IMPACT X-Division champion Josh Alexander recently spoke with the Wrestling Epicenter about a variety of topics, including how he feels about his historic tag title reign with the North, what it was like for him to transition as a singles wrestler, and how he longs to get fans back in the arena for IMPACT. Highlights are below.
How he feels about the company’s X-Division:
“I think Impact needs to nail down exactly what the X Division is. They have said “no limits” for years because there is no weight limits on this thing – Samoa Joe is one of the best X Division competitors we ever had and he was almost 300 pounds. For me, growing up as a fan of TNA, watching Impact Wrestling, when that X Division graphic went up, you knew you were going to get to see bad ass pro wrestling! You were going to get to see guys go out there and do whatever it is they had to do to steal the show. To me, that is what it is now and that is what I look forward to making it even more moving forward.”
Hypes his upcoming Iron Man matchup with TJP, which Alexander says D’Lo Brown heavily praised:
“D’Lo did mention that to me in passing. But, you know, it is pro wrestling! (laughs) You don’t always believe what people tell you. (laughs) There is a recency bias and all of that other stuff. To me, TJP is probably the best opponent I’ve ever stepped into the ring with ever. We’ve had three matches and each one has been regarded as a classic or exceptional. That is instant. Especially right now, with no crowds, you can’t tell by the crowd noise. But, as soon as I walk through that curtain, I know when I’ve had a great match with TJP. There is just this feeling in the air. That is why I would say he’s probably the best opponent I’ve ever had.”
Talks his transition from the North to a singles competitor:
“No, not at all. I’m not going to front – There was nerves! After two years of being very successful in the tag team division, I had to learn on my own two feet – So to speak. You know what I’m saying? There was nerves. But, I knew I had 14 years (in the business) before I joined Impact Wrestling wrestling all over the world in all different promotions against the best wrestlers in the entire world. So, I knew I had plenty of experience as a singles competitor. So, I knew that the second I had a chance to stand on my own two feet in the middle of that ring, I was going to get to show the world that.”
On the North’s legendary tag team title reign:
“You know, it was a promo line to say that we just wanted to go down in the history books. But, it is real now. And, it is a feather in my cap that I can always hold on to – That I’m in the history books and that I’m going to be remembered as one of the best Tag Team wrestlers in one of the best wrestling companies the world has ever seen.”
How he felt after Ethan Page left:
“Yeah. But, it was only scary in the sense that opportunities don’t always come along in professional wrestling. So, there is always the uncertainty of them not knowing who is going to make the decisions and when to get an opportunity. I just had to wait my turn. Luckily, it came very quickly and I was able to show what I could do. But, initially, going into Hard to Kill, I had a pre-show match with Brian Myers. I didn’t know if someone from management would be watching and say, “This Josh has something.” But, that is what it is all about. Getting an opportunity and trying to hit a home run with it every time.”
On potentially reuniting with Page somewhere down the line:
“You know, that is the good thing about this “Forbidden Door” business. There are just too many dream matches that are out there from a tag team scenario for that not to be left on the table if these companies truly are working together. I think there are a lot of fans that would love to see The North against FTR, The North against the Young Bucks, The North against the Jurassic Express. You want to see all these matches that you could not see in Impact Wrestling when we were a tag team. I think it would be a good business decision to have that happen. But, the timing has to be right… Everything has to be right! You just have to keep trucking along and never say never.”
Says he’s eager to get fans back for IMPACT:
“So, so very eager! (laughs) I can’t think of anything I want more from a professional perspective. To me, wrestlers are a lot like comedians in that you need that immediate response. True – Over the past year, we’ve proven we don’t really “need” it but without that immediacy, you really don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t really know if anything is good until it airs and then you’re going off of social media’s reaction. I think returning to the live crowd is going to be the best thing ever and I really can’t wait for that to happen.”
(H/T and transcribed by 411 Mania)