In PWPonderings’ latest exclusive interview, Isaiah Broner (@IsaiahBroner) sits down with Scott Mitchell (@scott44mitchell) to discuss his upcoming debut at ETU Wrestling, working with Shimbashi & Devious Cass, his goals at ETU, representing AIW as the AIW Intense Champion, his reign so far, his goals, representing the black community, some dream opponents, and much more. Watch it in its entirety to see more of his backstory down below.
Let’s jump into it. On Saturday night, you will be coming up to ETU Wrestling to battle Shimbashi and Devious Cass, with a mystery partner. What is your mindset heading into this one?
“It’s the same. I don’t know who the partner is. I probably don’t need a partner. But it’s my debut, and I’m going to treat it like I treat going anywhere else. I’m going to dominate. I’m not going to have a second chance to make a first impression. So some people may know who I am there, some people won’t know who I am. But after the match, everyone will know who I am. If I have to make examples out of Shimbashi and Cass, that’s the way the cookie crumbles, man. Wrong place, wrong time.”
This is your debut with ETU Wrestling. Does that add anything special for you in this one, or is it business as usual?
“It’s business, but at the same time, I’ve taken a lot personally over the last year or so. I see ETU moving in a positive direction and gaining a lot of traction, and I feel like I should have been here a long time ago. A lot of people tell me I’m too humble. Like, I’m really good, but I’m very humble. I think that’s been a hindrance. So my mindset is to show everyone that I should have been here a long time ago.”
After his incredible match with Marcus Mathers at the last show, Devious Cass called you out. When you saw that, what went through your head?
“Adrenaline. Maybe he was drunk. I don’t know. I appreciate the confidence. Anyone can say that when I’m a few states over, but Saturday we’ll see if he can back it up. I didn’t believe anything he said. Then, the promo after that, if you look at his face, he didn’t believe it. He didn’t seem confident in what he was saying. He was trying to hype himself up to believe it himself. Hey man, the bell has to ring eventually.”
What are you hoping to teach Cass & Shimbashi on Saturday night, as a veteran presence?
“Be careful what you ask for. Be careful what you ask for. That’s pretty much it. I know people think that these guys are young, good, up-and-coming, and they have a chance. No, you don’t. No, you don’t. So, be careful what you ask for in moving forward. I am not the one.”
What are your goals looking ahead for ETU Wrestling?
“Same goals I have anywhere else. I want to be the guy. I want to be the top dog. Who’s on top? Mike Santana? That’s a match I’ve been asking for. I don’t care where. It just so happens that he’s the champion there. That’s who I’m gunning for. Anywhere I go, anywhere I step in, I’m the guy. It’s not going to take that long for everyone to understand that I’m the guy. Anywhere I go.”
You’ve also been the AIW Intense Champion for over 300 days. What went through your head when you won that title?
“I should have been having it. I was the Absolute Champion for over a year, about a year, over 300 days. I should still have that belt. But losing it lit a fire underneath me. Got me back focused. Got me back right. Confidence up. Physically, I’ve taken myself to another level. Just preparing myself mentally, physically, I’m the guy. It doesn’t matter where I go or what match you put me in or who you put me in there with. I’m the guy. For over 300 days, I’ve been the Intense Champion. I don’t plan on not being the Intense Champion. On July 10th, we have Nick Gage and Kaplan in a three-way dance. Belt’s not going nowhere.”
On July 10th, you’ll be defending your AIW Intense Championship against Nick Gage and Kaplan. What’s your mindset heading into that one?
“It’s going to be crazy. It won’t be a traditional Isaiah Broner match. I’m prepared for it all. I just know it’s going to be crazy. I’ve been in there with Kaplan a couple of times before, had a singles with him. I’ve never been in there with Nick Gage, but much respect to the OG. I respect everything that he’s done, but again, wrong place, wrong time, wrong person.”
Your reign has seen you pick up defenses over the likes of Jake Something, Krule, and Donovan Dijak, cementing yourself as the one true powerhouse in Ohio. What has your reign meant to you so far?
“That I deserve to be on the next level. It’s just showing and proving to everyone that I deserve to be on the next level and that I’m everything I say I am. I believe it in myself, but with each one of those matches, my confidence has continued to grow. That’s all I want. The opportunity to show people that I deserve to be on a bigger stage. I deserve everything. I deserve every opportunity I’ve been getting so far. I deserve it, and I deserve more. That’s all it is. It’s like the Michael Jordan thing on ‘The Last Dance,’ I take everything personally now. It’s all personal to me. I deserve it all.”
You also were able to take part in one of the best independent wrestling shows, some are saying ever, “DEAN~!!” What was it like for you to work on this card, and did you know this show was going to be so special?
“When he hit me up about it, I didn’t know what to expect. Like any place that shoots me a message, I do a little bit of research. I knew it had some significance to it. I didn’t know it was going to have the response that it did after. And the response felt good. I was truly honored to be a part of it. Any time they run a show, if I’m free, I’m there. I was at the last one. It’s just something special to be a part of. It’s definitely a very dope show, and I’m really happy with how everything turned out, not just my match, but just the entire show.”
Looking ahead for you, what future goals do you have in mind?
“Pan-Afrikan Title. That’s still something I’m clamoring for. So, F1ght Club, Ase, Nap Town, I don’t care where at. Kaun, I need that. I need that. He’s won the title. He’s won our singles match. I haven’t seen him since. I’m going to have to talk to F1ght Club or Ase about that. Match-wise, I’m just trying to be everywhere I can be. West Coast Pro. I’m trying to get down to Texas. Trying to get any and everywhere I can be. The major goal is to be signed somewhere. I think it’s coming. I don’t know where, but I’m just trying to do all I can do to cross my t’s and dot my i’s.”
How important is it for you to be a part of an all-black promotion like ASE Wrestling?
“It’s important because, as I said, coming up, as a fan of wrestling, but growing up in the black community, it’s not a profession, or a hobby, or a form of entertainment that’s as common as basketball, or football, or music, or something like that. So, getting into this profession, you don’t see many black-owned companies or cards. So, ASE provides the diversity. They provide that. From top-to-bottom. Shoutout to Darius Lockheart for forming it. When he first did, I wanted to be a part of it from the jump, and he’s done a hell of a job running it. I love being there. Any show I can be there, I’m there. It feels like family. Being around family. The fans gravitate towards everything from top-to-bottom. Everything is structured and run perfectly. It’s a beautiful atmosphere. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about it. It gives young black kids something to aspire to. Coming up, you only see a few black people on your TV in WWE or TNA, or wherever. Here, that’s all you see. Nobody is the same. Everyone is themselves. Everyone is different. There’s a lot of diversity there, and I love it.”
How important is it for you to be that role model to many other black children who are starting to see more of their role models look like them?
“It’s important. I just want to give people the hope that this could be you if you go after what you want to in life. By traditional standards, I shouldn’t be here, or I shouldn’t be in this profession. But I busted my ass to get here, and I’m still going. Opportunities are formed because of my hard work. Opportunities are coming because I dedicate myself to this. If you dedicate yourself, and work hard, and do everything you’re supposed to, and you take that extra step, you can get anywhere you want to in life.”
Do you have anyone in mind that you’d like to share the ring with?
“Oh yeah. Mike Santana. I’m just a huge fan of his work, even more so the story. Forget the wrestling, he drew me into his process of overcoming addiction and how he’s transformed himself to become a top guy in a company. He was in a tag team for so long. He broke out, and he made himself into what he made himself into. I respect that tempo. He’s one of the best people in the game right now. Definitely Mike Santana. Shelton Benjamin, before he hangs it up. MVP before he hangs it up. Josh Bishop, we haven’t had a singles match in a while. That’s my dog. West Coast Pro. Alpha Zo. I’d like to get out there and have a singles match with him. I saw Charity King say something about intergender matches. I would like to do a couple of intergender matches with her, Gabby, Maya World, or something like that. Ultimate dream match before he retires is Samoa Joe.”