Gail Kim was a recent guest on Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube show and the two touched upon many topics including the IMPACT Hall Of Famer making her anticipated return to the ring to face Tessa Blanchard. Kim also talks about how ‘missing’ the women’s revolution actually benefitted her, Beth Phoenix coming out of retirement this year, and much more.
On returning to wrestling at the age of 42 to face Tessa Blanchard (who is 23):
Well I’m 42 now, she’s half my age and I’ve taken over a year off and so I don’t think people understand how much work goes into being physically fit as a wrestler and I asked the company, “If you want me to be in this match you need to give me a couple months notice” because you can’t just prepare a couple weeks out, you know what I mean? It’s a lot. It’s very physically demanding and I will say after taking a year and a half off and the little that I’ve done, I feel everything now. I literally feel everything and I never felt everything before. It was almost like you were invincible and so it’s going to be interesting how that plays out.
Related: Tessa Blanchard Comments On Gail Kim Holding Her Back, Why She’s Coming Out Of Retirement
On technically missing out on WWE’s Women “Revolution”:
I mean I guess at times I do but I truly believe everything happens for a reason, it’s very cliche, but I always tell this one story about how I see this one independent girl that’s very talented and I always used to say to her, “Well, yes you’re a good wrestler, but I don’t understand your character. I can’t connect them.” I said, “So who are you?” And she said, “Well I just want to be a wrestler.” And I go, “I totally get that because that’s all I ever wanted to be – the best wrestler, but now it’s a different time.” So for me to fight and be that wrestler girl back then it was great because of the timing. There wasn’t a lot of strong women’s wrestling, but now everyone pretty much that comes through, they want to be a wrestler and a lot of girls are very talented, so what makes you stand out now? So the way that I look at it in looking back is, “Okay, yes I missed the time, but then I wouldn’t have stood out at that time as well or had something to fight for.”
On Beth Phoenix coming out of retirement:
I think Beth coming back out of retirement is the best thing ever, number one. Even at the Royal Rumble last year, I actually watched that whole PPV and I said, “You know what? You have not missed one step. Like you should be back in that ring again.”
(Transcription credit should go to @DominicDeAngelo of WrestleZone.com)
Read More: Gail Kim On Not Understanding Her ‘Matrix’ Character In WWE, Her History With Awesome Kong
