TNA star Moose is heading into a TNA World Championship match at the Emergence special on August 15, but he recently revealed just how close he was to being on the injured list. In a new interview, the former champion provided an update on a “scary” back and hip injury he suffered during his X-Division Championship match against Leon Slater at the Slammiversary pay-per-view last month.
Moose on the “Scary” Injury at Slammiversary
Speaking with Denise Salcedo, Moose detailed the frightening moments after a specific spot in his match with Leon Slater, where he took a bump from the ring apron to the concrete floor. He explained that the impact left him with severe back and hip pain and that he had difficulty even walking for the remainder of the contest.
“It was scary because I couldn’t walk after the match. I couldn’t really even lift my leg up after I took the stupid bump to the to the concrete from the apron, and we still had, like, 13-14 more minutes left to go,” Moose said. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, how am I gonna finish this match?’”
His account is a testament to his toughness and professionalism, as he was able to persevere and finish the high-profile match despite being in immense pain.
A Warrior’s Mentality
Moose went on to give a great deal of credit to his opponent, the young X-Division Champion, Leon Slater, for helping him get through the rest of the match safely. He also provided a positive update on his current condition, stating that while he may not be at a full 100 percent, he is feeling great and is ready for his upcoming world title opportunity.
“Leon did a great job of, I would say, carrying me through it, which is so awesome of him, and we got it done. But, I mean, my back feels great now. I’ve been working my ass off to get healthier,” Moose explained. “I might not be 100% but I’m probably, like, 90 95% and only rest would get me 100% but no excuses. I’m still a warrior. I’m still going to take that title from Trick, and that’s still the plan.”
A Man of Many Promotions
Despite working through the injury, Moose has remained incredibly active. In addition to his main event program in TNA, he is also scheduled to make a special appearance for WWE’s NXT brand on the August 12 episode, highlighting the open-door relationship that currently exists between the two promotions. His focus, however, remains firmly on his TNA World Championship match against Trick Williams at Emergence on August 15. The match was set up after Moose pinned the world champion in a tag team match on a recent episode of TNA Impact, a victory that immediately established him as the number one contender.
Even while working hurt, Moose has continued to perform at the highest level, a testament to the warrior mentality he described. With his back now feeling much better, he will head into his championship match against Trick Williams at Emergence with no excuses and with his sights set on once again becoming the TNA World Champion.
