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RAMPAGE JACKSON, DIXIE CARTER & MORE DISCUSS JACKSON'S NEW DEAL WITH SPIKE, TNA & BELLATOR: FULL TRANSCRIPT

Operator: We'll go next to Steve Juon with Wrestling Observer.

Steve Juon: Thank you operator. My first question is for Bjorn Rebney. It was widely reported yesterday that Cheick Kongo signed with Bellator -- a teammate of Rampage's at Wolfslair. Can you confirm that for us?

Bjorn Rebney: No, he has not. Very talented fighter, great personality, fun to watch fight. I've watched him fight for years. But he has not signed with Bellator.

Steve Juon: All right. Thank you. Are any other Wolfslair fighters then coming in -- if not Kongo? Any others that Rampage is teammates with?

Bjorn Rebney: Yes, I mean, you know, part of the magic of this relationship is that I got to spend literally months working with the team at Wolfslair. And they've got a terrific stable of talent. And you're going to see some announcements coming out in the future literally in the next couple weeks about more Wolfslair talent that's going to be coming into Bellator.

We've got some big things. Kevin and I have got some big things happening in the U.K. -- some huge things happening in the U.K. that we're really excited about that we'll be announcing in short order as well. And Wolfslair obviously is a main stay on the U.K. MMA scene and is one of the preeminent forces there. So there will be a collection of Wolfslair fighters coming over here.

Steve Juon: All right, cool. Once more question for you, and then I'll go to somebody else on the line. I wanted to know with the change in Impact Wrestling moving back to 9:00 pm Eastern, we've heard about the strategic synergy with everybody on the line talking about Bellator, Spike, Impact working together. Obviously this changes when Bellator's going to be able to air live. So what was the decision making on that, and do you know when the new night will be for Bellator MMA?

Kevin Kay: I'll take that one. No, you know, we know when the June 19 fight is and the July 31 fight is and the September 7 fight are. But beyond that we're just still evaluating and assessing, you know, where - what is going to be the best night.

There's a lot of competition out there, and we felt it was important to move Impact back to 9 o'clock for the summer and going forward. So you know, it's a better time slot, you know, for Impact. It's it's old time slot. So we still have some work to do there. We'll probably announce that shortly.

Steve Juon: All right. Thanks, Kevin. And Dixie, I want to congratulate you on the success of Slammiversary.

And since Rampage is making his debut on Impact Wrestling tomorrow night, I just wanted to know do you think he's going to immediately be involved in the Aces and Eights scenario, or do you think he'll be like a lone wolf -- no pun intended.

Dixie Carter: I wouldn't mind if he came in and took them out. But no, I think you'll have to stay tuned and find out. You know, I wanted to comment on something too about, you know, the two worlds. I mean I've got three ways of getting new talent myself and that's from the WWE, a free agent such as Rampage, or develop somebody that takes years and years to do.

And, you know, so we're faced with that same challenge, and so he's going to be coming in on Thursday like you said. And - but he's got a lot of training to do. You know, he has a huge commitment that he's made to me and this sport to take it seriously. But I know when he does come in it will be in a big way.

Steve Juon: All right, well that leads to my question for Rampage. And first of all I wanted to ask him when we talked in January in Chicago he said that he felt that the fans never embraced him fully in UFC. So to Rampage, do you feel this is a fresh start for you? Do you think now that the fans will see you on Spike again that they'll really get behind you and Bellator and Impact?

Quinton Jackson: Well, you know, I come to UFC as a outsider. It's no secret to me that the UFC only signed me for that Chuck Liddell fight back in the day. And the people that really know me know I was like a very fan friendly guy until I kind of like went to the UFC and it kind of, you know, dulled my senses to a lot of fans when they booed me for knocking a guy out and egged my house and stuff like that, you know what I'm saying.

It's kind of like - it's kind of hard to swallow sometimes when, you know, you have a passion for a sport and the main objective is to, you know what I'm saying, knock someone out and you do that and you get so much you know negativity from it.

And over the years, you know, since I did The Ultimate Fighter and stuff like that the fans got to know me, got to know my personality, and see what type of person I am. And a lot of fans they meet me and stuff like that they're cool. They're really cool people.

So you can't punish like, you know what I'm saying, all the fans for a few negative people and stuff like that. You know, me going over here to Bellator and stuff like that, you know, I'm hoping to, you know what I'm saying, get to know the these fans. And I'm assuming most of the fans are the same in the MMA fans. I'm a MMA fan. I watch whatever ((inaudible)).

So, you know what I'm saying, I'm not, you know what I'm saying, - I don't know really how to answer your question. You know, the fans are fans. I love all my fans. But I don't love all MMA fans. Let's put it that way. And I keep it real on that. I love all my fans. I'll do anything for them, but, you know if a fan don't like me okay, you know what I'm saying. I'm still going to do my job to - and try to be one the most entertaining fighters out there no matter where I go.

And, you know what I'm saying, since I'm here at Bellator I like the deal. I ain't going nowhere else. So, you know what I'm saying, this is the last promotion I will ever fight for. And they better get used to me. If they don't like me oh well.

Steve Juon: Cool, and as a quick follow up are you going to be dividing your training time between Wolfslair and Ohio Valley Wrestling to get down the wrestling side, or are you going to do just all of one or all of the other?

Quinton Jackson: I'm going to do it all. I'm going to do both. It's like a lot of fans don’t understand this. But like sometimes you have a training camp. When I'm in training camp I set aside like two months to train for a fight. It's 12 months in a year. And the other time I can be gone and training for pro wrestling you know on my down time.

And that's actually good for me, because, you know sometimes after my fights, you know what I'm saying, I just go and just be a regular human being. I forget I'm even a athlete, and I just eat whatever I want and do whatever. And me staying and training that's good for me. Hopefully I look sexier around and get more ladies.

Steve Juon: Very much Rampage. And as a fellow June 20 Happy Birthday coming up.

Quinton Jackson: Thanks bro.

Dixie Carter: You too.

Steve Juon: Thank you.

Operator: We'll go next to Elias Cepeda with cagepotato.com.

Elias Cepeda: Thanks for having me on, and thanks for the time Rampage. And congratulations on the new deal. I got two questions for you. I remember interviewing you over the phone years ago near the end of your Pride run and then again after you had signed with the UFC.

And it strikes me that you sounded similar at that time to what you do now. You were kind of talking about how happy you were at UFC and how they helped you out a lot and stuff. And yet you left pretty disappointed obviously with them- - it sounds like. Does a part of you worry that this can happen again this time around or what's different about it this time?

Quinton Jackson: Well honestly like I remember when Dana first signed me and stuff like that and I was really excited about Pride. I was really disappointed in the way they treated, you know what I'm saying - they treated me really bad. Like a lot of stuff I was vociferous about and a lot of stuff I just kept to myself, you know what I'm saying.

That's the type of person I am, you know what I'm saying. But I am pretty much a open book. I do tell it how it is.

And then the beginning that's how it is with a lot of relationships. You know, you get a new girlfriend you're all happy, you're all made up, you're all making out and stuff all the time and stuff like that. And after a while, you know what I'm saying, - then it gets stale. You don't even tongue kiss her no more. You just give her a little peck on the check every now and then, you know what I'm saying.

And the UFC, you know, I was still around. But ever since I did that A-Team movie it like - it's like I cheated on them. And so, you know what I'm saying, and like over here like I don't see any way I can cheat on Bellator, because it seems like, you know what I'm saying, they're with Viacom. They got me all set up. You know what I'm saying, it's all in-house and stuff like that.

So - and I learned a lot from being in other organizations. And like Bjorn said it's kind of like we're partners and stuff like that. So it's like - these guys treat me really good. I'm telling you guys would be surprised. Now I don't know how much ya'll know about Bjorn but he gets it man. He understands. I just listen to him talk and stuff like that, and I been looking for a promoter like this guy for a long time. He gets it. He knows that he couldn't put the two Bellator logo hosts in a cage and have a bunch of people show up and watch the two Bellator logos go at it, you know what I'm saying.

I'm not going to say no names. But some people out there think that, you know what I'm saying, their logo is the shit. You know what I'm saying, people just come in and tune in for their logo. And that's not true. So I see me being happy with these guys for the rest of my career. Because, you know what I'm saying, I can just feel it. And you're right I was super happy when I went to the UFC. I've done a lot of favors for the UFC, and sometimes, you know what I'm saying, I didn't get my favors back to me.

Like sometimes you - like for instance like when I fought after I fought (?) that was a favorite that was a favor for them. If I would have loss that fight like after I fought Keith Jardine right after I fought (Vinales), that was a favor. It I would have loss that fight - like after I fought (Vinales) I was supposed to get a title fight right back. And they said, "Oh we need a favor. Come fight Keith Jardine for me." And I was like what if I lose. What about my title shot?

And then if you guys notice it took me years to even get a title shot back when they got a monster called John Jones the little grapevine looking tall dude that ain't nobody beating up like damn. This was my chance to be champion again and put me in with an unbeatable guy. That guy was one of the best fighters in my weight class.

And so, you know, it's like sometimes it's like, you know, it kind of like messes up the relationship then you just stop making out with your girlfriend. You just give her a kiss. Oh, good night baby. You get a kiss on the cheek. And that' s what it's like. But me and Bellator, we tongue kissing right now baby.

Elias Cepeda: The second question -- Quinton thanks for that answer -- I was wondering about all the, you know, - all this exciting stuff like you said they've been setting you up with a lot of cool stuff.

And certainly no longtime fan can argue that you haven't -- and a lot of guys like you -- earned that type of opportunity where you can make a living from doing something - some other things in addition to just fighting, because that's got to be a hell of a way to make a living -- the movies, you know, the TV show, pro wrestling, which that can't be easy on the body either.

But, you know, have all the opportunities you've earned that. But I'm curious since you're going to be fighting still do you worry at all that as you're doing working on all these other exciting stuff that maybe you won't have the focus once you do get back to it. Or and I'm sure you thought about that, and it's got to take a lot of focus to get in there and fight at a high level like you do. Do you - how are you sure that you'll be focused when it's time to fight in the way you need to?

Quinton Jackson: Well a lot of people misunderstand things.

Like people thought since I did a movie I wasn't focused on fighting no more. I turned to a superstar and, you know what I'm saying, I didn't want to fight no more and stuff like that. People always assumed things, and one thing that you misunderstanding is that I'm here to entertain people. I've done a lot in this sport ,and I come from the Pride generation where it's entertainment first.

So I know that realistically I probably won't win all my fights in Bellator. But I be damned if I won't entertain people. I'm going to come over and put on the most exciting fights.

As soon as American fans start understanding that - like two guys in a cage one guy has to lose. And when American fans understand that then you can really appreciate and respect MMA the way the Japanese fans and people from all over the world respect it. It's just Americans - like we have different way of thinking, you know what I'm saying. There's nothing wrong with that. We're just different from everybody else. But my main job is to entertain the fans.

How would you - would I have as many fans as I do now if I was the type of fighter who goes out there and play it safe and just make sure I win all my fights or, you know what I'm saying. I go out there - a lot of times I go out there and I try to do an exciting fight and I end up winning but, you know what I'm saying, times I could have lost. He came around to me and almost knocked me out. But that was an exciting fight, you know what I'm saying. You put it on the line.

Elias Cepeda: Yes.

Quinton Jackson: That's my style, you know what I'm saying. Like my name was given to me when I was a kid, because of the type of person that I am, you know what I'm saying. So that's my personality. So what I'm saying is I'm going to be very focused to get in the cage and make sure the fans are very entertained. And if I don't win, so be it. That's what I - those - my losses haunt me for the rest of my life. But the fans - as long as they're entertained it was a good fight, and I did my job. That's what I get paid to do - is to entertain the fans.

Elias Cepeda: Okay thanks a lot for the time. And all the best and congratulations.

Quinton Jackson: Thanks.

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