>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY THE P MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

MJN NEW JERSEY GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ.

A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEA, DISCUSSION AND INCITE.

ONLINE AT A INSIDERNJ.COM.

>>> HI EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO CHAT BOX.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WE'RE MAKING SHARP TWISTS AND TURNS THIS WEEK SO STRAP IN.

WE'RE GOING TO EXAM THE INTERSECTION OF HIP HOP AND JAZZ AND PREVIEW THE TD MOODY JAZZ AND LOOK AT THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FROM AN ALTERNATIVE ANGLE.

THAT'S COMING UP IN A BIT.

WE BEGIN WITH THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.

DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCING HIS BID FOR PRESIDENT.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS TO REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY WITH SOMEONE WHOSE BUSINESS IT IS TO ELECT REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY AND BEYOND.

THE COFOUNDER OF CHECKMAKE STRATEGIES.

CHRIS RUSSELL THANK YOU FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES WITH US.

>> THANK YOU DAVID.

>> I WANT TO TALK A ABOUT DONALD TRUMP BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S MIDTERMS.

IN NEW JERSEY YOUR GUY PUT UP MORE OF A FIGHT.

BOB HEELEY WAS YOUR GUY.

PUT UP MORE OF A FIGHT THAN PEOPLE EXPECTED.

PRETTY MUCH CIPHERING TO ONE SEAT THAT TOM CANE WON WHO WHAT KIND OF NIGHT WAS IT FOR REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY?

IS THERE SOMETHING BEYOND THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS THAT HAS YOU GUYS FEELING GOOD?

>> IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING NIGHT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE RAN HARD CAMPAIGNS BUT THE MATH THE DEMOCRATS GERRYMANDER EARLY IN THE YEAR HELD UP AND DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD DO.

I THINK THERE IS CERTAINLY A BELIEF THERE'S MORE OF A RED WAVE POTENTIAL OUT THERE THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED.

SENATOR CAIN WON HIS RACE GREAT FOR THE PARTY WE PICK UP A SEAT.

A DISAPPOINTING NIGHT TO BE A NINE THREE MAP AN LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF A NINE THREE MAP FOR PERHAPS A DECADE.

THE PARTY NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GO FORWARD.

>> WAS THERE ANYTHING ON THE COUNTY LEVEL THAT GAVE YOU GUYS REASON TO THINK THAT THE REPUBLICAN PROGRESS IS CONTINUING IN NEW JERSEY?

>> CUMBERLAND COUNTY BECAME REPUBLICAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

1981, I BELIEVE.

IT'S A BIG ONE FOR REPUBLICANS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

WE CONTINUE TO MAKE STRIDES IN SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IS LOOKING BACK AT 2021.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ROAD MAP FOR US.

WE PICKED UP SEVEN LEGISLATIVE SEATS.

MADE BIG GAINS LAST YEAR AT COUNTY AND LOCAL LEVEL.

THE 2021 MOMENTUM, WHICH WE HAVE TO FIND AGAIN IN 23.

>> HERE YOU ARE SPEAKING OF 2023.

LEGISLATIVE RACES, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE UP.

YOU HAVE A MAP THAT'S KIND OF DRAWN IN YOUR FAVOR TO GAIN SOME SEAT AND HOPEFULLY SOME PEOPLE ARE DREAMING OF FLIPPING ONE OR BOTH HOUSES.

IN TO THIS POTENTIAL GREAT YEAR FOR YOU GUYS, YOU GET DONALD TRUMP, PERHAPS THE MOST POLARIZING AND MOST MOTIVATING FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> LISTEN, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRUMP ERA IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

GOOD THINGS HAPPENED.

RIS SPANNIC VOTERS COME TOWARD REPUBLICANS, BLUE COLLAR VOTERS.

AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS HIGHEST PERCENTAGE FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHEN HE RAN.

IF YOU LOOK IN NEW JERSEY HE'S NOT THE PERSON AT THE TOP OF OUR TICKET OR PEOPLE CLOSE THEIR EYES AND THINK OF REPUBLICANS.

WHEN THEY THINK OF DONALD TRUMP THAT'S NOT A GREAT THING FOR NEW JERSEY REPUBLICANS.

IN 21, I'M BIAS, BUT JACK DID BETTER IN RED COUNTIES AND BLUE COUNTIES IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE AND HELPED HAVE A COAT TAILS AFFECT.

WE NEED THAT KIND OF APPROACH IN THE PARTY HERE.

THAT MEANS A BIG TEN.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED TRUMP.

PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE AS SUPPORTIVE FOR REPUBLICANS.

WE'RE NOT WINNING IF WE'RE DIVIDED.

POLITICIANS IS ADDITION NOT SUBTRACTION.

>> YOU HAD JACK SAY A FEW WEEKS AGO IT WAS TOO WHITE.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BROADENING THE TENT.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> GO PLACES REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T GONE.

THAT'S THE KEY, AS A WHOLE.

TO LOOP BACK TO TRUMP HE DID SOME OF THAT.

HE WENT IN TO CITIES AND TALKED TO HISPANIC VOTERS.

WHEN EVERYONE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET LESS BLACK AND BROWN SUPPORT HE GOT MORE.

THE PARTY HERE WOULD BE WELL WISE TO DO THAT.

AS A PARTY NOT JUST FOCUS ON ELECTION TIME BUT DO IT YEAR AROUND.

DO IT THROUGHOUT THE TIME.

WE'RE NOT GOING WIN HERE UNLESS WE BROADEN OUR COALITION.

THAT MEANS REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN REPUBLICANS.

BUT ALSO MEANS REPUBLICANS NOT APPLYING LITMUS TESTS TO EACH OTHER ON EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.

WE NEED A BIG TEN TO WIN.

>> YOU HAVE DISTINCT SIDES IN YOUR PARTY NOW.

HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THOSE DIVIDE AND WAS THERE A MESSAGE FOR EITHER SIDE OF NEW JERSEY REPUBLICANS COMING OUT OF LAST TUESDAY'S RESULTS?

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF WE WANT TO WIN WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND BROADEN.

BEING NARROW MINDED OR MYOPIC AND MAKING THIS THE PARTY OF ONE PERSON ISN'T GOING TO BE HOW WE SUCCEED.

WE HAVE TO BROADEN OUR REACH.

REPUBLICANS NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COME TOGETHER.

IF YOU AGREE WITH PEOPLE ON 80% OF SOMETHING, 70% OF SOMETHING I ARGUE THEY ARE 70% YOUR FRIEND NOT 30% YOUR ENEMY.

WE NEED THAT APPROACH.

THAT'S HOW WE REACH INDEPENDENTS.

THAT'S HOW WE REACH DEMOCRATS WHO MAY BE LOOKING TO TRADE THEIR PARTY, WHICH HAS HAPPENED HERE.

REPUBLICAN REGISTRATION GROWTH EXCEEDED DEMOCRAT REGISTRATION IN THE STATE.

WE ARE FAR BEHIND BUT THERE'S POSITIVE MOMENTUM.

WE NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT.

>> YOU HAVE A FORMER PRESIDENT WHO DEMANDS LOYALTY.

YOU'VE ALREADY GOT SOME NEW JERSEY REPUBLICANS WHO ARE LINING UP BEHIND HIM.

STILL OTHER, EVEN THE STATE CHAIRMAN, WAS NOT COMMITTAL SAYING THERE COULD BE A LOT OF CANDIDATES.

HOW DO YOU AVOID TRUMP SUCKING ALL THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE PLAYING FIELD FOR NEW JERSEY REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE FIELD OF CANDIDATES.

I THINK ANYONE -- LISTEN PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT THAT'S UP TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

THE PARTY WOULD BE WISE TO HOLD OFF AND WAIT TO SEE HOW THINGS DEVELOP.

WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET WE DID POORLY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HERE ARE OPEN TO OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD AND LET THAT FIELD DEVELOP BEFORE PEOPLE JUMP ON THE BAND WAGON ANYWHERE.

>> WUF TOM CAIN WHO WON A TOUGH SEAT.

DEMOCRATS ARE TARGETING HIM ALREADY IN 24.

WHAT DOES TOM CAIN HAVE TO DO?

HE'S GOT A TIGHT ROPE TO WALK, DOESN'T HE, GOING FORWARD?

>> CERTAINLY.

I THINK HE'LL DO A GREAT JOB.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO FIND WAYS AND IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING WITH A NARROW MAJORITY IN CONGRESS FOR REPUBLICANS.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A WAY.

THERE WILL BE TIMES HE'LL BREAK WITH HIS PARTY.

I THINK HE'LL DO THAT.

CONGRESSMAN CAIN I KNOW HIM WELL.

HE'S A GOOD MACHBLT HE'LL UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT DISTRICT.

I'M SURE THE DEMOCRATS WILL COME AT HIM HARD IN TWO YEARS.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB AND SECURE HIS REELECTION.

>> CAIN IS ALSO A McCARTHY MAN.

WHAT'S THE DANGER OF THAT?

KEVIN McCARTHY WAS THERE WHEN TOM CAIN LAUNCHED.

I THINK WHEN YOU AND I SPOKE ON ELECTION DAY YOU SAID, NOBODY DOES ANY GOOD IF ALL WE'RE DOING IS INVESTIGATING HUNTER BIDEN AN TRYING TO IMPEACH JOE BIDEN COME THE NEW TERM.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND STANDBY THAT.

I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE CONGRESSMAN CAIN FOCUSED ON THAT.

HE'LL BE FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY, TAX RELIEF, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION.

THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE BREAD AND BUTTER FOR REPUBLICANS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES WE WIN.

WHEN WE LET THINGS GET IN TO NATIONAL PARTISAN PUT YOUR JERSEY ON AND DON'T TAKE IT OFF BRAND WE LOSE.

WE HAVE TO BROADEN THAT APPEAL AND I THINK HE'LL DO A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

SEE YOU SOON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S FUN TO TAKE A BREAK FROM POLITICS AND IF POSSIBLE TALK ABOUT JAZZ.

WE WILL TODAY WITH THE MOODY JAZZ FEST HAPPENING IN NEWARK.

ONE EVENT IS CALLED REPRESENT.

A NIGHT OF JAZZ, HIP HOP AND SPOKEN WORD.

IT TAKES PLACE THIS WEEKEND AND GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO TWO OF THE PERFORMERS.

SPEECH IS THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING COFOUNDER OF ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT AND CHRISTIAN McBRIDE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING BASSIST, REPORTER AND SERVES AS JAZZ ADVISOR.

CHRISTIAN, SPEECH, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS INTERSECTION OF JAZZ AND HIP HOP AND SPOKEN WORD, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THE TD JAMES MOODY JAZZ FEST THIS WEEK.

LET'S START WITH THE EVENT THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP.

IT'S CALLED REPRESENT.

LET ME START WITH YOU CHRISTIAN.

>> BACK IN 2019, MY BAND DID A DOUBLE BILL AT MJ PACK WITH THE ROOTS.

WE ALL GREW UP TOGETHER IN PHILLY, QUEST LOVE, BLACK THOUGHT AND MYSELF ARE ALL BEST FRIENDS FROM BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL DAYS.

AFTER THAT CONCERT WAS OVER, EVERYONE JUST KIND OF COLLECTIVELY LOOKED AROUND AND SAID I THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING HERE.

THE WHOLE CROSS SECTIONS BETWEEN JAZZ AND HIP HOP HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO VERY, VERY CLOSE.

I THINK IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF OLDER JAZZ FANS TO EMBRACE THAT.

JAZZ AND HIP HOP HAVE HAD A CONNECTION GOING BACK, AT LEAST, 30 YEARS, IF NOT MORE.

I THINK NOW IS THE TIME WHERE WE CAN FINALLY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND HAVE A CONCERT LIKE THIS AND PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND JAZZ AND HIP HOP REALLY ARE VERY CLOSELY KNIT TOGETHER.

ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF IMPROVISATION, RHYTHM, STREET SMARTS, INTELLIGENCE, IT'S ALL A PART OF THE SAME TREE.

>> I FEEL LIKE ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT BACK IN 1992 OR 93 OR SO, WAS ALMOST A PROTOTYPE OF THAT.

>> AMEN.

>> I THINK SO.

THE TRUTH IS WITH US WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN INFLUENCED BY JAZZ, WITHOUT A QUESTION.

THE REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT OF IT.

THE FREEDOM SPIRIT OF IT.

THE LIBERATION SPIRIT OF IT HAS ALWAYS INFLUENCED US, NOT TO MENTION THE MUSIC.

>> THAT IS NOT THE TREND IN HIP HOP TODAY, IS IT?

IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THAT PERIOD QUEST AND THAT KIND OF JAZZ INFLUENCED HIP HOP.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS SOME TIME AGO.

WAS IT JUST COMMERCIAL RADIO THAT IS PLAYING THE HIP HOP THAT WE HEAR TODAY AND THAT SOMEWHERE THIS JAZZ HIP HOP FUSION IS FLOURISHING SOMEWHERE?

>> YEAH.

IT DEFINITELY IS HAPPENING ON THE UNDERGROUND.

I'LL EVEN SAY IN THE MAINSTREAM.

IF YOU LISTEN TO A LOT OF THE RHYTHMS OF THE RHYMES IN TODAY'S HIP HOP IT STILL WILL BE REM ANY OF SCAT AND THE HORN.

IT'S STILL HAPPENING IN MAINSTREAM TODAY BUT PROBABLY NOT AS MUSICALLY AS IT USE TO BE IN THE LATE '80S AND '90S, THE GOLDEN ERA OF HIP HOP.

>> CHRISTIAN YOU SEE THAT?

>> YEAH.

I FEEL LIKE THE REAL SERIOUS HIP HOP.

THE HIP HOP THAT REAL MUSICIAN HEADS AND REAL HIP HOP MUSICIANS HAVE PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE TREND.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE WHAT YOU HEAR ON COMMERCIAL RADIO BUT I THINK JAZZ INFLUENCE HIP HOP HAS ALWAYS EXISTED.

THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN HOT BUT EXISTED.

>> FACTS.

FACTS.

>> HE THEMATICALLY THOUGH, AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUD.

I FEEL THEMATICALLY HIP HOP LAST ITS WAY, MAINSTREAM HIP HOP.

AM I BEING AN OLD MAN?

>> HIP HOP HAS BECOME MORE CORPORATE AND THAT MADE IT LOSE A LOT OF ITS MAINSTREAM IMPACT.

IN THE LATE '80S AND EARLY '90s IT WASN'T AS CORPORATE.

WE WERE ACTUALLY BREAKING RECORDS.

TODAY THE BIG MACHINE IS MAKING MAINSTREAM HIP HOP EXIST.

IT'S CORPORATION, IT'S BIG LABEL AND THE ARTISTS THEMSELVES HAVE TAKEN ON A CORPORATE MINDSET WHERE IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY AND LESS ABOUT THE ART.

YOU HAVE THAT HAPPENING ON THE MAINSTREAM.

AS CHRISTIAN WAS SAYING, I WOULDN'T NEGATE THE FACT THERE'S LITERALLY EVERYBODY ELSE.

THERE'S ONLY A VERY FEW THAT'S MAKING IT POP ON THE MAINSTREAM.

EVERYBODY ELSE IS STILL VERY MUCH REM INISCENT OF JAZZ AND INSPIRATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> DO YOU SEE THAT, TOO?

I'M JUST BEING AN OLD MAN.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY YOU'RE BEING AN OLD MAN.

I WILL SAY I CAN REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION EXACTLY 30 YEARS AGO WHEN GANGSTER RAP STARTED GETTING HOT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THAT GROUPS LIKE ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT AND TRIBE CALLED QUEST, BLACK SHEEP.

ALL THESE GROUPS THAT WERE USING JAZZ SAMPLES AND HAVING JAZZ INFLUENCES WHEN THE WHOLE GANGSTER RAP SCENE CAME AROUND.

EVERYBODY SAID HIP HOP LOST ITS WAY.

IF YOU GO BACK BEFORE THAT YOU COULD SAY PEOPLE SAID R AND B LOST ITS WAY WHEN DISCO GOT HOT.

PEOPLE SAY JAZZ LOST ITS WAY IN THE '60S WHEN A VON GUARD GOT HOT.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOME ARC IN ANY STYLE OF MUSIC.

YOU KNOW WHEN BOB DYLAN PICKED UP AN ELECTRIC GUITAR AND HIS FOLK FANS STARTED BOOING HIM.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOME SORT OF SHIFT IN EVERY SO-CALLED GENRE OF MUSIC THAT'S A TURNING POINT WHERE PEOPLE GO, THAT'S IT.

BUT SOMETHING GOOD ALWAYS COMES OUT OF THAT OR THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD THAT NO ONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO UNDERNEATH ALL THAT.

>> ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS JAZZ.

JAZZ IS THE PROGRESS OF THAT MUSIC.

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE IN THAT?

YOU'RE INVOLVED IT IN EVERY DAY AS A PROGRAMMER AND PRODUCER, ALL THAT STUFF.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF JAZZ' DIRECTION TODAY?

>> I THINK JAZZ IS JUST AS DIVERSE AND AS WIDESPREAD, IN TERMS OF STYLES AND FLEXIONS AND INFLUENCES, AS IT'S EVER BEEN.

YOU CAN FIND SOME YOUNG MUSICIANS ON THE SCENE TODAY DOING SOME VERY TRADITIONAL STRAIGHT AHEAD.

YOU CAN FIND SOME MUSICIAN WHO IS ARE, SORT OF, EXPERIMENTING AND TOYING WITH SOME SOUNDS AND SOME TEXTURES IN THE MIDDLE.

MAYBE A LITTLE MORE PROGRESSIVE MIXED IN WITH TRADITIONAL.

YOU HAVE SOME MUSICIAN WHO IS ARE COMPLETELY EXPERIMENTAL.

FREE JAZZ IS STILL VERY MUCH A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE JAZZ COMMUNITY.

MUSICIANS WHO ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH BEATS AND PRODUCTION AND HIP HOP AND ROCK, EDM, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

>> SPEECH ARE YOU THE SAME KIND OF JAZZ HEAD TODAY, AS YOU SAID 54, AS YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNGSTER STARTING OUT ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT?

HOW HAS YOUR TASTE IN JAZZ EVOLVED, IF IT HAS?

>> FOR ME IT HASN'T TOO MUCH EVOLVED IT'S JUST REMAINED STEADFAST.

FOR ME I LOVE THE BLUE NOTE TYPE JAZZ AND, I GUESS, MAYBE SOME CALL IT TRADITIONAL JAZZ.

FOR ME I ALWAYS WAS IN TO THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

IT ALWAYS INSPIRES ME.

IT ALWAYS OPENS UP MY MIND AND STILL DOES TO THIS DAY.

IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF DECADES NOW I'VE BEEN ON THAT TIP.

>> FOR SURE THE ONE CONSTANT IS THE EVOLUTION OF JAZZ AND HIP HOP AND SPOKEN WORD.

GREAT TO TALK TO YOU BOTH.

CHRISTIAN McBRIDE, SPEECH GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> ANY TIME.

>> THE FINAL PIVOT TAKES US TO THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING WHERE A NEWARK KID RETURNS TO THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER.

WELCOME TO CHAT BOX ANTHONY BOWENS.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU AS A JERSEY GUY.

YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA NOW.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM IN NEW JERSEY, ORIGINALLY?

>> I GREW UP IN NEWARK AND GRADUATED FROM NETLY IN 2008.

>> YOU WERE A BASEBALL PLAYER.

EVIDENTLY A PRETTY GOOD BALLPLAYER, NO?

>> YEAH.

IN '08 I WAS ALL STATE GROUP TWO, ALL CONFERENCE, ALL A AREA, ALL COUNTY.

WENT ONTO PLAY AT THE UNIVERSITY AND TRANSFERRED TO STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE I GRADUATED AND SWITCHED TO WRESTLING.

>> TALK ABOUT HOW SOMEONE GOES FROM, TECHNICALLY, NON-CONTACT SPORT TO THE CONTACT SPORT?

WHERE IN YOUR MIND DID YOU TURN FROM A BASEBALL PLAYER TO PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER AND HOW DOES THAT CHANGE IN HOW YOU PREPARE, PHYSICALLY?

>> I PLAYED BASEBALL ELEVEN YEARS.

MY FINAL YEAR IN COLLEGE I WAS PLAYING THROUGH A LOT OF PAIN.

COLLEGE BASEBALL TOOK THE FUN OUT OF EVERYTHING.

IT FELT LIKE A LOT OF TIMES I WAS PLAYING SOLELY FOR THE COACH'S WIN AND LOSS RECORD OPPOSED TO THE FUN IN THE GAME.

THAT KIND OF RUINED THINGS FOR ME.

I WASN'T HAPPY ON THE FIELD.

I WAS IN PAIN.

I LEFT THAT AND WENT TO A FIELD THAT HAS AN A INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PAIN, WHICH IS IRONIC.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A WRESTLING FAN.

THE SEED WAS PLANTED THE NIGHT BEFORE.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT HURRICANE.

IT WAS IN 2011 WHERE MY FRIEND WRS ABOUT TO MOVE IN TO COLLEGE AND THE HURRICANE SHUT THAT DOWN SO WE WERE STUCK INDOORS.

THEY WERE LIKE, MY BUDDY IS LIKE LET'S MAKE A WRESTLING VIDEO.

IT ENDED UP BEING THIS BACKYARD COMEDY THING WHERE WE BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF EACH OTHER AND A HAD CHARACTERS.

IT CAUGHT ON LOCALLY A BIT ON YOUTUBE.

WE MADE A YOUTUBE SERIES OUT OF IT.

THE FEEDBACK I KEPT GETTING IS YOU LOOK LIKE A WRESTLER.

THAT'S WHERE THE SEED WRS FIRST PLANTED.

THEN I WENT TO A WRESTLING SHOW ON MY 21st BIRTHDAY.

I WAS JUST IN AWE OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND HOW EMOTIONALLY INVESTED THE PEOPLE WERE.

I THOUGHT I WANT TO DO THAT AND I WANT TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME WAY.

I DECIDED I WANTED TO PURSUE IT.

>> I GO BACK TO THE ERA OF PEDRO AND BRUNO WRESTLERS WHERE ALL YOU HAD TO BE WAS A BIG GUY.

NOW YOU GUYS ARE IN TREMENDOUS SHAPE.

HOW DOES THE TRAINING CHANGE FROM BASEBALL TO WRESTLING?

>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU IT'S A LOT OF THE SAME IN TERMS OF CARDIOVASCULAR STUFF.

WE WERE POUNDED IN COLLEGE WITH CARDIO AND RUNNING AND SPRINTS.

I DO PRETTY MUCH A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS.

WRESTLING IS VERY DIFFERENT BREED.

IT IS MUCH, MUCH TOUGHER IN GENERAL THAN A LOT OF OTHER SPORTS IN TERMS OF CARDIO.

YOU ARE RUNNING BACK AND FORTH.

YOU'RE BOUNCING OFF THE ROPES.

YOU'RE GETTING SLAMMED.

GET THE WIND KNOCKED OUT OF YOU THEN YOU HAVE TO GET BACK UP AND PUNCH SOMEBODY AND PICK UP SOMEBODY AND SLAM THEM YOURSELF.

IT'S ALL KINDS OF CARDIO AND STRENGTH TRAINING COMBINED IN TO ONE.

IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

>> THERE'S THE CHOREOGRAPHY INVOLVED.

BASEBALL YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM INNING TO INNING AND PITCH TO PITCH.

THERE'S CHOREOGRAPHY INVOLVED WHICH MAKES PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING MORE INTENSE.

>> THEY SAY THE HARDEST THING TO DO IN SPORTS IS HIT A FAST BALL AT 98 MILES PER HOUR.

I'VE DONE THAT MULTIPLE TIMES.

IT'S VERY HARD.

BUT THIS, BY FAR, HAS BEEN THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE.

HARDEST THING TO PERFECT.

I TRY EVERY DAY TO KEEP IT GETTING BETTER.

>> VERY FEW PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ARE OUT.

YOU CAME OUT AND ARE IN A BUSINESS WHERE ONE WOULD THINK HAVING SEEN THE HISTORY OF HOW GAY CHARACTERS ARE TREATED IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING THIS WOULD BE DOUBLY TOUGH.

YOUR EXPERIENCE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

>> IT WAS TOUGH FROM A MENTAL STANDPOINT.

WRESTLING WAS THE LAST THING KEEPING ME IN THE CLOSET.

I CAME OUT TO MY BEST FRIEND AND FAMILIES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THE ONE THING THAT KEPT ME IF THE CLOZ EL WAS WRESTLING.

I WASN'T SURE HOW FANS WOULD REACT OR OTHER WRESTLERS WOULD REACT.

WOULD I HAVE TO DEFEND MYSELF IN THE RING.

WOULD IT PUT ME IN SCENARIOS WHERE I WAS IN DANGER.

THERE WAS A LOT IN MY HEAD THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT SITUATION YOU CREATE THINGS IN YOUR HEAD AND THE FEAR STARTS TO OVERWHELM AND CONSUME YOU.

THERE WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT WHAT MY CAREER WOULD BE IF I DID SAY SOMETHING.

THANKFULLY, I HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM AND FROM EVERY ANGLE POSSIBLE.

MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND WHEN I DID COME OUT MY FANS, COWORKER, OTHER WRESTLERS.

I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY.

IT'S THE BEST DECISION I MADE AND NOW I GET TO, HOPEFULLY, HELP OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION NOT GO THROUGH WHAT I DID.

>> DO YOU FEEL A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY AS AN OUT ATHLETE TO MAKE IT EASIER?

SET A STANDARD FOR OTHER ATHLETES WHO MAY BE THINKING OF COMING OUT?

>> I DO.

I THINK ANYBODY THAT'S OUT NOW WHETHER YOU'RE ON TV OR WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE INDEPENDENTS.

WE'RE ALL KIND OF CARVING A PATH AND BLAZING A TRAIL FOR OTHER OUT CLOSET ATHLETES IN THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT OR PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING OR WHATEVER WE'RE DOING CAREER WISE.

I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY QUITE HIGHLY AND THINK IT'S AN HONOR I GET TO GO OUT AND REPRESENT EVERYONE LIKE THAT EVERY WEEK ON TELEVISION.

>> A BIG SHOW THIS WEEKEND.

BACK IN YOUR HOME CITY.

THE CITY OF YOUR BIRTH.

TELL US ABOUT THE CARD THAT'S COMING UP AT THE PRUDENTIAL THIS WEEK.

>> A BIG PAY-PER-VIEW THIS WEEKEND AT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER 8:00 P.M. LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW AND SELECT THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I'M DEFENDING ONE HALF OF THE TAG TEAM CALLED THE ACCLAIM.

WE ARE THE AW CHAMPIONS AND WILL DEFEND THE TITLES IN FRONT OF MY HOMETOWN CROWD.

I GROUP TEN MINUTES FOR THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER.

I HOPEFULLY HAVE A HUGE SUPPORT SYSTEM GOING IN THERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A JAM-PACKED NIGHT FULL OF ACTION.

THE SHOW USUALLY HAS A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

IF YOU LIKE HARDCORE WRESTLING, FAST-PACED WRESTLING OR STORY TELLING THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING.

>> PAY BACK IS COMING.

BRICK CITY STYLE.

THANKS.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT'S CHAT BOX FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU TO CHRIS RUSSELL, SPEECH AND CHRISTIAN McBRIDE.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AT DAVID CRUZ NJ AND SEE CHAT BOX AND REPORTERS ROUND TABLE FIRST WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

WE ARE OFF NEXT WEEK FOR THE HOLIDAY.

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.

I'M DAVID CRUZ FROM THE ENTIRE CREW HERE AT 2 GATEWAY CENTER IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

MJN INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ.

A LITTLE INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEA, DISCUSSION AND INCITE.