Exclusive: Chris Bey – Wrestling In The UK Is Top Priority

There’s no stopping ‘The Ultimate Finesser’ Chris Bey, as he looks to take back the X-Division Title at Hard To Kill on January 16th.

Justin Clapper of Wrestling Travel North American Operations, exclusively spoke with Bey just days away from the hugely anticipated event, which will also see AEW Champion, Kenny Omega, wrestle in the main event of an IMPACT Wrestling PPV for the first-time ever.

Chris Bey will look to claim back the X-Division title, or as he likes to call it, the Finesse-Division Championship, against the current champion, Manik, and another former champion, Rohit Raju.

“Fortunately in this scenario, I’ve been in the ring with Rohit before. Manik, I’ve only been in the ring with him one time as Manik, who is a whole different calibre to TJP (who is under the Manik persona). They certainly have their differences. I’ve just got make sure I’m watching my back at all times!”

Bey continued “I’m going to beat both of these clowns, and take back my championship – for a proper run – and show everybody what it’s all about!”

Rolling back to Slammiversary in July 2020, when Chris Bey defeated Willie Mack to become the X-Division Champion for the first time, Justin asked Bey his thoughts on that match, in what was one of the best matches of 2020.

“That match was super cool. I have a lot of respect for Willie Mack. I’ve said it before, I was happy when he became X-Division Champion, and I was also sad for him because he became X-Division Champion in my era!”

‘To become the X-Division champion, on a night like Slammiversary, and be able to face someone Willie Mack. I’m just glad I got the opportunity to do it.”

The majority of wrestling shows in 2020 have been behind-closed-doors with no fans in attendance, and Justin asked Bey if it had impacted him.

“There is a difference. There’s no adrenaline because I really like to play off the audience, but once my music hits, it’s all the same to me to go into creation mode and make things happen.”

On the eve of Hard To Kill, there will be a Hard To Kill Celebration, where fans can meet their favourite stars, virtually.

“I love it. It’s going to be great that they can talk to their favourite stars, and see how people feel going into the show and what they’re predicting. They hype you up.”

“We have a very loyal fanbase. It’s always cool when IMPACT offers you these types of interaction events. It’s very important in wrestling, and especially at a time like this with everybody stuck at home.”

IMPACT Wrestling last came over to the UK In 2018, and featured at Wrestling MediaCon in Manchester, UK, which Wrestling Travel were apart of. Bey was not on that tour, but he has a burning desire to wrestle across the pond.

“I have not yet been able to go over to the UK, but wrestling in the United Kingdom, it is a top priority for me.”

Chris Bey is known for sharing insipiratioal quotes on social media, and we asked him how much that means to him.

“I realise the important platform that I have, and sharing that positivity out there and helping people with my words, because my words honestly help me with my day to day. It is something that helps me make better decisions, so if I can help other people to do the same thing, because I know that it works for me, it is super important.”

Bey continued “For people that are uncertain about their future, or what tomorrow will bring, I want everyone to know how much I care about them and how much I appreciate them, because I would never want to be in a position where people didn’t understand how I truly felt and truly appreciate things.”

“I’m a guy that wanted to do this, and now fortunately I am able to do this for people’s enjoyment. I just hope that I can inspire more people.”

Since the tail end of 2020, IMPACT Wrestling and AEW have been mixing it up, with stars from each company appearing on each other’s shows with a game-changing crossover.

“I think it’s just cool. Especially in today’s times with the internet, everybody can read something and know what’s going to happen, and they can predict things, but this just brings that unpredictability back to wrestling.”

“Things are going to get exciting, because anything can happen. It’s like all the pieces of the puzzle are just fitting perfectly!”

If you want to see history in the making, then Hard To Kill is the show you don’t want to miss this weekend.

“For starters, we have the finals of Knockouts Tag Team Titles tournament; Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz against Nevaeh and Havok. If you want some craziness, we have Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan in a Barbed Wire Massacre – I don’t know what that’s going to look like, but it ought to be crazy!”

“Then if you want to see history in the making, the IMPACT World Champion, Rich Swann and one of the best tag teams in the world, The Motor City Machine Guns go against the AEW Champion, that’s right, the AEW Champion on an IMPACT Wrestling PPV, Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers. Who knows what will go down!”

Watch IMPACT Wrestling: Hard To Kill on the morning of Sunday 17th January at 1:00am LIVE on Premier Sports & FITE TV in the UK & Ireland, and you can catch IMPACT on FreeSports every Wednesday night at 10pm!