Bobby Roode Talks Hulk Hogan, Jeff Hardy's Return, Matt Hardy, Future Of Beer Money & More
Bobby Roode recently spoke to Sirius XM radio to promote TNA Bound For Glory, here are some highlights:
On Hulk Hogan: "Wrestling runs in his blood. He doesn't know anything different. You got to admire a guy who wants to get in there, and do what he loves to do ya' know? Hulk Hogan is 1 of 2 iconic names in the business on the biggest night of our company's history. You got to support that, and as a wrestling fan you've got to watch. I'm interested to see what's going to happen. For Hulk to come back after 8 back surgeries, and get in the ring, and do what he's going to do on the 16th is amazing. That's where we're going. I mean it's Kurt and I in the main event. I mean, Hulk Hogan isn't wrestling Kurt Angle for the world title, I am. I might be saying something different if it was Hulk Hogan and Sting for the world title, but it's not. It's Hulk Hogan versus sting. It's got some nostalgia to it."
On Jeff Hardy's Return: "The last few weeks I've seen him he's been ready to work. He's got that fire back in his eyes, and he's clean ya' know he's ready to come to work, and work. I know that Jeff is eager to get this all behind him, and move forward. Sometimes people deserve second chances, and I think obviously Jeff has worked hard to get through this troubled time. I'd like to think he has put it behind him, and is going to move ahead, and move forward, and help this wrestling company get to the next level. I'd like to see Jeff do that. He's a good guy. I've never really had a problem with Jeff Hardy. He's a big name, big wrestling name, and I think he can help this company a lot if his head's in the right spot.
On Matt Hardy's Recent Problems: "I was a little taken back. I got to know Matt a little bit while he was at TNA, and work with Matt. Like I said, people in this business, not just The Hardy's, but there's a lot of people that have demons and try and..It's one of those things that people don't understand it. It's a business, and sometimes people rely on things and fall into trouble. It's just too bad. Matt's a good guy, and I've always liked Matt."
The future of Beer Money: "Beer money is absolutely no different than that. We could be going on our singles career for another week, another month, another year, ten years. When we come back together, Beer Money will be bigger and better than ever. It's just one of those things we pride ourselves on what we've done over the last 4 years together, and there's no way that it's going to die. James and I both got into this business to be world champions, and we've had a hell of a run as tag team champions. Even before Beer Money was even together, he was with America's Most Wanted, and I was with Team Canada. We were both tag team wrestling fans, but it's our time right now. We're in our prime. It's time for us to step away from one another, and support each other at the same time, but to show the world what we can do as singles competitors, and we did it last night. We proved to the world that we're legitimate top guys anywhere in the world. I'm going to main event the biggest PPV of the year for the world title, and I know that Kurt Angle and I are going to have a hell of a match. It's time for us to step away from one another, and go our separate ways, but that doesn't mean that we're not going to support each other, and that doesn't also mean that when the time comes if there's ever going to be a moment where we have to step back in the ring against each other that we're not going to do what we did last night, and beat the hell out of each other, so. It's one of those things that it's pro wrestling, and that's what it's all about."
The current PPV schedule: "I would love to go to maybe just 4 PPV's a year. Build the 4 PPV's or even like a Clash of the Champions type style thing where it's given away on TV once a month. Build it that way, and maybe even do away with a PPV. I don't know. It's not just TNA Wrestling that's struggling PPV buy-wise, I mean, it's across the board, and there's obviously challenges with the UFC making a huge run with PPV buys. Boxing is down as well. It's not the way it used to be. I don't know, I think we're doing the right thing. I think slowly, but surely we're going to build our ratings up on Spike, and Spike is a huge supporter of TNA Wrestling, and thank god they're in our corner because without Spike, we wouldn't have what we have. I think we've got to do what's right for business, and build our ratings up for Spike TV, and build a fan base for TNA Wrestling so that the fans will come out and support our live events. So, I think it's important to do that."
Taking Impact outside of the Impact Zone: "Absolutely, anytime! The Impact Zone's been great to us, but at the same time when you can step away, go to a different city, and just get a different feel. I think it sets a fire to everybody in the locker room to go out there, and perform at their best. It's just a change of scenery, a change of pace. Even last night on the Impact tapings out of Knoxville, everybody stepped up their tempo, and the matches were better, the show came across better visually. In a town like Philly, a historic wrestling city, great wrestling fans. Whether they love you or hate you, they'll let you know. It was a few years ago, James and I were in a steel cage match at Lockdown against Team 3D, two Philadelphia guys. I remember that night with the crowd, and it was just an amazing night, just electric. As wrestlers we feed off that, and we thrive on what the fans..the livelihood of the fans, the electricity in the crowd, and I'm looking forward to it. I think that the Philadelphia fans are going to show their support to TNA Wrestling, to Impact wrestling, and hopefully to me as well."