r/SquaredCircle • u/FAChristopherDaniels • Apr 26 '16
AMA Concluded I'm Christopher Daniels, and at 4 PM ET I will be here to answer your questions!
Get your questions in early so we can get as many of them answered as possible in the hour we have.
- Follow me on Twitter @facdaniels
- Follow ROH on Twitter @ringofhonor
- Visit my website
We will be live from 4-5 PM ET
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u/Soul_Repair Apr 26 '16
Hello, Mr Daniels
I am from Russia, we have a meeting of your fan club here and there are some questions we want you to answer:
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What new feature do you want to add to wrestling?
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What was the most memorable moment in wrestling for you?
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When you had tryouts in WCW in 2000 there were plans on you. If I'm correct you were supposed to be Symptom – dark master of Vampiro. Why this idea was not given a green light and what were your feelings about it?
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Did you have any conflicts with other wrestlers?
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What is your advice to people who want to be a wrestler?
From Russia with love and Lana
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I don't really understand the question, honestly.
For me as a wrestler, I'd have to say the first three way match between myself, AJ Styles, and Samoa Joe. I think it's partially because it is still regarded as one of the best matches in TNA.
They actually started that idea, we filmed one vignette for it, but I don't think they liked the end result of it so it was scrapped. At that point, Vampiro had a lot more name value than I had, and at that point for me to be revealed as his superior would have been a let down for the fans. I am glad it didn't progress as I feel the end result would have hurt me, a lot more than having it scrapped from the beginning.
No, I've been very fortunate. I've dealt with a lot of professional guys throughout my career, and no disagreement ever escalated to anything of serious conflict, and I never have been involved in a backstage fight.
That's a very long answer for a very short question. Simply put, prepare yourself for a large amount of hard work, familiarize yourself with all types of wrestling, find a school with a trainer who has been where you want to go with your career, and then work with as many promoters as possible. You only become valuable to a promoter when you work with any guy and any style, you can't be limited in any way.
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u/2nahc Apr 26 '16
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What's the plan after you're done wrestling?
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Thoughts on how ROH has evolved since its inception?
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Do you have a favorite city or venue that you have wrestled in?
Thanks!
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I don't have anything 100% planned out yet; I would like to be behind the scenes at ROH and I would like to do commentary. I have recently started doing stunt work in Southern California and I am not sure which percentage of what is going to be my life when wrestling is done.
I am very happy that ROH has continuously grown. We started out as a niche product and now we have a national TV deal, live PPVs, and our video on demand service is growing. We recently signed a deal in Canada that will give us more coverage, and I am happy to be a part of a company that has been well managed and successful over the years.
Not really, but I am very partial to the former ECW arena, especially in the past couple of years. I will always feel very fond of my work in Tokyo. For me it's all about the fan experience, which in turn leads to a better experience for me.
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u/2nahc Apr 26 '16
Thanks for taking the time to respond! I'll be attending an ROH show in June so I hope I get to see you there!
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u/ArabianDisco Apr 26 '16
You don't have to give any names, but did anyone come to TNA from WWE that acted like a far bigger star (and a big shot) backstage than they actually were?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
Yea, one person specifically, but yeah, I won't name names. I can tell you guys who weren't like that - guys like Angle and Christian, they were very generous with their knowledge and wanted to help. Some guys work on that top level and depending on why they move on to different places, they either carry that attitude or come in with fresh eyes, it just depends on the person.
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u/DildoBaggins75 Apr 26 '16
Blink twice if the asshole you were alluding to in your first sentence is Ken Anderson.
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Apr 26 '16
I'm thinking Booker T. I heard he was a giant cock during his TNA run. They apparently made the Legends championship just to appease him.
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Apr 26 '16
Hey Chris,
Have you ever had an offer to rejoin WWE? And what do you think of them signing TNA guys like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I personally have not been offered a chance to wrestle in the WWE again, I feel like in their eyes that I am probably too old. But I am thrilled for guys like Styles, Joe, and Aeries to be seen by the broadest spectrum of fans. I always knew they had the talent to work there and on that level, they just needed the opportunity and they finally got it.
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Apr 26 '16
How long did it take to accomplish the feat of having the Best Moonsault Ever?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
Well, a couple of years, actually. I didn't realize it'd be such a big part of my repertoire when I first started using it. I didn't realize it was getting such a positive response as a finish, so I'd say it was about four to eight years before I had it mastered.
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u/josethebassist Apr 26 '16
Hey Chris! Who would you say is your ultimate opponent? As in someone who you enjoy wrestling every time you get a chance to have a match with them?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
Well, it's sort of different now... over my whole career I'd have to say AJ Styles, but at this point in my career, I'd have to say The Young Bucks. Now that I am focusing on the tag team, they've been the ones I've worked with most and had the most fun with.
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u/LindtChocolate Apr 26 '16
Did it ever bother you that TNA never gave you the world title? You 100% deserved it, but it never happened. Thank you!
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
It don't bother me, I understand that those decisions are out of my hand, and all I can do is offer my best and it would have been awesome, but I don't feel bad that it didn't happen.
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Apr 26 '16
What do you remember about challenging Jerry Lynn for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship in 2001? Was it surreal to get a title shot as enhancement talent?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
Yeah, I don't even think they told me that it was an actual title shot -- I watched it and learned it was a title match after the fact. It was great to work with Jerry, and I think this was our first match. I had always wanted to be part of WWE's light heavyweight division and I was hoping that putting on a good match with Jerry would lead to that, but obviously that wasn't the case.
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u/KojimaForever Apr 26 '16
How did you explain to your children what you did for a living, did they ever think what you did was real?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
No, I don't think that they every did. Part of the reason was because a lot of the people I'd wrestle would be at my house, because they were my friends. I explained to them how I acted on TV was not how I acted all the time, and that it wasn't cool to be a villain and that dad was playing a character and that dad was safe, and I did this when they were fairly young.
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u/a7xweeman Apr 26 '16
Not trying to sound rude, but you are relatively old when it comes to wrestling. That being said, the fact you are still going and the quality of your matches has not died down is astonishing. Any tips on how to have longevity in wrestling?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
The easy answer to that is to wrestle smart in addition to wrestling hard. I have been very fortunate in avoiding injury, and it comes down to the choices I make in the ring. I don't do things I don't feel comfortable with and I don't ask other guys to do things that could endanger them. I do things I know I can do 10 out of 10 times, and I don't try to attempt something that is just a 'maybe' that could put myself in danger.
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u/Min_thamee Apr 26 '16
Your triple threat match with Samoa Joe and AJ Styles is rightfully lauded as a classic; Apart from that match, what other bout in TNA is worth checking out?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
The cage matches with myself and Skipper vs. America's Most Wanted in 2004 really sticks out, myself and Kaz vs. Angle and Styles in 2012 I think was fun and it stands out in my head, also any matches with myself and AJ against LAX. I felt we really helped put LAX on the map.
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u/KojimaForever Apr 26 '16
What was it like returning to NJPW last year after a 7 year abscenece?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
It was very different. When I was there before it wasn't quite as successful as it is now. It was a very different company that I was returning to, a lot of new faces and talents. There were still people I knew, which helped me get to work with guys I hadn't worked with before. It was a lot of fun and hopefully it is something I can do again in the future.
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u/ToothacheMcGee Apr 26 '16
Are you hot? Are you spicy? Do you taste great?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I'm actually cold, and sometimes bland, and you'll have to ask my wife how I taste.
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Apr 26 '16
What is your favorite ring gear that you've worn in your career?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
Probably the black general's jacket I had when I first started tagging with Frankie, and the flared out bell-bottom pants were always fun.
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Apr 26 '16
Did tna ever give you shit over the taped finger thing that made it look like you were always flipping me off?
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u/HEELChiara Apr 26 '16
Hello! If you could add a female wrestler to the Addiction who would it be?
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u/AC1711 Apr 26 '16
What is the most fun you've ever had while wrestling?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
There's not a specific single match, I'd have to say that the period of time between 2012 and now, working with Frankie as Bad Influence and fine tuning the act. Frankie is my best friend and it has been a lot of fun to reap the benefits of our hard work.
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u/CuriousOnlooker420 Apr 26 '16
This is so cool because you can tell they are having a great time out there. It really does show too.
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u/Megatron83 Apr 26 '16
Are there any tag teams in the WWE/NXT you would want to have a match with?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I definitely think that Enzo and Cass would be people Frankie and I could work well with; I'd love to get to work with the New Day - I've worked with Xavier in the past and feel that Kofi and Big E are people we would really click with.
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u/enjoiturbulence Apr 26 '16
Chris, thank you very much for this. You have had a long career filled with great moments. You were the highlight of TNA for me. That said, do you have any regrets in your career, and if so how would you change them?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I don't really have regrets, nothing that I'd change specifically. The things that I could have done differently would have changed how my career went, and it would have changed the friendships that I got to form by being involved in the early parts of both ROH and TNA, and I probably wouldn't have those friendships today.
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u/Jeezbag Apr 26 '16
Hey Chris, thanks for hanging out with us.
Who is your favourite Intercontinental Champion of all time?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I'd have to say Shawn Michaels. My first instinct was Mr. Perfect, but I'd have to go with Shawn for the sake of longevity.
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u/ArabianDisco Apr 26 '16
Got any stories/insight on Test's super brief run in TNA back in 2007?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
Not really. I had known Test from Dory Funk's dojo and we were friendly, but I only remember him being there for one PPV.
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u/lotsohugs Apr 26 '16
Do you wish you had of had more matches in ECW? What was your experience like there?
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
My experience was good and I do wish that I had had more matches there, but by the time I came into the company it didn't make much sense for them to fly me in from the West Coast. Had I been there all the time, I probably would have experienced some of the hardships that some of the guys had the last three or four years there. I do wish I'd gotten to be a part of it though, because I think the experience would have been great.
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u/CuriousOnlooker420 Apr 26 '16
Fist off, love your work man. Thanks for everything you've done to entertain all of us over the years.
My question is this, do you still keep in touch with Prime Time? Loved you guys.
Thanks for doing this.
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
I haven't spoken with him in a long time, but the last time I did he was very happy, and if he is reading this, I hope he is doing well!
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u/FAChristopherDaniels Apr 26 '16
Thanks to all the fans who contributed to today's discussion, I really appreciate your support over the years and I am fully aware that I wouldn't be here without your support. I feel a lot of the guys in ROH would say the same. If you don't know how to watch ROH, check out our website for listings, or you can watch us on Comet and Fight Network in Canada, and if there are no ways for you to watch it, watch on our website. We hope you're either watching on your TV and computer, and you can continue to watch me and Frankie be the best at what we do!
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u/inmynothing Apr 26 '16
I just realized we only answered 18 people, even though most of them were multi-question comments. My bad, guys. We hit our hour and I was trying to be polite by wrapping things up, when he probably would have kept going for at least another ten minutes. We will have him back for sure!
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u/inmynothing Apr 26 '16
Verified.
I will be conducting this interview over the phone, and I am willing to ask tough questions so long as they are phrased in a way that doesn't come off as rude.
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u/NJpwgfan25 Apr 26 '16
I won't be online at 4pm but could you ask
When did you and Kaz come up with the Best Moonsault Ever finish or 5 star moonsault? and will we see it again?
Does he see himself moving on to NXT to train guys like Adam Pearce? Rocky Romero turned down an offer to be a trainer has he had similar offers from WWE?
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u/fuckyouimjared Apr 26 '16
You've teamed with a lot of great partners over the years, be it AJ Styles, Low Ki, ELix Skipper, Kazarian. Overall, who was your favourite person to team with and what made them stand out?
How do you feel about the mainstream success that your former opponents AJ Styles and Samoa Joe have received in the WWe?
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u/TheTrampCB Apr 26 '16
How much longer do you see Marvel keeping Wolverine(Logan, not Laura) dead?
How hyped are you for Civil War? Or for Sony putting Spider-Man in the MCU?
Raven famously wrote an issue of a Spider-Man comic book years ago. I understand your comic fandom to be well-known to the higher-ups at Marvel. Have they approached you to write anything for them? Is there anything you'd love to write, if even for just a done-in-one story?
What's your take on the DC Universe post-Flashpoint and, if it's negative, do you have hopes Rebirth can change things for the better?
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u/AFIFanBoy Apr 26 '16
Would you rather main event the PPV of your choice, or have a full head of hair for life? (asking as a balding man in his early 30s)
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u/SwaggedyAnn Apr 26 '16
I don't really have a question, I just wanted to say thank you for doing what you do. Your work in TNA kept me from losing interest in wrestling when I was younger and helped me get back into wrestling when it started to interest me again.
Also the Best Meltzer Ever was insane. Keep being amazing.
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u/thegrassyknoll Apr 26 '16
You've always had a serious personal until recent years. Have you ever thought of doing a comedy gimmick? Maybe something centered around your time in Japan based on food. How about "Teriyaki Guy"?
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u/DSaga Apr 26 '16
Its been reported that you have taken up a more behind-the-scenes role in Ring of Honor, if true do you feel you can bring a bit more creativity to storylines and angles that has been in some ways lacking for a bit over the past six months? Long time ROH fan here (12 years) and just hoping the product can start generating more buzz from angles and feuds in the next year - still awesome wrestling though, as always.