TNA Wrestling veteran and multi-time champion Frankie Kazarian recently appeared on “The Velvet Ropes” with SoCal Val for WrestlingNews.co. He discussed his long history with TNA, his dream opponents, the company’s rising stars, and his advice for the next generation of wrestlers as the company prepares for its live debut in a historic wrestling city.
Kazarian began by expressing his excitement for TNA’s upcoming live event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a city with a rich wrestling history dating back to the AWA. “To be part of TNA, bringing it here for the first time, especially with what we’re doing now, the level of shows that we’re doing, the excitement around the brand… it’s cool just to bring that to a new market for us,” he said.
When asked what sets TNA apart from the other major companies he has worked for, his answer was immediate. “The same thing today that did in 2003, 2005, 2010 to 12 is the locker room,” he stated.
He described the company’s long-standing mentality as being an underdog in the wrestling landscape. “We’ve always prided ourselves on what we do in the ring and having a great locker room full of hard working, good people… all for a common cause,” Kazarian said. “We’ve always kind of been The Little Engine That Could and, for better or worse, are still kind of looked at like that… we’re all going out there, trying to prove that we do belong in the upper echelon of professional wrestling.”
Despite the roster changing over the decades, Kazarian feels that the core culture of the TNA locker room has remained the same. “This locker room, I’ve said it many times, is the the best and closest knit locker room I’ve ever been a part of,” he explained. “It’s just the faces have changed, but the morale is the same all these years later.”
As a 27-year veteran, Kazarian also identified three young stars on the TNA roster who he believes have incredibly bright futures. The first name he mentioned was Leon Slater. “Leon Slater is the obvious choice. He’s… proving why he belongs and he is the future of this business,” Kazarian stated. He also recalled being part of the match in the UK where Slater was officially signed to a TNA contract in the middle of the ring, calling it a “really cool” moment to be a part of.
Kazarian then named two other wrestlers who have impressed him with both their talent and their attitude: Jason Hotch and Zachary Wentz. He praised all three men for having “respect… for this business,” and for being “hungry, and… very coachable, which is a quality I look for.” Kazarian predicted, “In the next three to five years, you’re going to be seeing and hearing a lot from those guys in TNA and just in pro wrestling in general.”
When asked about his own remaining career goals, the first name that came to his mind was his longtime friend and rival, AJ Styles. He acknowledged they have wrestled “literally hundreds of times,” but he praised what Styles has accomplished in the last decade with WWE as “unprecedented,” stating, “I would love to do that dance one more time with him.”
He also listed several top WWE stars he has never had the opportunity to face. “Guys that I have not yet had the privilege to get in the ring with, we’re talking guys like Randy Orton, guys like Rey Mysterio,” he said. He also expressed interest in a match with a fellow Southern California wrestling veteran: “Hell, I’d love to mix it up with The Miz, my old buddy, The Miz.”
Finally, Kazarian offered his advice to the next generation of wrestlers trying to make it in today’s landscape, stressing the importance of gaining diverse experience. “Wrestle as many different people as you can for as many different promotions as you can, in front of as many different fans as you can,” Kazarian urged. “Wrestle different styles, wrestle people that take you out of your comfort zone.”
He explained that he modeled his own career on the “Chris Jericho method” of traveling the world to become a more complete performer. “Get out of your comfort zone. Get out of where you are. Go somewhere. Go on a pilgrimage,” he stated. “You’re just going to be a much more well-rounded wrestler in the end.”
Fans can see Kazarian and the TNA roster this week when TNA Wrestling presents Impact live from the Minneapolis Armory this Thursday, September 4th. Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster.com.’
Click below to watch SoCal Val’s interview with Frankie Kazarian.
This interview is exclusive to WrestlingNews.co. If you use these quotes, please include a link back to this page.
