Mike Bennett Says Matt Taven's Friendship And Time With The Kingdom Means More..

[Liz]

Mike Bennett values his friendship with Matt Taven above all else, including the opportunity he had to work with Paul Heyman, and it's not even close.

Mike Bennett was briefly in WWE and on Monday Night Raw while Paul Heyman was the executive director of the red brand. Even though he was being used in somewhat of a comedy role, Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis value their time with Paul Heyman. However, while speaking with Kevin Kellam of Sportskeeda, Mike Bennett made it clear that if he had to choose between never working with Paul Heyman or never meeting Matt Taven, he would choose never knowing Paul Heyman and it's not even close.

"This isn't a knock on him but I wouldn't know Paul Heyman and that's easy," said Bennett. "Like, it's easy. Taven, he's my best friend in the whole world. It's like, my wife's my best friend, and then Matt Taven is right next to her. He officiated my wedding. He was the first person we called when I was getting clean and sober. He's been there for me through everything, and I just love that dude like a family member. So it's not even a close call for me."

In the same vein, Mike Bennett would choose his days in the Kingdom over his car and time with Honor no More. Even though he enjoys both factions greatly, Mike Bennett will always have a soft spot for The Kingdom as he believes that that group is what really started to make his career take off.

"Man, that's tough. See, that's a tough one," said Mike. "Because The Kingdom had me, Taven, and [Adam] Cole, which were all best friends, and obviously Maria. But Eddie Edwards is such a part of my history and my life and such a strong friend too. It is so hard to pick, but I'm gonna have to go with The Kingdom only because I feel like that was my baby. I just hold it so close to my chest. The name was my idea and it just originated with me, Cole, and Matt Hardy. So it's just — it's rare, and I feel like that's kind of where my career started to take off. So it's like, that's special to me."

Bennett is currently part of IMPACT Wrestling with Honor no More, but Maria Kanellis said that her per appearance deal with the company concluded following the most recent Poughkeepsie, New York tapings. Read more about that here.

AAW Never Say Die will be available on Friday, April 29 on FITE. Mike Bennett will be featured in a match against Fred Yehi. The show will also feature Manders vs. Silas Young in a Steel Cage Match.