Christopher Daniels Discusses His Potential Career Ending Match with Marty Scurll at ROH Final Battle, more
PHOTO CREDIT: Ring of Honor/Joe Defalco
Show: Interactive Wrestling Radio
Guest: Christopher Daniels
Date: 12/07/18
Your Host: James Walsh
Will this be Christopher Daniels’ Final Battle in Ring of Honor? Former ROH Champion and proud member of SoCal Uncensored (SCU), Christopher Daniels joined the Wrestling Epicenter for the first time in 15 years to discuss his upcoming match against the “Villain” Marty Scurll at ROH Final Battle. If Daniels wins, he earns the ROH World Title opportunity and leverage to extend his run in the company further after the mandate put forth by ROH COO Joe Koff earlier this year. If Daniels should not win, well, lets just say his chances of staying with ROH shrink exponentially. In other words, Final Battle could well be Daniels’ final battle within the promotion!
ROH Final Battle airs LIVE from New York City on Friday, December 14 at a new start time of 8pm Eastern on traditional pay-per-view providers, free for HonorClub VIP, at a 50% discount for HonorClub Standard, and on FITE TV. Please visit ROHWrestling.com or the ROH App for more information.
To listen, visit http://www.wrestlingepicenter.com!
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- Click Here to listen to our March 2006 interview with Christopher Daniels!
- Click Here to listen to our October 2003 interview with Christopher Daniels!
CHRISTOPHER DANIELS :
On his career being on the line at ROH Final Battle:
“I’ve never really had these kind of stakes in Ring of Honor before. The situation, right now, is Joe Koff said earlier in the year that he wasn’t going to renew my contract. I’ve been trying to find reasons for him to change his mind and he hasn’t yet. Now, we’ve come to a point where Marty (Scurll) has decided to put his number 1 contendership, or his number 1 contender match that he won at Survival of the Fittest. So, if I win this match, I’ll have a defacto extension until I wrestle for the world title. The situation now is, it is win or go home for me. That is a pretty big hurdle. And, of course, Marty Scurll is one of the top wrestlers in the world. It is a big challenge. I’m really looking forward to it. I think I have Marty’s number. No matter what happens, I’m going to do what I do best which is wrestle and we’ll see how it goes.”
On how he and Marty Scurll match up:
“It is funny, I feel like I have the experience advantage on just about everybody in Ring of Honor. That has always been something I can fall back on – To use the power and my mind to win the day for me. Marty is a peculiar cat. He’s got his upbringing in British wrestling. It is something that I’m not 100% familiar with. I’ve scouted him, obviously. I’ve seen him wrestle. The stuff in his usual game, I’ve got a pretty good handle on. But, there are things that he’s done coming up in that UK scene that could throw me off my game. It is a good match. For the first time ever!”
On ROH signing Pierre Carl Ouelett:
“I think it is great that PCO has reinvigorated himself and reinvented his career. I don’t know what he was doing the years prior to bursting on the independent scene and making a splash like he did. It is a great acquisition for ROH to have. I think the eyes of the wrestling world were sort of on PCO. For him to come to Ring of Honor now is a statement that Ring of Honor is trying to get ahold of the best talent in the world to raise the game in Ring of Honor overall.”
On if he’he’s happy he doesn’t have to take part in Ladder War which hospitalized him last time:
“Not really, man. If I could be in there with them, I would. I feel I have experience in Ladder Wars that would be helpful. But, I was really glad that Frankie (Kazarian) and Scoripio Sky had the chance to win the tag team titles. Theyre not fooling around, man. They wanted everyone to know that they’re not ducking anyone. To call out the Briscoes and Bucks. It is a tall order. But, I think it is going to be a good night for SCU all over.”
On his memories of the 15th Anniversary show and winning the ROH World Title:
“It was one of the greatest nights of my life, honesty. Everything went according to the way we thought it would. It was a sweet moment for me to finally become World Champion. I think it was only made sweeter by all the failed attempts that I had made prior. For me to win it, finally, at the 15th Anniversary, it just made for a perfect story. Literally one of the best nights of my life.”
On his perception of ROH’s incredible growth:
“I think it is a testament to all the hard work from all the talent and the guys behind the scenes. Ring of Honor has always strived to be the best alternative to the mainstream of professional wrestling and to focus on the in-ring action and bring the best wrestling to the United States. That includes having the partnership with New Japan and having the New Japan guys as part of our group. I look forward to the same thing happening into 2019. Just big steps forward. They’re acquiring new talent day by day. I feel the future is bright for Ring of Honor and the fans are not going to be disappointed with the Ring of Honor of 2019.”
On possibly performing on ROH’s sold out MSG Show G1 Supercard of Honor:
“That would be a big deal, man! Obviously, Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous arenas in the world. Again, it is a testament to the hard work and the growth of Ring of Honor that Madison Square Garden was not just a possibility but now a reality. It is going to happen.”
On of the Elite/Bullet Club leaving Ring of Honor would have an impact on the company:
“I think immediately it would have an effect but honestly, I think that is just how professional wrestling goes. If the Elite feel that Ring of Honor isn’t the place for them anymore, then there will be spots that become open that will be filled by other wrestlers tapping in to their potential. That is just how it is. People leave professional wrestling companies and other wrestlers fill those spots and find success. Ring of Honor has had wrestlers leave in the past and has survived and thrived. So, I don’t see anything different happening if the Elite decide to leave.”
On his All In match with Stephen Amell:
“He was willing to do anything and he’s a natural athlete. I knew that people’s expectations for the match were going to be blown away. I think people were expecting a certain style of match and we went out and delivered above and beyond that.”
On the Jericho Cruise and ROH working with other wrestling promotions:
“As long as they decide that it is best for the product and both companies can thrive and excel under those agreements, it is great for the wrestling fans. There are matches out there that haven’t been seen yet. If the companies can find a way to reach an agreement, it benefits everybody! When you talk about the talk of the wrestling world being at All In or being on the Jericho Cruise, it is because they were not seeing things that is available everyday. That is the beauty of professional wrestling. We’re all out there trying to get eyes on the product. If that is what it takes to get that and the companies can agree to do it, then I feel we should do it. It is for the betterment of wrestling overall and for the betterment of all of us who are working so hard to get our names out there.”
On what the future for Christopher Daniels is if he should lose at Final Battle:
“I don’t even know. I am going into Final Battle with the belief that I’m going to have my hand raised. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll have to consider that on Saturday morning.”
