Aaron Carnevale passed along this recap.
Courtesy: www.MondayNightMayhem.com
Ring of Honor’s Mike Bennett was one of the featured guests on this week’s all-new edition of the award-winning Monday Night Mayhem, hosted by The Big Mosh & “The Chairman of the Board” Todd Vincent. Become part of The Mayhem Nation on Facebook (at www.Facebook.com.MondayNightMayhem & www.Facebook.com/FeelTheMayhem), and follow “Your Home of Wrestling Radio” on Twitter (at www.Twitter.com/FeelTheMayhem).
Mike’s return to “Your Home of Wrestling Radio” is now available for FREE download, exclusively on the Wrestleview Radio Network:
Interview highlights courtesy of WrestlingDVDNews.com’s Aaron Carnevale, MNM’s National Correspondent:
“The Prodigy” Mike Bennett/Monday Night Mayhem Interview (MP3 Streaming Audio): http://www.wrestleviewradio.com/WVIP_Preview/mnm061813.mp3
What fans can expect in his Grudge Match with B.J. Whitmer this Saturday night at Ring of Honor’s Best in the World iPPV: “B.J. is someone I’ve never had the opportunity to get in the ring with, other than the last TV taping. I don’t think people realize what we’re going to bring. I’m looking forward to working with B.J. I think this is going to be a match that is the ‘dark horse’ that people are going to talk about, because it’s not what they expect.”
Why he believes he has only had a limited number of title shots thus far in ROH and when he may receive his next opportunity: “You know, that is a question that I’ve pondered for a very long time. I don’t know what it is. I couldn’t tell you. I’ve pushed for storylines. I’ve pushed for ideas. I’ve pushed for everything. I love the company I work for, I love the management, and I love everyone that runs it, but it just wasn’t my time. It didn’t fit. I believe that if you just do your job and stay the course, your time is going to come.”
How he thinks that his fiancee (Maria Kanellis) have been able to maintain their successful relationship, despite the rigors and stress of the professional wrestling industry: “The cartoonish answer is that we are both giant dorks and nerds. I don’t think people realize how big of nerds we are. The truth is that we don’t consider this a ‘wrestling relationship.’ We are just two people that really enjoy spending time with each other. We have very strict rules that separate work from our relationship. We are also very respectful and humble of where we are in our relationship. The biggest word that it comes down to is respect.”
What actually transpired during his WWE tryout earlier this year, the rumors of him signing a developmental contract, his “free agent” status, and why Maria & him are not a “package deal” if he is presented the opportunity to join the WWE: “Me and Maria are not a package deal. For some reason, I get people asking if I would only go to the WWE with Maria, and that is not the case at all. She was offered a deal to go back to the WWE back in January. Everything was all set to go, but they told her that they weren’t moving along with the storyline. I don’t know where the rumors came from, but I didn’t do any medical tests. I am not signed to a contract for the WWE, and I’m not heading down to Tampa. It is kind of ‘up in the air’ right now, and I consider myself a ‘free agent’ at this moment. I know there is interest from WWE, and I know there is interest from Ring of Honor. Now, it’s just a matter of seeing where the ball is going to land.”
Much more is contained in this exclusive interview from “The Prodigy,” including his candid thoughts on his experience thus far in ROH since debuting three years ago, what/whom he thinks put him on the map, the impact that Kevin Kelly had on getting his foot in the door at Ring of Honor, some of the lessons that Lance Storm taught him during their feud, his respect and admiration for B.J. Whitmer, why he thinks Maria is not given as much credit as she deserves in the industry, forthcoming appearances for himself and Maria (including performing at Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore event in Philadelphia this Saturday), plus so much more! Follow “The Prodigy” right now on Twitter (at www.Twitter.com/ROHMikeBennett). Mayhem Nation: Place your order for Ring of Honor’s Best in the World iPPV by logging on to www.ROHWrestling.comto enjoy all of the action this Saturday night from The Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, MD.
Celebrate over a decade of Monday Night Mayhem by listening to exclusive interviews with your favorite wrestlers & personalities from Ring of Honor (ROH Matchmaker & Authority Figure Nigel McGuinness, ROH Ambassador Cary Silkin, “Mr. Wrestling” Kevin Steen, Jay Lethal, “The First Lady of ROH” Maria Kanellis, and ROH Announcer Kevin Kelly), with many more of your your favorite Mayhem memories and moments coming throughout the summer! Don’t miss all-new episodes of Monday Night Mayhem, available for FREE download every Tuesday, along the airwaves of the Wrestleview Radio Network.