In an interview with Under The Mat Radio, New Japan Pro Wrestling Superstar Kenny Omega commented on his WWE developmental days as part of Deep South Wrestling, requesting his release from WWE developmental, Bob “Hardcore” Holly, Japan, TNA Wrestling and more.
Highlights of the interview are below:
On his time in WWE’s developmental system: “I went there and it was like really grueling physical training. We were training to be MMA fighters, not professional wrestlers. I liked it and enjoyed it because that’s the kind of training that I like to do. The problem with Deep South to me is that there was a group that were tight with the boss and they would always go out and drink and have barbeques, then when WWE would say, who should we look at, Bill DeMott would say, oh look at this guy and this guy. Of course, those were his buddies.”
On Bob “Hardcore” Holly: “We had guests come in at times like Chris Benoit, William Regal, Dean Malenko and then Bob Holly would come and kick our a**. I don’t know what the guy’s problem was, he was always grumpy. I remember one time, he got mad at one of the guys and kept punching him in the face.”
On the Japanese fan base and TNA’s style of wrestling: “Not to knock TNA Wrestling, but there’s too much hokey talking and segments that don’t really involve wrestling, of course everyone in TNA speaks English, so if there’s an angle going on, they won’t be able to understand it. TNA has a talented roster, but when I looked at it, it seems as if everyone was rushing, it’s like the time is given to the talking and when it happens in the ring, everyone rushes to the finish. In Japan, it’s the opposite, when you talk, make it quick and tell your story in the match.”
The interview is available in full at this link.