Naturals' Andy Douglas Talks TNA, Future, & High Spots Report by TNA Wrestling News Staff on 03/13/2006 at 10:34 AM
Show: Weekend Warriors of Wrestling
Guest: TNA Naturals' Andy Douglas
Date: March 13, 2006
Your Hosts: Patrick Kelley, James Walsh, & Missy Hyatt
I think I speak for Patrick when I say we were very surprised with this interview. Andy Douglas is a relatively young wrestler but he's a young wrestler thta gets it. We now are Naturals marks after doing this interview. Give it a listen, I think you will be too!
Also, Missy Hyatt joins us to discuss the One Night in Chyna film as well as various other crazy topics. Be sure and check out Francine and Missy Hyatt herself reviewing the One Night in Chyna video in video form with play by play by the lovely ladies right now at http://www.MissyHyattandFrancineTV.com.
All this plus much more! Go to http://www.WrestlingEpicenter.com to listen to it!
"THE NATURAL" ANDY DOUGLAS
Interview conducted by Patrick Kelley* and James Walsh* (*batteries
not included)
Transcript by Chris "NOT the Poker Player" Furguson
The first question for Andy Douglas is about the new Primetime slot
(Thursdays at 8 pm starting April 13), and the locker room reaction.
Andy says that, although he doesn't know the numbers, the numbers
could jump the current 1 million viewers to as high as 5, 6 or 7
million in the upcoming weeks. "In the end, it will mean more
exposure and more money for everybody."
Does Andy think TNA will ever become competition to WWE? According to
Andy, when it comes to what fans prefer, they already are competition.
However, competing budgetwise, viewers and merchandising will take
longer, if ever.
How did Andy began teaming with Chase Stevens? When Andy moved to
Nashville, he worked for USA Championship Wrestling and wrestled
against Chase at first! Andy then credits Bob Ryder for teaming them
together, as they had the same haircut at the time, as well as the
same look and the same wrestling style.
Where did Andy train? In Kentucky, with Bull Paine, "Handsome" Bo
James and the Batt Twins. Andy also mentions that he "learned all the
flippity-floppity flashy stuff" but later took a step back and decided
to make a career out of wrestling instead of having a couple of years.
Andy also says that someone like Rey Mysterio will never main event
Wrestlemania, while guys like HHH will.
James asks the question about independent guys who "wear baggy clothes
to hide their unimpressive physiques." Andy's reply is that while not
everyone has an impressive body, It's a matter of "whether you decide
to take a step to buy a pair of boots and wrestling tights and get
your butt in the gym or you want to continue being a backyarder."
Is the wrestling training in Nashville more "old school?" According
to Andy, "Absolutely." He later says that if you want to be a pro
wrestler, pretty much your career goes through Nashville or Memphis.
There's a lot of work in those areas, apparently, with guys who can
work an "old school" style.
James mentions his interview with Ricky Morton before going into
Ricky's quote about the "differences between 'Southern' wrestling and
'Northern' wrestling. When asked if there are any differences, Andy
says "Absolutely, absolutely. And it's more fun for guys like Chase
and I to wrestle that style in the Mid-west and South because it's
more appreciated." He then puts down New Jersey, New York and Canada
as places where you have to do spot after spot or the crowd craps on
the match.
What does Andy think of "well-timed high spots?" "I'm not putting
down highspots. I think there's a place for everything. I think
there's a place for X-Divison, I think there's a place for hardcore
matches. It's just, when you get to the point, in your independent
promotion, where that's all that's on your card, and you've got
everybody on the card that's 150 lbs doing the same spots and not
selling anything kills the business!" He then mentions the end of
ECW, where "you basically had to take a shotgun out there for a
finish!"
Patrick chimes in with a question about the Natural's feud with
America's Most Wanted and what it's like working with those guys.
"It's always been fun." After explaining the importance of trust in
wrestling, Andy puts AMW over as people he's never had to worry about
trusting.
What about the 12-second title match against AMW? "Well, if you
blinked, it was pretty much over and it suprised everybody."
Does Andy prefer being a face or a heel? "I enjoy both aspects of the
wrestling business, pretty much the same." He says that on the
independents, he prefers being the heel as he likes controlling the
crowd's reaction as well as the match.
Chris Candido is brought up. "You know, it wasn't even as much what
we learned in the ring. It was just the experience we got to spend
with him outside of the ring and backstage and at the hotels and at
the restaurants and just being with somebody that's got an
understanding and a mind for the business that he had was just
amazing."
Did the loss of Jimmy Hart, as their manager, affect the Natural's
current spot in the company? "I think that would not be 100%
correct, but it didn't help, that's for sure."
This segues into how Andy emulates Bret Hart somewhat, especially with
his punches.
Who has the best punch in wrestling? Andy puts over Jerry Lawler
before saying that Ric Flair had great punches, a long time ago then
adding "now they got to switch the camera every time he does
anything."! He later says that "RVD has some great moves out there,
but it should be illegal for him to ever throw a punch again!" When
James brings up John Cena, Andy admits to not watching RAW or
Smackdown in a year and a half.
Which other tag teams would Andy like to work with? "MNM, for sure.
I think if we signed up there, or they signed down here, I think that
would be a feud to see."
Could the Naturals succeed in the WWE? "Not unless they wanted us
to." He puts over TNA champion Christian Cage as an example of that.
If the Naturals broke up, would Andy succeed in the X-Division? Andy
doesn't think so, as it's not something he enjoys doing.
What matches would be on the "Best of The Naturals" DVD? "Definitely
lots from our feud, early in the days in Nashville, with AMW (Double
ladder, Six Sides of Steel). Definitely the match where Candido
helped us win the titles, before he passed away. And probably my
favorite match that I've... This might be my favorite match I've had
in my career was the first match after his [Candido's] passing with
AMW."
Is traveling out of Orlando necessary to TNA? Andy says that's what
is necessary to moving to the next level is a 2-hour timeslot.
What about going live? "I think it would be great."
Word Associations:
Chase Stevens: "Just pretty much like a married couple."
Petey Williams: "Should be a babyface."
Eric Young: "One of the most underrated guys."
Lance Hoyt: "A future star, definitely, a future star. Just needs to
get some self-confidence."
Chris Candido: "Just truly missed."
"Wildcat" Chris Harris: "A great mind for the business."
"Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm: "Hilarious to drink with."
"The Phenominal" A. J. Styles: "Pretty good acrobat."
"The King of the Mountain" Jeff Jarrett: "One of the best ribbers in
the business."
After a plug for Destination X, James asks Andy for a plug for 3 Count
Wrestling.
