Tyler Black joined The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network for his first trip into the squared circle of "Your Home Of Wrestling Radio," coming off of the heels of ROH's returns to Philadelphia & New Jersey this past weekend. There are many wrestling fans that indeed are thinking about going to the forthcoming Ring Of Honor shows this weekend (in the Detroit & Toronto areas), and Tyler was asked to handicap the vibe & feelings going on in ROH currently. "Lately I would say in the last couple of months, almost since Bryan (Danielson) & Nigel (McGuniess) left the company, we really hit a stride in overall production. I don't know if it was the addition of Jim Cornette or what, but it kind of lit a spark under everyone's ass, and we've been working really hard. I think our last two TV tapings have been the best we have done so far for HDNet."
After leaving TNA a few months ago, Jim Cornette made his way back to Ring Of Honor as Executive Producer of ROH On HDNet, and many journalists, critics, & fans alike are saying that this move can only help the company in the long run. Tyler was asked about his impact on ROH since coming in once again. "Jimmy has only been with for a short time, and people were asking who was going help us out whether it be Ric Flair or Bret Hart, but I think we got a coup with Jim Cornette leaving TNA & coming to help us. He's a smart guy, and he's been in the business for decades and just being around having him in the locker room has me immensely. I think the most important thing it has helped the energy of everything. People were kinda down, and he came in gave us a great vibe."
Many fans see Tyler Black as the talent that can lead Ring Of Honor going forward as the next ROH World Champion leading into the new calendar year ahead. Mosh asked him about the pressure associated with this & whether he welcomes the pressure going forward, as he could leading the company in the next year. "I've gotten lucky that I have had a lot of high-pressure experience over the last few years, so I've gotten to the point where I'm comfortable & almost thrive under pressure. Having the World Title & carrying that weight on my shoulders is something I look forward to hopefully in the near future in 2010 & beyond."
As is the trend every year, Ring Of Honor will be showcasing its talent in the city that WrestleMania is held in...with fans from across the globe converging on the locale of Phoenix, AZ area. With rumors swirling that World Wrestling Entertainment are looking very hard at ROH talent, including Tyler Black, how does he feel about going there and if he feels he is ready for that kind of a jump? "I know I could into the WWE & compete with those guys. And that's a testament to Ring Of Honor, because we've had the experience on TV...we've done the Pay-Per-Views. So whatever disadvantages I'm presumed to have going into that situation, I think are not true. I could in there & stand toe-to-toe with anybody in that company & blow them out of the water." And his thoughts on WrestleMania weekend: "I'm really excited for WrestleMania weekend as I always am, and I hope the fans are too. It's a crazy weekend...There's events Friday, Saturday, Sunday. the Hall Of Fame, WrestleMania, the Dragon Gate USA show, and we're running two shows on Friday & Saturday. There's so much going on as a fan, and it's going to be a blast. And hopefully the eyes of the wrestling world, whether they be the WWE people, checking us out or trying to put the kibosh on us. It's nice because obviously they are worried to some effect. We're on the radar."
Blade asked Tyler about the fans of Ring Of Honor, who are extremely passionate & loyal about the product and who do not want their favorite talents to leave. Names like CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Colt Canada & most recently Nigel McGuinness & "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson have gone on to the WWE or TNA, and a large majority of the rabid ROH fans think their careers will suffer for that. Tyler sincerely believes that the cream does rise to the top when it comes to those who have moved on from ROH, but it's mainly up to the guys to make their mark. "The successes are few & far in between. A lot of that might have to do with the politics of pro wrestling. Everyone who has come out of Ring Of Honor is capable, and if given the opportunity, they can succeed. Colt Cabana is an incredible talent, and as far as I'm concerned, he was mismanaged. And you have guys like Evan Bourne (Matt Sydal) & CM Punk who were given the opportunity to excel, and they took advantage of the opportunity. I hope they don't do that to Bryan Danielson. He paid his dues more than anybody in the wrestling business, and hopefully he can showcase his talents for the rest of the world & that audience, and they will appreciate him."
In closing, Tyler was asked a very important question: What is in store for Tyler Black & pro wrestling in 2010? "All I can hope for in 2010 is that it's not going to be like the last decade in the wrestling business. Everything has kind of stagnated for the last decade, and hopefully whether it's myself or someone else, we could bring change into the business & infuse some new energy. As for myself, I'm with Ring of Honor through 2010. If I'm the poster boy & the guy that's going to carry the weight for that world, hopefully it's the World Title, because I would love to have that opportunity & really be the face of the company for the future."
