Aron Stevens FKA Damien Sandow Notes | LA Knight, Life After WWE, and more (Patreon)

Fightful Select and Fightful.com’s Wrestling Perspective Podcast caught up with Aron Stevens of the NWA for two exclusive interviews this week. Fightful had the chance to discuss numerous topics with the former NWA Heavyweight and  WWE Tag Team Champion. Aron was promoting NWA 75!

Aron talked about his admiration for his friend Tim Storm. He says the NWA did a great job telling the Ten Pounds of Gold story. Aron said there’s something about Tim that he finds endearing.

Aron discussed his time in the WWE and being a tag partner with Cody Rhodes. Aron says he and Cody joked that they were essentially The Midnight Express. Aron said they did their roles well. Aron says that he and Cody were good at creating moments. Aron talked about the strike going on in Hollywood. Aron said it was a fight that needed to happen. Aron says he is lucky because he can do other things and also mentioned being glad to see people supporting them. He said the industry changes, and you have to be resilient and adapt.

He talked about the history of the Chase Ballroom in St. Louis. He says those in the NWA know they hold the place in high regard and compared it to Madison Square Garden in a historical sense for wrestlers.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp brought up how Aron was a student of Killer Kowalski. He asked Aron if he and Triple H ever talked about him since they were both a student of his. Aron said there might be an obscure reference here and there, but otherwise, it was just business between him and Triple H.

In the second of two interviews with Fightful.com, Aron talked to Wrestling Perspective Podcast [WPP] with Dennis Farrell and Lars Frederiksen. Stevens said it was an interesting time in his life when he got let go by the WWE in 2016.

Stevens mentioned that IMPACT Wrestling contacted him shortly after his release from the WWE. Stevens said he got more press than expected, which flattered him.

He told WPP that he did a recent autograph signing, and he mentioned that someone approached him and said that WWE would have someone at House Shows notate who had the loudest reactions from the crowd. Sandow mentioned that this person told him he was toward the top, but WWE did not want Stevens to know that information. He said he learned that’s how far removed he was from any opportunity.

Stevens said he approaches every show as if nobody knows who he is, and that’s because he says his livelihood and job depends on it.

Aron added that it is disgraceful that crowd noise gets piped in. He discussed his approach to performing in shows, emphasizing the importance of giving his all. Aron also believes wrestling should prioritize authenticity and connection with the audience rather than relying on artificial crowd noise.  Aron talked about his confidence in doing what needs to be done in the ring regarding making decisions and noted that he’s usually right.

They touch on his time in WWE, his thoughts towards the company, and his reinvention in wrestling and with the NWA. Aron also expressed how he likes what he sees from LA Knight’s character. He brought up the importance of listening to the fans in wrestling when it comes to decision-making.

Overall, Aron emphasized his dedication to connecting with the audience and creating emotional reactions during his performances.

The interview finished with Stevens plugging his social media.