Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Friday, October 14, 2005 at 12:38 PM EST

The following was transcribed by Dan "Ho-Ju" Kriegbaum:

Former TNA X-Division Champion, Matt Bentley, was a live guest on the 10/10/05 edition of Monday Night Mayhem -- which can be heard in streaming audio every week exclusively on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network (MondayNightMayhem.com, RadioWrestling.net, & AudioWrestling.com, your official home of "The Spring Break Incident" Video-On-Demand, featuring SmackDown! Diva, Stacy Keibler).

The interview with the artist formerly known as Michael Shane is now available to hear for FREE in Real Audio.

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The Big Mosh asked Matt right off the bat what he thought of the iMPACT run so far -- with the debut two weeks ago on Spike TV and Matt's debut this past Saturday night against "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels & Austin Aries. Matt described the debut show as phenomenal, finally getting the opportunity to be on the main stage of national television for the first time in TNA's three years of existence. Matt also mentioned the .8 rating that TNA received, which was double what WWE's Velocity program had received in recent years. Bentley also put over his two opponents, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels & Austin Aries. He was simply ecstatic about the whole night and how everything turned out.

The Angry Hero then asked if several guys/girls on the roster got together to watch the debut show, which Matt responds by saying he didn't, if any of the others did, he doesn't know. Hero then asked if the debut was an inspiration to change anything to Matt's character & repertoire -- to which Matt says that although being on television is nice, you shouldn't go out of your way to make new moves that you aren't sure you can do or not, and go out of your range.

The Big Mosh then mentioned that he heard Jeremy Borash's pad was a party with a bunch of guys in Nashville, TN on the debut show, which Matt goes on to joke about saying that probably hurt their ratings with 20-30 people watching one show. The next big step in TNA, being the Bound For Glory Pay-Per-View (TNA's biggest event in company history) was the next topic of discussion, as The Big Mosh mentioned Bentley's upcoming Ultimate X match pitting him in a #1 Contenders Three-Way Dance -- against Petey Williams & Chris Sabin. Matt said he has the knowledge of the Ultimate X match, being in three of them already, but states that he still finds himself waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about the match and getting ideas of things that might work to his advantage. Other aspects to improving his game in the Ultimate X Match include watching old tapes and doing more cardio.

The Big Mosh then mentioned the Ultimate X match video package seen lately on iMPACT, with clips of Matt from the first-ever Ultimate X -- being all bloodied & battered after he won the X- Division Championship. Matt says that it gives him goose bumps seeing it, because it takes him back to remember the match. He finds it surreal that he himself was a part of the first one.

The Angry Hero then asked what was behind the comments at the Unbreakable Pay-Per-View when Matt returned, saying that he could've been "up north." Matt said that the opportunity arose for him to go elsewhere, but he thought about the TNA family, and being there for a majority of it's existence -- which were both key factors for him to return to TNA. The Angry Hero then mentioned Matt's manager/valet, the lovely Traci Brooks (which Matt agreed), and says that had a little to do with him staying as well. Matt also mentioned not knowing where he would be -- whether on the main stage, the sub programming, or the developmental territory (Ohio Valley Wrestling/Deep South Wrestling).

Blade then asks if he ever gets sick of being asked about his cousin, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels -- to which Matt answered by saying not usually, unless its consistent, then he gets a bit angry and gets short with people about it. He understands, though, that being trained & related to the guy, he has to expect it. The Big Mosh then mentioned the 30-minute Iron Man Match from WWE RAW's Homecoming (featuring Kurt Angle & Shawn Michaels) and it being announced after, but done before, TNA's 30-minute Iron Man Match at Bound For Glory (w/"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles against "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels). Matt said he thinks the WWE's was just a set- up for a longer Iron Man Match -- which he feels will occur sometime in the next few months before or at WrestleMania 22.

The Big Mosh then mentioned two close friends of Matt: Paul London & Frankie "The Future" Kazarian. The question that sticks out the most in fans' discussion's still today is whether or not Kazarian should've been on WWE Friday Night SmackDown,especially since he was pushed as "The Future Of SmackDown" on Velocity. Matt went back to an earlier statement about himself -- saying if you're not in with the right people, things won't happen, unless you want to kiss ass.

The Big Mosh then went on to talk a little more about the two hottest stars in TNA's X-Division, "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe & "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels and how he would love to wrestle more television & PPV matches against them both.

Matt also compared & contrasted the X-Division vs. the WWE's Cruiserweight Division -- with the most noticeable difference being TNA having more of a time & opportunity to focus on their stars more (with 25-30-minute matches) on Impact or Pay-Per-View, where the WWE's "equivalent" only gets five-ten minutes to showcase their talents, if that, on a weekly basis.

Matt then mentioned the WWE's recent acquisitions/signings of Spanky & Jamie Noble back again, with the list of other names that could definitely go the 20-minute matches, but the higher ups don't appreciate the smaller guys and don't think people like it. Matt then used the X-Division as an example, which is TNA's showcase division. People still watch it on television, pay to see it live, and buy the Pay-Per-Views. Matt also says Ring Of Honor guys aren't big either, but they still go -- people pay to see it, and they still draw money. Bentley then says he talked to somebody, whom he doesn't name, who would love to "get out and work the indy scene," and have lengthy matches with the stars of the X-Division. The Big Mosh then asked if that person's name was the The Ultimate Warrior, which Matt reveals it was.

They then get into a discussion about The Ultimate Warrior, as The Angry Hero mentioned that he should be in a ROH Pure Title or Ultimate X Match, where he can't shake the ropes more then three times to get out of a move. Matt then says he watched "The Self Destruction Of The Ultimate Warrior" DVD, and wondered why The Warrior wouldn't blow up on his 100-yard run to the ring, but then backed it up by saying that's why his matches were only 30 seconds.

The Mayhem Crew talks more about TNA, including Matt's match this week on iMPACT against David Young, which Matt said David Young can't surprise him with a victory. The Big Mosh brought up Jushin "Thunder" Liger's name being on the Bound For Glory Pay-Per-View and also working the following iMPACT taping, which Matt honestly believes he could possibly be a future opponent of the Japanese legend. Matt said he will be an innocent bystander watching the match, and expects the Japanese press to come over to cover the show.

Matt mentioned ECW during the Liger talk, and The Angry Hero mentioned that Matt was on the last-ever ECW show in Pine Bluff, AR. Matt went through the first year of his career, coming right out of training and paying dues -- working with FMW & ECW, as ring crew & working matches, while driving 38 hours one way to shows, to get respect from the older talents in the locker room. Matt said that part of his career really helped build his career.

The Big Mosh then asks about the internet, and how much Matt goes on to check out "the bastion of truth & knowledge." Matt said he goes on every once in awhile, and can usually know more by checking online, then he's told, about TNA. Matt said he likes seeing what the fans have to say on feedback about what's working and what isn't -- which he would stop doing if it's bad, or keep doing if it's good.

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You can check out Matt's official website at www.OfficialMattBentley.com.

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Make sure that you tune in to the rest of this week's (10/10) all-new, slam-packed edition of The Mayhem -- featuring the founder of Extreme Championship Wrestling, Tod Gordon -- who joined Monday Night Mayhem to give his thoughts on the upcoming Hardcore Homecoming "November Reign" event (including the status on if this is the last stop on the tour), the latest on the recent legal problems between the WWE & Team 3-D, Paul Heyman's future with World Wrestling Entertainment, and an early preview of his upcoming autobiography -- which very well might be the most uncensored wrestling book ever! You have never heard Tod Gordon like this! This was definitely an "Interview Of The Year" nominee and another instant Mayhem Classic!

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"The Road To Bound For Glory" goes through Monday Night Mayhem, as The Big Mosh & Blade will be counting the days down to TNA's showcase event. Joining the program are former WWE Women's Champion, Gail Kim, to discuss her recent signing with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, what her role in the company is going to be, and the real reasons on why she left World Wrestling Entertainment. In addition, former WWE Champion, former WCW World Heavyweight Champion, former member of the nWo, and the #1 Contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Kevin Nash, will be stepping into The Mayhem squared circle for the first time, to preview his upcoming Main Event match at Bound For Glory vs. Jeff Jarrett. Kevin will also give his uncensored thoughts & takes on the likelihood of a future "Monday Night War" in the works, the WWE moving back to USA, and how he feels about Vince McMahon & Eric Bischoff. Whatever you are doing, wherever you may be, make sure you experience The Mayhem LIVE -- starting at 7:00PM ET/6:00PM CT. You can't afford to miss this one!

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You can hear Feel The Mayhem in its entirety every week -- exclusively on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network.