During a recent appearance on the “Sportshadow Wrestling” podcast, The Godfather revealed how much influence he had on The Undertaker early of their careers.
They became friends in 1988 and teamed together as Death Express in Memphis, TN. The Godfather then introduced The Undertaker to Jack Daniels, country music, tattoos, and riding Harley motorcycles. They later became members of the BSK backstage group in WWE.
You’ll be able to try some highlights from the podcast below:
On becoming friends with The Undertaker: “I met Mark like in ’88 and we became a tag team called Death Express within the Mid-South with Jerry Lawler in Memphis. We became really good friends. After I met Taker, he didn’t ride — to start with, after I met Taker, he didn’t drink Jack Daniels. That’s from me. After I met Taker, he didn’t hearken to country music, that’s from me. After I met him, he had no tattoos. You’ll see pictures of him getting his first tattoo, and also you’ll see me behind him like this [arms crossed]. And most significantly, he didn’t ride a Harley. That’s from me.
“And so he — what I tell people about, because Taker will inform you, ‘Dude, all of the American badass is that this dude over here talking about me.’ But all I tell people about Taker is, I just introduced him to a brand new lifestyle and he took to it real well.”
On why The Undertaker’s gimmick worked higher than other supernatural ones: “I don’t know, I’m the — you will have a greater answer to that than me. He was lucky. What he did caught on, and he did what he did thoroughly. He took care of the character, he took care of other wrestlers. He has a number of love for wrestling., he cares rather a lot in regards to the sport.
“So I mean, every little thing was so as. He has the look, he has the talent and he played his character thoroughly. I mean, why would you not like an enormous 6’10” Dead Man? [laughs]”
AJ Styles has commented on Will Ospreay using his ending move at AEW Double Or Nothing 2026.
Ospreay hit the Styles Clash on Samoa Joe during their Owen Hart Cup quarterfinals match to advance to the semis.
During a recent edition of his “Phenomenally Retro” podcast, Styles said hitting Joe with the move isn’t easy, and he has only done it a few times himself. The previous WWE Champion praised The Aerial Assassin for pulling it off flawlessly.
You’ll be able to try some highlights from the podcast below:
On Will Ospreay hitting Samoa Joe with the Styles Clash: “I can inform you, hitting [Samoa] Joe with the Styles Clash isn’t a straightforward task. I’ve done it a pair times in my profession, but man, he pulled it off flawlessly. So it’s awesome.”
On possibly opening an invite-only training facility like Hart Dungeon: “I would love to get something like Nattie and TJ [Wilson] have with their Dungeon, since it’s an invite-only form of experience. You’re invited, that implies that you’re well enough known that we all know you possibly can get in here and you possibly can hold your individual on this ring. To have something like that near me in order that I can work with WWE ID guys and girls, that might be great, that might be vital. That way I could see the progression. I could help them out with the little things, and help them get to that next level. Perhaps they’re hoping to get a tryout and before that tryout we will get in there and work together a bit of bit. That might be something I would love to do.”
Elayna Black desires to turn into the TNA Knockouts World Champion before the Lockdown pay-per-view event in Chicago, IL.
Reigning champion Lei Ying Lee will defend the title against Xia Brookside at TNA Slammiversary later this month.
During a recent appearance on the “Hitting the Turnbuckle” podcast, Black declared that it doesn’t matter who wins that match as she is coming for the title next.
The previous Cora Jade goals to walk into Lockdown as champion after which have a good time together with her family in her hometown of Chicago, IL.
You’ll be able to try some highlights from the podcast below:
On chasing the TNA Knockouts World Championship: “It doesn’t matter who takes the Knockouts Championship, I’m coming for it next. That’s all that matters. So, anyone, in the event that they have their eyes on the title, that’s fantastic. In the event that they have their eyes on Léi [Yǐng Lee], that’s fantastic. But at the tip of the day, I’m going to be champion. Chicago’s coming up in about a number of months. So I would love to walk into that as champion after which go hang around with my family afterwards. So I’m going to do whatever I can to make that occur.”
On her TNA Wrestling debut: “One hundred percent. It was also the day after my birthday. So it was like a birthday present for me. But one hundred percent. I used to be very excited. I used to be already in form of talks with TNA before I even knew about AMC. So, seeing that it was AMC, I used to be like, ‘Well, that is going to be great. It’s going to be an incredible fresh start.’ I feel like I can add rather a lot to the show. I used to be excited to give you the chance to try this and give you the chance to be a surprise. I feel it turned out well. I don’t think anybody even had a clue, which was my goal. I used to be just very excited for TNA, because I used to be a TNA fan after I was a child. I remember watching after they had the Spike TV deal and I used to be watching every Thursday. I loved TNA. So it was a bit of bit harder to observe for a number of years. Not everyone had that channel or could access TNA app and every little thing like that. So hearing that they were getting at the very least some sort of a TV deal, I used to be very proud to listen to because I used to be at all times a TNA fan. I at all times rooted for TNA. I at all times wanted TNA to succeed. So seeing them get that again, especially on such channel… everyone has AMC. Everyone knows AMC. Everyone can access AMC just about wherever you go. So I feel it’s an ideal spot for TNA. Watch a movie after which watch wrestling or watch wrestling after which watch a movie. It’s the right channel.”