Mr. Anderson Talks New TNA Roster Addition, His Style, Match With EC3, Going Live Vs. Taped, More

5 years in to his TNA run, Mr. Anderson has been a mainstay at the top of the card. His natural mic skills helped him burst onto the scene ten years ago in WWE, and since then has become a two-time TNA World Champion. In part one of our interview, Anderson spoke to me about his match tonight with EC3, which the fans can vote on the stipulation of, as well as Impact going live.

TNA has seen a major roster change, who has been your favorite addition?

"One of my favorites is Rockstar Spud. He's impressed me in a lot of ways, and I think he's impressed others. I just think he's extraordinarily talented, he knows so much about the business, he loves the business. He sleeps the business. He'll be talking about wrestling when some of us are kind of burned out on wrestling and want to talk about other stuff."

He looked like the biggest babyface ever in England against EC3. You've worked through two unique periods in WWE and TNA where you were able to work with a lot of different guys. Who was your favorite?

"You may not click on every cylinder with every performer, but you can click in different ways. You know what their strengths are. It's hard to narrow down really who I liked working with most, because I've really liked working with everybody. Jeff Jarrett was always one of my favorite people to work with. Kurt and I had really good matches. Bully Ray and I had good chemistry. We figured each other out early on. I had a different style than what he was used to and that threw him off, so we sort of married our style together."

Your style is one that you're able to use against anyone. How important is that versatiliy?

"I think it's important to be versatile, but you won't see me doing moonsaults or huracanranas or anything. Those were some of the first things that I learned. Simple is always better to me. I don't know why I need to do a somersault before I punch you face, when I can just punch you in the face. I've always tried to keep it simple. I keep it sort of smash mouth."

The past several months of TNA Impact has thrived creatively and been compelling. One of those things is the feud with you and EC3. How do you look at a guy like EC3?

"From a personal standpoint, I see a hard-working, hungry individual that has a real passion. He has the look, he has the drive, he has the verbal skills, he can back up what he says in the ring. He's all-around entertaining. He's only been in TNA for a short while, but he's been in the business for a while. I think he's got a ton of potential."

And he is a Cleveland sports fan, he will lose eventually.

"It's meant to be!"

Last week he virtually guaranteed a sweep in any matches you all have. What do you have to say about that?

"A sweep!?"

That's what he said, yes.

"I've always said I won't talk poorly than someone else, but at the end of the day actions speak louder than words. If he gets his little arm wrestling match, I'll beat him in that. If I get my way, I'll use the whole building to kick his ass."

So your preference for the stipulation that the fans will pick is a falls count anywhere match?

"Yeah, the preference is a falls count anywhere match. The possibilities are limitless as to what kind of damage you can do to somebody in a match like that. You have all kinds of furniture, and walls, and concrete floors, and things to punish with your opponent with. I hope he gets to experience that."

You can drag him to an MRI machine in a doctor's office and see if his arm is still really injured.

"Yeah! Ha!"

Tonight is TNA's first live TV show in a while. Are you more comfortable in a live or taped environment?

"I like both. I like live because it's really hard to screw up. There are no screw ups. When you're on the fly that's a unique challenge. When you tape, you can go in and edit things to make them look as good as you possibly can. They both have their benefits, though. I don't have a preference."

What is something you've done in TNA that hasn't had as much attention, and what are you looking forward to for the future of TNA?

"There are a lot of things, it's kind of hard to nail down just one. We don't get as much attention as our competition, and we're with a new network that is growing and developing. We're both trying to add new viewers, and I think we're doing that. Tune in and give it a chance. Get your eyes on what we're doing and I think you'll be impressed. I know I'm biased, but I think we have the most tremendous roster of talent in wrestling today."

Where can fans follow you on social media?

"I'm on Twitter @MrKenAnderson, Instagram @misterkenanderson, and come check out my podcast, which is called "Push The Button." That can be found on iTunes and Stitcher."

Part two of our interview with Mr. Anderson will be up Sunday, and he'll talk about how he developed his promo skills, his injuries, and much more.