Kerry Morton talks his time in the NWA, upcoming Nuff Said show, and more

Photo credit: @EarlWGardner

Kerry Morton made his NWA debut back in December of 2021. He was able to do something that not many wrestlers have been able to do, debut alongside his father. Throughout his career in the NWA, Kerry Morton has had many big matches and moments, perhaps none bigger than when he won his first singles title, the NWA Worlds Junior Heavyweight Championship, over a very game Homicide.

In an exclusive interview with PWPonderings’ Scott Mitchell (@ScottsScoop44), Kerry Morton talks about his time in the NWA so far, participating in the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Tournament, teaming with his father Ricky Morton, winning his first championship and so much more all in anticipation to NWA’s big show this Saturday, Nuff Said.

What was it like making your debut for the NWA?

I made my debut for the NWA in December of 2021. I debuted with my father in Atlanta Georgia. Right as the pandemic was coming towards somewhat of an end, that’s when Billy reached out to my dad. He saw me wrestle on the independents. He said he wanted to bring me into the National Wrestling Alliance as well as bring my dad back to the NWA, and the rest is history.

Shortly after your debut, you were asked to participate in the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament, what was that like?

It was awesome. Especially being a big prospect on the independent circuit at that time. When I was brought into the NWA, it was something I wanted to be a part of for a long time. I’m a fan of older wrestling such as Memphis Territories, and Jim Crockett Promotions, so the NWA was always the goal. Being brought in and showing the crew what I’m capable of doing, and that I’m not just another generational talent, that I’m a one-of-a-kind talent. They saw that, took a chance on me, and put me in the tournament. I was pretty successful until Colby Corino got the victory over me thanks to a little cheating. It was good though, to balance me out, humble me, and get me set in the National Wrestling Alliance.

It’s no secret that you are big into the old-school genre of professional wrestling. What drew you to that?

I’m a huge fan of that style, and I always have been. That’s my style of professional wrestling, as a southern professional wrestler. In today’s age and time, when you have all these incredible athletes, you have to stand out. You have to do something amazing that a lot of people aren’t doing. I’m not a high-spot guy. Growing up in a household of wrestlers, my mother, father, grandfather, and other family members who were in the marketing standpoint of wrestling, it’s always been in my blood. It’s always been something I adored and treasured. I’ve always been going towards the NWA. It’s the characters, the selling, the interviews, the electricity, and the crowd participation. It was something that I loved and thought to myself I’d like to bring it back. As of now, February 2023, I think I’m starting to catch on, and I think a lot of people are starting to catch on with me. I think that’s why a lot of the fanbase is behind me.

What has it been like teaming up with your father, the legendary Ricky Morton, and just being able to live out your dream with your father by your side?

My dad is my hero. He has been my hero for as long as I can remember. It’s truly awesome. I was just on a car ride with Dirty Dango. My dad was in the backseat, I was in the passenger seat, and Dango was there. I remember Dango telling me to cherish these moments. This time is so precious and he told me to make sure to take every advantage of it while I can. Don’t get me wrong, my dad is 66 years old and he can still go in the ring. It’s so inspiring to see. Taking beating after beating and getting back up. It inspires me. We set some goals out in the NWA as a father and son duo. I am the Junior Heavyweight Champion, and we have another championship opportunity after winning the championship series. The momentum with the NWA is rolling. It stopped during Covid, but now it’s like a roller coaster and it’s going up. The upcoming PPV is sold out, and the tapings I believe are sold out too as of now. People are catching back on to the NWA and starting to put some respect on it. They’re not just saying they don’t like this product because so-and-so is the champion. A lot of people didn’t like the fact that a certain person is a champion because of his political standpoint. Let’s put that aside though. If you watch NWA, you won’t see that sh*t, you will see clear-as-day pound-for-pound professional wrestling. If they take the time out to watch the product, I think they’d enjoy it much more and stop being a critique and just go back to being a fan.

What was it like working with Homicide and winning the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship from him?

Man… What a beating. First and foremost, Homicide is the legitimate real deal. Leading up to these matches, he and I never talked. We didn’t talk about anything in the back. We had some killer matches that will go down in the books. He’s the real deal. Truthfully, when I was getting ready to go out there, I wasn’t preparing for a wrestling match, I knew it would be a fight. I know what I was getting myself into with Homicide. Much respect for him, and he’s someone who gets it too. He understands that he can’t do this forever and he knows we have this new generation of talent coming in. He set the standard of being that champion, taking it all over the country, and defending it, and I’m happy to travel around the world and defend this legendary championship.

What was it like competing in the championship series, and being a champion at the same time, knowing you had to have eyes in the back of your head?

Not only being a champion but being a captain. I was the youngest on the squad, and I was a captain with my father. When we got to the tapings and announced this was happening, it was a legitimate team aspect, because we were all in similar locker rooms and it just had a big survivor series type of feel to it. Going into it, with the magnitude of talent I had on my team, and working with them, it was truly very humbling. Winning the whole tournament, and still being a champion, hopefully, I get another championship opportunity in the future to add to my Junior Heavyweight Championship.”

This Saturday you face Alex Taylor, your championship series teammate, at the NWA Nuff Said show. What are your thoughts heading into that match?

My thoughts going into this match is to put on the match of the night. You have Alex Taylor versus Kerry Morton with Ricky Morton in my corner, and Danny Dealz in his. I think the perspective is set high. The mountain is set high, and the bar is set high. I want to have the match of the night; I want to have that bonus. More importantly, I want people to think about how we went out there and stole the show, and how they have to follow it. Being around Nick Aldis helped me so much in structuring a match and how to move on in it. Thomas Latimer too, I have to give a lot of credit to him as well. Chris Adonis, and Aron Stevens as well. They all helped me put this idea in my head of me needing to go out there and bring the house down. They want it to be hard to follow. It makes them better, just like it made me better. That’s something I am very grateful for. With that being said, I have a lot of fans and momentum behind me. I am going into this match with a broken thumb, so I have to be smart about this. I understand he is training his butt off and has a lot of cardio behind him. Hopefully, the endgame is in my favor but who knows how this match will go?

What’s next for Kerry Morton?

The 12 pounds of gold. I want to hold that championship more than anything. I have the belt displayed on my wall. Also, the tag team world championship. My father won it, and if I had the chance to win it, then that would be awesome. It’s something for me to work towards and work my butt off to get to. This is why I’m capable of being this champion. I’m willing to add more gold, and I’m ready to add more. Don’t count Kerry Morton out of the 12 pounds of gold in the future. Tommy Rich won it at 21 years old, and me being 21 years old now, who knows?

If you wish to keep up with Kerry Morton, you can find him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, or you can support him via his ProWrestlingTees store.