Davey Richards talks WWE Performance Centre, ROH and TNA

Davey Richards recently talked with Brian Fritz about his releationship with Ring Of Honor, his decision to join TNA and how he did at the Performance Centre with WWE & that famous NXT match.

You can listen to the entire interview at the Between The Ropes podcast at https://www.betweentheropes.com/2014/03/08/tnas-davey-richards-lockdown-dying-japan-squid-jerky/

What went into the decision of joining TNA and why was that the right place for you and Eddie right now in your careers?

The schedule for WWE and moving down to Orlando to join their Performance Center is just not conducive to my lifestyle.  I work out of a pure love as a paramedic.  I like doing that and am not giving that up.  I’m in medical school.  I don’t want to give that up.   Eddie is engaged and lives in Boston.   Then TNA offered us the opportunity to come in and wrestle rather than having to go back to wrestling school so we were just thrilled.   The talent there is awesome and we thought we would fit right in and it turns out we were right and it’s gone smoothly.  We’re extremely happy there.

You mentioned the short time you had with WWE and you had an opportunity to come to the Performance Center in Orlando.  You were there for about a week and had a match on NXT.  What was that experience like for you?

It was great.  We were brought down and put in Billy Gunn’s class.  He runs the advanced classes.  It was fun and I can’t say enough good things about everyone there.   The place is obviously unreal.   I t was a good time but it was just different strokes for different folks.  It was kind of creepy to me that everyone was walking on eggshells, everyone is really scared for their job.   I don’t know.  It wasn’t like everyone was having a whole lot of fun down there or maybe they’re just nervous because there’s a lot of eyes on you.   Obviously what they are doing has been successful.  They’re doing a great job with it.  We were treated respectfully and we were taken care of..   I knew then and I know now that their schedule is not for me.  I’m glad I got to experience it but I’m glad I found a home with TNA.

How bad was the breakup with Ring of Honor?

We’re not talking.  We’re not on good terms.  I have no respect for them whatsoever.  I strongly dislike management there like with the exception of Jeff Jones who is a great guy.  But the booker (Hunter Johnson) is completely inadequate at his job and he got his job more for being spineless than being talented.   And the owner (Joe Koff) is even worse, he could care less about wrestling. He just wants to do television.   To me, it’s just not something I agree with but I’m not there anymore and they do their own thing.   And for the talent and the fans I wish them nothing but the best of luck.