I loved my match in DC at Capital Collision, but I am definitely feeling sore. All the travel from Wembley to Champaign to DC definitely took its toll but it was nothing compared to what I endured in the match! Before I get into that, let me say how good it felt to feel and act like the FIGHTING CHAMPION I promised I would be! This was my first New Japan Title Defense, and as I said in my promo at the show, it was 466 days since I’d been in the New Japan Ring. That’s when I got injured. That’s when my career and life were really up in the air, and as doctors said, I would never wrestle again. So just to be back, with or without the title FELT INCREDIBLE!
Backstage at Capital Collison was incredible. Willow stopped by to say hi, and so did Orange Cassidy. I also got to see one of my fellow WWE coworkers, Mustafa Ali. It was so incredible to see him as he gave me such amazing advice. The funny thing is, I was just as nervous to go out and wrestle in front of 2000 fans in DC as I was to wrestle in front of 50,000 at Wembley. But Mustafa got my head right. He told me to remember who I was and that I’m the best in the world. He even went over my match with me, including details that helped me so much. After the match, he came over to give me a big hug and to say how good I was. I appreciate a good brother like him. I also saw Fred Rosser. Fred is someone I started with in Boston and have known for ten years! He’s the New Japan trainer in Los Angeles. He’s a good guy and great at what he does.
Jen Pepperman told me that Tony Kahn was jumping on his jet to come to catch my match. Unfortunately, Tony’s flight got stuck leaving Champagne, but he called me the moment he landed to say what a great job I did and that he will try to be there for my next fight! What an honor to know someone who shoulders so much responsibility as Tony does was trying to fly all the way to DC just to see my match! What an amazing boss and leader with such infectious passion. It makes me want to work even harder for him, the women, and AEW.
