IN THE ROOM is LIVE Tuesday nights on WEXP Philadelphia and thebradyhicks.com, at 9:30 PM EST. Call the show at (609) 755-5ITR.
Call The Show: (609) 755-5ITR Voicemail: (206) 337-1031 E-mail: intheroompodcast@gmail.com Twitter:@intheroomshow AIM: BradyHicks
--- Brady Hicks has been writing about wrestling for more than 15 years, for Web sites, newspapers, and magazines. He is a contributing writer for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, and the host of his renowned wrestling radio program, IN THE ROOM.
-- DJ is a longtime friend of Brady’s and a lifelong wrestling fan, in addition to serving as co-host for IN THE ROOM for nearly all of its existence.
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Special thanks also to those who conribute to IN THE ROOM on a regular basis. This includes (but is not limited to) Kevin McElvaney, Anthony Sarlo, Young John, Voice of Choice, Albert AC Smooth, Stone Cold, and Jeff Malinoski.
--- Top Three Shows
1.ITR with AJ Styles (8/9/10)
2.ITR with Kurt Angle (10/8/10)
3.ITR with Sunny (3/21/11)
Due to technical issues beyond Brady Hicks’ control, this week’s IN THE ROOM podcast came up as a corrupt file. In its place will be a special “Retro” edition of the show in which Sinn Bodhi (formerly WWE’s Kizarny) stops by for a visit, from March 2010. If you were ever curious about The Undertaker backstage, karaoke with Sweet Daddy Siki, genetics involving Jake The Snake and Doink, or Christian’s love life, then this is the show for you. The guys also took some time to further speculate on WrestleMania XXVI, as WWE’s promotion for the event entered its home stretch.
This week, TNA’s own DON WEST steps IN THE ROOM with Brady Hicks, DJ, and Kevin McElvaney to talk TNA Wrestling, announcing, managing The Amazing Red, and all of TNA’s great holiday dealsssssss on shoptna.com … including a few scoops that HAVE YET TO BE RELEASED! All that, plus WWE’s Slammy’s are discussed, and Brady announces the show’s own year-end awards … THE WHO’S SLAMMY’S! Check it out at thebradyhicks.com.
DON WEST, ON THE CHANGES SINCE TNA’S ORIGINS:
As somebody who has been there from the beginning and seen what it could be like and how far it could go, the exposure has been incredible. I remember doing these shows Wednesday nights at the Fairgrounds in Nashville, just the exposure has been unreal. Just the perception is so different. It’s just been phenomenal.
ON GOING LIVE ON SPIKE:
When it’s live it’s just a whole different field. It seems like everybody just fine-tunes a little more and your senses are just alerted a little bit more. At this point, the company is good where it is at.
ON RE-EMBRACING SALES: It’s been something that I’ve been wanting to do from day one. Jeff Jarrett and I talked about this back around day one, where I would eventually go back to being a pitch-man. And then when we finally became big enough to where sales began to matter, they kind of approached me. It has been almost like a rebirth for me. It’s what I do. It’s what comes easy and natural. We’re really clicking and try . I wouldn’t trade places with my old job…
ON HIS TIME WITH THE AMAZING RED:
Timing was just bad on that. At the time they hadn’t started me on the road yet. Vince Russo came to me remembering how I had always been an Amazing Red fan, standing on the tables going, “GO RED GO.” I think the concept was good as far as me being his voice-piece, but the concept was sort of off in that I was never supposed to be his manager. I was supposed to be his promoter.
ON COLLEAGUE JEREMY BORASH:
I don’t know how JB does the schedule. He’s a man amongst boys.
All that, plus a very unique perspective of the Don West EARLY YEARS selling everything from baseball memorabilia to knives, and his more recent experiences doing the hard-sells for TNA pay-per-views. This is a really different take on the wrestling interview you’d expect.
This week, independent star Alicia comes IN THE ROOM to talk about her upcoming Women Superstars Uncensored match with Nikki Roxx (TNA’s Roxxi). Plus, Brady Hicks, with DJ and Kevin McElvaney, talks TNA’s pay per view, Jeff Hardy, The Slammy’s, and what could be for Sting.
On Beginning Her Training at a Very Young Age: I started wrestling when I was rather young. I started training at 13 and doing shows when i was 14. Things like my senior prom and other things kids were doing, wrestling always came first for me. Once you’re in it, you’re in it for life. It’s like an addiction when you’re in wrestling.
On Learning from Mercedes Martinez: When I started Mercedes Martinez was a golden name. She was experienced, talented, and didn’t take crap from anybody. You need to bring your a game whenever you’re in the ring with her. I was scared to death of her. Even today, in 2010, I got to tell you, I’m still pretty intimidated by her. If I could have the same kind of athleticism and talent as her, I’d be pretty proud of myself.
On Comparing WSU to its More Mainstream Competition:
I think that a lot of the counterparts really focus on different aspects of women’s wrestling. WSU is based in the Northeast and there’s a different style of athleticism. There is really a good balance of all of the different types of women’s wrestling,rolled into one. You can’t know what you’re going to get here because it’s always going to be different … I really like that it’s just raw women’s wrestling.
On Wrestling “Hardcore”: I’m really flexible. You’re just not going to see me going high flying. I’m actually a fan of that King of the Deathmatch stuff.
All that plus Alicia’s thoughts on wrestling Amy Lee, Mickie Knuckles, Nikki Roxx, and Angel Orsini.
This week on In the Room, former CZW (and current ECWA and TWA) tag team champions Bruce Maxwell and TJ Cannon … The Best Around … hop on for a special edition of the show. Plus, Brady Hicks and DJ check in with their thoughts on Retro Raw, Survivor Series, and Jeff Hardy’s new TNA title belt.
On Independent, Tag Team Wrestling
To be honest with you, on the independent scene, there are more great teams than anywhere else. Any time we get to wrestle a great tag team, you do have a challenge there. The independent scene is full of young, hungry guys that are looking to make their mark.
On Young and Up-and-Coming Teams, Such as The Logans:
We’ve seen and heard a lot about The Logans, but we’ve never actually competed with them until we got to the TWA. We were excited to get in the ring with them.
On Wrestling for the ECWA:
We’ve had our eyes on the ECWA for a long time. When we were younger, we used to read all about the [Super 8] tournaments in PWI.
On the Art of Tag Team Wrestling:
There are a lot of things we do to compliment each other. People are just going to have to buy a ticket and enjoy the ride. Wherever we’ve been, we’ve had success on our first time out. There’s always something out there to strive for.
This week on IN THE ROOM, WWE’s former anti-diva SERENA DEEB stops by to hold Brady Hicks and the gang’s hand through a very special episode. What does Serena really think about her dismissal from WWE? What does the future hold for the former Straight Edge Society star? And what are the thoughts going through an 18-year-old girl’s head as she packs up her car and leaves her family in Virginia behind to travel all the way to Louisville to train to be a wrestler.
On Shaving Her Head for WWE It was a really unique opportunity. Seeing a woman getting her head shaved was so rare, you don’t see it all that often in the history of wrestling. Getting to do it as my debut was really, really cool, and really powerful. I was also very scared about what I was going to look like. There were a lot of uncertainties, but it ended up being really, really great for my career.
On the Straight Edge Society’s Demise There were a lot of different ways that things could have played out that could have been interesting. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. It had the potential to make a bigger splash, but unfortunately it didn’t.
On Challenging Awesome Kong in the $25K Series
It was an interesting time in my career. I was kind of pursuing overseas tours. I don’t know that I was on their radar. It just wasn’t the right time I guess.
On WWE’s Development of Female Talent
They really need to start introducing new characters in the women’s division to keep it interesting. The thing that makes it different from the men’s division is there’s so many less spots and they only get like one segment on a show. The fans only see the same girls in every segment, and you have to keep it fresh, to keep a constantly revolving product.
On Serena’s Future Endeavors
I’m 24. I’m going on close to my sixth year in wrestling. I’ve done a lot of cool stuff, a lot of stuff that some people never get to. But there is a lot of unfinished business right now. I say that from many different standpoints. There is the fact that I’m still very young and there’s still a lot of territory that hasn’t been explored. Absolutely, there’s a lot for me that everybody hasn’t seen yet.
All that, plus — what are Serena’s thoughts on coming to work every day with CM Punk on Smackdown, wrestling for SHIMMER, who is WWE’s unsung best announcer, and thoughts on Mickie James, Madison Rayne, and Mercedes Martinez. PLUS … the art of re-growing hair :).
This week on In the Room, a special HALLOWEEN EDITION of the show as Brady Hicks, as wells as DJ and Kevin McElvaney, are joined by WWE’s former vampire, as KEVIN THORN stops by for a bit. Ever wonder what could have been with Mordecai? Also, find out his thoughts on close friend Matt Hardy, the true story behind the bar-fight that cost Kevin his job, and everything else that should have and should have been with ECW’s resident vampire. Check it out today!
On WWE’s Treatment of the Vampire:
After sitting there for close to a year, Vince decided that WWE didn’t need vampires and neither did the world. And they made me cut my hair and wear a singlet and they put no story behind it, no nothing, and then they were like, “It’s not working.” Well go figure it’s not working. I was a vampire one week and now I got no fangs and am just the average guy. Of course it didn’t work.
On His TNA Tryout: I came through the curtain and I had Sting and Booker T and [Kevin] Nash and they told me, “You did good. We need someone like you around here. You’d be a hell of a heel.” Even Terry Taylor told me he’d be calling me about a job and I was like on Cloud Nine when I left there. All of a sudden a couple weeks went by and the phone call never happened. And I called Terry and I think his words were “The right people weren’t in the office at the right time for you to get your job.”
On WWE’s treatment of its wrestlers:
I agree with a lot because I got to see the world, do a lot of interesting things and meet a lot of interesting people. Too, though, when you’re gone it’s like you’re forgotten and nobody really cares about the end result of your tenure. I mean, I was there almost 8-1/2 years. It’s kind of shocking to go from that to the real world. The majority of guys are like I was. They start when they’re 21. There’s no 401K. A lot of these guys are going to have a rude awakening when they’re shoved out the door for the new breed.
On the Stand Up for WWE Campaign:
They have all the guys standing up for WWE that work for them. They’re doing alright. If you’re going to do Stand Up for WWE, why not go to the guys that have since left the company and kind of find out where they’re at? See what standing up for WWE actually is.
All that, plus, Kevin Thorn presents his take on the perception of wrestlers as “meatheads,” the stars and former stars who are best at marketing themselves, who he still keeps in touch with from WWE, and which of his characters is his favorite.
This week on In the Room, TNA star Kurt Angle steps IN THE ROOM with Brady Hicks for a special Bound for Glory edition of the show. Find out what Kurt thinks about the prospect of wrestling Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson at TNA’s biggest show of the year. Special thanks go out to TNA and Kurt Angle for taking the time to sit down with the gang.
On His Upcoming TNA Bound for Glory match:
Just like any other Bound for Glory. I know I have to step it up and put on the best performance I can. I’m excited it is Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson because I think they are two of the big upcoming names in TNA. I believe you’re going to see a lot of great things in this match. The match will be match of the year. We’re going to steal the show and give the TNA fans a really great main event.
Comparing Bound for Glory to WrestleMania: In TNA they give every wrestler on the card the ability to steal the show. We’re ALL put in a position where you’re trying to have the best match. And that’s why a lot of the matches are so good.
On Kurt’s Reaction to Several of the Stars Who Have Come In:
I have mixed feelings. I don’t exactly want somebody to come in from WWE and win the title from our best wrestler, which is AJ Styles. Rob Van Dam is a featured kind of wrestler, Jeff Hardy is as well. Mr. Anderson never really got his real chance, and I’m thankful for that. Right now, we actually has a better roster than WWE. The TNA wrestlers here have carried the company to this point and they deserve a lot of credit. We need to utilize those guys, and let the former WWE guys somewhat enhance them.
Comparing TNA to WWE:
A lot of times, WWE doesn’t get all that they could out of their wrestlers. I don’t think an AJ Styles could have done all that he did if he were in WWE. There is no wrestler better in the world than AJ Styles. He’s the best in the world. It just shows that we’re able to utilize wrestlers differently than WWE. We’re not just that prototype 6’2″, 240 pound man.
Kurt’s “Dream” Final Opponent: I had a good little run with Randy Orton, but he wasn’t as good as he is now. I think [Randy] is the best wrestler up there right now. He carries that company as a character and as a wrestler. I see another guy that’s going to step up that I want to wrestle is the Miz. He’s really stepped up in recent years. In TNA, I’d love to do more with the X Division guys, let them wrestle their style as I wrestle mine.
On Vince McMahon:
I loved Vince. We ended badly, but he and I had a great relationship for a long time. He was like a father to me. Vince and I just weren’t on the same page. I was burned out. I felt trapped and overworked and just wanted to get out. Vince did the right thing.
Plus, Kurt checks in with his thoughts on RVD “The Rock Star,” who specifically in TNA deserves more of a push, who from WWE he would LOVE to wrestle, Dixie vs. Vince, his excitement with Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin both being free agents, and his thoughts on WWE stars such as Randy Orton, The Miz, Bret Hart, and Christian.
This week on In the Room, Brady Hicks and the gang take a detailed look at WWE SummerSlam, then indie wrestler Ricky Reyes stops by and talks about some of the things that tick him off in wrestling. What does Reyes think about Internet reporters? What’s wrong with certain wrestlers’ approaches? Has ROH handled Tyler Black correctly? And how can Tyler take a page from John Cena?
This week, Brady Hicks returns with a new podcast experience, plus the controversial AJ STYLES interview from last week that so many never got to hear.
This week on In the Room, Brady Hicks, DJ, and Kevin McElvaney talk TNA/ECW, and who from WWE has a chance to become a World champion on Raw or Smackdown. Plus, Steve Corino’s manager Rob Dimension swings by to talk about Fork-gate, and Brady talks about being on the cover of an RF Video release.
This week on In the Room, TNA star Kurt Angle steps IN THE ROOM with Brady Hicks for a special Bound for Glory edition of the show. Find out what Kurt thinks about the prospect of wrestling Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson at TNA’s biggest show of the year. Special thanks go out to TNA and Kurt Angle for taking the time to sit down with the gang.
This week on In the Room, Brady Hicks, DJ, and Kevin McElvaney talk TNA/ECW, and who from WWE has a chance to become a World champion on Raw or Smackdown. Plus, Steve Corino’s manager Rob Dimension swings by to talk about Fork-gate, and Brady talks about being on the cover of an RF Video release.
