TNA wrestler films TV
show in Belfast
Nick Aldis may be best
know as Magnus to viewers of TNA Wrestling programming, however there
is an awful lot more to him that simply being a professional
wrestler. I caught up with Nick in
Belfast as he filmed for Challenge TV (also home to TNA here in the
UK) show UK''s Strongest Man. Series. Aldis and co-host Matt Bell
were on hand to film links for the series, interview some of the
competitors and much more over this August Bank Holiday Weekend
event. Here are highlights from that chat.
Phil: Hi Nick first up
let's chat about you presenting this show. How are you enjoying that
experience?
Nick: Well Phil this is
my second year now. So being asked back must mean I am doing OK
(laughs). Honestly this is a great job, we have a small team really,
our Producer, Matt and myself. I think it helps that Matt and I get
on so well too. That gives us a rapport and something that comes
across on screen.
Phil: Is presenting
something you feel you would like to do more of?
Nick: Yes it is. I love
getting to help produce our pieces (with the guys) and I am learning
so much about the behind the scenes work that you need to know. After
all I came from working holiday camps and Gladiators to wrestling in
the US for TNA and now this. I'm always learning I guess and picking
stuff up. If there are opportunities to do more jobs like this I am
happy to do them.
Phil: Would you say
that presenting something like UK's Strongest Man has helped you with
your in-ring promos?
Nick: Yes and no. I
have always had good responses to my promos and got praise from the
guys in the back. It maybe has made me look at things in more detail
perhaps and of course I have a lot more knowledge of what they are
doing back there now as well.
Phil: May we ask you
about life in TNA. For example how do you feel about the recent spate
of roster cuts?
Nick: I love being a
part of TNA and think a lot of times when there is bad publicity it
is taken out of context or only partially explained (to suit others
means). For example recently Jesse Sorenson (former TNA wrestler)
made some comment about how the company treated him, but the truth is
he was treated very well, they took care of insurance and even paid
for bills. It was blown out of proportion.
Phil: Many say the cuts
have been due to added costs created by taking the company on the
road each week?
Nick: Well yes there
are indeed costs in taking us on the road and that will have an
affect on us as a roster. Honestly the way I see it is that we have
only one two hour TV show and we all cannot be given time on it. I
think what has happened has been necessary for the product and us a
company. I mean how can you build up a storyline or character if you
are barely getting any TV time. That also means many of the guys were
getting basic wages. I'd call it streamlining and something that will
help us.
Phil: The UK market has
grown very steadily in recent years and Impact has become on of its
top shows. How important is the UK to TNA?
Nick: It is very
important to us and I would love to see us back here more often. I
know the company have a lot of ideas for the UK/Irish fans as well.
We always get a great response there. The UK Boot Camp series also
highlighted some of the talented wrestlers we have here and we know
there are a lot more. I think it helps UK wrestlers to see guys like
myself, Robbie T, Doug (Williams) etc. on TV and makes them want to
break the US too. Challenge TV have really embraced us and I guess
you could say I am the UK face for us right now too.
Phil: You mentioned
Boot Camp there, I feel that concept worked very well. You were
involved in that were you not?
Nick: I worked as
colour commentator on that and boy do I now have (even) more respect
for guys like JB (Jeremy Borash) too. You really have to think on
your feet and not panic. I liked doing that and hope to maybe do some
more. The competitors really worked hard throughout as well. There
are a lot of UK/Irish wrestlers who have real potential to be big
stars.
Phil: You have already
done so much in TNA. But how does it feel to be in the new Main Event
Mafia line-up?
Nick: It is a real
honour to be involved and what I must say it that guys like Sting and
Kurt Angle have always been two of the main guys who have been
pushing for me backstage too. They have done that genuinely and
really helped me move along. To share the ring with them is amazing.
Phil: In relation to
Kurt I for one thought it was a nice touch that (TNA President) Dixie
Carter mentioned his entering rehab and his absence from storylines.
Do you feel the same?
Nick: To be honest I
can see the reasoning, but maybe would not have done it in the ring
like that. I think it was really for Kurt's benefit to let him see
how much support he has from the fans and us all on the roster.
Phil: Thanks so much
for your time Nick I'll hopefully see you on the January 2014
UK/Irish tour.
Nick: Thanks Phil. I'll
see you there.
Nick and his co-host
Matt were recording their UK's Strongest Man show live from Belfast.
This will be shown on Challenge TV very soon. In the meantime you can
watch Nick (as Magnus) each week on the channel's Impact Wrestling
show.
Ultimate (UK's)
Strongest Man has been running for ten years now and was created by
Northern Irish strongman Glenn Ross. Ross has won the event many
times and represented Ireland and the UK at many others across the
globe as well. Ross has also competed at the World's Strongest Man
events and founded the UK Strength Council and Irish Strength
Association. As well as organising the UK's Strongest Man events Ross
also acts as a referee when needed.
Phil caught up with
Glenn briefly, here are his responses.
'We have been doing
this for ten years now and it has grown so much since then'.
'It is great to have
Challenge recording this and supporting us too'.
'We started out on
Channel 5 way back then and didn't know where we would end up. This
is amazing to see'.
'This weekend we hope
to see between 500-1000 people here outside the Odyssey Arena in
Belfast'.
By Phil Allely
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