Josh Barnett discusses his mindset about booking Bloodsport.
Bloodsport has been presented every year since 2018; the first show was headlined and named after Matt Riddle, and Barnett took over in 2019. Bloodsport shows offer a distinct blend of MMA and wrestling, and the matches are notably more raw and physical than typical wrestling bouts. The matches can only be won by knockout or submission, and the competitors fight in a ring canvas without ropes and turnbuckles. On March 31, Barnett will hold the ninth edition of the show as part of The Collective 2023, a group of independent wrestling shows that is centered around WrestleMania weekend.
In an interview with Denise Salcedo for UpNext Fighting, Barnett discussed the process of booking Bloodsport and detailed how a lot of it stems from his relationships with others and his reputation in the business. He pointed to the opportunity he had to work under Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson, as well as his bond with Antonio Inoki. Barnett stated that he tries to honor these teachers with how he approaches professional wrestling, and when people see that, they're more willing to work with him.
"A lot of what you see at Bloodsport is because of my relationship with people and my reputation in the industry, and my time spent with literally the gods of this sport. I have been very lucky to get to say that I had time under Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson, and Antonio Inoki has been a mentor. Never in my wildest dreams. But the most important thing is to honor that with how I approach pro wrestling, how I teach, and how I hold myself as a pro wrestler. That bleeds into everything I do, and when people recognize that, then they’re willing to do for me that which they wouldn’t do for other people. In return, I try to give them the purest, most open opportunity for them to show what pro wrestling is straight from their hearts," Barnett said.
Barnett was also asked to name the biggest challenge of putting the card together for the Bloodsport events. He responded by describing how he tries to create matches that showcase the spirit and the overall identity of Bloodsport. Barnett also emphasized that he wants to shine a new light on the wrestlers by having them compete in the style that might differ from what fans are used to. He named John Hennigan as an example and noted that fans can see him wrestle as Johnny Mundo and other names, but he's a different wrestler as Johnny Bloodsport.
“I would say the biggest challenge is trying to create those matchups that I really feel are going to show exactly what Bloodsport is about, and to keep up, not only the aesthetic but the spirit of that show. Plus, I want to make sure that these are top quality fights that you’re not gonna find anywhere else. Or if you’ve seen this happen somewhere else, that you didn’t see it like this. You can watch John Hennigan in a lot of places as Johnny Mundo and John Morrison and Johnny Everything, right? But what you see with him in Bloodsport is not what you’re gonna see anywhere else, and people aren’t gonna be aware for the most part that, ‘Oh yeah, John’s trained boxing under me for four months now, five months.’ He has a boxing match coming up in April in Creator Clash. He’s an ex-high school and collegiate wrestler. He’s not just coming in out of here as a guy trying to fake it until you make it. He’s the real deal," Barnett said.
Barnett continued by describing how putting wrestlers in this unique environment sometimes means he needs people to have faith in some people they might not be familiar with, as he is confident that the shows will deliver something special. He also noted that Bloodsport is not for everyone, as the event requires something that isn't found in everyone in the wrestling world.
"Giving these guys a look that you’re not gonna see anywhere, watching them take off all the other aspects that you’re used to from seeing them in pro wrestling and seeing them in this pure environment, making those kind of proper matchups sometimes means I need people to have faith in this guy or gal that they’re not as familiar with, but I know they’re gonna see something special. Also to raise expectations of other particular wrestlers that might show up there. I’ve had quite a few high-flyers in Bloodsport that are out there shooting doubles and hitting arm locks and leg locks on people that you don’t see them do in other matches. It’s a challenge to find appropriate athletes for this. This is not a show for everyone. I don’t say that to be arrogant or to diminish or to talk bad about other wrestlers out there. But this show needs something that isn’t found in most of the people out there in the world of professional wrestling. But that’s okay, that’s why we exist," Barnett said.
Barnett recently described how booking Kota Ibushi for Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 9 came about. Check out his comments here.
Click here to see Yoya's comments about competing at Bloodsport.
Fightful will have coverage of Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 9 on March 31; the show will stream on FITE.
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