Mike Bennett shares his thoughts on the popularity of his pairing with Matt Taven and Roderick Strong.
Collectively, the trio has been advocating for Neck Health Awareness, as Roderick Strong has been confined to a wheelchair in recent months. Miraculously, he has returned to the ring, though he continues to wear a neck brace. The “Neck Strong” trio have become a popular act on AEW programming, and they continue to be featured every week.
Speaking with Iridian Fierro, Mike Bennett was asked about the success of the current storyline, with fans making signs for Neck Health Awareness.
“We were joking about it on the way home from LA this week,” Bennett said. “It’s been a wild ride. That’s I think the best way to explain it. I’ve teamed up with Taven for a long time. I’ve expressed in other interviews, Taven is legitimately my best friend. We’re boys, we love each other.
“But Roddy’s also one of our close friends because of our history in Ring of Honor, and for the three of us to be able to travel together and work together and do all these things together, it’s not only been a blast, but I think you see what happens when likeminded people come together, and they put their best foot forward.”
Mike Bennett Highlights His Friendships With Matt Taven And Roderick Strong
Mike Bennett continued by describing how the group has thrived because they are constantly communicating and trying to improve. He emphasized that their friendships have also been crucial to their success.
“It’s like here’s something that we were given that I think honestly could have gone either way, but I think we are constantly talking to each other, trying to tweak what we’re doing, trying to figure out what’s working, what’s not working, okay, we’ll get rid of that,” he said. “To see that just slowly build, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like this in my career, to watch it. It’s funny, we were leaving the arena in Oakland not that long ago, and the fans are just filing out, and they’re screaming, ‘Adam.’
“I’m just looking at Roddy and I’m looking at Taven. I’m like, this is wild. I think honestly it’s just because of our close-knit group. We feel so close with tech other that we can be like, ‘Hey, maybe don’t do that next time, or maybe try this.’ The fact that we can just keep bouncing ideas off each other, I think that’s why it’s, fingers crossed, is working so well. To see people wearing neck braces in the audience is unbelievable.”
Mike Bennett Is Neck Strong
Mike Bennett was then asked whether he and Taven would support Strong by wearing a neck brace.
“If we need to,” Mike Bennett replied. “If, god forbid, anything happens to my poor neck, or Roddy has a plan for me to wear a neck brace, then absolutely. But right now…”
Maria Kanellis, who was also part of the interview, refused to wear a neck brace. She noted that it would be uncomfortable. Bennett then stated that he loves motivational speaking and being there for Strong.
“But for now, honestly, I love doing motivational speaking,” he said. “So being there for Roddy to just will him out of his chair and put his neck brace back on, that’s where my heart and soul is right now.”
Catch up on our coverage of the November 29 episode of AEW Dynamite here.
The full interview can be seen below:
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