In an exclusive interview with FanSided, National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone discusses his ascension in MLW.
Alexander Hammerstone has been one of the breakthrough performers for Major League Wrestling (MLW) this year. Fresh off his performance at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N-1: Victory tournament, the MLW National Openweight Champion sat down with FanSided to talk about MLW and why he’s ready to put the company on his back in the new wrestling landscape.
FanSided: Growing up as a kid in Arizona, what drew you to wrestling? Who were the stars that really made an impact on you? Were you an athlete growing up?
Hammerstone: Growing up, we didn’t have cable, so I wound up catching shows like Heat. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly who made me really like wrestling but D-X, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kane, Undertaker, the typical guys that kids in the 90s loved. But I wasn’t much of an athlete growing up. I was kind of scrawny kid playing in the high school band, so I was far from an athlete growing up. I was a band geek, playing drums and guitar.
How did you make the decision to go into professional wrestling?
Lots of kids grow up loving wrestling. Most grow out of it. I did that too. Coming out of high school, I had the career path that I could have gone down because I was good at math. At the same time, I had this wrestling in the back of my head, and I kinda of said, “f–k it lets give this a shot.” I got into bodybuilding with the goal of wrestling, ’cause back then everyone looked musclebound. Being a scrawny kid, it seemed like I had to bodybuild just to get into wrestling. I started getting bigger toward the end of high school, and when I started wrestling school, I weighed 220 pounds, and my brother told me that I was still too small. Of course, when I got there, I was the biggest guy in the class.
When I started wrestling school, I weighed 220 pounds, and my brother told me that I was still too small. Of course, when I got there, I was the biggest guy in the class.
What was it like when you were coming up in the west coast indie scene? How is it different today?
It’s a lot different. I think it was a lot harder, especially in Arizona. It was tough trying to learn how to navigate the politics. You had to pay dues. I think today, there are too many guys sneaking in the backdoor. Back when I started … you [couldn’t] be six months in and use a .gif to get a job. I think there’s too much of that.
How did you get on MLW’s radar?
I made a lot of friends in MLW, both in the ring and behind the scenes before I ever talked to (MLW owner, Court Bauer). Earlier this year, AEW started grabbing guys and signing them. WWE started grabbing more guys and signing them. IMPACT, same thing. Court found me on Twitter and was like, “we have to get this guy.” A lot of people might be looking for the best dollar amount. I’m looking to be with a company that’s as invested in me as I can be in them. I never wanted to resort to just being on TV and having matches. My mindset is this is my show. I’m going to put this company on my back. I want Hammerstone to be synonymous with MLW. MLW doesn’t force-feed anything down people’s throat. I wanna go out there and prove it.
I want Hammerstone to be synonymous with MLW.
Since arriving in MLW, you’ve been aligned with MJF and Richard Holliday in the Dynasty. The three of you have incredible on-screen chemistry. What’s working together been like?
It’s been one of my favorite things in my career. We have so much fun off-camera. People gravitate toward us because we’re such pricks but we’re funny pricks. It seems like we’re having such a good time, ’cause it is. MLW gives us so much creative freedom, and we made it our own. To be honest, I’m a selfish guy. I want to be on the best show, and I want to have big matches. I want to be featured, achieving my goals. I didn’t know what to think at first when they (MLW) first put me in the group at first, but it’s been awesome. Everyone knows MJF, he’s fantastic, but Richard Holliday is a hidden gem. We’re not trying to be three MJF’s, we’re all doing our thing, but it works so well together.
You recently represented MLW in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N-1 Victory tournament. Why were you the right guy to carry the company banner in Japan?
There’s a handful of guys ready for the opportunity. I was given the opportunity because I was ready for that style. I was ready for navigating the logistics of it, like having the passport ready. Representing the company as the National Openweight Champion, I feel my style fits over there. Even after night one, it was obvious that I was a good fit. I fell in love with Japanese wrestling even more after the month I spent there. You don’t see a lot of the subtleties or nuances until you’re there. I don’t like a lot of what’s going on in American pro wrestling, but that stuff doesn’t happen over there. It’s a lot more hard-hitting, and I’m looking forward to going back soon.
I fell in love with Japanese wrestling even more after the month I spent there.
Your match with former GHC (PW NOAH World) Champion, Go Shiozaki from the N-1 was shown on MLW Fusion. What was it like taking a match that got so much attention back home?
(laughs) That was my first match. When I got over there, I looked at the sheet in the back and saw that on the first night, in my first match, in the main event. I was like, “Okay, here we go.” I think the whole locker looked at it as a sink or swim moment, but it was great. He beat the crap outta me, but I think the whole roster got to watch and say, “okay, this guy fits here.” I don’t think I had a bad match in that tournament. I was happy with what I’ve done, and I’m looking forward to more.
What does MLW have planned for the future? How can they stay ahead in this current landscape?
There’s so much wrestling. So many different products. It’s really just about getting the word out. So many people tell me they’ve heard of MLW but don’t watch. I always tell them, “Watch it! Give it a shot.” I tell people our show is one hour, action-packed. We also do so many angles with so many characters. Our hour has more actual wrestling than the other show with three hours. We have way more actual wrestling. When we say it’s an alternative, it’s an alternative for people that [love] wrestling. They don’t want the silly stuff. They want to see good characters in the ring, wrestling. We’re gonna do what we do.
How do you see yourself evolving with MLW?
Anything I do on the show, any match or promo, I try to get it out there on social media. In this market, it’s all about spreading the word and getting people to talk. I’m chasing the top spot in the company. I think I’m doing a great job making the National Openweight title mean something. But the World title is the main goal. If more people had that mentality, I think the sport itself would be better. Some people show up and collect a paycheck, but they’re not willing to do anything to help promote the product itself. The people at MLW do. They’re always working, always pushing.
Follow Alexander Hammerstone on Twitter and Instagram. Watch MLW Fusion every week on beIN Sports or streaming on MLW’s YouTube page or via FITE.tv.