Post by Adi Gold on Aug 26, 2022 12:10:37 GMT -5
~The scene opens in a dark brick wallpapered studio at OCW TV. In the dark lit studio we see The HOT 11! host Adi Gold sitting in a chair across from OCW Owner, Thaddeus Duke.~
Adi Gold: Welcome everyone to another episode of The Hot 11. And boy is my guest today a big one. He is an XWF Hall of Famer. He is former Heavyweight Champion there. And at his age, considered to be one of the best ever. And i know him very well. We kinda... dated last year for a good amount of time. No big deal... and I don't want to get into details but... We met on a tv show called Bad Date years ago. He is a wonderful actor and intense lover. Thad, Thad, Thad! Do you remember the night we decided to be weird and ordered a large deluxe pizza? Thad, you incorporated the pizza crust in the love making that was very exciting. Thad and I were going at it! It got real greasy when...
~Thad jumps in cutting Adi off, albeit with a smile and a soft touch.~
THAD DUKE: Adi dear, I don't think they wanna know 'bout that. The questions?
Adi Gold: Oh my God. I am sorry. Plus Frankie or Lauren could see this episode and... yeah. Wow. Right... sorry. Okay, anyway, currently he is running things at OCW as the owner. Please welcome, Thad Duke... how are you Thaddy?
THAD DUKE: Mostly angry, hun. Very much looking forward to Sunday and my date with Easton inside House of Horrors.
Adi Gold: Question 1. So you have wrestled some big matches in XWF and other places... what are some of your favorite matches from your career?
THAD DUKE: Pretty much every big match I've had is one of my favorites. Mark Flynn is a favorite. He's one of very few that can match my skillset step for step. The final battle with Chris Page. My match with Corey Smith. The one against my father, just to name a few. And I know people are thinking I'm just picking matches that I won but that's not true. Out of those I mentioned, I only beat my father. Flynn was a draw. The other two picked up very hard earned victories over yours truly. I'm very proud of the body of work we put forth in order to bring those matches to life in a way that made people want to see them.
Adi Gold: Question 2. And who ranks the top of your list as your greatest rivalries?
THAD DUKE: Chris Page without question. Being embroiled in a rivalry with that man while sort of beating respect for each other into one another for six months, its created a bond between us. It's created a brotherhood, almost. We now have a close personal and business relationship and I credit Chris Page for forcing me to find that extra gear that I talk about so often.
Adi Gold: Question 3. I know you're a big music lover. Any favorite bands or artists you have.
THAD DUKE: My tastes vary, you know that. When I'm working out and the music is blasting in my gym, you'll hear a lot of modern artists like Billie Eilish, Badflower, Jelly Roll, Twenty One Pilots, of course Highly Suspect. But you'll also hear older rock artists like Guns n Roses or Led Zeppelin, even old school country like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings with 90's rap scattered throughout. A lot of shit from the 80's. My tastes are all over the map. I'm a firm believer that there's no wrong genre. If it moves you in some way, then that's your jam.
Adi Gold: Question 4. Other than your work in SPLAT, what are some of your personal favorite movies and tv shows you enjoy watching?
THAD DUKE: I don't watch a whole lot because I just don't have the time. Though I do enjoy some classic sitcoms like Cheers or Seinfeld. Boy Meets World holds a special place. More relevant to today, I like to watch Breaking Bad and I will 100% nerd out for Stranger Things and pretty much anything set in the Song of Ice & Fire universe.
Adi Gold: Question 5. Say you never got into the wrestling world. And had to work somewhere else? What would Thad Duke being doing if he wasn't one of the greatest wrestlers of all time?
THAD DUKE: God I have no idea. Becoming a star in shoot wrestling... which is the only type of wrestling that matters... is what opened the door for me in so many different business ventures. Which, I mean, it helps when you're born this pretty. I love writing and I love acting so I probably would have found a way into the acting side of things some how.
Adi Gold: Question 6. Some of your favorite drinks?
THAD DUKE: Dr. Pepper. YooHoo. And I'm not just saying that because of endorsement deals, but because they're frickin' delicious. Horribly bad for you, but delicious. I'm not a huge consumer of alcoholic beverages but I do prefer an ice cold Miller High Life from time to time, or several. Also vodka and cranberry juice when I want something a little different if Lauren and I are out and about.
Adi Gold: Question number 7. You been everywhere, but any locations you'd love to wrestle in front of for the first time? Or again?
THAD DUKE: I love visiting places all over the world. I'm not sure if there's a major country that I haven't been to, that I haven't performed in. That said, no place in the world compares to Japan for me. Love that country. The people are kind, they're accommodating. The countryside is just... unlike anywhere else on the planet. Just absolutely beautiful. Wrestling or not, I will find a way to Japan at least once a year.
Adi Gold: Question 8. We know you are currently married to the wonderful Sahara. But you're a flirt. No shame in it. Any other crushes you have around the business? If so, who?
THAD DUKE: I've really cut down on the flirting.
~He laughs.
THAD DUKE: People have a tendency to take my interactions on twitter as gospel. Same with Lauren. 99% of the time we're both using twitter with our personal friends as a release, an escape from the wrestling world. Others see it and 'oh they're both sexual deviants. They're both huge sluts.'
Well, that might have been true to a point for me earlier this year after you and I split up. Really, I was going through some things. My life doesn't really revolve around who I share a bed with or how many times despite what people think. Lauren takes more heat for her flirtatiousness than I ever did and it's both unwarranted and unfair. It just speaks to the double standards in society today.
~He pauses.
THAD DUKE: I didn't really answer your question, did I?
ADI GOLD: Not really.
~They laugh.
ADI GOLD: What about Sloane Taylor?
THAD DUKE: No comment.
Adi Gold: Question number 9. Favorite meals of yours?
THAD DUKE: I'm a huge fan of pretty much every Italian dish ever. Genuine Italian though, not that disgusting knock off like Olive Garden.
Adi Gold: Question 10. Is there anyone in OCW or XWF or in the wrestling world past or present that you would love to finally get in the ring with as a potential dream match situation?
THAD DUKE: Seb Bryce and I have talked about going one on one some time, but I'm hesitant to do it. I've put friendships aside in order to do matches in the past for various reasons, and it affects the relationship. I don't really have many wrestling aspirations left. I've done everything that I've wanted to do. In a perfect world though, I think there's just one name on my list that if the opportunity presented itself, I'd leap.
That's Theo Pryce.
My uncle.
Adi Gold: And finally. Question 11. What are your goals in OCW as of right now? We know you have a grudge with Easton Alexander that has gone personal. But other than making OCW a better place, do you have any other goals in mind? Maybe a OCW Championship run?
THAD DUKE: You know, it's baffling to me. When I first bought OCW, this roster hated me... and for no real reason. Aside from Easton, I mostly kept my hands off and my nose out of their business. Yet they chose to hate me anyway. The less I involved myself in talent affairs, the more they hated me and it really boggles my mind how that could be the case. So as time went on, I was hearing the whispers and the rumors. I resolved to give them what they wanted. If they already hate me for mostly being Switzerland, meaning neutral, then I might as well give them reason to really hate me. So that's my goal. They resolved to hate, so I resolved to give them reasons for their hate.
From a business standpoint, I only care that it's a stronger place with a tougher roster and a tougher environment in order to achieve victory. What do you really learn about yourself by beating the enhancement talents? What does that do for your career aside from padding your stats? Is 100 victories really 100 victories when 75 of them are against talents whose careers solely exist just to lose?
I'm a competitor. Competition creates growth in character. I'd rather have a .500 record going up against legitimate talents than have a winning record because I faced the hired losers 90 times. You don't grow, you don't improve or evolve your game that way. Even after I fired half the enhancements, Welsh still went out of his way to book the paid losers. Proud and Strong? Come on! You can be so proud of your fluffed up win loss record, but it surely doesn't make anyone strong.
...I know this is a long winded answer, but I love hearing myself talk.
From a personal standpoint, I have exactly zero title aspirations at this point in time. Stepping into the ring, though it will happen from time to time like this Sunday at the Margarita Mix when I beat the living shit out of Easton Alexander, is not in my immediate plans.
Adi Gold: THAD! You did it! Awesome answers! Any final words or advice you want to give the OCW roster and fans at home?
THAD DUKE: They can all kiss my billionaire ass. I'm changing OCW for the better. In y opinion, that's why they hate me. My existence in OCW has always created this sort of 'that's where I need to be' mentality from free agents. Why is that?
Because I'm money. I know what the hell I'm doing. I know how to conduct business in such a way that creates compelling television. I know how to use this roster to my financial benefit. While I certainly don't need the money, this roster whether they like me or not, will continue to make me even more of it. The fans that boo me as well as those in the heart of Duke Nation that continue to love me in New York and New England will continue to spend money hand over fist to watch OCW.
Like me, love me, or hate me, it doesn't matter. The roster still shows up for work and the fans are tuning in more than ever. I'm what's best for business.
Adi Gold: Thanks for doing this Thad! It was a pleasure. I was thinking about getting a slice of pizza after and i thought... wait. Never mind. Thanks to everyone who watched this weeks episode and the others. Catch up on demand on OCWTVs web forums if you haven't! Stay GOLDgeous and have a good day...
~Music plays Adi and Thad share a little laugh as the show cuts to black..~