“Filthy” Tom Lawlor on MLW SuperFight, The MMA/Wrestling Connection & Why MLW is Home

On Saturday, November 2, Major League Wrestling will present their inaugural pay-per-view event, Saturday Night SuperFight, from Cicero Stadium in the Chicago suburbs on traditional PPV and live on FITE TV.

On the card, mixed martial artist and former MLW World Heavyweight Champion, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, will square off against the former (and longest-reigning) Evolve Champion, Timothy Thatcher. Recently, I had the pleasure of being involved with a conference call with the four-time UFC Performance of the Night recipient and learn a little bit more about being “Filthy.”

MLW has held events around the US and even a collaborative venture in Mexico with The Crash.  What’s his favorite venue or city to wrestle in?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: Everywhere. Virtually everywhere (I’m not going to say everywhere,) has been awesome as far as the venues and the fans. I’m going to tell you what my least favorite places were [laughing.] I wasn’t too thrilled with the way the set-up was in Miami. I think that there’s a fan base there that should have been at that show and, essentially, I think the venue itself was kind of the hold up. I hope that we can get back to Miami and get other venues. I’m a big fan of going to Florida. That’s MLW’s … not it’s [physical] home but it’s spiritual home. The show in Ft Lauderdale, the War Games show, was a great experience. I always love going to Orlando. It was my home for ten years and I’m pumped to be going back there, November 9, for the Blood & Thunder show. So, yeah, Orlando would be my answer.

You were called out by renowned grappler, Timothy Thatcher, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu specialist, Dominic Garrini.  How does it feel to be one of the top talents in MLW where guys are aching to get in the ring with you?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: It’s kind of a double-sided answer, I’m gonna have. Being at the top of the card in MLW is great but I’m at the top of the card. I’m not the champion. We saw what happened between myself and [Jacob] Fatu on multiple occasions. The first time, he was able to defeat me for the MLW title. The second time, I would have that title back if not for the interference of Josef Samael. It appears now, that I’ve got people calling me and that’s gonna divert my attention away from what I want and that’s the championship. When you’re the champion you have more opportunities.  You have a better shot at making more money through commercial sponsorships.

Now, I’ve got guys like Timothy Thatcher, guys who are legitimate athletes in their own right, trying to use me and my past credentials to elevate themselves in MLW.  I guess it’s comforting to know you can make your name off of me in the league. It’s also detrimental to myself. I mean, where’s the benefit for me? I mean, I should rightfully be the champion right now. I got stabbed in the back of the head with spike and then moonsaulted onto. 

And now I’m going to have my attention diverted by Tim Thatcher? Of course, great competitor. Awesome wrestler. Under virtually any other circumstances, I would love to have him challenge for a championship but that’s not what’s happening here. He’s calling me out and he wants to go to that next level.  He wants to get that title shot which is what I should be doing. So, like I said, it’s comforting. It makes you feel good that there are competitors out there who view me as who they aspire to be. But, at the same time, I’m not here for them. I’m not going to let anyone else make a name off of me. I’m here to elevate myself and really make sure that I’m at the top.  There’s only room for one person at the top of the game and it’s gonna be me. [Sings “It’s gonna be me” a la N*Sync and laughs.]

You have defeated the likes of Jake Hager, Sami Callihan, and Shane Strickland in the past. You’re a former MLW World Champion but, having been unsuccessful in your title rematch, you’re now set to take on Davey Boy Smith Jr. at Blood & Thunder.  What do you think a victory there would do in terms of your role as an MLW favorite?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: The match between myself and Davey Boy is one that MLW fans have been clamoring for a while.  If you look at the polls that are put out on Twitter, fans look forward to this fight. I believe that the people in the back, the other competitors, this is a battle they’re looking forward to.  Davey Boy’s not cut from the same cloth as Tim Thatcher and Dominic Garrini, guys who have called me out specifically by name. If he has, it’s been with respect and I view him as a very respectful competitor. I respect Davey Boy, as well. I respect what he’s done in the past, what he’s done in MLW, what he’s doing currently.

I’m sure that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in professional wrestling world for a long time to come but, on November 9, I really don’t care about any of that. I’ve been in there with guys who are bigger than him.  I’ve fought all across the world and in front of people I don’t know and, now, I’m going to be given an opportunity to showcase my skills.  [Davey Boy is] another very skilled competitor, someone who can match me in a lot of the talents that I bring. Davey Boy can match me submission-wise.  He may not have the striking repertoire or the speed and quickness that I have but he sure as hell can lay one in and knock anybody down. So, I’m looking as this as he’s someone who can challenge me, somebody who can challenge me in the skills that I’m the best at, and what that does is makes me better. 

Iron is forged under fire and, at Blood & Thunder, that’s what it’s gonna be. It’s gonna be a firefight. And I’m gonna be in front of a crowd of people that I’m comfortable with. I’m gonna be in front of friends, people I’ve competed against, coaches that have been with me throughout the past twenty years of my life.  You’re going to see the best Tom Lawlor that can be. It’s cool that Davey Boy’s the one across from me but, no matter who it is, there’s gonna be blood and thunder. In that ring.

With the likes of Cain Velasquez, Matt Riddle, Ronda Rousey, and others transitioning from the octagon to the squared circle, much like yourself, if you could bring anyone from UFC to MLW, who would you choose?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: If we’re talking “right now” who would I choose?  Good question. I think you’ve gotta take Stipe Miocic. Heavyweight champion. Why not? [He’s] The biggest, baddest man on the planet. [He’s] Defeated arguably the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Daniel Cormier, a two-division champion. Let’s take him. Let’s take the baddest man out there. You know, Cain Velasquez just showed up on Smackdown and, if we threw all these guys back into the octagon today…?  Cain may have beat Brock ten years ago but I don’t know about 2019 Cain beating 2019 Brock in the octagon and I don’t think either of them would be able to hold a candle to Stipe. Final answer.

With people with similar backgrounds in grappling and MMA, do you welcome that or see that as a challenge or both?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: It’s a challenge, of course, and that’s something I welcome. I love to get in there and wrestle with people who have a legitimate background, whether it be from amateur wrestling, catch wrestling like Tim Thatcher, Brazilian jiu jitsu like Dom Garrini. You’ve mentioned other guys. You’ve mentioned Matt Riddle. I’ve wrestled Matt Riddle … obviously an MMA background, amateur wrestling background. Jack Swagger. Jeff Cobb. We’ve had a number of different fighters and different martial arts make their way to MLW. And it’s always been something that I think is great. I’m not much of a high flyer, per se, and being able to do mat wrestling, being able to do submissions and lay in hard strikes with other guys to present a realistic fight-style of wrestling really appeals to me, at my heart, the most. 

Whenever I get a chance to wrestle a guy like Low-Ki who obviously knows his martial arts, or a guy like Jack Swagger or Matt Riddle, it was always great. Now, we have Tim Thatcher, Dominic Garrini, Douglas James, who is another great competitor from the jiu jitsu world who recently made his way to MLW. We have this new influx of styles and competitors and I’m excited. I’m pumped up to fight these guys and maybe that will be my future for a little bit. I’ve got Thatcher lined up.Obviously, he’s very legitimate. Davey Boy Smith, another guy with legitimate credentials. Dominic Garrini. Douglas James.  A lot of the luchadores that come up, and a lot of people don’t pay attention to this, they have great great submission skills and that’s not often thought of. It’s a challenge but, without that challenge, I’m not going to get any better.

MLW seems to be a good pairing for you. Why is that, in your opinion?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: I think it piggybacks off of what I was just talking about in that it’s a mix of different styles.  My wrestling style might not be a very traditional wrestling style to a lot of people. Not a lot of running the ropes and that sort of thing.  The more mat-based, striking-based style that I do isn’t the only thing in the cards. You get a little bit of that. You get a little lucha libre.  You get some hardcore action. I think that being able to dip my feet into all these different things while also trying to stay true to myself and the way I fight has been a huge benefit.  Timing’s everything. MLW started up right as I was making my way back into professional wrestling and what better chance to jump on board something that’s growing along with you? What better timing than that?  It just seems like it worked out.

As a former professional MMA fighter who has fought on pay per view, do you see yourself as a locker room leader to motivate the roster as they’re about to perform on one of the biggest platforms ever?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: No. I’m not sitting back in the locker room to motivate other people.  I’m there to motivate myself. If other people can’t find their own intrinsic motivation to go out in the ring and do their best, that’s on them.  I don’t have time for that shit. I bust my ass and I’ve done it too hard for twenty plus years and I’ve watched countless fighters in the past just blow opportunities left and right, not listening to people, and it’s not my place to do that. 

Everyone back there is over 18 and everyone’s an adult. Everyone should be able to police themselves. If they want to go out there and put in a half-assed effort for what one reason or another, it’s gonna show and it’s gonna reflect on them.  Everybody’s gonna see. I don’t need to go back there and fire up the troops. I fire up myself. I’ll lead by example. I don’t need to get up in people’s faces and make a scene. I’m thirty-six years old, damnit. You’re a grown man. Take care of yourself.

Are you ever considering a return to MMA or if you’re into pro wrestling for life?

I would consider going back to MMA but one thing really irked me back when I was in UFC.  I get offers. I get contacted by companies. I’m at appoint in my life where I shouldn’t get forced into a fight for monetary reasons.  I’ve been offered some things but the timing just hasn’t worked out. Ask me tomorrow. My answer may be different. I may say, “I’ll never fight again.  I’m only gonna wrestle.” You ask me the next day, I may tell you the exact opposite but, right now, there’s nothing on the table so I can’t go like, “Hey, I’m retired!”  I’m not sure if I’ll fight again but I may.

In your opinion, is starting in sports like MMA and then getting into wrestling, the way to go?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: It’s funny because I never started in MMA or in wrestling.  It’s just that I started doing them at the same time. My first MMA match was 2003 and then my first professional wrestling match was 2006.  I did them concurrently so I always kind of saw them as the same thing: you’re trying to sell a fight, some kind of conflict, to get viewers to watch two people engage in battle.  I never viewed them differently but, to the American public, they’re viewed quite differently.

One of the best things I ever did for my wrestling career was stop wrestling. Not everyone is going to make it to UFC.  A lot of people compete on a high level in MMA and a lot of people are going to fail along the way. Luckily, I was able to make a little bit of a name, based on my fighting skills and personality, to allow me to get some opportunities that some people might not have gotten outside of the cage.  It’s all going to be based on the individual. I’m lucky to have , whether it’s good or bad, some type of personality. Some fighters are introverted. But I’ve been able to carve out a niche or character for myself in MMA first and sort of carry that over to pro wrestling. Not everybody’s going to have that chance.  Not everybody’s going to have the opportunity. Not everybody is, quite frankly, gonna be one of the toughest guys on planet earth like I am.

[chuckles] Basically you have to do what you love and what your best opportunity for success is. I don’t know what that is. If you’re phenomenal guy with a shoot background then I would suggest going into MMA.  If you’re a gymnast or a football player with great athletic genes but doesn’t have that background, maybe you’re better off wrestling and learning the techniques but not employing them in a 100% fashion. It’s all individual. Timing’s everything, too. If I was born five years later, maybe I wouldn’t be doing MMA. Maybe I’d only be doing wrestling. Maybe I’d only be doing MMA.  We have no idea.

Are you looking to do any overseas touring?  Are there any place that you’re hoping to get to or excited about going to?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: I’d love to go anywhere.  I’ve been all around the world. The only continent I’ve not stepped foot on is Antarctica … sorry … South America and Antartica.  But I’ve been virtually everywhere else in the world and I’d love to go back almost everywhere that I’ve been. Perhaps not Djibouti or Turkey down at the Syrian border. Those are not my favorite places. Everywhere else is fair game. I’d love to wrestle in Japan. I’ve always been a huge fan of Japanese wrestling and mixed martial arts. That’s on the bucket list for sure.

How have you enjoyed working with The Von Erichs?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: Love it! I absolutely love The Von Erichs. They’re probably the people that I get asked about the most by other wrestlers; “What are they like.” They’re a blast They like to get in there and scrap. They’re simple but they’re wild as well. They’re really like… (and I hate to use this term because MJF uses it,) they’re salt of the earth.  They’re really good people. A little naïve sometimes. Maybe they don’t see everything for what it is. They’re good guys for the most part.

Another thing the internet is buzzing about, is there a potential Lawlor/Low-Ki rematch on the horizon?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: As of right now?  I’ve got zero issues with Low-Ki. I’ve mentioned this in the past but being in the ring with Low-Ki is a competitive environment. It forces you to raise your game and I think being in there, in any environment, with Low-Ki around kind of brings out a different animal, a different level of intensity. If I ever fight Low-Ki again or maybe ever team with him again, I would welcome that.

Looking forward to SuperFight, your match with Timothy Thatcher, what should we expect to see from that?

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor: What you should expect to see more of is something you already don’t see.  What I mean by that is; take look at Timothy Thatcher. Take a look at Timothy Thatcher’s face. His mouth. What you won’t see is one very prominent tooth in the front. And, on November 2, you’re gonna see more of that.  You’re gonna see me knock Tim’s teeth down his throat. I have bigger fish to fry. I didn’t call Timothy Thatcher out. I didn’t mention his name. I wasn’t looking to test myself against him.  He’s the one that talked about me. He’s the one who said, “Oh. Timothy Thatcher against Tom Lawlor. That sounds like a Super fight.” Well, Tim, last time I checked, you brandished yourself as a “catch wrestler.” You’re going to step in there against a fighter. A professional MMA fighter. One of the toughest guys on the planet over the past 12 years. You’re stepping into my game. You challenged me to a super fight. 

Catch “Filthy” Tom Lawlor this Saturday night on MLW’s first ever pay-per-view Saturday Night SuperFight. You can order the show on Fite.TV