In PWMania’s latest exclusive interview, Hayden Backlund (@Hayden_Backlund) sits down with Scott Mitchell (@scott44mitchell) to open up about his NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship win, NWA 78, signing with the promotion, The Holy Grail, NWA Powerrr, NWA Samhain: Part IV, his goals, and more. Watch the interview in its entirety down below.
Let’s jump right into it. Back at NWA 78, you defeated Axton Ray, Damian Fenrir, and Richard Adonis to win the vacant NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. What was this moment like for you?
“I mean, it’s always insane to think of winning it in such an incredible venue. It’s one of the amazing things that NWA does, just being able to wrestle at the old ECW arena. But it was just … opportunity. I think that’s the word I really associate with it. Just being ready for any opportunity given to you. Going into that, I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I saw the LeBron posters; I was like, ‘Lame.’ I was ready for whatever. The way the cards fell, I knew; I was like, ‘Hey, this has to be almost like a heist.’ If I was going to win this, I had to win it quick, and I had to win it fast. You saw it. The bullets were flying; people were taking each other’s heads off in that match. Little slip-up, and I’m the new champion. That’s how I live my career, and that’s how I live my life, just being ready for an opportunity and making sure nobody is going to out-cheat or out-dirty me, and I’m the new champion.”
Getting your big moment in front of the Philadelphia crowd, getting to hoist that title over your head. What did all of that mean to you?
“So, what was nice about it was my girlfriend and my family drove in. I’m from Buffalo, so it’s a little bit of driving distance. The prior show, I did the dark match. So, I was like, ‘Okay, maybe I’m another dark match. I got the win on the last one, have some momentum, so.’ I had some ECW-style gear, purple and red, so I was ready for it. I thought, ‘I’m just doing the dark match,’ and again, opportunity. Being able to win it in front of my family was incredible. A moment that I will cherish forever was when I won the belt, and I was laughing in their face because I thought it was hysterical, and a fan tried to start a ‘You Deserve It’ chant, and I looked at him and went, ‘No, I don’t.’ I don’t care what you think. I’ve been here for a cup of coffee, and I’m the champ. Sorry.”
You are now the new NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion. What is your mindset heading out of this match?
“Yeah, I DoorDash’d some Shake Shack and hid in my room. I was like, ‘I’m not going near anyone with this belt. They’re not getting any quick little shots on me.’ That was the extent of the celebration. But it’s a switch that flips up. You spent all this time trying to be a hunter in professional wrestling, and now you’re the hunted. Everyone is coming for what I have. So, it’s a different mindset. I have many goals for this championship. Being able to defend it all over. Spencer (Slade) was a good champion, but I think Spencer was locked into the Federation of Champions and that mindset. That’s been good for him, but this championship is my darling. It’s all I care about now, and it’s my only priority. So, being able to want to take things to another level and not just another piece of gold, but being able to make it the piece of gold in the NWA and also on the independents. I’m the man now. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come often, given the opportunity to a lot of places of ‘Hey, swing for the fences. If you think you’re man enough to beat me, your career is made. You’re walking into the National Wrestling Alliance as champion.’ So, being able to just bring it to a new level, the gold, and being hunted and being on the defense- I played defense in football; I’m used to it. I’m going to hold the goal line with this. I’m very excited for the future of this championship.”
While you are no stranger to the NWA, you did recently, officially, sign with the National Wrestling Alliance back in May. What was this moment like for you?
“So, I was just coming off of a shoulder surgery. I had to get my labrum cleaned up. I was working on a torn labrum for way too long. My first match back was at The Crockett Cup. So, it was very like, ‘Hey, we’re going for it.’ Again, opportunity. I believe I did my job at an incredible level, so they knew, ‘Hey, we need this guy here. We have to make sure he doesn’t go anywhere else.’ The offer they delivered to me, I liked. I thought it over, and it wasn’t like an about time, but it was a there it is moment. I’ve had some opportunities and some offers, but this was the place I decided was going to be the best for me, my family, and the future of my career. Also, I believe it’s the best decision they made because I can bring it to a new level and leave NWA better than I found it every single day, and just improving it every single day sometimes through things like this, just having a conversation and letting the fans know what Hayden Backlund is about, and the NWA. It’s not ‘Southern Wrestling ’; they have some cool cats there, cool kids there now. The moment of moving forward.”
What did it mean for you to sign with such a prestigious wrestling promotion, your first signing on the national stage?
“I mean again, BHB (Before Hayden Backlund), none of that stuff really mattered to me. I appreciate it. It’s cool; when I won this belt, I can look and be like, ‘Jushin Thunder Liger, Homicide, that’s cool.’ I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not, and that I didn’t go through the Wikipedia page and I was like, ‘ Who won this? Oh my God.’ But if you look in the past, you’re bound to stay there. I really believe that, in a lot of my promos on TV and some of the territory systems, I was warning people: I’m the future. If you don’t pay attention, the future sneaks up on you and becomes the present. As much as that stuff was nice, I care more about the future of the company and promoting the company in things that it’s amazing at. When I went to Philadelphia, I couldn’t believe just how accessible the NWA was and how much the fans were getting their money’s worth. In a world where things are very expensive, and I’m not going to point at any other companies because everyone else is doing what they do, I felt like when my family and my loved ones bought a ticket, I knew they got every single penny’s worth, and it didn’t break the bank. They got merchandise. They got food, they got drinks, they got tickets, and I think they got more than they paid for with how many incredible matches and seeing me win the championship. That is something. As much as I don’t care what the fans think, and I can do the whole ‘Grrrrr, fans, thing.’ It being so good for the fans is something that was like, ‘This is the place I want to hitch my wagon to.’ I know you can speak for that because you purchased a ticket and went to the show. You talked to a lot of the wrestlers, and if you’re looking for a fantastic wrestling experience that you don’t have to take out a loan for and pick up an extra shift to go to a wrestling show with your friends and family and bring your son, that’s the NWA. That’s something I saw myself in going forward. Hit this out of the park, become the face of this company, bring all the territories and systems up because I believe I’m on a different level than 99.9% of the people in this company. They can hate that if they want, but they can just shut up because I have gold I can shove in their face. All those things combined were what made me go, this is where I want to be. I’ll be there for an extended period of time. They’re paying me very well, and the Bills play this weekend, so the parlay will be nice. Thank you, NWA. So many different deciding factors. Those are my thoughts on the NWA and the past. It’s nice, it’s cool. It’s nice when Grandma knows the company, and that’s cool. But I’m trying to make sure, going forward, Little Billy in the third grade knows the company and knows Mom and Dad are getting me a ticket, and I can’t wait.”
You found your way into The Holy Grail with Pretty Boy Smooth. What has it been like to work with him and compete in your first Crockett Cup in May?
“PB is incredible. Pastor is incredible. As good of professional wrestlers as they are, they’re even better people. PB is the one that got me in the Crockett Cup. He knew my talent. It didn’t go our way, but there’s always next year. It was an opportunity. It was a very good opportunity, and it’s good to be around PB. He’s one of those guys who’s just nice to be around. When you’re in a tag match, who are you tagging with? 6 9, your girl thinks I’m fine, Pretty Boy Smooth? Okay, yeah. I’ll take that. I pick him. He’s my first pick in kickball. It’s just a good time. Everything with him is just a fun, good time.”
How did The Holy Grail and Hayden Backlund come to be?
“Well, PB and I have had some wars out on the independents. He knew what I brought, and he needed a partner given the situation. He knew, ‘Hey, call Backlund.’ So, opportunity. You just have to be ready. That’s the extent of it. An opportunity came, and I’m down with The Church now.”
NWA Powerrr is now on Comet TV, CHARGE!, Tubi. Why should fans check out NWA?
“Because you get your money’s worth. Every single episode, you’ll see something you remember the entire week until the next episode. You get your money’s worth. It’s some of the best, pure, professional wrestling, and it doesn’t insult your intelligence. It’s a fun, good watch for all ages without insulting you. It’s not something that’s just for the kids, or this is just for the adults. Everyone can watch the NWA. It’s accessible to everybody, and most importantly, I’m on it. That’s why you should watch it.”
NWA may be in one of its hottest stages in recent memory. What is it like to just be a part of this roster and see everything the extremely talented men and women are doing?
“It feels like my back is against the wall because I have gold and I see how talented everyone is. Sometimes when I’m sitting there and want to open up the chips and dip, I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, no. I have a championship, and this roster is damn good.’ So, it’s a state of always wanting more and trying to humble myself and go, ‘wow.’ So, yeah. It’s just keeping yourself ready.”
Looking ahead, what are your future goals?
“Hold this title and have a reign of terror that people will tell nightmares to their children about, about how long Hayden Backlund held this title, and possibly grab more gold. I see that Television Championship. I like being on TV. Maybe double belt Backlund, you know? DBB. Double Belt Backlund. But yeah, moving forward with this championship and bringing it to a better position than I found it in. That’s the goal. So, moving the NWA forward through media like this. Being able to talk to people. I’m always up for interviews and being able to talk to people about the National Wrestling Alliance because it’s so good that I think more people have to ring the bell on it. Really get out there and talk to the fans and create relationships and talk to media outlets, all types of media outlets, and hit this thing like I’m The Miz. You need media? Here I am.”
NWA will be returning to Milwaukee, WI, for “Samhain: Part IV” on September 27th. What can fans expect from you at this event?
“I told them. I tweeted it. I said, “You can call me Giannis because I’m bringing my championship to Milwaukee and then I’m leaving.” So, have a fantastic match, and still. The reign of Backlund- you will tell your grandkids about it. So, Milwaukee is the first one up. Would I have picked better places? Oh my God, yeah. Am I dreading going to Milwaukee? Yeah. I’m human. Everyone does. I never heard someone say, ‘I’m taking a vacation to Milwaukee.’ It’s going to be a great time. There are incredible matches. If the fans feel some type of way, buy a ticket and tell me. Don’t you like what I’m saying? Do something about it. Until then, the reign of Backlund.”
Any future opponents you’d like to share the ring with?
“Trevor Outlaw. I would like to see my old tag partner get a shot at this. I’m always big for people getting an opportunity at the NWA. But, outside of that, I just want to keep collecting championships. I want, by the end of it, I want to look like Thanos out there. I don’t care who’s in the ring with me; it’s going to be the same result. After I kick their head off, a little Comet Kick out of the corner, cross face chicken wing, I’ll collect my check and be on DoorDash by the end of the night. The opponents don’t matter. There’s no, ‘Oh, dream match’ I don’t care. It’s about defending the championship, making towns, getting paid, moving the NWA forward, and keeping the momentum that I brought to this company.”
