The Darewolf. Former member of The Nexus and The Corre. Three-time Tag Team Champion. PJ Black is here! On the eve of ArcadeMania, PJ Black (fka Justin Gabriel) joins Spencer Love to chat about his upcoming WrestleMania week appearances, teaming with Tyson Kidd, his return to IMPACT Wrestling, his free agency, a potential NXT offer, and more! Like, share, subscribe, and tune in to our latest interview on Love Wrestling!
You won’t find many wrestling fans, if any, who haven’t heard of the renowned Hart Dungeon. Founded in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1955, the Dungeon became known as one of the most brutal, but one of the best, training schools in professional wrestling history. Led by the legendary Stu Hart, the Dungeon produced some of the biggest names in professional wrestling history, including the Hart family, the Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Tyson Kidd, and more.
Unfortunately, the Dungeon closed in 2003, shortly after the death of the Hart family patriarch. Since then, there has been no true predecessor to Stu’s fabled Dungeon: at least, nothing until recently, with TJ Wilson and Natalya opening their own version of the Dungeon in Florida.
Recently speaking with Natalya, I asked her about her love of training and, of course, the New Hart Dungeon itself.
“It’s awesome. We love our dungeon!” espoused the Queen of Harts. “Of course, a lot of people ask about how they can come and train with us.
It’s not a school, because we don’t have time for school. TJ and I are on the road so much: literally, like six days a week, we’re working. But, we train on a certain day of the week, and it’s sort of invite only. There’s people that I’ve run into during my career that will say, ‘Hey, would it be okay if I came down and checked it out?’ I’m totally fine with that. But, it’s just so hard because there’s so many people, it’s hard to get everybody in the ring.
“My practices are really intense. The training is really…it’s grueling. It’s like the way the Dungeon was back in the day. The Dungeon actually was started in 1955, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the Hart House. It’s a tradition, it’s our family tradition, and it’s so nice to be able to carry on that tradition.
It is really a place for people that love wrestling. It’s like a wrestling workshop. There’s a lot of secrets that are shared about the industry as far as how to construct a match, and how to be great, and how to excellently execute things. It’s like a wrestling workshop. It’s really cool for the people that come in there and train with us.”
One individual Hart was quick to point out was Street Profits star Angelo Dawkins. Since the return of live crowd, Dawkins has been noted as one of the most-improved wrestlers on the WWE roster. That’s no accident, says Natalya, but his efforts both on and off of shows.
“You look at somebody like Angelo Dawkins. He’s been training with us since the very beginning, and you see the growth and the improvement that he’s made. He’s lost all this weight and his performances are incredible. His conditioning is awesome. It’s just like a testament to him.
He’ll be on Raw, he’ll be on SmackDown, he’ll be doing live events, [and] he’ll be on a pay-per-view. But, he shows up. He comes in, he trains with us and he puts in the work even though he has a family, too. It’s just so commendable.”
Tune in to our full interview with Natalya below. For those who choose to use the above transcriptions, please credit Spencer Love/Love Wrestling.
The career of Sami Zayn has seen lots of changes in recent months, but one thing that has remained with him is his finishing move. The Helluva Kick, a running Yakuza Kick with his opponent prone in the turnbuckle, earned its name through a happenstance of mispronunciation, WCW magazine, Denny’s and one of AEW’s lead commentators.
Ahead of his main event match with Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber last month, Sami shared how his version of the Yakuza Kick earned its name, for the first time ever, with Love Wrestling.
“If you want the actual history here, I don’t know if I’ve ever actually told it in an interview.” Sami begins. “When I was a kid, I had a WCW magazine, and I was reading some match results. It said Chris Jericho defeated Syxx – or maybe it was the other way around – with a hell of a kick.
It was written “helluva” like that, and I thought it was a Helluva kick, so I thought it was a type of kick.”
It wasn’t until he shared this anecdote with a peer that Sami’s Yakuza Kick would earn the variant name. “So I told this story to Excalibur, who now does commentary on AEW every Wednesday. I told this story to him at dinner one time at Denny’s after a PWG show, then we started calling the running Yakuza kick in the corner that I would do at the time, we started calling it a Helluva kick. So that’s actually the real history of that name.”
Sami also shared his thoughts on returning to Montréal, Laura Jane Grace of Against Me, and Sami For Syria. Tune in to the full video interview below, and please give a h/t to Zak Ralph for the transcription.
Check more of Love Wrestling’s interviews from the Elimination Chamber junket, including conversations with Natalya, on YouTube
Mat Rats, the fledgling promotion run by Teddy Hart, is one of the great ‘what-if’ stories in professional wrestling. In spite of its short run, Mat Rats consisted of some of the most talented young wrestlers in the country, including TJ Wilson, Harry Smith, Jack Evans, and more. Not only was the promotion set to be produced by former WCW booker Eric Bischoff, but was set to run on MTV. Though the promotion never got off the ground, its impact on the Canadian, and worldwide, wrestling scene is immense.
One individual who got their start in Mat Rats was none other than Natalya Neidhart. Beginning with the promotion as a ring announcer, Natalya was surrounded from the start of her career by a veritable who’s-who of the Canadian wrestling scene.
“Mat Rats was so crazy because it was something that was just thrown at us,” Natalya stated. “It was like ‘Eric Bischoff’s producing the show with Jason Hervey and they want to make this for MTV. It’s gonna be like wrestling and rock concert joined together.’ That’s actually where my cousin – I worked with TJ [Wilson], Harry [Smith], and my cousin Ted [Hart] and Jack Evans. Rene Dupree was in it. Mauro Ranallo was in it. I’m just trying to think who else was in it. We had a whole bunch of different people in it.
“
Natalya continued, stating that not only was that where she learned the inner workings of professional wrestling but her first move, too.
“They were like ‘Natty should do a move,'” she began. “The very first wrestling move that I ever learned was a dragonrana, which is like a front flip onto somebody’s shoulders into a hurricanrana. I never even knew how to do a headlock! That was the first move I learned. It was so much fun doing Mat Rats.”
In spite of the presence of future industry legends, Mat Rats unfortunately never earned its place on MTV, and now is simply looked back on fondly by all involved.
“Of course, it never really got off the ground,” Natalya lamented. “But, it was just a really cool chance for us as kids. My husband and I were on that together.
It was a good chance for us as kids to see what it was like to work for a big set. It wasn’t just like a small independent show. There was cameras and there was TV angles, and there was monitors, and people backstage, and producers, and directors, and it was just like it was cool. I felt like I was on a movie.”
Tune in to the full video interview below, and please give a h/t to Spencer Love for the transcription.
Women of Wrestling star. Trained under Thunder Rosa and Jazz. Some know her as Jennifer Florez. Jasmin Allure is here! You’d be hard-pressed to find a major promotion that Jazmin Allure HASN’T worked for at this point! Signed to Women of Wrestling and with appearances for WWE, AEW, and the NWA under her belt, Allure’s quickly become not just a rising star on the independent scene, but a star, period! Tune in as she chats with Spencer Love about her meteoric rise in pro wrestling, signing with W.O.W, taking on the likes of Lacey Evans, Thunder Rosa, Kamille, and more, advice from AJ Lee, the character-based nature of WOW, and more!
“So with Jazz and Thunder [Rosa], they trained me. They physically trained me. AJ is more
like my mother. My godmother, I call her. She’s my godmother, because she made my dream
come true! She gave me the first contract. She brought me to W.O.W. But she’s like a
mother to me. She tells me when she sees me training, she’s like, where are your elbow
pads? Wear your elbow pads, you don’t want to have that elbows like me!
The first training
she saw me, my elbow started bleeding from the mat, like the mat burn. She’s like, ‘What did
I tell you? Wear your elbow [pads]! She’s just like a mother, and she gives great advice.
When we’re at W.O.W., she watches my matches and afterwards, she’ll give me critiques
and stuff like that.”
“When I heard they were coming back, and I heard AJ was a part of it, I was like, ‘wow, this
is gonna be really good.’ I, at first, was kind of like, oh my god, they’re very character [based]
and like, gimmicky and all that stuff, and I’m kind of not. I’, more of a wrestler-wrestler.
But,
when AJ contacted me, she was like, ‘I think you’d be great for this.’ I was like, ‘I can’t say no
to her!’ And, also, Women of Wrestling, I would watch that as well.
These woman kicking
ass, they’re so inspiring as well. And the locker room! Once I got there, everyone was so
nice. There’s no drama. It’s 40, I think 40 girls, plus. For that to be as great as it is, it’s
insane. It’s pretty awesome. We’re all so supportive, and it’s really great. The fact that AJ
brought me in, and getting to meet like David McLane, who owns it, it’s a pretty great
opportunity.”
Bronson Reed joins Zak Ralph of Love Wrestling to chat about his return to WWE, his tribute to Bam Bam Bigelow, Vader, unfinished business in WWE, and his thoughts on the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame!
VIDEO
AUDIO
HIGHLIGHTS
“I’m a huge Bam Bam fan. I love all the stuff he did in ECW. I think that was a bit of a different run for him. WWE-wise, I love the LT [Lawrence Taylor] main event he had WrestleMania. Now a lot of people might not put it up there as like a classic matchup, but Bam Bam was such a professional and so good at what he did that he made LT look like a million dollars. That’s something I’ve fond memories of as a kid. That and the whole flame attire and stuff!
He always stood out to me as a kid. So that was why I wanted to have that inspiration for the TakeOver gear that I had.”
“Yeah, Vader is one of them. I was a big Vader fan. The stuff that he did in WCW, obviously here in WWE, but also all the stuff that he did in Japan. They’re probably the two I take away from most: Bam Bam Bigelow and Big Van Vader.
”
(continued) “I actually have one of [Vader’s] masks at home! His son actually sent me, which was really nice. He sent me as a gift one of his dad’s masks. So I have that at home. So maybe I could wear that at some point. I mean, I’d like to do the big Mastodon stuff.
That’s the that’s the goal! With the smoke and everything. That’d be awesome.
This podcast has a strict no-Kane policy. Not sorry, Glen.
Our guests today are members of the team behind THE DRUID’S HAND, A Saskatchewan-based short horror film, An ostracized town priest and his acolyte face the ramifications of their dark past. We have the co-writer and director Mitch Oliver alongside the leading man who happens to be one of western Canada’s emerging wrestling stars, leader of the RADz, Magnificent Mitch Clarke! We talk about the film, how Clarke got cast, the hugely successful Kickstarter that funded the project, the film’s run on the festival circuit and much more!
https://www.instagram.com/thedruidshand/
https://portlandhorrorfilmfestival.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mitchclarkemma/
https://www.instagram.com/mitch.oliver_/
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/love-pro-wrestling-6-welcome-to-paradise-tickets-373306468697
Use code LOVE WRESTLING to take 20% off of your order and receive free shipping on MANSCAPED! #ad
rkathletics.ca
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PODCAST EDITING: Tina Lulham
VIDEO PRODUCTION: Zak Ralph
MUSIC: Trevor Nemeth
https://lovewrestling.podbean.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/lovewrestlingca
https://www.twitch.tv/lovewrestlingca
On June 24th, Lio Rush releases his brand-new EP, Not Found 2. Prior to the release of some brand-new tunes, the 27 Year Old Piece of Gold joins Spencer Love for an exclusive chat covering his growth as an artist, the crossover between wrestling and hip-hop, returning to NJPW, his injury status, and quick hits on some favourite wrestlers-turned-rappers!
Pre-Order Not Found 2: https://www.liorush.com/
Twitter: @IamLioRush
Instagram: @iamliorush
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Podbean: https://lovewrestling.podbean.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LoveWrestlingCA
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/love-wrestling/id1544146794
For the third straight year, Smark & Friends proudly presents an episode in affiliation with Toronto Comic Arts Festival. The past two years they have put us in contact with great guests and this year is in that same spirit. Kat Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen are the authors and artists behind PASS ME BY, the graphic novel series telling a queer rural Canadian tragedy about a man facing dementia, and being confronted by a past he chose to forget.
We talk at length about Pass Me By, including goals for the third book in the series and the inspiration behind it. We also discuss mural work, their own contributions to this year’s TCAF, and of course, watch a little wrestling. Much like the main character of Kat & Danny’s work, we’re watching a match featuring a pair of legendary wrestlers who refuse to let wrestling pass them by(nailed it). The Butcher & The Blade take on Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, The Rock N Roll Express, in a match from Beyond Wrestling!
https://www.instagram.com/torontocomics/
https://twitter.com/TorontoComics https://www.torontocomics.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kat_simmers/
https://www.instagram.com/rdannyowen/
https://www.ryandannyowen.com/
https://renegadeartsentertainment.com…
https://www.youtube.com/user/BeyondWr…
https://twitter.com/beyondwrestling https://www.instagram.com/beyondwrest…
Use code LOVE WRESTLING to take 20% off of your order and receive free shipping on MANSCAPED! #ad
rkathletics.ca
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PODCAST EDITING: Tina Lulham
VIDEO PRODUCTION: Zak Ralph
MUSIC: Trevor Nemeth
https://lovewrestling.podbean.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast…
https://www.youtube.com/lovewrestlingca
https://www.twitch.tv/lovewrestlingca
It’s week two of our @Fringe Montreal Festival celebrations as Montreal’s best theatre fest sneaks up on us, approaching June 9th. Our guest is no stranger to the Fringe, nor to CBC, JFL, and the comedy circuit at large. Leighland Beckman joins Smark & Friends in advance of An Evening With Leighland Beckman, which happens to coincide with Aural Turpitude, his comedy record of raunchy, raunchy music.
Leighland joins us for a watchalong of pro-wrestling proportions, as we enjoy footage courtesy of @Lucha Libre & Laughs out of Denver, Colorado. The match in question features Hoodie Howlett, taking on emerging indie legend and someone who would be right at home at Fringe MTL, the incomparable EFFY!
https://leighland-beckman.bandcamp.co…
https://twitter.com/fringemtl https://www.instagram.com/fringemtl/
https://www.instagram.com/lucha.libre…
https://twitter.com/LuchaLibreLaugh
https://mobile.twitter.com/HoodieLCG
Use code LOVE WRESTLING to take 20% off of your order and receive free shipping on MANSCAPED! #ad
rkathletics.ca
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PODCAST EDITING: Tina Lulham
VIDEO PRODUCTION: Zak Ralph
MUSIC: Trevor Nemeth
https://lovewrestling.podbean.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast…
https://www.youtube.com/lovewrestlingca
https://www.twitch.tv/lovewrestlingca