Former WWE Star Reflects On Unique Role In First Ever TNA Wrestling Match

A former WWE star has reflected on his unique role in the first ever match for TNA Wrestling back in June 2002.

Aside from a couple of dark matches, the first ever TNA match that aired featured the team of Jorge Estrada, Sonny Siaka and Jimmy Yang facing AJ Styles, Jerry Lynn and Low Ki.

The team of Estrada, Siaka and Yang were dubbed the Flying Elvises and were each dressed as Elvis Presley.

In a recent interview with Wentworth Bros Entertainment, Yang – known in WWE as Jimmy Wang Yang, real name James Yun – reflected on how this came about.

He explained:

“So, what I thought, I was just doing a favor for Jeff Jarrett and Jeremy Borash, because I was wrestling in Japan, All Japan, and then they called me out of the blue and said, ‘hey, we’re going to do a show in Alabama, can you be a part of it?’ So, I check the calendar, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m in town, so I’ll come down and do a show, but I liked those guys in WCW so I didn’t know it was going to be as big as it was.

“I remember pulling up to the Von Braun Center and they had all the studio trucks in the back. I’m like, ‘whoa, this is not a this is not an indie show, this is kind of big.

“I walk in, you know, I’m this All Japan wrestler. I’m this strong style wrestler, you know. I’m like, ‘I’m going to show them what’s up tonight.’ Then I remember when Rick Michaels, the seamster, came up to me said ‘hey, I got your costume!’ I’m like ‘costume? I ain’t wearing no costume. I’m coming beat somebody’s ass’.

“Then we went to his room and he pulled up the Elvis costume, and I’m like ‘f**k no I ain’t wearing that, are you kidding me?’ Like, yeah they got you in a group, you’re gonna be the Flying Elvis impersonators. I was like, ‘I just wrestled Kawada last week, what are you talking about? You want me to dress up as Elvis?’

“That’s my first reaction to it, then the day goes by and people are convincing me it’ll be fun, just have fun with it. I’m like ‘no way, you know you’re going to kill my career in Japan?’

“Then by the time came, I was like screw it, let’s go have some fun. That character with Sonny Siaki and Jorge Estrada versus Low-Ki, Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles, and I beat AJ Styles’ ass in the first ever match.

“Now, 20 years later, people still remind me about being an Elvis impersonator, so I guess I did something good.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

James Yun released a new autobiography a few days ago looking at his time in WCW, WWE and more that you can find at this link.