Vs The World (Part 4)
Apr 18, 2024 18:32:09 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 1 more like this
Post by Spike Kane on Apr 18, 2024 18:32:09 GMT -5
Nelly: We may as well start with the issue you mentioned, was any reason given for this or did you discuss it with the owner?
Spike: To be honest, Leonard Fox always looked after me. Look, the company sent me to rehab on their own dime, they also allowed me to hold the world championship whilst I recovered from heart surgery, there’s not many people that would, or could, do that. Usually you’d have to relinquish the title, but Leonard didn’t ask me to do that. He had my back. Did he give me his reasons for preventing me from going after the Hardcore Title, sure ... .he said he didn’t want any roster member to have held every singles championship - keeping in mind I’d won championships that had since been retired at that point. I was annoyed, but it made sense. I just wanted to be the first for once, instead of always being second.
Nelly: So it resolved itself?
Spike: To a degree, I was real salty as fuck when Ricky Johnson got to do it. Felt a bit like a slap in the face for everything I’d done for the company, but hey the doors were closing, and I was just grateful to be involved in the final show, before heading to IWF.
Nelly: Which is where you couldn’t compete for the world title having held the nCw world title, right?
Spike: To be honest, Leonard Fox always looked after me. Look, the company sent me to rehab on their own dime, they also allowed me to hold the world championship whilst I recovered from heart surgery, there’s not many people that would, or could, do that. Usually you’d have to relinquish the title, but Leonard didn’t ask me to do that. He had my back. Did he give me his reasons for preventing me from going after the Hardcore Title, sure ... .he said he didn’t want any roster member to have held every singles championship - keeping in mind I’d won championships that had since been retired at that point. I was annoyed, but it made sense. I just wanted to be the first for once, instead of always being second.
Nelly: So it resolved itself?
Spike: To a degree, I was real salty as fuck when Ricky Johnson got to do it. Felt a bit like a slap in the face for everything I’d done for the company, but hey the doors were closing, and I was just grateful to be involved in the final show, before heading to IWF.
Nelly: Which is where you couldn’t compete for the world title having held the nCw world title, right?
I don’t know where I would be in this world, if it wasn’t for professional wrestling. I really do mean that. Wrestling took me off the streets of Birmingham, England. Wrestling took me around the world. Gave me a home, gave me friends, gave me a family. If it wasn’t for this business? I’d probably have died a long time ago, another statistic somewhere nobody cares about.
That didn’t happen though.
Instead I stand here before you as an absolute legend of the game. A household name that can easily be booked as a headliner against anyone in this world, and you know me - I’ll take every booking I can get, ha! Yeah, I’d definitely be long gone if it wasn’t for wrestling.
But then, that’s also something people have an issue with right?
Spike had to die to become relevant.
…..motherfucker Spike was a 16 time world champion when he died. What were you?
I went out as the World Champion of the Imperial Wrestling Federation. Second time winning it. I had to drop the Man of Steel title, because nobody could beat me. I even won the rumble while holding it, meaning I was going up against GOD himself at Night of the Immortals. I wrote my name into the history books one more time, and I proved it to the entire world - for over a year the only time I wasn’t a champion was the time between the rumble match, and my world title match.
My point being.
I don’t need the fucking XHF.
I’ve never needed it.
I chose to be here. I chose to wrestle for FIRESIDE, NLW, TapOut, IPW, and Wrestle:UK. I chose to do what so many of you cunts refuse to do. Put in the work. Week in, and week out. People look at me, and it doesn't matter if you're a rookie or a so-called legend, you simply HAVE to give me credit that my body of work simply outshines every single person who's ever stepped foot in the squared circle. A lot of people still have it in their head that I'm still some kind of chair swinging idiot that can't wrestle. Bitch, I've still got the match of the year plaques hand delivered to my home on the wall (true story.) Because I take pride in my work. Some people, well, they can only get over with props, right?
Like a mask.
Or a fucking bowler hat.
Spike: Yeah. Listen….me and Verona? We had our issues, both inside and outside the ring. Despite the initial setback I absolutely flourished in IWF, apart from my time with the BANG! Bros it is arguably the favourite period of my career. It was a new challenge, with a ton of new people, and I carved another legacy out for myself - even if Verona didn’t like it, and there were times he deliberately got involved, because one thing everyone always seems to forget about Roberto Verona - he’s an incredible wrestler also. Give that guy a microphone and he’ll take the crowd in whatever direction he wants. He was good to me even when I was a pain in his ass, and it’s something I’ll never forget.
Nelly: This isn’t exactly the sauce we thought we were getting.
Spike: I told you that you wouldn’t like it. I did everything I ever could have wanted to in IWF, when the sun set on my career there I was happy. Well, happy wasn’t the right word, happy with my body of work? Sure.
Nelly: You mentioned Anthony Caffrey earlier
Spike: Oh boy.
Nelly: That doesn’t seem the same as the issues with Leonard Fox of nCw, or Roberto Verona of IWF.
Spike: No, see….my issues with Fox and Verona, fuck it - maybe even Mongo too, were based around being told “No” when I didn’t think it was fair. Caffrey just trash talks his roster to whoever will listen, and he treats his staff and roster like shit….and I just can’t work for someone like that. I don’t even want to work with someone like that. There is a way of carrying yourself, especially around your talent. Can you imagine Mongo screaming and shouting about how he made you (despite already being a legend) and cussing you out - even when you’ve gone above and beyond to be respectful and professional? Fuck that guy.
Nelly: Really? There’s no room for reconciliation?
Spike: Not in my eyes no. He still doesn’t think he did anything wrong, and that just shows that his head is up his ass. I really enjoyed my time working with some of the people in FIRESIDE that I got to, but you could offer me a never-ending X*Crown reign, but if it had to be under Anthony Caffrey? I’d quit on the spot.
Nelly: So the resentment is still there.
Spike: Dude, you know how many places I’ve wrestled. I’ve worked for a ton of people and the only really bad egg in there was Davey Boone - which I can’t talk about.
Nelly: Why not?
Spike: It’s a police matter and it has nothing to do with me.
Nelly: This isn’t exactly the sauce we thought we were getting.
Spike: I told you that you wouldn’t like it. I did everything I ever could have wanted to in IWF, when the sun set on my career there I was happy. Well, happy wasn’t the right word, happy with my body of work? Sure.
Nelly: You mentioned Anthony Caffrey earlier
Spike: Oh boy.
Nelly: That doesn’t seem the same as the issues with Leonard Fox of nCw, or Roberto Verona of IWF.
Spike: No, see….my issues with Fox and Verona, fuck it - maybe even Mongo too, were based around being told “No” when I didn’t think it was fair. Caffrey just trash talks his roster to whoever will listen, and he treats his staff and roster like shit….and I just can’t work for someone like that. I don’t even want to work with someone like that. There is a way of carrying yourself, especially around your talent. Can you imagine Mongo screaming and shouting about how he made you (despite already being a legend) and cussing you out - even when you’ve gone above and beyond to be respectful and professional? Fuck that guy.
Nelly: Really? There’s no room for reconciliation?
Spike: Not in my eyes no. He still doesn’t think he did anything wrong, and that just shows that his head is up his ass. I really enjoyed my time working with some of the people in FIRESIDE that I got to, but you could offer me a never-ending X*Crown reign, but if it had to be under Anthony Caffrey? I’d quit on the spot.
Nelly: So the resentment is still there.
Spike: Dude, you know how many places I’ve wrestled. I’ve worked for a ton of people and the only really bad egg in there was Davey Boone - which I can’t talk about.
Nelly: Why not?
Spike: It’s a police matter and it has nothing to do with me.
I've shared the ring with some of the most talented wrestlers to ever grace said ring.
I've gone toe to toe with the best they have, and yeah, I don't always win. That'd be an idiotic thing to try and say, but I am the kind of person to chase that victory if I continue to lose. The thing is, I take from everyone I share the ring with. I constantly adapt and evolve. I want to be the best, for sure. Who doesn't? I'd back myself to take on absolutely anyone on the planet.
Okay... maybe not the bears.
BUT I'D TRY!
Every interaction you have, is a chance to learn. A chance to improve yourself, and I know. I know. The ego's of the likes of Donzig and Bloodied Fox will be like "I don't need to improve myself, I'm the best"
BLAH BLAH BLAH.
Nobody fucking cares.
Do you have any idea how many people claim to be the best? Fuck, ever since Chicago Phil started spouting it anyone with half a brain cell was doing it too. There can only be one person who is "the best" right? Now, I know I'm going to sound like a hypocrite here, but hear me out. In a standard wrestling federation, if you're the world champion? You're on top. You're the best. Right? Well here in the XHF Network we don't have a world title.....anymore. Naturally ever federation on the network has their own, or their own variant, but not a single person on the roster could deny that the X*Crown Championship, is the best. The top tier championship.
So surely being the champion...
Means you're the best.
Right?
Nelly: That seems fair. So…you do have a history of butting heads with authority figures, and as you mentioned earlier you did walk out of XHF with the XHF Title and on another company's show. When you’re gearing up to return to the XHF under the Network umbrella, how does that go down? Was there a conversation with Mongo at all?
Spike: There was, yes. It was one of those things where…if I’m going to do this? If I’m going to be here full time? Then this needs to be squashed, we need to have a chat and make sure there’s no bad blood going further.
Nelly: Was there?
Spike: You probably won’t believe it, but Mongo was absolutely fine with me. He was happy to have me back, and with over a decade of time to look back on it? It was mostly me apologising for my young and stupid actions, but Mongo was already over it and that lifted a lot of weight off of my mind. Like, ok…now I can put the work in and not have to worry about any backstage heat.
Nelly: What a run it has been. From X*Crown to X*Crown with a dose of big matches in between. Anything you’re most proud of?
Spike: Making Donzig relevant? I joke, kind of…honestly absolutely anything I did with the BANG! Bros is right up there at the top. When it came to Call to Arms, nobody, and I really do mean nobody, came close. Oh Violent Night is definitely something I’m proud of. Pulling in the likes of Dylan Black and Jesse Jamester, and then later PRICE to establish the Pillars of Violence is definitely something I’m proud of. Those shows were incredible, and they were run, booked, and produced by the guys. We didn’t have a true authority figure, we just went out there and made a rebel show that we wanted to do, and it paid off. I’d love it if it became a regular annual show, that would be cool.
Nelly: Interesting that you didn’t mention any title reigns, considering how associated with championships you are.
Spike: Everyone wants to be champion - you know that as well as anyone, especially with the Junior Heavyweight Championship. I’ve done more than I ever could have hoped for as a dickhead kid with a giant chip on his shoulder. 16 world titles, and now I have the toughest defence I’ve ever had.
Nelly: Rumble season!
Spike: There was, yes. It was one of those things where…if I’m going to do this? If I’m going to be here full time? Then this needs to be squashed, we need to have a chat and make sure there’s no bad blood going further.
Nelly: Was there?
Spike: You probably won’t believe it, but Mongo was absolutely fine with me. He was happy to have me back, and with over a decade of time to look back on it? It was mostly me apologising for my young and stupid actions, but Mongo was already over it and that lifted a lot of weight off of my mind. Like, ok…now I can put the work in and not have to worry about any backstage heat.
Nelly: What a run it has been. From X*Crown to X*Crown with a dose of big matches in between. Anything you’re most proud of?
Spike: Making Donzig relevant? I joke, kind of…honestly absolutely anything I did with the BANG! Bros is right up there at the top. When it came to Call to Arms, nobody, and I really do mean nobody, came close. Oh Violent Night is definitely something I’m proud of. Pulling in the likes of Dylan Black and Jesse Jamester, and then later PRICE to establish the Pillars of Violence is definitely something I’m proud of. Those shows were incredible, and they were run, booked, and produced by the guys. We didn’t have a true authority figure, we just went out there and made a rebel show that we wanted to do, and it paid off. I’d love it if it became a regular annual show, that would be cool.
Nelly: Interesting that you didn’t mention any title reigns, considering how associated with championships you are.
Spike: Everyone wants to be champion - you know that as well as anyone, especially with the Junior Heavyweight Championship. I’ve done more than I ever could have hoped for as a dickhead kid with a giant chip on his shoulder. 16 world titles, and now I have the toughest defence I’ve ever had.
Nelly: Rumble season!
I'm a seasoned veteran when it comes to Rumble matches. Like the "cool" kids say, this ain't my first rodeo.
I know I'm not the only one, there's a few of you out there that have at least been in one rumble before, maybe even too. Hell, maybe I threw you out and you've been holding a grudge ever since. Maybe I was the road block in your way, and preventing you from getting to the illusive heights of being the X*Crown Champion, or even just earning yourself a world title shot. At the end of the day? I really don't care. See, inside the ring? Anyone between me and my goal is my enemy. It doesn't matter what history we have, or don't have. It doesn't matter if you're a legend, or a rookie. All I see, is the enemy, and hell man....if you're not sick of hearing me talking yet.
It's done me pretty fucking good so far, no?
It's crazy coming back to the XHF. It's like going back to the high school you were bullied at. Where nobody gave you your props, or a simple bit of fucking respect. Instead you had to fight against everyone, and everything. Once again, Spike Kane vs The World. It's not new to me, it's how I've lived my entire life. I don't expect anything to be handed to me, I don't expect to be handed anything at all. I earn everything I have, and I earned everything I ever accomplished. Y'all can talk about the people I like to surround myself with, from the BANG! Bros, to The Empire. You've bought into this notion that Spike Kane can only do things when he has a faction backing him up.
Funny.
What faction helped me with the X*Crown?
What about the second time?
What faction helped me burn FIRESIDE to the ground from the inside?
What faction helped me become the GOD OF STEEL and crush my competition to the point they had no choice put to redirect me towards the world title.
Here's one for you.
What faction helped me win Call to Arms?
You know, the one I had to solo, and still came out on top.
In case I haven't been clear, my point is whenever I do something epic? I do it myself. Whenever I write my name into the history books? I do it myself.
There's no BANG! Bros.
There's no InFamous.
There's just me.
.....and I'm too much for any of you.