Joe Doering may not be the most talkative guy, in and out of the ring, but his wrestling speaks for himself. He made his presence felt in IMPACT Wrestling when he joined forces with Eric Young in November 2020, showing the wrestling veteran is a physical force to be reckoned with, to the point of him being undefeated in the Impact Zone.
Violent By Design, the stable made up of Eric Young, Joe Doering, and Deaner is a 2-time IMPACT World Tag Team Champion. But, tomorrow at Against All Odds, Doering will try to do what EY failed to succeed in at Slammiversary, defeat Josh Alexander to become the IMPACT World Champion.
SteelChair Mag had the absolute pleasure to talk to Joe Doering yesterday. He told us about his upcoming World Championship match against Josh Alexander at Against All Odds, Violent By Design, choosing Impact Wrestling and no other companies to make his US comeback, and what the future may hold for him.
At “Against All Odds”, you will have a chance to become IMPACT World Champion. What was your reaction when it was announced to you?
“I am excited to wrestle for a company’s number one title. That always means that you’re one of the top guys, and I’m showing that I want to be a top guy, so hopefully, I can, achieve the win and get the IMPACT World heavyweight title, even if I won other titles before.”
In this context of being in a faction like Violent by Design, what would happen if you succeed where Eric Young failed at “Slammiversary?” Would the group be in a kind of danger?
“With having the World Title, we would have more power and this is what we want. We can call our shots a little bit more, and it’s okay. For me, it’s ok if I have it or if Eric has it, or if Deaner has it. It doesn’t matter. We are a strong faction. In fact, we just want to be strong, we want titles, we want the power, exactly.”
I talked to Eric Young and Deaner before and this faction was built on a strong bond. I know what it represents to them but what does it represent to you, what does Violent by Design represent to you?
“What a lot of people do not know is Eric and Deaner were both there on my very first day of being in this business. I’ve known both of them my entire career, we go back that long, so 18 years, and Deaner and Eric go back even longer. Our friendships and our lives have crossed for a long time now, and a lot of people don’t know that. We’re three guys that get along and try to be violent and do things our way, so far so good.”
There’s something very strong in the message that comes with Violent by Design that makes it one of the strongest factions we have had on IMPACT for quite a while. You’ve been there for one year and a half now, and you’re undefeated as a singles competitor, do you feel like on Friday night you will remain undefeated, but with a World Championship belt in your hand?
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to win and to do whatever it takes to win the title. Josh Alexander knows that he’s a great champion and a great fighter, but he’s never run into anything like me, anybody as big, fast, and strong as me. He’s in for a big shock on Friday night on Impact Plus.”
When you made your debut with Impact Wrestling, I have to confess that I didn’t know who you were. I’m a wrestling fan, of course, but in my country, we have never had the chance to have AJPW on TV. So I found out a year and a half ago that you were a megastar in Japan. What made you take the decision to come back to the United States after so many years in Japan?
“I hadn’t really done much in the States or elsewhere other than Japan, so the timing was right for me to go and try to be a bigger superstar than I was in Japan.”
It seems like you made your debut at the best time, even if it was during the pandemic, and the faction was created at the right time. Do you feel like it was the best moment in the best place for you to come back?
“I think everything worked out perfectly. I talked with Eric, and we put it together and all the stars aligned, so to speak. Impact Wrestling has always been on my mind because I actually started with TNA/Impact (in 2005), my very first day was with the TNA School, which was run out of the Nashville fairgrounds where they used to tape, so my very first experience in the business was with TNA/ Impact Wrestling, so I’ve always wanted to come back home and offer whatever I could and give back to the company that brought me in.”
We celebrated the 20th anniversary of TNA/Impact Wrestling at “Slammiversary,” were you happy to take part in a celebration that was a great way to say the dark clouds days are over and see you in 20 years?
“I’ve known TNA/Impact for 18 years, I started there 18 years ago, and even then I remember them saying the future was always kind of up in the air like, we don’t know what’s going to happen, and not everyone, but a lot of people were negative and saying, “Oh, you’re not going to last one more week” or ” You’re not going to last two weeks,” whatever. So, here we are 20 years later, and we put all those naysayers to shame. Our product is really good right now, our locker room is very good, our matches are really good, and I think our TV programs are really good right now.”
You have been a heel the most, if not all of your career. Do you feel better as a bad guy? Is it easiest for you to be the bad guy in the ring?
“It’s not easy, but I guess that’s maybe just my natural demeanour when I’m wrestling, I suppose. Maybe one day, I will try to be a good guy, maybe it’s sure (laughs). Definitely.”
How do you envision the future? You’re currently in a great time of your career, with Violent by Design, and Championship opportunities. Do you see yourself staying with Impact Wrestling, continuing to work with Eric and Deaner, and winning more Championships?
“I’m planning on being with Impact Wrestling probably until I retire. I think Violent by Design will be together a very long time, we have the chance to break a lot of records and establish a lot of dominance within Impact wrestling over the next many years. That’s my plan as of right now. As far as championships, we want them all as many times as we can get them.”
Follow Joe Doering on @official_joedoering.
“Against All Odds” will air live on Friday night at 8 PM EST (1 AM GMT) on Impact Plus and on Fite TV. Impact Wrestling Special Events and PPVs also air on IMPACT Wrestling’s YouTube membership Impact Insiders.
IMPACT Wrestling is airing on Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV in the USA and around the world on IMPACT Wrestling’s new YouTube membership Impact Insiders, YouTube TV and Impact Plus.
Very Nygma thanks to Mr Deathman – All pics, videos and screencaps courtesy of Impact Wrestling, Fight Network, Fite TV and AXS TV