"Santino’s Shoot Shenanigans: Cobras, Comedy & Cena Confessions!"

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Titlematchnetwork dot Com.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
Welcome to another edition of the R video Shoot inter series.

Speaker 3 (00:06):
Today we're joined by former ww superstar Santino Marilla, now
known as Anthony your real name.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Yeah, it's funny for for for two years, I went
to OVW, and I was Boris for those two years,
from like the day I got there to the day
I left, because when I left, I became Santino. And
then yeah, for the next she's nine years, I was
Santino and Anthony again.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Who tagged you with the bar's name?

Speaker 1 (00:33):
What?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Who tagged you with the name Boris?

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Oh? Rip Rogers? Okay, When I got there, he just
looked at me and said, Boris.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
I can see it.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
He's kind of like a not like a not a prophet,
but he's able to just call things that you can't know.
So he called me Boris, and I was kind of
like Boris and everyone's calling me bors like that was
my new nickname, right, and uh so luckily my coach,
my first coach, was Don cool Off, So I said,
I'll take Boris and cool Off because I think that

(01:05):
combination of coal Offs and Borises hasn't been done yet.
So I and then it was a way for me
to do all my judo stuff, and so I was
bors cool off.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Were you a big wrestling fan growing up in Canada?

Speaker 1 (01:16):
Yeah? I was. It was like Saturday at noon was
our ritual. We were in front of the TV. We're
watching wrestling. I didn't really go get magazines and books,
and I didn't know much outside of WWF, but it
was like religion.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
You know, who are some of your favorites watching as
a kid. At what age were you when you when
you discovered the business.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
Well, I remember my brother and I gosh, I must
have been six' seven because When Jimmy snook was Fighting
Don morocco and they had that cage match WHERE i
jumped off the top and then they got into a
brawl and it showed censored and it went to, black
and we thought that was the craziest thing, Ever, like
there must be so much, blood it must be so,
Gruesome and it's funny because we filled in the blanks

(01:59):
for ourselves when it was. Censored there wasn't anything to, see,
right so we just imagine this this. Gruesomeness AND i
like the idea of letting the people fill in the
blanks for. Themselves but, yeah you know it was a
huge hall Comaniac British. Bulldogs, yeah of, Course Wickestine Boat Jimmy.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Snook so early on when you were a little, Kid
is that something you said? Yourself you, know WHEN i get,
OLDER i want to get into the. BUSINESS i want
to be a.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
Wrestler, WELL i didn't make that claim only because it's
it seems like it's, unattainable, right you, KNOW i can't
be a. Wrestler i'm not a giant of a. Man
and then, yeah WHEN i was in, university on my
university wrestling, team there was a guy his dad Was Don,
coloff my first, coach And i'm, like oh my, god
my destiny just found. Me this is this is this is.

(02:44):
It every SKILL i have, ACQUIRED i have acquired throughout
my life is directly applicable here grappling and comedy and
public speaking and all these THINGS i. Did you, know
you boil them all down and it's it's pro.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
Wrestling talk about your martial arts, Background.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
YEAH i did judo since the age of. Nine it
was kind of it was. COINCIDENCE i wanted to be
in some form of martial. ARTS i loved kung fu.
MOVIES i loved pro. WRESTLING i, loved you, Know Bruce,
lee AND i asked my mom to put me in.
Something and the, course you, know when you, look if
you're a mom and you don't know anything about martial,

(03:22):
arts you don't know the difference between, karate kung, fu,
typewondo all these, things a kido. Judo so she put
me in, judo and, YEAH i changed my life. Forever you.
KNOW i was. Invited it was like a ten ten
class pass or whatever it. Was and THEN i was
invited to the mother, Ship Shimbukan dojo WHERE i trained for,
yeah the next ten years BEFORE i moved To montreal

(03:44):
to train with the national.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
Team so obviously you're really good at.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
IT i was. GOOD i was kind of a young,
prodigy you. Know it was like the second youngest black
belt In canadian. History AND i was The Ontario senior
champion at. Seventeen as a, JUNIOR i came second place
for Times this is men under twenty one UNTIL i
finally got gold AND i was national. CHAMPION i went
to The Junior worlds For canada and it was my whole,

(04:08):
life you, know throughout. Universe it was my, identity my my,
goals my dreams with the two Thousand olympics and and
now that was. It there was there was nothing. Else
there was a time when IF i have my JUDO
gi rolled up and my belt wrapped around it over my,
shoulder that's ALL i needed to. Live you, KNOW i
can go anywhere in the world and just do. Judo
what made you get into the wrestling, Business, WELL i

(04:28):
guess you know you're gonna have to get a job one.
Day and you, KNOW i prolonged university as much AS i,
could AND i thought to, myself IF i can actually
make a living doing, this it's a No brainer's let's do.

Speaker 3 (04:42):
That did the business come easy for you since you
had a background, in you, know.

Speaker 1 (04:46):
Judo, YEAH i don't wanna take away from the difficulty
of the, business but it. Did you, KNOW i had.
TO i had to unlearn some judo because when you
throw somebody in, judo they're resisting and you're still throwing,
them and then there's they're kind of neutral and then
they're going with. You SO i was over rotating. People

(05:06):
when it came to some some hip tosses and stuff like,
THAT i WAS i had to learn how to dial
it back a.

Speaker 3 (05:10):
Bit, right as far as like the, business did you
ever want to quit during your training at? All or
was It was there ever a point where you, SAID,
i maybe this isn't for.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
Me, no, Never it's. Funny. UH i was just so
sure that this was gonna. Happen AND i was one
hundred percent. CONFIDENT i REMEMBER i was dating this girl
In kentucky for a couple of, dates, right AND i was,
like you, KNOW i want to take this to the
next level and be. Serious and she's, like you don't
have a, Job AND i, go what are you talking?
About your? Wrestler like, duh and she's and then she's,

(05:42):
like come, on let's be. Realistic not a lot of
people make. It i'm not one of those. People of
course they're gonna make. It AND i always compared it
to imagine you're a tightrope walker and you're walking across
the tightrope completely focused and you make it together side
and then when you look back and you look down
and you, go oh my, GOD i could have. Died
that was. Danger it was like. THAT i was so.
FOCUSED i didn't ever doubt in my. Mind but WHEN

(06:04):
i look, BACK i got signed at thirty two years,
old AND i you, KNOW i spent every last penny
of my saving savings right up into the DAY i got.
Signed the day BEFORE i got, signed the money ran.
Out SO i was about to return home thirty two years,
old having to figure out a new game. Plan and

(06:25):
people always, say, wow you accomplished your dream or you
reached your. GOAL i, said you know what's even, BETTER
i avoided? Disaster, yeah and it would have been an avoiding.
Disasters who trained?

Speaker 2 (06:37):
You who was your?

Speaker 1 (06:37):
Mentor originally it Was Don, koloff WHO i stile to
this day called coach, Right and THEN i went To
japan AND i trained With Yuki. Ishikawa is that Over
Battle arts or that was the Original Battle. Arts he's
now at My Battle arts and he's the submission wrestling
coach pro wrestling. Coach he's. Amazing he's like a walking
encyclopedia of submissions and catch. Wrestling he trained Under Karl

(07:00):
gotch and with The. Malankos he's. Amazing and that's the
REASON i Opened Battle arts BECAUSE i knew, that you,
know IF i was still on the road and there he's.
There he moved To. Canada, yeah, yeah and AND i
know THAT i can feel confident that my members are
getting a world class education and they're paying good, money
SO i want to make sure the value is there for.

Speaker 2 (07:21):
Them what was the independence scene like In canada when you?

Speaker 1 (07:24):
BROKEN i, GOT i. DIDN'T i had Six indie, matches
and THEN i said to, MYSELF i gotta get out of.
Here no one's gonna find me here in this, gymnasium
no one's looking for. ME i gotta put myself in
front of the right. People so that's. IT i packed
up AND i went To.

Speaker 2 (07:40):
Japan you knew to do that, Yourself, YEAH i.

Speaker 1 (07:43):
Do there WAS i didn't take a genius to look
around and, think no one's. Here n you can be
the best wrestler in the world if no one's.

Speaker 2 (07:50):
Looking where did The johnny Ge O basco name come?

Speaker 1 (07:53):
From oh, gosh, Okay so so my dad when he
dated my. Mom my, dad you know it was grew
up in The italian part Of toronto and hung out
with those little gang and, stuff and SO i guess
whatever whatever, reason when he first dated my, mom he
didn't want to give him her his real, name so
he said his name Was John. Giobosco so my mom

(08:14):
told me this story one. TIME i just thought it
was a funny, name and it was. Interesting and then
when my when my first match, Came they're, like what
do you want to be? Called And i'm, like oh my,
GOD i just Said Johnny. Giobosco now when he went
over To.

Speaker 2 (08:27):
Japan how different was it for you as far as culture?

Speaker 1 (08:30):
Shock, well growing up doing, judo my you, know second
father was was A japanese my Sense his name Was Goki,
mura and you, know SO i learned how to, count
And i've hung. Around there's a there's a very you,
know Obviously Judo's, japanese so there's a Very japanese you,

(08:50):
know attachment to doing. Judo so it wasn't as big
as a of a culture shock as, moving let's, say
to the SOUTHERN. Us that was actually a bigger culture
shock for. Me PLUS i went To japan WHEN i
was eighteen AND i competed in The International High School.

Speaker 2 (09:04):
Championships talk about competing in NOW, Mma.

Speaker 1 (09:08):
OH mma was it was? Interesting you? Know BUT i
was like an actual pioneer OF. Mma and WHAT i
mean is when we were, kids it was all about
what's the best martial. Art and there's guys that did
taekwondo and karate and kung fu And i'm you, KNOW
i put my money, down Said i'm pretty Sure i'll
beat you And i'll use my. Judo and so we had.

(09:29):
Fights we had a lot of fights over the years
on underground. Fights guys call out, guys we clear the
clear the dojo floor and he's doing kung fu And
i'm got my grip AND i throw him and put
an arm, lock And i'm. TOLD i was always an
advocate of grappling and. Judo and then when the first
board And Hoys gracie came, out and you, know my
brother didn't know the difference between jiu jitsu and judo

(09:51):
because they were like, cousins and he's, like, yeah this
guy want he's wearing a judo gee and all this.
Thing SO i was, LIKE i told you, Guys i've
been telling you guys this day. One you, know grappling
is where it's. At SO i was always an. Advocate
and then the transition for me to do you, know
basically no gi, judo which IS, mma you know minus the,

(10:11):
punches who was pretty. SMOOTH i was able to wrestle
a lot of guys that did submission wrestling in jiu
jitsu and hold my. Own and WHEN i was In
japan And Battle, ARTS i really my grappling was was pretty.
Tight you. KNOW i was winning a lot of grappling
matches and pancreation, fights and then we worked the way
up to AN nma fight and.

Speaker 2 (10:27):
Stuff you, THOUGHT i Believe tai shino.

Speaker 1 (10:31):
OH i don't know his.

Speaker 2 (10:31):
Name probably, yeah, okay you don't remember. That it was
just didn't really stick out his.

Speaker 1 (10:36):
NAME i don't remember his, name but, yeah that would
FIGHT i.

Speaker 3 (10:39):
Lost what as far as like, training how would you
compair the training BETWEEN mma and professional.

Speaker 1 (10:45):
Wrestling it's very interesting because In japan there was no.
Difference and if you have two, guys one guy wants
to be AN mma fighter and one guy wants to
be a pro, wrestler, well the, core the nucleus of
their training is to be the, same and then as
they get up and branch, off it'll be a little.
Different but, yeah you have to have all your submission

(11:07):
grappling skills in. Place you got to have your striking in.
Place and in, fact some of the pro wrestlers In,
japan they don't know it's to work until like right
before their first. Match they're training for AN mma fight
and their mentality is is imagine if THE ufc had
a three count? Option pretty, insane, Right?

Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yeah how would you break down how you would train
a talent for pro wrestling compared TO mma fighter from?

Speaker 1 (11:34):
Scratch, YEAH i would train them the same from the,
beginning AND i do similar at battle. ARTS i. Do, sorry,
yeah my My my third coach Was Rip.

Speaker 2 (11:44):
Rogers AND i want to talk about that right.

Speaker 1 (11:47):
Now, yeah and then then then it Was Al snow
and then WHEN i got, there there was all obviously
these legends to to learn, from you, Know SO i
went from MY i equate it to an education where you,
know high school and then college and then university and
then your master's and PhD and all that kind of.
Stuff but, NO i trained. GUYS i just had a
guy today at the signing SAY i want to. WRESTLE i, said,

(12:09):
well do you do any sport grappling OR mma type
sports right? Now he said. NO Mc rodgers's philosophy, is,
well how can you be a professional athlete if you
haven't been an amateur? Athlete so you have to go
and you got to, study take your, karate take your,
boxing take your amateur. Wrestling as much as you can
develop that that that that foundation of a skill, set

(12:30):
and then you can become a professional wrestler. Later that's
the WAY i believe in. It you.

Speaker 3 (12:34):
Know so you were In japan for about a year
and then you went over TO. Ovw what led you
to a going to train AT? Ovw how did that come?

Speaker 2 (12:41):
About?

Speaker 1 (12:41):
Oh, MAN i made a critical error In japan WHERE
i overstayed one of my tourist visas and WHEN i
went to the immigrant because we're trying to work on
a work visa for me For Battle, arts AND i
was doing some acting and all that, part you, know
extra extra roles and. Stuff AND i went to the
immigration office and they kind of looked and there like

(13:02):
you're supposed to have left like two days ago or
something like. That and she's, like you're banned for five,
years And i'm, like.

Speaker 2 (13:09):
Just for two, days it's.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
Great, Yeah and then some guy actually gave me the
iggy and, said if you wait Till december, first they're
changing the law for the first time in like one hundred,
years you'll only be banned for one. Year and whatever
law is in place on the day that you, leave
that's the one that's gonna affect. You SO i had to,
wait keep a little. Profile, Wait and WHEN i went
home For, CHRISTMAS i was banned for one, year so

(13:31):
THAT i had to you, KNOW i was expecting to live.
THERE i had an, APARTMENT i had a, SCOOTER i
had a whole, life AND i wanted to be there
for about four. Years my original plan, was and this
is WHAT i, thought if you get over In japan
as a, foreigner they will recruit. You and doing, judo
which Is, japanese kind of elevated me a little bit

(13:51):
WHEN i got. There if you're The japanese judo, champion
you're that's big. Time SO i was The canadian judo.
Champion then they're billing me as, that so people were
already like wow. Wow SO i kind of had that,
little you, know a couple of notches of. Elevation and
then WHEN i came, back, WELL i went TO. Ovw
coming From, JAPAN i had a couple more notches because you,
know they don't know WHAT i was doing. There so,

(14:12):
yeah WHEN i got, BACK i had to reformulate the game.
PLAN a guy taught told me ABOUT ovw AND i
called him up AND i didn't even know it was a.
SCHOOL i thought it was just a, promotion and they're, like,
no this is a. School SO i went down. THERE
i joined the beginner's. Class Mike mondo was my.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
COACH i was gonna ask you who was in the
class and all.

Speaker 1 (14:30):
Too Mike mondo was my first coach for but a, month,
right and then they, realized, okay this guy can go
to the intermediate. Class and that's WHERE i Met Rip
rogers AND i was there for the majority of my
time training With Rip.

Speaker 2 (14:41):
Rogers what are some valuable lessons That rip told? You
and how many times did he say, fuck oh my.

Speaker 1 (14:46):
God it's. Funny my daughter at the time was like
nine years old and she came down To louisville for a,
month and you, KNOW i didn't have any, babysitting so
she sat up in the, bleachers but she had to
put on headphones because everything was, yeah you, know, yeah this.
That but you, know this man is absolutely brilliant and
he has he he focuses on how he. Teaches he

(15:11):
wants to become the most efficient teacher possible and the
shortest amount of time is going to teach you how
to extract the most emotion possible with with with the,
basic you, know fundamental formula type, thing and then from
there you can jazz it. Up it's like. COOKING i
teach you the, recipe get get the original recipe down
perfect first and then you can have your own. Spices

(15:32):
so but his recipe is, delicious so he can he
can serve it any. Anytime first impressions About Danny. Davis
Danny davis was. Cool, yeah he was. Busy i'd see
him a. Lot so my original, Coach Don koloff was
roommates With Danny davis back In Calgary, stampede SO i
kind of showed up. There i'm, like, hey Don, kolov says,
hi and his face is like, wow haven't heard that

(15:54):
name in a. While he told me a funny. Story
so my, Coach Don, koloff he's he's just a classic.
Guy he likes everything like he loved meet and he'll
marinade steaks and make homemade wine and he'll drive an
hour to get the best. Sausages he's just here's an interesting.
Guy like he teaches you how to, live you, know.
Right And Danny davis told me a story where he

(16:15):
came home one time and there was some tupperware in the.
Fridge the steak was green and he threw it, out
and coach comes home ready to you, know turn on
the grill and where's my. Steak he's, LIKE i threw it,
out it was all, green And danny said his eyes
got big and he grabbed him and said it was. Marinated,
yeah and he said he should his. Pants so, yeah
don't mess with coaches.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
Me first impressions Of Jim Cornett and did you Know
jim from being a wrestling fan?

Speaker 1 (16:39):
Before, YEAH i. KNEW i Knew jim was. OKAY i
never met. HIM i never met. HIM i consider our
interaction as not meeting him BECAUSE i didn't meet. HIM
i never Said, hi my name Is, anthony AND i
was very. Disappointed. OBVIOUSLY i wanted to learn a lot from.
Him he's been he's been. Everywhere, yeah and he's supposed
to be a brilliant. MIND i never got to find

(17:01):
that out for first.

Speaker 2 (17:02):
Time, like if you know people might not know about.

Speaker 3 (17:04):
It explain your side of the incident where basically you
laughed at The boogeyman instead of showing.

Speaker 2 (17:08):
Fear were you told to show? Fear? Like what was
for somebody that never heard the story between you And Jim.
Cornette what happened?

Speaker 1 (17:13):
There, yeah SO i had been to the beginner's. CLASS
i just got TO. Ww i've been there for a
month AND i just got promoted to the intermediate.

Speaker 2 (17:22):
Class, Oh gym was never there. BEFORE i never met him.
BEFORE i, mean, okay so he was there, somewhere but he.

Speaker 1 (17:28):
Was with the intermedia in the advanced. Class. Okay the
advanced class is also THE ww developmental contracted talent at that.
Time SO i get to this intermediate class and everyone's, like, hey,
welcome you, know you can come watch the show On wednesday.
Night the intermediate class is allowed to come to the,
show help, out watch the. Show. Whatever SO i came
my first time with my daughter And i'm sitting in the.
Audience but the developmental or, sorry the intermediate class had

(17:52):
a special section that they sat in AND i guess
they were supposed to facially sell what was happening in the.
Ring well no one told, me, Right So i'm sitting
there with my daughter AND i THINK i may have
Met marty earlier in the. Day so, anyway he was
having a ward it was his. Debut he was having
a wardrobe. Malfunction the horn kept sliding. Down cornett's getting,

(18:14):
frustrated and then he turns towards. Us my daughter was
sitting right in front of, me so my daughter Got
she was nine or, nine AND i, thought, oh it's.
Cool he's gonna scare my. Daughter So i'm, smiling like
this is gonna be. Good she's gonna shit her. Pants
but little DID i know he was gonna exit out
the door behind. Us so he made a gesture towards,

(18:35):
us And cornett's like from the announced table he was
doing commentary or, commentary and he's, like, move, move, move
chow fear you're you're supposed to be scared of this.
Guy he lost. It he just lost.

Speaker 2 (18:47):
It was the fans there, too or, no.

Speaker 1 (18:49):
Yeah, yeah this is THE tv, taping, Okay so he just.
Whatever so we we moved out of the. Way boogeyman,
left AND i thought that was the end of. It
then Referee Goose mahoney came. Out it's, like you didn't
want to hear the. Answer he's, like what were you sitting?
Here because there's a bunch of us sitting. There you're
wearing all black and everyone was kind of wearing all,
black and he's kind of, Like i'm like. Yeah he's
like he's, like, okay it's. You he's, like would you

(19:12):
mind coming to the back for a, Second And i'm like.
Sure you, KNOW i thought THEY i did something they, liked,
right and LIKE i like that guy's facials or. Whatever
SO i get back. There AS i come through the,
door he's barreling at, me like you think this is
a fucking. Joke you think this is the joke of a.
Bud and the first THING i went through my, Head i'm,
like IF i hit this, Guy i'm gonna be. Deported
i'm A canadian in The United. STATES i just got

(19:35):
my little, apartment and you, know it's funny what went
through my. Head SO i decorated my. APARTMENT i went
To walmart and a bout some men, tables AND i
went To goodwill AND i just bought this, couch, right
AND i put the couch in and that was like
the final. Piece my apartment was now. Decorated and it
took me a month or whatever to get all the
little pieces with my spare. Time and he slapped. Me i'm, like,

(19:57):
DAMN i just got my couch something get, like you,
KNOW i just got my apartment set. UP i don't
want to be kicked out of the country, Now SO
i had to suck it. Up, yeah, man he had
to do even a little. Paintbrush so me and, okay
there's a whole hallway of. TALENT i was gonna say What,
God and they're all looking at me and they're, like, oh,
bro sorry, Man like you, know they felt bad for
me because they this guy was he was abusing his

(20:19):
power and taking advantage of. Me so the one THING
i wanted to AND i, WAS i was in good
shape at the, time was jacked, up and AND i made.
IT i made sure he knew. That, look your slap
isn't moving my face at. All you're, you're, you're, you're
you're a. Weakling he, says you're obviously abusing your. Power
you have no you have no power. Here if it
comes down to, survival you have nothing on, me. RIGHT

(20:41):
i wanted to make SURE i conveyed that with the
LOOK i was giving him and making sure my head wasn't.
Moving AND i, spoke and so he's saying, that you,
know you think it's a joke or SOMETHING i said
about And i'm, LIKE i don't even know what you're talking.
About i'm just in the, audience you. Know and then he's, like,
oh you're not telling the boogey. Man i'm, like why
WOULD i do? THAT i understand what you're, Saying, like

(21:01):
what's your? Point you think this is? Funny And i'm like,
Anyway and Then Joey, MERCURY i, Remember he's, like just
just shut, up. MAN i, go, okay that's. It SO
i went back to out to my to my seat
and my daughter's. There he's, Like, dad what's. Wrong i'm,
like something just? Happened and then what are the? Referees told? Me,
yeah you, know you better. Go he's still he's still

(21:24):
losing it back, there And i'm, like, OKAY i guess
we're gonna go. Whatever and but you, know, obviously the
word got back to the office and he was gone
the next. Day AND i was, hoping, LIKE i Hope
i'm not the guy that if there's a lot of
supporters Of Jim, cornett That i'm gonna be the guy
that is gonna be known that the guy who got
him fired or. Whatever but, luckily a lot of guys
hated his guts because he's he'd freaked out on a

(21:45):
lot of people and taking it too far and embarrassed.
People Uh, so a lot of guys were pretty, happy
AND i ended up being a good thing That i'm.
LIKE i was, LIKE i didn't get rid of, Him
he got rid of. Himself but if there's an, association
people liked it because they really really Enjoyed Paul hayman
coming a lot more than.

Speaker 2 (22:03):
Him do you feel That gym should have been? Fired?

Speaker 1 (22:07):
YEAH i should have been. Charged you can't slap.

Speaker 2 (22:09):
SOMEBODY i was gonna ask, you did you think that
you might have thought that you were gonna ssue? Them or?

Speaker 1 (22:14):
Well you, know it's. Funny Johnny ace came To louisville
and he was he didn't just come for, me but
he called me and he's and he was straight up and, said,
look you're not gonna get a free be because, this you,
know but when the time, comes if you work, hard
we will give you an, unbiased true. Evaluation i'm, like
that's ALL i can ask. FOR i wouldn't have wanted
a freeb, anyway, Right that's not the WAY i want

(22:37):
to earn, it you. Know and at the when the,
time it's funny they forgot about. It they forgot because
when the time, CAME i earned my job Being Boris
alexiev ON. Ovwtv there was a lot of good. Reviews
every time a producer came, up excellent report. Cards and
then WHEN i got, Signed Johnny ace came back AND i,
SAID i, said, hey, man oh wait to know it

(22:59):
was WHEN i got called up a. SENTINO i saw
him in the. HALLWAY i was, like, hey thank you,
man you were you were, right you, know thank you
for the unbiassed. Evaluation he's looking at me, like what
are you talking? About and then he, goes, oh it's
The cornet. Guys he. Forgot but you, know you, KNOW
ww was honest with me from day.

Speaker 3 (23:15):
One and have you ever had any interactions at all
With cornet since or heard any of his?

Speaker 2 (23:21):
Promo?

Speaker 1 (23:21):
Now oh you know what he? Did you know what
he did, actually AND i know he was trying to
do it TO i never met, him so obviously he's
done interviews That i've done and people, say let's hear your.
Story whatever his story, is it's it's that's my story
is actually what. Happened he can make it so he
can spin it anyway he. WANTS i actually challenged him
one time for a joke to a death match in a,

(23:42):
cave so we'll fight to the death just just to
make jokes out of, it you. Know and someone WHO
i forget who it, was but, said, look you know
he's he's irrelevant that now he's old and he's trying
to cling on just something that's current and up and
coming and that kind of. Stuff AND i get. That you,
know he's been in the business alone. Time the kids
these days don't know who he is and, Stuff so
to attach yourself to something that that's. FINE i don't.

(24:05):
MIND i would actually like to meet.

Speaker 3 (24:06):
HIM i was gonna ask, you, like what would happen
if you guys were in that room together and he
you know, What, well.

Speaker 1 (24:12):
It really depends on. Him if he's because because he's
an old time, worker and if he's doing this stuff
to create, controversy THEN i get that that's an, angle
that's something we can let's make money off, that you know.
Whatever AND i hope that's the, case that he's smart
enough to try and spend this into an angle where
we can make. Money and if he gives me the
iggy and gives me a win because they, can't then you,

(24:33):
know let let's go with. This, Okay i'm. Down i'll play.
Along i'm a, worker but if he has a real
problem he embarrasses me or tries to humiliate, me next
TIME i see, HIM i may give him back that. Slap.

Speaker 3 (24:43):
Okay Paul hayman came in and Replaced. Jimmy describe your
interactions and thoughts On paul during his time IN.

Speaker 2 (24:49):
OVID i Love Paul.

Speaker 1 (24:50):
Hayman he was. Brilliant he if he was a, general
he would fire up the troops like nobody else before the.
Show after our, Meetings we're, like, yeah let's go out.
There let's just have the best show. Ever and and
he actually came to uh one of our practices at
Rip rogers class and he sat up in the in

(25:11):
the little crow's nest there where the hard camera, is
and he watched and he caught me in the parking
lot and he, SAID i think you're going to debut
next week ON. Ovwtv And i'm just, like what the
fuck is going? On this is, Happening this is HAPPENINGS.
Ovwtv this is. HUGE i knew the exact. IMPLICATIONS i was

(25:32):
the only guy ON tv that wasn't, signed so he
believed in and this is. Funny SO i go To Battle,
arts AND i learned this skill set that's kind of
not really directly applicable TO Ww Star. Wrestling you can't
go in there and belly to belly In german and
beat the shit out of everybody because they're not going
to take. That but it was what made me stand,
out and this business is all about standing. Out So

(25:55):
i'm doing side those uplexes and stiff kicks and arm
locks and and that got me. Hired and THEN i
had to forget it all and it Game. Santino but, yeah,
MAN i. Was and it's funny BECAUSE i was As
boris Col, OFF i was a little bit. COMEDIC i
always missed the head butt off the top rope every, day,
right and you, know being a heel tag team and The,

(26:19):
russians we were The. Russians you, know you're gonna do
the job to the good guys and that kind of.
Stuff and then all of a, SUDDEN i became Bor,
selective who was like shit kicker to the, max never
lost a, match just destroyed everybody for months and. Months
they were going somewhere with, it And i'm, like these
people are going to accept. That and three weeks when

(26:42):
my music. Kid after three weeks of destroying, people people
were in a. FRENZY i saw something more. TIMES i
was fighting this Guy mow the mug Right mario was
it bok he's up in, northeast The croatian. Gimmick he's my, Buddy.
Mario and BECAUSE i was destroying people for weeks upon
weeks and no one got, anything it Was i'll, Snow i'll.

(27:06):
Snow he, goes watch. This this guy's gonna get one
punch drop. You you kind of shake it off and finish,
him but that one punch is gonna make. Him so
it was really the we did it for the educational aspect,
component and we did, it and he gave me one
punch and. BOOM i took it. Back everyone, said, whoa
oh my, god this guy just like AND i swear.
Man my goal was to make them, Think, OKAY i

(27:29):
know this is a, show but this, match this match is.
Real this guy's are really killing. People AND i was
stiff AND i was. Aggressive so the next WEEK i
wanted to challenge this guy again BECAUSE i was not
satisfied with the fact that he got a punch on,
me AND i wanted, to you, know destroy him and
have a flawless, victory and that entrance was so. Insane

(27:52):
these people were standing in a frenzy going, fight, fight, fight.
Fight there was no pro wrestling in their. Mind this
was a fight and it. Was it was so. Awesome
where my music would, hit WOULD i get fired? Up
AND i used to come out to the conan music and.
Everything it was. Awesome Man boris was.

Speaker 2 (28:07):
Great members were working With Mike.

Speaker 1 (28:09):
Cruel By CRUEL i Beat Mike creel for THE Opw Television.
Championship he is one of those guys that.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
They missed the boat.

Speaker 1 (28:19):
With they missed a.

Speaker 2 (28:20):
Boat why do you think that?

Speaker 1 (28:21):
IS i don't, know, Man his height is the only
THING i think. Of it was in great, shape great,
wrestler tons of, personality and al snow thought he was.
Awesome everyone down there thought he was. Awesome but, whatever
man thirty one, flavors someone Doesn't someone doesn't like that.
Flavor and when he got, there, yeah they just they
didn't see.

Speaker 2 (28:41):
It when did you find out that you were gonna
get a developmental.

Speaker 1 (28:44):
Due when it was the Day august, sixteenth two thousand and,
Six Mike bouci gave me a. Call, well you know what?
Happened so the morning of we had morning practice And
Danny davis comes up to me and, goes, Hey, boris
have a nice day. Today And i'm looking at him
LIKE i know what you're. GETTING i don't fuck with
my heart right, now and you, know he, goes happ

(29:06):
a nice, Day, boris AND i was, like what is?
Happening is? Happening and THEN i get, HOME i see
two zero three And i'm by, myself pacingly AND i
answer it and It's Nova Mike pucci and he's, like, Hey,
BORIS i have a question for. You would you like
to work for THE? Wwe AND i remember saying like
the most perfectly pronounced, yes like perfect no mistakes, Yes

(29:31):
and that's. It they started the, paperwork and being A,
CANADIAN i had to go back home for two months
while they got my work. Visa SO i was returning
home like a. Champion it. Was it was, awesome like a,
parade you, know little guy From, Mississauga ontario goes down
and calls, it calls the shot and makes it. HAPPEN
i actually had a trip To japan booked after the
sixteenth and it was to kind of go show the

(29:55):
office like, look you, Know i'm a desired commodity in this.
Country if you want, to you, know you want, me
you better come. Again. Right but, now the trip was
just a celebration, trip you. Know oh, yeah?

Speaker 2 (30:06):
Okay AND i.

Speaker 1 (30:07):
WENT i gained eighteen pounds in two weeks just drinking
heat rice and, beer and like it was just a celebration,
trip you.

Speaker 2 (30:13):
Know So i'm gonna mention some names and just give,
me like what your thoughts on some of the guys
that were IN ovw at. Time Cody roads when you
were down.

Speaker 1 (30:19):
There, Ha, Cody cody AND. I he's like a little
brother to. Me you, know we have this little we'd
like to give each other the shots and rib each.
Other and we had the Muscle, maane do you know
if you here? Musclemania not?

Speaker 2 (30:29):
Sure oh my.

Speaker 1 (30:30):
God, cody you, know he was in good, shape and
there was years. THERE i was out of, shape BUT
i wore a singlet AND i was a comedy. Guy
so we were on A european tour and he said
something about we're just we're drinking on the bus and
he said something about being, fat AND i, SAID i,
SAID i have a better bodybuilding physique than, you like
in terms of the the raw genetic potential one would

(30:53):
need to be a, bodybuilder. Right he was like appalled by,
that and so we called. It we had a. Showdown
this Is, november and we, said let's have a body
building contest at the after party At, WrestleMania which was
the Same pril first, ish this Is, Houston, Houston, WrestleMania
and you, know everyone on the, BUS i kind of

(31:15):
like this. On and we picked a date and you,
know it was on and we couldn't back out of.
IT t shirts were. Made musclemania became a big, thing
and it was the poor. Guy it was the tortoise
in the, hair and he was in shape, already he
had abs and he was in great, shape and he
he looked, awesome you, know and he just had to

(31:37):
watch me just slowly get in. Shape and everyone be, like,
oh it's gaining. On, yeah you need to, Like i'll stop.
It you. Know he even took me. Aside he's, LIKE
i don't want to do this. Anymore, well UNFORTUNATELY i need. This,
okay we have to keep. Going so as Of, JANUARY
i cleaned up my diet at the end of the.
Year But january, FIRST i started hard AND i was

(31:57):
like two hundred and twenty three pounds on, STAGE i
was two hundred and three, pounds AND i MEAN i
took it. SERIOUS i got a posing, COACH i got
a nutritionist and, YEAH i wanted this is just man
versus man bodybuilding contest AND i ended up winning.

Speaker 2 (32:15):
It that's. Awesome.

Speaker 1 (32:16):
Yeah Elijah, Burke elijah interesting. Cat you, know he was
actually one of the first GUYS i ever saw WHEN
i got TOBE. W but you, know we went our separate. Ways.
Uh he went TO tna and he was IN ww
for a little. Bit.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
Yeah, roadkill any interaction with road.

Speaker 1 (32:31):
Kill, yeah on. Roadkill we actually had a little bit
of A. Uh he just questioned my work ethic one,
time AND I i pride myself on my work. Ethic, No,
no my work ethic like setting up the ring AND
i make SURE i carry the polls by myself and
you carry two if you carry, One i'm carrying. TWO

(32:53):
i got AND i always. Bust that was MY i
moved away from my, DAUGHTER i moved away from my
home and THERE'S i trained three times a day UNTIL
i burnt. OUT i, said IF i don't burn out
at some point to gauge my maximum, whatever you, know training,
ability Then i'm not working hard, enough you, know AND
i trained really, hard SO i had to kind of
tell him mind your business one. Time BUT i saw

(33:18):
him IN ecw when it came To, toronto and he was
one of my favorite. Characters he was awesome AND i
worked with him, too and he's a really good. Worker Aaron.

Speaker 2 (33:26):
Stevens Aaron.

Speaker 1 (33:28):
Stevens he has been my roommate on multiple, occasions so
we're really good. Friends he actually went to bath for
me WHEN i was IN. OVW i was in the
intermediate class and he came to the, class saw my
head but thought it was. Funny AND i would go
to all THE ovw shows set up the ring to

(33:51):
try and hopefully get a dark match or a match against,
somebody and he requested THAT i work with, him so
he kind of started The he started me working on
the live events.

Speaker 2 (34:01):
There Shawn, Spears, Oh Shawn.

Speaker 1 (34:04):
Spears is great. KID i uh, SO i had six indie,
matches so my SECOND i don't, know there's some big
guys on the. Indies AND i go to one show
In Saint, Catherine's, ontario And Shawn spears is. There he's
on the same show And i'm, like you, know you
always gauge the. Lot you look around the locker room and, say,
OKAY i have the best, Physique i'm the. Best you,
know you want to see where you're, at Right and this,

(34:26):
Guy i'm, like this guy is. Awesome like is this
just the caliber of indie? Talent because this guy is really.
GOOD i, GO i THOUGHT i was better than. Everybody
this guy's pretty. Good and, yeah years later At Shawn,
spears so he stood out. Definitely Dolf Dolf, Ziggler Dolph ziggler,
man this guy has had a marathon, career super super.
Athlete he's He's they give him lemons and he and

(34:53):
he makes. Lemonade he's never been satisfied, THOUGH i know
he's never been satisfied with the role he's been given
and and he knows what he's capable. Of and it's
kind of a little sad to see Because i'm, like
if your career goes and ends one day and you
look back and you were never, happy that's that's the wrong,

(35:13):
THING i.

Speaker 3 (35:14):
Think but he's been given the opportunity to get, out
but he has he's you, know he's still.

Speaker 2 (35:19):
There he's still taking the. Paycheck why do you think
that is.

Speaker 1 (35:22):
Because he's still traveling the world and play fighting and
doing awesome.

Speaker 2 (35:26):
STUFF i, mean to, me he's one of the best workers.

Speaker 1 (35:30):
There he's, awesome he's. Amazing if you have a match With,
dolphie it's gonna be a good. Match, yeah and, uh
he's he's.

Speaker 3 (35:37):
Good what about some of the girls down there in
OVIE w you Had Shelley, Martinez Rosa, mendez Odb.

Speaker 1 (35:45):
Oh my, god all. Three Shelley martinez was a roommate
of mine as well With Aaron stevens and another guy
from Back, HOME gc dynam my my original training. Partner,
uh fun. Time, shelley you, know she Was she was
a good. Roommate she had her little dogs with. Her,
Yeah fred Nethel charlie's awesome and she's just she's just. Cool.

(36:06):
Shelley you know she had HER i met her there
and her room was like all vampire, stuff and her
bathroom her shower curtain was like red paint going like
this like glood and shoos. Me, yeah she was an interesting.

Speaker 2 (36:19):
Cat Mike, Mondo, OH i Love Mike.

Speaker 1 (36:22):
Mondo Mike mondo is just an awesome human being and
an amazing. Wrestler amazing, Wrestler like can go an hour right,
now call it in the ring with either of, us
and he's just a super talented. Guy oh to go,
Back Rosa. Mendez So rosa And maurice got hired the
same TIME i, did basically within a couple of. Weeks

(36:43):
so WHEN i came back from getting my, VISA i walk, in,
like who are those? Two it Was Rosa maurice and
she ended up being a roommate of mine. Too both
of them actually Were rosa in my house In tampa
And maurice had we had a little count not WE
i had a condo In dunedin and she was. There
it was a cool, roommate you, know like never gotten
your way and.

Speaker 2 (37:03):
Stuff now when did you find out you were being called? Up?

Speaker 1 (37:07):
Oh like two days before it. HAPPENED i. WAS i
was driving To, Elizabethtown kentucky FOR Lvw live, event and
the phone rings and again It's. Nova but he's with
some writers and they're, like, hey boris your backgrounds Really? Italian?
Right And i'm like, Yep and they're like can you

(37:31):
say anything In? Italian And Dusty rhodes taught me if
they ever asked you if you can do. Anything the
answer is, yes you can do, it and then you
better then you better know how to do it when
the time. Comes SO i used to work at Downtown
toronto AND i commuted for a year in the big rush.
Hour toronto's traffic is very. Bad AND i had a
Little italian tape AND i had listened to it over

(37:53):
and over and. Over it was Tourist. Italian so they,
said say something In. ITALIAN i regurgitated a few lines
from this with the most authentic ACCENT i, could AND
i could just see these writers looking around going, like you,
know on the speakerphone, SAYING i don't, know it sounds,
good it sounds. Good so, anyway they, said all, right
well call you, back and he's, like, yeah you, may you.

(38:14):
May you may fly out and debut as This italian.
Guy we're sending you your passport tomorrow and you're flying out.
Tomorrow so this Is. SATURDAY i get There, sunday chill
for the. Day, monday we go to the. BUILDING i
walk in And Ann anderson's, going it's you, know you're
having a pretty good, day, Son you're gonna win the
icy strap and walks, away And i'm like the hell

(38:35):
you just say and then, yeah then someone, says, Yeah
vince wants to talk with. You and THEN i sat
down With. Vince Met vince and he was super you,
know welcoming and, warm and he just, said you, know
tell me about yourself and if you're gonna be here
and you're gonna be my, TALENT i like to know
a little bit about the. Guys and we shot the
ship and he made it super, comfortable and, yeah it was.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
Awesome we were your first impressions Of vince.

Speaker 1 (38:59):
Just. Different he was from the. Character he was, quiet
and he sat down and he listened and, Like i'm
who AM i? Right and he sits down and he's,
like tell me about yourself and just sat back and
let me. Talk AND i talked about my judo. BACKGROUND
i talked about you, KNOW i had a brief marriage and,
university SO i talked about. That AND i made a
joke saying THAT i heard as a prerequisite to be

(39:20):
in the business to be, divorced and he, chuckled And
vince loves doing THINGS i have not been done. Before
so this this angle we're gonna. Do coming out of
the audience as a fan and winning the, title The
icy title had never been done, before so that that's
what really you, know that part of it appealed to,
him and, yeah you, know he was just his psychology was,

(39:42):
awesome and we went over the match a little bit
and he just said that there has to be a
moment WHERE i duck something and fire, back just to
show heart some, heart, Right so these people really get behind,
you and that's what, happened and it worked and it
was awesome take us.

Speaker 3 (39:58):
Through the first day as far as when he got,
there as far as working out the, spot.

Speaker 2 (40:03):
Yeah pretty. Much when you get to the, building you
meet With vince and then you get told pretty much
what you're gonna do right.

Speaker 1 (40:07):
Away, YEAH i was kind of walking. Around you, know
they have meetings and they'll go went over. Stuff so
the first couple of hours you're walking around And i'm
bumping into guys that THAT i know FROM ovw and they're, like,
hey what are you doing, Here And i'm, LIKE i don't.
Know Apparently i'm. DEBUTING i don't know, yet but you,
know anything could change her up until the last. Minute
SO i didn't want to say anything to, anybody even

(40:27):
one of my friends back, HOME i, said just watch.
RAW i made, debut AND i didn't tell my. FAMILY
i told him watch raw and. Yeah SO i had
that meeting With vince and then we. Went we went
ringside Where, Armando Alejandro estrada was, There umaga was, There
Michael hayes was, There Bobby lashley was, there and we
just talked about it. Once that was. It vince was

(40:48):
in the ring for the, segment so you, KNOW i
was in good hands and he was the ring leader
and he just had the mic and everything flowed. Perfectly
how was.

Speaker 2 (40:57):
It like to work With? AMaGA i love that.

Speaker 1 (41:00):
MAN i missed him all the time. Still he was
such a great, person just the, friendliest the biggest, smile
the warmest. Guy he made me feel, warm, warm made
me feel welcome from day, one you, know he was.
COOL i, mean this is a guy who's obviously a
big star in this little guys showing up and winning the,

(41:20):
title and he was cool with. That he realized he
didn't need this. Title he's a monster and he's a big,
player and it was just really nice, man.

Speaker 3 (41:31):
Respectful did you know at the time that your last,
Name marella was a surname that was a tribute to Girls.

Speaker 1 (41:36):
Kid, yeah IMMEDIATELY i knew that as they, said your
name Is Santina. MORELLA i, okay this is a, tribute
and there was definitely a little added pressure to to
pay homage to Both Joey marilla And Gulla.

Speaker 2 (41:49):
Monsoon memories of working With Chris Masters.

Speaker 1 (41:53):
CHRIS i Love. CHRIS i just saw him actually. Yesterday
he's dating a girl In, toronto so he was in
toront SO i had him over a little. Barbecue chris is.
Great you, know he was a Big he was a
young guy AND i was like ten years older than,
him and you, know he was just my senior with
regards to wrestling. Experience so he was. Good kind of

(42:16):
hard to hate the. GUY i mean in terms of having.
Heat If i'm a young, kid this guy looks. Awesome,
yeah he's a, big tough. GUY i don't want to
hate this. GUY i want to be like this. Guy
so maybe maybe he wasn't the best matchup in the,
beginning but you, know we became great. Friends we've wrote
together for a. While meet him And.

Speaker 3 (42:31):
Randy when you first got TO, tv did anybody take
any side and say this is what you need to
do or did your pretty much already know everything at
a good wise when you first got called the.

Speaker 1 (42:40):
Like behavior, Backstade, NO i. WAS i was called up
on the road a couple of. TIMES i had a
couple of dark. Matches so you, Know armanduel La hondu
A strata was in my class With Rip, rogers so
he was up there and he was doing really, well
so he kind of told, me you, know hang out
with this guy and listen to this. Guy My kyoto

(43:02):
was very influential and giving me some of the dues
and don'ts on the. Road and you, KNOW i MEAN
i was an older. GUY i. WAS i wasn't a
loud mouth AND i was pretty. Cool i'm just, Quiet
SO i definitely had To they gave me the title
on credit AND i had to pay it. Off SO
i had to earn everyone's respects slowly and just want
my work ethic and, attitude and over TIME i like

(43:24):
to believe THAT i just you, know earned the right
to wear.

Speaker 2 (43:28):
It so when you sat down With vince the first
night and did they have direction for your, character did they, Explain.

Speaker 1 (43:33):
Well it was a young babyface underdog being five, Ten
i'm all being underdog and just gonna be that guy
that shows heart and, yeah that was that was really.
It And evince didn't know how Much ITALIAN i spoke
at the, time and they they wanted to hear me
Speak english with An italian. ACCENT i REMEMBER i had

(43:54):
to do that in a pre tape and it was
like the first interview Of. Santino Oh, GOD i gotta
find that somewhere And i'm, like, UH i can't even
believe it to. Happened there's SOMETHING i. Forget but you,
know growing up In, mississauga which is right Beside, toronto
all my friends are from from different countries so their
parents are so my neighbors Are croatian across the Streets, Polish, Portuguese, Italian,

(44:19):
greek so all our parents have, accents so you can,
imitate you, know anybody with an. Accent so that's that's
where you. Know plus my family is For instrumitaly and
my uncle has an. Accent my, grandparents well they didn't Speak.
English but, YEAH i had a lot of. References after you.

Speaker 3 (44:36):
Won the title and you got back to girl, position
anybody come Up chare and say, anything, feedback you.

Speaker 1 (44:41):
Know the guys THAT i knew FROM ovw were, like.
CONGRATULATIONS i went. OUT i REMEMBER i was, like freaking,
out that just it just. Happened SO i went out
to This it was a patio AND i bummed a
smoke off Of Scott armstrong AND i just started, saying
you want to hear, Something AND i told him a.
STORY i, said my whole, LIFE i was training for

(45:02):
the two Thousand olympics AND i had my. DAUGHTER i
just turned twenty one and had my. Daughter tried to
maintain my national team, status and you, know EVENTUALLY i
got separated from my. MOM i had to pay child.
Support she moved back To toronto And. Montreal i'm, like
oh my, GOD i GOTTA i have to walk away
from The. Olympics it's my whole. Life and it was

(45:23):
nineteen ninety eight AND i, said, okay that was my
last national. Championships AND i, said, Okay i'm gonna be
a professional. Wrestler and in nineteen ninety, EIGHT i, said
one Day i'm gonna be into continental champion and WHEN
i win, That i'll let The olympics. Go and SO
i told, him As i'm in the ring looking at this,
Title i'm, like you, promise, man you promised to let it.

(45:45):
GO i still get choked up about it because it
was it was it was like letting something go and
embracing something. Else and, ANYWAY i told him the story
and he's, like that's so cool, man you know he's,
cool and, yeah, man that Was that was my my
post post uh victory moment was me And scott on

(46:06):
the on the. Patiote yeah were you?

Speaker 2 (46:08):
Surprised ww had you dropped the belt back so? Quickly?

Speaker 1 (46:14):
YEAH i. Guess. Well there was one pay per view
that was In, houston Where umaga was, living and this
one particular crowd was like cheering Frou, baga like the
more he beat, me the more they would. Cheer and it
was supposed to be the baby, face AND i think
that crowd had an impact on the office, going this
guy's not getting over as a. Babyface so the thing, was,
well let's turn him heel that doesn't. Work who? Knows?

(46:39):
Right repackage or asta la? Vista who? Knows so luckily
my first heel promo was very amusing To vince McMann and,
uh and that's all you really. Need you really need
to make that man laugh or that. Man impress that.
Man now obviously it's impressed Impressed TRIPLE h as, well but,

(47:00):
yeah and there was guys on the live events Like
Arna anderson was a fan of mine and SEEING i
was a fan of, mine AND i got a lot
of good reports back and ONCE i became a, heal
it just really took. Off and this is HOW i
knew they liked, it because after my first, PROMO i
was guest commentary next, week another promo next week, backstage
so they wanted me on the mic right AND i

(47:20):
just brought the character to. LIFE i. WASN'T i didn't
look LIKE i was playing the. CHARACTER i looked LIKE
i was a real. Person and even WHEN i go To,
italy people are, thinking you, know You're you're Really. Italian
Even Chris, jericho when he first came back After i'd been,
There he's, like it's tripping me out hearing you talk like.
THIS i thought you were From Italy And i'm, like, no, Man,
toronto that's.

Speaker 3 (47:40):
Awesome were you still training AT ovw during the time
of all? This and then when did you finally Leave?

Speaker 1 (47:45):
DEVELOPMENTAL i Left developmental immediately because and this is HOW
i knew they were pretty serious ABOUT i, debuted like
the next, week they gave me a road contract instead
of taking me off my developmental AND i didn't want
to be the guy that packed and left, immediately but
my daughter wasn't home and it was it was time to.

Speaker 2 (48:04):
Go who came up with the idea of putting you
With Maria? CANELLIS i don't.

Speaker 1 (48:11):
KNOW i was just giving the. Instructions it could have been.
VINCED i. Guess, yeah it was. INTERESTING i.

Speaker 2 (48:17):
Guess did you like working with?

Speaker 1 (48:19):
Her, yeah she's. Cool maria's because she's beautiful and she's,
funny and she, was you, know like a good sport about.

Speaker 3 (48:25):
Everything what did you think about the angle where you
were trying to stop her from appearing In?

Speaker 1 (48:30):
Playboy that was pretty. FUNNY i think that was like
the beginning of me really being that kind of. Heal
we did a bunch of fun stuff in the. Ring, yeah,
yeah of, course that's you, know that's, heat, Right like
especially everyone wants to see the pictures or they want
to see the cover and you take it away from.
Him it was it was a good source of.

Speaker 3 (48:49):
Heat talk about the character slowly turning into a more
comedic personality at, first not knowing how it was going
to work. Out were you concerned that you were going
to be pigeonholed into that.

Speaker 1 (48:58):
ROLE i wasn't con That i'd be. Pigeonholed in, fact you,
know being pigeonholed was a guaranteed. JOB i actually read
an article once by Last storm talking about he liked the.
Character he, Said, yeah you're not gonna be a main event.
Guy you won't be fighting for the title and have
feuds against these big, guys but you'll have a. Job
there's always a spot for. That if you have a

(49:18):
serious angle and a serious, angle you need something in
the middle to be that. Buffer and, Hey i'll be
that buffer all day, long no.

Speaker 2 (49:24):
Problem was there a point where you embraced.

Speaker 1 (49:26):
It, NO i embraced it from the get, go you,
know being five to, ten debuting at thirty three years,
OLD i was very conscious that this is Already i'm
already beating the odds being. Here SO i was. Happy
if you gave me, Lemons i'm gonna make you absolutely
the best lemonade you ever had in your. Life SO i.
WAS i was always very.

Speaker 2 (49:46):
Grateful who was writing for the character at this point in.

Speaker 1 (49:50):
The beginning Was brian Ger. Wurtz. Okay he wrote a
lot of actually comedic gems And in the, beginning he
was very precise, writing and then it, became you, KNOW
i can adjust a few. Things then it became bullet.
Points then it became just say this how you would say,
It and they gave me a lot more. Freedom and,

(50:13):
YEAH i guess you, KNOW i got away with some
stuff that most people couldn't. Do but BECAUSE i didn't
and it was done, SUCCESSFULLY i got away with.

Speaker 2 (50:22):
It what insight did you get From vince around this
period of?

Speaker 1 (50:25):
Time this period of, time you, know my interaction With vince,
afterwards it was, minimal AND i WISH i meant he's
like my, idol and he's just so. Busy you, know
he's on the, phone and you know he's. Okay once
in a while if you knock on the, Door Hey,
vince CAN i talk to? You it was always, yes

(50:47):
or maybebe five, minutes but five minutes. Came he never
brushed you, off and he's always saying come in more
often if you have. Something But i'm, like it seems
like everybody comes in to complain about. SOMETHING i, Said
i'm happy And i'm not being. Complacent i'm just really
grateful for this job AND i love being. Here and
there's people sometimes they'll have meetings, like if you don't
want to be the heavyweight, champion you're in the wrong.

(51:08):
Business i'm not in the wrong. Business i'm a comedic
guy AND i love, it thank you very. Much AND
i think one TIME i knocked in the, DOOR i, said, Hey,
VINCE i just want to let you know everything's. OKAY
i had no, complaints And i'm, like it's it's true
because THEY i don't want them to Think i'm not.
TRYING i love What i'm.

Speaker 2 (51:26):
DOING i was gonna ask, you is in his locker?

Speaker 3 (51:29):
Room was it truly open for anybody these days if
you wanted to talk to?

Speaker 1 (51:33):
Him, yeah oh, yeah, okay there's guys that make careers
out of.

Speaker 2 (51:36):
That where did the idea Of marilla speaking Broken english come?

Speaker 1 (51:40):
From, WELL i was supposed to be From, italy, right
SO i would have had a strong, accent which put
a lot of pressure on me to Learn italian, afterwards
because you know the strength of my. Accent OBVIOUSLY i Spoke. Italian,
yeah SO i couldn't speak, like oh, wait what did we?
SAY i used to make a joke for A rosetta,

(52:01):
stone BUT i was, like, FIRST i couldn't Speak italian
and go THEN i could badly Speak. English so we joked.

Speaker 3 (52:10):
Memberies of the vignette you did With Steve austin where
you got laid out to help promote his Movie Looking.

Speaker 1 (52:14):
Them, yeah SO i guess that was pretty hot at the.
Time as a, HEEL i was on the mic and
people were pretty quick to put over my mic skills
at the, time And i'm, Like i'll take it, easy and,
yeah the movie was coming, out and like at, first
WHEN i was cutting off the movie OR i, was you,

(52:35):
know making fun of, HIM i. Didn't i'm, Like i'm
actually gonna get to meet this, guy never mind meet,
him you know WHAT i. Mean AND i met. Him
he was. AWESOME i Remember Michael hayes took me aside and,
said you've been you've been moving the ball up. Field
now we're gonna see if you can score a. Touchdown
and you're swimming with the big fish tonight and a.

Speaker 2 (52:54):
Lot of pressure on.

Speaker 1 (52:55):
You. Yeah, yeah of, course, man you don't want to
let down Stone cold in a. Segment BUT i went
out there and you, know you hear the, guys like
a lot of the veterans saying like like like take
this from, me, like take, me dethrown. ME i want
you to dethrow. ME i want somebody to dethrow me

(53:16):
and show me that they have balls and that they're
gonna be the next big. Thing so out. There, yeah
DID i dominate the segment a little, bit but you,
KNOW i think he was happy with.

Speaker 2 (53:27):
It memories of Working Little Snoop dogg and wrestling twenty
four as part of The Playboy Bunny Lumberjack, Match.

Speaker 1 (53:33):
Oh, Man Snoop dogg Was it's one of those things,
that out of all the accomplishments you have in your,
life that was the most impressive to my, friends. Right
AND i met him once In New york when we
did the pretaate building up to the thing at some
studio AND i remember saying to myself that so we did,
it you, know tweak this do, that did it, again

(53:56):
and we did it. Again it was. Perfect he's, like
let's do it, again and let's do it, again and
he Was i'm, like this, GUY i get. It and
this guy's work ethic was. Tremendous he did not want
to leave until everyone was completely satisfied with how it.
Went AND i, Go, okay that's why He's Snoop dogg
because of this work, ethic AND i was just so.
Impressed he was in a rush to get out of

(54:18):
there or. Anything he. Was he was. Cool so then
he obviously remembered me When mania came and we went
to meet. Again you, KNOW i walk on his Bikey
go Was santino and presents me with a blunt.

Speaker 2 (54:30):
Ye memories of while getting the work With maria on
raw and getting beat up by the.

Speaker 1 (54:35):
Divas oh, gosh, yeah and that was when the character
was reaching a point where he's it's kind of hard
to come back as a tough guy from this point
and the, beata the, bit the, beatas the divas beat me,
up held my, legs And maria head butted my. Grind it's.
FUNNY i kind of forgot about that for because it's
so long, ago AND i SAW i saw the the

(54:55):
video on. YouTube i'm, like oh my, god have you
watched the girls in that. Video they're they're, Laughing they're
they just think it's so funny that this is.

Speaker 3 (55:04):
Happening you got to work with one of the best
talkers in the, Business Roddy. Piper he did the vignette
with him And Jimmy cammel members are working With.

Speaker 1 (55:11):
RODDY i remember that every time he slapped, me it
was a stiff slap and then we had to do it.
Again it was something wrong with the. Lighting i'm, like
is this a rib? Here there's like eight slaps in the,
face full power slaps From Roddy piper Wor Jimmy Jimmy.

Speaker 2 (55:25):
Cornette oh, yeah a lot.

Speaker 1 (55:26):
Worse yeah, yeah and of court, Case Roddy piper was
one of our, favorites my brother AND i as, kids and,
yeah working With Roddy piper is it was. Amazing it
was actually like, amazing.

Speaker 3 (55:40):
How did you get put together With Beth? Phoenix and
then these guys started getting called The.

Speaker 1 (55:44):
GLAMORILLA i Think vince liked the whole uh paradox of
the female dominant in the relationship And santino being this
kind of goofy guy now being pushed around by this.
Woman he thought it was hilarious and a lot of people,
did a lot of people like to see this goofy
jerk of a guy that was mean To maria now

(56:05):
get his, own you, know his his his share of
it With beth And beth as you Know, Beth, yeah, yeah.
Amazing she's, awesome like sweetest person ever and so different
from her character and like a legit awesome, athlete super,
strong she does stuff in the weight. Room why SHOULD
i see her do one? Time like a set of

(56:25):
twenty with two plates. Squatting i'm, Like i'm pretty SURE
i can't do, that especially. Now but she was just
she was. Awesome beth is, amazing glamorrella and just so Sweet.
Beth this one time we did a little a pilot
for a. Sitcom we had to kiss And she's, like
can it be on the? Cheek AND i was, like,
ah of COURSE i.

Speaker 3 (56:44):
Can you know now a lot of people still talk
about this, today even tonight at the signing with you your
SECOND i see run and then you did The honky
meter trying to Break honky Talk man's.

Speaker 2 (56:53):
Record did you feel THAT ww pulled the trigger too
soon on any neck?

Speaker 1 (56:56):
Gimmick, yes that. Give originally it was supposed to actually
last the, year and we're gonna bring it right down
to the wire and Maybe honky Tonk man was gonna
stop it OR i was gonna break. It it wasn't
kind of it was up in the, air but we
were planning to go for a, while and then someone
got In vince's ear and, said this is, uh we're
making a farce of the. Title this guy's a you,

(57:18):
know a comedic guy shouldn't have this prestigious, title and
who are you? Know whoever it was did a good
job and Convincing. Vince because the Next european tour lost
the title To regal ON tv and that was. IT
a lot of people were genuinely pissed, off not THAT
i lost the, title that it was the end of
The Honky, meter. Right people loved The Honky, meter and it's,
funny all these years, LATER i get a few you,

(57:40):
know there's some few consistencies House. SANTINA i love The Honky,
meter the elimination chamber and all that kind of, stuff
but The Honky meter is always up. There people love that.
THING i think the name of, it The Honky, meter.

Speaker 2 (57:54):
Having the shortest rumble appearance in. History memories of.

Speaker 1 (57:56):
That during the, meeting it was De malenko and he was, saying,
okay like number one is this? Guy number two's this
guy whenever WHENEVER i came in out sixteen, Seventeen, yeah
and they Go, santino number seventeen he, goes it's gonna
be pretty, quick AND i, said, okay that's. Cool AND
i was, like CAN i try and break the. Record he's,

(58:19):
like let me find. Out he went somewhere and, said uh,
yeah you can do. It SO i W i knew
it was like a couple seconds From. Warlord SO i, said,
Okay i'm gonna run in and slide in to hook
this by and we have to be pretty pretty accurate with.
It And kin was the man to do it and
came was there like a. PRO i, like didn't waste

(58:39):
a split second and we broke the. Record y and uh,
YEAH i know how to break. IT i know how
to break it, again But i'm not telling.

Speaker 2 (58:45):
Anybodya wait til you go come.

Speaker 1 (58:47):
Back.

Speaker 3 (58:48):
Yeah were you surprised when the crowd turned your baby
face After mania twenty?

Speaker 1 (58:52):
Five, NO i saw it happen AND i saw it.
Coming and the thing is when you make people, laugh
can you hate someone that makes you? Laugh and uh,
yeah just slowly every week there was a few, more
a few, more a few, more and then it was
kind of. Undeniable but that's the way to be. Turned
every every veteran or our producer or agent said man

(59:17):
when when the crouch turns, you it's it's it's.

Speaker 2 (59:21):
Awesome did you have any issues with dressing and drag
and playing your own? Sister, NO i.

Speaker 1 (59:27):
KNEW i knew my family back home would be, like
oh my, god this is the end if they're. Donking
and some people thought that once you dressed like a,
woman there's no coming back from. It but, again you,
know you give me, Lemons i'll make, lemonade and. Uh
it was supposed to be one night only At, mania
but it was just so funny and Apparently vince was
like dying And gorilla by dancing and, everything so we

(59:49):
ended up lasting for a few.

Speaker 2 (59:50):
Months did you think any of the women were pissed
when they found out that you were? Winning really a
lot of.

Speaker 1 (59:56):
The women were, pissed AND i don't blame. Them they
went on the road and they busted their all year
and then this guy comes in and just Wins Miss.
WrestleMania so, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:00:06):
Anybody say, anything you? Know, okay but you heard everybody
behind the. Him.

Speaker 1 (01:00:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:00:11):
Yeah did you ever approach any of the girls and, say,
hey this is a spot that was given to.

Speaker 1 (01:00:14):
ME i may have spoken to the group at, large
just Say, HEY i know this is a little. Bit
you guys worked really hard and it was not. Fair
but you, Know i'm not going to turn down the.
Opportunity it's it's nobody, would and there's an unspoken understanding
that any opportunity that comes your, way you're gonna seize.

Speaker 2 (01:00:30):
It were there any major differences for you working with
women in the.

Speaker 1 (01:00:33):
Ring, No these women are like someone Like beth who's
probably at the time was one of the best workers
in the, company man or. WOMAN i didn't actually touch
any of the girls at the in the battle, world
but at the END i just threw them.

Speaker 2 (01:00:50):
Over what About vicky working With Vicky?

Speaker 1 (01:00:53):
GIRL i Love Vicky. Girl she was such a locker
room leader for the girls and just a awesome. Person,
YEAH i missed the key.

Speaker 2 (01:01:03):
Any insight into working With Donald trump when he got
when he Fired, santina.

Speaker 1 (01:01:09):
He kept looking at the. Camera you're not supposed to
look at the. Camera but they let it go Because Donald,
Trump he's seems like an. Airhead he just just you,
know sometimes when there's people like like that are brilliant
and they're thinking of constantly the large picture and not
the small. DETAILS i was trying to justify why he
was so spaced. OUT i don't. Know you see how

(01:01:32):
he is ON tv.

Speaker 2 (01:01:32):
Now it's arrogant and full of, himself.

Speaker 1 (01:01:36):
But he doesn't say the right. Thing, yeah of course
he says the wrong things. Consistently what do you think
is gonna? Happen you think's gonna want to and become
president of The United? STATES i don't. KNOW i hope.
Not if it, Is americans have to realize that you
now the laughing stock in the political global political. Landscape
he's a big. Gimmick to, me it's a. Farce and you,

(01:01:59):
know this is the thing about the only thing that
bothers me about that is, that, look how many people
gave their lives for this, count for The United states
to be, free for the for, democracy for the political
system we have in, place and you're gonna make a
farce of it when these people get, like you, know
how many grandfathers and great grandfathers died in the. War

(01:02:21):
i'm pretty sure it wasn't for this guy to be, president.

Speaker 2 (01:02:24):
Right it's very.

Speaker 3 (01:02:24):
True take us through a typical day OF. Tv what
it's like for a wrestler at raw and when did
you find out about your? Segments and how much they
change over the course of the.

Speaker 1 (01:02:32):
Day, yeah generally get. There let's, say if It's Eastern center,
time it's two. O'clock and it really depends on what
the writers. Presented. Vince if the show is if you
read the show and, goes, hmm good, job then they'll
be the producers will be scattering and find. Everybody you.
Know Sometimes i'll see someone in the hallway goes the show. Done,

(01:02:57):
Yeah they're, go oh my, God vince is redoing the whole.
Thing so then you've got a couple of hours to.
Kill we just. Chilling. Catering catering is ALWAYS i love
the food and. Catering uh deega digga. Catering they're.

Speaker 2 (01:03:09):
Awesome was there anything ever scripted for you that you
weren't happy about doing? It and try to get a change.

Speaker 1 (01:03:16):
When people try to WRITE i sent you, Know i'm
my gun uh tell, You i'm, LIKE i hate, that
And i'll be like who wrote? This And i'll be
like the new. Guy, okay, yeah, no you don't do.
That you, KNOW i got it. Right but then there
was a couple of things that like a couple jokes

(01:03:39):
Or i'm like and this is later, later in my,
Career i'll be, Like i'm Not i'm, sorry this is really.
Stupid it's not funny. Joke i'm not gonna say, it
but did you get? It but if you're, yeah well
all you gotta do is just say something. Funnier if
you're gonna change what's written, down it has to be
better or come across more successful than what was originally written.

(01:04:00):
Down same with. Wrestling if you have a match and
you go over your, time it better be. Awesome if
you go over your time and take away from someone
else and it's, shit you're in.

Speaker 2 (01:04:07):
Trouble memories of working With.

Speaker 1 (01:04:10):
Vladimir vladimir is one of my favorite human beings in the.
WORLD i love. HIM i just saw him Recently. MIAMI
i love this. Man he Was he's just to ride with.
Him we spent, god we shared, rooms we were all
about saving, money we shared. Cars we were together five
days a week for years and never got sick of each.

(01:04:33):
Other and he's also legitimately like a world smble champion
two hundred and like eighty five pounds. Ripped he's a.
Monster he's. Awesome he's just one time a one time
colleie has to have a. Driver he can't drives, right
and the company pays for the, car and we LIKE
calli and CAUSE i was like With, khalei you, know

(01:04:56):
for as long as we can free, car and so
Me kali cause love going to like a what do
you call? IT i hop and they're ordering And i'm
translating From english To english because it's just their accents
are so, strong and it was it was just. Fun
it was, fun. Man and obviously like these guys walk
in anywhere in THE us and everyone's, like what the

(01:05:19):
hell is going on?

Speaker 2 (01:05:19):
Here monsters memories are winning the tag titles with.

Speaker 1 (01:05:23):
Them that you know why that was good because that
was the first TIME i won a title conscious, Right
BUT i won my first, TITLE i was knocked Out
bobby Lash to put me on. Top WHEN i. Won
the second, time it was a it was two titles
up for, grabs the women's in The. Intercontinental so As
Mickey james And kofe versus me And Beth beth won the.
MATCH i was unconscious and when she wakes me, Up i'm,

(01:05:46):
like we. Won so this was this time was the
first TIME i actually won a match by doing a
cobra and pinning the guy and the good part it
was is that we were kind of this, mismatched odd
team that had something to it that you liked the
way we, interacted and we just groomed, popularity groomed popularity until,
yeah the office heard and we won the. TITLES i

(01:06:07):
think it was In, Louisville kentucky, too at The yum
what's called The Yum arena or, SOMETHING i don't, Know
Yum Yum, arena whatever it's.

Speaker 2 (01:06:12):
Called where did the cobra finisher come?

Speaker 1 (01:06:15):
From the cobra finisher came from a gentleman In japan
Named carol who at a bar just showed me this
thing with his, arm and it was this a little
thing they did where he made it into like a
he'd turn it and put a stick here and make
it like a little wooden puppet type. Thing AND i
remember looking at the. Guy it was Actually Yuki. Chicago i'm,

(01:06:36):
like what is? That why is he doing? That he,
WAS i don't, Know it's just something. Funny so and
the guy couldn't Speak, english so it's kind of we
were able to share a laugh without having the. Language
and then you, KNOW i saw him a few months
later he did it again and that was. IT i
forgot about it for, years and one Day i'm having
a MATCH i think it was Against. Carlito carlito or

(01:06:57):
travel look at see AND i, like, go, hey watch.
This i'm gonna try, something you, Know So i'll do
my comeback like, wha wha whah. Toomb he turns AND
i roll them, up and the audience immediately. Laughed without
ever seeing it ON tv or have you, know being
preconditioned to, it they laughed. Immediately SO i came back
and he's, like keep it AND i only did it

(01:07:19):
on live. EVENTS i used to do it and to
a school, boy. Right and then one DAY i go
TO tv And Ricky steamboat's my producer and he's, LIKE
i forget who was. Wrestling and then, anyway he's, like,
yeah you did the Wrestl. Santino he's going over with
the cobra and it. Goes vince wants to see. It
he's heard all about. It i'm, like, Okay so the
word got back AND i did the cobra for a

(01:07:41):
little bit and then then we then we invented the
sock gimmick and put on top of, it AND i
remember there was, Times, god there was times WHEN i
give that look just to look and people will go
nuts and stand up and like see the whole arena.
Going i'm, like why are you guys settling for? This
So i'm not, lame but you, Know i'm like they

(01:08:05):
loved it, though so of COURSE i did it to
the rest of my. Ability but phoniest move in wrestling.
HISTORY i Think.

Speaker 2 (01:08:11):
Nick foley ever, say, hey this kind of reminds me Of.

Speaker 1 (01:08:13):
Socco, No, no he never. Did, no he. Didn't it
wasn't the. Same but you know who called me out on.
Something you MENTIONED odb, before, right the. TROMBONE i stole
that FROM i. Didn't the only THING i ever stole
and wrestling was a. Trombone SO i didn't know if
she saw. It but one DAY i get a text
and it's like nice, trombone ha ha ha whatever with her. Voice,

(01:08:36):
Yeah SO i texted, Him, YEAH i have me need
to talk to you about. That she goes, Not it's
okay as long as it's getting good use or. Whatever
so the trombone is FROM. Odb it's.

Speaker 3 (01:08:46):
Official you Mentioned John. Cena talk About John. Cena is
he a locker room leader or is he play?

Speaker 2 (01:08:52):
Politics is he one of the.

Speaker 1 (01:08:53):
Boys John cena now is in a, bus so he's
not in the locker. Room but for the first few
years THAT i was, there he was in the locker.
Room and he is a locker room. Leader he leads by.
Example he's the, first you, know first guy, there last
guy to. Leave he's in his. Gear he's when we

(01:09:13):
go To european. Tours he was the guy that took
it upon. Himself he was the champ at the time
to make sure the boys got together and shared some
awesome memories in the, pub at the bar wherever we
were played. Cards he's he's an. Animal he trains like
a just an, animal super. Strong LIKE i Love John,
cena but you know what one THING i like About

(01:09:33):
John cena more he's so smart and when he gets into,
something he researches and he reads and he never drank.
Before and when he got into, drinking he knew everything
about single, malt, scotch double malt, scotch, beers yeast, processing.

(01:09:53):
Fermenting he he got into it. Right and he's a
a history buff with with the. War he knows. That
he's just he got into. Bodybuilding he got. It he
became very good at that took at his. Physique he
got into pro. Wrestling he became one of the rest you,
know legendary pro wrestlers in. History whatever he sinks his teeth,
into he becomes really good at. It he becomes obsessed with.

(01:10:16):
It he Learned chinese to expand you, know the global.
Market he what did he get into for a second?
There he got into some other stuff and you, know
he's learned so much about. It cars he knows everything
about bold cars and he Plays he trades cards like
cars like, cards, right and he, uh he's just so smart.

Speaker 3 (01:10:37):
Man there's a lot of stories that went around that
seeing of politically cut the legs out Of Alex riley
any insight.

Speaker 1 (01:10:43):
To that at, all Or Alex Riley wood would would think.
That and you, know there's it's every man for. Himself
it's an unspoken. Understanding but to, set you, know to
sabotage someone's, career that's a different. THING i don't know
if he did.

Speaker 3 (01:10:58):
That what was Between So i've heard a lot of different.
Stories i've heard weird stories And i've heard other.

Speaker 2 (01:11:03):
STORIES i don't.

Speaker 1 (01:11:05):
KNOW i think there was times WHERE i Guess sina
Wanted viley to embrace the locker room mentality and come
have some drinks and and you, know if you don't want,
to it's not that you're disrespecting the locker room the
way the system's in, place because there is there is a.

(01:11:25):
Hierarchy there is you, know, seniority and you have to
pay your. Dues AND i don't, KNOW i don't know what,
Happened but you, know at the same, Time alex wasn't
wrestling perfect. Matches his psychology was a Little offesometimes he looked,
great hard, worker but once you get the booboo face,

(01:11:47):
backstage it's it's seen it. As you can't hide. That
so whatever, happened you got to ask you. That you,
know sometimes he made a bad match and maybe he
got yelled at and then it's. SNOWBALLED i don't know
what happened. THERE i thought the. MISSED i definitely THINK
ww missed the boat with. HIM i think he could
have been a big star for. Sure why he, Didn't
i'll never.

Speaker 2 (01:12:07):
Know why do you think ted Dbsc junior didn't last?

Speaker 1 (01:12:10):
Won he wanted it? Out, yeah he's just capable of
so much. More outside of, that he's a. Businessman, yeah
he's awesome. Man he's, like he's one of those guys
who's in your. Mind me Was matthew, McConaughey that kind of.

Speaker 2 (01:12:22):
Actor he actually just did a project With. Leonardo.

Speaker 1 (01:12:26):
Yeah, yeah he's in the films. Now he's involved politically
with the state Of. Mississippi he's that guy that can
go on the golf course and like, strike you, know
multimillion dollar. Deals he's just he's a. Slick he was
that good looking tall he was the, quarterback, Right he's that.
Guy he's.

Speaker 2 (01:12:41):
Awesome you were put with that to me in, overtime
but the relationship was pretty much. Dropped any insight into
why that didn't, LAST i don't.

Speaker 1 (01:12:48):
KNOW i think the only THING i could think of
is that they kind of saw it With beth and
they had different plans for. HER i think around that
time my next started acting up a bit, Too SO
i don't know IF i missed time and then we
just broke.

Speaker 2 (01:12:59):
Up wasn't our car accident right after?

Speaker 1 (01:13:00):
That my?

Speaker 2 (01:13:01):
Car oh, yeah, yeah, yeah what happened with?

Speaker 1 (01:13:04):
It god, MAN i got smashed to smithereens, scary, man really.
SCARY i was in the left hand. TURN i was
about to make a LEFT i was gonna get a,
haircut and it was late at, night my barber up late,
anyway AND i just, said, uh you know, What i'm
gonna go, right AND i look back and there was
like one car coming and it passed. Parently there was two.

(01:13:26):
Cars SO i just pulled out bag and it smashed
my my hit my back the passenger rear tire very
hard eight uh about fifty miles an, hour and it
shot me through the. Intersection. Uh my tires hit the
island and which made me start rolling and it rolled
boom immediately into a, pole which stopped the car from

(01:13:48):
rolling but disintegrated the car right behind. Me so if
you looked at the front of my, car it didn't
leave me look LIKE i got in an. Accident, Uh
but the back of my car was like k, gone you,
know so so, man so. Lucky and because the car
hit the curb and it's hit the, POLE i was

(01:14:10):
slammed in my. Side and it was An it was
a good. Car it was a Land ROVER lr two,
right and it took it like a champ and the
the bags went off AND i. Slammed so. H Now
i'm standing in my car and the passenger door is
here And i'm, like, OH i said. Shit, luckily but
because the front of the car was still pretty safe

(01:14:30):
the sun, roof SO i kind of get. Well some
guy runs up in the beginning he's like you, okay
And i'm, like, oh. OKAY i was kind of passed
through and it's it's. Funny so, ANYWAY i get out
of this the the uh, sunroof and there's the smell
of gunpowder cause the bags went, off AND i called
my my dad AND i, said, hey it's been in
a car, accident AND i give him the intersection and
then they Called Johnny ace CAUSE i gotta go To

(01:14:52):
Puerto rico in the. Morning So i'm uh and the
ww there was so nice to me all the. Time
So i'm at the front of my. Car it's, like, Hey,
johnny It's. SANTINO i just got in the car, accident
you know. Whatever and then As i'm talking to, HIM
i walk around in the back of the. CAR i, go, hey,
jo it almost, died, Man AND i guess you heard

(01:15:12):
me choke up on the phone say like almost. Died
and they were, like take your, time it's. Cool and,
anyway so tow truck driver comes and he's, like you,
okay but, yeah shoulder hurts a. Bit he, goes it's
probably pretty. BAD i, said, nah it's. Okay he, goes
you're in, shock And i'm, Like i'm not in. Shock
r pretty calm and sure. Enough. Man thirty minutes, LATER i, go,

(01:15:34):
UH i was. Separated oh so yeah that was bad
and you're out for what a couple of. Months separation is,
Weird like first three weeks you're you're messed, up and then,
uh it kind of gets. It it gets. Better, Okay
let's say in two, months you can do push up,
right so he can work, out but you're not full.

(01:15:55):
POWER i can't do dips OR i can't do overhead
press or whatever it. Is there's a lot of li
limitations that last about a. Year so, yeah they're. There they.
Were they were good with. Me that was my second.
One my first one was that one was.

Speaker 2 (01:16:07):
Worse did you rush to come back or did you
feel pressure to come? Back you want spot or?

Speaker 1 (01:16:12):
No you? KNOW i was they they put me to
use to. WORK i MEAN i was doing do stuff
backstage in the mic or. Something that's actually WHEN i
separated my shoulder the first time WITH. Maga REMEMBER i
was doing all those promos and the sling on in the,
beginning and that was actually somewhat of a catalyst with
regardless to becoming a heel on the. Mic so it's

(01:16:33):
kind of not a. Blessing but you have to work
with The.

Speaker 2 (01:16:36):
Muppets, yes there was working with The muppets.

Speaker 1 (01:16:38):
On the, roll but there is a few celebrities that.
Were Bob barker The, MUPPETS i. WAS i watched The
muppets all the, time The, muppts Showing muppet movies them
he is he has tattoos Of muppets all. Over and
the fact That beaker gave me the potion BECAUSE i
always had Your we're kids talking about, characters this IDEA
i wanted to do. One they would give me a,

(01:16:58):
PILL i go ape shit and then leader they found
out it was a sugar pill AND i had some
predisposition of diabetics something. Whatever, yeah that was cool them.
Up it's were cool just seeing how they work and
how they're they got and like the SAME i think
the same voice is Like kermit And Miss piggy the same. Guy,
YEAH i was, like.

Speaker 2 (01:17:19):
What members are working Without teddy long as his.

Speaker 1 (01:17:22):
Assistant TEDDY i joke about. IT i, SAID i want
The Teddy long. Contract he's been there. Forever that guy's. Been.
Man if you see Old Teddy long, pictures he was
refereeing and. Stuff just a cool, cat works he works
out harder than half the. Boys you, know just had
a really good. Life he gave me a lot of good.
ADVICE i loved working With.

Speaker 3 (01:17:43):
Teddy members of going all the way to the end
of the forty man rumble Against, alberto it was.

Speaker 1 (01:17:49):
Interesting it was one of those things WHERE i was
shit canned through the middle, rope SO i was still
technically in, it AND i laid low for a. While
so it wasn't like a brilliant performance in the Entire royal.
RUMBLE i just kind of came out at the end
and like he hasn't been. Eliminated but you, know during
the whole, rumble no one is saying to, Themselves satino
still in. IT i know it was a, surprise and

(01:18:10):
then you, know Textbook santino celebrate too early and then
he reversed and threw it. Out BUT i have a
lot of people that came after me and they're, like,
DUDE i thought you were going to Mass mania in
the main event it would have been so. Awesome and,
yeah that sure would have been.

Speaker 2 (01:18:25):
Awesome what are your remembers of working With ricardo And? Alberto,
oh they're.

Speaker 1 (01:18:29):
Great i'm a fan of of of Del rio's.

Speaker 2 (01:18:32):
Anyway plus he's got a background similar CHEERS.

Speaker 1 (01:18:34):
Mma he, Trained, yeah he was a national champion In
Mexico greco woman. Wrestling he's a badass and, uh of
COURSE mma and he trained With Marco rujas and he's,
like he's the legend, man he's the. Cowboy he's just,
living you, know he's he's.

Speaker 2 (01:18:51):
Awesome do you think they missed a boat with him
when he came back and they turned him he'll too
quick when he first came back the second.

Speaker 1 (01:18:57):
Time, NO i think he's as long as he's, there he's.

Speaker 3 (01:19:01):
Fine members of the uh elimination chamber match where you
almost went all the way and the crowd winding nuts.

Speaker 1 (01:19:06):
For, It, yeah it's. FUNNY i came back AND i
remember seeing us, saying BECAUSE i know What i'm capable
of doing with the audience, Goes i'll not get them
louder than that. Tonight that was insane and at the
time you're just trying, to you, know get through the,
match and you're not really kind of like completely living
in the, moment, right but it. Had that moment had

(01:19:28):
a profound effect on a lot of. People people come
up to me at signings At mania and fan access
THAN i. Do the elimination, chamber we were jumping up
and down in our living. Room we, thought, no where
he's gonna win, it cause at that point one person
only kicked out of the. Cobra, ever it'll shame us
up until that. Point so WHEN i hit him with
the cobra one, two, oh you can see people, Going you're,

(01:19:50):
like no way and, ah who who is saying? That
actually just hooked him hard and held it? There would
have changed my. Life but, yeah, man one count away
from from the history books of being what do you call?
It triple crown winner and, champion did you.

Speaker 3 (01:20:08):
Ever approach management pitching a bigger push for you after
getting such huge reactions in spots where the audience thought
you might pull off a miracle.

Speaker 1 (01:20:15):
Win, NO i NEVER i mean being The milian. MIRACLE
i always thought that there would one day be a miracle.
Match AND i won THE i won the heavyweight, championship
and IF i lost it the same night or in three.
Weeks it wouldn't matter it was. Official BUT i always
THOUGHT i would have that one, night AND i was

(01:20:35):
hoping that this would get better enough to come back
AND i would have that one miracle. Night but the
body didn't allow it to take.

Speaker 2 (01:20:43):
Place And i'll ask you about that coming up. Too
did you think the company couldn't envision you beyond the
comedy role.

Speaker 1 (01:20:50):
They could? Have but what's the? Point you, know it was.
WORKING i was. Happy it was a real blessing to
be a to have the comedic role and just share
laughter with people all over the world in their living.
Rooms and a lot of people come up to me
and there and they thank me for. That they're, like you,
know sometimes have a hard day at work and the
kids are, screaming and you know, what when you're on

(01:21:11):
we're all set around the living room and we just,
laughed and he, goes thank you for giving me those
memories of laughter with my.

Speaker 2 (01:21:18):
Family so you were never really frustrated or. ANYTHING i loved.

Speaker 3 (01:21:21):
It the memories of Captaining Team Teddy long Versus Team
John laurnaias At WrestleMania.

Speaker 1 (01:21:26):
Miam, yeah that was big for, me you know at
the time where it was in the ROLE i was
in to be a captain of a team In. WrestleMania
that was that was. Huge you, know you always hope
you're gonna have a singles match At, WrestleMania but that
was A WrestleMania. Match and even then the next, YEAR
i think it was with The Core right that was
A WrestleMania. Match it's four on, four BUT i had

(01:21:46):
A WrestleMania. Match you, know it was.

Speaker 2 (01:21:48):
Awesome media, thirty you did The andre The giant.

Speaker 1 (01:21:50):
Pataloal, yeah those those are not as. Special, yeah just
because you know you're lost in the shuffle, somewhere but,
yeah you obviously want to be the fewer people in
the ring better, right.

Speaker 2 (01:22:06):
More of a. Spotlight what were your Favorite mania? Memories.

Speaker 1 (01:22:11):
HMM i remember my First mania going there and everyone's
like Happy Mania, Day Happy, WrestleMania happy. Rest so it's
a big thing for us and everyone's families come AND
I i brought my family and walking out in the
red carpet for The hall Of fame with my wife
and my. Daughter you, know those kind of memories are.
Awesome meeting all the old timers in the green room
and having guys Like drake the snake this. YEAR i

(01:22:33):
walked by and he's, like, hey the snake guys are,
Here like he referred to me as a the other snake,
guy and, like you gotta be kidding, me, man you
know that kind of, stuff and just running Into, god
just people that sometimes our families sometimes only come To.
WrestleMania so you see snapshots of people's, family Like hacksauce
kids growing up every. Year now they're running at university

(01:22:53):
and you, know it's. Crazy so it's the family is
the best, part because we're on the road so much
and we all share a common suffering and that's why
we're all so, close because we all miss our, families
especially the parents out.

Speaker 2 (01:23:08):
There do you like doing? Access some of the guys
don't like doing.

Speaker 1 (01:23:12):
It i'm wrestling At, access not.

Speaker 2 (01:23:15):
Really, right not, wrestling but oh, YEAH i Love.

Speaker 1 (01:23:18):
Access, okay it's my chance to meet the people in
a control. Environment If i'm walking to my car and
you get, mobs you have to be the bad guy and, say, sorry,
GUYS i gotta. Go you can't you can't make everyone.
Happy but here it's a controlled. ENVIRONMENT i get to
meet the people where you're. FROM i ask everybody where
they're from and try and talk a little bit about
IF i know something about where they're. From and then

(01:23:39):
someone else has gets to be the bad cop and, say,
okay next you know what kind of. Thing so IT'S
i love.

Speaker 2 (01:23:45):
It talk about the beginning of the on screen relationship
with you And.

Speaker 1 (01:23:48):
Emma it was really For. Emma you, know she was
a new girl and she was coming. Up she was really.
FUNNY i heard a lot of good things about her
down IN nxt and her dance and. EVERYTHING i loved.
Her so they're, like, yeah let's put them with put
them With, Sentino and they had plans for that for
a long. TIME i GUESS i was off because my
neck or.

Speaker 3 (01:24:06):
Something, yeah, WELL i was gonna ask, you did you
think you being OFF tv hurt hermimentum early?

Speaker 1 (01:24:12):
On. NO i just think that the see the THE
nxt audience is not a good what do you call,
it like a market? Sample what's that? Word the? Demographic,
yeah but it's not a good true like a focus
group or, whatever because their, condition they're having the greatest
time in their. LIVES i WENT i had a match With.

(01:24:32):
Fandango it was the one with with me And emma
versus fandango and sum. Yes, yeah and we didn't even
lock up. Yet this is. Awesome i'm, like, okay this
is one of those. Crowds it's, great thank, you and
we just everything we did was super well received and
it was awesome and tons of chance and so so

(01:24:54):
it's maybe not a true indicator if someone's over down,
there because everything over down. There SO i guess when
she came, up you know what it. WAS i Think
vince didn't think she was. Funny he didn't get, it
and if he doesn't get, it it's not. Funny so
have you seen her? Now though she looks. Fantastic.

Speaker 2 (01:25:13):
YEAH i was gonna actually ask, you do you do
you think they failed to introduce her properly since the
audience didn't really know her the way THE nxt fans.

Speaker 1 (01:25:19):
Did, NO i don't. THINK i don't think, so because
there were there are some of the audience that watches
N xt and they got. Her they didn't introduce her.
PROPERLY i, think, YEAH i think it should have because
she's the kind of girl you got to get to
know her to. Like she should have been in some
pre tapes backstage before she came to the ring and

(01:25:41):
did her, thing you, know but of Course hindsight's twenty.

Speaker 2 (01:25:45):
Twenty thoughts on our shoplifting arrest and being released by
the company before they.

Speaker 1 (01:25:50):
Rekindled how long was she released for a few?

Speaker 2 (01:25:53):
Hours, yeah it Wasn't, yeah it was.

Speaker 1 (01:25:55):
Quick what was the story with that she took an iPad? Cover,
yeah well or something like that it didn't. Stand, yeah
SO i heard after there was video of her trying
to stand it or.

Speaker 2 (01:26:04):
SOMETHING i don't even. Know, yeah, yeah she.

Speaker 1 (01:26:07):
Was if you Know, emma she's a huge wrestling, Fan,
Like emma's the kind of girl she'll show you pictures
on her phone of her at signings as a, Kid
so you, know she was, devastated, like and people that
know her well it is, like oh my, God like
she's on the on the floor bawling for, days like
it's not gonna be. Good it's gonna be really. Sad and, luckily,

(01:26:29):
yeah she got her job. Back but she was like
because she was the funny girl and because she covered
up her, body her body is like, stellar like, sick
and now she shows it off and she's hot as.

Speaker 2 (01:26:40):
Shit what did you first realize that you were having
such bad neck?

Speaker 1 (01:26:43):
Issues? Yeah nineteen. NINETY i had at partial herniated disc
back in the day in, university AND i used to
get stingers in judo and, yeah protected it and. WRESTLING
i did a skin the cat once WHEN i kind
of hit it AND i got the arm and, gimmick

(01:27:04):
AND i Remember oumaga gave me the running ass in
the corner and like, Bad like it's your spinal, cord
your disc is mine was becoming. Calcified it's like a
piece of bone jabbing your spinal. Cord it's. Bad and
THEN i would have good days or good weeks and
bad weeks and you, know someone turns in you moving like,

(01:27:26):
this and then the inflammation would go. Down and as
long as those bad times were far and few, between it's.
Okay they just started becoming.

Speaker 2 (01:27:35):
Too, frequently too.

Speaker 1 (01:27:36):
Frequent, yeah what did you.

Speaker 2 (01:27:37):
Do in order to try to rehab before you got your?

Speaker 1 (01:27:40):
Neck? OH i did traction all the. TIME i would
travel with this device and you know a lap pull down. Machine,
YES i go to a, gym take off the, bar
put this thing hook my head and sit there and
after like a, minute you would feel like the this
this is coming back in the, arms like just taking
off the pressure that kept me going for years just
doing that maintenance all the. Time there was one DAY i.

(01:28:02):
SLEPT a big problem for me is sleeping on the.
Planes i'm gonna. SLEEP i sleep before takeoff by having
your head like for two hours and getting. Up it
was like, oh and that was really a. Problem so
one DAY i was gonna Wrestle. SWAGGERS i had a couple.
Issues one of them WAS i had a facet resotomi
where they your facet joints are rubbing a bone on,

(01:28:25):
bones hitting the. Nerve so one Day i'm about to warm,
Up i'm, LIKE i, go. DOC i came with my
neck like it was stuck within this very small space
where there was no. Pain and that was the first
TIME i had to. STOP i. GO i went and
got a, shot came, back felt, great had a, match,
well made it, worse and THEN i had To, yeah

(01:28:50):
the second shot it was it was that was a longer,
one but that was the facet, joint but it was
the spinal cord. Issue that was when that gave me a.
Surgery so WHEN i was no longer clear to wrestle
because of, that that's WHEN i made that promo In
toronto WHERE i wanted to speak like this with this,
voice but they wanted me be in, character AND i just,
said this is the third TIME i. Cannot i'm not medically.

(01:29:13):
CLEARED i don't know If i'll be. Back i'm gonna
get the. Surgery i'm gonna try and come back IF i.
Can't ALL i want to say is THAT i always
WISHED i could have been introduced From toronto Or, mississauga depends,
how you, know if they'd let me Say mississauga because it's.
Smaller it's not as popular As, toronto, right and that's.

(01:29:37):
All and then it came across as IF i retire
herd and, Stuff but that was. Yeah then actually didn't
have a match since that.

Speaker 2 (01:29:46):
Day when did you INFORM ww about that or was
that a decision they made for?

Speaker 1 (01:29:50):
You it was a, joint you, know when they do
a test and they say can you do this or,
NO i can't move. There the doctors know and they
and they and THE ww takes awesome care of you
when you're, hurt they send you To it was Actually,
pittsburgh Doctor. Maroon they, did you, know THE, MRIs they did. Everything.
Uh the last MATCH i had was Russev camel clutch

(01:30:14):
who was holding my neck right to a point where
it was hitting the nerve And i'm, like, Ah i'm
just waiting for him to let go of. IT i
tapped the bell Rang he's still holding. It i'm, like
oh my. God and then that. Was that was the
last that was that was.

Speaker 2 (01:30:27):
Bad if it wasn't for the wellness medical, exam would
you have known how bad your neck.

Speaker 1 (01:30:31):
Was there's no wellness Medical.

Speaker 2 (01:30:35):
I'm in as far as like THE ww medical looking at, You.

Speaker 1 (01:30:40):
Oh, NO i, knew, YEAH i. Knew, OKAY i couldn't
move my. Head so the one day it went when
it first kicked in the match WHERE i WAS i
was gonna Wrestle swagger or, something And I'M i, MEAN
i couldn't move my neck any direction was ah like lightning.
Ah and then Uh. Jesus one one MORNING i had
to stand, out put a sweat on, Me biggie help

(01:31:01):
me with my. SHOES i had to leave AND i.
COULDN'T i couldn't move my, neck and they they went
TO i just sat in the car and they worked
out AND i went to the building AND i couldn't
move my neck AND i was, scared like that's that's pretty,
bad you. KNOW i even had to put the plastic
in it for a, while but that was the facet,
issue and that wasn't even the the fusion. Issue SO

(01:31:24):
i had my. Fusion decided to go with. It Mark.
Crono he sat me down and was, listening to take
your time about this. Decision this is a, serious serious
surgery and then a long. Recovery AND i, said, WELL
i can't continue my life like. THIS i couldn't even
lay down in. BED i would have to lay down face,
first brace myself and roll. Over, wow because lifting my
head like this was it. Was it was. Bad. Man

(01:31:47):
my wife would be crying sometimes watching me get out of.
Bed and and. Uh we decided to have the the
surgery and it was a. Success they put it in
a piece of, titanium fusing three vertebrae and taking out two.
Discs it's a double disc. Diskectomy and they took SOME
i think it was shin bone from a. Cadaver some

(01:32:08):
dead guy didn't need it, anymore so HE i borrowed
his leg bones and they used him as the spacers
that are taking place at the. Discs. Right so after
one month we did a follow UP x ray and
a doctor, goes, oh, wow it looks like one of
your screws is coming. Out he, goes but don't, worry
it's probably gonna just you, know stop fuse scar tissue

(01:32:28):
will lock it. In and he, goes but if you
ever feel a sore, throat really bad sore, throat and
let us know. Immediately AND i was At tribute to The.
TROOPS i was in the car With sandow and like
within a couple of, Hours i'm like instant strep. Throat
it felt like strep throat burning. INFLAMED i, said oh,
man this is not. NORMAL i knew it wasn't. NORMAL

(01:32:49):
i called the. DOCTOR i, said my throat is killing.
ME i was in one of the military bases in.

Speaker 2 (01:32:55):
THE, us, okay.

Speaker 1 (01:32:58):
Maybe, virginia, Yeah virginia the naval base, okay and. Uh
WHEN i told him what was, wrong they were like very.
Serious they, said, well you were flying out tomorrow and
you're HAVING i. Guess they did next ray and they
so one screw came completely, out like this is the.
Screw it came. Out one was halfway, out and they

(01:33:20):
had to take out the the. Titanium so the the titanium.
Wasn't this wasn't the support the titanium is called an internal,
callar and that holds it in place til the fusion takes. Place,
luckily three months had elapsed and enough fusion had taken
place that they didn't have to CAUSE i As i'm
going to, BED i don't know If i'm waking up
to a hard caller for six. Months i'm, LIKE i

(01:33:41):
got shit to, do, MAN i gotta run battle. ARTS
I i got had been a hard, caller and Uh, luckily, Yeah,
man WHEN i woke, Up i'm, LIKE i remember waking
up going what? Happened then they took out all the.
Hardware cause my first thing, was can you tighten the?
Screws can you put a larger gauge screw in? There
kind of get some treads, Right i've put together A
kia furniture and uh, no they took it, out but

(01:34:06):
cutting on the same place. TWICE i think that messed
it up a little bit cause they had to reopen
the scar that just. Healed they had to clamp your
training off against whatever clamp it. OVER i just expose
your your. Spine it's. Insane how's your neck?

Speaker 2 (01:34:23):
Today how's it feel it's.

Speaker 1 (01:34:25):
Okay for day to day. LIFE i sleep well AND
i CAN i teach kids, judo SO i can do
like little breakfalls AND i can fight. KIDS i ACTUALLY
i actually grappled THE i a couple months, ago, now you,
know for like two two or three weeks full out
some heavyweight. Guys one guy gave me a cross face

(01:34:46):
AND i didn't get a. Stinger i'm, like oh my,
god that's actually an. Improvement but sometimes WHEN i do
the break, Falls i'll FEEL i feel, it or or
just As i'm about to say it's feeling pretty, Good
i'll trip and And i'll catch myself And i'll feel
like a shot a. Jolt so it's not it's not. There. Yeah,

(01:35:08):
WELL i, mean you, know at first progress was so.
SLOW i thought there was no. Progress and then THEN
i saw that there was SOMETHING i COULD i could
do THAT i couldn't do. Before so, okay that's a marked.
Improvement and it just it was at a snail's, pace
and then it just stopped.

Speaker 2 (01:35:28):
Thoughts on. It Daniel brown's.

Speaker 1 (01:35:29):
Retirement, man he had a neck, issue he had an arm.
Issue they couldn't figure out what it. Was that's the worst.
Part and then he had a concussion. Issue AND i
used to, gosh WHEN i was In, Japan i'm looking
at magazines and this is The American, Dragon American, Dragon Brian.
Danielson and you, know they called him the best unsigned

(01:35:52):
guy at the world back, then and very, cerebral very
intelligent people are, like, yeah he's a genius and all this,
stuff and you, know he had a huge hype to.
Him he lived up. There he's, awesome little. Guy you,
Know i'm for the little, guys, Right so he's, believable
and he wrestled the WAY i wanted to. WRESTLE i
would have liked to wrestle with stiff kicks and. Submissions
SO i kind of lived vicariously through him a little.

(01:36:13):
Bit but when it comes to, concussions you, know you just.
Can't at the point where he's, AT i don't think
you can wrest that you're not gonna get. Better so
he had a pretty good scare when they did his brain,
tests and it's, unfortunately do you.

Speaker 2 (01:36:31):
Think you retired? Premature BECAUSE i heard from pretty reliable
people that he was told just wait a little, bit
get retested In New york for his.

Speaker 1 (01:36:41):
Head yeah he still, could, Right BUT i mean it
might have to be a couple of, years and they
have to examine the brown tissue or the damaged brain.
Area and the thing, is once that tissue, starts the
damaged tissue in the, brain it's just gonna get. Worse
and what if he gets another shot to the head

(01:37:02):
and now he has some serious problems and he could
have avoided. It but you can't get killed because of your.
Ego that's just a big. Mistake it's hard on. Him, oh,
absolutely it's hard because he can have a match. Tomorrow
he knows, that but it's not the right thing to.
DO i could have a match, tomorrow But i'll be messed.

Speaker 2 (01:37:20):
Up you, KNOW Cm, Punk did you get along with?

Speaker 1 (01:37:23):
Him?

Speaker 2 (01:37:23):
Yeah thoughts on the WW cm punk issues And punk
walking out of.

Speaker 1 (01:37:29):
The, Company, yeah you Know punk was he kind of
reminds me Of dolph in the sense that super, talented awesome,
guy awesome, worker but never one hundred. Happy AND.

Speaker 2 (01:37:42):
I don't know if it was he ever happy in
life itself.

Speaker 1 (01:37:45):
Or yeah he's a happy. Guy, Okay but you know
a lot of, people and this is in life in,
general not just in. Wrestling if they want to be
here and they're, here they're focused on the discreptant between
the two instead of where you're. At and he is,
like he was the champion of THE. Wwe he's not

(01:38:07):
a big. Guy he was at the. Top and if
he goes through his career and looks back and is not,
happy that's just sad to me because he had an
awesome career and he's a really good. Wrestler and whether
it's and there's some things that aren't. FAIR i caught
that right off the. BAT i busted my ass all.

(01:38:28):
Year this guy shows up from being off and he
gets a match Up. Mania he comes back once a
year for a Matchup. Mania this guy's coming back for
a Matchup. Mania i'm, like how about, Us we just
got our asses kicked all. YEAR i get. It but
that's the business and those are the, rules and that's
the way it's going to. Be take it or leave.
It i'll take, it you. Know and he didn't want

(01:38:49):
to take. It he, said that's. It i'm out of.
Here and you know what that takes, balls.

Speaker 2 (01:38:54):
MAN i think he'll ever be.

Speaker 1 (01:38:56):
Back there's always an, opportunity of, course you, Know vince's.
Businessman if it's gonna make, money and it would make.
Money imagine he comes. Back Imagine sampunk Versus Seth, Rollins WrestleMania,
whatever that's a massive.

Speaker 2 (01:39:09):
Match how do you Think punk's gonna fare?

Speaker 1 (01:39:11):
In? Mma punk is a super hard, worker and you,
know if he's been off for, years he's been training
hard for years and he's able To he's an intelligent guy,
too a very smart. Guy he's able to assess his
strengths and. Weaknesses like. Seeing punk's the kind of. Guy
he always keeps himself in great. Shape he came back

(01:39:34):
from A european. Tour his sister was running a marathon and,
said come and do. It he did. It he ran
a marathon without training for a. Marathon so he's mentally.
Tough obviously HE'S i hope he's been fighting a, lot
because you've got to time those. PUNCHES i know he

(01:39:54):
did martial arts as a. Kid hopefully he's been working
on his striking a. Lot you, know he's also he's
BEEN i know he's working on his jiu jitsu and
he's been working with some pretty damn good. Guys he
can do. Well he can do. WELL i hope it's
because he has some injuries, too, Right, yeah his back
and stuff like. That So i'm actually really looking forward

(01:40:14):
to the FIGHT i want to. SEE i want to
see him do. WELL i want to see him knock
shit out of, somebody because, then guess what pro wrestlers are?

Speaker 3 (01:40:21):
Strong Exactly, well tomorrow, tomorrow we're only eve right now
OF ufc two. Hundred Tomorrow's brock versus Smart. Hunt what
are your feelings on that?

Speaker 2 (01:40:29):
Match?

Speaker 1 (01:40:30):
Man this is The brock that we want to. See,
man this Is brock at full, steam you, know and
we saw in the Beginning brock destroyed. People Then brock
lost a couple of, matches But brock was. Sick so
how much of an affected that diverticulitis have on, Him
we're gonna, see because now it's, gone and now he's,
back and you see how he. Looks he's a, monster
And brock's then other. Guy when it comes to physical,

(01:40:51):
ABILITY i think Brand jordan told me some do take
thirty something pull ups at three hundred, Pounds so, OKAY
i couldn't do that at one hundred eighty. Pounds so
this guy is not only like pound for, pound he's
stronger than you and these three hundred. Pounds he's a
monster of a man a super, athlete BUT i hope
he's working on his striking. Too everyone saw that he

(01:41:11):
wanted that for a, second and hopefully that doesn't. Happen
brock punches you in the, Face you're fucked. Up it's
it's a it's a super strong and he's also the
kind of. Guy he's had coaches his whole. Life he's
gone through the systems where he can. Analyze i'm sure
he watched the tape and if he, said, shit look
WHAT i did, there you know he fixed. It and
you know he's been training night and day, kickboxing boxing

(01:41:35):
and it's not gonna happen.

Speaker 2 (01:41:36):
Again do you think it's smart for the company to
advertise him for A SummerSlam as far out and not
knowing what's gonna happen tomorrow? Night, like if you, lose who?

Speaker 1 (01:41:42):
Cares you? Know, CAUSLO i wanted to do an MM
a fight, too and he's, like, mean IF i, lose,
Huh i'm pro wrestling. Anyway and as long as it's
not Like, GOD i didn't want to say, it but
as long as it's not a quick yeah, duck one turn,
around leap frog punch in the, face, YEAH i kind of.

(01:42:04):
Did if it goes the distance or if it gets dropped,
whatever but does has an impressive, performance AND i think
he'll take Down Mark hunt at. Will just don't get
caught on the way in. Right oh, man it's gonna be.
Exciting it's a it's a it's a perfect. Story striker versus.

Speaker 2 (01:42:21):
Grappler how Is brock in the locker? Room did he
socialize with the boys or was he into his own?

Speaker 1 (01:42:26):
WORLD i THINK i Think brock is a bus so
he does his own. Thing, Okay i'm, cool BUT i Love.
Brock i'm a fan Of. Brock and you, know you,
know AS i grappled and did some wrestling and, judo
and so we. Talked we talked shop when it comes
to amateur. Wrestling you, know if are there any young
kids coming up in The, minnesota or who's looking good
for The. NCAA's we talked.

Speaker 3 (01:42:45):
Wrestling how did you get tapped in the star and
jingle all the way to the members of making the?

Speaker 1 (01:42:50):
Film, yeah, SO i guess you. KNOW i ALWAYS i
always pitched doing. MOVIES i always wanted to do BECAUSE
i consider myself an actor more so than other. GUYS
i had A i pitched the thing WHERE i wanted
to appear in every movie as a, Cameo Like i'd
be the, Waiter i'd be the, guy the bus driver

(01:43:10):
or whatever it, was AND i Or i'd pictured in another.
Movie it was the. Prequel if you listen To jericho's,
podcast that was basically the the the premise for the
MOVIE i wanted to do as the. Prequel it's t
a the prequel to the MOMENT I i, debuted and
it's all the comedy f story leading up to that.
Moment WHEN i read For Scooby, doo the the cartoon we. Did.

(01:43:34):
UH i was down there at W W. STUDIOS i
was in front of a lot of people that are,
like you, know decision, makers, Right AND i only had
two lines in that, movie but we had to do
a lot of extra stuff AND i was hitting. HOME
i WAS i was earning a. JOB i even miss
called me. Out he was, like if someone's trying to
get a. Job AND i was doing different, ACCENTS i
was doing animal. SOUNDS i was doing EVERYTHING I i'd

(01:43:56):
love to. Do actually gonna WHEN i get back follow
up with. That do voices for kar, tunes for movies or.
WHATEVER i love doing. Voiceovers it's so. Fun AND i
GUESS i impressed them enough and that They Michael luisy
kept me in mind and when an opportunity came they called.
Me yeah it Was it was obviously different BECAUSE i

(01:44:16):
wasn't Being sentino for the first, time, Right and day
one was pretty later the cable.

Speaker 2 (01:44:21):
GUY i was gonna ask you about him.

Speaker 1 (01:44:22):
AWESOME i, mean he calmed me. Down i'm a day.
One day, ONE i had like one line and it was,
Like i'm, like, oh that was so. Lame but then
day two and, three just shooting the, ship you, know
backstage and everybody it came out of. Me and by
the end they were, LIKE i do a. Scene they're,
like you, know so they were.

Speaker 2 (01:44:39):
Happy how different IS i acting in a film from
what you would do on rollin?

Speaker 1 (01:44:43):
SmackDown acting and a film is like a walk in
the park compared to what we. Do sometimes you're giving
a piece of paper Here you're on in an hour
and a, half like what and it's, live, right this
is this is thirty eight. Takes you got the script
months in advance and you get notes printed out for.

(01:45:03):
You you, know ALL i had to do was, shower come.
Downstairs there's a driver waiting for me take me to
my trailer where the clothes are laid out for that particular.
Scene it WAS i had a great. Experience, man the
movie was, awesome And i'm, LIKE i need to get
myself more of these.

Speaker 2 (01:45:16):
Gigs memories of The Santino Christmas, Party i'll back.

Speaker 1 (01:45:21):
Down oh the recent. One, yeah, yeah that was just
that was. Fun it wasn't anything super. Special were you?

Speaker 2 (01:45:28):
Surprised go?

Speaker 1 (01:45:28):
Ahead, oh there was a couple of THINGS i did.
There you know, again you give me a small. Part
i'm gonna always try and adding something, funny whether it's
fading the black or it's going, away something to leave
you with something. Funny so that thing WHEN i did
the fake gagging right LIKE i was puking that someone
did that to my, Set so you, know a road
dog came up to. Me he was. Dying when you're,

(01:45:50):
PUKING i was almost dying. Laughing SO i always try
and get in little little extra funny.

Speaker 2 (01:45:55):
Things were you surprised when the company made the decision
to let you?

Speaker 1 (01:45:58):
Go, YEAH i actually thought they were calling me to
tell Me i'm going back on the, road BECAUSE i
was always kind of not. Told there was A Little
seed planted a long time ago THAT i would be
THE gm For SmackDown once they. Split so So i'm
watching the. Storylines, okay it looks like they're gonna. Split,
Great they're just And i'm thinking they're probably don't want
to call me, back and they're waiting till that for

(01:46:20):
that moment and to you, know reveal the NEW gm
AND i. HAD i was going To florida with my
wife for a little weekend to get, away AND i
saw missed calls from the. OFFICE i, go, SHIT i
g's gonna scru up my. Weekend and it didn't screw
up by, weekend that's for.

Speaker 2 (01:46:33):
Sure who called, You?

Speaker 1 (01:46:35):
Hrono, yeah. Okay and there were you, KNOW i could
tell it was hard for them to do. It coronal's my,
boy you, Know and AND i was. TRYING i was
making it. Easy i'm, like, hey, no, no don't, worry,
guys it's. Okay it's the end of a beautiful. CHAPTER
i thank you with all my. Heart i've been at
home for almost two. Years you guys have been paying
me BECAUSE i don't know if they thought the surgery

(01:46:58):
was a botch and they owed, me or they just
the fact that they sacrificed my, neck but they paid
me for a couple of years sitting at, home SO
i have no qualms AT. Ww they treated me very very.

Speaker 3 (01:47:09):
Well was there any talks about you actually becoming THE
Gm did you talk to anybody in the office?

Speaker 1 (01:47:13):
Before not formal, talks BUT i heard that it was
brought up at a meeting and they liked. It so
at the same, time there's a lot of things to
go through your. Head i'm thinking to, myself did they
want to cancel this contract or let it run? Out
originally they called me because they can add on the
time you're you're, Injured so they actually sent me a
letter and called me and, said, hey just say you,

(01:47:34):
know we're tacking on that year to your. Contract so
my contract was supposed to expire now twenty, seventeen but
this is their. Choice and then they obviously just said
we're not gonna do, that and then they let it
run its course, now AND i forgot my train of.

Speaker 3 (01:47:52):
Thought we were just talking, about, well did you have
any other conversations with the company while you're sitting At?

Speaker 1 (01:47:57):
Oh, yeah, Sorry SO i thought that they If i'm
gonna come in now as something on, SmackDown right for
once a. Week, well they're gonna pay me my full
booking whatever road, salary And i'm thinking maybe they'll let
it expire and maybe call me back and say he
wanted to this once a week FOR x, amount in
Which i'd say, absolutely or MAYBE i might say, absolutely

(01:48:19):
depending on WHAT i got going. On, right it's really you,
know first, come first. Served do you.

Speaker 2 (01:48:25):
Think after all those years that a Hunter evince should
have been the one to call?

Speaker 1 (01:48:28):
You? Oh, No, no it's because it's talent, Relations, Okay and, yeah,
No i'd love To i'd love to go back and see.
Them and you know WHAT i always wanted to. DO
i wanted to have JUST i want to want dinner
with those guys or, individually just just TO i never
got as much time AS i would like from, them
but not BECAUSE i want to talk. SHOP i wanted

(01:48:51):
to talk To vince about being a commander in, chief
about being the captain of this massive. Ship teach me
about dealing with people and, delicate getting, responsibilities and and
just your perspective on why you got to push push
push and just be. Unstoppable LIKE i wanted to know
what drives. THEM i wanted to be a. PUPIL i

(01:49:13):
wanted him to be my mentor because he's an exceptional human.
Being three guys Sen, A TRIPLE, H vince all super work,
ethic super intelligent alpha males like And i've had the
luxury to grow up during my thirties BECAUSE i was
still growing up to be around these guys and to
have this this rub off these awesome guys and, uh,

(01:49:35):
yeah but they're.

Speaker 2 (01:49:36):
Busy you, Know vince doesn't.

Speaker 1 (01:49:37):
Sleep, yeah Apparently TRIPLE h two like three four hours a.

Speaker 3 (01:49:41):
Night just looking at my, setlist had there any that
talks about you returning at?

Speaker 1 (01:49:49):
All but they were very clear about this has nothing
to do with the. Network you, know we encourage you
to pitch. Ideas we'd love to have you on the,
network work or you. Say they even, said he, said you,
know we storyline might come up when we give you
a call and you're back on the road just like.
That but right now they're cleaning house and, whatever and

(01:50:11):
they just. Couldn't he, said they sat down with the
writers and they just couldn't come up with something to
which whatever right? Now how can you not come up
with somebody do For? Centino that's, ridiculous, right talk about.
YOURS i can come up with a million, things you.
KNOW i can pre, tapes, backstage postmatch. Interviews i'm not.

(01:50:34):
Picky i'm not gonna have A i don't Think i'm
better than. ANYTHING i would have did anything back there
to stay. There but at the same, time the sense
of freedom is. Awesome i'm home. NOW i have a
garden for the first, time you know WHAT i. MEAN
i cut my, GRASS i have a. Lawn you, know it's.

Speaker 3 (01:50:51):
Awesome talk about your wrestling school and why you feel
it stands out among the other schools out.

Speaker 1 (01:50:56):
There it's by far the best education you can get
in the progress. Industry one Because i've been right beside
these guys for so. LONG i know exactly what they.
WANT i know when i'd see local talent trying out
in the, ring what they would shoot, on what they
would put. Over we have LIVE. Tv we actually have LIVE.

(01:51:18):
Tv it's LOCAL, tv but it's, live, Right and talk
about getting a custom made education for what you're gonna. Need,
eventually you, know we're told it's a, show and then
we have to make them suspend their. Disbelief AND i

(01:51:39):
approach it like you, know everywhere, EVERYWHERE i. WENT i
learned a. LOT i learned a lot From don colof
how to conduct yourself and how to keep yourself safe
and how to just if someone's taking some liberties on,
YOU i grab an, arm sit out and let them, know, hey,
bro are we good? Here you, know and then you
give it back to him or whatever that kind of,

(01:52:00):
stuff and you, know those are very important things to
stand up for. Yourself ishikawa taught. Me that's just the
mentality of training like a. Professional like There's olympic, wrestlers
amateur and then professional, wrestlers and they hold themselves even
in a higher regard because they're professional versions of these.
Guys so they have to. Outtrain that's why every, morning

(01:52:21):
five hundred, squads four hundred push, ups and that's just.
Breakfast that's. Nothing we trained really, hard and it molded
my perception of what a professional wrestler. Is then they
go TO ovw AND i Have Rip rodgers who's just
laying it straight as possible and, saying take your, championships
take all this shit and leave it at the goddamn.

(01:52:42):
Doors this phony. Bullshit IF i say you're gonna get
knocked out with a feather on a daily, basis guess,
what you're getting knocked out by a. Feather i'm gonna
over prepare, You i'm gonna overtrain. You you're gonna have
the skill set to go make a living anywhere around the.
World and then when you get there and just do,
it the boss wants. Now AND i got, that AND
i got it. Completely and then you, know At Paul
hayman t teaching me how to teaching all of us

(01:53:05):
how to go out there and build the hype from
the grassroots level and give out flo we made flyers for.
Ourselves there were The russian Shoot Fighting academy and we
would black and white and we'd you, know, tap snap
or knock out whatever it, was and we'd put it
up all over town try and build up this hype
and it was tangible and it was, real and we
built THIS ovw was like, serious uh, there there was

(01:53:27):
no we were turning people away yeasiness at that little
arena right, there and AND i learned from. That and
Then Al, snow who was like a black belt in
jiu jitsu who has been In. Japan he knew the comedy,
stuff he knew he wrestled FOR. Ww he was really
able to, help you, know polish me those fine little.

(01:53:48):
Things AND i hear myself AND i told him. TOO
i saw him At. MANIA i hear myself saying things
that he, said and things, like you, know people have
to say, shine, heat, heat, spot all that. Stuff and
a shine is the old timers will be like a.
SHINE a shine is when the good guy showing that

(01:54:10):
on a level playing field he can, win he's a better,
wrestler and that's for. Shine but now they do it
with an international spot, tackle drop, down leap frog. Hiptos, hey, yeah,
okay you got the guy rocking and. Reeling but a
shine can be you, know you don't have to fit this.
Formula there's so much. Formula and, yeah and he just

(01:54:33):
had a profound effect on the way of me as a.
Coach sorted ripped. Too and Now i'm a. Coach, YEAH
i transition from being a coach AND i love being a.
Coach i'm very honest with my. STUDENTS i give them
report cards and we sit down AND i tell them,
listen And i'll tell them the same Thing Rip rogers told.
Me if you're a fat, fuck lose. Weight if you're
a skin scrawny, kid lift. Weights eat, clean don't blame.

(01:54:57):
Anybody the business owns you. Nothing it's a privilege to
here outwork everybody in the. Room and you know you
gotta be that. Guy and if you're, not don't cry to.
Me and if you want to be A if you're
here because you love wrestling and you want to join
the pro wrestling club that takes place On, Tuesdays thursdays
And saturdays as a, hobby that's one hundred percent. Fine

(01:55:19):
you're allowed to do, that. Right but if you look
me in the eye and you SAY i want to
BE i want to do this for a, living AND
i want to make it to the highest level. Possible,
Okay now we have a verbal, agreement in a verbal,
contract And i'm gonna push you like a professional, athlete
and you, know, sorry that's what's gonna be required for
you to make. It do you? Agree do you? Accept? Okay,
now you gotta train ten times a, week whether it's

(01:55:42):
four professional, wrestlings four lifting, weights and two, boxings whatever it,
is you got to train ten times a. Week and
if you're, not don't ask me to do any favors
because you're not Doing you're you're a part of the
of the holding up your part of the.

Speaker 2 (01:55:53):
Bargain was there anything that you're don't get to accomplished
during your run that you wish you were able to?

Speaker 1 (01:55:58):
Do just, yeah that miracle. NIGHT i guess that's about.

Speaker 2 (01:56:01):
It craziest interaction with the.

Speaker 1 (01:56:04):
Fan oh, GOSH i got pickpocketed In italy one, time
So i'll do the. Match The italian. Fans it's very
special for me to go wrestle In. Italy like they're
Chanting sentino between between every, match AND i was THE
us champion of the, time and they're, like this next
match is for The united, say they're going. CRAZY i

(01:56:28):
think it Was Wade. Barrett get out, there you, know
cut a promo and we have the. Match cobra, one two.
Three you, KNOW i just won The World series on
the top, row basking and all the. Glory cobra goes
back in my single it and audience, audience and one,
guy it was a flawless. Attempt he just Went i'm,

(01:56:51):
like he went back pretty, quick so you, know between
you AND i right, now there'd be eight, guys, right
it's a packed, crowd and he just faded AND i
was kind of, like well, Done but he took my
he stole my, cobra stole the, cobra. Motherfucker.

Speaker 2 (01:57:07):
Uh any favorite road, Stories.

Speaker 1 (01:57:09):
Oh the road stories are always pretty. Fun you. Know
there's a good group of guys and you know on
some of The european, tours And i'm you, Know i'm
older while you KNOW i was, Older so SOMETIMES i
gotta piggyback on the energy of the younger. Guys and
they're like the the, phrases last night was. Good but,
tonight you, know we're in a new, city a new,
town and and tonight is the.

Speaker 2 (01:57:31):
Night who's one talent that you'd like to? See wwe
used more us more.

Speaker 1 (01:57:39):
That they currently. Have, well there was GUYS i thought
that for, Example Alex, Riley Ricky ortiz Low. Key i'm,
like what these guys are all could have been, megastars you.

Speaker 2 (01:57:50):
Know Especially. Loki what do you think happened With? Loki
did he get heat or.

Speaker 1 (01:57:54):
He got the label?

Speaker 2 (01:57:57):
Serious?

Speaker 1 (01:57:57):
No he, well, uh a bunch of bit of. Everything
he was very serious and he's but he but but
he's serious in a professional. Way. YEAH i like his. Seriousness.
Uh he Rocked dolph on time. Concussion BUT i think
one time he was really pissed and he said something

(01:58:17):
and someone overheard like LIKE i would Tell vince to
his face or something like, that and someone's, like, oh
really would. YOU i don't know who it, was but
someone was a, stooge and yeah that was. It, yeah,
man you gotta watch he's around the corner taking a.

Speaker 2 (01:58:30):
Piss were you SURPRISED ww didn't try and put sand
down to a spot similar to yours after being you,
know let the?

Speaker 1 (01:58:36):
RING i thought he kind of. Was, YEAH i mean
he was.

Speaker 2 (01:58:39):
Funny, yeah why do you think of the company that you,
know mister boat.

Speaker 1 (01:58:43):
From somebody somewhere must have been rubbed the wrong. Way
that's the only THING i could think. Of he's super,
talented he's, funny he's, athletic he's, big is.

Speaker 2 (01:58:55):
Everything would you ever go TO tna or R O.
H obviously it can't, Work but.

Speaker 1 (01:59:00):
No, no, No i'm pretty. LOYAL ww has been awesome
to me in the history of my family has changed
based on them giving this kid a. Shot. Yeah IF
i can't wrestle for, THEM i don't Think i'll wrestle
for anybody. Else i'll do Some my parents is here
and there in the, indies because LIKE i only had
six indie, matches so it's kind of LIKE i want
to go back and make up for some of that
and do some do some indie.

Speaker 2 (01:59:21):
Stuff do you still watch the product?

Speaker 1 (01:59:23):
Today not? REALLY i mean a little. BIT i watched
pay per views on my edit the, app And i'll
check in on. Raw the problem is about the. PROBLEM
i have a wrestling, school, right so these guys are
coming up to me every. Week you see it up
in a, raw SO i know what's going, on AND i,
LIKE i like the current. Roster there's a lot of

(01:59:43):
awesome guys.

Speaker 2 (01:59:44):
There what is the biggest misconception of yourself compared to
the Character?

Speaker 1 (01:59:50):
Santino, oh we're completely, DIFFERENT i. THINK i Guess I'M
i don't, know laid back And i'm pretty easy, going,
Right i'm you, know, Backstage i'm pretty. Loved i'm not gonna.
Lie it's BECAUSE i love everybody else And i'm happy
to see. Everybody AND i talk from you, know the lighting,

(02:00:12):
guys the sound, guys and we shoot the ship and
we ask them about their, kids AND i ask people
questions about themselves a, lot and people, again how's your daughter?
Doing they're, like oh, man you remember, that and you,
KNOW i got That Ray. Mysterio Ray mysterio was loved
backstage by everybody because he respected. Everybody AND i saw.
THAT i, GO i want to be loved like that.
Guy and not That i'm faking, it but, right BUT

(02:00:37):
i just have a lot of respect for everybody, backstage
AND i talk with guys that a lot of the
wrestlers might not talk to just because they're busy or.
Whatever but, MISCONCEPTIONS i don't. KNOW i, guess, yeah you
know those little kids they Think i'm weak or, something
And i'm, like, oh you, know well BUT i. Don't

(02:00:58):
but if you if you try to count, that then
you look like an. Idiot i'm for, real, right, Yeah
i'm not tough for.

Speaker 3 (02:01:03):
REAL i want to mention some names and just give
me some quick facts on him or any stories you
might want to.

Speaker 1 (02:01:09):
Share, Yep Randy, orton that's my. Boy. MAN i wrote
With brandy for my first three years in the, business and,
uh he's. Man if he's your, friend he will go
to bat for, you and he will he'll actually fight for,
you and, uh he's just an awesome. Guy but if
he hates, you he's gonna make your life out. Right,
no he's awesome. Man he LOVES i saw so many,

(02:01:30):
transitions AND i saw him become a, dad AND i
saw him become, married AND i saw him clean up
and he had some shoes AND i didn't walk him through,
it BUT i. WAS i was there when he went through.
It So i've seen him become this awesome man from
this kind of punk kid and he's he's a great.

Speaker 2 (02:01:49):
MAN i want to take a quick bathroom. BREAK i
don't know if you need to go or, whatever but
just still.

Speaker 1 (02:01:53):
Recording i'll say one more thing About. Randy. Sure he
didn't even know how good he. Was and WHEN i
told him one, TIME i, said you're probably the best
wrestler in the fucking. World and he's, like come, on,
man Said i'm not kissing your ass or blowing smoke
up your. Ass you're awesome in the. Rain he didn't,
know AND i thought that was so it was cool.

Speaker 2 (02:02:12):
Man and he's.

Speaker 1 (02:02:12):
Humble yeah now he. Is.

Speaker 2 (02:02:15):
Yeah was he out of control back of the day.

Speaker 1 (02:02:18):
He was a Little.

Speaker 2 (02:02:19):
YEAH a lot of people Say rainy's matured a, Lot so.

Speaker 1 (02:02:22):
He is matured a. Lot, yeah but he was still
awesome even when he was. Immature and he's.

Speaker 2 (02:02:26):
Actually coming back to work With brockett. Summerslams so that's.

Speaker 1 (02:02:29):
Awesome he's. Good he's they need him. Back he's the man.

Speaker 2 (02:02:33):
Right. Back did you get along With Rye? Back?

Speaker 1 (02:02:35):
YEAH i was IN ovw With Rye. Back he's, uh
he's another. Guy, Man like what a work. Ethic the
guy trains like it's. INSANE i mean like hours of,
cardio hours of. Weights he's, LIKE i guess a LITTLE
ocd when it comes to. It but, yeah he's, uh
he's another. Guy you, know he did. Well and the thing,

(02:02:55):
is if you're at the, cave there's one hundred, guys
they're gonna choose, seven so you can have ninety three
pissed off. Guys you, know you still gotta be. Happy he.
Was he was a little frustrated there as. WELL i
think he still is.

Speaker 2 (02:03:05):
Obviously what do you think of the tension is between
him And?

Speaker 1 (02:03:08):
Punk punk is drug? Free punk accuses him of taking
drugs and rat backs LIKE i work harder than. YOU
i actually don't. KNOW i think that's where probably started. From.

Speaker 2 (02:03:24):
Stephanie do you have a good relationship with? Stuff?

Speaker 1 (02:03:27):
Oh, well, yeah you, know but IF i See, stephanie
we get Along i'll stop and give her a. Hug
and she's another one actually with that GROUP i mentioned,
earlier like what a woman like alpha, female, intelligent just
a good sense of what is, good what is cool,
Right like you, know she can watch something and, Say,
okay that didn't look right And i'm looking at she's.

(02:03:48):
Right she's, smart she's, smart, Approachable, oh one hundred, percent
she's so. Nice the whole family is, amazing Even Linda.
Shane everyone is so. Cool kofee Kingson, Kofee, man it's
an AWESOME mac With. Koffee we got hired on the same. Day,
actually one of my first moments WHERE i had a
moment was with me And. Kofee we were In paris
and we did one of those things like you, know

(02:04:09):
it was like one Two my foot was on the
ropes and the audience went like.

Speaker 4 (02:04:13):
Oh AND i remember laying there going, wow that was
awesome because you're a maestro and you conduct the audience
with your actions AND i made them all go, ooh
And i'm like.

Speaker 1 (02:04:26):
Yeah we had a twenty thousand people Packed. Paris it
was a moment for me for. Sure Bob, Holly oh my,
God Bob holly beat the tar out of me WHEN
i first. Started SO i first, Started i'm tag teaming
With carlito And bob And cody versus me And carlito And,
god he used to chop the shit out of, me And,

(02:04:49):
carlito being the crafty veteran that he, was always had
me in there somehow With bob AND i just keep
taking the brunt of the. Beating but, NO i Like
bob a. Loto he warmed up to me near the
end for. Sure, Shamous, oh, shameless. MAN I i remember shameless
of trying. Out, actually he was having a tryout WHEN
i debuted and he came To. Florida, i've, Yeah I'VE

(02:05:10):
i had at the house for. DINNER i REMEMBER i
gave him advice. Once i'm, Like he's, like how'd you
think of my? Match And i'm, like it's. GOOD i
remember your, hair but your wrestling is. Good cause he
was a bit Like ah with an. AXE i thought
it was kind of, hokey but he he dialed it. In,
man he became how many times that guy having world,
champion like he's going down in the history books and

(02:05:33):
that movie. Role he just got, amazing very proud of
him for that the N Ninja, Turtles John, Morrison John
morrison pound For poum was the strongest guys Like i've ever,
seen like his gymnastic ability and. Stuff and he was
just cool as cool can. Be he ain't give a
shit like he you, know he has a good sense of.

(02:05:54):
Humor we got in trouble. Once so what did we?
Do what was it called the? Nexus?

Speaker 2 (02:06:02):
Right oh?

Speaker 1 (02:06:02):
God we decided to roll up some signs and run
to the ring and hit people with signs and they
had to sell it and they but they were selling
rolled up paper and we've gotten shipped for. That William, Regal,
Oh William. REGAL i had a lot of matches With William,
regal AND i learned a lot. EARLY i. WAS i
was green WHEN i got called up on the. Road

(02:06:23):
people don't know how green that. WAS i was, green,
man and he just taught me a. Lot, again one
of those things where it doesn't have to be that.
Formula just you do, this and Then i'll react and do,
this and you can tell a story without having to
be that that. Formula Ken, anderson oh, man you, know,
YEAH i actually wrote a little bit With ken, Too Me,

(02:06:44):
Me randy And. Ken WHEN i was AT. Ovw he was.
There he was the. Man his his ring presence is. Undeniable,
unfortunately he got he got labeled as a as a dangerous,
worker and that was that was that's that's a critical,
thing you. Know. UH i didn't work with, him SO
i didn't never felt. IT i think he's entertaining his
house still to this, Day.

Speaker 2 (02:07:06):
Mark.

Speaker 1 (02:07:07):
HENRY i love myself So Mark Henry. Man my dad
Loves Mark henry. Too what, like if you know About
Mark henry's physical, accomplishments they are actually mind. Blowing he
has a five hundred pound clean and jerk five over
two or whatever it, was which is alone just. Insane

(02:07:27):
if you've ever dead lifted five hundred, pounds WHICH i
have at a snail's, pace this guy lifted it fast
enough to catch it and then he can dunk a
basketball at four hundred plus. POUNDS i saw him one.
TIME i was at the gym and he's doing wide
grip pull. UPS i have four hundred pounds like seven or.
Eight he's just one of the strongest men in the.

(02:07:51):
World and then one of the nicest guys you've ever
seen is like a Giant teddy. Bear the only problem.
Is he hates if someone comes up to him, was,
hey what's? Up mark on his? Back he hates. That
and it's pretty funny to see him like get, Mad Big,
Show Big, Show yeah, man that, OKAY i Watched The
Big show BEFORE i even started training as a, wrestler

(02:08:12):
like AT wcw and stuff like. That so the fact
that he's been here this long and he's still you,
know the only problem is when you're that big of a,
guy what else can You how many times can you flip?
Flop and you have to you have to go away
and come, back away and come. Back and he he
needs extra maintenance because of his size and, physique a giant.

(02:08:33):
Guy he's a five hundred pound. Guy so he's a testament.
Man he's been there a long. Time that guy used
to go off the top. Rope, Usos oh my, god
THE uso. Boys so When korslov AND i were a tag,
team we wrestled with THE usos a lot on live
events and they are so good that The kuslov, was you,

(02:08:53):
know not the most polished professional. Wrestler he's a monster
in real, life so that's all he really. Needed but THE,
usos with their timing and their ring positioning made it
both of us look like a million. BUCKS i remember
we're driving With coslov one time and we're talking About
dosos and he just quiet, GOES i Love, Zusos Cizarrow, Czarrow,

(02:09:19):
yeah oh. Sorry back to Do. Sos when they won
the title for the first, TIME i took him aside
And i'm, like cause a lot of people aren't generally
so happy for. SOMEBODY i, said But i'm so happy
for you guys that you guys deserve. This it's, uso
it's your time right now right you guys will be
a legendary tag team for years to. Come and they were, like,

(02:09:42):
man thanks, Us they're. Awesome cisarrow's another. Guy he paid his.
Dues he is super, strong classiest. Guy you, know you
don't have to worry about taking your. Stuff he's just
like a class human being and super.

Speaker 2 (02:09:59):
Strong future world champion maybe any.

Speaker 1 (02:10:02):
Day uh you. KNOW i Guess vince doesn't think he's, entertaining.

Speaker 2 (02:10:08):
But he's so over any.

Speaker 1 (02:10:10):
Day and the thing, is the more you keep him suppress,
him the more popular is gonna. Get the only problem
with that is with these. Fans if he wins the,
championship they might turn on. HIM i never. Know now
they got what they wanted, next you know WHAT i.
Mean that's WHY i liked. IT i liked being the
consummate guy that almost got, it because once you give

(02:10:31):
it to, them they got.

Speaker 2 (02:10:32):
It Jack, Swagger Jack.

Speaker 1 (02:10:35):
SWIGER i probably wrestled With Rex swager more than anybody
else in my entire, career and we had this one
match that we just boiled it down to pure goodness
and we took it. Around we called the match the
match scene around the world because we took. It we
took it everywhere and it was so. Fun miss Miss
man hardest working. Guy he's one of those guys AND

(02:10:59):
i thought of him WHEN i say said he knocks
On vince's door at, will zero, fear almost like, obliviously
but zero fear and hardworking and might not be over
with the, fans but he's good for the. Company he
makes tons of. Appearances he's really a hard working. Guy

(02:11:20):
you can't take anything away from, them is regardless of
if you think he's good or.

Speaker 2 (02:11:24):
Not Tyson kid And Italia.

Speaker 1 (02:11:27):
Man what a bunch of, sweethearts like just good Old canadian.
Folk Tyson. Kid you, know look at his, size not
a big. GUY i think he was one GUY i
was bigger than AND i see him wrestle And i'm,
like is this guy really that? Good until the first
TIME i wrestled, HIM i lock up AND i, go
oh my, god this guy is that? Good amazing and just,

(02:11:49):
funny you, know like he'll speak his mind and he'll
call out when you're a guy like, him Like Spanky,
London Tyson, kid awesome wrestlers that are being passed over
because their. Size there they can have a chip on his.
Shoulder just to sit back and just listen to them
cut up people. Backstage it's pretty.

Speaker 3 (02:12:08):
Funny what do you Have you watched the NXT uh
network at? All with The junior tournament coming? Up are
you familiar with a lot of town on the.

Speaker 1 (02:12:16):
Indies or, yeah some of the guys. There, yeah who are.

Speaker 2 (02:12:18):
Some guys that LIKE i guess you like WATCHING i
heard you mention.

Speaker 1 (02:12:21):
Earlier yea. Riccheted, No no he's, not he's still.

Speaker 2 (02:12:25):
Well he just got done With.

Speaker 1 (02:12:26):
Underground oh, yeah he'll be here Soon.

Speaker 2 (02:12:28):
FEBRUARY i heard coming W W.

Speaker 1 (02:12:31):
February oh, dude he's gonna take. Off oh, yeah he's
a total. Package he's better than. ANYBODY i mean, whatever
let's let, Him let's let it. HAPPEN i don't want
to build it up too. Much Tyson Duke's Canadian kiddy's in.
There Prince, Devit i've been watching him for a long.
Time The japanese Guy.

Speaker 2 (02:12:51):
Kent knockmore The Chrism. Tournament oh, okay, no, No i'm,
Sorry i'm just my mind's.

Speaker 1 (02:12:57):
Wandering he's the smaller. Guy but he's. Awesome, Okay i'm
Babbage japanese.

Speaker 2 (02:13:01):
Names going back to some NAMES i got like two.

Speaker 1 (02:13:04):
Last nakamura, though is. Awesome is the man.

Speaker 2 (02:13:08):
Memories are working With hornswoggle And.

Speaker 1 (02:13:10):
Colli, yeah you know IF i walking through an airport
with those guys is entertaining in, itself just people looking,
by like circus in, Town Hornswoggles, man the kid From, Appleton.
Wisconsin that Or oshkosh he made it, man he did.
It he's he's been here for a long. Time he's

(02:13:31):
somewhat iconic and in the in the most last ten
years and. So and he's a Good i've actually got
into a fight because of. Him one of my probably
my last fight, ever got into physical fist, fight actual
fist fight because Of.

Speaker 2 (02:13:43):
Dylan what. HAPPENED i can never told anybody this.

Speaker 1 (02:13:46):
Story we're in a bar In england and this asshole
puts a beer on his, head like, hey here's the,
table and he looked like he's an asshole, hornswoggle but
he's our, asshole, right you. Know and so Del rio
is in the guy's face like you know, whatever AND
i said what happened and he looked at me and
says he put his beer in my head like he

(02:14:08):
was so hurt and he was. Embarrassed and WHEN i saw,
It i'm, like so, ANYWAY i told the. Bouncer i'm,
LIKE i can't Believe i'm saying. THIS i told the, bouncer,
hey this guy's. Putting this guy disrespected my friend big.
Time and the guy was, like ill sort. It i'll sort.
It AND i thought he was yelling at me like

(02:14:30):
he was, upset, like, MAN i can't believe That i'll
take care of, it but he. Wasn't he was yelling
at me, like don't worry about, It i'll take care of.
It so, ANYWAY i told the, guys, yeah he's gonna
take care of. It he's gonna take care of. It
because everyone was. Pissed and THEN i look and the
guys just at the other end of the. BAR i, go,
hey that guy's still, here and he, goes, YEAH i sorted.
IT i said, no, no, no, no, no that guy's to,

(02:14:51):
go and he, goes, no he. Doesn't AND i had
a few. Beverages i'm, like, listen if that guy isn't,
going And i'm gonna kick that guy's, ass because, No you're, not,
said who's gonna stop? ME i am. Damn he was
in my face so we had. To, yeah we had
to he.

Speaker 2 (02:15:08):
Whatever he went.

Speaker 1 (02:15:10):
Down, YEAH i was PRETTY i threw about quick ten
punches in his face AND i realized what AM i?
Doing i'm In england WHOM i Got so then we
just kind of took.

Speaker 2 (02:15:17):
Off and did you get to the guy at the
end of the? Bar is he still?

Speaker 1 (02:15:20):
THERE i don't know what happened to that, guy but
the bouncer who got, It, neville oh, man he's, yeah
the man that gravity. Forgot he is jacked. Too and
when you see it in your, life you look at this,
guy this little guy's jacked and super. Cool.

Speaker 2 (02:15:35):
Dude Uh Titus titus O'Neil.

Speaker 1 (02:15:39):
Titus titus is. Man have you ever do you know his.
STORY i.

Speaker 2 (02:15:43):
DON'T i just know his.

Speaker 1 (02:15:44):
Background do you know his mom was like twelve years
old when he was? BORN i don't. Know and he
is such a success, story this, guy Scholarship Florida state, athlete.
Monster his mom was twelve when he was born something like,
that really really really. Young his mom's like not much
older than. THAT i got a tackle from him. Once
we did a tackle spot and it was like running

(02:16:06):
into a concrete poll AND i could just ALL i
could think of was going for a big catch as
a wide as a receiver and just bo getting hit
by that. Guy he is so, strong it is.

Speaker 2 (02:16:18):
Freaky do you think it was fair For vince to
suspend him after that? Happened?

Speaker 1 (02:16:22):
Then, yeah, okay, yeah He's i've seen him Give vince
a few shots, backstage flippers back and he pulls them
and And vince gives it And vince likes when you
give it. Back but he took it too. Far.

Speaker 2 (02:16:33):
Okay is there anything you want to say to your
fans out there that you might not have had a
chance to say To, well that's.

Speaker 1 (02:16:39):
Pretty, interesting. HMM i just really like when when when
they come up to me and they thank me for
the laughter that we've shared, together and a lot of,
guys and a lot of guys are always, like, man
we wish you were booked, Better we wish you one.
More and there's something romantic about always one anymore and

(02:17:00):
never getting it and never never winning the big, one
being the second last guy in the, world rumble one
count away from winning. It I'm I'm i'm good with
that Because i'll always go down as they wanted. More
they never got, enough you, know they never got their
fill Of. Sentino they always would have wanted, more and

(02:17:21):
that that's that's something special to walk away with, that
to always they were never.

Speaker 2 (02:17:26):
Satisfied did fame ever change?

Speaker 1 (02:17:28):
You? Never?

Speaker 3 (02:17:29):
Never did you ever sit back in a hotel after
one of the matches and sit back and reflect, Like,
WOW i came a long way AND i made.

Speaker 1 (02:17:36):
It oh, yeah, YEAH i mean that that's but that's
just a, realization you. KNOW i, Mean, Okay SO i
had A Hundai, accent took me all Over louisville and
back ten, times my little, car And pepe's name WAS
i got it in two thousand and. Two never let me.
Down and THEN i got signed BY ww and THEN
i had no problem with my. Car BUT i remember

(02:17:57):
people were, like YOU'RE ww superstar and that's your. Car i'm, like,
yeah so what and then someone else, goes that's your.
Car after a cop even pulled me over one, time he's,
like you're the. Wrestler it, was this is your. Car i'm, like,
yeah so what what the fuck? Is who? Cares so
THEN i BOUGHT i bought A hummer off of Actually
rimsterio right jacked up like a foot jacked up monster, tires,

(02:18:20):
lights AND i thought it would be more, whatever in
line with what A ww superstar should, drive but it
just wasn't. Me you. Know it was like driving a
tractor trailer to go to the grocery. Store.

Speaker 2 (02:18:34):
Right if you had to write an autobiography, tomorrow what would?

Speaker 1 (02:18:37):
It? Totally there was something That Leonard nimoy, wrote something
Like I'm spock OR i Was spock or and something like,
THAT i Was sentino Because i'm Not santino. Anymore I'm anthony,
again AND i love Being. Anthony AND i was Only
santino for that. TIME i Wasn't santino before, that and

(02:19:01):
or something LIKE i played a character Named Santina morella
or something like, that just to distinguish between the fact
that that is a character and it's important for the
kids to know too because and this is what we
do when we do the anti bullying. Stuff we resolve
our conflicts by physicality fighting and you can't do. That
you shouldn't do. That so know that this is a
show and don't do that in real. Life don't just

(02:19:23):
fight someone because.

Speaker 2 (02:19:24):
You have an unless they put a beer on somebody's.

Speaker 1 (02:19:26):
Heads, yes that was very. BAD i shouldn't have done,
that but yeah it. Happened.

Speaker 3 (02:19:31):
WELL i definitely want to wish you the best luck
in the. Future, oh thank, You AND i hope to
see on a MAJOR tv, show whether it be film
or another run ON.

Speaker 2 (02:19:37):
Wtv, yeah it's gonna be.

Speaker 1 (02:19:39):
Something there's gonna be either movies OR tv OR i
start with Sports net in a couple of.

Speaker 2 (02:19:45):
Weeks oh, wow for your own, company, right.

Speaker 1 (02:19:48):
Sports net, Is i'm working with. It it's just A tv, Show,
okay one's Called god to see. It it's like a
sports blooper, thing right and once. Aftermath it's a post
wrestling talk, show WHICH i want to stay away. From
but it's a foot in the door sports that's huge In.
Canada it's across the country AND i want my own
talk show eventually to interview you, Know canadian sports talent

(02:20:09):
and stuff like.

Speaker 3 (02:20:09):
That, WELL i wish you the best of. Luck, oh thank,
you and it's been a great, interview and thanks again
for the.

Speaker 2 (02:20:14):
Weekend thank you very. Much as THE dvd extra sort
of we shut off the camera off and had another. Story.

Speaker 1 (02:20:22):
Yeah SO i had my neck. Injury and WHEN i
made that promo saying that one REGRET i have is
That i'm not able to Say i'm From mississauga Or.
Toronto so the word got out THAT i. Retired SO
i have a buddy Named josh The Crazed. One he
lives In. Tennessee used to be AT. OVW i get
a message for him, saying, Bro i'm so. Sorry he

(02:20:44):
took the phone AND, i you, KNOW i couldn't stop.
Him i'm like What and THEN i see this message
From josh The Craze. One SO i listened to. It
it Was. Cornett cornett grabbed his phone because he, Goes
i'm friends With. Santino are you really oh call? Him call?
HIM i want to say. Hi so he called me

(02:21:06):
and then he grabbed the, phone, goes you piece of.
Shit you. Should i'm glad your next fucking. Hurt get
out of this goddamn. Business you have no right being
here in the first. Place And i'm, like, just you,
KNOW i had a neck injury And i'm potentially facing with,
time And i'm, like what a piece of. Shit, now
if he's doing that to impress the people that are around,

(02:21:29):
HIM i almost kind of get. It but if you
really mean, that you're a piece of. Garbage and who
does that to a guy that just had a potentially
career ending, surgery you, know or, INJURY i should, Say
so that's how it. Ended so it's been nothing but

(02:21:51):
that kind of treatment from that.

Speaker 2 (02:21:52):
Guy maybe one Day i'll get you on camera together
and we'll do a face.

Speaker 1 (02:21:55):
Off, yeah maybe you. Can we can do like a
Just i'll just beat him up in the. Basement we'll
have a studio, okay studio. Deathmatch, yeah the, deathmatch no guns,
Allowed titlematchnetwork Dot. Com mm. Hmm

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