Mike Tenay Interview: Talks about TNA's TV deal, & AJ Styles as champ

»Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com

On Thursday, June 2, 2005 at 1:02 PM EST

Brian Kelley of AudioWrestling.com sent in the following recap...

AudioWrestling.com interview recap: Mike Tenay on Monday Night Mayhem

The “Professor” Mike Tenay of Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) was a guest on the 6/1/05 edition of Monday Night Mayhem which can be heard in streaming audio every week exclusively on the AudioWrestling.com site, the exclusive legal home of the "Spring Break Incident" VOD featuring Stacy Keibler!

The interview with Mike Tenay is now available to hear for FREE in Real Audio!

Here are highlights from the interview provided by the show's co-host Shawn Walters of www.MondayNightMayhem.com and www.AudioWrestling.com

To kick off things, The Big Mosh and The Angry Hero introduce the now FIVE TIME guest of the Mayhem, “The Professor” Mike Tenay to the show. The crew remembers the journey they’ve had with Mike on the show, starting with TNA’s humble beginnings in Nashville all the way to their current home in Orlando.

The trips to Nashville by the Mayhem are brought up, to which AH laments about missing Hurricanes night club in Nashville, only to be misunderstood by Mike in an odd exchange.

Mike touches upon the current TV situation of TNA, as their deal with Fox Sports Net has expired. He really can’t comment on anything definite right now but he is optimistic that TNA has momentum on their side. Mike says the forthcoming Slammiversary PPV is allowing him to reflect on all that TNA has done in three years.

Mike views the time on Fox Sports Net as “positive” and gave them tremendous exposure, despite the issues with the timeslot. He also says the use of the Impact show name is currently being discussed, to which AH suggests they call the new show “The Mayhem” (for obvious reasons)

In reference to promoting the Slammiversary PPV without the benefit of TV, Mike is confident with the results so far, given the fact at least six matches have already been established on the Impact. He does see this as a challenge but with the TNA website and internet radio shows, the job will get done.

Mike gives his thoughts on AJ Styles and his new run as TNA champ, putting over the intrigue of the King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. He thinks Abyss is going to be “wild card” of this match, although the dynamic between Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown has intensified in recent weeks. Mike then briefly runs down the line-up of the PPV and the importance of the matches.

In response to AH’s inquiry about an impending America’s Most Wanted heel turn, Mike definitely sees potential, especially with the losing streak AMW has been on as of late. He also notes the dissension within the ranks of the 3 Live Kru and a possible new direction for both teams.

Mosh gets Mike’s response to Kevin Nash’s recent comments where he compared working in TNA to “goofing off”. Mike says he wouldn’t predict Nash coming back in a creative sense, but does say “the door is open” to guys like of the caliber of Nash and “Diamond” Dallas Page.

Mike talks about Jeff Hardy and the much ballyhooed Hardy Boyz reunion with Matt Hardy possibly joining the TNA mix this summer. He can’t really speculate on the arrival of Matt Hardy due to the no-compete clause but he does like the Big Mosh’s idea of a “summer series” with the Hardy Boyz and AMW.

After commenting on Raven’s on-screen future with TNA, Mike discusses the surreal nature of seeing Eric Bischoff, Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman all in the ring together on RAW. He appreciated the moment for what it was worth, driving home the purpose of the One Night Stand PPV. Mike admits to watching recent WWE programming and how the WWE announcers are actually putting over the physical nature of ECW, almost unintentionally placing the ECW wrestlers on a higher level in the fans eyes.

Once again, Mike mentions all the wrestling he watches, including the WWE, IWA in Puerto Rico and so on. He commends the WWE’s use of the slow build in establishing the Batista turn and the whole Eddie Guerrero/Rey Mysterio storyline. Mike puts over how good both Rey and especially Eddie have become on the mic and make their feud the best thing going on Smackdown! right now.

Mike remembers how significant the loss of Chris Candido was to not only TNA but wrestling in general. He recalls how Chris was eager to help find new ways to develop his on-screen character as well as Mike’s announcing and wherever else he could pitch in. Mike says Chris’s death was not only the loss of a wrestler but a “locker-room leader.”

In wrapping up, Mike and the crew talk about the memories of WCW in Buffalo, NY, the Mayhem’s home base. Mike recalls being a part of the Ilio DiPaulo Tribute show at the legendary Memorial Auditorium and making it a point to get former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly involved in a Nasty Boys/Public Enemy match. He jokes with the crew that his photo at the Ilio DiPaulo restaurant (celebrating its 40th anniversary) has replaced his photo with a picture of the Big Mosh.

Be sure to check out Mike Tenay and all the TNA superstars at TNA’s Slammiversary, live on PPV, Sunday, June 19th, as well as www.tnawrestling.com.

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You can hear Monday Night Mayhem in its entirety every week only at http://www.audiowrestling.com

Make sure you mark your calendars for next week’s edition of the Mayhem, with scheduled guests “The Franchise” Shane Douglas AND “The New F’N Show” Jerry Lynn, promoting the Hardcore Homecoming show on June 10th in Philadelphia. Visit www.hardcorehomecoming.com for more details.