This interview was done a couple of weeks back when Robert Roode was in town to promote TNA’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view at the Viewer’s Choice Canada office in Toronto.

TNA Wrestling’s Robert Roode is primed and ready for this Sunday’s huge Bound For Glory pay-per-view, available on Viewer’s Choice Canada. Roode, along with Beer Money Inc. partner James Storm, will compete not only to recapture TNA tag team gold, but also the prestigious IWGP tag titles from the New Japan promotion. 

Roode sat down with SLAM! Wrestling and explained his feelings on Beer Money Inc.’s Full Metal Mayhem match and the chance to wear dual tag team gold. “We are very happy to be going for those belts and to be in there with such great teams like Angle/Booker and Team 3D. The Japan championships have such a rich history and adds a lot of legitimacy to TNA.”

Now in his fifth year with TNA Wrestling, how did the dream begin for this Peterborough, Ontario native? Growing up Roode was an exceptional hockey and football player, but also a big professional wrestling fan. “I grew up watching Hogan and Savage as a kid. As I looked to get into the business I focused more on the likes of Curt Hennig, Ric Rude, and Ric Flair”, he reminisced. “I liked especially how Mr. Perfect combined psychology, athleticism, and charisma. That’s what I wanted to develop.” His in-ring style has been compared to Hennig and Arn Anderson, a compliment Roode accepts with some hesitation. “It’s great to be mentioned with the likes of those legends, but I try to stay as original as possible”.

Roode had some prestigious assistance when breaking into the sports entertainment business. He is friends with fellow Canadian Sean Morley, better known to WWE followers as Val Venis, who trained Roode briefly in the basics before sending him off for further development with Shane Sewell. “Val gave me great guidance and then Shane taught me more of the core fundamentals. I trained for 3 months, picked things up real fast, then had my first match.”

1998 saw Roode make his first official appearance in the squared circle; however, it was not until 2000 when the six footer really hit his stride. “For the summers of 2000-2003 I did tours of the East Coast where I was wrestling seven days a week and really got to learn the business,” he explained. “The first tour was for Emile Dupre of Grand Prix Wrestling.”

By the end of 2003 Roode was becoming frustrated with his lack of overall progression and actually considered moving on from professional wrestling. However, that all changed with a single phone call, “I was ready to hang up my boots, I was just spinning my wheels…then the call came from TNA.” Roode became apart of Scott D’Amore’s Team Canada where he was dominant as the powerhouse Canadian Enforcer.

SLAM! Wrestling asked Roode how it felt to have legendary Booker T’s first feud in TNA to be with him. “Booker actually asked to work with me so it was quite an honour. We worked with each other for six months, and he was a pro in and out of the ring.” He continued, “I learned and continue to learn a lot from Booker, he’s easy to talk to and treats everyone in the dressing room professionally.” Speaking of legends, Roode said that if it was possible to turn back the clock he would love the chance to go one-on-one with either Ric Flair or the late Curt Hennig. From the current TNA roster Roode is hoping to have the opportunity to lace up the boots in singles competition against Kurt Angle and world champion A.J. Styles. “Kurt and A.J. are such amazing talents, I think it would be fun to watch.”

Robert Roode discussed his character progression within TNA and how the company has developed as a whole since his arrival. “We are the fastest rising wrestling promotion of all time. Ratings are steadily going up and I’m apart of the hottest tag team today in Beer Money Inc.” He did have some thoughts on how the success can develop further, “TNA needs to concentrate on building new stars, so that when the current high profile veterans leave, the fans still have someone to look up to.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s Bound For Glory event, Roode is extremely excited to be included in such a high profile tag match-up. “This is our Superbowl, biggest night for the company, and every wrestler is psyched to get out there and perform,” he said. “If there is one pay-per-view not to miss it is definitely Bound For Glory.”

In closing, Roode stated that although singles championship gold is definitely a goal down the road, he is quite content where he is at. “I feel like I’m just hitting my prime now, and have a long career ahead of me.”

Andy McNamara has been a SLAM! Wrestling writer since 2005. Andy is a Play-by-Play broadcaster for baseball, hockey, basketball, football, and volleyball for Rogers TV, Durham College, and TV Cogeco.

A new pay-per-view theme from WWE this year pitting Superstars from Raw and Smackdown versus one another. Of course the idea that fans will believe that either show stands alone is ridiculous and the ship to do that angle right sailed years ago. The brand split really means nothing and wrestlers switch shows so often now that everything is all blended together anyway.

Regardless, lets take a peak at what this Sunday’s PPV has to offer……

SmackDown vs. Raw WWE Bragging Rights Tag Team Match:

Jericho and Triple H should be the focus and it will come down to the two captains. A lot of bodies to get into this one so it could look sloppy since everyone has to get their couple of minutes. Raw is the flagship show and shall reign supreme over little brother Smackdown.

Pick: Team Raw

World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker vs. CM Punk vs. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio (Fatal Four Way Match)

Cross your fingers that Batista is kept on the outside for the most part so that we get to see some solid athletic displays. Taker should retain, but look for this to build to a grand finale rematch between Punk and Undertaker at Survivor Series.

Pick: The Undertaker

WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena (One Hour, Anything Goes WWE Iron Man Match)

Orton will have the hour in him, but does Cena have what it take to work an interesting style for 60 minutes? To compensate I’m sure we’ll see blood and plunder galore. Each Superstar will grab a couple of wins each with Cena hitting an FU in the final seconds to take the win.

Pick: John Cena
Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs. United States Champion The Miz

A battle of old partners to decide who is the true Marty Janetty of the group! This should be one of the top matches of the evening as both men ooze charisma in different ways. Morrison has main event written all over him for 2010 so look for him to shut The Miz up.

Pick: John Morrison

SmackDown Divas vs. Raw Divas Tag Team Match

Yawn. A big who cares from me on this one. Flip a coin. I’ll take Smackdown.

Pick: Team Smackdown

Andy McNamara is a SLAM! Wrestling writer, and is the play-by-play broadcaster for Toronto Maple Leafs inter-county league baseball on Rogers TV. Along with baseball Andy does play-by-play for hockey, basketball, and volleyball on Rogers Television in Toronto as well as being a show host, play-by-play, and sideline reporter for hockey and football on TV Cogeco. Contact Andy at andymcnamara@hotmail.com

Louis Vincent Albano, better known as Captain Lou Albano over his 42 year pro-wrestling career passed away on October 14 at the age of 76.

The Captain was one of the most successful wrestlling managers of all time having been at the helm for the championship reigns of four single competitors and an incredible fifteen tag teams.

Albano was a big part of the Rock n’ Wrestling phenomenon of the 1980′s that saw him appear in several Cindy Lauper music videos and made several movie and television appearances. He even shaved his legendary beard to appear as Super Mario on the The Super Mario Brothers Super Show.

Albano retired from the WWE in 1986 to focus on different projects and made a brief return as a second manager to The Head Shrinkers in ’94. Since then he has remained out of the lime light. Captain Lou had his autobiography come out in 2008 with a forward from Cindy Lauper coined, “Often Imitated, Never Duplicated”.

Rest In Peace Captain, there will never be another wrestling manager like you.

Andy McNamara is a SLAM! Wrestling writer, and is the play-by-play broadcaster for Toronto Maple Leafs inter-county league baseball on Rogers TV. Along with baseball Andy does play-by-play for hockey, basketball, and volleyball on Rogers Television in Toronto as well as being a show host and sideline reporter for hockey and football on TV Cogeco. Contact Andy at andymcnamara@hotmail.com

WWE is putting out what looks to be on paper as a top tier pay-per-view. The three Hell in a Cell matches on one show is definitely overkill and take away the specialness of the structure, however, they still should deliver from a blood and guts stand point!

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk vs. Undertaker (Hell in a Cell Match)

I’m sure this will go on last and should be a phenomenal main event battle. Punk will solidify main event status by taking a severe beating, but somehow coming out with the title. Could be a career defining moment for Punk.

Pick: CM Punk

WWE Champion John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell Match)

Three Hell in a Cell matches on one cared is of course overkill, and I think that this will be the one to get the least heat from the live crowd. Cena I’m sure is scheduled in for a long title run so he’s not losing it here. Not sure what the plans will be for Orton following the loss.

Pick: John Cena

D-Generation X vs. The Legacy (Hell in a Cell Match)

This can be a huge turning point in the careers of Rhodes and DiBiase. Hopefully, DX is ready to do the right thing and pass the torch. A win for them means nothing, but would push Legacy to that next level of legitimacy. I will play optimist and pick Legacy.

Pick: The Legacy

United States Champion Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz vs. Jack Swagger

This could be match of the night if they are given time. Swagger grabs gold, and splits off to feud with Kingston. Miz doesn’t need a belt with his heel persona right now. WWE has some solid mid card talent right now.

Pick: Jack Swagger

Unified Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio

I’m thinking some sort of DQ finish to keep this feud going. Y2J and Big Show are way to good of a team to take the straps off them yet. Batista and Rey win, but via disqualification. I’m sure Jericho and Mysterio will get the bulk of the workload.

Pick: Mysterio & Batista by DQ

Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler

A couple of terrific young talents who will hopefully be given some time to showcase their athleticism. Ziggler has come up short time and time again so I think he pulls off the upset to put Morrison back in the chaser role.

Pick: Dolph Ziggler

Divas Champion Mickie James vs. Alicia Fox

Meh, not too much interest in this one as the women’s division continues to be stale. Mickie retains.

Pick: Mickie James

Andy McNamara is a SLAM! Wrestling writer, and is the play-by-play broadcaster for Toronto Maple Leafs inter-county league baseball on Rogers TV. Along with baseball Andy does play-by-play for hockey, basketball, and volleyball on Rogers Television in Toronto as well as being a show host and sideline reporter for hockey and football on TV Cogeco. Contact Andy at andymcnamara@hotmail.com