Jerry Lynn interview - Inside
The new Ring Of Honor World Heavyweight Champion, Jerry Lynn, was a special guest on this past week's edition (04/06/09) Monday Night Mayhem, hosted by The Big Mosh & Blade.
Jerry's first comments after capturing the ROH World Title are now available for free in Windows Streaming Media, or via The Mayhem's official Podcast On ITunes:
Jerry Lynn/Monday Night Mayhem Interview (Streaming Audio): http://www.mondaynightmayhemarchives...les/040609.wax
Jerry Lynn/Monday Night Mayhem Interview (MNM Podcast On ITunes): http://www.mondaynightmayhemarchives...r09/040609.mp3
Here are some of the highlights of Jerry's interview, provided by Mayhem listener, Paterson from New Jersey:
Jerry was welcomed back to The Mayhem by The Big Mosh & Blade for his first comments after capturing the Ring Of Honor World Heavyweight Championship at ROH's "Supercard Of Honor IV" during WrestleMania XXV weekend in Houston, TX. The new champions in the world of wrestling post-WM include John Cena (World Heavyweight Championship), Rey Mysterio (WWE Intercontinental Championship), Primo/Carlito (WWE Unified Tag Team Titles), & Jerry himself. The Mayhem Crew began things by asking Jerry the feeling of capturing the ROH gold at this point in time in his career & his feelings over the past few days after winning the title: "“I guess right now the first thoughts that come to mind is very stressful, because it’s a lot of pressure now." Jerry went on to mention that after performing in front of crowds for over 20 years, his primary objective is two-fold: to do a good job & give the people their money’s worth, especially with how today's economy is.
Nigel McGuinness held the ROH World Title for nearly 18 months & was the flagship of the company until getting hurt recently. Mosh asked Jerry how hard it was for him to go one-on-one with Nigel, knowing he was very hurt. Jerry said that every time he stepped in the ring with him, it was rough. "Those of us that have been in the ring for a number of years, we've all had to get it through with injuries because, unless you're under contract with someone & getting a nice weekly paycheck...If you don't get out there & wrestle, you don't get paid, & you don't pay the bills.” About McGuiness: "Nigel's a really tough character, and he really gutted it out. Both of his biceps are torn. He was in a lot of pain & gutted it out, and he still made it hard for me."
Many wrestling critics & pundits have compared Jerry Lynn to Mickey Rourke's "Randy The Ram" character from the critically-acclaimed film, "The Wrestler." With Jerry winning the ROH World Heavyweight Championship & Mickey Rourke getting his "WrestleMania moment" on Chris Jericho in the same weekend, that is very much irony at its finest. "I think the character Randy 'The Ram' most veteran wrestlers can relate to him a lot, because the movie was the closest thing showing how the real story of wrestling & how you had to work your way through the indies, and then if you never got that big money run, or if you did & you squandered it, how it all comes full circle, and you end up back on those small shows again."
WWE Hall Of Famer, Ric Flair, is back board with Ring Of Honor to make a few appearances for the company, starting with this past Thursday night's "ROH On HDNet" television tapings. What does Jerry feel that "The Nature Boy" can lend to Jerry's reign as ROH's champion, their immediate future as a company, & the young roster of talent? "It’s always when you got 'The Naitch' around. I always have an always will be a fan and I'm just honored & tickled whenever I'm in the same locker room as Ric Flair...He is a fountain of knowledge, and I know no matter how long I wrestle in this business, I will never learn as much as he knows about it, and I wish I could."
As a final parting shot to The Mayhem Nation/the worldwide listening audience, Mosh & Blade wanted to know Jerry’s personal/professional "mission statement" for the rest of 2009, after winning the ROH World Title. "One of my missions & goals in to convince some of the haters out there just because I'm old, doesn't mean I have to roll over & drop dead. I get tired of hearing Jerry is so old. I understand if I'm out there embarrassing myself & stinking up the joint, I'll either quit or start taping up a fork & stabbing people, or throwing fireballs in their faces or something."
More is contained in this near 30-minute interview with the new Ring Of Honor World Heavyweight Champion, including his candid comments on what he sees as the similarities & differences between capturing the ROH Title & the ECW Championship almost ten years ago, the comparisons he has been receiving to some of the top-tier WWE talent over the past week since his victory in Houston, as well as his WrestleMania XXV experience at Reliant Stadium (including his thoughts on the night's festivities & Kid Rock's performance).
Ring Of Honor returns "north of the border" this Friday night (in Montreal, Quebec) & this Saturday night (in Toronto, Ontario). Jerry returns to the ROH rotation on April 24th (vs. Roderick Strong) in Dayton, OH & April 25th (vs. Colt Cabana for the ROH Title) in Chicago, IL. Log onto www.ROHWrestling.com to purchase tickets & check out the complete card for all four shows, plus head on over to Jerry's official website, www.jerryfnlynn.com.
-PWI
