by Daniel Johnson
Photo Courtesy of TNT
Interviewer’s Note: “Mr. Dynamite” TNT is a former holder of the Swedish Heavyweight Championship, a major title for Stockholm Wrestling (STHLM). TNT held the Swedish Heavyweight Championship for 154 days before dropping it to Hardcore Hampus just last month. TNT had been a fan of pro wrestling since his early teens and in 2011 took his first steps towards working for SHTLM. Aside from wrestling for STHLM, TNT made his debut wrestling in a foreign country this year when he performed for Fight Club Finland (FCF) and recently worked for Swiss Power Wrestling (SPW). In the future TNT plans to travel more and has expressed an interest in wrestling in Denmark. TNT can be found on Facebook here. This interview was completed on November 29, 2014. In this interview TNT and I focus on his work in STHLM.
Daniel Johnson: My first question is in a few words how would you describe yourself as a performer?
TNT: I would say I’m a highly energetic and explosive performer.
Daniel Johnson: Haha, cool. When did you know you wanted to become a wrestler and how did you find a place to get trained?
TNT: I’ve watched wrestling since I was 14. At the same time me and my cousin started playing around with wrestling as kids do. Around 2011 we found out there was this newly started federation in Stockholm so we contacted them.
Daniel Johnson: Who was your head trainer and what did a regular day of training look like for you?
TNT: The problem with Swedish wrestling is that it’s very new for all of us. So we don’t really have a lot of experienced wrestlers. So we didn’t really have a head trainer. We had some guys from [GBG Wrestling] which has been around since 2003 come up and train with us. And then we’ve had trainers like El Generico, Joe E. Legend and StarBuck come in and have seminars with us. And we just tried learning as much we can with that.
Daniel Johnson: How did you first get involved in wrestling for STHLM Wrestling?
TNT: Me and my cousin contacted them and they just told us to show up to training. At that point we didn’t have a facility to have the ring in so we trained at a school gymnasium.
Daniel Johnson: Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe your first match in front of a crowd for STHLM Wrestling was a nine man royal rumble. What did you think of how this match went?
TNT: Well that match happened while StarBuck had a seminar with us. And at the end of the day we had a show for members only. It was that match and then it was StarBuck vs. Scandinavian Shiva from Gothenburg. I think there were 34 people there. And we didn’t really know what we were doing, but it was fun trying to perform in front of a crowd.
Daniel Johnson: Cool. For readers who have never checked out STHLM Wrestling before what is one thing they should know about the promotion that may convince them to give it a look or maybe even buy a ticket?
TNT: It’s a product for grown ups. We have 18 years age limit so that we can serve alcohol and it gives us that atmosphere we’re after. We are very much up in the audience’s face and they feel very involved in the show.
Daniel Johnson: Where would you say STHLM Wrestling ranks on the Nordic wrestling scene? Are there any Nordic wrestling companies bigger than it? It certainly seems like one of the most organized and best at promoting.
TNT: They have really good wrestling in both Finland and Denmark. And here in Sweden we have GBG Wrestling in Gothenburg which is our oldest federation and they are doing pretty well. And down in Malmo there is Svensk Wrestling Syd (SWS) who are also putting on a pretty good show. But we in STHLM have really reached far in the few years we’ve been active and we are continuing to get new fans to come to the show.
Daniel Johnson: Getting more into your in-ring work in STHLM Wrestling in 2012 when you first started you also began to team with Hardore Hampus. How did this team come and about and what are your reflections on working with Hampus?
TNT: Well, Hardcore Hampus is my cousin who I grew up wrestling with. So we have really good chemistry in the ring and I have no problem working with him or against him.
Daniel Johnson: Cool, I didn’t know he was your cousin it must be nice to have family in wrestling alongside you. Anyway, in 2013 you had the chance to wrestle Steinbolt for the first time who is one of the most well traveled Nordic wrestlers I am familiar with. What are your reflections of working with Steinbolt and of how your match turned out?
TNT: Steinbolt is a real professional and it was great working with him. He works well in the ring and he has a good look. He could really do well outside of Sweden.
Daniel Johnson: Speaking of well traveled wrestlers you mentioned some others you have worked with such as El Genrico, who is currently Sami Zayn in WWE NXT, Joe E. Legend and StarBuck. What was the most important thing you have learned from well traveled talent so far?
TNT: I missed out on El Generico. I think he was here one month or so before I started training. But StarBuck was really great the first time he was here when we where all green. He made us all a lot better in just one day and taught us a lot about discipline whitch we all lacked in the beginning. Joe E. Legend is a really nice guy who is awesome to have around. He knows so many cool things you’ve never seen before and he has a great way of explaining them.
Daniel Johnson: I was curious do you have any interesting stories to share about working with Joe E. Legend or StarBuck?
TNT: We were all scared as shit of StarBuck the first time he was here. We had never trained the way we did with him before. Most of us had never had a match before and it was a real eye opener. But it was an awesome experience.
Daniel Johnson: Jumping ahead this year has to have been your most exciting year in wrestling as you won the Swedish Heavyweight Championship. You started this year in a program with Ken Malmsteen when he was still the Swedish Heavyweight Champion. How was it working with Malmsteen and how do you think your matches turned out?
TNT: Malmsteen is the hardest working wrestler we have here in Stockholm and he is great to work with. We understand each other really well in the ring and we always have really good matches.
Daniel Johnson: What sticks out to you about your run as Swedish Heavyweight Champion?
TNT: The night I won the title I had three matches. And in the final I faced Malmsteen who was fresh because he had his matches in that tournament on the previous show. So no one really thought I had a chance with the odds against me like that. It was a pretty cool moment when I got that three count.
Daniel Johnson: What do you think your best match was as Swedish Heavyweight Champion? Also, was there any match you think could have been better?
TNT: I think the match where I lost the title was pretty good. With Hardcore Hampus and his manager who turned him against me, screwed me for the title. Only for Ken Malmsteen to come out and screw Hampus for the title with his manager backstabbing him.
Daniel Johnson: Are there any STHLM wrestlers we have yet to talk about that you think readers should be aware of and check out?
TNT: We have some good wrestlers that have been around from the beginning like PT and Doden. And we have some new talent like Redline and Marcus of Man who can have pretty good careers.
Daniel Johnson: This year you also had the chance to wrestle for FCF for the first time. You wrestled in a three way tag match partnering with Malmsteen against the teams of Jake Luupaa/Vili Luupaa and Jami Aalto/Sly Sebastian. What are your thoughts on these opponents and of how the match went?
TNT: It was an awesome experience getting to wrestle in another country for the first time. They have some pretty good talent over there and I enjoyed every part of it. Last week me and Malmsteen went over to work for Swiss Power Wrestling in Switzerland. I really enjoy working in other countries and I would to do more of that.
Daniel Johnson: Do you plan to work for FCF or SPW more in the near future? Also, is there anyone on the FCF/SPW rosters you hope to work with soon?
TNT: I would love to go back there. But there is nothing planned for now. Adrian Johnathans from SPW has been here training us a couple of times. He’s coming over to work with Malmsteen here in December. It would be pretty cool working with him in the future.
Daniel Johnson: What are you thoughts on 2014 overall and how would you compare it to your other years in wrestling?
TNT: It was a good year. I got to wrestle Chaos from Denmark who’s a real veteran. I got to travel to wrestle and I got to win the title. A lot has happened this year.
Daniel Johnson: What plans do you have for 2015 and is there one thing you would like to accomplish in particular in the next year?
TNT: I would like to travel more. Both inside and outside of Sweden. It would be cool to go to Denmark.
Daniel Johnson: To end interviews I like to ask five short questions not related to wrestling then a few more short wrestling questions. First, what is the last book you read and would you recommend it?
TNT: I don’t really read a lot of books, but right now I’m reading Controversy Creates Cash by Eric Bischoff. It’s pretty good so far.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite song to come out in the past year?
TNT: Oh my. The only music I listen to is the radio at the gym and I don’t know what those songs are called.
Daniel Johnson: No problem, what is your favorite movie to come out in the past year?
TNT: The Grand Budapest Hotel was pretty good.
Daniel Johnson: What do you enjoy watching on TV?
TNT: Comedy shows like Family Guy, The Simpsons, Friends and Seinfeld.
Daniel Johnson: Have you tried any new foods in the last year? If so then what has been your favorite?
TNT: I never tried sushi before this year actually. I really enjoyed it.
Daniel Johnson: Getting back to wrestling who is one wrestler 25 or younger you think readers should know about?
TNT: Well…me.
Daniel Johnson: Haha, cool. Who is your dream opponent and why?
TNT: Of all time, Shawn Michaels. That would be awesome.
Daniel Johnson: Ribs and road stories are always fun. Do you have any you would be able to share?
TNT: We don’t really have a lot of that in Sweden. But once a guy tried to hide my belt before a title match. But someone spoiled it for me.
Daniel Johnson: I just like to throw out some variation of this question during most interviews so intrepret it however you want, but what, if anything, is the weirdest part about STHLM Wrestling?
TNT: In the beginning we hade some crazy characters. One guy hit another guy with a dildo.
Daniel Johnson: Haha, ouch. Lastly, is there anything you would like to add?
TNT: Not really. I would just like to thank you for interviewing me. It was pretty cool. And I would like to add Stanislaw to the wrestlers in STHLM we didn’t talk about. So he won’t get sad.
Check out TNT in action! From the STHLM Championship event TNT takes on Dansk Pro Wrestling (DPW) veteran Chaos on the way to crowning the Swedish Heavyweight Champion. The match starts at about the 33 minute mark:
Categories: Wrestling Interviews
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