Post by Sushi-X on Sept 19, 2009 22:05:33 GMT -5
NOTE: The following contains views expressed by me (and me only), and does not necessarily reflect views of the Xtraordinary Wrestling Association nor its management.
Following the Overload taping in London, Antonio Gomez, play-by-play announcer for Overload, talked to Sushi-X outside the O2 Arena in London. He insisted the interview take place outdoors since it was a clear, warm evening outside. The camera was rolling as the ninja prepared to give his thoughts on a variety of subjects in this exclusive interview for XWA.com.
Sushi-X: Welcome to the latest edition of the Sushi-X Files. Volume 13 is outside the O2 Arena in London. This edition will be a little different, as today, I’m the interviewee. With me is the man that calls the action on Overload, I’m talking about a man who’s been up and down the block when it comes to this business, Mr. Antonio Gomez.
Antonio: Thanks for having me.
Sushi-X: Not a problem. I have a lot of respect for you and what you’ve done in this business.
Antonio: I really appreciate the compliment. I guess I get to turn the tables if you will on your show. You ready?
Sushi-X: Let’s do it.
Antonio: First off, your matchup with Bryan “The Dragon” Yang tonight. Though you did put up a good effort, some would say you were thoroughly dominated. What do you say to that?
Sushi-X: Well, I would say they weren’t all watching the same match. I mean, they make me like I’m a jobber or something. But this is a bottom line sport. Either you win the match or you don’t. And I did not.
Antonio: Speaking of which, you hold just one victory this season, and none since coming over to Overload in the draft back in April. Yang called you, and I’m quoting here, “the weakest man on the Overload roster”. Does that frustrate you?
Sushi-X: Well, depending on how you look at it, I do have a pinfall victory over !!!JONNY PUNCH!!! at Soul Survivor. But it was a two out of three falls match, and I didn’t win the next two. But yeah, I’m frustrated, because I’m a competitor. I want to win, like everyone else here on the roster and everyone in this company. I mean, if you’re here just to be here, then I don’t know why you’re here. As for Bryan, who calls me the “weakest man on the roster,” I like to see him go through what I’ve been through in XWA. Has he taken ladders to the face? Chairs? Barbed-wire 2x4s? Singapore canes? Has he been set on fire? I don’t think so. See, someone who’s been through all of that clearly isn’t a weak person.
Antonio: I’ll get back to Bryan Yang and your championship match at Only the Strong. Your wars with !!!JONNY PUNCH!!! will go down in XWA lore, even though you’ve managed to only get one pinfall victory over him. Though he clearly dominated you, the fact that you were able to walk away from all those beatings I think earned you respect from the fans, and specifically Overload General Manager Stan O’ Malley. Why did you continue to take these beatings week after week?
Sushi-X looked up for a moment, then at the scars, bruises and taped-up ribs. He then shows the still visible burns from the Inferno Match at Soul Survivor.
Sushi-X: See that, Tony? That’s nothing. I’ve broken bones. Bled buckets of blood. Even damn near died in the ring before I came here. So this is nothing to me. See, I’m committed to bringing the best out of this company and these fans. And that’s what they expect out of me. Yeah, I haven’t won a match since moving here to the red show. But I feel like this. I’ve gotten a lot more exposure than I did before the draft. It’s all about getting that spot, Antonio. You take advantage of the time you have and the situation you have and you make the most of it.
Antonio: Would you have done anything different, meaning do you
regret the hardcore matches with Punch…
Sushi-X: No, no, no, not at all. All this is temporary, Tony. Even if I leave this company tomorrow, I think people will still remember me. Yeah, I’ll be remembered as the guy that got set on fire, but so what? Better than being a footnote in the history of XWA in my view.
Antonio: Some people think your losing streak is attributed to the fact that you still have an issue with TNN, The New Nation. What’s going on with that situation?
Clearly not happy with the question, Sushi-X again looked upward before answering.
Sushi-X: I’m not going to comment on that too much, since there are still some legal issues with that. But what MG and them are doing over there on Takedown is their issue, not mine. Yeah, we had a bit of a falling out and barely spoke since the draft. And honestly, if I don’t see him for the rest of my life, I couldn’t give two shits about him. He’s got his career, and I got mine. That’s all I’m going to say about it.
Antonio: Fair enough. Back to Bryan Yang. You get another shot at him for the XWA No Limits Championship at Only the Strong in Italy in a couple weeks. What are you doing to get ready for that match?
Sushi-X: I’m not giving away my secrets here. But I will be well prepared when I get in the ring with him again.
Antonio: Did it surprise you that Yang joined Upper Echelon?
Sushi-X: Honestly, looking back on it, no it didn’t. I mean, look at what they got there. Scott O’Dell, the only man to win the XWA Championship more than once. Osiris Alston, quite the enforcer. Primo’s a former National Champion. The Troy Brothers, very successful here. I mean, and look, I’m not kissing ass here, Tony, but Bryan Yang’s the most dominant champion in XWA today. Maybe ever. Almost a natural fit, if you think about it.
Antonio: Would you have rather faced the man that replaced you in TNN, Kelon J.A.H.?
Sushi-X: Honestly, it didn’t matter who I was facing. I came here in XWA almost two years ago, and my first priority was to take that No Limits title. Yeah, I’ve been sidetracked by that goal for a while, but now I finally get that shot I’ve been waiting for. And you look at who Bryan’s beaten: Kelon, Jimmy Vain, James Bowen, Jimmy Ames, list goes on and on. It’s not a mistake that he’s the most dominant champion in the business right now, but he’s making a big mistake in thinking I’m just going to be another stepping stone towards that title. I’m sure he’s got the best training money can buy, but I got something that a big fat paycheck can’t buy.
Antonio: And what would that be?
Sushi-X: Heart. See, I’ve been through the wars in XWA just like he has. But as far as I’m concerned, he hasn’t done what I done. He hasn’t been through the hard fought, tough matches I’ve been in. See, Yang may be the best light heavyweight in the world, but he doesn’t have nearly half the heart I do. He has no respect for the ways of the dragon. No respect for his opponents. No respect for this craft. And him joining Upper Echelon proved that. I respect Yang for what he’s done in this business, but as a person, he’s a piece of shit. Let’s say I beat him to a bloody pulp. Or for that matter I beat him. Or when he’s in trouble. Or when he’s challenged. Then what happens? We find out then, Tony, if he has the heart.
Antonio: A lot of people consider you the underdog in this matchup, especially with your injuries you’ve suffered in recent months still not fully healed. If you win at Only the Strong, you will be the first man to beat Yang for the title, I think since the championship was created. How will that moment feel?
Sushi-X: We’ll find out when we get there.
Sushi-X laughs for a moment before Tony resumes the questioning.
Antonio: What if you lose? That would make it eleven straight title defenses for Yang, more than anyone in XWA history. And that would still leave you winless since coming to Overload.
Sushi-X: Guess we’ll find out there too.
Antonio: I like to thank you for the time here on Sushi-X Files. Good luck in your match at Only the Strong.
Sushi-X: Thanks for your time too. That’s Sushi-X Files. X out.
Following the Overload taping in London, Antonio Gomez, play-by-play announcer for Overload, talked to Sushi-X outside the O2 Arena in London. He insisted the interview take place outdoors since it was a clear, warm evening outside. The camera was rolling as the ninja prepared to give his thoughts on a variety of subjects in this exclusive interview for XWA.com.
Sushi-X: Welcome to the latest edition of the Sushi-X Files. Volume 13 is outside the O2 Arena in London. This edition will be a little different, as today, I’m the interviewee. With me is the man that calls the action on Overload, I’m talking about a man who’s been up and down the block when it comes to this business, Mr. Antonio Gomez.
Antonio: Thanks for having me.
Sushi-X: Not a problem. I have a lot of respect for you and what you’ve done in this business.
Antonio: I really appreciate the compliment. I guess I get to turn the tables if you will on your show. You ready?
Sushi-X: Let’s do it.
Antonio: First off, your matchup with Bryan “The Dragon” Yang tonight. Though you did put up a good effort, some would say you were thoroughly dominated. What do you say to that?
Sushi-X: Well, I would say they weren’t all watching the same match. I mean, they make me like I’m a jobber or something. But this is a bottom line sport. Either you win the match or you don’t. And I did not.
Antonio: Speaking of which, you hold just one victory this season, and none since coming over to Overload in the draft back in April. Yang called you, and I’m quoting here, “the weakest man on the Overload roster”. Does that frustrate you?
Sushi-X: Well, depending on how you look at it, I do have a pinfall victory over !!!JONNY PUNCH!!! at Soul Survivor. But it was a two out of three falls match, and I didn’t win the next two. But yeah, I’m frustrated, because I’m a competitor. I want to win, like everyone else here on the roster and everyone in this company. I mean, if you’re here just to be here, then I don’t know why you’re here. As for Bryan, who calls me the “weakest man on the roster,” I like to see him go through what I’ve been through in XWA. Has he taken ladders to the face? Chairs? Barbed-wire 2x4s? Singapore canes? Has he been set on fire? I don’t think so. See, someone who’s been through all of that clearly isn’t a weak person.
Antonio: I’ll get back to Bryan Yang and your championship match at Only the Strong. Your wars with !!!JONNY PUNCH!!! will go down in XWA lore, even though you’ve managed to only get one pinfall victory over him. Though he clearly dominated you, the fact that you were able to walk away from all those beatings I think earned you respect from the fans, and specifically Overload General Manager Stan O’ Malley. Why did you continue to take these beatings week after week?
Sushi-X looked up for a moment, then at the scars, bruises and taped-up ribs. He then shows the still visible burns from the Inferno Match at Soul Survivor.
Sushi-X: See that, Tony? That’s nothing. I’ve broken bones. Bled buckets of blood. Even damn near died in the ring before I came here. So this is nothing to me. See, I’m committed to bringing the best out of this company and these fans. And that’s what they expect out of me. Yeah, I haven’t won a match since moving here to the red show. But I feel like this. I’ve gotten a lot more exposure than I did before the draft. It’s all about getting that spot, Antonio. You take advantage of the time you have and the situation you have and you make the most of it.
Antonio: Would you have done anything different, meaning do you
regret the hardcore matches with Punch…
Sushi-X: No, no, no, not at all. All this is temporary, Tony. Even if I leave this company tomorrow, I think people will still remember me. Yeah, I’ll be remembered as the guy that got set on fire, but so what? Better than being a footnote in the history of XWA in my view.
Antonio: Some people think your losing streak is attributed to the fact that you still have an issue with TNN, The New Nation. What’s going on with that situation?
Clearly not happy with the question, Sushi-X again looked upward before answering.
Sushi-X: I’m not going to comment on that too much, since there are still some legal issues with that. But what MG and them are doing over there on Takedown is their issue, not mine. Yeah, we had a bit of a falling out and barely spoke since the draft. And honestly, if I don’t see him for the rest of my life, I couldn’t give two shits about him. He’s got his career, and I got mine. That’s all I’m going to say about it.
Antonio: Fair enough. Back to Bryan Yang. You get another shot at him for the XWA No Limits Championship at Only the Strong in Italy in a couple weeks. What are you doing to get ready for that match?
Sushi-X: I’m not giving away my secrets here. But I will be well prepared when I get in the ring with him again.
Antonio: Did it surprise you that Yang joined Upper Echelon?
Sushi-X: Honestly, looking back on it, no it didn’t. I mean, look at what they got there. Scott O’Dell, the only man to win the XWA Championship more than once. Osiris Alston, quite the enforcer. Primo’s a former National Champion. The Troy Brothers, very successful here. I mean, and look, I’m not kissing ass here, Tony, but Bryan Yang’s the most dominant champion in XWA today. Maybe ever. Almost a natural fit, if you think about it.
Antonio: Would you have rather faced the man that replaced you in TNN, Kelon J.A.H.?
Sushi-X: Honestly, it didn’t matter who I was facing. I came here in XWA almost two years ago, and my first priority was to take that No Limits title. Yeah, I’ve been sidetracked by that goal for a while, but now I finally get that shot I’ve been waiting for. And you look at who Bryan’s beaten: Kelon, Jimmy Vain, James Bowen, Jimmy Ames, list goes on and on. It’s not a mistake that he’s the most dominant champion in the business right now, but he’s making a big mistake in thinking I’m just going to be another stepping stone towards that title. I’m sure he’s got the best training money can buy, but I got something that a big fat paycheck can’t buy.
Antonio: And what would that be?
Sushi-X: Heart. See, I’ve been through the wars in XWA just like he has. But as far as I’m concerned, he hasn’t done what I done. He hasn’t been through the hard fought, tough matches I’ve been in. See, Yang may be the best light heavyweight in the world, but he doesn’t have nearly half the heart I do. He has no respect for the ways of the dragon. No respect for his opponents. No respect for this craft. And him joining Upper Echelon proved that. I respect Yang for what he’s done in this business, but as a person, he’s a piece of shit. Let’s say I beat him to a bloody pulp. Or for that matter I beat him. Or when he’s in trouble. Or when he’s challenged. Then what happens? We find out then, Tony, if he has the heart.
Antonio: A lot of people consider you the underdog in this matchup, especially with your injuries you’ve suffered in recent months still not fully healed. If you win at Only the Strong, you will be the first man to beat Yang for the title, I think since the championship was created. How will that moment feel?
Sushi-X: We’ll find out when we get there.
Sushi-X laughs for a moment before Tony resumes the questioning.
Antonio: What if you lose? That would make it eleven straight title defenses for Yang, more than anyone in XWA history. And that would still leave you winless since coming to Overload.
Sushi-X: Guess we’ll find out there too.
Antonio: I like to thank you for the time here on Sushi-X Files. Good luck in your match at Only the Strong.
Sushi-X: Thanks for your time too. That’s Sushi-X Files. X out.
