Summary

BDE says working with Rich Swann has become one of the most important parts of his recent run. He said the veteran has become a close friend and mentor, and that a match they had on the independent scene last year helped him better understand where he fits in wrestling.

Swann and BDE have also started building momentum as a team. The pairing recently scored a trios win over Order 4 in March, and BDE said he hopes their tag team continues for a while.

Quote from BDE

Speaking during a recent interview with The Wrestling Classic, BDE said:

"I love working with Swann. He has quickly become one of my best friends, we play video games all the time together. He’s like a mentor, really. I had a match with Swann on the independents last year and that was the match that almost made it start clicking. I wouldn’t say it’s there yet, but I started to understand my place in wrestling after wrestling Swann. It really all just started clicking once I talked to Swann more. I’m grateful and blessed to have him as a friend and as a mentor, I would like to see our tag team go for a while."

What Rich Swann Means For BDE In TNA

BDE tying his growth directly to Rich Swann gives this pairing more weight than a routine tag team alliance. When a younger name openly credits a former world champion with helping things click, it suggests TNA sees value in Swann as more than just an in-ring veteran.

There is also a short-term singles focus still in play for BDE, as he is scheduled to face Frankie Kazarian on the April 9 episode of TNA iMPACT. That keeps him active on his own while the team with Swann continues to develop.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.