Tom Lawlor On His Current UFC Status, If the Fan Perception Of Wrestling & MMA Has Changed, Is WWE On His Radar?
It’s a Friday and less than 24 hours after Tom Lawlor’s blood bath with Jimmy Havoc at GILT Night Club in Orlando. Recovering from the physical match the night before his next string of bookings in a busy schedule, the UFC fighter and emerging pro wrestling star took time out for a wide-ranging interview.
Among the big dates coming up for the leader of “Team Filthy is MLW Battle Rioton July 19 from the Melrose Ballroom in New York City. Fans can catch Lawlor onMLW Fusion 8 p.m. ET Friday nights on beIN Sports.Battle Riotwill air as a two-hour special 8 p.m. Friday, July 27 on the network.
On the pro wrestling side of things, this is your biggest regular opportunity to date working for MLW and it’s show that runs ever week. What has it been like to grow with this company for the last couple of months? You’ve seen them start out finding this Orlando venue and build a fan base, get the show on beIN Sports, venturing out of Orlando to New York City and Fort Lauderdale.
I think for myself, I feel I might have a different viewpoint than a lot of the wrestlers who have been around for a longer time. Essentially, since MLW has begun running shows again I was about six months into the squared circle. So, in a way I’ve been kind of able to grow with MLW. To be fair, it’s a different situation and we’re working for television. There is a lot of aspects you have to take into account that you don’t have to on other local shows. The transition at first, I wouldn’t say tough, but it was different than what I was accustomed to. I think it took a few shows to realize what I can and can’t do. Now I consider it a challenge to see what I can fit in within the parameters of what MLW wants. For me, it has been great because I’ve been able to grow with MLW as it is going on.
You’re having this experience of a weekly television show. How was that getting used to filming and building a persona to go along with that on television? Did you consider that a challenge for you as well?
From one aspect, I’m very lucky to have been in the UFC system and been exposed to a variety of different types of interviews, sit-down interviews. It was, ‘We need you to do this interview for the press at a press conference at a restaurant.’ I’ve had a variety of opportunities to get accustomed to doing interviews and television. Luckily, that experience carried over into MLW. But it’s a stark contrast compared to the rest of the wrestling promotions I work for where you have leeway to do virtually whatever you want. Whereas in MLW, it’s a larger picture.
And in MLW you lead “Team Filthy. What has it been like to evolve this group within the promotion? Give me an idea of the inspirations beyond just fighting and becoming this faction. The group would come out with very unique ring attire and presentation.
Initially, the concept was based more around martial arts karate team kind of like Cobra Kai vibe from the original Karate Kid. As it’s moved on and morphed a little bit. We have myself, who is obviously an MMA guy. Simon Gotch, who trains mixed martial arts. However, he is more traditional style professional wrestler or catch wrestler in many ways. Now, you were there or read the spoilers, we have added a new member who we’ve had an eye on for a little bit. That’s Fred Yehii, who is an amateur wrestler by trade. So, we kind of diversified our portfolio when it comes to martial arts. We are not just like a dojo focusing on beating on other guys. We are now a full-fledged group representing different styles. That’s how I viewed it. I don’t know what the hell everyone else sees.
You have guys jumping back and forth when it comes to MMA and professional wrestling. You yourself have done that. Do you think the perception has changed on either side of fan base with guys and girls finding success?
If you take a look at the last buy rate of a UFC Pay-Per-View featuring a professional wrestler, it didn’t do as well as they had hoped. I’m talking about CM Punk of course. I think the UFC had hoped for maybe more Pay-Per-View buys coming off of that and using his name, but that didn’t happen. Then you have Brock Lesnar coming a few weeks later and basically setting the UFC on fire with a short promo and making it seem hot again. The MMA fan base, even more so than professional wrestling, is extremely fickle. It’s very much so a, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ kind of business with the fans. They are very easy to turn on you. I haven’t seen the gravitation to be interested in professional wrestling from MMA fans. I’ve seen it more the opposite way as professional wrestling fans are more open-minded and willing to give MMA a shot.
Why is that from a pro wrestling fan’s standpoint? Is it because a performer brings this sort of legitimacy to wrestling these days when you have someone comes in with a legit fighting background?
I think from a professional wrestling standpoint there are a number of fighters who go into it and don’t pan out. I don’t know if they understand the differences of the two. There are mixed martial artists who go into professional wrestling thinking it will be a lucrative business for them. It turns out the opposite. The MMA fan base, I don’t know if it’s dwindling or based on the bigger events now. I don’t’ have my finger on the pulse like I used to. But it seems there is a disconnect.
Maybe a transition period, you’d say?
Well, right now it’s sort of bizarre. Obviously, you have all the companies switching television stations. UFC moving to ESPN, and basically because FOX went with SmackDown instead. It’s also interesting the guy who is doing the negotiations for UFC and WWE is the owner of the UFC. It’s a very odd time right now.
And later this year your suspension comes up in October. So, what are your MMA plans moving forward?
I’ve reached out to UFC. I was basically told, “We’ll get back to you at a later date.” So, right now I don’t really know. My suspension is up on October 9thor 10th. I should be eligible to fight then, and I know there are a number of shows after that. I would love to be able to fight in Madison Square Garden. I’m sure a lot of people would like to, and I know there is an early November show that the UFC has there. After that, I’ve looked at their schedule, and some of their shows are not too appealing to me. They have a lot of Las Vegas shows coming up, which quite frankly, I don’t want to fight at home. I enjoy the aspect of traveling. It’s a different atmosphere when you’re on the road getting ready for a fight. I would like to try to stay away from Las Vegas at all costs. But they don’t have the best schedule that way. Perhaps, the 25thanniversary show in Denver or the Madison Square Garden show. Those two appeal to me. Passed that, I haven’t given it that much thought.
You mentioned UFC will let you know. Do you think the fact you are now so heavily involved in pro wrestling maybe hurts your chances a little bit more because they don’t feel you’re not focusing enough on the MMA side of things?
If that’s the case, then let me go. Let me out of my contract. I’ve asked them in the past. I don’t know if it’s because the suspension, or they wouldn’t allow it. Even though they have let guys go in the past. Most notably, Mirko Cro Cop in a similar situation. I don’t if they are waiting for it to come up and tell me to take a hike. I don’t know if they’ll give me a fight after the suspension comes up. I don’t know if they will do it a few months out. The regime is a lot different than it was years and years ago. Even since I’ve fought, there has even been a change with the matchmakers. Now I’m no longer dealing with Joe Silva., who I dealt with for around 10 years. Now I’m dealing with Nick Maynard, and it’s a different operation in a lot of ways.
Back to the pro wrestling side, a couple of months ago there was all this talk and rumor about WWE reaching out to MLW talents because of the beIN Sports TV deal. There appears to not be that much to that, but were you ever approached from WWE in the past year given the added exposure with MLW?
No. Not to my knowledge. I do have a quite a few missed calls from the Orlando area on my phone. However, I used to live here, so I’m not too surprised by that. But I have not been directly contacted by WWE in any way. I don’t know if they are really looking for me in any aspect. Nor do I know what my response to them would be because I’m 35 years old. I’m not a youngster looking to get my feet wet in professional wrestling. I’m not looking for this opportunity. I’m trying to do my best to make a living of this already. I’m not necessarily going to jump at a chance just to have it upend my life in a lot of ways. I’m married. I have kids. I have a house in a town I enjoy being in. I have a job outside of professional wrestling, mixed martial arts at a gym. So, it’s not like I don’t have a lot going on and am sitting around waiting for a call. I’m more than happy working in MLW and all the other companies I work for.
Basically, your goal in wrestling right now is to have fun and make money. So, you’d say you’re fulfilled right now? A lot of people have the ultimate goal of being in or headlining a WrestleMania. I think that mentality has changed a little bit with all the opportunities out there to work for quality wrestling promotions.
I mean, sure, it would be awesome if in 50 years I can tell my family, “Hey, look. Come back watch WrestleMania. I’m one of the main guys out there. Without that happening, I really don’t care. Nine or so years ago, I won the biggest bonus in UFC history at UFC 100. I haven’t had these opportunities and times in the spotlight I’m going to regret. I’ve had chances on major Pay-Per-Views that millions of people have seen. I’m on DVDs that you can buy. You can purchase all my fights and buy my work. My legacy will be through video and wrestling and MMA. I’d like to get to look at the entire body of work that I’ve done over the past 10 or 12 years in MMA and wrestling as a whole rather than look for one big moment.
Last question, you have this very unique match coming up with Battle Riot. What are your thoughts on this? There is such a mix of stars. You have MLW stars, veterans, legends, emerging talent, surprises. What is it going to be like to be a part of this and prepare yourself for this?
That’s a very good question. I don’t know why you’re asking me because I got no clue. There are 40 guys in New York City. There are guys who have never been on MLW shows before. There is every single style that you can think of. We got UFC fighters, Belator fighters. We got high-flyers, luchadores. Guys representing every single aspect of professional wrestling. And you can have weapons? And you can win by pin fall, submission or being thrown over the top rope. So, it’s an even more chaotic environment than I think a lot of people are used to. The more chaotic environment than I’m used to. I’m accustomed to one-on-one competition in most cases. And this is going to be the exact opposite, so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to it because I do enjoy a little bit of chaos from time-to-time. But I have no clue what to actually expect when we get in there.
I mean we saw so much from the Spirngs Break “Fans Bring Weapons” match. In MLW, we’ve seen inflatable sharks, doors, cheese graters. You say weapons are legal, it can mean anything.
I have actually has a cheese grater sitting next to…Well, now it’s in my hands covered in blood.
So, you might break that out again? That could be your trademark like a Singapore cane.
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If I had been in a weapon’s battle royal previously, I would have brought a full-sized stoplight out. We’ll see if I can find one of those again.
Well, you have a little bit of time.
I was in a caged weapons battle royal one time. It was bring your own weapons. That’s what I found. A full-size stoplight that I found blown down in one of those Florida hurricanes.
That would be fun to take on an airplane.
Nobody was interested in bumping into it, except for me. And that was a bad idea.