Sami Callihan on Tessa Blanchard, being IMPACT's new World Champion & more (Exclusive)

IMPACT Wrestling has been in the news a lot lately, as it was announced a few weeks back that its flagship weekly two-hour program IMPACT! is now airing on AXS TV. Meanwhile, IMPACT Wrestling has a big two-night stand coming up in New York City next week at the Melrose Ballroom on November 7th and 8th.

One of the IMPACT stars who has people talking is Sami Callihan. As shown this week within the debut of IMPACT! on AXS TV, Callihan became the company's new World Champion after defeating Brian Cage within a steel cage. While being World Champion of IMPACT Wrestling is far from Callihan's first title reign, it is significant in showing that the Ohio native is finally "the face" of a major wrestling company.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Sami Callihan by phone on October 30, 2019. In addition to the full audio of the interview with the man known as "The Draw," below as an exclusive to Sportskeeda, is a transcription of a few minutes from the discussion. More on the IMPACT Wrestling's World Champion can be found online at www.twitter.com/TheSamiCallihan and/or www.impactwrestling.com.

On whether everyone is calling him "champ" these days

Sami Callihan: Everyone's always called me "champ." At the end of the day, I should have been the champion of IMPACT Wrestling years ago.

On whether winning the IMPACT World Championship feels as good as he thought it would:

Sami Callihan: It's somewhat of a validation of my career, but it's just the start of things. I'm a very goal-oriented person. This is one goal, now we're onto the next goal. I'm never complacent looking back on what I've done. It's all about what I'm going to do.

On Tessa Blanchard ruining his championship celebration:

Sami Callihan: I'm sick of hearing about Tessa Blanchard. She's a spoiled little brat who came out and ruined my moment because she wanted to make herself famous off the name of The Draw. If Tessa Blanchard gets in the ring with me again, I'm just going to embarass her and make sure she leaves IMPACT Wrestling because I'm sick of her...

It's always about Tessa. Tessa, Tessa, Tessa. I'm sick of hearing about Tessa at this point. You have the World Champion on your line right now and you want to talk about Tessa Blanchard right now? There's a thousand things I'd rather talk about right now than Tessa Blanchard.