Josh Barnett: I’ve Spoken To Malakai Black And CM Punk About Being Able To Compete At Bloodsport
Josh Barnett believes a certain list of guys could make a run at Bloodsport.
WrestleMania weekend always includes a list of must-see shows for fans all around the globe to see. One of them being Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport. This year, for the first time, a contracted talent for the WWE will make their debut, that person being Shayna Baszler who will be competing against Masha Slamovich.
In a conversation with Phil Strum on Under The Ring, Barnett was asked who he would like to see make the jump to test out the waters in Bloodsport.
“There’s a lot. There are plenty. Although, who would be available from these companies to come and work the show is a different story. Hopefully, in time, more of these sorts of things can happen. I’m not sure people are aware of how many New Japan pro wrestlers have been on Bloodsport shows. That’s from my relationship with New Japan going back to 2002. I try to create this show as a neutral body, as something that stands alone and apart from all of the rest of pro wrestling’s politics and ratings wars. We’re not out there thinking about competing with anyone else but ourselves and being capable of making the absolute best shows in the spirit of how I am trying to build Bloodsport to be, that’s it. We’re focusing on that. It helps to keep your eyes forward, but also demonstrate that whether you’re New Japan, AEW, WWE, I’m not here to get into any competition with them. I’m not here to do anything but to build a place to where wrestlers, wrestlers first and foremost, can shine above all. The more they have confidence and trust in me maintaining that environment, the more these type of things will happen. I love giving people opportunities, and that’s a huge reason to do this,” he said.
“If given the chance to bring other guys in, of course, I’ve spoken with Malakai Black a few times about coming into Bloodsport. I’ve spoken to CM Punk. It would be great to have Chad Gable or Bron Breakker or any number of people with amateur backgrounds. Charlie Dempsey is out there showing catch-as-catch-can. He spent the time abroad training for quite some time and I’ve worked with him over distance for some years prior, just sending videos, going over techniques, and having conversations. The kid is doing all his own work because he really wants to be the type of wrestler that you think he is, it’s important to him. I can see it. There is a whole wealth of talent out there that could be great. Miro, from AEW, maybe someone like him would be a good fit. There is plenty of talent. At the end of the day, it’s not just what I would want or who I could get. Bill Goldberg is like family to me. Maybe he’ll want to get into Bloodsport, who knows. Whoever it is, they have to see this ring for what it is and what we’ve created and say, ‘That’s something I’ve got to do. That’s me. I want to show myself and shine myself in a place like this.’ When you put those two things together, who knows what can happen,” he said.
Barnett is set to go one-on-one with Johnny Bloodsport (FKA as John Morrison) at Bloodsport X on Mania weekend.
h/t from Fightful.
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