Why Did Nick Aldis Leave the NWA? Exclusive Interview

Nick Aldis talks to Sam Roberts about his decision to leave the NWA, making the announcement public, Billy Corgan's public response, problems with the company, favorite moments as the NWA champion, his story with Cody Rhodes, and his future, including thoughts on Triple H, Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, MJF, and more, on Notsam Wrestling.
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[@SomeBaller]

Vince McMahon : "We are ganna change your name, Pal.....you're now going to be called Nick...E James!"

[@blackluch7281]

That was funny as shit 😂😂😂 Nick E James

[@mvrtinxz650]

i dont get it. whos Vince McMahon?

[@Alien_on_earth69]

Good one 😂😂😂

[@thesoskofactory8619]

He'll be in WWE and will become first Gritain Britan WWE world champion

[@vagrant2676]

@@thesoskofactory8619 Drew Galloway has been world champ....last time I checked Scotland was still in Great Britain

[@_DOH_]

I respect Nick and his work, both in ring and out. My uncle has worked with him and Mickie for charity events and he said they both were SUPER easy to deal with and VERY professional. Look forward to seeing what’s next for Nick. Good luck!

[@TimHarveybuysrealestate]

Incredible interview. Nick Aldis was THE reason to watch NWA. His storytelling alone with the ten pounds of gold was amazing. I am rooting for him and truly hope WWE brings and exposes him to the biggest audience.

[@777jimothy]

Its really refreshing to hear Nick speak about wrestling which such understanding , he's not all about the 5 star match he's about the build he's about the old school values which a lot of proper wrestlers and fans can really appreciate and respect

[@stevensingleton6742]

All I'm gonna say is Billy Corgan is known to be the hardest person to work with. His band, the music labels, MTV, VH1, Impact Wrestling and many of his past wrestlers so far in the NWA.

[@TheKevinNewsom]

The Ten Pounds Of Gold series was just awesome. I really enjoyed Nick and Tim Storm. That style of wrestling is just outstanding. Best of luck to Nick.

[@WyattHolliday]

Nick Aldis brought me back to wrestling. If he shows up in the Royal Rumble, I’m gonna mark out.

[@SLICK8116]

Get ready

[@WyattHolliday]

@@SLICK8116 For real?

[@SLICK8116]

@@WyattHolliday he stated on the kurt angle show his goal is to wrestle in wwe before he retires

[@WyattHolliday]

@@SLICK8116 I sure would love to see it!

[@harshavardhanvinitha1237]

That didn't happen 😭

[@TheAllianceBlog]

You got to take a pause, to appreciate all the sweat equity that Nick Aldis put into the National Wrestling Alliance. But at the end of the day, it is best for all parties to move on. Nick will land on his feet. He's a great talent. The NWA will continue forward.

[@DeadKoby]

From what I derive, Nick wanted a 100% serious "territory"....... It was said that he didn't treat wild characters such as Zicky Dice with kindness. I recall when fans called out that he should wrestle Question Mark(who was SOO over at the time), his reaction was a hard... NO. Outside of the Social Distance match... which was 100% junk..... I can't think of an NWA match that wasn't traditional wrestling. Aron Stevens, Question Mark, Rolondo, Gaggz, Sal and Magic Jake are characters......but they still punch kick and bodyslam with the rest of them. Even the NWA territories like Memphis had a mix of serious and side-show.

[@gothard5]

@@DeadKoby I can think of a lot of matches that aren’t tradional wrestling matches. triple threat matches, fatal four way matches, team war matches just to name a few. Also, Rolando is an effing joke and should not be in the wrestling business at all. Same goes for Gaggz and Sal.

[@jorshsaunders9108]

I don't think it's fair to just blame Billy and the NWA for going from a pretty serious presentation to a slightly less than so presentation. When POWERRR my kicked off the availability of talent was much greater than today or even post COVID and Billy has worked with what he's got and I think that's ok. I do think he's rushed bringing back some championships and they haven't meant what they possibly could and I haven't been a fan of Vanilla Godzilla Jax Dane, or thanks to #OSW Jack Stain haha, and how they've booked him but I think that can easily be remedied. I think Nick should maybe give Ron Conway a call and have a chat about Robs run as NWA World Champ and dealing with then owner Arby Tard, or something like that. What did Uncle Fred call him Jay? The Brownsville Barrister? The NWA has seen MUCH darker days honestly. And as Jay said, both Aldis and the NWA will go on and be fine.

[@TheAllianceBlog]

@@jorshsaunders9108 you must be a friend from the message board days. Come join one of our live podcasts/streams @theallianceblog, I'd love to have you jump back in on the chat! I agree with what you said. I don't place the blame directly on one or the other. They both have to take some ownership of what happened. And you know, life happens.

[@jorshsaunders9108]

@@TheAllianceBlog the board does need me....I would set a new standard for Podcast Guests as well....so long as we could talk about THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE NWA, the NWA WORLD WOMEN'S TITLE!!! oh and slag David Marquez. Name starts with an H any ends with a Y and I do not mean Polejump!

[@AceGoodheart]

Seeing NWA coming back into existence was very exciting to see. I loved seeing the return of the belts that were used back in the day. I think Nick Aldis was a great champion for this new NWA. He made the company and title feel prestigious and reminiscent of Ric Flair's reign in NWA. Lately, NWA is missing the mark. They seem to be going forward aimlessly with no direction or organization. I hope for their success but it needs a lot of help. The Nick Aldis vs. Matt Cardona rivalry was going to be great for this company but it was poorly handled.

[@blackjackhammer21]

I agree. They started great but after the pandemic it seems they were all over the place. The NWA was built on solid feuds and simple storylines. They had a great studio set and that disappeared. They had the stadium seating audience and that disappeared. After that it seemed like an indie studio show you see all the time. It didnt set itself apart from the past wrestling shows.

[@The80sWolf_]

@@blackjackhammer21 I watched Powerrr in the beginning, and enjoyed the style of the show, but then it became worse and worse, and suddenly I just stopped watching it. Then one of my favorites died too :(

[@blackjackhammer21]

@@The80sWolf_ Yes that is what I am talking about. It seemed Billy stripped it down to nothing. Sadly, when the Question Mark died to me that was when the NWA needed to step up the most bc QM was starting something special that could have taken off. As the weeks and months went by the NWA started looking like every other indie show on YT without any consideration for the look and feel of the shows. Nick is right, Billy has turned the NWA into a comedy spectacle and even Billy himself admitted this was an ongoing battle for the last three years with Nick about creative. Well? Dont you think he should listen to a man who has been doing it most of his life? Nick wasn't out there touring with a band then became a wrestler. He was actually working his craft. One thing Billy and Tony from AEW have in common is that they BOTH think they are Vince McMahon. Here is a funny twist to this whole thing. Billy forgot that he was with Nick Aldis in TNA and often had clashes with Dixie Carter about the product the same way Nick has been complaining about the NWA. I guess Billy is now the new Dixie. Sad bc this could have been something special instead the product is all over the place just like AEW.

[@InstagramAWrestlingHistorian]

Billy Corgan thought Trevor Murdoch Vs. Mike Knox main eventing a PPV was a good idea.

[@SirRavixofFourhorn]

@@blackjackhammer21 You can always tell a WWE stan when you see one.

[@TheMyuyen]

This man’s knowledge, how he conduct himself, the way he sees and does business is so admirable and refreshing in an old school way.

[@jonmeans2637]

This man is A star. He is one of the very few reasons I've tuned into any wrestling whatsoever. I hope nothing but the best for him .

[@pinroshan020]

Mine are Brian Danielson and MJF from AEW atm.

[@jinmochizuki]

A star?! Hahahahaha 😂

[@lsmlsm2115]

He isn't a star. Thats the problem.

[@CobraKhanDaDon]

Guy deserves a run in the big leagues w some real production behind him. Hope he gets the call.

[@rawbarber9012]

@KZbin Viewer yeah none of that is happening.

[@lewiscutbirth4893]

@@rawbarber9012 never say never dipshit

[@123mgu]

The Lockdown robbed us of Eli Drake (LA Knight) vs Aldis

[@josereyes1148]

What got me hooked on NWA was the first ten pounds of gold series. It was a real feel MMA style build. It showed Nick and Tim training and talking about their quest for the title. They continued to build on that through the years and I thought I had a real alternative to modern wrestling. Then the pandemic hit and Billy teased something that he thought fans would be excited about. It was carny land...... Since then, NWA has felt less like a sport and more like a cheap TNA Knockoff from Tna's worst years. So thats your vision Billy? Maybe you arent a wrestling mind like you portrayed yourself to be. If thats what Nick wants to get away from, I dont blame him.

[@JJSA1985]

I have to agree with most everything Aldis says here regarding the direction of the NWA. It's unfortunate they have abandoned enhancement matches and have brought in these awful comedy matches and wrestlers. I'll never understand the appeal of silly comedy nonsense in wrestling.

[@RealRain89]

Exactly that gimp crap was my final straw watching powerrr

[@TuMalditaMadre]

They had Colt Cabana wrestling serious matches and he was actually over as a solid mid carder. What happened?

[@yashbspianoandcompositions1042]

@@TuMalditaMadre Matt Cardona becoming champion was pretty good

[@mannyrivera4119]

@@TuMalditaMadre He was used as a pawn by the young bucks in the back stage struggle over influence in AEW between the bucks and CM PUNK. To get CM PUNK out of AEW and ruin punks baby face run because he was getting massively over more so than the elite, they let leak rumor's to the observer that PUNK was behind Colt Cabana's release. Colt was even allude in a promo where hangman adam page when into business for himself.

[@dceasedbrickfan74]

Jim Cornett liked this

[@hypnotics7886]

I’m glad we got an explanation as to why so much cartoony, hokey stuff made it’s way into the NWA. Billy’s increasing influence. I thought he was always driving the product (his brand, his money, etc) so it’s interesting to know he was hands off at some point.

[@lesgordon8010]

It’s a shame Nick left. I love the old-school match when he wrestled Ricky Morton on NWA power. That was absolutely an amazing match for old school.

[@bradleyhagen419]

Give this man a job. He could be a solid guy in the ring and later on in a backstage role. Good worker, good talker, looks great, and a good mind for the business.

[@deankay6680]

I wasn't really familiar with Aldis apart from his All In match against Cody before this interview and I did not know what the situation was with the NWA, but now he is probably one of my favorite wrestling personalities! What a great approach to professional wrestling!

[@Longdogz]

Nick is perfect for WWE, a stable with LA Night and Bobby Roode would be a heat magnet

[@johnathanrush4666]

Bobby Roode definitely deserves something to do

[@Loolakool]

@@johnathanrush4666 he’d be fantastic in impact again if they could figure out how to reliably book coherent long term main event stories.

[@EclecticBuddha]

NWA actually got me back into watching wrestling again when Powerrr debuted on KZbin. I didn't know Nick or Tim Storm and it was such a compelling, believable program the way they did it. Also, the Legacy sleep supplement works much better for me than just melatonin. I work swing shift and it helps a lot. Nice interview Sam!

[@edwardclement102]

Harley Race was like the King of NWA when money took him elsewhere he went, but in the end, he came home to NWA, Race vs Flair great matches and he trained Nick Aldis and Trevor Murdoc and his son runs his promotion today.

[@tnacreative6499]

Billy has really shot himself & the NWA in the foot big time by letting things spiral the way they have with Aldis - he was & is the face of the NWA brand - i'm pulling for the NWA, but there is simply nobody there right now who can even come close to stepping into his shoes. And everything Aldis said about the current state of the NWA is true - atleast from what has been presented on TV over the past year. It sounds as though he may well be heading to WWE - I whish him well. I'd personally like to see him back in impact - a long term title feud with josh alexander could be great

[@bluwng]

Matt Cardona has all the heat and recognition he is also good at promoting the company. The weird thing is the NWA has been squashing him so I am at a loss at what they want.

[@averagedusty]

@@bluwng It's clear they want Rolando Freeman v. Tyrus. lmao

[@ThePaulcarter35]

@@bluwng Corgan's recent booking decisions have been mind boggling - odinson is a guy that looks like a star and someone they could build up to be a home grown main event star - yet they have him job clean to thrillbilly silas?! Cardona was positioned as a great heel like you said - now he's an ice cold comedy gimmick again. And putting the belt on Tyrus speaks for itself - that's the surest way to kill the brand dead - they're going to get soo much backlash over it - and they deserve it for there booking. Sticking with Murdock or putting it back on Cardona woiuld have been fine - Odinson & Thom Latimer could be built up as future title holders. Putting the belt on a 49 year old immobile giant who struggles to climb inside the ring is the surest way to kill your brand

[@bluwng]

@@ThePaulcarter35 Latimer has a story line but Odinson makes no sense. NWA doesn’t have the budget to attract top notch stars ( except Cardona) so they need to build their own. There are so many options for wrestlers today and NWA does not have the prestige or dollars to attract they can only build internally and put on better shows than their competitors.

[@DeadKoby]

There were a number of talents that were at the NWA for a cup of coffee, and said that Nick made them feel unwanted......... I agree that Nick is a HECK of a talent...... but it seems when Nick isn't the boss, he's hard to do business with. I'm not hating on anyone here. NWA does need to gain some traction though. My gut says that Tyrus is there to be monster that will be toppled by their next big pushed face... but I don't know.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

I could listen to Nick as an interview all day. And I loved him in NWA. He was good at being the logical justified articulate heel.

[@bigchillphil]

Nick was my favorite part of NWA and I’ll follow him to whatever company he goes to next.

[@andrewmckinney148]

If I’m honest this is heartbreaking. I was so excited for the early days of this resurgence. I understand that AEW happened and took a huge bite out of the labor market and I understand that they too a huge hit from the pandemic but dang. The original NWA concept will never be repeated but the brand is historically so important. It’s a shame to see where the NWA is now. The best thing for the NWA brand would be that it be taken over by someone else. I wonder if Billy getting more involved corresponds with Lagana leaving.

[@gothard5]

Lagana left a long time ago and that probably does have something to do with Corgin getting more involved. loss of trust in Aldis, too.

[@Spooky_515]

Corgan was a big part of the Hardy boys renewed success with Matt reinventing himself, I’m sure he was a part of Question Mark & Stevens success to. He has the imagination for it. Caught a hard break early and it could take years before he finds other performers that could catch on like Powerrr did when it debuted. It’s first two seasons were the best wrestling has been in almost 10 years

[@ryanbenson4610]

Great interview! I really hope to see more of Nick Aldis on a bigger stage.

[@unitexconquer375]

Fantastic interview! Hope we can see him doing more in the UK

[@markramos5550]

It’s a shame that things went south with Aldis and Billy. Aldis give everything to that brand. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next. WWE, AEW and Impact would be crazy to not try to sign and push this dude to the moon. He’s the total package.

[@littlea464]

💯 percent

[@Spooky_515]

Dude he’s done. He was with NWA to be a top guy. If he goes anywhere else he’ll be doing jobs

[@markramos5550]

@@Spooky_515 I don't see it that way. At least, he could be good upper middle card Heel for either WWE or AEW I think.

[@Epsilonsama]

@@Spooky_515 Don't be a Mark. A chance to be on TV is worth the risk.

[@KentKaliber]

James Bond + William Regal = Nick Aldis

[@kevinrid5113]

Nick seems like a good dude. Hope he gets a shot at wwe, he deserves it just for having to deal with both Dixie Carter and billy corgan.

[@blakemaxfield4267]

What's wrong with Billy? Lol

[@kevinrid5113]

@@blakemaxfield4267 tyrus

[@blakemaxfield4267]

@@kevinrid5113 Explain

[@blakemaxfield4267]

@@kevinrid5113 fox news CNN who gives a shit haha yea Tyrus sucks tho

[@thesupervisor3270]

Don’t hold your breath on WWE. He and Bruce Prichard has major heat. And Bruce still have some stroke there

[@carlosr6462]

now even the NWA is doing bad comedy in a pro wrestling show. I stopped watching NWA last year and the only things worth to watch involved Nick Aldis, Murdoch and Pope, everything else was meh.

[@mr.donkey4069]

dave lagana is a terrible person but once he got speaking outed as a sex offender the NWA booking became trash almost overnight

[@SlimmArmstrong]

@@mr.donkey4069 - Lagana is a sex offender!?!? I didn’t know that, wow

[@jabrockobiden9434]

Who cares

[@mr.donkey4069]

@@jabrockobiden9434 hi dave

[@J1R629]

When Tyrus is main eventing your promotion, you know it’s lost its way.

[@jesuszamora6949]

Tyrus. A guy who can barely go, being pushed because he kisses up to a political fringe on Fox News. Billy Corgan has no clue what he's doing, clearly.

[@eurynomeiposdraven3321]

Damn Brodus Clay is still wrestling? Fuck 😂

[@J1R629]

@@eurynomeiposdraven3321 He just became their world champion too.

[@eurynomeiposdraven3321]

@@J1R629 oh no

[@nickjames464]

I am a giant giant fan of Nick going back to his Magnus days and he's making the right choice

[@yazr1712]

HHH gonna sign this guy. Guaranteed

[@WyattHolliday]

I sure hope so!

[@marvinfrederick7368]

Nope

[@marvinfrederick7368]

He was there in 2006 And walk away

[@littlea464]

Incredibly well spoken and articulated man..would be a great acquisition to any wrestling company

[@julioguzman3687]

I only watched the NWA because of Nick. Best of luck sir

[@Foodies]

11 months later and he's the GM of Smackdown

[@SairajRKamath]

I feel for Nick. He is to NWA what AJ Styles was to TNA.

[@debhausen]

Amazing interview

[@veevendetta3448]

Nick is the ideal employee man. One of the all time greats too.

[@DUARTE99]

Great interview. I'll be a fan of Nick Aldis for life. It doesn't matter to me where he works.

[@Simouno]

Before Roman Reigns took over, Nick was by far the best world champion american pro wrestling had to offer. He is somebody every company should strive to have as the face that runs the place. I dream of a feud with MJF because those 2 guys can make magic happen with the mic and in ring, but regardless of where he goes, Nick will be a star

[@christophermarriott1681]

Roman Reigns? He's nothing. Kenny Omega is the one to think about.

[@DevilSurvivor69]

@@christophermarriott1681 What is he world champion of right now lol? He's the biggest thing wrestling now, get over it.

[@Spooky_515]

@@christophermarriott1681 omega is boring. Anyone interested in making a profit wouldn’t build a promotion around him.

[@edwardclement102]

Nick was an excellent NWA heel World Champion like Ric Flair, Harley Race, and Jeff Jarrett, and he gave great promos. What the WWE needs is a superhero like Hulk Hogan, Rock, and Stonecold. Good luck Nick. NWA PPV tomorrow.

[@thevoid99]

slapnutz was never a great world champion. in fact, he never should've been world champion. he is the embodiment of mediocrity.

[@geekworlduk1]

2 months from now Nick is going to be All Elite

[@dfromcool]

First time I’ve watched your channel! Outstanding interview Sir! Subscribed!

[@yellowbonewrestling6479]

38:08 Damn right i started watching bcoz of him

[@adamaizenberg756]

Great interview, good luck to Nick!

[@bdr113080]

As someone who gave up on WWE in 2006 and have never been able to get into AEW or impact, NWA is the only pro wrestling that I actually sit down and watch for time to time. Honestly I felt like even though they didn’t have the star power and the budget that WWE and AEW had, theIr matches made sense, it felt like a competitive match instead of a stunt show and I especially as a fan that grew up on the NWA and WCW have really wanted Billy to get the NWA off the ground and running for years now….. i’ve got to say that Nick leaving feels like the beginning of the end for Billy trying to make the NWA work again. I completely understand that Billy only has a net worth of $60 million and I know that’s a lot of money to us but when you compare it to the billions that WWE and AEW have it’s not a lot at all. In fact for him to have probably one great successful year he would probably spend every bit of that 60 million. That being said if NWA is going to work Tyrus is not the one that needs to be the world champion and that’s nothing personal against the guy but he’s not someone that the fans respect as a main event Guy. Nick I felt brought a lot of class and respect to the NWA world title, he made that belt feel more special than any other world built on TV right now and I feel like those days are over now. I’m not saying he has to have CM punk and Bryan Danielson and Jericho and Roman reigns but he needs to have at least four wrestlers that are in their prime right now that the casual fan will recognize. And he needs to have them be able to show up on a weekly basis. When you look at NWA‘s roster they’ve only got about half a dozen people full-time on the roster. As someone that wanted to see NWA succeed I rolled my eyes when Billy said he had a 20 year plan. I’m sorry but you gotta come up with another plan besides we’re going to turn a profit in 20 years. He needs to find some investors he needs at least four guys to be the core of his company that people know and respect and I would say he needs at least two full-time tag teams that people know and respect and then maybe half a dozen other guys coming up that those four can get over in two or three other tag teams coming up that those two tag teams can’t get over. It’s been a little over five years now and I’m sorry but I don’t feel that Billy is any closer to having this on a respectable level than he was five years ago. I was OK with them being a KZbin wrestling show the first year maybe even the first two but come on man. There are indie promotions all over America that have a wrestling KZbin show and those guys have a net worth of $500 . The most respectable wrestler N.W.A. had is now leaving. While I applaud Billy for presenting NWA wrestling in a serious light it sounds like from this interview he’s been wanting to do a lot of goofy fucking shit that Nick fought him on. Billy….. The reason NWA is failing isn’t because you’re not having comedy spots or high spot stunt show matches, it’s because you don’t have any money invested into it and if you’re not going to take the NWA seriously why should the fans? Why should the fans look at it any differently than they look at MLW or impact if you’re just going to be on KZbin? If you’re going to make Tyrus your world champion? You need to find some investors and get some notable respectable talent in there, don’t turn to the comedy bullshit and after you have some respectful names in there and people start coming to you then try to get off KZbin and get on television. For crying out loud separate yourself from the backyard wrestlers that have a camcorder.

[@micahjohnsonboxing6409]

MLW definitely doesn't have a millionaire backing it and I think it's better. NWA just seems to not be able to get any prime talent.

[@Filmation77]

Billy is Not Cultivating any young talent, and he doesn't Pay( 250 a show??? Come TF ON) Ricky Starks has said that he was living in his Car when he was in the NWA . He has guys like Odinson,Colby Corino, Matt Cardona, and ant older star should be there to elevate the younger guys . Tyrus has no business being the NWA World Champion,even Colt Cabana was a more Credible NWA World Champion.

[@roundyr90]

This is the first time I've finally had a chance to actually sit down and listen to this shoot. I'm coming away from this with a variety of thoughts and emotions. I never liked you that much in TNA. But when you started with this NWA thing...that garnered my attention. Thank you for all your contributions to the NWA, you've earned whatever good things come your way next.

[@vitorealz9645]

On Nick's side here, since 73 the show has been bad. Nwa has no storylines just matches and comedy. That's why the views are down, NWA USA is a comedy show. Pope should be a world champion too

[@3venFl0w]

This guy could be a legit star in WWE booked as a nick bockwinkel style guy all serious. Us brits are usually shite on the stick but this guy can talk

[@shawniebmore6424]

Nick Aldis Royal Rumble Please

[@jayglenn82]

No

[@michaelsessa6214]

@@jayglenn82 Yes

[@timperdue4311]

Great interview!

[@brettheath7127]

would love to see Nick in the WWE he could be a great IC champ and bring prestige back to the title not to mention he could do great business with Cody in a WWE title feud

[@showgamez5257]

Already has prestige now! Plus he not ic champ Material

[@fredbrown8344]

Gunther has been doing a great job at that man!

[@greatnezz10]

Don’t disrespect Walter like that

[@chadkirk150]

HHH if there is anyone who deserves a shot in WWE it's Nick Aldas. Then we can finally get Cody Rhodes Vs Nick Aldas 3.

[@chadkirk150]

@KZbin Viewer That be perfect.

[@kevinnash2444]

GREAT INTERVIEW! Impressive

[@kermita12]

Great interview.

[@EmoEmu]

I wonder where he'll end up, if him leaving is a shoot. In my opinion every promotor should be ecstatic to get this guy signed.

[@DeadKoby]

Nick is a very good talent. NWA let him find his own style.........and it really worked out well. I know things were a bit rocky with Nick and Billy, but now I understand what tipped over the cart. When the boss hears/reads that the company you work for is an embarrassment (opinion)........... That really would flare up tempers. It's been said by a few other former NWA wrestlers that Nick was tough to do business with............ and It's also been said Billy's first assignment /w/ TNA was to work with the difficult personalities.........that included Aldis, Tyrus, and James Storm. Had Nick and Billy been able to keep things behind doors, it may have worked out better. Social media wrecks the ship again. Perhaps Billy and Nick can mend the fences in the future. Maybe Nick will find an organization that better suits his needs. The OTHER sticking point of their story was that Empowerr 2 didn't happen at NWA73. Billy held the opinion that available women's talent would not be able to equal last years show. Nick feels that was an insult to Mickie......... The first Empowerrr show had guests from AEW, AAA, and Impact....... I don't THINK they are/were open to sharing talent a year later.

[@Mykamania]

Whole interview spot on. Only started watching NwA again cause of Nick Aldis, and thru his whole.title reign there was a magic with that company. Which he explains in interview that magic died when he lost to Cody...Cody returns at rumble does.real good for a bit clears house then Aldis enters 1 on 1 at the Rumble.

[@bigran_outbound2262]

Dope interview

[@mikem.7921]

Hopefully you get cody Rhodes on and he says exactly why he truly left aew and this interview was great 👍

[@Garf_malarf]

Nick and la knight are such great wrestlers. Nwa had 2 generational talents that hopefully get the recognition they deserve.

[@herringstheseries]

He looks like a completely different person without the beard. WWE needs to sign him immediately and book him vs GUNTHER.

[@Matt-xd1gi]

Really excited to see where Nick ends up have always liked him from him tna days.

[@trscsaeg]

I love nick so much. Where he goes he needs to be at the top of the card at all times. Dude can carry anyone and make anyone and make you feel. Imagine him and any top stars in aew or wwe. I’d love to see him and Ricky starks down the line

[@diluted8]

TV and internet changes everything. If it was just house shows and word of mouth, more attendance would be guaranteed. I think the TV studio can get old pretty quick too. Ric Flair was the World champion. One of the last of the traveling champions

[@edwardclement102]

The studio is cool bringing back memories of Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, and Dusty Rhodes. It brings something different to see, just like Wrestlemania brings something different to see.

[@diluted8]

@@edwardclement102 I appreciated it for a while. Powerrr. Thunder Rosa era, Jim Cornette on commentary. But Billy Corgan got more hands on and started booking his silly ideas he believes in, and nick aldis disagreed with the direction

[@frody4205]

Nick is a pro's pro!!! He'll be a success anywhere he goes. 💯😎🤙

[@davejohnson7583]

I didn’t realize Aldis was that vital to the company but after hearing all the things he did he should have been put in charge of creative,just another sad example of a person who is a fan can’t necessarily run a wrestling company with out help and also be humble enough to listen to people who have done this a long time some times you’ve got to move ego out the way aldis helped make the NWA title mean something again I’m so sorry for him

[@mulldrifterz6469]

Imagine he debuts at the Royal Rumble. Coming down to him and Cody... The crowd would lose their minds.

[@JimDee885]

This interview was phenomenal. Funny. Insightful. Informative. Real. Aldis is the truth and NEEDS a larger platform to truly tell his wrestling story. Aldis vs Rollins, Reigns, Randy, Mox, MJF, Danielson, Rhodes, Omega/Elite, McIntyre, Sheamus, Miro. It would all work. Whichever company gets him gets exponentially better instantly.

[@John_Smith77]

AEW probably won’t hire him because he’s not a big guy that wrestles an indie-esque style like a Brian Cage or a Willie Mack. Plus, Aldis doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that willingly takes a lot of bullshit from people. Not sure WWE would hire him either, but stranger things have happened. Selfishly, I’d like to see him in MLW & mix it up with some of the people there like Hammerstone or Jacob Fatu. I don’t think it’ll happen but a man can dream.

[@thegoouch]

The NWA changed when The Question Mark passed away.

[@ChuckAtComicList]

?

[@ryansmith1228]

Dude get this guy in WWE, in a faction against Gunthers crew

[@binzy698]

Already want another nick interview 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@TheSaxon.]

I hope Nick gets a big run in WWE or AEW, as he has a lot to offer, if used right.

[@theserver4]

Agreed. But a lot of companies have questionable booking.

[@ojmcclanahan689]

I'd love to see him in WWE under Triple H. I don't think AEW would be a good fit because he would basically be walking into the same situation that he just walked out of. Tony Khan is just as inexperienced as Billy Corgan and he has an even worse habit of booking nonsensical comedy matches than Corgan does. Anyone who wants to be part of a serious professional wrestling promotion should stay as far away from AEW as they possibly can because they're not gonna find that there.

[@christophermarriott1681]

@@ojmcclanahan689 😂 WWE isn't even a pro wrestling company. GTFO You're a casual that doesn't know what booking is. WWE gonna have Aldis losing to fake superpowers. AEW is a real pro wrestling company. And comedy has always been a part of pro wrestling. Do your research. Nobody in WWE knows who he is. Casuals don't watch WWE for wrestling.

[@ojmcclanahan689]

@@christophermarriott1681 AEW would have him selling invisible fireballs from the goddamn Street Fighter game in a cosplay match with the Elite or they would have him doing a job for a 150 lb comedy wrestling with his hands in his pockets. Don't act like AEW doesn't do stupid, embarrassing horse shit too. They're no more a real professional wrestling company than WWE is. Professional wrestling is fucking dead and gone, man. It's ALL sports entertainment now. Yes, there has always been comedy in wrestling. It's about the execution of it. Organic comedy that makes a heel look stupid, great! Forced comedy that's not at all funny to anyone over the age of 12, and stupid ass gimmick matches that make a joke of professional wrestling is a whole other story. How about do your fucking research before saying stupid shit and insulting people. Casual fan. I've forgotten more about wrestling than you've seen you arrogant little pickle licker.

[@adventuresinquillville]

He would be a great superstar and he’d be a great producer. I enjoy him so much. Seems to have such a mind for wrestling

[@Abioticwinter]

NWA screwed up. Billy is crazy. Running off Nick. But keeping and pushing guys who cant work or even walk to the ring like Tyrus.

[@edwardclement102]

Billy's position is NWA must go on like WWE and ratings for them are like late WCW.

[@RagonroX]

Nick was the face of the NWA. I really thought he was killing it in that role too. Lot of great talkers and a great feel to NWA early on. I eventually lost interest though and it looks like Nick's reservations started around that same time. Damn shame really. Nick really deserves a shot somewhere else. Not sure where the best fit for him is but wherever he lands, I'll watch.

[@wrestlingcommunity]

I started watching leading up to Empowerrr and was really disappointed when they didn’t do a 2nd one. The Burke Invitational was great, and so was the Crockett Cup. Hope to see Nick somewhere with more of an audience soon.

[@GimmeAHullYeah]

Aldis is one of the greatest interviews in wrestling.

[@johneschen308]

Trips needs to sign this man like yesterday!

[@erikrupp692]

Nick is 110% correct - Billy taking the NWA in a more comedic, sillier direction was a huge mistake. I said for years that Aldis shouldn't always be the Champion, but like Ric Flair he should always be in the Championship picture, and have the belt as often as he didn't. He was the face of the NWA. He was their most popular wrestler. He helped rebuild the NWA out of the scrapheap. He had the charisma, he had the persona, and he has the in ring talent. Billy seems threatened by Nick's popularity and it seems like he didn't want Nick to become a Hulk Hogan type. Nick was never going to be that, but Billy seems to have been afraid of that, so once the title was off Nick I don't think Billy ever wanted to give it back. That was a huge mistake, and I've seen a lot of people from smaller, independent wrestling organizations that Billy could have signed, but didn't. Instead he gets D grade talent. I mean, freaking TYRUS is the champion? Please. He can't move. He's a terrible wrestler. He's a joke. Trevor Murdoch is a great National Champion, but as World Champion he's B grade. Corgan has totally screwed this thing up. I could fix it. Nick could have fixed it, but some people would have thought he was being self serving. I could still fix it. A lot of people could. Just approach this thing like 1985 NWA with 2022 sensibilities. No more joke matches. Very little comedy. And bring in people who can really, really wrestle well. Billy built the company by bringing in Nick Aldis, Eli Drake, James Storm, Thunder Rosa, etc. Now none of them are there. Who's left? Not much. Thanks, Billy. 🙄

[@DMTSportsMediaLive]

I actually enjoyed this interview. Nick is a businessman and is invested in himself and invested in the industry and this is what is required to be a success. Even when he spoke of the feuds with WWE stars, he wasn’t talking about being champion, he was talking about feuds that would be wrestling and would be amazing. As much as people are saying go to AEW I got to disagree. I see Tony as similar to Billy, it’s his baby and we are seeing matches that should be feuds given away as one offs and feeds that shouldn’t be feuds going to long. Nick doesn’t need this. I think Nick would fit a return to the current Impact, he would have brought a new life to ROH if Nick K didn’t own it. I would like to see him in a new WWE/NXT Europe however he is now domiciled in the US so if he goes WWE he would have to go to the big show.

[@christophermarriott1681]

WWE isn't a pro wrestling company and never will be. Just stop.

[@jamesearlcash1758]

I would like to see Nick show up in AEW and get into a feud with Christian Cage.

[@MrChrisStingray]

I hope Nick ends up in the WWE. He’s such a great performer and a great guy. He’s smart about the business.

[@thesupervisor3270]

Why? U must want him lost on the roster?

[@shannonbayley3684]

@@thesupervisor3270 Nah that's AEW

[@jayglenn82]

It’s both. And honestly the wrestling land scape as a whole is over saturated with too many hours of weekly programming with the nwa being an exception

[@clev1729]

Nick ALDIs and Tim Storm were the reason I watched the new NWA..

[@StrayDogGhostBlues]

I really hope he puts work into the rebuilding of the UK scene. Nick is very much a generational talent and a blue collar workhorse. So I see him and Scurl being names on the UK shows. Also tho his character really could work in the Roh.

[@sam_retro1988]

Nick definitely had a point especially the social distance match

[@kingoftheknight7176]

Yeah I remember that just felt so different compared to what it was in the beginning. Heartbreaking to watch.

[@julioguzman3687]

“NO” Blackpool Combat Club

[@kingsports1113]

Welcome to the WWE world Nick Aldis we got Cha now

[@ChrisManley1994]

This is the NWA’s loss not Nick’s. Nick will excel and they’ll fail

[@edwardclement102]

NWA is the oldest and will live on off of the name and memories, Nick will do fine.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

NWA would probably find a way to live on, as the fact it still exists is almost a miracle as is. But the idea is more so what does it live as. The NWA continued to exist post Turner purchasing JCP, but it was almost a non-entity. Sure it still technically remained but it was essentially a nothing brand of some Indy promoters trying to use the name. Prior to being bought in 2017 it wasn’t even really an operating entity, but just licensed its name to various Indy shows. Corgan buying it has grown it more than you’d ever have thought it could have again. But it’ll never be a big time thing again. But it does stink to lose ALdis because since the Corgan purchase he is synonymous with the brand. So it’s a big loss because anybody who thought of modern Nwa also thought of Nick.

[@lagerbeer1974]

This was damn good.

[@backroadbikes3778]

I've been to couple live NWA shows over the last 3 years and always had a good time. Nick was always a high point in the show. He looks and works like a champion should. The NWA has lost it's story line structure. The matches are too random and have no reason to be invested in the outcome.

[@marywarren7062]

love it team aldis

[@tonyjackson4078]

This comment is before watching, I'll edit after I'm done, just curious if I have a decent idea of the problem. I think Nick, who essentially WAS Corgan's NWA, felt like his loyalty was being squandered. I'd say not just his in ring stuff, but his voice like advocating for more women's matches.

[@gothard5]

Nick Aldis wanted the NWA to be kinda the same as what Cornette wanted Smoky Mountain to be. Classic professional wrestling the way it used to be. I commend Aldis for trying to put all this together for wrestling fans such as myself who love classic pro wrestling and not today’s sports entertainment. Sucks that Corgin had to ruin everything by taking over the booking.

[@josereyes1148]

He literally took something that was great and just crapped all over it with terrible ideas.

[@doseofreality420marianetti2]

38:34 "it's not easy to wear a suit " Get out of here, I wear dirty work clothes and have dreads down to my waist but when I put on my suit everywhere I go everyone I come across automatically addresses me properly and treat me like I'm not the same person they normally call dude. Now I'm Sir, wearing a suit is a great way to look professional and act mature and unless one is lacking in professionalism and maturity wearing a suit shouldn't be difficult at all regardless if there's 1 person or 1 million people looking

[@makeittillufakeit]

I feel you misunderstood the context, he would be like you a blue collor worker, I feel he is saying it does not come easy to him that part he just loves to wrestle, thats what I took away myself from it.

[@twk8520]

With HHH in charge he might have a shot in WWE. Nick's heat was with Bruce Prichard from his TNA days. He thought Nick was acting like a star but wasn't one. There may have been some issues with Cena as well as Mickie is his ex. WWE is more an open field now to make a run with it. HHH is very much a fan of the old school wrestling style. His whole move set and Game character was based on legends of the past. Nick fits that mold to a T.

[@adamnewman1672]

TW K cena & mickie were in a storyline together in wwe it was nick that gave cena her panties to give back to not him Cena & aldis a best friends cena invited nick over during that storyline in wwe mickie was with them but mickie never ever kissed cena that was Mike Adamle being a sore commentator that turned into a gm of raw

[@FrankAndrews]

Depression is living in the past. Anxiety is living in the future. And they don't balance each other out.