On how the joint deal with Bellator/TNA came about:
“After what happened with me and Strikeforce, the Bellator deal came. Then they came to me saying, ‘We have an even better deal.’ So they called me two days after that with Dixie Carter on the phone saying she wanted me to do TNA Impact Wrestling as well. I was cool with that when I heard what they were offering me. Now I’m all aboard. I got two jobs now with Spike TV. I’m going to work for TNA as much as I can, but if I have a fight coming up and I’m training, then you won’t see me as much on there. My plan is to be on TNA two or three times a month or whenever they can book me."
On his preparation for a pro wrestling career:
"You have to put in the hard work because it’s not easy. It’s going to be hard, but I’m going to put forth the time and the full effort into it. I’m going to study film and learn as much as I can. Everyone thinks that pro wrestling is easy, but if it were easy, you would see more pro wrestlers last in the game. I’m going to take this all like I’m fighting. I’m going to be very serious about this.”
On the negative criticisms regarding his involvement in MMA and pro wrestling:
“A lot of fighters want to do wrestling. I don’t really trust what the fans say because they are fans for a reason. It’s because they watch. So why should I care what a fan says about me doing MMA and pro wrestling. If you can’t tell the difference between MMA and pro wrestling, then you’re an idiot.”
On growing up as a pro wrestling fan and his assessment of the TNA product:
“When I was growing up, I enjoyed Mid-South Wrestling, the NWA and WCW. I was more in that line. WWE was cool, but I was more of a WCW fan. I loved the Four Horsemen and Sting. I just saw Sting, and I almost fainted. He is bigger than I thought. He is like 6-4 or 6-5. I like Kurt Angle, James Storm and AJ Styles. Then I throw it back to the old school of watching Arn Anderson. I like the solid style wrestling. I watch a lot of wrestling. TNA has an immense pool of talent here. I watch it every Thursday [on Spike TV]. The people here are no joke. I’m just hoping that I can blend in and stand out when I’m given the proper opportunity to.”
On any friendly advice he has received prior to training:
“Kurt Angle told me to try to learn as much as I can but take care of my body because it’s not easy. They gave me some other things, personal advice, and I’ve been listening to it.”
On his offensive style for competing inside the squared circle:
“One is a submission called the Royal Pain, and the other is going to be an impact move called the Royal Flush. It’s like this. I’m an MMA fighter, King Mo. You don’t see King Mo doing high-flying moves in the cage, do you? So don’t expect it in the squared circle.”
On the standards set by the other royal wrestlers in the business:
“Jerry “The King” Lawler, King Booker, if I have a chance to be half as good as those guys, I will be satisfied. Even just a quarter as good as those guys. Those guys are legendary. Like Booker T, King Booker, I loved him. King Harley Race was a beast. Lawler was a beast. So if I can be half as good as them or even a quarter as good as them, I would be satisfied with my career.”
On his impending TNA debut this fall:
“I’m going to put it like this. I’m going to be on TV sooner than you all think. I'm very excited. I can’t wait to take my first chair shot. I can’t wait until I take my first bump. I can’t wait until I pin somebody. I can’t wait until I get pinned and being thrown headfirst in the turnbuckle. I’m just excited to get the opportunity to entertain. I entertain in MMA, and now I get to entertain in TNA Wrestling.”
