TNA World Champion Moose is ready for the promotion to take the wrestling world by storm after the strong start at Hard to Kill.
The January 13, event marked the official relaunch of TNA Wrestling, which was announced back at Bound for Glory 2023. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Moose was asked how it feels to be a TNA wrestler and recalled the locker room’s reaction to last October’s announcement.
“[It feels] Great! It’s something that within the boys, that we’ve always talked about. We’ve always said to each other ‘What if TNA came back and we weren’t IMPACT Wrestling anymore? We were just TNA?’ I didn’t know personally [about the rebrand] They didn’t tell me, I’m the last person that finds out about anything that’s going on. I remember the night, I think Josh [Alexander] was in the main event and everybody was like ‘Make sure you watch the monitors after the match.’ In my head, I’m like ‘What’s going on?’ Is CM Punk coming in? Because he was a free agent at the time. CM Punk coming in? No way!
“So I’m going to watch the monitor and the match is over and the reveal happens. And there’s a reaction video and you can see me jump up, get on the chair chanting ‘T-N-A! T-N-A!’ with the rest of the boys. I think that was the most epic part of the year last year.”
Moose on TNA Hard to Kill
In the main event of Hard to Kill, Moose captured the TNA World Championship from Alex Shelley, ending the 218-day reign of the Motor City Machine Gun. Moose’s celebration would be short-lived, as he was confronted by the debuting Nic Nemeth, who laid out the new champ with a superkick. On the podcast, Moose recalled the excitement of what happened after his win.
“I don’t think anybody was expecting what happened after [Hard to Kill’s main event.] Obviously, I wasn’t expecting it either. But just rethinking the whole moment. They set it up in the weeks prior that there’s going to be a huge signing and this person is showing up at Hard to Kill. ‘You won’t believe who’s there!’ I think the way they set it up, they announced Dana Brooke [Ash By Elegance] in the Women’s Championship match. And everybody thought ‘Oh man, Dana Brooke, that’s awesome.’ That’s a new signing to TNA.
“So [after that] nobody thought anything was going to happen. And then I win the title and I’m celebrating and Nic [Nemeth] comes out from out of nowhere and kicks my ass. He’s gonna get his back.”
Moose Makes His Promise
TNA Hard to Kill would prove to be a runaway success for the promotion with fans and those in the industry praising the relaunch show. On the podcast, Moose vowed that Hard to Kill is just a sign of things to come.
“It just shows how great the year has started off, and it’s only going to get better. I promise you… And I’m sure he [Nemeth] is going to have great matches with a ton of guys on my roster. There’s the crazy thing about it. You go on Twitter and you see all these idiots, that never watch the product, only say bad things.
“But then you watch the product and as soon as you watch it, you’re hooked because you’re like ‘I didn’t know TNA was this f****** good!’ We, I think, in my personal opinion, are the best wrestling company from top to bottom.”
TNA Wrestling is ready to ‘Cross the Line’ once more…
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
