WWE WrestleMania: American Alpha believe event is as big as Olympics and reveal their ambition to work with Hall-of-famer Kurt Angle
Jason Jordan and Chad Gable the current boom in tag team wrestling, and competing at their very first WrestleMania in Orlando next month
FOR American Alpha – Jason Jordan and Chad Gable – it’s been an incredible 12 months.
At WrestleMania weekend last year, they performed at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, where they defeated The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championship in a thrilling match-up.
They debuted on the main roster in August and within four months became SmackDown Tag Team Champions, pinning 12-time world champ Randy Orton for the titles.
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Since then, the duo has been an integral part of WWE’s renewed tag team division – the strongest it’s been in years.
And with their backgrounds in amateur wrestling – Gable even competed in the London 2012 Olympics – they’ve got an impressive arsenal of throws, suplexes, and mat skills.
Their athletic style recalls former WWE champ and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, who they could end crossing paths with when he eventually returns to WWE television.
They talked to Sun Sport about Angle, the current boom in tag team wrestling, and competing at their very first WrestleMania in Orlando next month.
On the possibility of working with Kurt Angle in WWE
Jason Jordan: “It would be great to work with Kurt. He paved the way for us amateur wrestlers. Also, his mind – the way he works in ring – it’s a thing of beauty. It’s amazing.
“There are all these stories we’ve heard about Kurt Angle – and obviously we’ve gotten some comparisons – but it would be really nice to work hand-in-hand with him, help get our game to the next level.
“Obviously he has so much experience that he can put upon us. It would be great to just sit under the tree of knowledge and let him talk with us and give us some pointers.”
Chad Gable: “We’re really looking forward to Orlando. Maybe we’ll get a minute to sit down with him and ask a few things.
“He did the exact path that we’re trying to do right now and succeeded in the biggest possible way. If there’s anyone that’s going to help Jason and I, he’s the man for the job.”
On why there’s boom in tag team wrestling for WWE
Chad Gable: “If you look at the amount of actual tag teams – not just singles guys paired together – but real tag teams that we have now in WWE, and the quality of those, it’s better than it’s been in a long, long time.
“And a lot of these guys came through NXT. There was a time period in NXT with tag team wrestling… the competition level was so high between everybody. Everyone was trying to outdo each other, and everyone was trying to steal the spotlight.
“That just raised the game to a level that I don’t think a lot of people expected it to get to. Now that everybody’s coming back together on the main roster, I think we’re likely due for the same thing to happen again.”
On the secret to being a great tag team
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Jason Jordan: “You need to have a relationship and good chemistry with your partner. I think that’s key. From day one, that’s what’s made us a good tag team.
“And accountability – knowing that he’s got my back and I’ve got his, and that he’s going to out-perform our opponents. He knows that I’m going to give my best, and we’re definitely going to be able to out-work anybody we’re in the ring with.”
Chad Gable: “You can tell when a team doesn’t have it. A lot of time if it’s two singles guys that they just stuck together as a tag team, you can tell they’re not supposed to be a tag team.
“When a tag team is working together properly – and we like to think this comes out in our stuff all the time – it’s just like a well-oiled machine. It just works.
“Fortunately, we just clicked. If you would have asked me before we got into this tag team, I always saw myself as a singles wrestler. But we started teaming and I wrapped my head around what an art form tag team wrestling can be, when it’s done right. I fell in love with it.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way now – I want to be a tag team wrestler for my entire life.”
On whether they’re ready for their first WrestleMania
Chad Gable: “I like to compare it to my Olympic experience. I didn’t have much time to think and build up to that – it was just training, training, training. [People asked me] ‘Are you worried? Are you excited? Nervous?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know, I’m just training’.
“But when I got to London, you felt the buzz around town. It was everywhere. That’s when it hit me. I think the same thing’s going to happen once we get to Orlando, because WrestleMania takes over the whole town.
“It’s not just that one day, in that one building. It’s a week-long ordeal. I think once we land there and get going in Orlando it’s going to start to set in.”
On the possibility of facing Raw Tag Team Champions Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson – and their dream opponents
Jason Jordan: “Absolutely, we would love to wrestle those guys. The nice thing abut the brand split is that it drives competition, but one of the downsides is that there are certain tag teams you don’t get to wrestle.
“Those two guys are a team we’re looking forward to wrestling. Maybe one day in the future our paths will cross – and maybe a title will be on the line.”
Chad Gable: “If we can go with any team we could ever face, we would love to have a match with the Steiner Brothers at WrestleMania. I think a lot of people can see their influence in our ring work, and ring style. That would be a great match for us.”
Watch WrestleMania 33 live on the WWE Network Sunday, 2nd April. Sign up for a free month at WWE.com/wwenetwok. See American Alpha this May when WWE Live returns to the UK. Visit bookingsdirect.com