Interview with pro wrestler AJ Kirsch
Permanent linkAJ Kirsch is on the upward swing of his career. You might remember him from WWE's Tough Enough with Stone Cold Steve Austin. He was also a candidate for TNA's Gut Check. Kirsch is an independent wrestler and promotes Hoodslam Wrestling. Although he did not grow up strictly Jewish per say, his father's whole family is Jewish and he was just interviewed by Larry King (so that's cool). Kirsch is an extremely nice and entertaining guy. Here is what he had to say:
What was your Jewish upbringing
like?
Well, my dad and his entire family is Jewish, but we went to
church as kids because my mom was far more involved in religion than my dad was.
Gotta keep Mom happy! (laughs)
First recall you on Tough
Enough; did you wrestle before that? If so, where and what was your
training?
I did. I've been performing as a professional wrestler
since 2005. And when I say "professional wrestler," I mean the kind on TV. Not
to be confused with mixed-martial arts (MMA) fighting. Signing with WWE has been
the dream since I was 12.
Training was absolutely brutal. I remember taking my very first bump, which is wrestling jargon for taking a fall, and I just remember thinking "This hurts so bad! I'm not sure I wanna do this anymore." But I kept coming back because I had made up my mind that that's what I wanted to do.
What was the Tough Enough experience
like? Do you keep in touch with any of those guys?
Tough
Enough was absolutely surreal, an experience I treasure to this day. Just
getting a chance to learn under some of the greatest to ever lace a pair of
boots is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There were moments when I literally
had to remind myself out loud that I wasn't dreaming.
I became good friends with Eric Watts. Martin Casaus and I have also become friends since the show. I keep in pretty regular contact with those guys.
You were
up for TNA's Gut Check. What was that like? Will we ever see you in a
TNA ring?
TNA Gut Check was just a way to keep my name
out there, keep people talking. It was humbling to see how many people on my
social media networks supported me throughout the competition, but I sincerely
doubt you're going to see me in a TNA ring any time soon, if ever.
You were recently on with Larry King. How was that
experience?
Another surreal experience that I never thought would
actually happen. It's always something special to meet someone who is the best
in the world at something, and this was no exception. I was really nervous just
moments before the interview, but once we started talking, it was like it was
just me and him.
If you could get in the ring with Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Goldberg,
or Kevin Nash who would it be and why? (Note they are all Jewish)
Probably Kevin Nash. I have a blast wrestling big guys.
Who is
the best wrestler you have had the chance to be in the ring with? What was that
like?
I actually got in the ring and rolled around with both
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock on WWE Tough Enough. Don't make
me choose! (laughs)
Whats next for AJ Kirsch?
I'm
concentrating mostly on building Hoodslam, an Oakland-based wrestling promotion
that's kind of the antithesis of the WWE. Hoodslam has me more excited about
professional wrestling than anything I've ever been a part of.
Kirsch encourages everyone to follow him on Twitter @AJKirsch. He also accepts all friend requests on Facebook.