Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Why James Storm Never Signed With WWE, Beer Money, America's Most Wanted, TNA Championship

Episode Date: June 12, 2025

James Storm (@JamesStormBrand) is an actor and professional wrestler best known for his time in TNA. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet at West Coast Creative Studio in Los Angeles to discuss his legendary TNA career, his partnerships with Chris Harris and Bobby Roode, becoming World Champion, being a part of the infamous blindfold steel cage match and reverse battle royal, the train track segment with Mickie James, why his time in WWE didn't turn into more, making the transition to acting, when he plans on retiring and more!   James Storm and Chris Van Vliet star in "The Worst Man", which is out in the fall   Quote I'm thinking about: “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” ― John Lennon   Please support our sponsors!   PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/?ref=tibcloux  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 PRIZEPICKS: Download the app today and use code INSIGHT to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!  TIMELINE: Go to https://timeline.com/insight to get 10% off your order of Mitopure!   VUORI: Get 20% off your first purchase! Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/cvv   ROCKET MONEY: Download the Rocket Money app and enter “Insight With Chris Van Vliet” in the survey   HUEL: Get 15% off plus a FREE Gift for NEW customers with the code INSIGHT at https://huel.comMIRACLE MADE: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://trymiracle.com/CVV and use the code CVV to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF   ZOCDOC: Instantly book a top-rated doctor today at https://zocdoc.com/insight   BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv   BLUECHEW: Get your first month of BlueChew for free with the code CVV at https://bluechew.com   PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at https://plunge.com   For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast or Spotify? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.    Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Fleet. All right, my friends, welcome back to another one here on Inside. I'm CVV. Chris Van Fleet, thank you for hitting play on this episode. And thank you for making Insight the number one wrestling podcast on the planet. Grab your phone right now and hit a power bomb on that follow button. Oh, but that's not it. It doesn't stop there.

Follow it up by hitting an elbow drop on that rating on Spotify or that review on Apple. That helps so, so much. So thank you in advance for being one of the few people who actually takes the time to do that. Cowboy James Storm is on the show today. And when you think of TNA, James Storm is one of the wrestlers that immediately comes to mind. I mean, he was on the very first show. It happened 23 years ago, almost to the day. It was June 19th, 2002, and what a career he had in TNA.

He went on to become a part of two of the best tag teams in TNA. America's Most Wanted and Beer Money. Then as a single star, he beat Kurt Engel to become the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. He had that brief stint in WWE, and we talk about that and why that didn't lead to something more. He is still wrestling now, but he shifted a lot of his focus into acting. and he's had quite a few roles in different movies and different TV shows. And that's actually what brought us together and connected us for this interview. I don't do a ton of acting, but it's always so fun when you guys tag me online and you're like,

hey, is that you in criminal activities or is that you in the background of the love guru or what other movies I've been in? But one of my very good friends, Brandon Arroyo, wrote and directed this amazing short film called Worst Man. and James Storm and I are both in this. So we got to chatting about this and we hung out a bunch on set, had a blast. And the movie's amazing. It'll be coming out this fall.

So you can check it out this fall. But we're like, well, if we're in the same city, at the same time, we're part of the same movie, we got to make this interview finally happen because we've been talking about doing this for far too long. So I hope that you enjoy this as much as I did. Snap a screenshot. Tag us. He's that James Storm brand.

I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and here we go. Ladies and gentlemen, the one, the only, James Storm. Cowboy James Storm in the flesh. It's about time. It's about time. All it took was us starring together in a short film to make this happen. Yeah, that's the only thing. You know, after 10 years, you know, hey, put this short story together, put you guys in it.

There we go. I don't do a lot of movies at all. I've been in some stuff years ago. You're doing a lot of movies stuff. Yeah. But my buddy, Brandon Arroyo wrote this great short film. And he's like, you ever heard of James Storm? I'm like, have I heard of James Storm?

Of course I have. He's like, now I got to be in this movie. James Storm's in this movie. So when this ends up coming out is called Worst Man. And you and I are very good friends in this movie. We own a bar in this movie. But you've been crushing it in the acting scene. Yeah, it's, man, it's hard work for sure.

You know, like we were talking earlier, you got to, you get out what you put in. And I've been making sure that I'm putting everything I can into it, just like I did when I started out wrestling, you know, because I'm not going in half-assing it. Like, you know, I want to do something with this. Is it difficult doing from world champion to like going back to paying your dues in another industry?

Yeah, you know, in a way it is. But also I had to learn to dumb it down a lot. you know, especially in acting because in wrestling, you know, you've got to be loud and, you know, you got to make sure the people in the back row hear you and that's who you're, you're catering to. Whereas acting, you just have the camera and you have a microphone on you. So I had to be sure to, like, you know, reel it in a whole lot and just kind of tone it down. I remember someone saying, like, acting is, it's here. Yeah.

Acting's right here. Yeah. What sucks for me because I'm ugly. Take up. No, no. But acting's in your face, right? And like, I think that people who are just getting into it, they think you got to, like, project your voice and like a stage actor would. And that's not how you would talk in a real conversation.

Yeah. And that's what my acting coach told me. He's like, just be normal. Does this act like, he goes, when you rehearse the scene, just act like you're just talking to your friend or whatever. Or, you know, if you happen to be killing someone. You know, how you would talk to them. But in wrestling, it is the exact opposite. You know, these characters are over the top.

and you're like, you're speaking in such a, like you're projecting in such a way and you're speaking so differently than you would. Like a promo does not sound like a scene in acting. Right. Oh, no. And that's the funny thing is like in wrestling, I'm the cowboy James Storm.

So it's okay to have the Southern accent and everything. Whereas in the movies, I've had to take Dalek classes to kind of tone down the Southern accent. But I'm learning now that a lot of these directors and movies, people are like going toward at least, one character in their film with a Southern accent because it's so desirable now, which good for me. So was it wrestling that really made you fall in love with film? Yeah, I think it's because I really wanted to find something that gives me that same

adrenaline rush. And being in front of the camera, you know, in front of, you know, five to 10,000 people to me now it's the same as when I'm in front of five or 10 people in a room. As soon as that director says action, you know, it's just something about being in front of that camera. rather than that adrenaline rush. And I think that's what hurts a lot of wrestlers when they want to get out of wrestling is they can't find that thing that feels, that desire of that adrenaline rush. Because it is one of the craziest things ever. And I tell people, it's a drug.

Like, once you experience it, like, especially in a high level, like, it's hard just to get it, you know, go to a 9 to 5 job. Like, it's almost impossible. Is that why you're still doing it? I think it is. Like, I mean, it doesn't matter if it's in front of, you know, 30. 50 people. Like, you know, when the music hits, you just,

is this something that kind of comes over again? You just go out. And to me, like what I've learned and what, like Mr. Perfect taught me a long time ago, he goes, you're going to learn as, you know, you get older in your career that it's not about the wrestling moves, that it's about the emotions that you leave people with. It goes, because people will remember that emotion

that you left them with long after you're gone. They won't remember what moves you did in the match, but they will remember, oh, man, like it was awesome. And that's how I was as a kid. When I went to the Nashville Fairgrounds, my grandfather took me. And I remember, I don't remember anything else that night, but I remember Jarrella picking up Tojo Yanamoto and let my grandfather hit him. And I was seven years old, just the expression on my grandfather's face, like I'll never forget it.

So you're still wrestling now. Yeah. Well, yeah, I call it wrestling. It's something that. But I enjoy it because now I'm getting to help, like, teach these young guys. guys like how to what I like I don't teach them how to wrestle I try to teach them how to work and that's why I try to tell a lot of guys is w. WWE and AEW and all these other promotions they have people that can do every move you can think of doing that's like what they're really focusing on now

is people that really know how to work and and relate to a crowd and stuff is it storytelling is that what it comes down to yeah you know I think for there for a while just got lost because people will start doing all these crazy moves. Here, you do a move. Now, I get to do a move. You do a move. Instead of selling, selling, you know, and I tell people, I'm like, what's Jeff Hardy? I was like, he has like five moves.

And then he gets the crap kicked out of him. But he finds that camera to puts his face in because he knows that's where the money is. And then if you make people feel for you, they'll buy your merch and all day long. So was, if we go back to the Nashville Fairgrounds, is that when you fell in love with wrestling? Yeah, I used to go there and I used to watch, you know, people like Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert and Jared Lawler and Tojo Yonamoto and Dirty Dutch. There's a picture of me and Dutch Mantel when I'm 10 years old. I took a Polaroid with him and me and my cousin. I had to get that picture to you.

And I showed it to him when we started working together. He was like, boy, if I knew you was going to be a wrestler, I'd have charged you double. So anybody who's been around Dutch, there's always these Dutch. Dutchism, as we call them, because he's always like, you know, somebody came up to him and they said, man, you see that James Storm's last match? He goes, God, I hope so. So, Dutch, he's one of a kind. Did you think it was possible then? I didn't.

I, you know, the town I come from, like, people stay there. You know, they die there. What town is that? Leapers Fort, Tennessee. And it was kind of called Franklin at the time. Like, it was all mixed in. But, you know, it's just full of farmers and just over. country boys, you know, like I said, they live there, they grow up there, and they die there.

And I was just like, man, there's something different. Like, I got to do something different. And I started playing basketball at a very early age that a lot of people don't know, but it was more streetball, you know, like on the playgrounds and stuff. And then I got to go to college on a scholarship to play basketball. And then I lost that training to be a pro wrestler because I came home and I was seeing this commercial for USWA. And it was like, do you want to be rich and famous. I'm like, yeah. They're like, do you want to travel the world? I'm like, they're talking to me. And so I signed up and, and I went to the Nashville fairgrounds and I paid my $1,000 down. And I started training and three months in the training, I broke my shoulder.

And then I had to like, I lost my scholarship. And then when I came back, USWA was shut down. So I had to find like another way to get into wrestling. And there's this company in Columbia that I started with. And the guy named Tommy Higgy, He did like dark matches and stuff for WWE back then, job matches and stuff. And one of my friends stuck me in. He goes, hey, this is the kid I was telling you about and stuff. And he looked at me. He goes, you go home and gain about 20, 25 pounds and look like a wrestler and come back and talk to me.

And then I'll put you on my card. And I did. I went home and I trained and I put on like 20 pounds. And then I went back and he started using me. And my first match was against Tony Falk. I'm fascinated by these moments in our life where had you not broke your shoulder, you would have continued down that basketball path. Who knows where that would have led you?

Maybe it would have been great. Maybe it would have fizzled out. Yeah. But you might not have found wrestling. Yeah. And you found wrestling, and it's become your life's work. Yeah.

And it's just one of those things that, like you said, it's these decisions that are life changing. You don't know it at the time. You know, like when I broke my shoulder, I thought that was in the world. I was like, man, I lost my scholarship. Now I'm not going to be able to finish college. I'm not going to be able to get a good job.

because I had to basically co-op out of school my senior year to help my mom pay bills and stuff because my dad passed away. So I had to do that. And so, like, at an early age, my dad passed away, then my stepbrother got killed by a drunk driver. Then my stepdad passed away. Then my grandmother passed away all within like a five-year span. Whoa. And then I break my shoulder. I'm like, all right, God.

You need to tone this down a little bit. And I think it just made me stronger. You know, and I remember Wolfie D. He was the trainer at the USWA school. He was telling me that it was more of a shoot class. Like, I was there to beat you guys up to get you guys out so we can get a fresh new batch of guys in. He goes, you're the only one that wouldn't quit. And I wouldn't, like, three months in, like everybody I started with, there was nobody left.

Like, I was the only one. And it just happened to be a freak accident where I was going to take a close line and do the flip bump. and I wanted up just landing on my shoulder and it just popped out of the skin. What was the first real break for you? Was it WCW? Yeah. There was a guy named Bert Prentice that used to run in Nashville. And I always tell everybody, I think he ran the best local indie promotion that's ever been.

Because he had access to guys from OVW and then also he had an end with WCW as well. but also when he was running music city wrestling he had me chris hiris a j styles would come up david young ely skipper uh and then also like uh the hardies would be there uh shan hamannan more like all these guys would come in and he just and so but then uh i was working uh installing home security systems and my boss came to him he goes hey you might want to take this one this was this guy's a wrestler and i looked at it and It said Ronald Harris on it. I was like, huh.

So I go to it and ring the doorbell, and Ron Harris opens the door. I'm like, oh, man, it's really him, you know? And so I go in and I install this alarm. But of course, like, after I get done, I do the dumb, like, rookie thing. Hey, man, I'm training to be a pro wrestler too. You know, he's like, okay, kid, you know. And he's like, he's like, just, you know, just hopefully we get to work together one day or whatever. And it was three weeks later, I wound up going up to WCW.

and the first person I seen was Ron Harris. And he comes by and goes, alarm guy. He goes, you did it. I was like, I know, right? And but yeah, so, yeah, that was kind of my big break. And it was really cool because, like, I got, and I remember going up there and I had to work Chavo,

and everything was basically called in the back. And I was not used to that because in Nashville, we just called the finish. And then everything else was called out there. And so you can't see it in the match, but I actually had my spots, like, written on my hand because I was just like, there's no way I'm going to memorize all these lines, all these spots and stuff. But it wind up being a good match. You're telling me, like, you're selling in the corner and you might be like, oh, okay, close my neck. And I kept telling myself in the head, I was like, do not wipe your, do not wipe your face with your hand. It'd be like ink all over my face. So when WWE at the time bought out WCW, was there ever talk of you going to WWE?

I heard rumblings about it, you know, because they also was looking at AJ. Because AJ was one of the guys that went up to us with us to WCW. It was like me, Chris Harris, AJ, Cassidy Riley, Air Paris, where Air Paris and AJ got signed as Air Raid at the time. Now, quick funny story. So when the whole deal with me and this guy named Cassie Riley, we was doing a paramedic gimmick on one of the WCW pay reviews. It just happened to be the pay-per-view where Sid breaks his leg. And so we're sitting there and we're like, oh, wow, that's horrible, you know. And the guys come back and start yelling at us.

They're like, get out there. He broke his leg. We're like, we're not real. Like, I have no clue what I'm doing. And they were like, just dog cussing us. And like, get the elf out there. He broke his leg. I was like, and thank God, like the real paramedics, like, finally came through.

I was like, we're just gimmicked. Like, what? And, but that's, like, one of the stories I had there. But, yeah, you know, there was ramblings about it. But then TNA was starting up and they were doing a dry run in Nashville at Bert Prentice show for their announcers. So Bert wanted to kind of get like the best of best talent that he had to put on the show, whatever.

And just so happens me and Chris Harris were working each other that night. And we actually got signed that night because of our match that we had at the Nashville Fairgrounds for TNA. And they were like, hey, and they had no clue. really what to do with us when they signed us as well. You were on the very first TNA show. The very first one. And you're teamed up with, is it psychosis?

Psychosis, yeah. It's a random piece of trivia. When I seen it, it was, I was pretty amazed. I was like, okay, I guess I'm teaming with psychosis, which I knew it wasn't going to be anything with just a one-off or whatever. And they really wanted to push the Johnsons or whatever, you know, the guys they had dressed up like condoms and penises. I was just like, all right, man.

Like, you know, whatever, whatever it can help me get my foot in the door or whatever. And so I go out there and we do that. But then they're like, hey, we got to do another match. And they're like, hey, let's grab Storm because he had a good showing out there. And they winded up putting us. And it was Bill Barron's. He goes, well, won't you just put Storm and Harris together to go out there and work or whatever?

And they put us together. And I think at the last moment, they changed the finish on it for us to go. over. And so it was pretty cool. And that was kind of the start of America's Most Wanted. This episode is brought to you by PrizePix. PrizePix is the best place to turn your sports knowledge into cash. With millions of members, PrizePix has made daily fantasy sports accessible to all. You just pick more or less on at least two players for a shot to win up to 2,000 times your cash. Run your game all season long on Prize Picks. The basketball playoffs are wrap up, but the action is still heating up on prize picks.

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order of mitopure. Just go to timeline.com slash insight. That's timeline.com slash insight. What was the feeling around TNA with that first show? Like, did you have any idea it would turn into what it's become 20 plus years later? No, it was, well, the first show, you know, it was at the big arena and everything. Everybody's all jazzed up and stuff. But then we go to the National Fairgrounds where it's way smaller and we're like, oh, what's happening here? But it was really cool to be part of that because like they would pack it every week. And it was like Die Hard fans that would come every week.

and that was really trying to do something special. And I remember, like, going in and seeing Jeff and, like, his family, like, painting the walls at the fairgrounds and stuff to make it, you know, feel like it's bigger and stuff. They would paint all the walls black and everything. So it was a crazy time. Yeah, and it's turned into something else. Like, TNA's still going.

Which is really cool, especially for the guys who are working there now, especially this relationship they have with WWE, you know, like, it's pretty amazing. Yeah, did you ever think? Like, it feels like we're in an alternate universe now. It does. Right? Like, I was like, wait, why could you guys work together when I was talking about coming here?

Think about the dream matches you could have had when you were TNA World Champ. Yeah. I mean, it was, it would have been unbelievable. But, you know, that's one of those things. Don't ever ask, what if, you know, just keep on moving. It just truly feels like an alternate universe. When the TNA world champion walked out of a. as a surprise entering into the Royal Rainbow.

I actually almost shed a tear because I was, I was happy for Joe, but I was really happy for TNA. And people can say whatever they want to say about, you know, oh, this was not a good look. No,

it was a good look. It's the biggest show of the year, and they have another company's belt, like being shot. Yeah, between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. Yeah. You've got the TNA world champion going out there.

Right. It's huge. Yeah. And what was the guy he wrestled Randy, something. Yeah, what's his name? I don't know. Only one of the greatest of all time, right?

Exactly. So I don't understand what the big deal is. You know, like I thought Joe went out there and did the company like big time justice. Yeah, and it just shows that we're in a completely different era right now with wrestling. Anything can happen right now. Yeah. And it's wild. It is very wild.

If you think back to when you were getting your start in TNA, you get put into this tag team with Chris Harris, and you guys go on to be one of the most legendary tag teams in TNA. Then you have, just make magic with Bobby Rood and beer money. Did you want to be a tag team guy? I did. And it's funny because a lot of people,

they want to be that big single star and, you know, have all the glory and stuff. But I grew up, you know, with the Rock and Roll Express and, like, watching demolition and the Roald Warriors and guys like this, you know? And so I always,

want it to be like a tag team wrestler. And there's an art to it. You know, like, if you can get like two really good tag teams together, like, I think, especially with four guys, you know, they can put on a way better match than especially have the crowd involved as well than just the singles match. But at that time in TNA, and a lot of times in WWE now, like, it seems like the tag teams are just a second thought. And that was really good with beer money is we kind of brought tag team wrestling to the

front because it was us, then the machine guns and LAX, and then you bring in Dudley Boys, Team 3D as well. And it was just like all these teams now coming together. And now we're main eventing these paper views and stuff. What was it that made you and Chris Harris click so well? I think because we had to rely on each other. And we, we already knew each other pretty well outside of T&A before it even started. Just, you know, we go out to bars and stuff like that and hang out. And the funny thing is, is how we kind of got the American Most Morning name is we were out at this bar in Nashville called Hurricanes and that our buddy Danny McNeil ran. And he, so we were there and this fight breaks out. And like I wound up beating this guy up.

But like, they're like, hey, get out of here, blah, blah, blah. And the next night, the same cop that was there was at the show backstage like doing security and stuff. He goes, haven't I seen you? before. I was like, no, man. He goes, I think you were at the club last night. I said, yeah, that was me. He goes, and the guy goes, if you don't stop this, you're going to wind up on America's Most Wanted. And I went, that's a good name. But, like, TNA didn't want to use that name because of America's Most Wanted, the TV show or whatever. So Mike Teney just just kept kind of slowly just throwing it in there because they just want to call us Storm and

Harris. They didn't really have a name for us. Same as with me and Bobby. Like, they didn't want to call us beer money. So they didn't want to call us beer money. just kept calling a storm and rude. And then Mike just kept sliding that beer money name in there. You were part of one of the most legendary moments in TNA with Elix Skipper in the Cagewalk. Yeah. You're down there like watching this whole thing kind of unfold.

What are you thinking? I'm praying because he didn't have an opportunity to practice that at all. Like they weren't able to get the cage up. And then when they got the cage up, he goes, oh, no, I didn't know they were going to have the spikes, you know, on top of the cage. he just thought it was going to be flat, kind of like the top rope. And when you see him get up there, there's a moment when he goes to pick up his right foot and it's actually stuck between the two things. And it kind of just throws them off a little bit. And I was like, if he falls on the other side,

that's by-bye, Elix. Like, I don't know what we're going to do. And, but man, this is like seeing him walk across that and just laying there and just hearing the crowd's reaction. I was just like, man, okay, this is a cool moment. It's one of those moments that even 20 years later. Yeah. It's one of the highlights for FTANA's time. Yeah. And that saved his career for a while too because they had talked about getting rid of him before that. And then,

but even after that, they couldn't really find anything for him to do. I was like, man, this guy is so gifted. Like, he's such an athlete. So I couldn't really wrap my head around while they couldn't find something

for a guy like that. So how did you and Bobby Roode get paired together? So we were coming to like the end of our contracts. And I don't think they really knew what to do with us. And so Dutch, he was just like, hey, I'll just put them together, you know. If anything, we fire them together. Basically, that's how I think Dutch was looking at it. And so they put us together.

And me and Bobby's like, you know what, we're going to make the best of this. You know, we're going to do what we can to it. And we just go out there. And the thing with Bobby is, where Chris is me and Chris had to rely on each other. Me and Bobby was already kind of established. So we can just go out there and have fun and just, Act fools. And so they had us as hills, and I made up some dumb merchandise that said beer money on it. And so they slowly kept like pushing the name beer money. But they were coming out with a toy line. So they didn't want to put beer money on this toy line that was going to be at Walmart. Right. So which I understand that. How did you even come up with beer money? So we were at a ball at the L house in Orlando and I'm sitting there. And so it's like me and Eric Ewa and Bobby and somebody else.

And I'm sitting there and I'm like filling around. I was like, oh, God. I said, well, I'm out of beer money now. And then what? Same thing. And me and Bobby's, Bobbi goes, let's try it. And then I said, and then we got to, we said, we got to come up with something so stupid that people will boo us every time we do it. So that's why we came up with the beer money suplex.

And, and then that is what actually made us over. Like, every time we'd set up for it and we do it and we go, oh, beer, money. And I said, okay, you know we're over when we go to England and we're facing the British invasion and we're the baby faces. Like we were supposed to be the hills, but like we had this whole match set up. And when Nick and them come out, they just get booed out of the building. And Nick goes, all right, well, I guess you guys are ready to faces now. We'll take the rolls of the hill. And that's when we knew that we were over.

You really pulled a lot of personality out of Bobby Root by pairing with him. Sometimes I think he just won't just joke the shit out of me. He's just like, really? Come on, man. He's like, oh, I mean, it was just having fun. And I think the fans realized that these guys were having a lot of fun. And that's what made us turn baby faces because they can see that in us, you know, and they wanted to have fun with us.

And the name beer money is just, it's perfect. Yeah, it's easy. Your beer, he's money. money. But he's Wall Street. I'm the guy that goes drink beer. There you go. It makes a ton of sense.

Yeah. Is drinking beer, was that just a gimmick for you? No, it was. No, sir. It was real as it comes. Like, you know, I'd come down and I'd pour beer in people's mouth and all this stuff. And, you know, to show people that it was real. I mean, yeah, I wouldn't go out and get sloshed and wrestle a match or anything.

But, you know, I would take one or two drinks. But the problem is, is like, if I take too big of a drink, I would get like, that beer bubble gas in my stomach. I was like, oh, God, I'm blowed up before I even start. I'm like, somebody kicked me or punched me or something. So I'd be very careful with that as well. Imagine having a beer drinking gimmick and not liking beer. Oh, that'd be horrible.

Is beer your go-to drink? Yeah. If we were to go to a bar right now, would you order a beer? I would actually probably order Jack and Sprite. Jack and Sprite. I know with the lime. I'm telling you, try it. It would change your life.

That's a new one. I've never heard that one. Because, like, my buddy actually runs the Jack Daniels distillery. And he said, growing up, you probably drink Jack and Coke, Jack and Diet. He goes, never mix the dark and dark together. He said, that's how you get the hangover. He goes, if you mix something bubbly, he goes, that you usually won't after you have a hangover, like a Sprite or a Seven O. He goes, you more likely will not have a hangover.

And you'll taste the Jack Daniels better. And it's more. And like I said, I put the lime in it. And it's, I mean, it's delicious. I'm going to have to try this. That's a new one for me. Wow. We got to come up with a new name for it.

I can get a name for that. You're the gimmick, man. I know, right? Between America's Most Want and your money, something will just randomly come to you, I feel like. And then when do you decide when you're going to go out there with the bottle that you're going to break on someone's head? That was the deal with, I think, 3D is like the 3D funeral

is kind of when I really started doing the drinking gimmick. We were having the funeral for 3D. I had to act like I was drinking and then, you know, pee in the casket and all this stuff. And then that's when I really started taking out the beer bottle more and making it more serious and stuff. Because I kind of like, okay, well, I've done this cowboy version for so long. Now I need to add something else to it, you know, and just keep adding different things to it. There's a lot of people that say they're great at drinking. TNA actually made a championship for you guys.

Yeah. Drinking Championship. And what's so funny is it winded up this fan, tucked the spinner belt, the John Cena spinner belt, and put like a bottle on it with my thing. And one of the security guards brought it back to me. And it was like, hey, this fan wanted me to give you this. And Vince Rousseau comes walking by.

He's like, what is that? I was like, I don't know, it's my new beer drinking championship. He goes, and then literally the next week we start having beer drinking championship. fish he goes i want you to just drink beer i went that's not like horrible job so it's you and eric young yeah just seeing who's a better drink just like shoot drinking beer and and actually doing yeah and then and then seeing who's we take a breathalyzer test and see who would blow the uh the the highest level that's insane and there's there's there's there's one video where me and uh ewe are in the back and Jackie's with me and and I'm yelling at him about something and I was like shoot probably

like a point one nine like I was I was feeling good and I went to like hit the table like put my handle the table and yell at him or something and I completely missed a table in my face to smack it and it knocked me out and I go down and I just remember kind of looking up and Jackie over me and on camera she's like he's out he's out and they're just like cut the they're like on it. Jeez. Man. That's wild.

It was, I mean, it was such. And then, you know, we'd be in the ring and, like, when we're doing, we're chugging beer or whatever. Like, and I tell you, like, it's hard to chug beer. Like, especially when that adrenaline's going. Like, you get out of breath really quick. How did the boozer cruiser come about? I got tired of walking to the ring.

I was like, wait a minute. There's got to be easier away. No, actually, I saw it at Universal, like one of the billboards or whatever, they were doing one of their commercials, and I saw, I want that. And so I just bought it. And I took it out and didn't tell anyone about it. And it just got over. And then Jeff came up to me.

And he goes, you can ride that. And he looked at Bobby. He goes, I don't want you anywhere near that. Because he wanted Bobby to be the more serious. guy. And I was like, hey, he said you couldn't get on the boozer cruiser. And so I was like, what if I'd take a keg and make a wagon? And now you can ride that. And so we tried that and Bobby comes out and he's like throwing money everywhere. And man, we got to the bag and Jeff got on to us so bad. He's like, I told you. I was like, he's not on the boozer cruiser. And he just looked at

me. Oh, God, just was it. It just looked like you were having so much fun with that. I mean, we would have so much fun, especially when we did, like, explosion matches and stuff with beer money. Like, there was one time I, uh, there, uh, there's a spot where Eric would, uh, slide out of the ring. He'd grab my beer bottle. And I'd be like, don't you drink it. He'd start chugging it or whatever. And then I would chase him and then we get in the ring, he would do a spot. Well, we get to TV and, uh, right. And so, uh, Orlando and I, E. Y go out. And then me and Bobby's sitting there, and I'll pour all the beer out and I fill the beer bottle. And I fill the beer bottle. up with Yeager.

And so, like, I'm acting like I'm drinking on the way out and I set it on the steps. And Bobby's like, oh, no. And so the spot comes, EY grabs it. And Bobby's like, don't drink it. Do not drink it. And Eey was like, oh, I'm going to drink it. Bobby's like, don't do it. And I'll say you see him to start chugging it.

And you see it just coming down his beers. Like, is it like, you have to now live up to the. expectations when fans see you out, right? If your gimmick is that you're a drinker, that's the hard. It's got to be hard. That was the hardest part about it is people would, you know, just keep bringing you shots and a beer and stuff as well.

And it's just like, man, like, my liver's like, hey, can we end this gimmick? Right, because like they see you on TV. Yeah. You're the fun loving guy who loves a drink or two or ten. Yeah. They see you out in the bar. Oh, man, I'd love to buy the guy who loves drinking.

Love to buy him a drink. Yeah. And it got so bad that. I actually had to go and have a stint put on my liver because I developed a soft spot on my liver from drinking too much. And, like, it's bad. Like, I don't know if you know about stints, but they have to take these long wires. And the only way to get to your liver is through your penis. It does not feel good.

And, but my wife, she always hated it because I drew eyes on her. What? And made it look like a catfish. That's a lot of drinking, though. if it's affecting your liver. Yeah, it was, it was really bad. And so,

like, now, you know, I take milk thistles and stuff, because it was like high levels in my enzyme levels in my liver and stuff. So, man. Yeah,

it was, it was rough. That's why I'm just like, my liver's glad the beer money days are over with. After doing so much great stuff in a tag team, what did it mean to you to get a great singles run? And then to beat Kurt Angle and be the TNA world champion. I mean,

it was great. A lot of the stuff leading up. up to it, you know, kind of went off course or whatever, you know, because I beat him and then the next week I lost it to Bobby, which is fine because Bobby was going on this big hill run. And then I was supposed to beat him at in Arizona, in a hardcore match that we were having as well. But so the night before he wrestles Kurt and loses. And they didn't tell him to like that day, I believe.

They didn't tell him that. Kurt was going to keep the belt. And they didn't tell me that I was winning the belt until about an hour before we were supposed to go out. So I had this huge match plan with Kurt because it was really cool because he believed in me enough to put a match together, which was really cool.

I was like I said, about an hour, this is awesome. And then, like I said, about an hour, he came to me. He goes, hey, man, he goes, my hamstrings messed up really bad. He goes, I can't really. And I was like, hey, man, no problem. You know, we take it easy. He goes, how about we do this instead? How about I go out there and just beat you up for a little bit and then you kick me out of nowhere.

And then you take the rest of the time to do you. Like you've earned this spot to go out and celebrate. You do whatever you want to do. And so like when I beat him, I roll over. And I said, thank you very much. And he said, he said, quit laying there. Get up to celebrate. Yes, sir.

So, I mean, it was really cool, especially, you know, I did a lot of driving. with him and stuff and just like learn stuff from him. So, and I always say, like, I've been very fortunate because I've been able to learn from like Dusty Rhodes, Kurt Henning, and, uh, Kurt Engel, you know. And you beat him clean with a super kick. Yeah. And that was, uh, I always tell, and it's funny, too, because if you see in the match, you see me say something to him.

And I tell him, I say, hey, Kurt, hit me with your fake punches. He's like, what? I said, your real ones are killing me. And I said, hit me with your real punches because you're fake ones. are killing me. That's what he's like, oh, and then I, then I kicked him, whatever. So, but I mean, he, he is, I mean, he's a machine. I mean, you see him, you know, in the back and stuff. And but then, man, as soon as that music hits, he's a whole different animal. Like, it's just, it's unreal. And I even tried to send bagging one time when he was giving me a German

suplex. I was like, ah, if I send bagging, he won't throw me as far. Yeah, that didn't work. I think you threw me further. When you're a guy who uses a super kick for a finisher. Yeah. How does it make you feel that the super kick is now in almost every match? Well, it's funny that you say that because when I went to NXT, the first time they had me used like a different finisher. And then my second match there, Hunter was like, hey, what do you want to use? I said, well, my super kick goes, well, everybody used a super kick. And I looked at him and I said, hey, man, I said, that's fine.

They knocked people down with their super kick. I knocked people out. And he goes, all right, you can use it. Wow. And I got to use it in like my second match. And then I was going to use it there going forward and everything. But it's just like, and that's fine if people want to use it as a spot. But because that makes mine look all that more devastating because I actually beat people with mine.

You know, especially if you do it right and make it look good. I want to talk to you about this blindfold steel cage match. It's one of the most infamous matches in TNA history. It shouldn't be. Well, it's infamous. What's the story behind it? Oh, man. And, like, me and Chris was, like, you know, we were in this big feud.

And, you know, I was supposed to have put his eye out and everything. And so they're like, oh, even the field, you should have to see like he does and be in a blind phone match. I was just like, man, this is the 80s no more. Like, that match is just not, like, it's so hard to pull off, you know, especially in those times. Like, even today, like, the crowd is, you know, this. And I was just like, all right, if that's what you want to do. And then I was like, wait, this is inside.

have like an electrified cage too. Like there's so many gimmicks like going on in here. But thank God like the cage wasn't on, you know, when we did it. But it wasn't until like 30 minutes before our match started that they realized that they didn't have the blind folks. So they ran to somewhere and just got two black bags and just put over her head that didn't have draw strings or anything. So like they kick falling off. And there's and there's a point. in the match when I look at Chris and I said,

I'm the hell with this. I said, we're taking it home. He's like, really? I was like, yep. I was like, grab, I think it was the beer bottle and before the finish or whatever. I was like, we're going home. And I got to the back and to his credit, Vince Russo, he was standing right there and he knew it too.

And I just lit into him. And he goes, I am so sorry. Blah, blah, blah. He goes, I understand. If you want to punch me, I said, oh, I'm not going to punch you. I said, I want to. He goes, to make it up. He goes, I'll let you do any match that you want to do. And then that's when we did the Texas death match after that.

The crowd turned on that match so quickly. I should have turned on it as soon as the music hit. Like it was like less than a minute in and the crowd was chanting Fire Russo or something like that. Oh, yeah. Then it turned into this is boring. Like, how do you feel when you're hearing that? You try to tune it out as much as you can, but there's some point you got to say, okay, enough is enough.

Like, they'll figure out a way. to fill this time in somewhere else. I was like, this time to go home. Like, I'm not setting out here no more, making a fool of myself. Could you see each other? Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah.

But it was like, barely. It was like really weird, you know? It was like, because the, where the stitching was, like, really wide. So sometimes the bag would, like, come over and, like, mess up your blind, you know, where you couldn't see, so you were blind. And I just remember why. watching the movie DeJango to Django, where they had... Django and Chained?

Yeah, where he has the bags on their head. They're like, I can't see shit out of this day. And like, they rivet more. That's what I, like, I started laughing because I should have just ripped that bag off in my head. There's a point where Chris Harris punches you, maybe out of frustration, but it looks like he, like, actually connects with you. Oh, oh, you probably did, because we didn't care for each other that much at that time. Like, there was some stuff that kind of went on or whatever with us splitting up and stuff. And, yeah, we were laying in to each other.

There were some interesting match stipulations during that era of TNA. The blindfold steel cage match is certainly one of them. The reverse battle royal. That's one thing I didn't get. I'm like, wait, we're going to start fighting here, but you've got to make it into the ring now and then throw the guy back out. if you have to explain it to the wrestlers, I'm sure the people at home going,

what the hell is this? Like, what is happening? So it's one of those things. Like, how do you try to make that match work? Like, you're trying to prevent people from going into the ring, which as a wrestler is a pretty common, slash easy thing to do. Yeah.

And then they kept adding other stuff. They're like, okay, well, let's put a ladder here. Now you've got to hang the belt and all this. I'm like, my God, this is way too much. I was like, can I please get eliminated first? I guess I don't think I can memorize all these rules you got going on here. So you were aware that this was a terrible match. Oh, everybody, everybody did.

I think even the booker, like after they started watching it, they're like, oh, this is a bad idea. But we're going to let them do it. I think there was that. I think they did it like two or three times. You're right. They didn't do it just once. TNA was so exciting right up until that like Hogan Bischoff era. But like there must have been like some real positive vibes of like,

oh, we're bringing in Hogan, huge name value here. He's going to bring a lot of eyeballs to this. Bischoff has been there and done it again, like a lot of eyeballs. Yeah. When did you realize things started going downhill? I think it really with, I remember I got in trouble. I got fined, of course. I got fines so many times.

Just because I did a promo where I was saying, you know, the days of someone coming out here and talking for 30 minutes and taking up time for the younger generation is over. You know, like these people are paying to see the people that have brought this company to the forefront and all this. I remember Bischoff calling me. He's like, why would you say that, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, well, you asked me to speak from the heart. Like this is what I believe is like this is what all of us kind of built this company on is pride in herself going out there and working. And, and then when I start seeing Hogan not really plugging TNA when he would do these talk

shows and everything, he would talk about everything else except for TNA wrestling. It's like, it's what they're paying you all this money for, you know? And so that's when I was just like, all right, this is not good. Shopping for a car should be exciting, not exhausting, but between misleading prices and hidden fees, it can feel like a maze. That's where Car Gurus comes in. They rank the best deals, verified dealers, and make sure you never pay more than you should. Your big deal just became a great deal.

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Results vary based on studies of topical and oral monoxide and fanasteride. Prescription product require an online consultation with a health care provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety information. 2014, 2015, all of TNAs like real homegrown talent left. you left AJ styles left Eric Young left Bobby Rood left and it was like it's very clear here that something's going on yeah yeah it was uh and I actually remember the day that I left because

I was setting right outside of Universal Studios and I had just got off the phone my wife and she can tell I wasn't happy because I really kind of just reached my limit like it was like every time someone knew would come in it would be like a reset and then I would just get pushed back to the bottom and then you would have like the ex-WWE guys or stuff back on top or whatever and then I would have to start all over again and I just remember sitting there's like okay I'm not doing this no more like I got to make what time I have left like mean something and if I start over again like it's just wasting my time and Dixie came walking by and she was all jolly and I was like hey can I talk you a second she's like yeah sure cowboy and I was like look I hey I did everything you've asked

me to do, but, you know, I just want to know if you'll do something for me. She's like, sure, what is it? Just name it. I said, I want my release. And you can just see in her face. She's like, boy, not you too. You know, I was like, I just, I just need a break. I mean, just take some time away from here and just clear my head and see what happens and stuff. And, you know, and she, she didn't want to, but yeah, she gave me my release. So then how long after that did you appear in NXT? Oh, it was like five or six months later. But, and, it was, I kind of felt bad because I didn't know anything about the NXT, you know, deal.

And she was like, well, you're not going to sign with WWR. I was like, no, I just want to go home, you know, I just want to spend some time with my kids. And NXT was in Nashville and Road Dogg was like, hey, man, we're in Nashville. You want to just drop by the show. I was like, yeah, sure. So, you know, like I've, I like, I like Road Dog. Like, he's always kind of gave it too much straightforward and everything. And that's what wrestling needs is people that don't be.

around the bush. They just tell you how it is. And so I went up there and I was watching and then he came over. He brought his phone to me and it was a text from Hunter. He goes, hey, ask Storm if he'll come down here and just talk to us or whatever and maybe work or match if he wants to or whatever. And I looked at him. I was like, yep. I was like, my bag's already packed.

Let's go. And so, yeah. So, and then it was, I guess about three weeks later, I went down and had the NXT match. You had two matches in an XT. Yeah. Why didn't that turn into something more? It was, man, it was a lot.

Mostly had to do with my family. You know, people, you know, I had a little bit to do with money, which is not like, hey, they didn't pay him a lot of money. So he's not coming. It wasn't like that at all. And it was, they gave me a contract. And I went home and I got a call from Regal. And he goes, hey, we, we definitely want to sign you, blah, blah, blah.

And I was like, oh, great, whatever. So I was going to sign the contract and all that stuff. And then he asked him, he goes, can you tighten up a little bit? I was like, yeah, you know, like lose a little way. I was like, yeah, I busted my ass and I lost 20 pounds. I got in a really good shade when I got back down there. I was like, oh, my God, like, you look totally different. I was like, oh, thank you.

You know, because I always tell people, you give a man motivation and there's like, he'll work his ass off, you know, if you give him, if you motivate somebody, do something. And so I did it. And then when I got down there, it was like, it was like, the contract had changed or whatever. It's like they added 25 more dates, but the money didn't move. And I even told him, I was like, look, this is like TNA had offered me another contract to come back because they heard about me wanting to sign with WV.

And I said, look, this is what TNA is offered. And I'm not trying to hold this over your head at all because you don't, you don't have to match this at all. I'm just saying this is what I'm willing to give up to come and work for this. But it has to be right because my wife, she wanted to have another child at the time, but she had to take the shots and all this stuff. So I was basically kind of giving that up as well. Like I was a half?

Yeah, because I was going to be on the road a lot, you know. And we came to an agreement and she was like, well, if they can just give you this, then, you know, you have my blessing to sign. And Hunter's like, yeah, I just can't do it. And I was just like, all right, man, well, I'm sorry, man. Like my wife gave me permission not to sign, so I'm going home. And three days later, can you see him and call me? He goes, hey, man.

I almost know if he can call you. I was like, what? I was like, you told my hunter? He's like, yeah. He's like, he has my phone number. I just talked to him not too long ago. He goes,

well, since you're not signed, we have to go through the proper channels and I have to make sure. I was like, he's like, you're on a recorded line. I was like,

whatever. Yeah, he can call me. So he called me and I talked. And he's like, look, you're not going to be here alone because Vince loves characters

and you know how to work. So you'll probably be shipped off real quick. And I was like, well, can you give what, know, I was asking or whatever. And it was, like I said, it was not much at all. And he's like, no, man, you know, I just don't have the authority to do that.

And I was like, I'm sorry, man. Like, I had to say no. Was that a tough decision? That was the hardest phone call I think I've ever had to get off the phone with the man. I was just like, man, like, usually I just hang up the phone. I was like, oh, man, this is, I don't, am I making the right decision? Yeah. But in hindsight, I didn't know at the time, but it was the right decision for me.

and my family at that time because, you know, I was able to have my son that's eight years old now and everything. So, and I can't imagine what if I would have taken that, you know? Was the door still open to go back to TNA? Yeah. Oh, yeah, because they, you know, they offered me the contract. They even up the contract once, you know, and they gave me more money, which I was just like, okay, well, this is, and it was a guaranteed contract as well. So, you know, all that worked out, you know, like it should. And it was good because I took that money that I was got and I invested it in other things as well. So the dates that you worked in WWE in NXT, that was just, you were just

freelancing? There was one-offs. Yeah. Yeah, they were just one-and they had you win both those matches. Yeah. And that's what I say. I said, like right now I'm better than The Undertaker because I'm undefeated. Undefeated at WWE. But so you were just working those as one-off matches. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. And then like I said, they call me, back down and say, hey, do you want to work again? I was like, yeah, sure. The first time they had me there, like, they had me, like, hiding in a secret location

because they didn't want anybody to know that I was there for my first match or whatever. So they wanted to be a complete surprise and everything, which it was, you know, like, it came off really good. Was there ever the opportunity to go back to WWE? Yeah, I mean, I talked to Hunter. I even saw him at, you know, Flair's wedding and stuff. But, like, when I got off the phone with him,

he was like, hey, man, he goes, just keep yourself in really good shape. And once your TNA deal runs out, he goes, you know, give me a call back and we'll see if we got something for you or whatever. So, you know, but, you know, I called him back. And of course, it was nothing around that time for me. With what you're doing now, would you go back to TNA? I would at the circumstances, right? Like, I don't care about, and I don't say this in a bad way.

Like, I don't really care about winning championships and stuff now. Like, I care about trying to give back now and help out the younger guys to learn to wrestle on TV. I see so many guys now that they can wrestle and they can do all these moves, but they really don't know how to work on TV properly. So, I mean, if something like that, especially, you know, with the whole NXT deal, like I always say, like you never, that could be a good story as well. Does he join with NXT or does he stay, you know, his home base with TNA, you know, which one does he help?

Yeah, you're one of the people that one of the biggest names in TNA to never really get a shot in WWE. Yeah. Because when you think about everybody else, with the exception, I guess, of like Christopher Daniels, everybody else had some sort of run in WWE. Yeah. And you're like the big what if. Yeah.

I always tell people like, I got into wrestling to make a living. I don't care what three letters are in front of that paycheck, as long as I'm able to make a living. Yes, it would be great to do a WrestleMania or a Royal Rumble or something like that. But at the end of the day, as long as my family is taken care of, like, I don't give a shit. And has that always been the goal for you? Yeah, that's always been the goal. Like, I've, I've came from a family who really protects their own and takes care of their own.

And that's how I am with my family. Like, as long as I can provide and make sure that my kids have a better upbringing than what I had, shit, I'm good. Yeah, yeah. Sorry about your damn love. That's right. How did that become your catchphrase? Oh, man, my mom used to say that to me all the time when I was little. Like, you know, I'd ask her for something at the grocery store.

or something, you know, and she would just be like, sorry about your luck, you know. And so when we got into wrestling, like, I was just like, man, like, I'm just going to incorporate that in the wrestling as well, because it was so funny when I had my first match, I hadn't really thought of a name to wrestle under. And I was going to be called the luscious kid, Brett Michaels. That was going to be my name because of Brett and Sean. And then the luscious kid. I'm really glad that wasn't your name.

Yes, that's what I was going to do. And then one of my friends goes, hey, man, I think Brett Michaels is the name of Leasinger Poison. I was like, oh, yeah, you're right. And they're like, we need a name, we need a name. And also the storm came from my mom as well because she would always say, it looks like a storm came through here, like with my room and stuff, you know, it was all a mess. And so that was just kind of my tribute to kind of give back to her, you know. Imagine you were the lush.

Yeah. It's the luscious kid and the wow cat, Chris Harris. I'm just amazing. Meow money. What's this whole thing about Mickey James and the train? Oh, my God. That was horrible. I feel like we watched a murder.

Yeah. And the funny thing was, is like a lot of people don't know it. I actually had cops come to my house, like, to make sure. Like they thought it was legit? Yeah, they thought it legit. And my brother, who, he was a detective at the time. Like, he called me. He goes, hey, man, did you kill somebody on TV?

I was like, bro, it's a wrestling. He goes, that's what I tried to tell him. But there was this cop that had just started on the beat with him. So he was messed with him. So he had that guy come to my door and ring the doorbell and ask me about all this stuff. And my brother's sitting in a car just laughing, his butt off. And so I had to bring the cop in and put the episode on and show him.

I'm like, bro, like, it's part of a wrestling angle. And I was trying to, me and Mickey and Nick both, like, all three of us trying to tell John,

like, this is not a good idea. Like, to, like murder somebody on TV, I, I came up with a plan of, like,

having a flash, like, of me, this is what would happen if she wouldn't agree with me. Like, I would push her off and she would die,

you know, and, and, but they didn't like that idea. And I was like, all right, well, I guess someone,

pushing her. Isn't it funny how in wrestling some absolutely ridiculous ideas just make perfect sense to the audience? Yeah. But something like pushing someone onto train tracks and getting run over by a train is like, hey, you can't do that. Yeah. And like I said, and when they came to my house, I was like, somebody really believes that this is going on. And like sometimes wrestling fans can be a little scary as well, I had this one wrestling fan who made me a pair of underwear. And, uh, And it was, yeah, and it was really crazy because I was, and she was like, well, will you put them on? I was like, well, not now because I'm doing an autograph signing. So I just threw them to the side.

At the end of the autograph signing, the security guard goes, hey, man, let me see those underwear. I picked them up and thank God he asked me because I was like, what is that? And he had a piece of feld crow on them. And I opened it up and it was an Apple air tag tracking device in it. And I was like, nope. I was like, oh, my goodness. I don't remember the story, but how did they explain that Mickey survived this? That's one thing I don't know either.

I was like, I was like, wait. So how is she going to come back? Like, okay, this train ran over her. Is it like the ghost of me? Was this a dream sequence? Like, right? No, it was full-fledged. Hey, see it.

And then she just comes back and, you know, A lot of stuff during that time, I'm like, oh, just do it. Just do it. Because I would always get, like, I would get heat just for asking, like, what we're doing next. Like, when we did the best of five Motor City machine guns match, I would be like, okay, well, what's the matches? So I know how to lay stuff out and what moves to do in each match. Like, I don't want to keep being repetitive. And they're like, just do the first match.

I'm like, well, what's the next one? And it's because they really didn't know as well. So I was just, you know, just fly by the seat of my pants of like trying to put stuff together, like trying to think, okay, what Max could we do next or whatever? Vince Rousseau certainly thinks outside the box. Yeah. Were there ideas where you were just like, absolutely not? We cannot do this. It's such a dumb idea.

You know, with Vince, I didn't have really, he didn't throw too many dumb ideas. at me other than the blind full of steel cage yeah other than that and but he i remember he had chris hair smoking one time and chris hates smoke so like trying to watch chris smoke a cigarette was so bad and he would always have me saying buckaroo and all this stuff like how he thinks a southern person would talk and uh i remember getting uh like my verbiage from him for a promo and i was like man like this is horrible like i would not say that this. Like no one I know would ever say this in the South. And so I went to road dog and I said, hey man, I said, what are you thinking about this? He's like, boom, that sucks. I was like, I know.

And he's like, just go talk to Vince, man. He goes, he'll talk to you. And I was like, all right. So I go and talk to him. I said, hey, man, is it okay if I just hit your bullet points, but just put it in my words? And he's like, yeah. And I was like, all right. And so I go out and I just cut this promo and he's, and I come back and he's standing there. He's like, all right, for now on, he goes, I'm just going to give you bullet points. It goes because you prove that you can, you know, do your own promos. And so that that's what I always think, Vinson, about before is because I don't think if I would have went to him that day, you know, my promos might have took another course

and I might be saying other stuff, whereas now I can be me, but I'm still hitting his, his points, you know. Yeah. What's the scariest moment you ever had in the ring? I had a stinger in my neck where I was actually paralyzed for about four seconds. And what was the move? It was just a top rope, Her Corona, like I was giving it to the guy. And the guy's foot slipped off the rope and it dropped me on my head.

And I just landed on my neck. And I remember, I was just like, I can't move. And it was like four seconds. And then it's like this sharp pain. And then I was able to slowly move. I just rolled out of the ring and got counted out. But it was one of those things. It's like, man, like my life pretty much flashed before my eyes

because it's like what happens if I get hurt? Because I was like the breadwinner for my family. Like, what happens here? There's the match where you go through a table and you bleed like I've never seen someone bleed before. The Texas death match with Chris, yeah. And that was one of the matches that really kind of just put me on the mouth for a singles wrestler because

after that match when I was standing up like the whole crowd was standing up and they were applauding and they were and they were like chanting thank you cowboy and I was like all right this is this is cool and uh but Chris goes to spear me off the ring apron onto a table and he hits me so hard that the back of my head

actually hit the concrete and I felt it too like it knocked me loopy and I was out for a second I can, and I come to, and I can just feel like blood just pouring out of my head. And if you watch the match, as soon as I hit, the referee comes over and grabs my hand or whatever. And I tell him, I say, go ask Chris what the next spot is because I forgot. And then Jackie comes over. And I said, Jackie, keep him away from me because I don't know how long I need to, you know, get my senses about together. And but luckily, you know, they came to pretty quick.

And I just slid in the ring and we finished the match and stuff. And then afterwards, I wouldn't got staples, but in my head. and then I had to wrestle the next Monday and Tuesday because we had TV tapers. I can't believe you finished the match with the amount of blood you were losing. My ears were popping so bad, too, that night when I was trying to sleep, like, just the amount of blood that I lost, like, it was, and it was on Valentine's Day. It was on Mother's Day. And so, and my mom was watching the pay-review, and I just remember getting a phone call

as I'm getting staples butt in my head. Why would you do this to me? I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't know you were watching. How did you feel about working Elevation X? That's one of the things. Like, I hate heights. So I didn't like, and Rhino didn't like it either, you know.

And they wanted me to take this big bump. They wanted me to take the gore and basically him hit me and just go right off of it and land on to the mat. That's so high. Yeah. And I said, yeah, no, that's not going to happen. And I said, I'll do something where I'm a. hanging or something and you know either i can go through a table or i can just hit the ground or something but i'm not just taking a bump and just going backwards off of it and i think they got

kind of upset with me but i mean that's i told them i was like i'm not doing it so they we set up we wanted up setting up a table and i wanted up going through the table and everything yeah that that match is so wild to watch and it's scary and it's hard to stand up there on that thing because it's wobbling as well so you know it's especially with rhino as well as well I'm just like, oh, we have the weight limit here. And Rhino is another guy. I love working Rhino. And I pulled one of my famous ribs on Rhino.

That's probably the best rib ever that anybody's ever done on somebody. Or I had him pulled over. We're doing a teenage show in Jackson, Tennessee, but they stay at my night in my house. And this is, Rino's stopped drinking, but Billy hasn't stopped yet. And so we all go out to this bar. My buddy owns me and Billy's drinking. So the next day, Rhino is driving us in my tie-ho to Jackson. And I call my brother.

I said, hey, man, where are you at? And he tells me, I said, hey, man, let's play a joke on these guys. He's like, all right, he's like, I'll be over here. And it worked out perfect because there was like a four-way stop sign. And it was like in the backwoods, you know, and my brother was parked up here. And Rino comes. And he just does like a rolling stop. And Billy's like, dude, there's a cop back there.

And he's like, I don't think he was in his car. And I'm sitting there just laughing. And all of a sudden, here comes my brother. And Billy goes, oh, man, here he comes. Rhino pulls over. Like, my brother hadn't even turn on his blue light yet. So my brother pulls in behind him, and Billy's like, what are you doing? Like, he didn't even like stop you.

And Rino's like, oh, yeah. And he pulls back out. So then my brother pulls him over. My brother pulls him over and he comes up. He goes, can I? And I'm throwing like Arby fries and it's hitting Rino in the head. He's like, stop it. And he's like, rose out of the windows down.

And he has his hands on the stairwell. And my brother goes, can I set your license, registration. He goes, hi, here's my license. I'm not sure where the registration is. He goes, well, he goes, uh, he goes, probably in the glove box. Ronny goes, yeah, it's, well, it's his vehicle. He goes, I'm driving us to a show. And he goes, well, what's his name? He goes, I don't know, like, his wrestling name is James Storm. He goes, he goes, we're professional wrestler, sir. And my brother goes, sir, I don't watch that fake stuff. And you can just see Rhino and Billy's face like, ah, because Billy don't know about it either. And he hit,

They're so mad. And then he goes, he goes, well, do you know why I pulled you over? He goes, no. He goes, well, you're around a stop sign back there. And he goes, well, I'm from Detroit, sir. He goes, you don't have stop signs in Detroit? He goes, no, sir. He goes, these two guys have been drinking all night long.

And then now I got to drive. I don't even know where I am in these back roads. And I just throw out and go, officer, be careful. He's on steroids. And Billy turns around. I was like, what? What? And he's a, sir, step out of the vehicle.

And so he takes from I know around back. and you see Rhino like doing this or whatever. And I have a box of bullets in the back of my Taho where I target practice all the time. So I grab the box of bullets and I stick it out the window. I said, officer, be careful. He has a gun on him. Here's his bullets. Rhino comes around the towel.

He's like, are you out of your mind? And he turns around. My brother has a taser gun on him. And he's like, put your hands on. Put your hands up. And Rino's like this. He goes higher. Rino goes, that's as high as they'll go, sir.

My traps are in the way. And so I get out, I'm like, Rhino, this is my brother, we're just messing. And Rano goes, get in the car if you want to make it to the next down. For the next two hours, he did not say a word to me. This was not funny to Ron. This was not funny at all. Hilarious to you. Yeah. A couple weeks later, finally he's just like, man, that wasn't cool, man.

He started, like, you know, loosening up a little bit. Yeah, you got them good. I mean, and I always tell people, and I feel like people don't play ribs on his other anymore. But like when you're in the car, especially when you're on a long road trip or you're on tours, you got to do play ribs. Did he ever get you back? Oh, no. He never got me back. Well, not yet. Yeah, not yet. Yeah, it's still coming. Still could happen. It's probably good. What was the biggest difference between the four-sided and six-sided ring for you? Man, really how comfortable it was. Like, the four-sided ring to me was so much softer than the

six-sided ring. I mean, the six-sided ring was really. really cool and he gave TNA an identity and everything, but bumping in that ring was just brutal. Like, I'd rather bump on the floor than I would in that ring. Whereas the four-sided, like, it had more gilve. And so, like, it was good. But, man, that six-sided ring was, it was brutal. What about running the ropes?

I mean, they tighter? Yeah, they were tighter, but I always tell people, like, it was, I mean, it's the same because I can only hit one rope at a time. But, but, yeah, and I know a lot of the guys who did stuff off the top rope had problems, because the pad was wider. And so when they would go to try to stand on the pad, there would be like baby oil and all this other stuff on it. So they would slip a lot on the pads as well.

I'm such a huge TNA fan. So I'm curious as one of the guys who was there from day one, who is your TNA Mount Rushmore? Man. I definitely say, you know, Jeff Jarrett, AJ Stiles, of course. Can't have a TN.A. name Mount Rushmore without AJ.

Yeah, and like people would say and this is just me talking, but I would, I hate to put myself on there, but as the tag team, because I always look at Mount Rushmore as like, there should be people from different parts of the company, not just like all singles wrestlers, you know, like I look at me as like I helped carry the tag team division in TNA, especially during the startup years and everything. Well, you were in the two best tag teams in TN. Yeah, I mean, they're... Two best, like, homegrown tag team,

of course the Hardys were there, and of course the Dudleys were there, but like homegrown TNA tag teams. Yeah. And... You guys in Motor City Machine Guns. I would put, I'd put Jeff Hardy on there,

because he came in very early. You know, a lot of people say Kurt and stuff, but I'm looking at, you know, guys who helped build a company before, you know, the Kurtz and Samoa Joe and all these other guys were in there. And take it back before Kurt, Christian Cage coming in.

Yeah. Was huge. Huge. It was big. I remember when both of them came in because I would always go to this one platform where a hard camera is and like sit high above and just watch these guys entrance, you know. And it was just really cool to see them coming in. And, you know, and they didn't even have big heads either.

Like they came in ready to work with all these guys and stuff and do whatever they could to help, you know, move the brand forward. Christian told me he lied to Vince McMahon about resigned. in WWE, just to buy him some time, so then he goes sign with TNA because he just wanted to be able to showcase what he could do. And he wasn't being given that opportunity in WWA. And I think that's what Kurt wanted to. He wanted a fresh start. And like, to me, Kurt's best matches are in TNA. Kurt will tell you that. You know, like his matches in TNA were just unreal.

Absolutely. Like, when you look at the work he did with Samoa Joe or AJ Styles or Sting, I mean, the list goes on and on and on. It truly is his best work. Yeah. And it is, because I went to the office when it was kept a secret that, you know, nobody knew if he was coming or not. And I actually learned because I went to the office and I seen him, like, I seen him there at the office.

I went, I was scared of him. I was like, oh, better be quiet on that one. And so then I went up to Bob Ryder's office and I was talking to him. I was like, hey, man. Cardine go here. He goes, nope, don't know what you're talking about. I was like, okay. At what point did you realize you guys really had some momentum early on with TNA?

To me, I felt like 2009 and 2010 is when they were really hitting their stride with everything. Because when we would go overseas and stuff, like everything will be sold out everywhere. Like all the house shows we started doing, like they were all sold out and stuff. And it just seemed like around 2012, 2013 is when things. that started going downhill. Like, we would still do these markets, but it'd be like half full, you know, and there's people, we go to the gas station,

people like, oh, my God, what are you guys doing here? We're like, well, we just did a wrestling show, right? Right over there, like, what? And they wouldn't know about it because it was like the advertising that really just stopped as well. TNA was the best kept secret, like, 05, 06, 07. Like, if you were a real hardcore fan,

you were watching TNA, and you knew about, you and AJ and Daniels and Samoa Joe and Amazing Red and like the Motor City machine guys like the amount of talent that was there was crazy. Yeah. I mean and I tell people too like I would have matched up our roster with anybody then because it was unreal. It was like a kind of who's who kind of thing that came to T&A and you know and slowly help build you know what it is. You know, and what it is today. Yeah. And it's been so amazing to see what it's become. There were so many times from the outside looking in that it felt like TNA wasn't going to like.

You know how many times we heard that? Oh, you're going to shut the doors this week. Nope. This week is going to be it. Nope. This week is it. And yeah, and we just learned just to not even like worry about that. How did TNA persevere through all of this?

Like the highs and the lows, TNA just kept going. Man, I don't know, like, especially in the beginning, like, Jeff and his dad somehow, like, made it work, you know. They found a way to keep it going. Well, when you think of TNA, you're one of those guys. And congratulations on an incredible career. Yeah. Well, you never know.

It might not be over yet. It's one of those things where I know at my age, I can't go out there and do, you know, a 200-day contract or whatever. But I am still able to go out there and work and do matches with guys and help them learn to, you know, get better and hopefully move on to become superstars as well. Do you think about retirement? Yeah, I do. Every day I wake up, you know. And that's what a lot of people don't understand and see, you know, because it wasn't too long ago when me and my wife was around somebody

and somebody said the F word about wrestling around my wife. And my wife got really mad. And she goes, you don't see him waking up in the morning. You don't see how hard it is for him to do this and this, all the years that he gave taking these bumps for people. Like you think this, they're not really fighting each other or something. Like, it's not real.

Like, it takes a hole on the body. And that's how people become addicted to stuff. Like, mine was drinking. Mine was Jack Daniels. I never took pain pills or anything like that. And that's what I tell a lot of guys these days, like you have to learn to be careful with your bump card. Because you only get so many bumps on that card.

And once it's used up, you know, you're not getting another one. So how much longer do you want to do it? Man, I got about 3,700 bumps left them. No, I mean, I'll probably like seriously look maybe two, three years and then, you know, I would switch my focus fully on maybe acting as well. The great thing about acting is there's no, you can do it forever. Yeah. I see, Claynees would. He just turned 95.

And I'm like, wait, what? He's still making movies. Yeah. Unreal. Yeah. He's like making movies in his 90s. And it's really cool because, like you said, I'm able to do. that. Right now I'm able to, you know, act and do my own stunts, which is really good that

helps me get a lot of jobs too. And as I get better and better in my career of acting, like, I can kind of maybe just drop the stunts and just, you know, focus completely on acting. So is 50 kind of the magic number for you? Yeah, probably two years away for you. I heard AJ say something about that as well. Hey, set it on my show. He said, he doesn't want to wrestle past 50. And I'm like, well, that's like two years away. It's like, yep. Yeah. And I know that's, you know, especially with him, it's hard for a lot of fans to, you know, realize. It's like, well, they had to stop sooner or later, you know, like why they can still walk, you know,

because, you know, there's a lot of, a lot of the wrestlers who, you know, didn't know when to let go. And it's really hard for them to even move around. So two-ish more years? Yeah. Is there anything more you feel like you need to accomplish? No, I mean, I've, to me, I felt like I've pretty much accomplished everything that I really want to do.

Like I, you know, I was part of two very great tag teams in TNA. I won the heavyweight championship. I'm undefeated in WWE. Now they're going to bring me in just to beat me. That's right. Hey, Storm, you want to come talk to us and have a match? Make it lose. So with your focus shifting a lot to acting now, how are you working on that craft?

Oh, man, I go to a place in Nashville called the Fourth Wall Actroom Studio. and the guy there is William is awesome. Like he is basically like a no BS guy. Like if you suck, he'll tell you. You know, like if you don't come prepared, he'll get on to you. And it's really good. And he kind of like breaks it down. He's the one that told me, hey, you need to dummy it now.

Like you're just like two wrestler right now. And it was really, he gave me some advice to do. He said, when you go and do these wrestling shows, he goes, I want you to act like, It's a movie about wrestler. Now, you're playing this wrestler. You're not a wrestler. So I want you to go in and act like you're a wrestler.

And it's been very hard for me to do that because I want to be the wrestler. Wow, loud or whatever. And he goes, he goes, this act, just go in there and act like this is a movie that you have to do. Are you so sick of people being like, oh, you're a wrestler who wants to be an actor? Just like. Right.

Rock, scene of Batista and all that. And, you know, and to me, I think that's really cool because these guys once again, I've kind of paved the way like that. And now I think wrestlers are taking more serious in Hollywood because of Batista and Sina. You know, because Sina's comedy stuff is awesome. You know, it's unreal. Like, it's so funny. And so I think wrestlers now have more of a respect in Hollywood, whereas maybe five, ten years ago,

it was like, oh, wrestler, okay, big, dumb, idiot, you know. I don't think Hollywood realized for a long time that wrestlers, You could throw anything at them and they'll make it work. Yeah. You could throw a dramatic scene at them, a comedic scene. They'll make it work. Yeah. Because that's what they do weekend and weekend.

Yeah. And we're on live TV. A lot of times you're on live TV. And if something goes wrong, you got to learn to Ab-Live to like make this work somehow. Yeah. And that's the same way that I've learned on film as well. It's like, oh, well, it's written like this. But hey, do you mind if we just try it like this?

And more than not, the director would be like, yeah, first let's do it like this. and then we'll, you can do it like that. Well, I'm excited for everyone to see our movie. That's right, man. I still can't believe I'm in a movie with you. Everybody's like, wait, the worst man. What is that about? I'm like, well, you have the best man at your wedding.

And now, you know, somebody's getting divorced and your best man or now you're worst man. And it's such a relatable story because at the core, it's about friendship. Yeah. But it's about like this guy's relationship is falling apart. Not, not me or you. We're the friends here. His relationship's falling apart.

there. He's about to lose his business and we're coming together to try to figure something out here on quite possibly the worst day of his life. Yeah. And I was talking to somebody. I'm like, it's about these three friends, you know, that kind of grew up together. And it's so funny, if you look at them, you're like, wait, how are these guys friends? So it kind of reminds me of wrestling as well, because like I said, so many times I've been out there like, wait, how are these guys all connected or friends or something and that's what i feel like this movie kind of connects with well i'm so glad that that was what brought us together i've been i've been trying to get an interview with you for years and years and years it's finally happened we finally did it our luck

has changed yes we're not sorry about it no more so i will end this with the question i ask everybody at the end uh james gratitude is such a huge part of my life uh what are three things that you're grateful for as we sit here right now. I'm, I'm, first of all, you know, of course, so many people would say God and everything, but to me it's my wife, Danny, who came into my life. And I think if she didn't come into my life when she did, I probably wouldn't be sitting here talking to you because I was on a collision course with fate bad. Like I was just in a bad place a lot of times stuff went on in my life.

And she came in and kind of cleaned it up or whatever. But my kids. Second, you know, my kids are my everything to me. That's what I do. That's what I wake up and go do everything for is my kids. And third, it's really, you know, it sounds corny or whatever. It's the wrestling fans. And I always tell people, I'm like, when you connect with wrestling fans,

they are the most loyal people you will ever find in your life. Like, they will support you to the day they die. And they'll go to battle for you. You know, like nobody else can talk, you know, they can say whatever. they want to about wrestling, but if some outsider comes in, starts talking about wrestling, they'll all focus, they're focused on them. And they'll support you. Like, they'll go and watch your movies and stuff like that as well.

And that's why I tell a lot of these directors is like, already have this built-in audience. So if you can put me in a movie with somebody who already has a name in movies, now you're getting the best of both worlds. Yeah. Those are three great things to be grateful for. Thank you again, sir. You see, I didn't say my health. Do you not have your health?

Is that one? I don't know where that's at. Does it hurt when you get out of bed? Yeah, I always joke with my wife that our bed gets higher and higher every year, so I can just fall out onto my feet. But no, like, I think the years of taking off, like, my body has finally, like, recovered. And I feel really good. And so anytime I go do an indie show and I take a couple bumps, I'm like, oh, all right, I feel all right.

You know, so I think I've let my body, like, heal, which is a really bad thing, because if I did go back full time, now I really got to tear it back down, you know, to live that lifestyle again. But all joking aside, you do have your health. Yeah. Oh, yeah, I do.

Like, no, I'm healthy as a horse, as I say. I'm really good. So. Thank you again, man. Yeah, of course, man. Thank you so much, brother. I appreciate it, man. Thank you. All right, there we go, my friends.

Thank you for checking out this episode with James Storm. And a big thank you to James for joining us in the studio. Pretty incredible career that he's, had in the ring. And I just appreciate how content he is with everything that he's accomplished. And it's been amazing seeing the work that he's been doing outside of wrestling. So keep an eye out for Worst Man, the short film when it comes out later this fall. You'll see my character Luke has, I think, three scenes. And I like I enjoy acting. It's fun. But I certainly enjoy doing this a lot more, having conversations with people who are the best of what they do.

Snap a screenshot and let us know you were listening to this episode, tag us. He's at James Storm Brand. I'm at Chris Van Vleet and we'll wrap it up with this quote from John Lennon. Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears. Be great. Be grateful, my friends. We'll see you on the next one for some more insight.

We've got Ask CVV number 87 tomorrow so much to talk about money the bank fallout. Ron Killings, all of it. I'll see you right back here tomorrow to wrap up the week with Ask CVV. 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.

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