Alexander Hammerstone is a former MLW World Champion who’s now signed to TNA along with making appearances in NXT. Wrestlesphere interviewed Hammerstone to learn more about his career, where he draws inspiration and his plans for the future.
For many years Hammerstone, along with Jacob Fatu, who were tearing it up in MLW at the time, were considered two of the industry’s top prospects who weren’t signed to WWE, TNA or AEW. We asked Hammerstone about this period and what he thought about the growth of his own legend?
“When you’ve got top talent they’re going to be in demand and theres going to be a lot of companies trying to get them. Jacob made his path going to WWE and I made my path going to TNA. I’m very happy with the path I’ve chosen.”
“It’s very interesting now how these paths could intersect and there’s potential for that, but at the moment I have a lot on my plate at TNA. The partnership with NXT could lend itself to many possibilities and opportunities if that door was to open, but I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to knock out whatever’s in front of me.”
After MLW Hammerstone has been tearing a path through TNA.
We asked Hammerstone, now that he has a foot in both camps, working for TNA while they work alongside NXT, what are his hopes for the future?
“Honestly, these opportunities have come up very fast and the travel schedule is crazy! One day you’re on the road to NXT, then you’re back and you’re on the road for TNA, then back to NXT. So, I don’t have time to fantasy book, my goal is what match is in front of me and how can I represent TNA to the best of my ability and see what that yields.”
Since arriving in TNA Hammerstone almost instantly butted heads with Eric Young, then made an enemy of Steve Maclin – both former TNA World Champions. He’s since formed an alliance with Jake Something to battle the two. We asked Hammerstone if he thinks their partnership is strong enough to prevail.
“If you look at a guy like Jake Something, that’s a guy who’s constantly talked about as being on the cusp of breaking through to that next level. He’s got all the tools, he’s got the size, the ability, the charisma, he’s a hard worker. I’ve not been in TNA as long, but I’m as hungry for gold and for success.”
“So who knows, you put us both together and that could be a formula that clicks for both of us. But we’re not concerned about Eric Young or Steve Maclin, we’ve got bigger fish to fry. So if this partnership continues, you’ll be seeing big things in our future.”
Hammerstone and Jake Something could be a deadly alliance.
After wrestling the NXT North American champion Oba Femi, then his rival Tony DeAngelo, we asked Hammerstone if we’ll see more of him representing TNA in NXT?
“I wrestled Oba Femi and I came back the following week and wrestled Tony DeAngelo – and I was successful in that match. The last thing I did in NXT is walk in and walk out with a victory. S0 I would personally bet on myself making more appearances there, I think it would rather odd if I came in, beat one of their guys and didn’t come back. I think a lot of people there are going to want to get their hands on me, I think it’s that brand pride. We’ll see.”
After wrestling for the TNA X-Division championship in an Ultimate X match and then the TNA World Championship, we wanted to know which belt is currently in Hammerstone’s sights?
“Right now I’ve got this alliance with Jake Something, so if that gets some more gas behind it, if me and Jake can get along, maybe we go after the tag-team championships? Then again, I’m a guy who likes to be at the top of the mountain. I don’t go anywhere and not become the absolute top dog and that means that the TNA World Championship is my ultimate goal.”
“That being said, when I got thrown into the X-Division realm that wasn’t something I was expecting, but moving into that world and getting to work with such dynamic athletes was very interesting. That’s what’s great about TNA right now, the level of talent on the roster is at an all time high. There’s not really a match that you could book that would let people down.”
Hammerstone took on the NXT North American Champion Oba Femi in WWE.
Hammerstone is known to have drawn inspiration from the Fight Club character Tyler Durden. We asked him what is it about that character that resonates – and what does legacy mean to him?
“There was a lot of people in the wrestling business telling me how to act, wear this gear, cut your hair this way, fit this mould, you’re this, we need that. There would be guys spending so much time drawing out their wrestling gear and worrying about how many rhinestones were on their trunks.”
“It was a time in my career when I stopped doing what I thought I was supposed to do to successful and I started doing whatever the hell I wanted to do, and if the success came, it came. If not, I was ready to walk away.”
“Luckily, that was the catalyst for when things started taking off. That communicated to me that wrestling fans gravitate to what is genuine and that gave me something to connect with. I think if you quit wrestling tomorrow, how long would it take until people actually noticed?”
“The answer is a lot longer than we’re comfortable with. So I just want to create a career where that time is as short as possible. I want to leave a lasting impression and be someone people look forward to seeing. Maybe left some kind of positive impact on their life.”
“When it comes to championships and title belts that’s all great, but is that what people really remember? Maybe so, but I want to create something that stands out and that people will remember.”
