Petey Williams is one of the most gifted professional wrestlers around today. He is one of TNA’s top talents, and personally my favorite TNA star. So you can understand how excited I was when I had the chance to conduct a “20 Question” interview with Williams.
The up-to-date interview covered everything from his life as a TNA superstar, how he stays in such great shape, his admiration for Bret Hart, to the recent tragic passing of Eddie Guerrero. This interview makes it obvious to me that Petey is very dedicated to the craft that is professional wrestling. So without further ado….twenty questions with Petey Williams.
1. How have things been going for you, wrestling and personally as of late?
Thing have been going great. I’ve never expected to be where I am in the wrestling business. When I first got into wrestling I figured it would always be a weekend thing for me and that I would work a 9-5 job during the week. I give thanks everyday that I am fortunate enough to be where I am.
2. You competed against AJ Styles at the latest TNA pay-per-view for the X-Division Championship. What are your thoughts on this match?
I really enjoyed the match. I thought I killed AJ when I german suplexed him into the guard rail. I felt that maybe the fans could’ve been into the match a little bit more but they were probably drained by that time because they already saw so much good wrestling. I though it was a solid match but I’m my own worst critic.
3. And what’s your opinion of styles as a wrestler?
I feel that he deserves to be where he is. AJ is one of the guys that TNA is building the company around, and that’s a good thing. Whenever I wrestle AJ in TNA the fans are always excited to see the match, and that always makes me want to give a little bit more. An example is the Styles Clash from the second rope.
4. TNA has obviously benefited from their deal with Spike TV. How do you feel things have been going since the show has been on Spike?
Things have been going great. Spike has definitely given us upward moment to build TNA further. Everybody in the locker room is excited. Moral in the locker room is up. It really makes TNA a fun place to work for.
5. Many have argued that the X-Division is the premiere division in TNA, eclipsing the World title scene. What is your opinion on this?
I don’t agree with that. If you look at the PPV line-ups or the main events on Spike, it is always based around the World title picture. TNA does a good job of making the World title and the X-division title equal. They are both unique in their own way. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.
6. Where do you see TNA a year or two down the road?
TNA’s video game comes out in 2007, so TNA will certainly still be around, no doubt about that. I think that TNA will be doing well in the future. TNA is putting forth a lot of great matches and feuds. It would be great in the future if we gained a larger audience and started doing some house shows.
7. Christian recently quit the WWE and signed with TNA, making his debut at the last pay-per-view. What kind of impact will he have on TNA?
TNA said it well when they said he would be a “major acquisition”. I’ve always been a huge fan of Christian’s and it was great to meet him.
8. What else, if anything, does TNA have to do to seriously compete with the WWE?
As long as TNA keeps building their audience and try to get some mainstream attention, then TNA could be a serious competitor.
9. The WWE and the entire wrestling world, wrestlers and fans alike, have suffered a great loss with the recent passing of Eddie Guerrero. Do you have any thoughts on the matter?
Eddie was a wrestling great. I’ve always enjoyed his work and felt he was one of the best out there today. I’ve never had the opportunity to meet him. With the passing of Eddie, wrestling has suffered a tragic loss.
10. Many members of the TNA locker room knew Eddie. Was the atmosphere backstage different the night he passed?
A little bit. There was definitely a lot of talk of Eddie in the building. As we all know Konnan was very close to Eddie and it must have been tough for him to go out there and perform that night.
I have a feeling Eddie’s loss will be felt for a long time. He was one of a kind. Now moving into some more personal questions…
11. What would you see as your greatest moment thus far as a professional wrestler?
At TNA’s first monthly PPV when I wrestled AJ Styles. It was a big night for TNA and very emotional. I’ve always looked up to Scott D’Amore as a father. After the match he hugged me and said that everybody thought that you couldn’t make it because of your size….. and you made it. There was more to it than that…. but that was it in a nutshell.
12. Who has influenced you the most in the business personally and professionally?
I’ve always been a big fan of Bret Hart. I owe all my success to Scott D’Amore though. He’s always been there for me, taken care of me, and got me my big break.
13. Have you set any short term and/or long term goals for yourself?
Recently, not really. I’m just really focused on TNA right now. I don’t care who I have to wrestle, or what I have to do, or how many times I have to do it. I just enjoy being there. My main goal is to do whatever possible to help TNA take off.
14. What about when you step into the ring. Are there any common goals or thoughts you have in your mind when you get in the ring each time?
I just want the fans to be entertained. That’s pretty much it.
15. Who’s been your best opponent thus far in your career?
Chris Sabin. It’s hard to have a bad match with him. He has got to be the most under-rated wrestlers today.
16. What is your dream match? Petey Williams versus who?
If it were possible, versus Bret Hart.
17. What would you recommend for people trying to get into the wrestling business?
Hit the gym hard. Listen to your wrestling trainers whether you think that they are right or wrong. Don’t have a bad attitude. Give it everything you got if you really want to make it.
18. I am a huge bodybuilding and fitness fan, and try to work hard in the gym myself. So I’ve got to ask, what sort of diet and weight training program do you implement to keep in shape?
I eat healthy. I try to stick to a high protein, high carb, low fat diet. I go to the gym in the morning to do cardio and abs. Then I go once again after dinner to weight train. I try to do this 4 times a week if it’s possible.
19. Wrestling obviously takes a toll on your body. What do you do to counteract these effects?
There is nothing much that I do. I just try to stretch and try not to get hurt.
20. My final question. What is the next step for Petey Williams? Where do you see yourself in this business in the near, or distant, future?
TNA. Spike TV 11pm Saturday nights.
Please note: First and foremost I really want to thank Petey Williams for taking part in this interview. I hope that in the near future I can bring you more up to date interviews with some of wrestling’s top superstars.
I have recently experimented with a new column, “Joe Pritchett’s This Week in Wrestling”. While I love writing it and feel that it can evolve into something very successful, I feel that I’m going to need to put it on hold for a short period of time. I have a lot on my plate right now, but it will return soon!
On a more somber note, I’ve been thinking a lot about the recent passing of Eddie Guerrero, and have tried multiple times to put those feelings into words. It has yet to happen in a manner that I would present to you, my readers, but eventually it may. Eddie meant a lot to all of us, both individually and collectively. I thank him for the great memories he has provided. Until next time, this has been Joe Pritchett’s Real Talk.
