ALISHA EDWARDS Talks Dream Opponents, The Intersection Between Real Life & Wrestling, And Lots More
Every opportunity that I’ve been given, I’m trying to show what I can do. And I think I’ve been able to show that I’m just not a pretty face and I’m just not a manager.
FOLLOWING ON FROM our last interview we did with Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards, PWI Contributing Writer Jason McVeigh recently caught up with another member of TNA Wrestling’s The System, Alisha Edwards.
McVEIGH: You’ve been with TNA for quite a while, but, in my opinion, you are doing the best work of your career right now. Tell us a little bit about The System and what it’s like to be involved with the group.
EDWARDS: I mean, it’s been great. I thought Hard to Kill was going to be the top of what we’re gonna do, but I think the momentum of The System has been great. We all have title belts. We’re already six months into a year. And, I mean, we’ve been dominating since day one. So, it’s been great. We have a special relationship, and I think it just organically works for all of us. I think we all bring something to the table.
McVEIGH: When I spoke with Brian and Eddie, they said a lot of the success of the group is actually about the real-life relationships that you guys have with each other. How important do you think that is to making the whole thing work?
EDWARDS: I think that’s the icing on the cake. You can throw a bunch of people together and expect them to do their job and they probably will excel. But I really think us having a personal relationship, and me and Eddie being a real-life couple, gives The System that organic and real feel … and kind of brings everything together at another level.
McVEIGH: Something else the boys spoke about was not just what you contribute onscreen, but you bring to things backstage, as well. Tell us a little bit just about your backstage role in TNA, either officially or unofficially.
EDWARDS: Yeah, so I’m kind of like … I’m still talent, so I’m not fully into the behind the scenes, but I’m slowly learning different departments like the marketing, promotion, how we can brand the Knockouts, and stuff like that. I do some of the holiday photo shoots. I’m mom of the locker room, I’m party mom on the fun nights (laughs) I’m kind of like the glue that holds the locker room together. But I’m very, I would say … I like to follow the rules and keep everyone else following what needs to be done. But I like to have fun, too. I’m kind of learning what I want to do when I’m done wrestling, I guess.
McVEIGH: What does it mean to you to be a TNA Knockout and to see the evolution of the division over the years and your part in that?
EDWARDS: The Knockouts were kind of what made me want to wrestle in the first place. At the time I came up in the business, it was like the bra and panties matches in WWE and all that stuff. The Knockouts were doing something totally different. And I still stand by that. I think we’re diverse and we bring a lot to the table in different aspects and in different styles. And I think we’re just getting started, to be honest. We have a lot of things coming up and we have a lot of new Knockouts in our division right now that are killing it, like Ash By Elegance, Xia Brookside, and Steph De Lander. It’s definitely different every year, but right now it’s very exciting for the Knockouts division.
McVEIGH: Something else that’s exciting is you’re one-half of the Knockouts tag team champions with Masha Slamovich. It’s maybe a little bit of an odd couple, but how’s it been for you?
EDWARDS: I keep it business and I needed another championship to bring to The System. At the same time, Masha needed a partner. So, I think the timing was perfect. And I think I bring the best out of her and vice versa, you know what I mean? She gets the job done and I’m more of the mouthpiece and knowing what needs to be done on that side of things. It’s just a perfect match.
McVEIGH: You’re quite a versatile performer. One moment you might be kicking butt in the Knockouts division, the next moment you might be dressed to the nines while accompanying The System. Then, the next moment you might be having your head chopped off in the Hardy Compound. What was it like filming those kind of scenes and doing something completely different (I imagine) from what you’re used to?
EDWARDS: When I first got to IMPACT, I wasn’t really in the Knockouts division. I wasn’t on TV a lot . I think just every opportunity that I’ve been given, I’m trying to show what I can do. And I think I’ve been able to show that I’m just not a pretty face and I’m just not a manager. And maybe I’m not giving those five-star matches that maybe the Knockouts champion is doing. But I think I bring a lot to the table. And, with all these extra things that we’re doing, the cinematic matches and the Hardy Compound stuff, it lets me show my versatility.
McVEIGH: And it’s been a ton of fun to watch. Speaking of the Hardys, though, can we expect you and Reby to be wrestling soon?
EDWARDS: I mean, I’m sure she’s not gonna like that I cost Matt his championship title match. So, I’m sure it’s not over between us. But I’m not scared of Reby, and I’m not scared of Matt, either … or the 18 million children they have. So, bring it on! I’m ready for it.
McVEIGH: Backtracking a little bit … I think one of the best things TNA has ever done was the Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan feud, which you were also involved with. To me, it was a modern version of the Raven and Tommy Dreamer feud, with you as the modern day Beulah McGillicutty almost. What’re your memories of that?
EDWARDS: It was very in depth. I mean that all came from the real accident with the baseball bat and Eddie getting his face smashed by Sami. It brought a lot of real emotions and kind of drove that storyline to that side of things, which was great. Thankfully, Eddie’s eye was still intact, but It could have been bad. But, it ended up being a pleasant surprise in term of what came out of it. It was a really good story to be involved with. It was one of my first stories with the top guys in the locker room. I learned a lot. Sami drives me nuts, just like Moose does, too, but they know what they’re doing in the business. Being able to like work with them has honestly been a blessing.
McVEIGH: What are some of your favorite matches, angles, or storylines you’ve done in TNA?
EDWARDS: I’ve gotten asked this question a lot lately. The Sami storyline was good. The stuff with Ace Austin, where he was trying to steal me away from Eddie … that storyline was a pretty good. I liked when I did the Monster Ball, that gave me a different direction just from being a babyface. The Wrestle House segments we did on IMPACT were really fun. I think that allowed me to show a little personality. Weirdly, COVID was definitely a blessing for me as a performer because t allowed me to do stuff like that. Besides that stuff, just being able to be in storylines with the top guys or getting to wrestle Naomi/Trinity when she was here. That was amazing. Also, being able to bring Traci Brooks out after being away forever and now the Reby and Matt stuff. It’s just been an ongoing ball that’s been continuously rolling, and I’m just kind of going with it and enjoying every moment.
McVEIGH: What’s next for Alisha Edwards?
EDWARDS: Honestly, I didn’t see me having a championship title in 2024, but I do. Why not go for the Knockouts [World singles] championship, as well? I think that’s definitely on my radar. Jordynne, or whoever it might be come the time, I’m coming for you.
McVEIGH: And tell us just a little bit about TNA in general and why TNA is the right place for you.
EDWARDS: It’s the total package. The schedule works for us because we have a little one to take care of, too. We don’t have to be on the road constantly. The freedom and the creativity to be able to bring what we want is also attractive. It’s a lot of collaboration at TNA creatively and in the ring. And I also think the locker room is a big reason. The locker room is very special to me. As a whole, we encourage and inspire each other. So, if I was pushed to say one thing, I think the locker room is definitely my top reason why I love TNA.
McVEIGH: Who would your dream opponent be?
EDWARDS: Are we talking out of who is active right now?
McVEIGH: Yeah. But I guess we can include people from NXT and everything else, now the way things have been going lately.
EDWARDS: I always love to say my best friend Gail Kim. I would love to bring her out of retirement and be able to wrestle her. I mean, come on, Lish versus Gale Kim at Bound For Glory? That would be insane. Aside from that, I would say whoever walks out of Slammiversary as champion. To face them at Bound for Glory, that’s my goal.
McVEIGH: And what would you like Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers to know about Alisha Edwards … and maybe about The System in general?
EDWARDS: That we’re the best and we’re the most dominant faction in pro wrestling. And I’m sorry to everybody that wants to hate us, but the only reason they hate us is ’cause they aint us. So, I mean, I love that they hate us, so stay tuned for the ride.
