Frankie Kazarian on His TNA World Title Victory & Winning His First World Title at Age 48, Having Some “Really Good Conversations” with WWE Before TNA Return in 2023, Wrestling Career Future

A recent episode of the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast featured current TNA World Champion Frankie Kazarian as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Kazarian’s thoughts about his TNA World title victory on the November 13, 2025 episode of TNA Impact and fans being upset over Mike Santana’s very brief title reign.

“Good. You know, it’s show business. Sometimes the Joker beats Batman, sometimes the bad guy wins. What matters to me is that they’re angry, and that tells me that they care, tells me that they’re paying attention.”

Kazarian also gave his thoughts about his character’s decision to take advantage of Santana while he was down to cash in his Call Your Shot trophy.

“From a character standpoint, why would I not go after a wounded animal when I see one? That’s kind of bad guy 101. We’re still in the storytelling business, and the business has evolved and gotten rather complex, but at the end of the day, it’s still kind of black hat versus white hat. At least that’s the way I approach it.”

Kazarian also gave his thoughts about him winning his first World championship in his wrestling career at the age of 48 and how he used to think he would never win a World title.

“Absolutely. I mean, there was a time early on, like 2007-ish, where I was kind of on the come-up as a singles babyface, getting some good matches, and had a lot of good momentum. But just seeing who was above me on the ladder was like, just don’t think it’s going to happen for me. I will say, at the time, from an in-ring standpoint, I think I was a very good wrestler. I don’t think I had developed my personality and promo skills to what you need to be a World Champion. Then years went by and kind of became a fleeting thought, it’s just not going to ever happen. But I always like to say this, dreams do not have an expiration date. So, 48 years old or 28 years old, doesn’t matter. I got the job done.”

Kazarian also gave his thoughts about how he had some really good conversations with WWE for a potential contract following his release from AEW and prior to his return to TNA in 2023.

“Had some conversations with WWE. They were very, very gracious, and some really good conversations with them too.

There were conversations, but logistically, it probably wasn’t gonna work. I wasn’t a signature away, but there were a lot of really good conversations.”

Kazarian also gave his thoughts about the future of his wrestling career and him having “too much fun” right now to consider a retirement.

“I get asked that a lot, especially now because my peers and my friends are [retiring] or already have retired. Christopher Daniels isn’t doing this anymore, which is still blowing my mind, you know? Because he’s a little bit older than me, but he still looks incredible and he was still working at a high level. Old pal John Cena’s had maybe the best run ever and he’s finishing up. AJ [Styles] has made it known that he’s finishing up.

When this all started to happen, I started to think like, ‘Man, is my hourglass — how’s it looking?’ But, dude, I feel better than I have any right to feel. I’m in the best shape of my career. And I think I’m having the very best matches of my career. And I’m on top of my game from a character standpoint, and I’m having way too much fun. So, you know, I can’t really put a timetable on it.

I do want to get out once I start slowing down, once I can’t be Frankie Kazarian,” he said. “One thing I’m very proud of right now is that I’m not not doing anything that I did 20 years ago. I was always very smart about having a style that could be sustainable. So like, when you see Frankie Kazarian, it’s not a parody of what I was doing in 2003 in the X-Division. I’m still doing that same stuff.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com 1, 2, & 3, F4WOnline.com