Action Bronson: "I Have More Moves Than Dean Malenko"
AEW debutant speaks ahead of in-ring debut at Grand Slam this week.
In a claim that beautifully encapsulates why, exactly, a man with his personality belongs in professional wrestling, Action Bronson has joked that he knows more wrestling moves than Dean Malenko.
Bronson will team with HOOK to face 'Cool Hand' Angelo Parker and 'Daddy Magic' Matt Menard at AEW's Grand Slam special this Wednesday (21 September). The bout will air on this Friday's Rampage, with Bronson making his in-ring debut, having long referenced the sport throughout his rap career.
Speaking on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Bronson revealed that he has been training with Create A Pro Wrestling, the academy that helped sculpt AEW stars MJF, Kris Statlander, Max Caster, and more. AEW's Taz was his connection when it came to getting started (h/t Fightful):-
"Create A Pro, I like to give them a plug because they showed a lot of love. It is a school, but it's a dojo (run by Pat Buck). Taz got everything hooked up. Just started f*cking around, teaching me s**t. Nine-ten weeks ago and things started moving from there."
One of Create A Pro's head trainers, Pat Buck, currently works for AEW in a backstage capacity, as touched upon above.
Continuing, Bronson jested that he hadn't been taking bumps ahead of Grand Slam, then revealed it was one of the toughest things he has ever trained in:-
"Taking a bump...I just practice offense. F*ck that. I don't fall. I have it in the contract. I don't fall. Taking bumps is serious, it's not an easy thing. I've worked different styles and this is one of the toughest. I love it [running the ropes]. It's intense, makes me feel good. You have to hit them right, no doubt about it."
The 38-year-old has lost over 150 pounds after transforming his lifestyle over the past couple of years. When asked if he'd have been able to step through the ropes two years ago, Bronson dropped the Dean Malenko line:-
"I don't think I'd be able to do a hurricanrana... I can do lots of things that I'm not going to pull out of the bag. Just know there is an arsenal of over 1000 moves. I have more than him [Dean Malenko]."
'The Man Of 1,000 Holds' was, of course, Makenko's nickname for much of his wrestling career, particularly during his WCW run.
AEW Grand Slam takes place in Action Bronson's home borough of Queens, New York.