GQ: So arguably the MWA was on top of the world. Why the pullback and tour of Europe and the release of some of your biggest stars?
Brand: Well it wasn't actually a release. We did extensive research that showed that the wrestling market in America had become saturated. We had the biggest piece of the pie and business was good but still the hnadwriting was on the wall. We needed to walk away so that our brand of wrestling could become even more highly appreciated. Europe had only briefly been touched by the MWA and their was no dominant promotion there so we took a chance.
GQ: Couldn't this have been achieved without allowing big time stars to work elsewhere? You allowed ICW, run by a chief rival of yours in LJ Black, SWA and iW, based in England to scoop up MWA mainstays.
Brand: I didn't want to leave the American fans in the proverbial lurch. I respect John Patrick and even agreed to let him run shows in the MWA Center, which is owned by Brandcorp. I think in time his promotion could have been great. And Jim Mahon at iW is a good man. I wish him the best and have invited him to join me at the Paris show as my guest. I would love to work more with him. LJ Black, well the less said about that man the better. But his wife, Trin, is a lovely woman and I am known to have a soft spot for beauty.
GQ: There has been some talk that you have a lot of young talent to develop and needed roster spots for them. Who are these youngsters that you would put the future of the company on their shoulders?
Brand: The Wonder Twins are two of the rookies that we were allowed to get a good look at. Danny and Michael Wonder are great athletes who could go all the way to the top in the sport. Unfortunately they were saddled with a terrible nickname by Jackie Sweets and it stuck. Cassie Davis was already on the main roster but we wanted to see more of her as well. There are others who you will be seeing shortly.
GQ: Speaking earlier of John Patrick, he accepted your deal and was rewarded with a spot as consultant to your Booking Committee. One wrestler in particular, Blayze Alexander, has raised concerns about the integrity of that deal. How do you respond?
Brand: Blayze and I rarely see eye to eye. John is a good man and I have no doubt he will once again be a great asset to the company. This deal was mutual. No one twisted his arm.
GQ: And his brother Sean McBride is along for the ride as well it seems.
Brand: I never seem to be able to distance myself from Sean. Yet another man who agrees to disagree with me.
GQ: Speaking of your personal relations with talent, do you ever take criticism for promoting Alarra McGregor to Turmoil Producer, even though she had no prior experience? It is openly known that you are romantically linked.
Brand: Alarra was a fine competitor and a brilliant attorney and of course a beautiful woman. She had the desire to take that job and succeed. I have no regrets.
GQ: There are rumours that both the Legacy Title amd World Tag Team Championships may be vacated due to contract issues with "Wrecker" Mike Proctor and the team of Santiago and Dashiell Tomek aka Masked Machismo. Is this true?
Brand: Normally I would take the company line of "we don't comment on contracts" , but in this case it should be known that yes we have had a breakdown in talks with those competitors. Contracts are frequently re-negotiated in the MWA, but not usually so soon after they have been signed. I would like to see some more consistancy before tearing up a brand new contract. And I don't feel another signing bonus was in order.
GQ: So this is sort of a Terrel Owens issue? Does that make Sebastian Cohen the Drew Rosenahaus of the situation?
Brand: That may be an insult to Owens and Rosenhaus.
GQ: So this card in Paris looks stacked from top to bottom. Over twenty wrestlers involved, a few dream matches, promises of big surprises and a Main Event with the controversial World Champion Logan Wolffe defending against relative old timer Jackie Sweets. Are you excited?
Brand: I am. Sweets is the one man that claims a victory over Wolffe and it is high time he got his shot. But even if Logan gets past this challenge I think he may be in for a challenging latter half of the year. Steve Pinex, Sierra Devereaux, Mary Jane Martell, Cuchulain and Angelica Jones are always looking for an oppurtunity. And former World Champions like Sean McBride, Stephen Clay, Johnny Grrrrr, Brian Richman and Jack Griggs can never be counted out.
GQ: We thank you for your time Barrett. Any parting words for the fans?
Brand: Just that you haven't seen anything yet.