Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Sonny Kiss on stereotypes, AEW, being engaged, inspirations, Nyla Rose and goals

Episode Date: September 26, 2019

Sonny Kiss sits down with Chris Van Vliet for an interview in Chicago, IL. Sonny talks about breaking through the stereotypes of LGBTQ wrestlers, favorite matches, inspirations, goals in AEW, being en...gaged to Killian McMurphy and much more! Audio equipment provided by Samson Technologies: bit.ly/CVVSamson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 What's up, y'all? It's Druski, and I've teamed up with Mountain Dew to produce a hilarious new basketball podcast called The Do Zone with Drewski. Learn the backstories of your favorite ballers and celebrities like Jamal Murray. Did you have like a favorite team? Was it the Raptors at the time or no?
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Starting point is 00:00:32 It's Chrysomania, brother. That's a great question. Look at you. man with the powerful questions This is the Chris Van Vleet Show Chris Van Bleet Show Ladies and gentlemen Chris
Starting point is 00:00:45 Chris Van Blie Oh man Woo yeah I have jacked up for this interview This has been requested by a lot of you on Twitter and Instagram
Starting point is 00:01:04 At Chris Van Bleed by the way A lot of you who want to know A little bit more about Sunny Kiss After seeing Sunny Kiss At Double or Nothing in the Casino Battle Royale or fight for the fallen, his one-on-one match with Peter Avalon. Who is that person behind the awesome entrance with the Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders?
Starting point is 00:01:21 We get to the bottom of that and so much more. Thank you so much for tuning into another audio adventure on the Chris Van Fleet Show. If you're listening to this and you haven't subscribed yet, it will literally take you one second to do that. So please, it helps the show so much. It helps the show grow. And if you're feeling extra generous and you have an iPhone, please take like three extra seconds to just click the five stars. and leave that review. It helps the show so much.
Starting point is 00:01:45 We just turned three months old today as I'm recording this. So we're three months in. We're charting as one of the most popular wrestling podcasts in the world. I love that you guys appreciate these conversations as much as I do. So thank you for that. And I'm going to keep reading one review on the show. I'm going to shout you out, make you part of the show because, well, you're the most important part of the show because otherwise it would just be me sitting in my spare bedroom
Starting point is 00:02:12 here with some headphones on on a microphone just talking to myself and nobody would be listening. So thank you for leaving these reviews. That's why I'm going to keep shouting you out. Citrus Sunshine says, interesting. That's the title of the review. Interesting. This podcast is so good that I enjoy the episodes with people I thought I didn't want to know about. And several interviews have been so good that I go back and watch it on YouTube as well. Well, that's some high praise. Thank you very much, Citrus Sunshine. Whether you're listening here or you watch and listen on YouTube, I'm super grateful for you. I mean, at the heart of this, I'm a wrestling fan just like you. Sure, I'm a wrestling fan with a broadcasting and journalism background, but I'm a wrestling fan
Starting point is 00:03:00 who's been watching this since I was four years old and it's not lost on me that this is really cool that I get to have these conversations with some of the biggest stars in the world, also the fastest rising stars and wrestling. So thanks for being part of this. And I couldn't do this without Samson. They make us sound so great with these mics, these cables, the recording equipment. A lot of people ask me, what do I need to start a podcast? Well, I would start with SamsonTech.com.
Starting point is 00:03:25 The mics that I use, I think, cost 80 bucks, 79 bucks. The cables are like 20 bucks. So you can get set up pretty cheap there. Also, big thank you to Greenrose. They've been a sponsor since day one. And if you're thinking about trying CBD products, or you've heard a lot of it. lot about them, I'm sure. What are they? What do they do? Well, Green Roads is the way to go. It's the way to start. And not all CBD products are created equal because, I mean, we've heard a lot about CBD
Starting point is 00:03:49 over the last year or so, a lot of companies trying to cash in on the CBD boom, but they've got low-quality formulas. And it's crazy that some of them don't even have actual CBD in them. Green Roads is a pharmacist-founded company dedicated to improving the lives of people who take it. Like me, I'm a person who takes it. I take their CBD oil. And I really, helps out. It's all of the great qualities of cannabis without THC, a few drops under your tongue, and it's really helped with my focus. And I'm not like a stressed out person, but, you know, I'm busy. I've got a lot of stuff going on. I travel a ton. And it's just really helped me kind of dial into things. Also, the relaxed gummies, I've taken them before bed. They taste great,
Starting point is 00:04:31 and they're awesome. So if you're thinking to try and CBD products, and you want to try them with Greenroads, which you should use my code Chris 15 to get 15% off at greenroadsworld.com. That's Chris 1.5 for 15% off at Greenroadsworld.com. So the thing I really love about Sunny Kiss is what you see is what you get. He's being his authentic self. He's breaking down barriers while he does it. And it's crazy to hear that Sunny got into wrestling from a video game, which then from playing the video game, a wrestling video game, obviously. He then would see wrestling on TV and go, oh, that's the, that's the video game we were playing.
Starting point is 00:05:13 We talk about his favorite match. Who called him to bring him into AEW and so much more? So sit back, relax, and enjoy this chat with Sunny Kiss. Okay. Yeah, good. That was a test, wasn't it? Yeah. Yeah, that's it.
Starting point is 00:05:35 Well, congratulations on everything. Thank you. Thank you for making the time to do this. Thank you. It's all out weekend. It's all out morning. I guess that's what we can call us. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:05:45 It's like Christmas morning. I figured it was the best time too because, you know, that was a starcast and a bunch of others going on. So I was like, okay, so many morning. It'll be the time. And then you're going straight from here to the Sears Center. And then this is the show tonight. You're not on the card right now.
Starting point is 00:06:01 I know. So that means you get to watch it. I'll be a fan, which I love to do. Yeah. Have you been a wrestling fan your entire life? Absolutely. The funny thing is I actually started playing the video games first. Okay.
Starting point is 00:06:12 Which ones? Revenge. It was the first ever game I played and it was my introduction to wrestling because my brother and my cousins were all playing it. I thought, oh, this is cool. And I thought A.K.I. Man was a real person. The funniest thing. So, yeah, that's my introduction.
Starting point is 00:06:27 And then I've always loved it as a kid and watching it. So you were playing the video games before you actually watch it? Yes, on TV. Yeah. Wow. Yeah, it's such a weird thing. That seems backwards. It was very, very backwards.
Starting point is 00:06:38 Why would you be interested in the video games? I have no idea. It was just a weird thing. I saw Ray Mysterio doing all those like cruiserweight moves in the game. I thought that was like the coolest thing. So was that kind of the person that when you did start watching wrestling, you're like, oh, Ray's the man. Yeah, Ray, RVD.
Starting point is 00:06:56 I'm a big fan of RBD. I love Lita, Trish. Trish is a major influence to me. Jacqueline, people like that. And now who are some of the people that you look out to? Still the same people. Yeah, I love all the LGBT workers that are wrestling, too. I look up to them because I know this business is hard as it is.
Starting point is 00:07:16 So seeing them be fearless is really cool. But, I mean, LGBT has been, it's been in wrestling for a while. Yes. But what's your take on how it was originally presented 20-ish years ago? Eric Bischoff had HLA. Do you remember that? Yes. And then we had Billy and Chuck.
Starting point is 00:07:33 What was your take on that compared to, obviously, how it's evolved now? the authenticity for sure back then it was all character stuff it was all goofy oh ha ha ha ha like Billy and Chuck you know that whole thing was like just it was something to laugh at it was you know it was for comedy relief so I feel like now it's a lot more authenticity so that's the major difference here and we're not just characters or gimmicks quote-unquote this is really who we are yeah when I first started wrestling they would say like I feel like you're holding back like you should do like wigs and you know like put on some like heavy makeup and like all that craziness but i'm just like uh there are people that are actually just like this
Starting point is 00:08:15 like we're not like i'm not trying to be you know something i'm not this is what this is what it is this is is how people actually are like they're feminine men in the world yeah i mean so this isn't a gimmick for not at all yeah because i think a lot of people think like oh you're gay so your gimmick is you're gay for For sure. But that's just, I mean, it seems like, it seems so ridiculous to be saying it, but that's just who you are. Yes. That's like saying MJF's, you know, just a dick. But no, that's just who he is in real life.
Starting point is 00:08:45 Yeah. For sure. But like, were you always this comfortable? He loves me, though, so. I don't know. He doesn't really love anyone. Yeah. Does he?
Starting point is 00:08:54 I don't know. Have you always been this comfortable in who you are and the skin that you're in? Yes. And no. I mean, I have like the insecurities of very. else like everyone has them but overall um as far as my sexuality I was comfortable with that but still not comfortable uh how do I explain this okay so like being myself in the world that we live in sometimes you kind of like hold back a little bit um you're a little more afraid but as far as like
Starting point is 00:09:22 to my friends to my family I was never ever uncomfortable like I've always was confident who I was did it take like something that happened in your life or a certain age when you were like I'm okay with you know, presenting this out there and putting it out to the world. I was very open, like, one sexuality was like in like single digits. I would say like eight or nine years old. Okay. So I knew about myself when I was in like kindergarten. So I wasn't really shocked.
Starting point is 00:09:48 Like some people kind of like have problems coming to terms with it. That's why I like commend a lot of like LGBT workers or people in general who come out at the age of like 30 because like that's like holding something in. Sure. Yeah. But me like my mom embraced me. I was like, you know, five, six, seven, eight years old. Right. Like, very, very early.
Starting point is 00:10:07 Like, I knew. And, yeah, I just knew. Like, I didn't really live. Did you have to have a moment with your mom where you're like, where you like officially came out? I did not have that. It was, um, straight up like, uh, I brought my boyfriend over maybe like 2019. And it was like, um, she was like, 2019. I'm sorry, 2009.
Starting point is 00:10:27 Oh. I was like, 15. I was like, what am I saying? Sorry, that's the nerves. So, 2009, you have my first boyfriend, the first real boyfriend. I brought him over. And she was like, who's that your boyfriend? And I was like, yeah, that's literally the story.
Starting point is 00:10:41 Yeah. And she was like, yeah, I kind of, you know, I knew. Yeah, like. That whole family knew. Yeah, they had arguments about it, like in the early years. But after a while, they kind of like, whatever. Now, how do you decide what color hair you want to have? Like, as far as, like, me being blonde.
Starting point is 00:10:57 Well, yeah, I mean, you could be any color. I don't think that any other color. work. I feel like it's too much. You say that now and then we're going to watch this interview back in like a year and you're going to have like green hair or pink hair. I was actually thinking of having like pink hair like the singer pink. This is what I'm talking about. Yeah. I was like nah. You say that now. Blonde. Blonde is like I've had blonde here. It's maybe four or five years now. Like I said, you say that now. It's, you know, it might be a different scenario in a year or two. Who knows? Yeah. You could, maybe you could match your hair
Starting point is 00:11:29 to your ring attire. Um, at one point it was. Uh, there was like this gear mine that was like orangey, like kind of like, like, I was like orangey golden and it was like basically like my hair. It's pretty cool. When you did this, I noticed your engagement ring. Congratulations. Oh, uh, thanks.
Starting point is 00:11:46 Oh, what? Right? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, now you're getting more nervous. No, because like I don't really talk about it too. Oh. Well, it's, it's on display here.
Starting point is 00:11:55 I know, I know, I know. I guess you could do the interview like this. I know, right? You know? I get really. I talk about it. Oh, really? Let's get really shy.
Starting point is 00:12:02 You know about certain things when I can put on the spot. Oh, well, congratulations on that. A couple other wrestlers pointed out. And I was just like, oh, thanks. We didn't really announce it. It kind of was just a thing. Well, he put it on Twitter. Well, that's announcing it.
Starting point is 00:12:14 Well, in the whole, I know. But when the whole, like, he didn't like, we never had like a, okay, we're engaged now kind of thing. It was just kind of like my fiance. Like, he said that on Twitter when the whole Jim Pornette thing happened. Right. Yeah. And that seems so ridiculous.
Starting point is 00:12:29 I was actually not. affected by it at all. Really? I mean, initially, I was talked about it once, once people started like going crazy about it and tweeting and, like, taking his words and, you know, just, you know, continuously, continuously, like, retweeting and rep Putting it out there. I was kind of over at that point. But as far as, like, the initial, like, what he said in the video, I was kind of just like, oh my God, whatever. Like, I've heard just my whole life. Sure. But, and how do you deal with that hearing your whole life? I'm used to it now, so I kind of just laugh it off. It doesn't mean it's not, you know, hurtful.
Starting point is 00:13:03 It is. It is hurtful. I don't know. I just reflect on my life. I look back and I reflect on my life and where I've come from and who I am now. And I see that as like a, you know, kind of like a testament, like a strength, you know. So it's kind of like whatever. Well, when we look at that match at Fight for the Fallen, your intro, your entrance was amazing.
Starting point is 00:13:26 Thank you. So how much time, effort, planning went into that? Um, it was, uh, I asked for a couple of months prior and Brandy was like, I'll see, I'll see. She's like, I know a guy who's in with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Um, I have a dance background, obviously. Um, so I brought it up to Brannie and I was like, hey, can I get the Jack's cheerleaders, um, to do an interest with me, do a performance with me. And she was like, uh, we'll see, we'll see, we'll see. And then I had to get it approved. The funny thing is they actually got it approved and they didn't tell me about it until a couple of days prior to the event.
Starting point is 00:13:58 So I had to like scramed to choreograph this routine. Did you choreograph? I did. Oh, okay. I had to scrammed the choreograph the routine. I did it in like, you know, like 20 minutes at my house. And then I was like, okay, Brandy, I got it. I think I told Cody.
Starting point is 00:14:11 I was like, Cody, I got it, I got it. I got it. And I was like, let's see if we can get the girls coordinating something with the girls. And then it happened. So they got, you know, obviously you guys had to practice this. We had just the day of. We had 30 minutes. No.
Starting point is 00:14:24 No, seriously. We did not have a lot of time at all to do that routine. Well, they looked great. Yeah, I was actually, like, shocked. Like, I was like, oh, my God. Because, like, we were, like, not shocked at the girls because obviously their professional was really good. So I'm not shocked at them.
Starting point is 00:14:37 But the way it, like, all went together. It was like, oh, my God, it came together so well. Yeah, and it was perfect. Because, like, we did not have a lot of time to rehearse it. So I was like, I think it was the nervous more so talking like, oh, my God. Oh, my God. You'd have a lot of time to rehearse this. Why are you so nervous about?
Starting point is 00:14:50 I'm always nervous. Okay, let me just. Yeah. I feel like we should have, like, had a shot of tequila for you or something. I don't even drink. Well, then that wouldn't have worked. Yeah, I don't know what it is. I think when somebody says, like, action and, like, talk.
Starting point is 00:15:04 We didn't say action. But I didn't know what I mean. We just started talking like we do. Right, which, yeah, I noticed. But still, it was like, it was like, okay, we're rolling now. It's like. Because imagine how much more nervous you'd be if I went, well, ladies and gentlemen, it's such a pleasure to be sitting down with AEW Superstar.
Starting point is 00:15:22 Sunny Kiss and Sonny, how are you today? I always do so bad with that because I'm just like, like, good, how are you? Then he said, good. Yeah, I'm good. I'm repeated back to them. Like, I'm good. Dude.
Starting point is 00:15:31 How are you? It's like just a weird thing. Like, I'm so, so shy. Always? Mm-hmm. Not in the ring, though. Okay, so like I said, performing is different than, like, talking. This is a performance, though.
Starting point is 00:15:44 It is. But speaking and, like, public speaking, like, I get so shy. So what's going to happen when you have to cut promos? I just have to continue to practice. Because it's a performance. Yeah, for sure. That'll be different. I'm like, oh my God, the worst.
Starting point is 00:15:58 You're already getting nervous thinking about this. Oh, my God. Chris is not doing a good job by making me feel comfortable. No, no. I'm just, I'm just, I'm just, I'm, no, you're great. You're, you're, you're going to do, you've been doing awesome. Thank you. It's been amazing.
Starting point is 00:16:13 Although Tommy Dreamer eliminated you in the battle royale. I love him now. He, like, uh, really spoke about, spoke on me and defended me when it came to the whole situation. So it's hard to not love Tommy Dreamer. Yeah. He's like everybody's wrestling. uncle, I feel like. He is. He's one of my favorite wrestler's mentor.
Starting point is 00:16:30 Kelly Kelly, Kelly. I like, I love her. Kelly Kelly, Kelly was on the show. I actually watched you guys interview. You did? Well, I'm a fan of your show. Now I'm getting nervous. Thank you. I actually watched a lot of your interviews. I watched it with Jungle Boy, which is all right. Oh, my God. So many. Thank you. Thank you. Most people I have to like explain. Oh, no. I watch who I am. Here's who I've interviewed. And they're like, yeah, I'd guess.
Starting point is 00:16:54 I guess we can make some time. I've been to watch your interviews. time. Yes. Thank you. Do you subscribe as well? I do. I'm pretty sure I do. I'm pretty sure I do.
Starting point is 00:17:03 And thank you for that. I'm a big fan of yours. Thank you. When you look at the AEW roster, who is on there that you're like, I can't wait to do something with them? A lot of people. I mean, we're still early on. Jungle Boy for sure.
Starting point is 00:17:19 Private Party. I actually pitched to like manage private party. I wanted to do like a whole like thing with them. So that would have been. cool. But then if you manage them, you couldn't be in the ring as much. Yeah, but I like, I would like occasionally do like get in the ring and do stuff. Kind of like Hardy Boys and Lita kind of thing. Okay. So like something like that. Yeah, yeah. That would be really cool. Yeah. I saw in another interview. You're talking about how Rico kind of paved the way or helped, you know,
Starting point is 00:17:44 paved the way being flamboyant with his character. Well, what I was saying in that interview was that these are characters that people look at and they think is like the blueprint for like what LGBTQ wrestlers should be when, you know, they're not authentically, you know, gay. And we explained yesterday in the wrestling with stereotypes panel that like Gold Us is like, he wasn't like, no one looked at him and said Gold Us is gay. Like, it was just kind of like it's just a character. Yeah. He's just a, you know, freakishly amazing character. Right. Um, so people think that that's the blueprint for what LGBTQ wrestling should be. And it's like, no, like, were authentically us.
Starting point is 00:18:24 And, you know, like, I felt like all the team dream and a bunch of other people like that. I mean, Darren Young was on that panel. He was a friend of mine. He kind of paved his own way by going, yeah, I'm gay, but that doesn't change anything about my character. I like how like subtle he was about it.
Starting point is 00:18:37 It was just kind of like, yeah, this is what it is. Like, because, you know, the whole TMZ thing that he was following him. And I was just like, he didn't like, it was kind of like whatever. Like, yeah, he was just like, yeah, here it is. Yeah. I definitely was like, oh my God,
Starting point is 00:18:50 this is so cool. When I first happened, I thought, like, Wow, like, because I was like, Ting, I wanted to be the first gang, but it was also like, this is so cool. Like, I props to Fred for that. Yeah, he's actually really cool. He's a great guy. How have you and Killian been received when, like, because you guys were working together in Lucha.
Starting point is 00:19:07 Yeah. Oh, wait, no, we went on. We're not going to Ritcha now. No, that's right. You aren't? Yeah, he wasn't signed to Lucha. Actually, someone else actually asked that the other day. It's like, is Killion signed too?
Starting point is 00:19:15 I was like, no. Has he signed anywhere? No. Well, you got to make this happen, though. I got to make this happen. I can't make it enough. He put the pressure on me. I think he will.
Starting point is 00:19:26 He will, he's doing his thing. And he works extremely, extremely hard. So I feel like eventually, it's only matter of time. You know when you type his name in, the actor, Killing, Murphy comes up? Killing Murphy. Well, it's actually Killingham, Mick Murphy. Yeah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:19:41 But, but like, it's like, did you mean? I'm like, no, I did not mean that. Yeah. Yeah. I forgot what he came up with Mc Murphy, but I know Killing is his actual shoot, on name. So, yeah. How did AEW come together for you?
Starting point is 00:19:55 Brandy. She slid into my DM. I always tell a story like that. Because it's actually true, but it's just funny to say like that. On Instagram. Okay. And she goes, are you signed anywhere? I told her about my contract with your underground.
Starting point is 00:20:09 And so she was like, well, how long is the contract? And I told her about all that stuff. And yeah, so here we are now. A little timeout from our chat with Sunny Kiss. to thank our sponsors. And at the end of a hard week, it's great to sit down, take some time off,
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Starting point is 00:22:48 and great and a travel blade cover to keep your razor dry and easy on the go. And if you listen to the Chris Van Bleet show, which you are right now, you can get the trial set at harries.com slash bluewire. So make sure you can go to harries.com slash blue wire to redeem your offer and let them know that Chris Van Vleet sent you and you could help support the show. So Brandy reached out to you. What was your feeling when you first saw that? because you had met her before, I understand. Yeah, I met her at, like, Ring of Honor and, like, other indie shows, and stuff like that. And then eventually she just listened to my DM.
Starting point is 00:23:25 But it wasn't, like, someone you spoke with a lot. No. So then when you, like, saw the notification, like, Brandy Rhodes has sent you a message. What's going through your mind? I freaked out. I initially thought I was, like, an all-in, too. Okay. Yeah, because at first, it was kind of just all-in.
Starting point is 00:23:40 That was the only thing. That was the thing. And then I didn't know about AEW until January, obviously. So I was like, okay. all in two I'm going to be doing all in two then she's like no like are you in a contract with someone I don't want to you know yeah well how much has changed for you as a person and also as a wrestler since that announcement in January um it's been amazing like it's knowing that I'm about to be like a part of like a revolution as far as
Starting point is 00:24:08 like LGBTQ plus workers and things like that I think that that's like the part that's like the most like oh my god you know what I mean it's that's been amazing have you received like I'm sure you do you get messages tweets all the time yeah I'm becoming workers fans you're kind of you know you're leading the charge on this yeah you've opened the door for a lot of people for sure and I think that that's something you've got to be really proud of yeah I think it's I can't even fathom it sometimes I'm just like oh my god like I'm about to be like on national television it's like the coolest thing if you had to explain your character to someone who hasn't seen a sunny kiss match. What would you say to them?
Starting point is 00:24:51 Have an open mind and be ready. Now if someone hasn't seen a sunny kiss match, what's one that you're super proud of that we should look up right now in YouTube? And that would be a really good indication of what you can do in the ring. Sunny Kiss versus Jack Evans, for sure. because Jack Evans is, I think he's a wrestling god. I think he's one of the best to ever do it. And he really, really, like, made me a star. So imagine you guys get together on TNT. I would love that.
Starting point is 00:25:20 Well, I'm sure this can happen. I'm pretty sure it could. I mean, he's in a tag team now. But, you know, it might not always be, or they could break off and do single stuff. Maybe. But I would love that, you know, somewhere down the line. Who's been a wrestler that you've met and been like, oh, my God, I can't believe I'm meeting.
Starting point is 00:25:39 being so-and-so. Almost everyone that I've met from Kelly Kelly to jazz, you know, people like that. A lot of wrestlers, like, I'm like a fan fan, so. Yeah. And now that Dustin Rhodes is working with AEW. That was really, really cool. Have you got any insight from him or have you spoken to him? Yeah, he like, okay, he told this story.
Starting point is 00:26:03 I think it was somewhere in the media where he was like that I came into their room and I was like super-diver nervous and he put his hand he put his hand on me and he was just like you know you're nervous but it's good that you're nervous because that means you care and so he made me feel comfortable because I was oh my god like you see me nervous now you should have seen me before five foot of all and I was like oh my god how am I going to do this did you tell him how important you know gold dust was um yes someone else uh kind of said it for me in an interview they kind of told him like what I was seeing about him so and he's definitely an inspiration So I know that Naila is also, you know, following a similar type of path as you.
Starting point is 00:26:44 Did you guys both come in at the exact same time? We did. Oh, as far as wrestling? Well, no, no. I mean, as far as AW. Yeah, we did. I was still funny because when the text message just came out, there was a group text. And I saw Nal's one over in it.
Starting point is 00:26:58 And I was like, oh, my God. Kylie too. I saw Kylie. And I like show her, I was like, because she didn't know I was like, you know, signed yet or whatever. And I just show her the phone. And I'm just like, she's like, ah, it's so funny. Yeah, so it was really cool. But Naila's amazing.
Starting point is 00:27:16 I think she's going to do amazing things. She is a trendsetter. She is an amazing athlete, and she's going to be someone to watch for sure. Do you have the foresight to look ahead one month because it's one month till TV? Yeah. Do you have the foresight to look ahead and go, things are about to change October 2nd? Yes. I feel like this is a groundbreaking thing that's about to happen.
Starting point is 00:27:41 It's the first time wrestling has been on in T&T for what was 18 years I said. Yeah. So I think that's going to be insane. I feel like the passion that Cody and everyone has putting into the company, I feel like it's just going to, you know, they're going to take that passion and really, really like push AEW to, you know, the highest, you know, level and things have been amazing. So depending on what happens tonight, if you were to go for the title,
Starting point is 00:28:08 who would you rather face? Hangman Page or Chris Jericho? I love hangman, but Chris is like someone I used to watch, obviously, as a kid. So that's just a dream match for you then. So I think that would be really cool. My favorite storyline in wrestling history
Starting point is 00:28:26 is the love triangle between Jericho, Christian, and Trish. Oh, yeah. My favorite storyline ever. Really? Yeah, I was like obsessed with Trish around that time. so yeah like seeing that I just oh my god like as a kid
Starting point is 00:28:39 I used to mimic trash all the time and so funny have you met her I have not but I would love to well we're putting it out into the universe right now I would love to like she's an amazing amazing inspiration
Starting point is 00:28:50 you have a favorite match of all time I have a few okay let's hear him okay so every RVD versus like Dean Malenko match I'm sorry RIMSeries versus Dimalika match R&RVD RVD versus Jerry Lynn
Starting point is 00:29:04 so many. The triple threat match at Media, the women's triple threat match, Trish Vig Jazz, Victoria, Trish and Leader on Raw. I mean, so many matches. Well, you name Jerry Lynn, who's now one of your colleagues.
Starting point is 00:29:17 Have you, and he's one of your coaches, right? He's a coach? Yeah, he's a coach. Has he given you any pointers? He always just comes by and, you know,
Starting point is 00:29:26 just gives words of encouragement. Never like anything, nothing like in depth, but it was like a lot of words of encouragement. I mean, he's such a legend. He is. anything from him would be like, yes, sir. That sounds great. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, is, it's awesome. Like, even like seeing him and like Dean Malenko backstage. And like I said,
Starting point is 00:29:42 we're going to stay on Dean Malenko's matches in WCW or like top knowledge. Like, you know, have you met right? Okay, well, let's put that in, out of the world too. Great. Who else should we put out into the universe for you? Everybody. Well, when I walked in here, I meeting everyone. When I walked in here, you had NSYNC on the TV. Is that your favorite band of all time? My favorite pop band? Yeah. Yeah, I like NSYNC. I like five. I like everybody, obviously, not just you like, if you notice I'm talking like about everybody.
Starting point is 00:30:11 That's okay. I'm like such a big band of everything and everyone. So you were big, you were more NSYNC than Backstreet? Yes. As far as like performing wise, yes. Sorry, guys. That's okay. Obviously Backstreet Boys sold more, but Insync to me, performing wise was like.
Starting point is 00:30:31 Well, Backstreet Boys were also the OGs, you know, they came out. First and then NSYNC kind of came out of that. Just by a couple of years, though. Right, but I think as a result. Actually, boys came on 93, I think, and then Insync came on 96, 97. Look at this knowledge. Oh, yeah. I'm like a music guru.
Starting point is 00:30:49 When you were, you know, at the height of the dancing you were doing, what did you like to dance to the most? As a kid, I used to put on Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Maya, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Insink, everybody, you know. When you had that video where you were talking about, you know, signing with AEW, had all these movie posters behind you. It was like, it was behind you. Wait, which video?
Starting point is 00:31:15 I don't know. It was like a video of a, I think it was Road 2. I don't know, Road Dead something. Oh, okay. So I was at subculture in Jersey City. Okay. It's my hometown. It's a really, really awesome restaurant.
Starting point is 00:31:25 It's like kind of very pop culture. Okay. I was just going to ask. I was like, was that your like bedroom or something? No, no. Okay. My bedroom looks very similar to that. But with Britney Spears posters.
Starting point is 00:31:33 With like, you know. actually like hot chick movie poster Really? Yeah My favorite movies bring it on So I have Bring It On Hot Chick on there A bunch of different movies Oh, teen movies Yeah, this is what I was digging for here
Starting point is 00:31:47 What are your favorite films? Yeah, bring it on Hot Chick Romeo must die John Tucker must die You know So many good movies out there There's something so nostalgic for me Like I listen to everything
Starting point is 00:32:02 That's 90s 2000 as far as music. I love 90s000's movies. Oh, you said you just went to see. I have an affinity for those, you know, that, you know, time period of the decade, you know, back when grunge and trip hop was a thing. Tripp hop. You said you just went to see Limp Biscuit. I did.
Starting point is 00:32:19 November. And Fred Durst recognized you in the crowd. He said. All right. So you got to tell us this. This is a fantastic story. So, you know how like the crowds are these days. Everyone's got their cameras out, which is fine.
Starting point is 00:32:32 And you know, do you want to experience things in your own way and totally make sense. But so he's trying to like, because he was upset that the crowd wasn't like too hype. I mean, it was a long day, granted. Like, it was like a long day. I mean, I don't want to mischaracterize him, but I think he seemed upset. Okay. Sure. That the crowd was kind of like just on their bones and like that whole thing.
Starting point is 00:32:53 So once like he kind of like stepped down and got in the crowd, like he was trying to like body serve. But the crowd did not hold him up. can if you're holding your phone. Exactly. So he like fell like almost on the floor like right in front of me. And then he was kind of like, what's the, what's that? And then he turned to me. He was like, ah, it's the wrestler.
Starting point is 00:33:16 And I like freaked out inside because I'm like, oh my God, this is like, you know, someone that you like loved since you were a kid and had a huge crush on. So like Fred Durs is like everything to me. Oh, he's amazing. Limbiscuit is the soundtrack to every wrestling promo or every wrestling buildup video. 98 through 2001 or two and West Borland is like
Starting point is 00:33:37 probably the greatest guitarist ever I just love him I just you know rock Austin my way yeah for sure that's like that be a package is just dope well we can't we can't hear the song
Starting point is 00:33:47 my way without thinking of that exactly and obviously that's a historic match it's one of our favorites as well yeah that's really awesome the rock match the next year is my favorite match of all time oh rock o'clock
Starting point is 00:33:58 rock Hogan geez well actually that's the year four right oh no it's next year you're right i'm thinking i'm thinking of 19 i don't know why no well there's so many yeah yeah that was the era of did they work again at minia 19 as well wait who were doing did they i've totally forgot oh my god oh no everyone's gonna hate us i know i know it wasn't it i think it was 19 wait did they had the because it was the last match right rock austin right but then he came back again for mania 20 for rock and sock versus evolution right yes okay wow look at the dropping the knowledge here. Well, I know that mania very well. We're spending on 20 because it's the year that
Starting point is 00:34:34 Trish turned on Jericho. Yeah. And I was like super like, oh my God, I love this. The sassiness with Trish, it was like brilliant. Yeah. Is there anything else you want to add in here? We've talked about a lot of different things. Forgive me for all my nervous. And the reason why I also why I didn't talk about the AW thing, I just get nervous with, you know, contract stuff and talking about it in depth. But yeah. Why did you get nervous about your engagement? I just, you know, I, it's a super exciting thing.
Starting point is 00:35:06 It is very exciting. It's the person you're going to spend the rest of your life. For sure. But, you know, it was just like, oh, you know, it was more like, oh, you know this kind of thing. How good you not? Look at this thing. Does he wear an engagement ring too?
Starting point is 00:35:17 He wears a band. Okay. Yeah. Do you want to tell us how the engagement went down? No. Okay. That's fine. And I didn't mean to put you in the spot there.
Starting point is 00:35:26 Yeah. That's the, I'm bad at being. put on the spot. That's literally my thing. Wrestling's all about being put on the spot. For sure. Yeah. I'm so on the spot right now. Well, I want to say congratulations. Thank you very much. I acknowledge you for everything that you have going on in the career and everything that's about to come, you know, for you.
Starting point is 00:35:46 Thank you for your time this morning. Thank you. And I can't wait to see you in the world. Thank you. So there we go. Sunny Kiss. Thank you for tuning into the show. If you enjoyed this, Please take a screenshot, tag me, tag Sunny. I know that Sunny would love to see this. Also, take a few seconds on Apple Podcasts to leave a review.
Starting point is 00:36:08 I mean, you've listened this long. What's another few seconds, right? I really enjoyed that chat with Sunny Kiss. I wish him the best. I can't wait to see how he continues to grow over these next few weeks. We are a week away from Dynamite on TNT. I love how that sounds. Dynamite A-E-W Dynamite on TNT.
Starting point is 00:36:27 So it's going to be great to see how, you know, some of the faster rising stars, some of the younger stars like Sunny Kiss are going to come in and we're going to see them and remember them in October. And then maybe come March, six months from now, March, April, six months from now, we're going to think back and go, man, remember where a sunny kiss started in October? Look at them now. Remember where AW started in October on TNT. Look at them now. It's an exciting time. I've been saying this all year round, all year long. But 2019 is the most exciting time to be a wrestling fan.
Starting point is 00:37:03 We've got options. We've got incredible wrestling talent. And man, it's only going to get better. I mean, if 2019 was this good, think of how great 2020 is going to be. Woo! Jacked up about this. Start of the podcast, jacked up. End in the podcast, jacked up.
Starting point is 00:37:20 And I like to end with quotes. And I saw this great one from Jim Quick. and as people don't care how much you know, they want to know how much you care. Think about that, let that percolate in your mind as I head out for the day and I say to you, thank you for listening to the show and we will see you soon.
Starting point is 00:37:43 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.
Starting point is 00:38:00 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.

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