– TNA star Christopher Daniels spoke with The Baltimore Sun this week to promote Sunday’s TNA Destination X pay-per-view. Here are a few highlights from the article:
How much do you and the other X Division guys look at Sunday’s pay-per-view as an opportunity to prove that your style of wrestling not only has value but can be a focal point of the company?
I feel like that point’s already been proven – it just doesn’t always follow what the people in charge believe. I feel like the X Division, when it first started out, it was the thing that made TNA different than everything else that was on the scene. It was also the thing that brought a lot of the buzz around TNA in the very beginning. So I feel like that point’s been proven, but it doesn’t always follow suit. Sometimes things are misinterpreted and [those in charge] feel like it’s better to go in different directions. But it’s funny that they always seem to keep coming back to the X Division. When it comes down to putting marquee matches in the ring, the X Division is usually called upon, whether it’s the three-way between me, [Samoa] Joe and A.J. [Styles], or just a singles match between me and A.J., or Ultimate X, or any of those things. When they want a sure-fire way to grab people’s attention, a lot of times the X Division is called upon. Having said that, I feel like all of us that are on this show are looking forward to the opportunity to show that an all-X Division pay-per-view can certainly grab the wrestling public’s attention and make them want to shell out some cash to see it.
When Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff first came to TNA, you quickly went from headlining pay-per-views in world title matches to jobbing to Val Venis. When you left, was it your choice or theirs, and did you think you’d ever be back?
First of all, it was not my choice at all. It sort of blindsided me, actually. I was under the impression that something was in the works for me, and found out that there wasn’t anything in the works for me. So I was disappointed at that, but at the same time, right away when I was let go, I was told that there were plans for me to come back, it was just a matter of time and circumstance. So I wasn’t sure when I would come back, but I was told that at some point I would. It took a little while longer than I thought it was going to. But I was always in discussions with them. I kept in touch with them to sort of see what the landscape was and if there was a position for me there, and it ended up coming into play in March. I was lucky that things went a certain way and the position opened up for me.
What match at Destination X are you most looking forward to seeing?
I think one of them would be Samoa Joe and Kazarian. Having worked with those guys in the past as much as I have and being friends with them like I am, I know that their attitude is that they’re going to take this opportunity to steal the show. So I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what they’re going to do. I know it’s been a while since I’ve seen them together in a high-profile singles match. Being a Southern California guy, and those guys were in Southern California, there were many nights when we were all in the same locker room and those guys put on some great matches. Now here it is 2011 and they’re getting an opportunity to go at it one more time and it’s on pay-per-view.
