Magnus on the Decision to Leave TNA, Going to Global Force Wrestling, a Possible Union, More

– Nick Aldis, formerly known as Magnus in TNA, recently spoke with Rolling Stone to promote Global Force Wrestling. The full article is at this link. Below are a few highlights from the lengthy interview:

What led to your decision to leave TNA?

I’ve been with TNA for six-and-a-half years, which has been incredible for me. I’ve seen a lot of changes in that time, just like you would with any company. I’ve seen a lot of resets, and all the while I’ve always somehow managed to stay the course and develop and grow as a talent. I reached what I thought was the pinnacle of my career at the end of 2013 [when he won the TNA World Title].

I came to the decision, if I’m honest with myself, about six months ago, maybe a bit before that, that I would leave the company when my contract was up. I’ve done everything that I can do, and I appreciated everything. It’s just time for me now, at 28 years old, to do something else to renew my focus and my energy. I just feel like I maxed out what I can do at TNA. Some people call it the seven-year itch, and I can totally relate to that.

You just signed with Global Force, but all of a sudden, Global Force might be involved with TNA. Will that be weird for you?

There is something I have to clear up. It’s not so much that I’m leaving TNA for GFW, that’s just a coincidence that I’m going there immediately. I had let TNA know that I was going to leave on June 30, and we left on good terms. We agreed to wrap things up the right way, and I loved the way that we did. Then Jeff showed up on TV, and I looked at him and just said, “What the hell?” I was backstage at the TV tapings, and little Kody [Angle] came running up to me and gave me a big hug. I didn’t put two-and-two together, because I thought maybe Kurt had the kids. Then I saw Jeff’s kids, and then I saw this SUV. Suddenly the window rolls down and Jeff is there. I just told him, “I don’t even want to know.” I had no idea he was going to show up, and I’m still not sure what is going on completely.

You talk about all the rumors and how they weighed you down – what was the locker room like over the past few months?

To be honest, it was very turbulent. I’m sure you’re aware of the conference call that took place not too long ago. There were things said in that conference call that were a long time coming. I’m not about to throw any talent under the bus, but there were certain things that I heard in that conference call, like talent saying, “I’m disgusted by this” or, “We have a right to know.” Anyone that’s been involved with TNA knows that at times, I’ve been very outspoken. There was a point where I just sat there and thought that what everyone has to remember is that as an independent contractor in wrestling, nobody owes you a living. You don’t have a right to be guaranteed a living just because you signed a contract somewhere. Most contracts, with exceptions, can just be canceled anyways. I just kind of went, “Nobody owes you a living.” Every day that I get to put on a pair of tights and boots and get to feed my son, that’s a good day.

It seems like the only way to prevent guys from taking too little would be to form a union. Would you be in support of that, and do you even think it’s feasible?

In principle, pro wrestlers would absolutely benefit from a union, but it would take a huge number of guys to shift the balance of power. And the sad reality is that the business has had decades of experience squashing any union potential. I feel a little vulnerable even talking about it in this hypothetical sense. I wrote a column in Fighting Spirit Magazine years ago about how I thought British wrestlers qualified to be a part of Equity, the U.K. performing artists’ union. Shortly after the column came out, I was contacted by someone at Equity who said they agreed with me. Even when there was an existing union available to join, nobody did. But then I heard that this guy who was known for being a con man in the business was telling the guys that he had set it up and would get them in for a fee, which pretty much sums up the business; there will always be one guy who cuts the golden goose open rather than let it lay eggs.

While GFW will be one thing you do, what else do you have planned for the immediate future?

I have a fitness book that’s due for imminent release. I wish I could tell you the exact release date, but it should be any day. The book is called The Superstar Body. It’s my real-world techniques on how to have the kind of body that you associate with not necessarily bodybuilders, but movie stars and wrestlers, MMA guys. The premise of the book is that you don’t have to live like a monk and do plain chicken breast and rice. This is what works for me in the real world, with a demanding job and a baby at home, and I still go out and drink beer with my friends. Not only that, this is how my buddy who is a Muscle and Fitness model does it, and this is how Kurt Angle does it, this is how Rob Terry does it. I have input from loads of different guys. So for anyone who is interested in getting in shape, it’s not just me describing my philosophies. It’s also input from all these other guys and girls.

I’ve got a renewed energy though. Especially since I’m so close with Jeff. Jeff is a very open guy, and I just got off the phone with him, and I’m excited. I feel like I’m part of something. It’s a startup, and there’s still a lot to form, but it’s forming. I’m also very much a free agent. While I’m with Global Force, I’m available. But the reality is that when Jeff described it to me, I knew I was in. There’s a lot of moving parts, and there’s going to be more to come very soon.

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