TNA Gut Check Winner Samuel Shaw Talks Dream Opponent, Indie Scene and More

Simon Mills of WNS recently interviewed TNA Gut Check winner Samuel Shaw ahead of his upcoming appearance for Vintage Wrestling. Check out the interview below.

WNS: Hello Samuel thanks for talking to us today, this Sunday you appear for Vintage Wrestling. Being a three time Vintage Champion do you consider this organisation somewhat of a home coming?

SHAW: I do consider it a homecoming. Anytime I get to come back to Vintage, the promotion that I really got to apply my craft, apply what I had learned up the road at Team 3D Academy and in Atlanta at WWA4, it's always something special to me. I was taught that "This business owes you nothing, and we owe everything to the business," so I always feel that remembering your roots and coming back to help or possibly make the promotion stronger is a plus!

WNS: Obviously you are well known in the Florida wrestling scene. Who would you say is your favorite opponent in that part of the world?

SHAW: There are so many different types of opponents that I have stepped in there with. So many body types, different characters and styles. Ive loved my battles with Bruce Santee. He is so strong, extremely stiff but such a talented worker. Francisco Ciatso is a favorite as we always have great in-ring chemistry. Simon Sez is very unique and we seem to have great matches.

WNS: The current independent scene seems to be in a major upturn. The level of talent seems to be improving all time. From my interviews in the past, like you, wrestlers have credited the Team 3D Academy as a major factor. What was your time like there?

SHAW: I have nothing but positive things to say about my time at Team 3D Academy. Having Bubba and Devon there to coach me, tell me when I've screwed up and always challenging me mentally and physically was the absolute best possible preparation for this line of work. It was extremely tough. Days when you didn't want to train. Days when you were physically beat up and mentally burnt. But my mentality was to put in the work as hardcore as possible because I wanted to "make it." Invest in your education, don't take shortcuts and pay your dues was advice that was intilled in me. I made a lot of mistakes that I had to learn some hard lessons. But it all shaped me into who I am as a performer today. I know how to handle any situation put in front of me because I believe at some point every situation was put in front of me in the training environment of Team 3D academy Academy. I can't mention the school without giving props to Dann Carr who was my strength and conditioning coach while i was there. He's in his 60's but probably still the toughest guy in the world. Dann, Bubba and Devon were like fathers to me in a sense. They filled a void during a rough time in my life and I became a stronger man because of them.

WNS: What advice would you give to somebody trying to make it in professional wrestling?

SHAW: Devote your mind and body FULLY to the craft. Think about the guys that are main event stars. could you see yourself standing toe to toe with these main event stars? Would fans realistically want to pay money to see YOU? What can you do to make yourself stand out? Do you devote yourself to the gym? Are you investing in the best school? Are you doing anything and everything to give yourself the best possible chance to succeed? I can't tell you how many guys/girls I've seen walk through the doors at Team 3D academy who thought they had "it" and it was going to be easy. I've seen more of these people give up because they were mentally beat, and a lot gave up because they were physically beat. This is the hardest thing to do in the World and the chances of you making it are not in your favor.

WNS: Who would be your dream opponent from any era?

SHAW: I've been wanting to wrestle the best that TNA has to offer. I Got to wrestle EY in London last year, which was short but very exciting. I've been itching to wrestle Bobby Roode and Bobby Lashley. Dream opponent would be Bret Hart.

WNS: Lastly, do you have any final words for your opponent this Sunday for the Vintage Championship, Simon Sez?

SHAW: Simon and I have tangled before. But I was a different person the last time we met. I'm much more aggressive now. I've learned a lot and have gotten so much better. I would say to Simon to really question himself as to whether he's ready for a serious beating? Is he ready for someone that will do absolutely anything to win? Is he ready for an opponent that had looked at the wrestling landscape quietly, silently observing and studying the "little things" that most wrestlers will never get? I've become more methodical and more dangerous than ever. Placed in an insane asylum, straight jackets, solitary confinement. I don't think I really even know what I'm truly capable of at this point. But I know I want more recognition and perhaps some gold.

Samuel Shaw will be appearing at Vintage Wrestling Call to Arms on Sunday 15th of May at the Dr.James Smith Center located at 1723 Bruton Boulevard, Orlando, Florida. You can also follow him on Twitter @TheSamuelShaw - Details of the event can be found at www.vintagewrestlingfl.com.