Brutus Creed, a WWE superstar, recently participated in an unusual indie event at Bloodsport XI, organized by Josh Barnett. His competitor was “Filthy” Tom Lawlor. In an exclusive conversation with TVInsider, Lawlor disclosed that Creed was excessively nervous before the match to the point that he vomited.
Below are a few notable insights from the conversation:
Regarding how dynamic the wrestling scene is currently, Lawlor stated: “As you explore the professional wrestling landscape and various associated entities, you can identify a traditional style that corresponds to each one. Undoubtedly, there’s a unique feel to WWE matches and how they are orchestrated. AEW’s style too, has its own texture and presentation – it’s more fast-paced and aligned to an action or video game. MLW, on the other hand, exhibits a fusion of all possible elements of professional wrestling. The Pro-Fighters show stood out with its diverse range of matches. From hardcore bouts, such as Matthew Justice and Jesus Rodriguez in the ‘Barrio Brawl’ street fight, to AKIRA versus Ikuro Kwon where they were taping glass on their fists and using objects that I would never entertain in professional wrestling. The array of styles was vast…MLW invites almost everyone with a unique wrestling style, making the event special.”
When asked about wrestling with actor Paul Walter Hauser, Lawlor revealed: “I got to know Paul Walter Hauser through wrestling circles. I’m not deeply engrossed in tracking the entertainment industry. Before I tangled with him in the wrestling ring, I had barely any idea about his film appearances until some friends and Court Bauer, the founder of MLW, enlightened me about his work in movies and television shows. All I knew was that he was an actor who had dabbled in professional wrestling. He had expressed interest in my work in MLW. Given my track record as a former champion and winning the Opera Cup and Battle Riot, I had garnered significant attention for the company. Hence, it made sense for him to choose me as his opponent. The fact that I was chosen was an honor. In such scenarios, when an outsider enters the wrestling domain, the responsible method would be to pit them against someone reliable enough to not tarnish their impression and not risk an injury to either party. Regardless of what Paul Walter Hauser has done in Hollywood, it was affirming to be chosen to represent professional wrestling when an outsider was stepping in.”
Regarding his recent match with Brutus Creed at Bloodsport, Lawlor mentioned: “In certain aspects, it feels gratifying, but I’m often skeptical about the underlying motives behind these events. WWE has a history of turning things around in their favor. Even though there’s a new regime at the helm, I’m unsure whether their attitude will recur. Brutus Creed wasn’t doing me a favor by wrestling me. He was so worried about our match that he threw up before it commenced. That just goes to show who the match was really about. Sometimes, wrestlers tend to devalue themselves simply because their opponent is from WWE. They overestimate them thinking they’re ‘on a higher level’. Although seeing these kinds of matchups is fascinating, it generally works out in their favor.”