but if you tell me, I want to do this for a living, I want a major contract. I go, guess what? So do I. So I'm going to train you and hold you up to the stands I hold myself because you and I now are fighting with the same spot. That's how I look at it. And I'll give you an example.

This is our second year now. Each class has 18 people. Only four people have graduated. And the maths will get worse. Each class is only four months. So there's been three classes in 20, 18, 18, 18. From all three of those classes,

you've had four grams. Yeah, what do you attribute that to? Me being an asshole. This doesn't really boil down to, like, wrestling is that hard? Because it is. You know what it is? Yeah, it's that hard because it's not just the athlete.

It's memory retention. It's spatial awareness. It's charisma. It's selling. It's conditioning. It's safety. You know, you can ask these things. students that you guys talk them later, I go off when they do something relatively unsafing.

I know you realize you've got to broke that person's nose or breaking that person. They're supposed to go home tonight just like yours. And you have to instill that sense of safety because at the end of the day, like, how is it entertaining that someone goes home with a broken arm? That's not worth it. There's no amount of money worth it. Like someone needs to go home so they could pick up their child. I've been in that position where my daughter's called to me and I can't move. That's heartbreaking.

So there's no move. There's no spot. There's no championship. There's no check that's worth that, right? That's the most important thing. And I think a lot of people, they just kind of watch it and they kind of like emulate, which is fine. But then they get in the ring and they go, man, this ring is not soft. The mooser.

It's when we get to like bumping and strikes that a lot of people start drop. I think about this a lot because if we're watching a basketball game, everybody here's dribble the basketball. If we're watching football, everybody's throwing a football, we're watching wrestling. not everybody's been in that ring most people haven't taken that bump or run the rokes so there's a different element to that of like the people who have done it's almost like you're

part of this very small group of people yeah yeah and it's that and I think you can kind of see when someone's eyes get really really wide when we do something like that like oh that rocked the shit I don't remember right like don't but again it goes back to day one if your goal is just to try it up I'm not

I'm not up your out I'm like all right yeah that's fine you know but if you keep telling me like, hey, I want to wrestle for AW or WWW or T&A. All right, like, this is what, no, that wasn't, it needs to be, not perfect. You have to do it perfectly, then you have to do it perfectly 10 more times. That's why I know you know the moves, you know what I mean? So like, shout out to the kids that have graduated and they continue to train, and then, like I said, the next generation is back there, and I wish you all love,

okay? I'll see you Monday, asshole. As someone who is so passionate about wrestling and a student of the game, what's your all-time favorite match you've ever watched? So I don't have a specific all-time favorite, but I do have an all-time favorite wrestler that I just like, it's almost cheesy how much love it. And some of you will know him, some of you will not,

which is to me the tragedy of it. There's a wrestler by the name of the Amazing Red. Yeah. So, bro. This man, I hate how much respect to love by effort. Because, like, sometimes I just like, I don't want to take a book in that we get them off until, hey, Ali, hey, bro,

Jubidni Vasolid Did you come up to New York real quick? I bet I got a kid up. If you're asking me, I'll do it. If you're asking me, I don't want to do it. Are you telling me to do? He's like, yeah, I'm telling him. He just, fuck.

All right. Red's just, like, he's so influential. Like, the way I look at it this way is, if Ray Mysterio is using your mood, you know what I mean? Like, that's how good you are. I think he's one of those guys that, like, someone's going to find a tape of his 20 years from now.

Which movement were people going to know what you're talking about? God the Code Red. that he's used before. John's seen it as the code. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's cool that everyone kept the name out of respect to, but, like, within the industry, everyone knows who the

amazing man is. He's just one of the most talented guys. I think the world of him, he's got his own school in Orlando and New York. I'm going to open up the second location, just to be with it. But it's just so archeryl, he's still going strong with House of course. A big shout of Drette. But easily, the most influential

guy to me, and I think the reason being is, I started out when I'm 16 years old. And like, this is back in the day. Again, I might be doing myself, there's tape trading days. Is anyone know what I'm talking about? Yeah, yeah. So that was like big wrestling. So the first tape I got, the first independent show I ever watched was a DHS compilation tape of the very best, the amazing red. So I just think because I was 16 and this abatuated with him, so that's where like the apparation comes from. So I just say anything red does, you know, that stuff he did early on with Loki and T&I really, you could A-J, just

everything. Oh man, that era of TNA is so good. It's like, 04 to like 09. Oh, my goodness. Who would be on your TNA Mount Rushmore? Oh, Mustafaali. Times 4. Obviously, amazing red. I think you have to put AJ styles on that, right?

He's probably like the most. And then congratulations to him on an amazing career. Oh, man, I got to tell you an AJ story. What he's? We want to hear an AJ story? That's about me, dude. AJ was at the AMC premiere at TNA. And he had opened up the show.

It's just really funny because, like, I don't know. I'll probably get a jumbled with this. But like, it's AMC, it's this big premiere. Do you guys ever hear the expression? LOLTNA? This is an LLTNA moment. We're all watching the monitor.

And before anything happens, AJ's graphic appears before it's music. And I was like, like someone missed their cue. And you just hear the crowd like, I was supposed airs, it was 10 seconds of this operiveness. I go, right out the gate. We had to figure it where it was a mishap. But anyway, AJ comes down to see Cromo.

I wrestled up the Hardee's and Elijah and the six-man sag with my group 4 and 4. And then after the tag, we're in the locker room. And I'm kind of off to the side room and I think, AJ walks by. And he just walks in. He sits next to me. He's like, you hold him.

holding up okay? Oh yeah, I'm doing great. And he's like, can I give you some advice? And I go, yeah, you're ready. You're AJ Styles.

You could say whatever you want. He goes, you may not see it, but he's like, you're in the exact same position, but I was at. I was at that.

He goes, they trust you, they rely on you. You have to have matched the night. They put guys with you, this and that. He goes,

and the advice I would give you is stop trying to make everyone look great all the time. Because make yourself great. And I stop for a second. He goes, think about the match you just had.

He goes, and then this is the great, he goes, he's like, I watch all your stuff. He goes, you go out of you way sometimes to make your opponent look great. He goes, don't fall for that trap because I did. And he goes, the minute I figured out, but sometimes I just got to beat someone's up. He doesn't swear. But he's like, I got, you know, I got to kick some butt sometimes. AJ's like the funny because you can tell you wants to swear, but he does. Oh, how he says, but sometimes you just went out, you know, I was like, what's, AJ?

When he says, frickin. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I mean, it gets all, you know, and he like, do this. So you gave me some tips about when he says, you got to start doing that. And I go, man, like, when he said that, I go, oh, this, he's right. I go out of my way to always make sure everyone else is, like, I guess, takes you care of in a sense. And sometimes I just need, in his words, fix them butt, you know?

So I was like, all right, I'm the, this is AJ Styles. And the fact that he said, you're in the same spot that I was in. Kind of gave me a little, like, the little flicker poke to, like, what you said. Like, yeah, maybe my time's not. That's the goat of TMA. Yeah, yeah, yeah. John Cena, he said he's the best ever do it. And he is.

I agree, man. He's, he's so influential. You look at, like, Osprey, look at Wrigache. They're all kind of taking something from him. You know what I mean? Even that, like, middle buckle I do. Something that, you know, is A. So it's like, man, like, you know,

he's got that much faith in me. Like, who am I to question myself? So a big shout out to Haydair. I congratulate on your retirement. I think it was respectful of him. I bet you guys would be way more rowdy. but they've been yelling all kinds of things. You want them to boo you?

No, no, no, no. No, no. No, no. Guys, soft buoyed, Chris. Can't boo, man. It's a much show, but...

I can't turn a heel yet. Pretty good. You're gonna brossey? You're gonna like... Get a life, kid. Unless I wait for me to grab something. I got one more question for you, then we're gonna open it up.

You go on takes a little. some QA. I'm the audience of my people. If I got one more question, then we'll get the mic going around here for some Q&A. It's the question I ask everybody. At the end, it's a question I've asked you before. Gratitude is such a huge thing for me, so what are three things you're grateful for

tonight, right here in Chicago? I should have prepared for this. I have you know, I don't remember what I said last time of show. Even better. But to a tangent, I said something about my

wife on your show and uh and i reposed it and it's it's the most viewed real i've never had my tiger out all the bumps and bruises and horse near death experiences and rock ruining my career me saying something nice about my life got the more views so do you remember like it was it you got to a very nice point in that yeah uh the quote was i said uh she she she wraps her arms around me she turns into a cape and i become stupid Wow. Wow. So, perfect.

Yeah. It's beautiful. She's, uh, so, first and foremost is, uh, is her, man. I, any, and I probably says this on, on the show, but. I can literally attribute anything good in my life. The W.V. contract, the call.

Anything that is good is directly, like, she's somehow intertrived with it. Um, I was like, I was, like, not going to go to the Cruzeway classic because I would have an ultimate, like, she's, like, she's, She's the one that you're an idiot. So, you know, she's the one that told me when everyone was getting contracts after the Cruzeway Classic, I didn't get one. I didn't say, they called everybody except for me. I said, no, okay, whatever.

And I'm talking to her. She's like, this Triple H's there. I go, yeah, why don't you go ask him? I was like, who does? What about how this works, lady? I regret. And she's like, all right, you know, if you want to be a pussy. And then, you know, that's my wife.

So then I go to her and I go, hey, I didn't get a job. He was a boat. Here you go. And it gave me a job. I'm paraphrasing here, but that's pretty much what happens. She was right. She was right, as always. So first and foremost, Usma, she's everything.

The second thing that I'm becoming very aware of is time. Like I mentioned that I'm about to be 40, but like some people don't that long. You know what I mean? I think we take that for granted. I'm crazy. Like, we get to wake up. And we, I hope all you have beautiful families and live beautiful lives. I hope you have health.

I hope everything's going your way. And if it's not, you're still here. You're still standing. You're still breathing. Like, that's something to, you know, really think about. And the last thing, it's, it's something that's dawn on me. Again, another sappy story. I was in Albert Creek, New Mexico, or TNA.A.

And someone, like, an extra town, like a local independent resident, so I had an opportunity to wrestle the Reichie turn this. The guy who got the catchy gimmick, right? So this brother's in the locker room, and I think I was like wetting my hair or something like that. I look over it and he's like in tears. And at first I thought he was just kind of my mess around. He was wiping his face.

I look over and like, you're good, bro? And he goes, dude, I can't believe him. I did it. But he did what? He goes, I was in a TNA ring. I go, okay. Hey, you got your ass. He's like 10 second record.

And he's like, no, dude, you don't understand. He lifts his bandana. And he's like, I was in a horrific car crash two years ago, and I lost half of my day. And he showed me this huge guy. And he goes, you know, I was supposed to die on it. He goes, am I want? He goes, I call my dad today. And he's literally had crying tears of joy.

He was, I was in the TNA ring. The same ring as AJ Styles and the Biss and this. But he's just like, but it's like, that was what his goal was. And I was like, and here I am complaining about my seven minutes segment. And it just hit me. I go, how lucky are the dreamers? So to anybody out there

if you have something you're chasing, there is a chance that you don't get it, right? That's a possibility. But how lucky are you that you get to even try? Because there's someone somewhere. There's a kid in Sudan. There's a kid in any part of the world that wants to play soccer.

And there's a goddamn soccer ball around. If there's nothing but bonds and famine and poverty, so he's kicking a camp. Like, he doesn't have a shot. But here we are. Literally anything you want is in reachable distance. And yeah, you might not make it, but you're so blessed to try. So I would say the third thing that I'm most thankful for is the chance to dream. And because, again, I get maddened.

I get madden about it. I have three kids and, like, they're at that age where, like, you know, one day they want to be. be a pilot, one day they want to be a wrestler, they're not going to be, they're not. But like, how lucky are we that we get to do and ask our kids that what do you want to be again? Some kids of the world, they're just trying to figure out of thinking

eat today. So, we're lucky. So they're trying to say that we get to breathe. I think I'm so emotions. We go live off. I love it. What a great one to end it on. So give it up for must-of-be-law. And we're going to open it up to some questions from the audience. If you've got a question,

shoot your hand up into the air. Jamil will come around here. Where's a Mike? Sir to Jamil. Shout out to Javille. Boo. Is there a way we can see the onyx? Just take out there.

Oh, that's a little control. It was still though. So what's your name? Where are we at? Oh, Mike, right over here. He said right on it as the lights are... I come to see. I can't see you, but I'm sharing your guard in D.R.

Seriously. So, obviously, like, So when I, hey, Bob. So when you left WWE, I'd argue to say you've been doing some of the best work in your careers that you've left WWE. So obviously, if you could look at guys like Drew Matzai or Cody Rhodes, you know, they went through similar situations for where you left WWE. They re-bellated, you know, recreated themselves. And now they're back in WWW. And they're arguably, you know, obviously, they're the high stars of WW right now.

For you personally, would you ever see yourself going back to WWE? or do you like kind of like what you're that kind of spot you're at right now? The so here's what I'll say about a TNA and it's not just uh I hate that I'm so emotional now like damn man it's like man you got to realize our rest is very very long right uh I can remember like I said I hate to sound savvy now I promise you guys I'm a very happy I've very good time but I've realized a lot man, I had so many friends that got let go and I would always call on them and chuck on them

and where they got injured. And then when I got let go, like, you know, maybe maybe a handful, maybe two hands, people kind of reached out. And then it was just sad to go, man, they like, they really just kind of chuck you out something.

And it's an awful feeling. And yeah, it's a business and I'm the big boy. I land on my feet. And I think I did, like he said, yes, I absolutely have completely outshine my by WW rep,

like not even close, you know. I would like to say that I made the exhibition championship brought up way before Leon, and I was on the cover

at PWA the last time that happened was 15 years ago, you welcome. A shout-up to FIFO could they covered my independent run.

Nobody moved more tickets sales. If you can ask Sean Rice up and you could ask all these independent promoters they talked to, nobody booed more

ticket sales than Twain 24 on the independence that wasn't a fact. So, and they said the last person. The last person that came close to that

was Cody runs. So I'm just saying. But to answer your question, man, I am very, very, very loyal to TNA for the simple fact that they gave me a saga chance when I was really close. It was kind of practicing. You know what I mean? I really thought that

WWE was the end of all. And I'm not knock on, man. They just record their revenue generation, you know, from last, some crazy number that I can't even right probably. But like, so shout out to them. It's a machine. I say in pets with everyone over there. I understand what your question is.

I can't hypothesize. I'm not like what if I'm very like what's happening now. So yeah, if someone called me, I'd entertain a call. But my focus right now is like, all right, we got an AMC. How do we get AMC and TNA to do a cross collaboration? And then after that, how do we get more sponsors? How do we get home people to sponsor all these tables that I can't click? If you didn't expect.

So TNA gave you this chance when I knew the mobs. So I'm like, I'm all in on TNA right now, for real, yeah. That's my... I'm sure. I'm going up. I'm Zach. Allie, I have a huge fan of yours. My favorite are you hear that.

I think you had one of the more creative gear in, you know, in 205 or just in wrestling general. What was the idea of coming up with the light of mask and the light of love? So it's long gone now south-sendezer, but everyone thought it was sub-zero. a big bird. And I think some people thought it was Iron Man. The idea that I sat down and kind of presented

to events at the time was that like, oh, I want to be the light. And what I mean by that, it was like, everyone was just such a, like, badass. Like, everything,

like, no one was like the genuine, like, I'm not, well, I was about to say white meat, baby face, what kind of brown me, baby face.

Oh, I got a funny Brian story. I got to go off this. Just, okay. Let me stay on top of here. The idea behind is I wanted to be, I wanted to be the light. He said, well, how do we convey that you're the light? Like, why are you just walking around saying that you're the light?

And it's all, you're right. So the idea about the light was like, oh, I'll be the physical embodiment of the light. So it's like, you know, when you're going through dark times, my hope was to motivate you through a promo. That's why all the 205 live matches, I got my ass kicked on design so that you can see that this guy will not stay down. He has something that he's fighting for. So just that idea. of light being assembled. You know, the whole idea,

there's light at the end of the film. That is hope. That was the idea behind it. The quiz little Daniel Bryan story, I was never supposed to be on Smackdown. I was on 205 Live doing my thing. And one day, I'd like to reenact this, but there's not enough room.

A writer told me this story. They're all sitting in the writer's room, and Daniels some of the time. Wait, but you didn't mean he's Brian Danis. Yeah, yeah. I get hit way too often. I kick the door and he goes, Hey, we don't have any hot young babe faces for me to work.

I want a hot, young baby face. Give me a good-looking babe face for me to beat the shit out of me, want that. The next week, they'll be like, hey, I'll leave you're rusty damned your brine. So that's the genius of one time you're probably. But yes, to answer your question, I was trying to be the physical embodiment of what's. What's your name? Hello?

Hi, I'm Bahina. First of all, this is a little creepy, but your family, is gorgeous. I have you on Instagram. Second of all, Rabadan Mabarak, I'm just curious. During this holy month of Ramadan, are you participating in fasting and kind of all the stuff that comes with it? And if so, how do you navigate that

with your schedule and travels and wrestling? I participate in everything except for the abstaining of swearing as you can talk about. Man, that's the hardest part for me. Yeah, so like I mentioned earlier today, I've been breastings of 60. So I think a lot of people are like, you're fasting with how are you able to form?

I think it's just, I just become acclimated to it. The first day or two is a little ton. For those I don't know, during the month of Ramadan Muslim spash from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. No, let me paraphrase that. Some people go, you don't eat for 30 days? No, we eat every day. We just fast from sunrise to sunset.

Oh, you're staying from food and war, you know, and smoking and sacks. Best stuff, right. Well, not that sex is bad stuff. I should terrify you best. But I'm not too much saying. I'm losing drunk over here. It's not, you know, it's not, I don't want to say it's not art.

It's definitely a challenge, especially on travel days, especially on show days. But the biggest thing, and I get the reasoning behind it is the most important thing, is that there's food all around this, right? Like, everyone, if anyone's hungry right now, there's a server, and you can order it. Someone's got cash. No one here is like, man. I don't know what I'm going to eat today. There's not one of us that have that plight right now.

So when I'm fasting and I get hungry and I'm about to break my fast, I always take a second to go, there's someone in the world that feels that hunger that I feel right now, but they have no idea when that water's coming or when that food's coming. It could be days. It could be hours. There's a water right here somewhere, I'm sure. You know what I mean? Like there's no worry.

And once you have that mindset, fasting's a piece of cake. You know what I mean? So I genuinely enjoy it because it gives me that mental structure. I'm a bit of a D.U.S. sometimes in wrestling. I like, I like things in a certain way. But when you have that clarity of like you're so lucky, but you have water right in front of here, all of a sudden, your problems seem to dissipate real quick. What's up, Ali? My name's Connor. Over here. I can see it was just a light problem. It's not going.

Chris, thanks for sending this up. You're the man. Appreciate you. Thank you for being here. So Chamber tomorrow is obviously in the United Center. and I remember it's the first PLE in 30 years or whatever, but about eight years ago, there was a house show there. Some of y'all were there. I was Ringside. I was lucky up to be Ringside,

and I remember seeing you, your family was front row, and you had a match that night, so I was just wondering if you had any memories of working in the United Center of that night. Obviously, the typical venues to Allstate, so just wondered if you remember that show at all or have any memories about that.

Yeah, it's a very fun memory of mine. It was a 205 live showcase. When they told us that we're doing the United States I thought it was a typo. You know what I mean? You make the All-State? Like, no, it's United States. Oh, my God.

Like, you know, so everyone's trying to get into like the Bullwop girls who go chained there. We weren't allowed to share it. I think we chained the O-A team. Yeah. But yeah, just like it's something very, very cool, you know, being from Chicago to say that I got to perform in the United States. And there's such a treat.

Then to have my family ringside. And then my daughter must have been like, Jews, ma'am. Four? You know, three are bored. and I'm pretty sure I brought her into the ring or ring side or something like that so it's a photo I have but you know I have like a little office downstairs

and like just like meaningful moments or thing and she's just like you can see that she's looking out of the crowd like holy yeah you know what I mean like so yeah the match is great I got to I got to wrestle some 205 light brothers but I think it was the first time my daughter got to seeing you perform live and then be in the lake so that disabated yeah you're more special yeah thank you for the great memory man

You got one right over here, Ollie. Yeah. Well, Ali, I just wanted to thank you. Oh, what's your one? Roberto. Hi, Roberto. So I wanted to thank you for representing Chicago as well as you're going to have, so. Yeah.

Basically, you know, getting up to the curtain is pretty much a big thing, right? What's your pre-tradition that you do, or what strikes you all? You got... And that's a gym. You don't want to really. We find you backstate before a match. Eyes of black. I can tell you he's like this.

You know, it's Chicago. I'll be real with you, man. I promise you, I'm not as arrogant as I sound. We're all friends here. We're all friends. I'm pretty arrogant. I literally tell him myself right before I go, you're the fucking man.

I, I, so I'll, okay, it's Chicago. It's crucial. I'll give you guys a little bit more than that. I play this giant rib. You guys know what a rib is, right? Giant rib on everybody at TNA. And they hate me for this. Typically, a lot of wrestlers are nervous before they wrestle, right?

They're literally right by the curtain. They're all like, oh, you know, they're all getting the zone. They're pouring water that, like, slap in their face. My muse's playing, right? And I have order four, which consists of four members. I have four secret service guys. So there's eight people and grow. Everyone's, like, all nervous.

You know, Tommy's on headset and, you know, bravos on anything. And they're all getting time cues and this and that. And they go, all right, order four-go-law. Where's Ali? Where's Ali? I'm like, way down the hallway. Sitting in a chair. Like this. And they go, Ali, your music's playing.

I go, just cool, calm, collect. Everyone's panicking. And they go, and then I take my time. I'm like, like this. And I walk out. And everyone's like, how? Are you so calm? How are you doing?

I'm going through the match of my head. I'm figuring out what can happen. But it's just how you carry yourself. Like, I know I'm the quarterback when I'm out there. I know I'm in charge. I know I'm the man. So why am I panicking? Everything's going to happen the way I say it's going to happen.

So literally right before I try, I go, you're the fucking man. Everyone's like, man, what an asshole and he's become. I think we got time for like two more. Give me a good one. Come on. We got, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

I knew you'd have a machina press. Good evening, yeah. Good evening. You got to do a whole question in the matron. Oh, it's, it's a... Can't start something. Sorry. On the side, Marshall University.

Actually, I don't have a question, but I do have a little favorite ass. So, of Mustafa Ali, of CDV, and have everybody here tonight. You see, about 20 miles from here, this little town called Downer's Grove. Years ago, the young man grew up. there and he trained real hard. He snapped in the life like a slim gym. And he became one of the

greatest wrestling superstars of all time. And right now in that town, there's a movement going on. They're building a macho monument in honor of the macho man, Randy Sevens. So I would ask all of you right now, when you get a chance, go to a macho man, macho monument. Oh, you messed up the plug. Come up, bro. Let's say hell of a promo, then you had to start it. Let's rewind. To be in the time, just rewind for you. And gochom monument.com.

I want you all to go there right now. Show your support for the macho man for our hometown hero. And if y'all can go there, we really appreciate it. And if you all have love for the macho man Randy Savage, I want you to all give me a great big. Ooh, yeah. Take it. Well, who'll be on this problem.

Randy McHatch his name. I'm guessing it's Ramby. Do you call him, Randy, yeah. What's your question, by... What's your name? Keizzo. What's your name? Keizzo.

You're Ramby. Your name's... Okay? All right, do we have another question like that for a lot? Here. Yes. You guys hear me? Yeah.

Hey, what's your name? Hey, my name's Alex. Oh, Alex. Hey, my name's TV. What's up, Al? Um. So, really? I, being for Chicago myself,

like, what really keeps you, you know, living here, like, in something? I mean, I'm... I mean, you know, I'm... Because I'm... Because I'm not, and then... You're a heel here now, bro. Why are you now? We said, why the hell do you want to be here, bro?

Oh, what's the hell do you want to hear, bro? Oh, what's so, like... Like what beats you here? Like what do you love about the city so much? Like, because you feel, you know, it's been, you could be living in cases

where it's warm and bust in snow. Again, I'm busting your ball. Yeah, I get the time. You know, yeah, so, you know, typical, like, immigrant story,

my dad and my mom came from Pakistan, India, the whole, like, you know, $5 in their pocket type thing. Yeah, I'd worked three jobs. We worked at a post office. It worked in a burq.

You were the real estate investor. Picked up trash. You're in there. My mom did odd jobs, daycare, all this stuff like that. And, so that their three kids can have the American Dream and one idiot becomes a wrestler.

My whole life has been here and my parents really got ingrained with like the community, like the Southeast Asian community over here. So like I actually like my mom's pretty fond because we're actually like, you know, in the Boeing Brook, Romeoville, Aprilville area. So she's kind of like acquainted with that. But the big sole reason other than like I love Chicago, man, because I've always had my back. Anytime I've had a show here, like sells out.

And like, I love being you guys at the merch dance or whatnot. I'm like Chicago is such a wrestling town. I mean, you're talking about like, Burrard Stone Cold, like, that, the WrestleMania match. You think about like everything. Like I was at an indie show where like Legion of Doom came. Like it was just like, you know, just like such like fun memories. But the biggest reason on a personal, I travel so much for work, right? My wife, my beautiful, beautiful wife has four sisters, old sister.

and she has 19 nieces and that's people. She got a whole family here. You know, for me to pluck her out of that and, like, you know, put her and my kids in, you know, Florida or the taxes or like that, I'm just worried about, like, I'm just gone so much. You know what I mean? Like, not that they're like,

oh, you guys, I'm meeting, but like, I know they're okay. You know what I mean? Like, there's people in and out of the house. They're going, my kids. Again, not stabby stuff, but, like, I did. I have cousins and uncles, but we're all of strange.

Like, we're not close. So to see that my kids have uncles and cousins and, like, they hang out. Like, that's all abused stuff to me. I'd never have, like, extended family. So for me to pluck them out, you know, it would be really unfair. So, you know, I'll take the cold lenders so that my, you know, my wife and my kids have an actual assessment. Yeah. What do you think about long, though?

Run your own. One me. Here it is. What's your name? Hey, my name is Jaseau. Hey. It's going to be like two in one. All right.

Hit me with it, brother. So the first one is you run into someone who's not a wrestling fan, and you have the opportunity of presenting one match to hook him in one match, would you say, I would go with, I kind of feel like a hippocic, I was saying this match, but the maps that had the greatest influence on me

was the first ever three-way ladder match of WrestleMania in 2000. It was before it was TLC. It was the Hardy Boys, he was agent pressure, versus the deli boys, there was a point where I memorized that match, like, boo for boo, because I have, like, the whole trampoline set up

and, like, I would use, like, cardboard boxes as tables and whatnot. And I was swaned off of my roof. You guys think I'm nutting the ring now. When I was 16, I can actually boob? Yeah. Yeah, okay. So I would show someone that style of match

because, like, they don't know what wrestling is. So I'd rather just show them, like, this is, like, the craziness of it. That'll get a look. To have someone wants a technical match with, like, Dean Malenko or Daniel Brian or, like, you know, he was Zach Saber Jr. I think they would kind of get lost in it, right? But, like, that's such a, like, almost demolition derby style.

I was like, you know, there's still an art to it, but, you know, not to seem like one better than the other. I think that's what the beautiful thing about wrestling is, right? It's just like music was different size. But if I had to show someone like that, I would show them that. And also, this is a very particular when Jeff standing on the loft, the ladder and the highway and he was about to do the swan ton ball onto buba the camera flashes yeah i mean because now we just take out of phone but back in the day like that was the most iconic i think

about w w f at the time was just all the camera flash that would go off like that that thing is like drilled into my head so i think i would show us that one that match what a match this got about unique the technical card to wrap it up um we know you won the exhibition championship what would you say had a greater impact emotionally or personally to you winning the championship or losing it? So for me

particularly losing the championship I mean so winning it was obviously awesome right off of post-WD, but I also feel like people kind of expect it like oh the reason really is WWE guy just walked into a company and it's like

so that's kind of a cheated but I'm still very very appreciative and very very honored to do what I thought was making the Axe Division like relevant because it's kind of a dead division before I took that title heavy wing. But me losing it to speedball Mike Bailey in Montreal was very, very significant simply because Mike had shared to me the struggles of being a Canadian. So we talked about this last time. It is so hard for those brothers and sisters like immigration, visas, very, very complicated

if you're going to have to do it. And for him to have a moment, because he explained to me he's also involved with the wrestling school there and a lot of people that he is training and that helped train him. We're in attendance. We're the biggest shows at him Montreal sometime. So he's talking to me about like the struggles of like being accepted in American wrestling and all along. And I was like, man, I can try to relate to that in some other aspects. It's like it's kind of weird because we all kind of have the same battles just in a different way. We're all fighting for this acceptance and this approval and this adulation, but we all have our different hurdles to overcome. I'm an American citizen. But when you look at me,

I'm not quite American, right? Like, there's a preconceived notion that someone like me has, and I have to battle that every day. You know, my name is a funny thing. One time at W.E., my name was straight into, because it was linked to, like, a pair of this.

So, like, oh, we might have, like, why? You know, so if a guy named Mike Brown did something bad, does he have to change his name? Is it's not the same person? So, me and Mike kind of, I guess, related to each other in a weird way. You know what I mean?

Because he had done Banff, the U.S., this and that. So for me to wrestle with him, and we had like this Montreal screw job in reverse with Earl Hydrant coming out, it was very cluelic. I thought it was well done. And something that, so yeah, actually losing it, I felt like a lot of like,

I hope Mike carries that memory with him because I really intentionally was like, I want to give him something special because I had to use a tremendous talent. I think he's them great. stuff in 88. It's a big shout out to Spievon. That's a great question, and thank you all for your great questions. Ali, thank you for coming out, hanging out with us here in Chicago.

I had an absolute blast. I hope that you guys did as well. Please give it up. 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 it 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 Hammer Alley

Follow and listen on your favorite platform