Festus was one of the most popular entrants in MLW’s Battle Riot match, but Killer Kross says the former WWE star wasn’t sure it was a good idea at first.
Kross spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about competing in Battle Riot VIII in January. Kross won the MLW World Championship, but the match also featured a fun cameo as Doc Gallows competed as Festus, the WWE character he portrayed from 2007 to 2009.
Killer Kross said Gallows was unsure how that character, who was presented as being in a catatonic-like state until he heard a bell ring, would be received today. Despite his concerns, Kross thought it would be a success. He noted that Gallows was in on the joke this time, and it was a memorable character in WWE history.
“So, with him being so open about how he felt about it when it was going on, I feel like there would just be an instantaneous pop when he comes out and does that. People who know him, his history, and how he felt about it would know that he’s doing it for them,” Kross said. “It’s not as if he’s being handcuffed and forced to do it. He’s let everyone in on the joke, and now they get to participate and play along.”
Killer Kross says Festus’ return was better than he could have imagined
Kross, bloodied in the match, says watching the audience’s reaction made it much better than he could have hoped for.
“[I thought] this is ten times better than I thought it could be. People were loving it. There were kids in the front row jumping up and down, shouting, ‘Ring the bell! Ring the bell!’ It was a great moment,” Kross said. “Of all the moments that happened in Battle Riot, that was one of the best, in my opinion.”
Killer Kross was hard-pressed to think of a character who could return to a reaction like the one Festus got. He knows some gimmicks might not work in the current landscape in pro wrestling. However, some characters, like Festus, are a notable exception.
“I understand that some of it was set for the times and might not mesh well with the current product. But I can still enjoy it because I know what it is and I know what it’s supposed to be.”
Doc Gallows also spoke with WrestleZone about his reservations about bringing Festus back. Gallows shared why he hesitated, and also teased a potential reunion with his former WWE tag team partner, Jesse.
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