Exclusive Interview: TNA’s Eddie Edwards – TNA’s Live Events, Rebellion & the New System

In this exclusive interview, Darragh O’Connor (@DarraghWV) sits down with Eddie Edwards of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling to discuss TNA Rebellion, live from the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University on Saturday, April 11, as well as back-to-back live events in Syracuse, New York at the Oncenter War Memorial on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15. Matches from Syracuse will air on future episodes of Thursday Night iMPACT!.

Darragh: I’m great to have you on. I really appreciate the time. I’ve been a long-time fan, going back to the American Wolves days, so it’s brilliant to finally chat. Let’s start with Rebellion on April 11. What makes Rebellion one of the biggest nights of the year for TNA?

Eddie Edwards: Rebellion is always one of the biggest events on the calendar. Any time we have a major pay-per-view, it’s our job to go out there and deliver, but there’s something about Rebellion. The atmosphere is different. The expectation is different. We want to create moments that people remember for years.

Over the past few years, TNA has consistently delivered some of the best pay-per-views in wrestling. I don’t know if it’s the hunger, the pride, or the chip on our shoulder, but when we step into those events, we leave everything in the ring. Rebellion is the next opportunity to make those memories.

Darragh: The pre-sale begins tomorrow at 10am with the code REFEREE. What would you say to fans who might be on the fence about attending a live TNA event, especially something as big as Rebellion?

Eddie Edwards: I’d say give us a shot. That’s it. Whether it’s a live event or a TV show, just give TNA a chance. If you come to a live event, you’re going to have a great time. Maybe you won’t love every single thing, but there will absolutely be something that grabs you and makes you want more.

All we ask is the opportunity. The rest is on us.

Darragh: What’s the difference between performing on live television and wrestling in front of a live crowd at a major event? Is there something unique about those moments?

Eddie Edwards: There’s definitely a different feel. When it’s live, there’s an energy you can’t replicate. The crowd feels it and we feel it. You don’t know what’s going to happen. There are no spoilers. It’s happening in real time.

There’s something special about saying you’re live on AMC. That immediacy adds pressure, but it also adds excitement. It makes everything matter just a little bit more.

Darragh: You’ve had one of the most storied careers in TNA history. Heading into this run of shows and Rebellion, how motivated are you right now?

Eddie Edwards: I feel more motivated than ever. There’s new energy in the system. Things are clicking again and there’s serious momentum. With Brian Myers, JDC, and the direction we’re heading, it feels like a new chapter.

I know what the old version of The System was capable of. Now it’s about proving what this version can do. I’m confident we can accomplish something special together.

Darragh: You’ve evolved from a fan favourite underdog into a far more ruthless and focused competitor within The System. How would you describe this version of Eddie Edwards?

Eddie Edwards: For a long time, I put the company and everyone else first. I was the team player. I sacrificed for the greater good. Now I’m making decisions based on what’s best for The System and what’s best for Eddie Edwards.

That’s the difference. It’s calculated. It’s intentional. It’s about results.

Darragh: Does that mean singles gold is on the agenda as well?

Eddie Edwards: We want it all. Cedric Alexander would make an incredible X Division Champion. I’m holding a briefcase for a world title opportunity. Why not cash that in and become World Champion? Why not secure the tag team titles as well?

If we want to cement our legacy and send a message to the locker room and the wrestling world, we do it by collecting championships. That’s how you prove you’re serious.

Darragh: You’ve competed in some brutal matches in TNA. Are there any you’d tell fans to revisit on TNA+?

Eddie Edwards: The Full Metal Mayhem match against Moose in Las Vegas (Turning Point 2021) stands out. We went nearly forty minutes and beat the hell out of each other. Those are the matches I love. When you get to the back, and you’re completely drained physically and emotionally, that’s when you know you gave everything.

More recently, the match against JDC at Genesis meant a lot. It was his final matc,h and there was so much pressure around it. So much could go right or wrong. Walking through the curtain afterwards, knowing we delivered, that was special.

Darragh: What’s it like coming through the curtain after a match like that?

Eddie Edwards: It’s an adrenaline dump. Everyone handles it differently. Sometimes you’re celebrating. Sometimes you need a minute alone. It depends on how the match went.

You’re exhausted, emotionally and physically. That rush is hard to describe. It’s why people say professional wrestling is the greatest feeling in the world. You feel everything all at once.

Darragh: TNA has been through multiple eras and now finds itself on AMC and in bigger venues. What’s it like to witness this new growth?

Eddie Edwards: It’s incredible because this was always the goal. A new TV deal. Bigger arenas. A bigger platform. Now we’re here.

But this is where the real work starts. We asked for this opportunity, and now we have to prove we belong. Rebellion is a perfect example. Every event is a chance to show the world that TNA is exactly who we said we were.

Darragh: Final message to fans considering Rebellion or the upcoming shows in Syracuse, Atlanta, and New Orleans?

Eddie Edwards: Whether you watched TNA years ago, stopped watching, or have never tuned in, just check it out. Watch on TNA+, tune in on AMC, or come to a live event.

There’s a special atmosphere in the building that you can’t understand until you experience it. If you make it to Rebellion or any of these shows, you’ll feel what we feel in the back. The passion. The love for professional wrestling.

And at Rebellion, I believe it’s going to be a very big night for The System.

Darragh: Eddie, thank you for your time.

Eddie Edwards: Thank you. I appreciate it.

TNA Rebellion, live from the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University on Saturday, April 11, as well as back-to-back live events in Syracuse, New York at the Oncenter War Memorial on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15 . Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

TNA will also be live in Atlanta, Georgia at GICC Arena on March 5 and 6, and in New Orleans, Louisiana at The Alario Center on March 27 and 28. Fans in the United States can watch Thursday Night iMPACT! on its new home, AMC and AMC+. The show also airs on Sportsnet 360 in Canada and TNA+ worldwide.