Talking Slammiversary With Michael Elgin
He challenges Brian Cage for the Impact World Championship.
Last month, I had the pleasure of fulfilling a lifelong dream. After being a wrestling fan for 20 years, I finally got the opportunity to talk and interview a pro wrestler! It was (and is) a huge deal to me both professionally and personally, especially considering the wrestler I got to interview was a man I have admired for many years: “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin!
After making his historic debut at Impact Wrestling’s Redemption, Elgin has risen through the ranks of Impact, becoming the No.1 contender for the Impact Wrestling World Championship. And this weekend, he will challenge current champion “The Machine” Brian Cage at Impact Wrestling’s annual summer event Slammiversary.
Here is a small snippet of the conversation we shared as part of the Broken But Glorious Podcast:
How are you feeling about the PPV and are you excited to be facing your former PWG tag-team partner Brian Cage?
Elgin: “I’m really looking forward to it. I was a big fan of Impact before I signed and to be able to headline Slammiversary, I’m pumped for it! I’m ready, I’m training hard and wrestling Brian is always a pleasure. We’ve not had many singles matches, but being a tag team, we’ve spent a lot of time in the ring together and I look forward to leaving Dallas the new Impact World Champion.”
I’ve been following since you debuted in Impact back at Rebellion, and it was such a huge shock and surprise after seeing you in NJPW for so long. In the lead up to your No.1 contendership, you faced Pentagon Jr. and Johnny Impact. How did it feel facing two very different opponents with two very contrasting and unique movesets?
Elgin: “Yeah, it was really exciting! I had a couple of matches with Pentagon, but we never shared much interaction, so it is always nice getting to wrestle someone that you can do so much more with. With Johnny Impact, that was the first time I ever stepped into the ring with him and man, he’s super talented! I think very highly of the whole Impact roster, I’ve enjoyed every match I’ve had so far in the company. All the talent are on the top of their game and it has been great.”
Watching you from when you debuted in Ring of Honor to now, it’s great being able to see how you have progressed in terms of your style and in-ring ability. Your physique seems a lot leaner. Has your cardio and training changed since debuting in Impact?
Elgin: “I’ve always been very gym-focused, but about a year and a half ago, I decided to change up my diet. It’s been a change, but I enjoy it and I like my look now, my gear and changing up the diet and the way I train. The agility is coming out more and I feel great.”
You’ve been tearing up the Impact roster, and who you haven’t faced yet that you’re most looking forward to wrestling?
Elgin: “I’m really looking forward to wrestling Eddie Edwards since it has been so long since we’ve wrestled. Ethan Page and Josh Alexander are another two. As well as the Rascalz and LAX. I know they’re all tag teams, but I think they’re all super-talented and I hope I get to share the ring with them.”
In the U.K., Impact has a massive following because it has been shown so regularly. Would you like to come back to the UK with Impact?
Elgin: “I’d love to! I’ve always had a great time in the U.K., the fans, wrestlers and culture, it’s a great place. I would love to do that soon.”
Did you see a lot of the product last year, and was there anything that stood out to you?
Elgin: “It was a total package thing. I watched literally the entire year’s worth of PPV and TV and I still watch now. It’s hard to say one thing as everyone was working so hard, and Impact has been putting focus on the championships. We’re all competing for something and they put a very good meaning behind that World Championship. Literally, I love the product from top-to-bottom.”
As a viewer, everything is thrilling to watch, and since you have debuted, as well as other Canadians, was debuting in Canada a big deal and a highlight of your career?
Elgin: “Yeah, it definitely was! Growing up in Toronto and having so many big matches there and doing so much with the scene there, being able to debut for a company like Impact in Canada was really special.”
Last year’s Slammiversary I believe was the best North American PPV of the year. Do you and the rest of the roster feel pressure going into this year’s event to follow up what was grounded last year?
Elgin: “The motivation has been there since I debuted with the company. I think the roster just wants to put on the best wrestling product every time out ,whether it is TV or PPV. Personally, definitely I’m motivated to have the best main event I can and hopefully have one of the best main events in Impact history. I can speak for the whole roster and say we’re going into Slammiversary to make it the best show possible!”
You can listen to my whole interview with Michael Elgin previewing Slammiversary at The Broken But Glorious Podcast.
Finally, I need to thank several people for helping make this interview happen:
- The Broken But Glorious Podcast here in the U.K. for having faith and trust in me to conduct the interview on their behalf.
- Fight Network U.K. and Impact Wrestling for helping make this interview happen.
- Michael Elgin for his patience and giving me such an amazing interview.
- The Wrestling Estate and my co-host Aaron Green of BritWrestleChat for helping me grow on this journey.
- Last but not least, Eric Santamaria, who I first saw presenting “The Wrestling Roundtable” 10 years ago. Not only has he inspire me to know that you can follow your dreams and make them happen, but he has also been with me every step of the way.
I hope you enjoy the interview, but as always, if you have any questions, comments or feedback, please feel free to leave them on the website or contact me on Twitter @stejay215.
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