Slam’s Alex Podgorski is in St. Petersburg, Florida, for this year’s Royal Rumble. Alex caught up with The Alpha Academy and here’s what they had to say about this year’s event and their WrestleMania dreams.
Alex Podgorski: How are you feeling about being here for the Royal Rumble this year?
Otis: It’s my favorite pay-per-view of all time! This is really exciting! This can set your career for WrestleMania. It’s also one of those things where you can get kind of giddy because there’s always surprise entries coming in. It’s an exciting time to be a wrestling fan and also a professional wrestler.
Alex Podgorski: Do you have any expectations for your placement on the show?
Otis: I expect to get number one! (laughs) If I get number one I’m going to break Gunther’s record. I will have the longest time in the ring, the biggest load of all time and break his record and win the Royal Rumble!
Alex Podgorski: Any other big records you want to set this year, besides time?
Otis: I’m going to be using the hips and throwing them over the top rope as many as possible! I won’t count in the moment because I always see red in the ring but I will stay grounded. No one’s picking my ass up! Not even Omos! (Laughs)
Alex Podgorski: What’s your back up plan for WrestleMania if you don’t win the Rumble?
Otis: Well, there’s always a tag team route for sure. I’ve been to two WrestleManias with my best friend and coach Chad Gable. It would be awesome to have a match like Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens and The Usos did. Something like that where we are battling together and hopefully win or retain the tag team championships.
Alex Podgorski: Any final thoughts?
Otis: I would say get ready, baby! It’s going to be pure, I mean pure, absolute carnage!
Alex Podgorski: How do you feel about being in the Royal Rumble event this year?
Chad Gable: Oh yeah, it’s great! I’m happy we’re here in Tampa! For me, it’s where it all started! I got my tryout here at FCW back in 2013 so excited to kick the road to WrestleMania right here. It’s great!
Alex Podgorski: Speaking of WrestleMania, some people say you stole the show last year when you did that amazing Chaos Theory onto Braun Strowman. Do you have something like that lined up in your mind for tomorrow’s show?
Chad Gable: I’ve got always got a plan! Master Gable’s always got a plan! Don’t tell Braun I said this but there’s guys on our roster bigger than Braun that I haven’t suplexed yet! There’s still a few guys in the queue that are going get theirs, trust me!
Alex Podgorski: What’s your strategy for the Rumble itself?
Chad Gable: I’m a technical guy. Everybody knows that. I’ll be one of the smaller guys in there. In my opinion, that works to my advantage. I’ll be lower to the ground, lower center of gravity. So, anytime these big guys come to get me, I drop my level. I’m good to go, man! I’ve done enough of these rumbles in different capacities that I know the game. I know the game plan.
Alex Podgorski: With this year there being so many announced entrants and possibly a few surprise entrants who would you say is the biggest threat to everyone going into this year’s rumble?
Chad Gable: You have got to look at a guy like Gunther who I have some history with. We went on his long run last year and was in there for so long and coming back even hungrier and better this year. He would always be a threat. You know a guy like Punk coming back hungry, motivated…We’ve got so many guys and this is when also you get a chance to see guys break out and prove themselves as the next hungry guy in line. It’s going to be great!
Alex Podgorski: Speaking of Gunther there were those great matches you had. You came very, very close to winning. The camera even panned to your daughter and she broke down crying. As a father how did you take that that once the cameras were off?
Chad Gable: It took me a long time to talk her down after that and settle her down but it was also very motivating for me. I try to separate personal from business. It gave me the drive to just keep going and keep chasing the title and also proved to me that I belong as a singles wrestler. That I could stand on my own two legs and not just be a tag team guy that I think I kind of got typecast into. So, it was big for that.
Alex Podgorski: Speaking of being a tag team, let’s presume for a moment that in the Rumble match you end up in there with Otis. What happens in that situation?
Chad Gable: Oh, don’t tell him I said this. We’ve been working on that. We’ve agreed to do rock, paper, scissors at the end but Otis didn’t know what it was so I told him there’s no rock. It’s just paper and scissors for him so I’ve got him beat no matter what. Trust me. He listens to coach no matter what I say so I’ve worked everything out.
Alex Podgorski: What is your WrestleMania back-up plan in case the Rumble doesn’t work out?
Chad Gable: I wouldn’t call it so much as a backup plan as just the doing what we’ve always done which is over deliver in whatever they ask of me. So, whether it’s 30 second backstage segment, a five minute match or a 15 minute TV match, not just give them a great one but over deliver to the point where they can’t ignore me. You saw that happen last year. Everyone thought we were going to be left off the card. At the last minute the higher-ups said all these guys have been working way too hard and given us way too much. Let’s give them a showcase and that’s what we did.
Alex Podgorski: What are your thoughts about this year’s Royal Rumble event?
Maxxine Dupri: I’m excited to be here! We have a full house this morning. I am happy to be in Florida! The weather’s good! What more could you ask for?
Alex Podgorski: Lower insurance in Florida, that’s for sure. Have you been announced as part of the Rumble this year?
Maxxine Dupri: I have not.
Alex Podgorski: Are you looking to be? As a surprise entrant, maybe?
Maxxine Dupri: I mean, never say never. Stay tuned.
Alex Podgorski: If that doesn’t work out for you yourself what are you looking forward to or hoping to achieve with Alpha Academy?
Maxxine Dupri: I have been training hard. I have been working hard on my in-ring. I am just excited for the opportunity to step back in that ring and really prove myself and make a name for myself within Alpha Academy. I just want to continue to get better every day and I’m hoping that between now and WrestleMania we just continue to see improvements with everything that I’m doing.
Alex Podgorski: Is there somebody that is at the top of your list for who you want to face in the ring?
Maxxine Dupri: I need to face Mami again. I need a little more with Becky Lynch. I’d love to wrestle (Nia) Jax. We have such an incredible roster. I just think it would be so special to step in the ring with any of those women.
Alex Podgorski: What is your WrestleMania back-up plan?
Maxxine Dupri: I’m here to support my boys! I’m here to shine at WrestleMania again. I’m happy to be there. All hands on deck! Just doing everything I can to support them.
Alex Podgorski: How do you feel about being in the Royal Rumble this year?
Tozawa: Oh, I’m not sure if I am in the Rumble this year but I am happy to be here.
Alex Podgorski: Is this your first time being in St Petersburg or in this part of Florida?
Tozawa: No, I was here during the pandemic era. I used to come in the every Monday of every week.
Alex Podgorski: Have you enjoyed being at the WWE so far? You have wrestled a lot in Japan, how do you compare the difference?
Tozawa: Oh yeah! I wrestled in Japan for 12 years, over here I wrestled for seven years. It’s completely different but I’m really enjoying it.
Alex Podgorski: Do you have a goal at the Royal Rumble, whether you are in it or not?
Tozawa: Yes, my goal is to get to Wrestlemania through the Royal Rumble and get a single title match. Yes, I already had the cruiserweight but I want the biggest title.
Alex Podgorski: So something like the U.S title or the Intercontinental championship title?
Tozawa: Yeah for sure! Not the 24/7 title though. (laughs)
Alex Podgorski: Well Intercontinental champion Gunther is over there, would you face him?
Tozawa: Yes, but not now (laughs). Right now I’m working with Alpha Academy so it’s training time. (laughs)
Alex Podgorski: Do you have a message for your fans or even in Japan?
Tozawa: Yes, please watch the WWE and enjoy my shuffle, Tozama shuffle. (laughs) I will say, try this at home.
Alex Podgorski: You mean don’t try this at home?
Tozawa: No, try this at home, my shuffle. (laughs)