When speaking of the recent breakout stars of the NWA, it’s hard not to immediately think of Royce Isaacs. As part of the promotion’s Strictly Business faction, Isaacs has impressed in both singles and tag team action through his time with the NWA. Not only has Isaacs wowed fans with his work inside the squared circle, but has earned the gold to back it up, claiming the NWA Tag Team Championships in September of last year with Thomas Latimer as the Wild Cards.

Recently, Isaacs of the National Wrestling Alliance joined me to discuss Billy Corgan’s involvement with the NWA, fitting in with the promotion and the National Wrestling Alliance as a whole. 

Billy Corgan’s direct involvement with the NWA:

“He’s there all day, every day. He is 100% hands-on with everything. This is Billy’s baby, and he didn’t just purchase the NWA to be like ‘alright, guys, figure it out.’ He is on the front lines, in there with us, and he – it’s his baby. It’s his passion, and he’s all about it. Billy is more involved than anyone else in the NWA, in the creative, and making sure everything is running correctly.”

Fitting in with the NWA:

“I think that on both my side and the NWA’s side, it was one of those things where I work well in that environment and I’ll say that a lot of the guys at NWA, they look like wrestlers and they wrestle like wrestlers and it’s a good setting for people that are like that. I think that there are some people that are really gimmick-heavy, there’s some people that are less so, there’s some people that, like I don’t have a very gimmicky gimmick, but I do feel that I show a lot of personality and it’s fun to be part of the NWA where I get to show off quite a bit of that and that’s something that’s embraced.”

“I just think that the NWA’s been a really good fit so far, it’s been really cool to have studio wrestling on such a big stage, and I think being part of a product that is legitimately that different and unique and interesting has been really cool. I can’t say enough good things about it. It’s been quite a wild ride but I’m loving it so far.”

Filming in a consistent studio setting:

“It’s been really cool. One of the things, too, is a lot of those fans come in from all over. Even though it’s a lot of the same people, it’s actually a pretty diverse fan base. I think, obviously, we were planning on branching out a little bit and doing some other stuff, and then the madness has all kind of come over the world unfortunately now and there’s things bigger than wrestling that everyone’s dealing with, but I would assume at some point the NWA, once things are back to normal we’re going to be doing some different stuff and getting out there a little bit.”

“But, at the same time, I 100% agree with you. It’s been really crucial to our growth to have this crowd that’s really, really into the product. They care about all the storylines, and they’re not just like “oh, NWA Powerrr, what is that?’ They’re like ‘oh, NWA Powerrr is my jam, and I know all the little intricacies,’ and it’s like they’re actively a part of the show in a very positive way.”

Please credit Spencer Love/Love Wrestling with any transcriptions used. 

In his just over two years in professional wrestling, Brian Pillman Jr has done an admirable job of not only honouring his father through his in-ring work but continuing to be an innovator through the entire industry of professional wrestling. Currently signed with Major League Wrestling, Pillman Jr is a member of the New Hart Foundation with fellow legacy Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Recently, Pillman Jr joined me to discuss the expectations that come with being a Pillman, if he considered wrestling under a different name, and more.

If he considered wrestling under a different name:

“Yeah, it was definitely a reality for me at first. I wanted to protect myself and protect my performance and my name, but as I was able to see, the right move was just to be myself. Some people recommended, Lance (Storm) recommended perhaps wrestling under a mask or trying to protect myself so I could get a few shitty matches out of the way, but at the end of the day, my first match was one of my best matches. So, I’m looking at it now and I’m thinking ‘man, I had a pretty god damn good match, kid!’”

The advantages and disadvantages of being a Pillman:

“I think it was both (an advantage and disadvantage). It was definitely both. It’s always an advantage because of the booking and being a positive draw. Every promotion I go to, they’re at least going to experience some kind of increase in draw or ticket sales, just by the nature of the beast y’know what I mean? There’s only one of me, there’s only one second-generation guy like me on the market right now. Whether you like it or not, fans are going to come pay to buy a ticket to see me, so by default, I’m booked.

It helps to have that on my side.”

“But yeah, the expectations are high. The expectations have always been high. My first year or so was a lot of failures, a lot of going out there and finding myself. These weren’t some great matches, these weren’t some f***ing five-star classics. This was the story of a young guy following in the footsteps of his father that set a huge, huge expectation above his head, a huge shadow cast upon me.”

“But, as we see right now after about two years and some change into doing this, I’m starting to figure it out, (I’m) starting to have some really good matches, have some really good synergy with some different wrestlers, some really good storytelling, and I could never be happier with my career right now as it stands.”

Developing his in-ring style:

“I think just by being myself. I just always wanted to be myself out there. I’ve always been very interested in boxing and kickboxing and striking and stuff, and I’ve done a little bit of mat work in there too. I’m a very versatile person in real life, so I feel like I’m a versatile person in the ring.”

“I never wanted to have that expectation, because according to my dad’s friends, they said the name Flyin’ Brian is what killed him because he was always expected to do the most, he was always expected to fly. You gotta think, you work for this big company and your name is Flyin’ Brian.

Anybody else that wants to fly is coming for your spot.

If you’re the Flyin’ Brian of the company, you’ve gotta set the highest precedent for flying that they can see. It’s very hard, very hard to deal with those expectations, so I thought that maybe more of a rounded approach to things or an approach that I can really be myself and have a lot of fun in the ring and really confuse my opponents, while also having some innovative offence. I’m an innovator. I like to do different things. I don’t like to do every single move that everybody else does, and if I do, I like to do it my own way.”

Please credit Spencer Love/Love Wrestling with any transcriptions used. 

The pressure that comes with being a second-generation professional wrestler is one that few can understand; however, it’s one that Brian Pillman Jr has handled with poise since entering the wrestling ring just over two years ago. However, since signing with Major League Wrestling, Pillman has had the good fortune to work with two fellow legacy wrestlers in Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr. As the New Hart Foundation, the now-duo has not only turned heads for their in-ring work but the chemistry they possess.

Recently, Pillman Jr joined Spencer Love on the Conversations With Love podcast to chat about signing with Major League Wrestling, the impact of working with the New Hart Foundation, and the effect that Teddy Hart’s release had on the group.

Signing with MLW:

“So a lot of people want to give credit to my name and all of that, but if you really look at it, I really had some really good qualities going into my work and into myself. I don’t think that anybody’s taking that away from me now. I think people definitely see the value in me now, and they’re starting to wake up to the fact that I’m not Brian Pillman Jr, but I am Brian F**king Pillman Jr.”

Working with the New Hart Foundation:

“It’s insane. It’s incredible. It’s incredible to have not only that legacy and that pedigree of the Hart Foundation, that awesome name, but also they’re awesome. Not just the name, but they’re another example of guys that are not only taking a name but also taking the ball and running with it.

They kind of set the groundwork for me, they kind of paved the way so that guys like me can be good wrestlers and can get really good. It isn’t just about the name, they’re really frickin’ good.”

How Teddy Hart’s release impacted the New Hart Foundation:

“It’s definitely a good dynamic now because it gives me and Davey Boy a time to shine and show who we are, because maybe Teddy, while he was such a good leader and impressive athlete, maybe he took up too much of the shine from us that maybe now we can start to look good. At the same time, that’s not the best situation.

The best situation would be to have him with us here still. When the Hart Foundation, when it was the three of us, we were producing the clueless vignettes, we had so much friendship going on, so I definitely don’t see it as a positive that he’s gone. I feel that’s a huge negative, but in the same way, it’s not as bad as what I would have thought.

I would have thought ‘oh my god, we’re screwed, what are we going to do now?’ That is totally not the case.”

“I think who I am is majorly influenced by Teddy and Harry and the whole Hart Foundation. I think that they’ve helped create who I am. My path would have been totally different if I didn’t take this path for sure. They definitely have a huge influence on who I am as a performer.”

Please credit Spencer Love/Love Wrestling for any transcription usage.

One of the high points of professional wrestling this year is the impending WWE Hall of Fame induction of “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith. For years, Smith was regarded as one of the Hall of Fame’s biggest omissions, going so far as to inspire a petition that earned over 26,000 signatures. Currently, Smith’s son Davey Boy Smith Jr is a member of Major League Wrestling’s New Hart Foundation with fellow 2nd-generation star Brian Pillman Jr. 

Recently, Pillman Jr joined me to discuss The British Bulldog entering the WWE Hall of Fame, as well as his own father’s Hall of Fame induction.

The British Bulldog’s Hall of Fame Induction:

“That’s just the ultimate icing on the cake. To me, he’s so deserving of that honour and I could never imagine a world where he doesn’t get that award.

To me, it’d be unreal for him to not receive that, and it’s just the absolute, utmost honour that you can frickin’ have.

To be in the WWE Hall of Fame, I mean, that’s what people dream of after lifelong careers, and for that guy to have passed away the way he did and what it meant to his son to still carry on his legacy – like, his son rescued Bret Hart.”

“At that point, I was like ‘alright, he’d better get in the Hall of Fame now, because he just saved Bret Hart!”

His Dad not being inducted thus far:

“I think it’s just timing, and maybe they want to give my Dad his own time. Maybe they want to make it even more special for him, to give him a full-on induction into the Hall of Fame.

I try not to be selfish with those things because I understand how show business works and I understand how this business works, so I’m never the guy to get upset at stuff like that.

”

Please credit Spencer Love/Love Wrestling with any transcriptions used.