CAGEMATCH: Let's start on a lighter note: how are you feeling right now, at this very moment? Are you happy with your current situation in wrestling or generally in life? Watched any good movies? Michael Elgin: I am feeling great, never felt better really. I know it's a cliché thing to say and all, but it’s the truth! Training is going amazing, feel like a million dollars. I am happy with my current situation but could be happier, maybe when I become ROH World Champion I will be satisfied. I have watched many good movies recently. Maybe "Safe House" being my favorite as of late.
Many of our users know that you are from Canada but have little to no knowledge of the Canadian wrestling scene. Is there a wrestling promotion that you prefer wrestling for or that you would recommend? And are there any promising talents that could make the jump to more well-known promotions like Ring Of Honor? Canada has had its ups and downs, that’s for sure, but all wrestling scenes have been through this. Personally, as of now my favorite places to work in Canada are
C4 wrestling out of Ottawa, and
Fight out of Toronto. It's truly a shame that people don’t watch Canadian indies more. Just to name a few,
Ashley Sixx,
Tyson Dux,
Josh Alexander,
Scotty O'Shea and
Mike Rollins are all ready for something big.
As far as I can recall, you are one of a few high profile independent wrestlers that never had anything to do with Japan. If you would be given the opportunity to tour with a Japanese promotion like Big Japan Pro-Wrestling or Pro Wrestling NOAH, would you do it? Funny you ask this, I almost brought this up in my first answer, haha. Japan as of right now is my Unicorn, that mythical creature I need to catch but can’t get my hands on. I am a huge fan of the sport of Professional Wrestling, that’s why I am proud to call ROH home. But in Japan it's still a sport, and the athletes there are tremendous. I am hoping 2012 is the year I make it to Japan. I mean many of the men who inspire me made their name in Japan, I also want to be one of those guys.
While we're on the topic of world-wide wrestling: have you ever considered wrestling over here in Europe or even Germany? I think the European wrestling style and your more strength-based wrestling style would be a great match! I would love to wrestle there. Actually I was going to work for
Westside Xtreme Wrestling in the summer, then do Brian Dixons tour, but with ROH TV starting I couldn’t make it over. I am a big fan of the style over there, and hoping to get in contact with wXw again soon. Hopefully they will read this so we can reconnect and make something happen!
I think everyone knows that you are a physically strong guy. And by "physically strong" I mean: I couldn't name another wrestler that could beat you in terms of pure strength. With your look, your strength and pretty much your whole "persona" I think few would disagree that you are tailor-made for the mainstream wrestling promotions. So with that said: would you be interested in working for promotions like Total Nonstop Action Wrestling or World Wrestling Entertainment if you had the chance to do so? Or is that something you would never even consider? Thank you for the compliment first off. Of course I have considered it and showed interest in the past. Not saying there isn’t still interest, but ROH is on fire right now. I am very happy with my current situation, and couldn’t be more please. But what the future holds, no one knows.
We've talked about Canada, Japan, Europe, mainstream wrestling,... so let's get into Ring Of Honor! The company celebrated their 10th anniversary just a couple of weeks ago. You wrestled a few matches for the promotion from 2007 through 2009 before you became a fulltime competitor at the end of 2010 as part of the House Of Truth. Do you have any special memories of Ring Of Honor before you competed there? Any matches or wrestlers that left an impression on you? Man, ROH made some huge impressions on me when I was training at 14. I remember I was searching the internet and found the inaugural 3 way. I was blown away, instantly I wanted to be a part of the company. I wanted to wrestle that style. After that a good friend would order tapes, and the next match that really made an impression was
Low Ki vs.
Samoa Joe. I forget the show, but damn they beat the shit out of each other. This was actually the match that influenced me to watch more Japanese wrestling. And from then on, I always stayed up on the product telling anyone who would listen that one day I would be ROH World Champion.
Since you've become an ROH regular, you have been associated with Roderick Strong and Truth Martini, the House Of Truth. Strong is one of the most experienced independent wrestlers to date, while Truth Martini might be the most charismatic and efficient wrestling manager of the past years. How much of an influence were Strong and Martini in your career? And how is the atmosphere around them? Is Martini always as crazy as you would think? What is there left to say, you explained each man well enough. I mean we have one of the best wrestlers in the world with Roderick Strong, and I feel hands down the smartest and best manager going right now in Truth Martini. They have put me in the right direction and I think my accomplishments since joining HOT would prove that. And Truth is as crazy, smart and great as they come.
You were relatively unknown when you came to Ring Of Honor, but that changed pretty quickly: you impressed the masses with your spectacular wrestling style and climbed to the top of the cards. You even won Survival Of The Fittest 2011, which cemented your position as one of the top players in ROH and granted you a shot for the ROH World Title. What are your thoughts on your impressive ROH career so far? And when can we expect you to cash in that title shot? I have had a great time in ROH. I truly feel the company has some of the best Wrestlers on the planet. These guys are the ones you look up to, you learn from, and it’s a privilege to share the ring with them. In the last 10 years you think of the top matches, and top guys in the industry many of them happened, or have come through ROH. It’s the place to be, and I plan on shining in 2012. I don’t know when I will cash in my title match, but when I do the champion better be prepared, because I know I will be.
Only a couple of days are left until "Showdown In The Sun", the next big ROH weekend. As of today we "only" know one of your matches: You will face Davey Richards on the second night of Showdown In The Sun as part of the Blind Destiny Challenge. If Richards defends his title one day prior this match will be for the ROH World Title. One would assume that you have pretty good chances at getting that title shot. Any thoughts on Davey Richards? Are you excited to finally get your first chance at the ROH World Title? Davey Richards, love him or hate him, he’s good. He’s intense and loves Pro Wrestling. His matches speak for themselves, as does his talent. I mean who else would you want to be in the ring with on such a huge night? I look forward to the fight I will be in with Davey in Florida, because I am prepared. Davey is a true warrior of the sport, But I am a total different monster and I’m planning to show the world exactly who I am. I don’t know if it will be for the title, but if it is I am mentally strong, and ready for the task ahead.
As mentioned above we only know that you will face Davey Richards, but you are scheduled to compete on both nights. Do you have any idea who the poor soul will be that has to face Michael Elgin? And if not: who would you like to face on that night? I have no idea who I will be facing Night 1, but it doesn’t matter who. They stand in my way and I don’t take kindly to people in the way of what I want.
One very famous wrestler from Canada will pay ROH a visit for the first day of Showdown In The Sun: Lance Storm will make his return and will face Mike Bennett. Any thoughts or predictions for this bout? And would you like to face Storm yourself? Bennet is good, but is cocky, so if he keeps it in check I see him winning . Then on the other side Lance is a true veteran and knows what he is doing. So it’s a 50/50 chance really. I know for sure I’m looking forward to it. I would love to share a ring with Storm. Maybe in my hometown of Toronto?
One last question: Showdown In The Sun coincides with WrestleMania 28, the biggest wrestling event of the year. Will you watch the show? If so, what matches are you looking forward the most? And what do you think about Bryan Danielson and CM Punk, two former ROH wrestlers and now world champions? Really not sure If I will watch it, not saying I don’t want to, it's just a long weekend. And both title matches as well as Taker-Triple H have my attention
Okay, I think we asked you more than enough questions. But before we get you off the hook, I'd like to play a little word association game. I'll give you some keywords and you just tell us what comes to your mind: Ring Of Honor: The place to be, and the place to watch!
Ian Rotten: Never did me wrong, good guy but has his issues.
Canada: I love Canada, amazing place to live. What did you think?
Truth Martini: Best manager in wrestling Today
IWA Mid-South: Got me ready for where I am, helped me get my name out there.
Davey Richards: Better be ready for the fight of his life
Germany: Really want to wrestle there.
CAGEMATCH.de: Great website, glad I could do the interview!
CAGEMATCH.de wants to thank Michael Elgin once again for this amazing opportunity and we hope that everyone of you enjoyed the interview with Mr. Elgin. And if you didn't, you should be afraid, you've seen what he is capable of doing to his opponents... 
