Low Ki Ain’t Afraid To Get Filthy
MLW SUPERFIGHT comes to Philly this Saturday and airs live on beIN Sports.
The biggest event in Major League Wrestling history comes to Philadelphia this Saturday.
MLW SUPERFIGHT features a stacked, WrestleMania-caliber lineup with storylines and feuds that have been brewing since last year. Seven months ago, to be exact, when “Filthy” Tom Lawlor outlasted 39 other competitors in the inaugural MLW Battle Riot. As soon as the former UFC star sent Jake Hager (aka former WWE Superstar Jack Swagger) tumbling to the floor, Lawlor earned a shot at the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at any time of his choosing.
Well, what better time than the day before the Super Bowl, and what better location than the mecca of pro wrestling – the former ECW Arena in South Philly?
Despite punching his golden ticket last summer, Lawlor hasn’t had an easy seven months. Low Ki, the undefeated MLW World Heavyweight Champion, has made life extremely difficult for his opponent. He and business partner Salina de la Renta have thrown many obstacles in Lawlor’s path, including the betrayal of his teammate Simon Gotch.
Meanwhile, Low Ki has hung onto the gold by any means necessary, turning back the challenges of various luchadores, the legendary Konnan and even former champion Shane Strickland. Whether it’s ripping Rey Fenix’ mask off, yanking out Strickland’s hair, tearing off Daga’s ear or even shanking Konnan, Low Ki has illustrated that morals don’t apply to his code of survival.
Will he survive perhaps his greatest challenge to date? We’ll find out this Saturday at MLW SUPERFIGHT, airing live on beIN Sports.
MLW: SUPERFIGHT takes place at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, February 2.
For tickets and more information, visit mlw.com/superfight.
MLW: Fusion airs Fridays at 8 p.m. EST and also on YouTube. For more information, visit mlw.com and www.beinsports.com.
TWO HUGE MAIN EVENTS at #MLWSuperFight
Feb. 2
Philadelphia’s @2300Arena @OneWorldWarrior @FilthyTomLawlor @PENTAELZEROM @ReyFenixMx @DBSmithjr @FlyinBrianJr @TeddyHartIsBACK
Tickets at https://t.co/F3BDEjrJv2 pic.twitter.com/WburmktzKv
— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) January 13, 2019
Low Ki spoke with The Wrestling Estate ahead of the big event, discussing his return to MLW, the company’s impressive comeback and what lies ahead in 2019.
It’s an honor to talk to the MLW World Heavyweight Champion. What has this past year been like for you as the face of the company during its massive resurgence?
Low Ki: “This past year has been a bit of a whirlwind. I started off the year with an injury and a lot of negative stuff going on. I had to turn all of that around especially with health issues and being at the age and time I’ve invested in my career. To go through all of that and end up in this position at this time has been quite crazy.”
After competing in MLW during its first phase in the early 2000s, what brought you back?
Low Ki: “The biggest thing that had me return to MLW was Court Bauer. There was an issue with the original incarnation of MLW. I had an interaction with Court Bauer that I never forgot. During the initial contact last year, I brought that to his attention. In doing so, we came to an agreement and now here is where we are.”
What do you see in Salina de la Renta?
Low Ki: “Salina de la Renta has incredible potential. At 21 years old, she has already accomplished far more than women who have been in the industry twice as long. It’s interesting to see someone so young and ambitious. But I do have an understanding because we come from the same culture. She is Puerto Rican. That is my background as well. Except I wasn’t born and raised on the island, I was born in New York. For her being successful at this age and time, the world is her oyster right now. It’s hers for the taking. I understand how to do it because I’ve done it for myself. This alliance right here, for the lack of a better term, is dangerous.”
There is a lot of young talent like Salina in MLW. Do you consider yourself a locker room leader for these guys and girls?
Low Ki: “I do that inherently only because I want to see the best out of my people. In Major League Wrestling, there is a deeper chemistry than I’ve seen in other places, but it’s quite common in the earlier stages of development because everyone is beginning to get their legs together. This is a young roster and a new generation of professional wrestling as well. You have to learn on the fly and learn in motion on how to adapt traditional skillsets and operations to today’s world. In the locker room we have, we have a good mix of experience, not just from me. We have other veterans who have committed time, even longer than I have. The opportunity to improve our environment is always there and we have a good group of people to do it.”
You’ve spent several months defending the title against luchadores like Fenix and Daga. Do you enjoy working with the lucha style?
Low Ki: “It’s always a good challenge. I’m always challenging myself to make sure my skills are above everyone else’s. That’s what you have to do to be on top, to be a champion, to be ahead of the game. You have to put in the work no one else is. Since MLW has been introducing more and more luchadores, it’s better for me because I consistently remain sharp. But a different generation of wrestlers presents different obstacles and things you must be aware of while you’re in there. I can wrestle El Hijo Del Santo in 2000, but I know if I get in the ring with Rey Fenix, that’s not the same person. The style is similar, but it’s generations removed from that type of training, that type of upbringing, that type of motivation behind that operation and execution in the ring. For me, the more the merrier. These challenges are great.”
You’ve mentioned in another interview the difference between pro wrestling – what you guys are doing – and sports-entertainment. Does MLW have to maintain that difference because it airs on beIN Sports?
Low Ki: “Yes. That’s a big influence on it because we want to be seen with integrity and respect. These men and women are working so hard that everything they do should not be disrespected or underappreciated. With that respect, we have to consider what exactly we’re doing. Do we want to appear like another company? No. Why? Because our environment is different. We’re on a sports network, a major sports network, because they’re providing international soccer and other sports. If we’re going to be in that company, then we have to present ourselves in that fashion. What works for other companies may not necessarily work for us, but our approach so far seems successful.”
Since winning the title in July, you’ve definitely been a fighting champion. Who has been your greatest challenge thus far?
Low Ki: “That’s difficult because everyone brings something different to the table. Similar to when people ask me who is my favorite opponent, I don’t have one because everybody is unique in their own way in a variety of different things in the ring. The physicality that I had with Rey Fenix isn’t the same technical strategy that I needed against Fred Yehi. My approach with Konnan was completely different than I had with John Morrison. I had two different bouts with Shane Strickland because he brought two different styles to the ring.”
You mentioned Konnan. Was the incident that took place after your match one of the craziest things you’ve ever been involved in?
Low Ki: “What people don’t understand is I’m pretty honest. Honesty seems to be frowned upon when it’s never introduced at a convenient time. I mentioned to Konnan in advance, where do we come from? How are things normally handled when people interfere in our business? That was not a joke. That was not a ‘promo.’ This is real life talking. I know I can connect on a different level than anyone else. I’m speaking honestly, I’m speaking from experience, I’m speaking from a realm that is not really showcased in professional wrestling because it’s a little too real for people’s comfort. Yet, he insisted. As violent as that may have been, rewind a couple years back when I nearly had my ear sheared off by a lead pipe in Scotland. I didn’t hear a peep from anyone. This controversy that people are losing their minds over, you have to understand. You can live in fantasy land all you want. Reality will find you.”
Let’s talk about reality. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor has a legit MMA-background. You’ll be defending the title against him in Philadelphia at SuperFight on February 2. How do you feel about Philly?
Low Ki: “In a sports mindset, they’re the enemy. They’re the Northeast enemy of all pro sports team from New York. Just like Boston. With that said, it’s a very tough city. If you think you’re going into Philly and you’re going to have it easy, think again. I had to cut my teeth in environments like Philly and had to compete a lot in Philly in different eras of time. But if you’ve earned respect there, it’s a different story. See, I’ve earned my respect. Lawlor? He’s just getting into pro wrestling. He hasn’t been doing this for a long time. Now he has earned his way up and survived long enough to get to Philly.
Cool. The easiest thing for me is knowing we’re going into Philly, I’ve already put in my championship training and continue to do so. And now he’ll just be on the other side of that. He’s a different level of competitor because he comes from a pro fighting-level background. That’s something that not too many people have ever faced before. Luckily in my case, I’ve spent a lot of time internationally competing against guys who were at Olympic levels. Does he present anything new? I don’t think so. But this is going to be a fight. You’ve got a pro fighter and you’ve got a professional. This is a fight that should go down in Philly.”
MLW in 2019. What should fans expect?
Low Ki: “An increase in the excitement. It seems as if there’s a boom in the world of professional wrestling, but it’s not necessarily a boom of the highest quality. That’s the difference that separates MLW from everyone else. This is an accumulation of experience in different realms that get this machine up and operating. We have world-class athletes in the ring, but we have world-class people outside the ring, too. That’s why everything you’ve been seeing presentation-wise, lead ups to these events, our management and staff, this is a world-class team of people. It’s a collective effort. It’s not like you’re seeing this one face of the company plastered all over the place. There is a big variety of quality in this company and it’s being showcased little by little, more and more, in the opportunities we get. The machine is becoming better oiled. There’s nothing better than a well-oiled machine. Everybody gets to have some fun when that happens.”
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