Amazing Red was surprised by his TNA Hall Of Fame induction.
This year’s Slammiversary event was full of surprises, but many fans were genuinely moved when Amazing Red was announced as the latest entrant into the TNA Hall Of Fame.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet for a new interview, Red said that he didn’t know the news was coming.
“Yeah, I didn’t know what was happening. All I was told by Frankie was, ‘Stay here. There’s gonna be a shot between both of you.’ That’s all I kept hearing. Then before the last part of the match was happening, Frankie said, ‘Stay close. Stay close.’ As soon as people were powdering. He grabs the mic, and as soon as he grabbed the mic, I instantly knew something’s happening. Something’s up.”
Red actually thought that Frankie Kazarian was going to cut a promo on him.
“I thought he’s gonna cut a promo on me. So the last couple of matches I’ve had were dream match-type kind of things, and a lot of the guys would take it upon themselves to grab the mic and big me up and put me over and very grateful of it and I thought this was one of those things that he was gonna do. But I’m thinking this is not an indie, this is TNA, you can’t really do that here and then when he started talking he said, ‘Pay attention to the monitor in the back.’ Oh man they got me. They reached out a couple of times before about this situation about Hall of Fame, and I just kind of, I’m good, I’m good. Thank you. I’m good.”
When asked about previously rejecting the idea, Red noted that he kinda just wanted the stay in his lane.
“To tell you the truth, man. I’m not that kind of a guy. I just feel like I’ve done one thing in my life, wrestled, and I think I’m good with doing that. And I think when people come up to me and say all these great stories, it just kind of like puts me in a box. I’m like, I’m just doing my own thing in my own lane, and I’m very appreciative I helped you out and stuff like that. But I think Hall of Fame is such a big — I don’t know. I just didn’t want to accept it.”
Chris Van Vliet brought up the finality surrounding a Hall Of Fame induction. Red agreed with this take, saying that he doesn’t feel Hall Of Fame bound yet.
“Yeah, that’s actually a good way of thinking about it for sure. And a lot of times, I don’t feel like I’m old. I know I’m older. I don’t feel like I’m Hall of Fame bound yet. It’s kind of the same thing you’re saying, because a lot of times I did feel like I called it quits, and then I came right back to wrestling. So I think from here on out, I’m never gonna retire. I’m just gonna let it happen. Let it just happen. Let’s see what happens.”
Amazing Red will be inducted into the TNA Hall Of Fame at this year’s Bound For Glory event. He’ll be inducted alongside ODB and Konnan.
Fightful will have full coverage of TNA iMPACT! as it airs on Thursday, August 13.
Special thanks to Chris Van Vliet and his team for providing the quote(s) in this interview.
