Rich Swann would love Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch in IMPACT Wrestling after AEW Revolution

IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann would love the challenge of an Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch.

The 30-year-old star – who worked in notorious hardcore promotion Combat Zone Wrestling early in his career – hasn’t tested his mettle in a death match yet, but he’s more than up for the brutality if the timing was right.

Swann pointed to the long-running feud between Jon Moxley and AEW World Champion Kenny Omega, which will culminate in the barbaric surroundings at AEW Revolution tonight, as a great example of the perfect storm.

He exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘I always loved the death match style. That’s why I went to Combat Zone Wrestling, I just was never put in the situation to be in a death match.

‘If the story definitely called for it and I was in a heated rivalry with somebody – kinda like how Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega are right now which is leading them to this exploding barbed wire deathmatch – I would not be opposed.

‘I’ve always been a fan, and I think death match wrestling is an art, just like catch as catch can or high flying or submission based.

‘It’s another form of art to where you get to perform what you love and what you think is professional wrestling. And I love it!’

Rich first got introduced to the extreme style when he was eight or nine years old and his brother showed him tapes featuring the likes of Mr. Pogo and Mick Foley’s alter ego Cactus Jack.

It’s no surprise, then, that the world champ was delighted to get in the ring with Tommy Dreamer last month at No Surrender with the title on the line – even if they went a very different route.

‘It was amazing to be in that ring with Tommy Dreamer! We didn’t get hardcore, but we both put it all on the line,’ he smiled. ‘Tommy Dreamer, he showed a different side to himself – we didn’t even punch each other!

‘We just used wrestling holds – and I kicked him in his face a couple of times. [laughs] I had to get a little rough with the Innovator of Violence! It was definitely fun.’

Rich is a lifelong fan of the business, ever since his older brother came home from basketball practice and put on WWE Monday Night Raw.

‘As soon as he turned it on, the old school fireworks up in the ceiling for Bret Hart, the pink lights – as a kid, it looked crazy, it looked awesome,’ he fondly remembered.

‘Seeing Bret come out with the leather jacket, I’m like “Wait a minute, who is this dude?” It was like, man, I’m gonna keep watching this.’

The youngster was hooked, and it was The Hitman again who provided the spark that set Swann on the path to superstardom.

He smiled: ‘The moment i realised I wanted to do it was when I was so invested in Steve Austin and Bret’s story leading up to WrestleMania XIII.

‘It was the first time I’d seen blood done worldwide, the first time I’d seen it in a WWF match. I was like, wow, this is crazy – I definitely wanna do this!’

He’s never looked back, and now the world champ is excited to be an inspiration for a new generation of performers in the same way Bret was for him.

‘It’s definitely amazing! I try to set as good an example as I can, especially in and out of the ring,’ he said. ‘I wanna spark more people to become professional wrestlers – it’s definitely a great business.

It treats you good as long as you treat it well. It definitely helps you grow into a great human being if you let it.

‘I would love to see people want to strive to be professional wrestlers because it helps me know that I’ve done my job, and the profession will keep going on and on.’

*IMPACT Wrestling is available every Wednesday night on the IMPACT Plus app.

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