Kevin Knight Interview Notes

Kevin Knight Notes

Kevin Knight of the New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Los Angeles Dojo and New Japan STRONG joined Grapsody for an exclusive interview. Here are some topics Kevin talked about with Will, Reg, and Phil.

- Kevin talked about training under Shibata. He said it’s been an amazing experience for him, and he was presented with this opportunity when he was training in Seattle under Buddy Wayne. He mentioned he had no idea what he was getting himself into. He was told they [NJPW] “really liked athletes”. He did a tryout in front of Shibata and Rocky Romero.

- He was asked about being the first black graduate of the Dojo and asked if he faced pressure. Knight would say “pressure either crushes people or makes diamonds out of people, and it made a diamond out of me.” Knight said he embraces the pressure.

- Knight said everything he has done for his character was his call, and he is basically the quarterback and calling his own shots. He said he told Gedo his ideas, and Gedo had the full confidence in him and gave him the green light.

- Kevin said his first year of training was at NJPW STRONG tapings with no fans. He said it was strange, but it has a special spot in his heart.

- Kevin said wrestling in the United Center at Forbidden Door was the largest crowd he ever wrestled in front of, and the whole experience was surreal. He added it was such a surreal experience walking down that ramp, seeing all the cameras, all the people cheering. He was surprised people even knew who they were at that point. Being out there working with Billy Gunn was a crazy moment for him.

- Kevin talked about working Battleslam events. He loves the vibe, but he said the pressure is not off, because then he is wrestling in his hometown (Atlanta, Georgia)

-  Kevin mentioned he loves that Battleslam is a crossover wrestling and hip hop thing.

- Kevin talked about his dropkick, which has been praised by the veteran Lance Storm. He said it was a move, he always loved it.

- He was asked about his recent work on IMPACT, and he mentioned when asked about the NJPW Locker Room, he said IMPACT was pretty chill too.

- He said his goal is to wrestle in the Tokyo Dome. He said he wants to do it all for NJPW, wrestle there, wrestle for the different belts. He said one day he hopes to work a WrestleMania.