TNA star ‘Cowboy’ James
Storm recently spoke to The Dothan Eagle to promote this weekend’s TNA live
events. Here are some highlights from that discussion;
Eagle: You’ve developed
through the years into unquestionably one of the most unique, standout
characters in TNA. How did you find the persona of “Cowboy” James
Storm, and how similar are you outside the ring to the guy we see every
Thursday night?
Storm: That’s me. They
tell me to go out and be me. I mean, I don’t drink 24/7. I’m not that guy
sitting on the couch telling the kids to get me a beer from the refrigerator.
What a lot of people don’t realize, I never drink when I’m at home. When im at
home with my kids, I don’t drink or anything, I hang out with my kids. Having
lost my dad at an early age, I want to be there much as I can.
Eagle: You’ve spent
most of the last year in a tag team with Gunner. How was that experience?
Storm: It’s always cool
being put in a tag team with someone (new). Bobby and Chris, they had about as
much experience as I did. With Gunner, seeing him evolve into who he is now —
the guy’s a beast in the ring, that’s for sure. But seeing him start to catch
on to things, improve on the mic and in the ring, it’s pretty cool.
Eagle: One of the
things I’ve noticed on Impact in recent months has been a reduced focus on the
tag teams. What needs to be done to bring the division back to prominence?
Storm: To me, it’s just
giving them a chance. We proved that with the Motor City Machine Guns, Team 3D,
Beer Money and teams like Ink Inc. They gave the tag team division the ball,
and we made the best of it. They need to believe in the guys they put out
there. To me, there needs to be more teams, not guys just thrown together, but
guys you can relate to. Me and Bobby were thrown together, but we made it work
as a tag team. It just takes time, and with the new format of professional
wrestling, it’s kind of hard to give that much time to a specific area.
Eagle: You’re a TNA
original. What is it that’s kept you dedicated to the company for nearly 12
years, through thick and thin?
Storm: The people. Jeff
Jarrett was here a long time, and also (TNA President) Dixie Carter. She’s a
great boss, very family oriented, and she listens to the wrestlers. We can go
to her and talk if we have a problem, which is very cool. TNA was very loyal to
me when I had the opportunity to do other things.
Eagle: There have been
plenty of rumors about TNA’s status over the past year. What is the state of
the company right now, and what do you see on the horizon?
Storm: Honestly, that’s
above my pay grade, but Dixie Carter always looks after her wrestlers and does
what’s best for the company. It’s not just wrestlers’ job, it’s hers too.