Rey Mysterio

[MUSIC] >> Hello, it's the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes. Welcome to the WWE warehouse. Thanks to Ben Brown for letting this be the setting for the most look forward to conversation. I've had in quite some time. This, what do you want to talk about is a WWE and Fanatics original production. And we have an incredible guest and a lot of first with this guest. This is the first time I am sitting across from somebody that I actually wrestled at a WrestleMania, which is incredible former World Champion, WWE Champion, Tag Team Champions, every layer of Tag Teams for that. Cruiserweight Champion, a WWE Hall of Famer, got the ring on and everything, Royal Rumble winner and often argued particularly by me online. And I don't think it's really much of an argument anymore. I consider the greatest luchador of all time even being bigger than the unbelievable El Santo and everything that he ever did. And such an important person, contributions wise, to pro wrestling, to myself, which hopefully we get into here in a second. Please welcome to what he want to talk about, the one and the only, Rey Mysterio. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Thank you. >> My man. >> Thank you, Graham. >> That thank you. >> I was waiting for the invitation for a while now. >> I believe you in terms of I'm so glad, I'm glad it's happening. Should have happened sooner. >> No, I should have gotten a timing as always right, right? >> Right, right. >> And of all the things that right out of the gate to say to Rey Mysterio and the things I'd want to say, I do probably need to lead with this outfit you're wearing is. >> My teddy bear outfit. >> It's like you skinned a wampa. >> [LAUGH] >> This is phenomenal. >> Thank you. >> You just could at any point when it's time to rest. >> Remember when the Tally Tubby's were hot? >> Yes. >> And this is actually a Tally Tubby jumpsuit, which I love. >> I dig it. >> It's comfy. >> And always, I feel maybe an sense of just having grown up and wrestling. You also starting at 14, your uncle, you very much part of a wrestling family. One thing I always admire, and I'm sure I'm amongst many who admire this. Is you have a sense of fashion in terms of the changing of the mask when in different settings. And I know my favorite is the Hall of Fame. >> Okay. >> And I think it was the only thing I said because you were moving through and saying your pleasantries and goodbyes and hellos. Do you, and sorry if this is a regularly asked question, I'm very curious. Do you have a favorite? >> I think to this day because I wasn't expecting that mask for the Hall of Fame. My designer, Hayashi, which I send a big shout out to, he's working on some new gear right now. But he came to me with the present. He flew in from Osaka. He went straight to the arena. I remember he was running late. He got there maybe a nowery for the Hall of Fame started and he goes, please, I have this mask for you to wear for Hall of Fame. I was like, well, what is it? And he pulled it out. And my mask's bend made out of material. This one was like a helmet. And I looked at it and I was like, wow, this is beautiful. But is it going to fit me? Because that thing just went on like this. It slid on. >> Oh, yeah. >> It didn't bend. I don't know how long he spent making it. But there was no bend to it. >> Sure. >> And when I put it on, I was like, wow, this is fucking cool. >> Yeah. >> I really love this. So I think that's my favorite out of all of them that he has done over a years since '96. >> It's beautiful. So you said your designer has been doing this since 1996? >> 1996. I met him in Japan on my first Japan tour. >> Yeah. >> And he had an outfit for me made, which was crazy because he never took my measurements. He was just a big fan. >> Yeah. >> We are probably about the same height. Somewhat same built. And he said, I have this outfit for you. I made two masks. Just please the mask that you're wrestling. I would love to keep it. I was like, I don't think he's going to fit me, man. >> Yeah. >> He goes, no, please try it on. If it me to a tee. Which is crazy. That was the first time somebody has ever given me something without taking any measurements. >> Which is based on what he was seeing on TV at the time. >> I feel in the U-Cities for Musaka. >> For Musaka. >> Isn't it such a kind of having gone over there. Japanese culture never asking for something without giving something. You know, there's a whole. The first time somebody asked for an autograph from the lobby, there was a gift. They came with like a small candy or something. That's such a beautiful culture. >> Culture. >> The idea is like, hey, where it please, I just want it. Like that, very much I mean of what we do in the live theater aspect of pro wrestling. Also none of it is possible without the fan. And their involvement in Japanese culture. They're wanting the gear and all their involvement is fundamental. >> Yes, very much. >> I go back and think at that and tell myself that's been almost 30 years of connecting with him based out of one show that he went to go see and presented me a gift. And we built this relationship that we have a connection, like a very deconection that over the years he's made numerous of my WrestleMania outfits. And he's just an amazing human being, an incredible designer. And he's made stuff for other guys as well. >> I was going to say, now you've shouted, I'm sure many times, do people try and steal him? >> They've asked him. He's a gift of time. >> Well, he's got a right. He's working a lot though, you know? I think the connection that me and him had at the beginning gave both of us the notoriety to start connecting with other people, getting work from others, getting asks from other wrestlers. Boxers, I know, made gear for Canelo, Alvarez, the boxer as well. So he's done a lot of stuff. >> Which also grew together. This is you in the beginning. >> Yes. >> This is pre the World Championships, pre the Hall of Fame. He was there and that's, I mean, he bet. He took a bet on Rey Mysterio and what a great bet to take. >> Incredible, incredible. >> I see you've got something special there. I have an American Mule always brought to us by our friends at Weeley American Barclay. What is it that you have? >> This is custom. >> Okay. >> Now if you want one, I can ask, right? >> You know somebody. >> Yeah, of course. This is called a Desert Phantom. >> Oh. >> In Fantasma del Desierto. And cheers to you. Thank you for having me here. >> Thank you. >> Made with Weeley American vodka. >> Well done, yes. >> And tastes delicious, it has a bunch of stuff in it. >> Yeah. >> You know what? I'm a big grapefruit guy. >> Yeah. >> I feel like it has a little bit of grapefruit. >> Is there? >> I love it. I know we're going to put the ingredients up on the screen. So the-- >> Oh, you can't do that. >> No, you don't want to give away the secret? >> No, because the ingredients aren't going on the screen. >> This drink is a special, it was based on the Halloween havoc 97 against Eddie Grouge. >> Yes. >> The Phantom. >> Oh, suit. >> It has a little bit of a touch of Rey Mysterioish. >> So it's-- >> One of a kind. >> One of a kind. >> But if you want one, I can request you. >> You know someone. >> Oh, yeah. >> So the Phantom Mask is, this is a period of time that I'm deeply interested in WCW. >> The Phantom. >> How old were you at that? >> So 96. >> 97. >> 12? >> 12. And this is the body suit, as well, right? >> Yes. >> The term because he's ripping at all of it, right? >> You know, he's ripping here. >> Yep. >> But that was my very first outfit that I wore again, Hayashi, his creation. It was like a turtleneck with the mask. >> Yeah. >> So I put on the body suit and it came with the mask with the turtleneck and it tied underneath like a-- >> The bun's underneath, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> It had Velcro. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it was one piece. >> Isn't it funny how in final form, everything looks so clean and polished, but then you think of some of the-- I remember God bless them, Glenn, Cane. >> Yeah. >> You wouldn't think the cane had the little button underneath. >> Underneath, like you wouldn't think that was part of the cane look, but you know, all the things that go into the final form of it all. >> The old school look back then, yes. >> I actually, no rush on this at all because it's been offered in the mystery of this drink. I, if there's someone making one of those, if it exists, I would love one. I would love-- >> I have to try-- >> Highly recommend. >> Highly recommend, right? My gosh, I'd have to try. I don't know if she's-- >> She's come with buttons either. Like this is straight up. >> No. >> [laughs] So I asked about a favorite mask. I often wonder is there one that caused you the most trouble? Is there a mask that was your least favorite? Yes. I love that outfit very much. Again, we were always coming up with like, OK, what can we do this here? What can we do for this pay-per-view? And WrestleMania 21, which was the first WrestleMania goes Hollywood? Yeah. Eddie and I. Eddie and I opened up that show. And the mask was cool. The outfit was cool. We did a version of My Tattoo's other time. It was a chess piece and it had Mexican cross-estimic. And in the back, he did the design of my spine tattoo with the ribcage on the back. And the mask was made out of like a latex material. This is the first time he had done something like that. But it kept on button from the bottom. And if you see throughout the whole match, I'm fixing and fixing my mask. And I'm strapping back on. And it was just the pain. Like, I think about that happening to me now at my age. I freak out. Back then, I don't know how I handled it. But it's like, being in there with Eddie is like, you feel pressure. But at the same time, you know you have to put on your wrestling boots. Yeah. I was trying to lace up my boots and the mask at the same time and not letting Eddie down. Right. I think there's some reason that God is always on our side. And he made it work perfectly well that night. Yeah. But that was one of the masks that I loved. I just struggled throughout that whole match trying to keep it on. It would slip and move. There's a specific, I think, it's Greco Roman Nuckelock. Fall back where you both bridge up in that match. Yes. OK. You don't see that that often. It just came to my mind because I thought, I remember this where they both bridge up. I think a double cover and then a double bridge or something. Yes. Maybe monkey flip into it. I feel like it's a deep cut on this. But I thought, this is-- Speaking of Eddie, of course, one of my favorite things we do here and the soul that exists in the warehouse is we always try to throw up some of the items that relate to the gastroenter situation. And there's Eddie's-- I love it. It's right there. There was locals. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. You know, we-- Dom and I, when he claimed that I was his father, not anymore on the line, we did a tribute to Eddie and Love Machine at our first WrestleMania together in Texas. And we just did a newer version. So I wore the Mexican and he wore the American colors. But it was a tribute to Los�ingos Locos. Did you ever have a chance to see Art Bar wrestler? That's what I was going to ask you. I saw Art Bar wrestler. It seems like-- and this is probably not the best parallel. But there's wrestlers you hear about all the time-- Dick Murdock, Ray Stevens, Art Bar as one as well-- that I feel like there's not enough in terms of-- you hear great things. But it didn't move to another-- it's limited to a period of time or however I went. But speak to that, just because I've only ever heard amazing. And the tag run did see in these jackets is unreal. Crazy enough, I was better friends at the time with Art Bar than with Eddie for some reason. Some weird reason. Art and I just got along very well. But I sometimes think if it was because of the era that we were going through at that time, no social media, everything was word of mouth, VHS, the observer. That was your only point of reference to who was up and coming. So maybe that's why. And because he left us way too soon, he never got to that peak where I think if he was still around when Eddie made it to that peak, that he would have been right there next to him. Yeah, he was just so that good. Absolutely. Yeah. Wait, coming in. Oh, coming in. That's on the house. You knew somebody. Yeah, thank you so much. Well, this is the first side. It's not really typically this. Allude, thank you. Oh, wow. You like it? I do. I do. I do. That's a good choice there. Oh, my. All right. So I want to talk about motivation. Comes in and goes, right? And habits. Habits show up even when you don't feel like it. But AG1 is the easiest habit that you can start now to support consistency even when your motivation isn't perfect. Most supplements feel over complicated. Too many pills, too many rules, too much confusion. AG1 keeps it simple, multivitamin, pre and probiotic superfoods, antioxidants, all in one scoop, 20 seconds later, eight ounces of water done. When February hits, winter routines get messy. AG1 is that daily reset that you can take anywhere. Health doesn't need a full rebrand every year. Sometimes it's the small habits that win championships. And the new NextGen formula. They've added more vitamins and minerals than ever, clinically proven to fill common nutrient gaps, all so you can stay in the fight and beat your best all winter long. 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Dom obviously a unique subject, but I saw something that I was very touched to see. And no matter what a relationship is, of course, I didn't want to bother you because I just was touched to see it. I was watching you watch him in Boston. And I don't know what else to say other than I was I'm really grateful I got to see that because we talked about you and I at wrestling at a WrestleMania before. Right. That's my first singles match on a pay-per-view at WWE at all. It happens to be at WrestleMania. That was in Atlanta, right? In Atlanta, it happens to be against former World Champion all the things that make up Rey Mysterio. But there is a moment where when it was done, my dad had a blackberry. And I just remember blackberry is at the little ball. And obviously like old dude as well, there's that lack of understanding of technology. You want you to get one thing down. That's the one thing you know how to do. But I remember watching him watch us down the hall. And he just took a picture of us talking. And I very much knew that that was just for him. That was just to be there. So I just wanted to share that with you that I got to watch you watch him. And it was, it's really wild. And it has to be for you to see some of these were children. Yeah. Kids, you know, like I think you met Ashley, you know Charlotte. I think you met Ashley. Like again, you're talking about the Phantom, right? That's 12 years old for me. And those were the questions I'd ask. After the WCW was so those pay-per-views, following havoc, they were so fun because for the regular fan, we were rewarded with, you got to see these amazing matches. It's like nobody wanted to put the shift in. They had their main event scene, whatever it was. These amazing matches that were everyone was cooking. Everyone, Raven is doing something crazy. You're doing something crazy. Eddie's doing something crazy. Not just the cruiserweight. Like there were genuine character pieces, right? They were happening. And then the end of the OCEAN would take that, whatever it may be. But it's almost like the show built in a way that had worked for everyone. A casual fan, a hardcore fan. There was some special, but I remember how fondly, on commentary, they would speak about you. And how quick it all happened. Because it was just a few times we saw you and the next thing you know, it was entrenched in you being the lead dog in the cruiserweight division. And the kind of trading back and forth that you have with the dean that you have with an Eddie. - It is so, I guess I'm asking more 'cause obviously it was a massive fan of it and remember a great bit of it. But I ask more what it's like backstage when you're in a place like that, doing what you were doing 'cause you guys were out there at your time. - Yeah, yeah we did. - To work and tell stories, yeah. - And I remember your dad being part of that commentating team. - Yeah. - And he would always speak wonders every time I was in the ring. And at the time I didn't recall it, going back and watching stuff like that, I can hear him now and oh wow, like he never had always spoke very positive about my work and what I delivered and that was very. - He loved you. - Oh I think he'd come back and he'd talk about you. And 'cause there was questions, and Mike Tene was right there to fill in a lot of details that maybe you didn't know. But I think he fell in with the familiar of it. The like, oh this guy is same with Eddie. Like I remember not knowing who Eddie was and he kinda sent me down. So I always felt like I had a heads up over all my friends. I was sitting there like you don't know that, this is such and such from this family and you know he'd have that information. But I think it's something that the psychology, there's another thing I wanna ask you about, being a lighter heavyweight in a company of giants and how you not only survive but thrive. The psychology of that was fun for him to be part of on commentary. - Yes. - The rooting for somebody and they're you being one of the few who could find a way. - Right, well I was always very open-minded and still to this day to listen. - Yeah. - Whether he has more years on top of my experience or less years if there's a suggestion and or an opinion on how the match should go in a certain direction, I'm all about it. And at that time, especially entering WCW, I was being guided the majority of the times on how to work this particular American style coming from everything being so fast, no counting outs and just doing whatever you wanted, whatever you wanted. So the first one to teach me that was Dean. Dean was just incredible at just putting pieces together and I would tell him, I would love to do this, working with you know this and that's how I started learning how to kind of just put the puzzle together. You know, but Dean was a very fundamental key and on the uprising of my career in WCW with the very first match thinking that now I know what a dark match is or a tryout match. - Sure. - Back then, I didn't know what a tryout match. So what it was me going in to do my first wrestling show for WCW, I'm thinking, yeah, they're gonna probably throw me in before the paper view starts and this was a bash at the beach. Washington and Baltimore, I'm sorry. And I'm thinking, okay, well, I'm sure we're probably gonna be the first match opening the show and then obviously they're gonna lead into the paper view. No, it was the first match on the paper view and I literally started a panic in a good way. So I was like, oh shit, I've never wrestled Dean before. I studied him, try to pick up a little bit on what he did. But the connection was instant and I felt like I was very easy to adapt with whoever it was that I was stepping in the ring with and that really gave me a lot of confidence to eventually wrestle a regal. Later on in WWE, a Kurt Angle, like it just, it was, I guess the passion and the love that I have for this sport that just made me blend in with whatever style that was brought up to me at the time. It was so cool. - It's so funny, bro, Dean. There's a synergy here to, Dean one time was in the ring, teaching all of us just to pre-a, house show, pre-alive event and he said something 'cause somebody was asking about calling spots. He said something I'll never forget. He says, you don't always have to call spots. If I hook you like this and throw my arm here, I'm gonna suplex you. Like he said something about the connection, the physical, if I've got you, you know where we're going. If I tuck you in like this, if I, you're at least, if there's three routes here, you know what those three routes are. And I always thought that's genius because really the idea of just counting on your person to be professional and have enough in the bank to know. I could do this, I could do this, I could just reverse out of it, whatever it may be, instead of yelling it or speaking in carny or whatever it may be and I thought, I don't think that's a thing that's taught, which is wild to me here you are going to this paper view match and that's somebody that, 'cause when you have chemistry with somebody, you wanna work them all the time. - Yeah. - I won't say who 'cause this was just recent but I just wrestled somebody on TV where right away, I thought, ooh, this is special. - This is special. And yup, and I wanted to let as many people know as I could. - Right. - And we're not doing live events anymore, no, but still the nature of being in there with someone who gets me or feel, we just have a, we're clicking. - Right. - And you and Dean, absolutely. - It's crazy going back and just thinking about those moments or those that first stage of being able to work with him, it's like, wow, we really created magic which I felt at the time I hadn't jumped to many opponents. The only opponents that I really had a good connection was psychosis, which was the number one, Hoverntu Guerrero, which was number two. And to me, another guy that I connected with was heavy metal, Nego Casas, a younger brother. You know, besides that, I would have good matches, decent matches with other wrestlers, but Mexico was so used to doing three versus three, two versus two single matches. We're only for a title, a mask versus mask or a hair versus mask. So you didn't get to see many of those single matches. So you connected with pretty much whoever was in front of you of the three opponents. But here, going into WCW was the majority were single matches. And that was what really kind of opened up my confidence to be able to trust other wrestlers on a one-on-one. - Sure, I feel like this is just from an observation of Samuel, 'cause I watched so much of wrestling throughout the day. And that's an era that I was, we were all into it. It's very fun to watch, a incredibly young adult crowd, like college, college age, whereas today it's so many young kids and families that attitude era and Monday Night War is peak, that WCW run, NWO run, it's a lot of college age, rowdy, with a bit of ignorance and not a negative way, but they're just coming to have a good time. And it's very fun to see people that perhaps they had no idea were wrestling. - Absolutely, take the crowd on a ride. Dean, power bombing a dude, power bombing you, maybe coming off the ropes and getting a near fall that it's like they took the opportunity that was in front, all of you took this opportunity, 'cause that era obviously clearly talked about so much with what happened with the cruiser weights and what happened, but that couldn't, there's a chance that that doesn't happen if you don't have the right people. There's a chance that they, I don't like this, and instead instantly, Ultimo Dragun, you, Eddie, it's what a class of people. That's why I wondered what it's like, or what it was like backstage for that when you're in that company. And is it a chip on the shoulder? Is it more of a confidence and having fun? Is it learning? Was it incredibly pressure-filled? - I think from my point of view, I think, because of what you just said of fans maybe going in to see what the NWO was doing at the time, we slowly started capturing that audience to become more and more focused, not on what was happening with the NWO, but what was happening that cruiser weight division, all these guys are coming in with masks. But from my point of view, I think it was more of, let's go out there and let's go out some fun. Let's go do what we love to do. I've always went out thinking, I'm putting everything out there. Like, whatever it is they can let me do it, I'm gonna put it out there. So it was always very enjoyable. And obviously you knew with who you can really let yourself go. And obviously, Eddie was one of them. Jericho was another dean. You know, overall, that whole division, dragon, we would go out there and just put on really good matches. The psychology wasn't quite there. all the way yet, but we were all learning in the process. And I learned so much from all the guys that I just mentioned over the years on how to eventually start toning it down. But I think that happens to everyone. When you're on the rise, you're just willing to do and take whatever to go out there and entertain, right? And that was my case back then. We talked about Dusty on commentary and how he talked about you. Dusty, how you'd explain some of the guys who I was, "Where's he from? What's his story?" Get some information. There's always times when in conversations that my dad's brought up where I'm of the thought, "I don't really want to talk about my dad." Or, "Oh man, here we are talking about Dream again." But one thing I thought, I was like, "Oh, I hope I think classic, wrestling, bookier, producer 101, sometimes it's going, that's my guy. That's my girl." There's something about them. You saw something they did one night or two nights and whatever, maybe that's my guy. That's what it was. It was that's my guy. A couple matches in with Dean, whatever, that's my guy. And I wanted to bring this up because there's someone today that I was watching. I can't believe I'm going to say it because I don't have a great reaction, like interaction with them. There was a guy I was watching and I shared it with one other legend backstage the other day because I thought, "If my dad was still alive, that'd be his guy." And it was Solo, Sakoa. Oh wow. And I couldn't figure it out. I'm like, "He would just eat him up." Right. So that's just something about exactly what you just said. Go out there and take what I have. But also, we're going to have a good time. We're going to have a good time. Like, there's pressure. You know when you get to those points when there's pressure and it's almost like that's all there is. Well, it's just all pressure. And then there's also, we're going to have a good time. Right. This play, you know, MGM Grans, "Lose in their mind." This is another, you know, Monday Night Sellout or WCW Pay Per View Sellout. We get it. February is full of flowers, candy, stuffed animals, and of course, lots of talk about relationships and dating. Sometimes you can feel like everyone else has it all together in their love lives, whether married, dating or single. The truth is, most of us are still figuring out and finding our way. And no matter where you are in your romantic journey, therapy can help you find your way, help you determine what you want, what feels heavy and how you can take some pressure off yourself. Therapy can help you identify what's weighing your relationships down and find ways to brighten them again, whether it's for individuals or couples. Therapy is an opportunity to identify what's getting in the way and help remove any blockers. Better Help Therapists work according to a strict code of conduct in our fully licensed in the US, and Better Help does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and our 12 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means we typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time from our tailored wrecks. With over 30,000 therapists, Better Help is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 6 million people globally and it works with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for a live session based on over 1.7 million client reviews. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/cody. That's better-h-e-l-p.com/cody. Because we talked about it a little bit, and you mentioned contemporaries in terms of end-lucho-lebray and doing the psychology of the differences. Right now with WWE and Triple A, and this partnership and everything that's going on, do you feel, I don't know, do you feel there's a misconception about lucho-lebray or do you feel there's something that people don't know yet that they'll see with this? I think that it could be interpreted both ways. You know, they're probably waiting to see a little bit more of the lucho style. But it was only in that position. And I think eventually when the time is right, and everything lines up, there might be some interaction between talent. But I think overall, lucho-lebray is the same. The same, it was 20, 30 years ago, when we first came in to WCW on the scene. You know, it hasn't changed. The mask still means the same. The only thing that I think we're trying to incorporate, which we have done over the years, on the Mexican side is taking away those two out of three falls, just doing that one fall, which now the fans are very adapted to. But overall, I think the American fans want to see who's out there that we haven't seen yet, that we would like to see. Like give us something new, a new parka, a new silver king. You know, what's that next generation that's up and coming, like at one point, we left Triple A to come over. Yeah. Who are those guys? And I think we've seen a little bit of them. Yeah. Mystery Wana, you know, Psycho Clown, who's a generational as well. Yeah. You know, and I was finding, because I was just remembering what you just said about solo, another generational. Yeah. So, you grew up in it. Got a little bit of sense about. Do you think there's something about that that just pulls you in even more once you're in? I think it pulls you in. I think it makes you very responsible to the business. You feel responsible to this fed me. Now it's got to keep feeding me or in solo, it's getting my family now. So as fun and silly as the job, sometimes look on paper. It's business, right? And also having seen a dad or a mom go through it, you get a sense of, you get a really, you get a college education on the industry before you ever have an elementary school. That's why I always, if you're a second or third generation, I always think, great, you know a lot. Go train with somebody completely different though. You can just teach you how to hold someone's wrist on an arm ringer. Because you don't get that from dad or mom always. You know a lot of that is the deeper. Hey, this is why that worked. And this is why that happened. And to combine the two is amazing, but you feel responsibility to it. Yeah. I've told you about what happened with me in Psycho Clown, right? No. Oh, it's great. Psycho Clowns, such a class act. Yes. It gave me a mask. I got it on the bus. But if you don't know, triple A or Lucha and you see that mask, you'd think I was a serial killer in my side gig. Somebody signed this mask. But so I did triple Mania a few years ago. And triple Mania, you know, it's a little bit, I'd say production, W.W. is production is absurd, right? So it feels like anytime you're wrestling anywhere else, you, you, you know, maybe the production is to hair down or a little fast and loose, a little different. Right. Just different, right? Just different. He was shooting fire out of a guitar. And I was in this like, astro-crack like stage setting and I was just coming out and I was just doing American Nightmare stuff. It was pretty like, I was really there just to kind of do the Jimmy Duke and hey guys, you know. But he had called this great match and he was just everything. He was, I couldn't have asked for a better person to walk in the locker room and be like, yeah, sure, man, thank you. When you, when I, I will return this favor, when I, you know, but he's shooting fire out of the guitar. And I'm, I'm my head is here in this thing ready to come up and do this just full fire. And it is right by my head. And I thought like the stages made of wood. I thought like this, this is the most like triple A moment. Like it was such a cool entrance, but I, you would have never today, did he, did he catch you a little bit? No, not at all, but I'm very close. I'm overthinking like no one even told me that brother is just going to be fired. Yeah, it was, it was honestly, it was a great like that arena to arena, Mexico. Oh, it's just a good moment. Yeah. I'm so glad to see him. That was a triple A, right? It was a triple A. Yeah, yeah. Wow. Yeah. I want to ask because you mentioned who's next, right? In terms of, no spoilers or anything to that nature. But I know in terms of who's on our current roster with Pinta and, and, and Ray. And then is there someone who we don't know yet? Who you think's find in the way? It seems like there's a class. So it's funny you mentioned Pinta and Pannix. Because they were at one point, triple A all the way. As a matter of fact, I had a chance to meet up with them for the first time in triple A back in mid 2014, 15, when we were doing that whole Luchando ground scene. And very talented. And I was eventually they're going to they're going to be in WWE and obviously they made it into WWE before the acquisition of triple A. So they have a huge future ahead of them. But overall, I think I know the son of Dr. Wagner is very good. OK. I know Ijo del Biquingo is also a great place to go. incredible. He does some pretty amazing things. But it's also like how I remember when I was doing a lot of crazy stuff and I don't maybe I'm outdated now by trying to give advice to talent like E. Hualde-Bikin go on trying not to do much and just make what you do in more seem logical. But then I asked myself am I just trying to hold them back or am I really like I am being honest with that I just I don't want them to get hurt I want them to be safe and make a good career. Yeah. But or is just simply the business changing to where it's at now. Yeah. What do you do? Well no I think I think there's something to be said for hey take what you do make it mean more right where you can maybe do a little less from a longevity standpoint. But also I wonder what is Ray at Halloween having thinking right because when you're not and I I don't want to use I'm very selective about the word over because I feel like it's pretty misused and wrestling but when you're not popular just not even popular or not known right that's your opportunity to swing yeah go for the fences and the last thing I think you want to hear is don't don't yeah but they're just comes the point right where you do go you know I don't have to empty the pockets here right I I'm gonna leave a few not because of laziness because of the longer story we're telling and that yeah and I feel like it's a discretionary thing on it's very tough to know when your Kevin Owen said something once in a random documentary that I saw that I'll never forget he said Kevin Kevin said a lot of guys say they're old school but what they actually mean is they're lazy and I thought oh because you do me to guy a lot of guys are like oh let's take the bombs limit the bombs yeah yeah some of them you're like for what yeah we're not even you're not working next week man like for what you know like so I I wonder and I mean you name guys that are all Penta I I adore Penta yeah yeah and Phoenix and and the King go it's just and clown and there's so much to come but I think I don't know if anyone will understand this but one of my favorite things about Penta is a few times I worked him I have no clue what he's talking about but then I'll fully know what he's talking about because it's always the same it's like me you get agent you me and my brother that's the Mexican dude it's wild so okay so a Canadian you they're right up you Canadian me Phoenix comes in head scissors like because it's all my brother I do I just I love it such a kick out I like I'd hear him talking to someone when we weren't working I'd be like how do you have a clue what Penta is like I'm me idea yeah sometimes like a new Japan is like idea my idea and you're because I remember one time I was I was with Brandy overseas in Japan she heard me talking to a Bouchie yes and after she's like you can't talk to people like that and I said no no that's that's how the everyone's talking I'm not saying like I my idea it's how they're broken it's how we weren't she that it was just yes I thought I was like disrespecting my no no no that's the same way but man when Penta every he's oxen yeah I always just I'd hear him and he's such he's such a protector for his brother yes oh yeah he's a big brother oh my god my brother oh yeah they're so freaking town oh so you know funny enough the same person that discovered me as icosis is the same person that found Penta and and Fanny's kid dog Conan yeah yeah it's crazy like to see that full circle like okay triple A beginning yeah career opens up now we're here doesn't get any bigger and vice versa for them like the same he's one of the ones I always love when the legends come to TV hmm well I love now that talent relations lets us know right who's coming to TV I think that's the nicest little thing yeah sometimes I have to hide because there's a lot of when your second generation there's a lot a lot of like dad uncle brother sister a lot of talk right right we might be busy right you know so you don't ever with the legends you never want to be like okay yeah yeah got a disrespect got exactly I would never I he's one of the ones that in the few interactions I've had a man-to-man sit down moment with I walked away thinking like geez how smart how thank you you know like I remember I said here with Bruce one time and I remember all the stuff Bruce was saying I was just needing to hear it and I was like a little treasure box oh my gosh and I was with Conan we were in Mexico and we were in a he was driving me back to the hotel he was talking about listening to new music even if you don't like new music you should listen to new music because the kids are listening to new music and the last thing you want to do is present something as cool that's not cool it was just the simplest of things yeah but to hear it from him and then also see what a track record look at all that in the 90s look at that it's still going just ear to the ground because I think that's a big secret about the legend the real legend types is there not relegated to an era right like if you were to ask probably your favorite wrestler the biggest legend in your career what he would think of wrestling today I bet you they'd like it right I know that from my perspective when we were at the Netflix premiere I was all emotional because I kept thinking about all the guys who worked right so that they could have an international appeal like that so that they could be so yatch changed yeah yeah it's dangerous yeah the psychology is different but like it's the game goes on right if that makes any sense yeah yeah Conan though yeah genius yeah yeah yeah and he's always like stayed on top of like you said what's the new song yeah listen to it like he's always been on top of just generational culture yeah you know overall just to stay you know at the same level of the game whatever that game is yeah yeah I always want to do the rolling clothesline but I always if you ever just see a random rather just rolled new clothesline because it was such a it was so simple and a good old hey anyone can do it really if you can do forward roll nobody does it nobody does it yeah wow now after this airs I want to pull out I want to pull out a rolling clothesline because it's easy to do it yeah he does roll it in the clothesline big news W W in sports fans the world's number one sports fan festival fanatics fest is making its return to New York City fanatics is bringing you closer to the league's teams superstars and athletes you love across four action-packed days in July meet your favorite W W superstars get your hands on exclusive merch catch live podcasts and interact with the biggest names in sports tickets are on sale now and fans of the podcast can use code Cody Tin at checkout for 10% discount head to fanaticsfest.com to get your tickets today oh man so I waited this long and I feel like this room is a quite aware what I'm gonna tell you I feel you're aware of because we've talked about WrestleMania you and I before I don't know if we've ever had it discussed to me like I don't know if I've ever been able to relate to you my perspective on that WrestleMania it the whole process is unique because man we're talking about him again Dean Malinka standing in the ring at TV you're on the other side of the ring holding court you know one of the most beloved guys in all locker rooms like the Snoop Dogg of wrestling yeah loved everywhere you and he comes over to me goes hey Ray has a choice for WrestleMania and he wants to wrestle you and you know it's presented in a pretty formal way and I'm doing dashing Cody Rhodes at the time I got on Smackdown so I got away from Teddy and Randy I'm really just doing my own thing Michael Hayes is always the way Michael Hayes of me half takes me under his wing half also it's like no he's not mine you know like I'm half in so he's all excited about it he's right in the show but I came up to you I was like hey that's amazing and you said yeah I think we should have good Matt it was just simple so I could have good matches like okay well I'm gonna write something and I'll call you and you're like yeah call me anytime okay so then for the next five days I think I texted you and just nothing ghosted and I thought oh well maybe it was just like not meant to be but no matter what I'll have something I'll write something out right so I start right now at the angle a little bit of how we could get into it and some of random what I'd call ancillary idea as we could do this with the mass we could do that I'm writing another full week goes both without without getting anything nothing nothing and I'm thinking okay well things do change this was also incredibly like at this point I am self-aware enough to know it was a really nice moment by the ring if things change they change can't get married to anything in wrestling right can't but then I I think it's the B.O.K. Center. It was called the B.O.K. Center, but I walk in and I haven't spoke to you and I have the she-i sent you, which was a full, gritted out WrestleMania program in like a laminate folder that you present in high school. As a presentation, I have it in my backpack. I have three of them. I walk in and you're standing right by the door to Vince's office and you're right there and you just said, "Hey, I'm going to go in there and talk with him. You want to come with me?" I just got to the building. Right. Yeah. So I put my bags in and we walk in and you legit. It just happened so fast. I'll never forget it. You just started right away. You go, "Hey, I would like to wrestle Cody at WrestleMania and we're interested in that." The next thing you know, he looks over at me. He's almost not irritated with you, but he irritated with me being in the room and he goes, "Well, you got any ideas?" Yeah. Pull that out of my backpack. Yes. Handed it to him. And then he said the same thing you said. He goes, "Okay, we'll do it. It'll be a great match." Great matches. And wow. And I remember like, "I had nothing going on." Nothing. Like, little bones here and there, but it had been a minute. Right. Right. Right. This like, it had been a minute and I knew getting involved with you and Dean and the story. I knew we had a good story and then we had my dad come to Sacramento to hold your hand. Right. I remember. Which is like, he wasn't even turning heel. Just being a dad. Yeah. I told you that extra second where I sucker punched you in the back and I remember Randy telling me that day, "Just believe your heat. Believe it. Throw them in the barricade, get yours, but leave it." It was great advice because that's still how Randy works to do it. Yes. But I had never, so I had never wrestled at a WrestleMania in a singles match. I had never wrestled a paper view in a singles match. So, you just do like, triple threat the year before Randy, battle royal, the year before that. I had been in the main events paper use as a tag. This was 2000, where 2008? 2008. 2008. Go at WrestleMania in Atlanta, Miss Cena, WrestleMania. Okay. Yeah. You were at Captain America. Yes. I remember the Captain America, yes. Captain America. Yeah. But Ray, like, I could say everything and obviously mean it about who I think you are in the Lucha Libre's "Ike Guys" and how important and your contributions to the industry are I was a fan, so I know what you did, know what you continue to do. But you changed my life. Like, that's, I don't get anywhere, dude. Like, I had nothing coming my way. I lost Teddy and Randy. I wasn't the one who was supposed to go, you know, you know what that's like. It wasn't a knock on me. I just wasn't the one who was supposed to. There's always one that advances and advances. You have to figure out another route. And I got to experience things at a different level and play ball at a higher level and I would have never gotten out of the blocks. You know, I don't know who that would have been. I would have never had anything. So I'm sure there's someone in your career who had a moment with you where maybe you felt the same or, but for me, it is legitimately a core moment. Nothing happens without me walking into that building and you being like, you want to go in and the next thing, the rest was history for me. And of course, there's a myriad of highs and lows, but I've never had a high, right? Everything. So I have to thank you. There's, that makes me feel a huge side of satisfaction to be able to be that person that maybe opened up that first door. And, you know, we all have someone that is our first one. To me, I've always said that it's, I've had incredible opponents over the years that thanks to them, like I have outshined and been put on the map, but I truly don't believe that I would be here if I wouldn't have been given the opportunity to even go to Mexico for the first time, which was, to me, was Conan. Conan opened the doors and wherever he went, he brought me along with him. He's the only thing was WWE because it was already purchased, but overall, he's the one that kind of saw something in me that I would have never discovered. And that just helped me mold into the person that I am now, but I feel truly blessed and honored to have been that person for you. You have no idea, like I've heard you tell his story. I'll tell it to anyone who was 300 times of that. And I just, I've never heard it in the fashion of how you said it right now and how, how impact what was, you know, at the time. So I feel truly honored to have been that person like from the bottom of my heart. Change my life. And because you mentioned Conan being the one to open doors for you, cheers to Conan. Cheers to Conan. Cheers to Conan. Cheers to that door. Oh my God. For both of us. Wow, that's great. And time does fly out. Yeah. Like, that was 2008. Oh yeah, that was it. At least 2008. So when you came in with Randy and Teddy, that was-- Randy Teddy? Yeah, 2008, 2009. Not at start. So maybe it was 2010. Yeah, it was 2011. Man, it was 2011. Wow. Yeah, 2011, I was off. Yeah, 2011, yeah. 2011, yeah. 2011, yeah. Yeah. And going back to that moment of your dad snapping the picture and like me, like seeing Dom's growth right now and being around and not just seeing it from like an office standpoint, but being part of talent still, it's so crazy and surreal to like I now understand and can imagine how your dad felt watching you. Oh man. And we have the sense of pride and joy and like we accomplished something in some way or form that is pain off. Oh yeah. And I'm sure your dad is so freaking happy just on all the success and the accomplishments that you conquered. So I tip my mask off to you for that. Man, I've got a feel proud. I don't know how much work allowed to talk about Dom. I'm, we can talk from he is, he is my son officially. Yeah. He is my bloodline. It's funny. Again, I think I might have told him this story and I tell others this story about hey, your dad opening up the door for me. But also what's funny is there's such a generational gap, right? When you're older in terms of I thought like I'm cool like Dom. I'm like cool. And you realize like oh Dom's like a kid. He's like he's cool. You're not cool. Like you're like you're trying to be like hey Dom, what's up cool kids? You know like it's he's cool. But I always none of this would ever, I don't think this is remotely applicable but I always thought hey man if he was ever in trouble, I got that guy. Like I don't even know him. I don't know Dom but for I know Ray and well enough to know any issue with Dom. Like I'd have his back at any any any junk shirt and just a for sure. That he needs to know that you have his back only because it's through me. Oh yeah, no, no, he hasn't done that thing yet where it's like hey man, like you know what I'm saying that. That's the that's the that's 100% I think sometimes Paul, I'm in Mr. Heyman. Yeah. Well, well bring me in for a powwow on occasion. Right. And I can never tell I'm like I wonder if he's wonder what's going on here. He's unpredictable. Yeah, he's very unpredictable. Is it something I did? Yeah. Is it something he wants to teach me or is it just that at 14 years old he's snuck into my dad's production meeting as a photographer and my dad allowed him to stay in the meeting. And ever since then he's had this claim that it was a core moment and change things. in open door for him. I don't know which one it is still. I'll take the the equity from someone else but you know at a certain point you want to build your own. Yeah. Alright, this next question is part of a segment we call Game Plan. Fueled by Game Day Min's Health because let's be honest, showing up at your best takes work. So let me ask you what is your game plan for staying sharp? Could be physical, could be mental, could be family stuff. Whatever it is, how do you stay in the zone and keep pushing even when life's stacked against you? I think I have to contribute that to every morning when I wake up. That cold plunge is waiting outside my room. I jump in there. It's at 39 degrees and I stay there for about three minutes. If I feel froggy, I might stay there a little bit longer. Yeah. But sometimes when that three minute mark hits, I'm out of there. Yeah. And that's how I start my day. That's I believe that's what keeps me sharp and on my toes and ready to kick my day off. That's exactly why Game Day is out here helping guys optimize their energy, their focus and longevity. You don't have to slow down, you just need the right game plan. Check out Game Day Min's Health dot com slash Cody to learn more. Here's something I want to ask you to mention the Snoop Dogg thing. I don't know if that's a great parallel, but Snoop is wonderful and yes, he's also beloved. Yes. You've had big gold. You've had WWE championships. You're all the fame. There is in an accolade. You've won the Royal Rumble. All these top guy top girl accolades in the industry. You have accomplished those. So, so a lot of people, the whole thing is I want to get this. I want to have this. If I can get this, all be good. If I can get this, you've had a many of them. Yeah. But most people I find that have had those moments, their reputations, they're not negative reputations, but there are mind fields, there are enemies. There are certain people who aren't a fan of such and such. You, you've got to be the most beloved guy in the history of all locker rooms. And my question is, because I struggle in the regards. What is the, what is it, I don't think there's a secret, but is there a recipe for that in terms of how you've maintained a, a love and an awareness and transparency and a realness with a realness more than anything with the locker rooms you've been in. Wow. And I, like, yeah, because I mean, certain guys get to a point where they're wearing that ring and they're not one of the boys. Right. But you, I mean, you're, you've never not been one of the boys, right? Right. I remember when Edge broke his neck and we would go overseas and he went on that tour, even though he just went on it just to give the fans his presence. He could work and you printed the shirts out with the spine on the back. Yeah. And we all took the photo. It was over you, you, you maintained the camaraderie and brotherhood in the locker room. And I just, what's the, the secret or what, what is work for you? I've, I've, this is the only thing that I've ever done. And I've ever loved doing and the only thing that I know how to do. And I've always held it very dear and close to my heart. And I do it with passion, with love. I spend my energy and I devote myself to this sport. It's given me everything. It's, it's given me the opportunity to meet my wife and to have my children to live the way I live, truly blessed overall, not only in sport and life in general and it's given me so many opportunities and just a lot of things that I would never have thought that I would have in life. And throughout that journey it kind of opens up your, your heart and your mind and and you start realizing a lot of things that you didn't realize when you were younger, when you were just kind of going through the flow. I've always respected all my peers younger or older than me. And I think I've always treated everyone the way I've been wanting to be treated. And that, I think that comes from home, the way your parents raised you. Because I see now the same with my kids like how they are treated and how people express themselves about my kids. So I think in that sense there's a foundation to all of this and it starts from home and eventually builds into whatever you want to build it from whatever traits you pick up from home and carry those with you. But overall, I'm grateful to be where I'm at, I'm grateful with the life in general. Bless 1,000 percent and enjoy from day one training to to this day everything I have done and I've had people to share with. And I like doing that. And I like the camaraderie, I like to connect. I can be very, I can isolate myself a lot when I'm not around this sport. And I think there's a few people that can see that. My wife, my daughter and maybe my son every now and then. But when I'm here, I get suffocated with it and I love it. It's very, I like that outlook at great deal. You know, you have that there to come in and plug fully in here. Yes. Oh my. This, this is a, I wanted to ask this earlier only because it is quite a detour from that answer. But it's something that always I thought I wonder how he feels about that. This famous NWO backstage attack, I told you this was a hard detour. Yeah, yeah. This famous detour, you know, this famous NWO backstage attack that I watched as a kid and completely captured the imagination of the audience. It's not real. What's not? Suspension of disbelief. But you get laundarded by Kevin Nash, he gets a trailer. That's probably the most violent moment throughout the whole thing. And I mean laundarded. You're thrown at a parallel to the ground into a trailer. Yeah. I do remember coming out of the trailer, jumping on the rail and thinking, I'm going to take Kevin Nash down with his cross body. And of course, it didn't happen. You tried that. But you think about that and you like, that was a moment that was kind of stamped for that error. It's crazy. Which is crazy. And all the things you do. And then that's a piece of it, you know? Right? 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Be sure to subscribe to WWE Topps Now mailing list on topsp.com and follow Topps on all social media platforms so you never miss a single moment. Were you passionate about wrestling from the moment you found out what it was? From the jump, yeah. From the jump right away. Well, so I knew because my dad was, I wasn't seeing him actively wrestle. But I knew he was a wrestler. I'd seen the belts. I mean, this was like really early. I'd seen some of the different wrestlers around the house. The first time I went to a show where I was allowed to go sit down in the crowd without him or I had Doug Dillinger printed me a pass at UTC Chattanooga. I'm now Brad Armstrong hit an arm drag on somebody in the place lost their mind. How old were you? Seven? Okay. Yeah. And that was the first time I lost interest in the backstage of it. I became a, I think, because I was living in the backstage of it already. That I became just interested in the, I want to see what's out here. Sting, this is, you know, the early '90s WCW before Hogan comes in and before the Monday night wars really pick up. But that era of WCW was, and you were already watching, so I lasted a bit on TV. So I was already a lot of VHS. I had a lot of VHS in the house. A lot of Titan video. That was, I didn't have access to, there wasn't, I didn't even know USA, the channel at the time existing. Right. So I, it was mainly WCW Saturday night. You're watching short squash matches, the good promos. and then a little bit of B-roll from something bigger or a call, the action for the pay-per-view. But that early '90s WCW was it for me. And then Blockbuster and Hollywood video, those were the spots where I started seeing SummerSlam '92 and the WWE. And there were such vast differences in terms of the productions, you know? - What about Dustin? Like when did you find out that he was-- - So Dustin is same in that Brad Armstrong slot. Dustin, he's, I remember seeing him at the Omni, as the natural. And hearing all the women go crazy for him and just seeing how good he was, him in stunning Steve. And the stuff they were doing. And they were, even as a kid, you knew they were the young guys on the show. You knew they were the young guys and they were almost presented for you. In that stage of WCW. But I don't give Dustin enough credit. Dustin's one, like, I'm due for a lot of moments where I need to tell Dustin how important he is, how valuable he is. A lot of time could be spent on a therapist couch about me just learning to express a gratitude for my older brother that I just don't know how to do. - Right. I'm terrible at it. But he's the same way. - You're the youngest out of force, right? - Oh yeah. So you don't know how to express sometimes. - And that's the one. - We're good at telling other people, but not them, direct. - It's almost like, please, you heard me say it, right? - Yeah, you don't need to hear it. - Yeah, but yeah, Dustin was amazing. And also, you know, I don't know if you felt this with anyone in your family, but Dustin was fundamentally just so much better than I was, fundamentally trained, better, cleaner, knew how to do an inside out bump. Just like things that I was so wanting. And you take, just takes time. - Right. - Takes time. You don't want your older brother to like see you take time. You want to just be there. - Right. - But yeah, he's. - So you say that was the age of seven. What age was it when you started training? Like, started training, training of 14. - 14? - Dustin. - And then you started wrestling. So seven, seven years later. - Yeah, so I was a classic South Park episode style of I got an amateur wrestling. - Oh, okay. - Not aware that there's a big difference. - Right. - And then I like fell in love with it, which thank gosh. - Yeah. - I realized like there's no steel chairs and mask and stuff. Then there's it has its own culture, but I got really into wrestling. I did it mainly because no one in my family had done it. Dustin hadn't been folk style wrestlers. I thought I'll have a thing. - Something to have a little leg up. - Right. - 14, I started training because he had his indie promotion or when he would do shows, I'd get in the ring, run the ropes. Wasn't supposed to take bumps, but he told me I'd take a bump. I only ever gotten the ring with my dad twice. And during training, he just told me to charge him. He picked me up for a body slam, he slammed me, and then he told me to step, bury. And then he told me to charge him again with my arm hook like this and he hip-tossed me very stiff. And it was just to see, just to see, hey, how hard this is. Like that was all. He wasn't gonna give me more than those two bumps. I think he thought, see, it's not all that. - Yeah, not all that great. 'Cause that body slam was, now that I think of it, he tossed me into the mat. - I went through the same training regimen with my uncle. But I was about seven, eight years old when I started training. So I was just trying to parallel your, like what age you started watching and then started training, then eventually started wrestling. - Yeah, I was like the kid in a amateur class, like eight years old and the youngest kid after me was probably 16, 17. So I was just invited to be part of the class because my uncle was one of the teachers. But every time my uncle had a chance to get his hands on me. - It had you, right? But they said they had you. - No, they didn't. - And hindsight, I'm like, did you really? - But I'm glad they did. - Yeah, but I was happy. - I'm glad they did. - So when I was officially training in the summers, I was 15 and the rule was I wasn't supposed to have matches. But what would happen is my dad would pop his head in, we had one ring that Jody Hamilton sold us. And I laid one ring, he'd say, all right guys, I'm gonna go in the office for a little bit. And it's almost like he knew. And then it's the moment the door shuts, Scotty Riggs and big Ron stud, not good John. They'd start just back me up in the corner, chop me, shoot me across the ring. Do full pinning combinations. And then like all study, pop his head back into the door, hey guys, how's it going? And the wearer just in the ring, like sweating per pussy, like, all right. But it was, I'm positive he knew what I was doing. But that was my first little taste and I was addicted. I don't want to, high school be damned at that point. It's like, what are we doing here? - Right now that you're telling me that, I, so I, right before I got cleared from my injury, I went up to the PC in Orlando. - Yeah. - My daughter has been asking me that I want to go in the ring. - The Celia? - Alia. - Okay. - I want to jump in the ring. I just want to see what it feels like. Like I'll do it when you graduate. - Yeah. - So she graduated in June from UCSD, human biology. And she goes, okay, I graduated when you take me. When you take me, I said, I'm actually going to head up to the PC. So I'll book our flights and you can go up there with me. So Angialean, myself, flew up. She went in there on a Wednesday with me. And I was like, there's no way. Like, this is your first time stepping in the ring. She had a connection with just positioning, - Yeah. - Hitting the ropes. - Yeah. - Like that is scary, crazy. - So she genuinely the connection. She wasn't sidebar training. - No, she just went in there with me to feel what it was like, to feel the mat, to feel the ropes. - She was a naturally. - And I'm afraid that she might be if she decides to take that path. So later on that day, we went to TJ in Addy School. - Yes. - And she did a little bit there too. And when we finished and day was over, she was like, really enjoyed it. Like this is pretty fun. - Oh yeah. - I was like, oh, okay. - Oh, okay. - Oh, okay. - Oh. - Yeah. So kind of goes the opposite way you think it's going to be like, oh, it's too stiff. - That's what I thought. - Yeah. - I thought, I don't think she's going to like it because the ropes are stiff, the bumps are hard. So I said, okay, the next step would be, let's see if you can go through a full week of training. And if you can do that and you like it afterwards, then maybe it's something you might want to think about. - Yeah. So-- - We're approaching the full week coming up, right? - So yes, I'm actually trying to get her out there pretty soon so she can just feel what it's like to train every day. - Good luck. - Wake up. - Yeah. - You sleep all day? - Sleep. - Yeah. - Same thing. - Dude. - Yeah. That's insane. Like I thought about that and-- - Did you get scared? - It scares me, but it also excites me. - Did you have any clue? Like did you, or was it kind of out of nowhere? - Hey, I'm ready to take the go. - She had been telling me this for about a year and a half, two years. - Okay. - Like, dad, I want to go in the ring. I'm like, I don't know. And then I kept pushing back, waiting till you graduate. When you graduate, I'll take you. And as soon as she graduate, she goes, okay. I had you ready. Here's my diploma. Take me. When you take me. - Oh man. - PC, let's go. - Yeah. - That's so exciting. - It is. It is-- - It is another one that I'm ready to defend. (laughing) - Yeah, that's exciting for that. - That's beautiful. Did we were talking about TJ and Natti School and being a natural? So I will say there's a funny, I wrestled my first technical match in OVW. But that's 20 years old and I'm talking about 15, wrestling these matches at school. And I remember I had my first match in a St. Teresa in this church. This is literally maybe 20 people. I was one of OVW's first match. - Yeah, first match. - Yeah, first match. - In a church. - In a church. - My first match was outside of church. - Yeah. - Parking lot. - There's something about, you know. - I love it. - So I had this first match and it was better than most first matches should do. And Miz basically held a talent meeting in the locker room. Like this is ridiculous. He's had training. Why are we acting like he's not had training? He's doing full bone. He's hidden the ropes. He went on this whole bit and he wasn't wrong. - Miz or-- - This is pre-him becoming the Miz. - Okay. - He was legit. - He was always the Miz if that made sense. I can't believe it. This guy's not getting in the ring on drills that he should be doing. He was like kind of hot about it. I'm sorry, man. Cause that's what the old time guys had told you, like, you know, don't always show your cards. - Right. - You're going there, you're learning from them. Train day one. And that's how I went. But I had all that experience. Like the power playing guys and all that. - Yeah. - And how but Miz threw a whole fit about it. He still does. I know he had had a match before. - Have you talked about that at all the time? - All the time. - Yeah. - Miz is always like, it was like, cause I did a springboard. - I'm going to give him shit now. - Yeah. - I will give him shit. - Bro, I did a springboard. And I remember he was like, hold up. And then he had been trying to do a springboard. Cause that's a hard, like once you figure it out, you figure it out. But at first it's a fear of-- - It's tricky, yes. - Oh my gosh. - Yeah. - Oh. I know you got it down even jumping, jumping, and hitting your fill in. - You're a little jump jump? - Yeah, I think I'm pretty cool with it. - I knew jumping. - I used to do that all the time, like I can't, I would love to do that. - Dude. - Again, I can't, I can't. - I like my little jump jump, but then I see Javon do it, and I'm like, "Mmm, never mind." - Oh, yeah, he, he, he, he, he, - It's like crazy, me. - Double height, no hand. 'Cause you know you got it when there's the no hand, when it's bounce, bounce. - Yes. - Good night. - Still, I'm just going straight back in. Javon is like this aerial, you know, - Crazy. - He has a domination on the ropes. - Yeah. - Beautiful to watch. - He's, he's a fun one. - Yes, yes, yes. - Gosh, yeah, no, there was that. What was I just gonna ask you about? I completely spaced on it. - I know we were talking about the Miz, and then we, - Oh, this is it. I was talking about this in the car on the way last night. We're coming back from the garden, and I was talking about how you used to, I only know it as a Mexican backbreaker. - Okay. - But you used to, so if it was a head scissors, I'd be like this. - Yeah. - And you'd always kind of implied to me that I gave you a good head scissors. - Yeah. - And I don't know, I was like, a doctor talking to a patient, like, "Hey, good job buddy." You know what I'm saying? - Good. - Yeah, but you'd always be like, "Hey, give me my feet." But then you'd have me switch. - Yes. - For when we go to this Mexican backbreaker. - Yes. - But I never understood how you got there. So we'd go here, and then all of a sudden you'd be here. - Oh, for the, like a torture act. - Yes, yes. - And then you'd have me drop to my knees, and I'd pop it out. - Yes. - And never once have I been ever to replicate it, or talk about it, or have anyone understand what you just said. Oh, you'd just switch your hands. So I'd switch my hands, and you'd stack up there. Whoa, knees down. It was like this little hope spot. - Yes. - But it's the only, there's a trading card of it. - So you never did that with anybody else? - Oh, no. - And you just told me, just move your hands here. - We'd have to get you back on track. - Yeah, bro, that was a whole head. - Yeah, that was so fun. - But you didn't do too. It's so easy to, just hopping up there, and obviously you doing the carrying, and I just had a position myself. - Well, that's it. - That was the first time I learned the art of, even though I wasn't truly one, but the art of a base. - Okay. - Like, which to me I think is very hard. - Oh my gosh. - I'm good at coming up with stuff, and like having somebody carry me to do things. But I've always said that being a healer is 10 times harder than being a baby face. - Yeah. - Because you have to base, you have to carry, you have to be in the right spot, you have to position yourself or adjust if you need to. - Yeah. - And that's part of the base. - And deep waters of a match too. Legs, lopson, you're not falling, you're not dropping them, and the one who's supposed to look their coolest. - Yeah. - Yeah. - I never, like keep everything consistent, right? - Yeah, everything, and that's their moment, you know? And I feel like once I started going to do in Triple Mania and the things that you start to see specific guys who have made a career are incredible at being a base. - Yeah. - Doesn't mean they don't do great stuff too, but their ability to post and be there for somebody. None of it happens without them, you know? - Right, right. - But that was one of the first times I tell people in certain moves now, I'm like, wide legs, strong legs. 'Cause I just need them to know, I'm a little heavier than you might think. - Right, so you know, who knows when this happens? We might be a little tired, and I learned that from being in there with you. 'Cause we've had, I think I was looking at a sheet earlier, I think we've been in the ring 70 something times together. - I think the good thing about me is that I'm not as heavy. - Oh my gosh, no. - But still, like having to maneuver me around is still breathtaking, you know? - Buddy, it's a classic night off situation. It's a classic night off. - I mean, I go back and I watch the Halloween havoc in '77, and the two moves that I see back to back, that I'm like, okay, I know that I'm not that heavy, but the six, one nine into the head scissors, rotating all the way into the ring, and then back over the top rope, and then the front flip into the catch, and then into the runner. Like that, that's, I was just proteining my body. He was catching me and controlling me and tucking me in, and making sure that I didn't hit my head. So, yeah, Basin is really hard. - And probably the secret to it all breathing, you know, in a way that, you know, like that, I always tell people like strong legs, deep breath. - Yeah. - Yeah, 'cause that, if you didn't get anything before, that's one of those where you just fall over. It sounded good backstage, you know? - Yeah, very, very true. - In the moment. - Man. - Very, very true. 10 times, would you prefer to be heel or baby face? Like, but as you've done both, so what do you feel more comfortable doing? - I feel right now, I like the challenge of being a baby face, because it seems almost impossible some nights, 'cause it's such a kind of, it's easier to be cooler, it's sometimes easier. I really admire Logan Paul's situation, right? He could fall flat on his face, and it's no big deal. - Right. - Nothing lost. He could be mad at that crowd. - Right. - He's, I think sometimes there's some elements of being a heel that are a lot of fun, whereas this baby face, especially like a white meat style, where you're really trying to be our more houseena would put it virtuous, trying to make the right choices. That's not always the most appealing thing by modern entertainment standards, but then when you look at our audience and our ticket buying audiences, such young kids and families and such, there's room for it. There's a pocket for it, and there's different types of baby faces than LA Knight, a J.U. So, and then, I like the challenge of it, but that's because it's hard. And I think if we ever transition or if a heel was to come back up, that might be something I could even need in my life and don't realize it just from the sheer, let's go out there and have some fun. - Right. - Right. - Right. - Let's go out there. I feel like there's a lot of pressure and a challenge on the baby face spot, whereas sometimes, in my experience, at least being a heel is a little bit, let's go, let's just go out some fun. Like, you know, nothing needs to happen until we're ready for it to happen. - Yeah. - That's gonna, we'll get it when we get it, you know. Just, you can dictate that pace a little bit more too. Who knows though, it changes here. - It changes all the time. I've had a learning lesson last night with John and she and Miss and myself. You know, John had a good talk with us after our match and like, very, you feel like, obviously, you can't feel like you know everything, but you never stop learning. - Right. - Which, I think that's what always keeps me so. On my toes and always willing to learn and accept and know how to adapt. - Yeah. - Yeah, that's the one thing about the sport that you always, if you think, you know it all, you're completely wrong, because there's always new stuff that you learn, or even not new stuff, stuff that has been around, you just haven't applied it to your work and that was a very good learning experience last night. - Well, I feel, 'cause we were watching the match in the locker room, I feel your open-mindedness and always wanting to learn and challenge, even with everything that you've done. The character, Ray Mysterio is timeless, and how many people can say that? It's wild, just watching last night. Here's a West Coast pop and here's the speed and quickness. And then here's a little, what I'd say, a little bit of English that you've thrown into something, a little bit of color, as you've given something that wasn't that, just that, it's very timeless. Congrats. - Thanks. - That's being open-minded, 'cause I guess at a certain point, I mean, you're wearing the whole of famoring, and at a certain point, when you want to stop learning. - Well, that's, I thought that was gonna be like, my last accomplishment being able to get there one day and when it was presented to me two years ago, I was like, well, damn, what am I shooting for now? What is the goal? I guess the goal is to try to be timeless and still enjoy what I do, but at the same time, know when it's time to tap. - Well, this would be 'cause you brought it up and like, what is it, right, in terms of, I wonder if I put it on the spot, or it's not something that you know or I've thought of yet, goal-minded people typically have another mountain they want to climb. - Right. - And then we've laid them out. You're not just a hall of famer, you're an active hall of famer, you're currently wrestle actively, which is wild. Do you know what that next mountain is? What should like to do next? - I mean, not really. I've pretty much have seen more than I could imagine, with the growth of Dom and his evolution here in the sport and how he's grown and how he's become his individual self. And then the place that he's carrying and taking the name to, which I always deep down inside, [BLANK_AUDIO] he would be bigger and better than me in a different way. And I guess this is the way, which is also funny, and my wife said that if he ever wrestled, that she always saw him as a bad guy. And here is-- - He's the number one bad guy. - Here is the bad guy that my wife obviously spent way more time with him than I did, because I was always on the road, so I guess she saw side of him that I am now seen. Obviously I didn't know. But overall, I think it might be fun to help with the acquisition with Triple-A and be involved as much as I can with that. Start learning on how to work on the production and the side or how I can invest my time to eventually help Triple-A grow, knowing that that was my house, my very first house or my home from day one and from there it all started. Everything flourished from Triple-A, so. But I'm still enjoying the moment, like this is being able to be in there with Dom and with John and his farewell as last match in the garden. Funny enough, I was talking to Joe, and commentating that the last time Dom and I wrestled together there was with John in a dark main event against Roman and the Usos, so that holds a very special place in my heart. And now last night, which was completely the opposite. It's like I have very fond memories of being at the garden with both my son and John. I hope enough people are capturing what you're doing as a family because a lot of times there's such a big separation between dad, manning and Eli and Peyton. There's a big, it's almost mythical. I remember watching his dad, and in this case, they're a little more on top of each other. There's crossover still. And I just hope that we as a company are covering all of that because it's a truly one wrestling royal family, thinks they've got it, and then the next thing, you know, you've got your son shooting the heights that as you anticipate it, and hoped for, and your daughter is talking about getting into it, and just the idea of the legacy going on. It's insane. And none of its forced. None of its, the passion exists. The love for it exists in its own way, individually to them. That's just, I have all the respect in the world for people who aren't in these wrestling families. It's kind of fun. How do you discover it? What are you, but it does seem like this is a time when there's a lot of second, third, and fourth generations all around, which seems like it's in good hands. Yeah. Yeah, right. Yeah, and I get this question asked a lot, like, did you ever insist on down to following your footsteps? I mean, he loved it as a kid, and eventually, like every other kid grew out of it, and then wanted to play football and do this and do that. And it's not until he got older, 19 years old, that he had nowhere else to go or what to do. And he said, well, I want to see if I can make it in wrestling. I don't even think he knew, you know, what he wanted to do exactly, but it was there. He learned, he captured it, he focused, and that's the end result right now. What do you think of the Neck Tat? I think-- As an expert in Neck Tat. (laughs) I think he overheard me say that I was gonna get a Neck Tat too. (laughs) He jumped right to it, so that way he could say, "Oh, my dad beat me." I mean, he got a little-- My dad beat dad. He's trying to copy you. No, I love the fact that he's paying homage to my uncle, the person that I fell in love with the sport, because of him. You know, I grew up watching him, grew up around him. My life has always been wrestling because of my uncle, and that was a very first mask that he designed and wore. Yeah. So, it's, I mean, it's special. It has meaning to it, which his would tattoo should have, right? I mean, now mine feels less, yeah, like that, yeah. I like that too. Yeah, you're totally right. And now it has meaning. So, I feel the meaning comes later with mine. You know what I'm saying? Okay. But it's-- Yes, but it's-- It's there. I will then do existence. You know? (laughs) Oh. Wheatley. My friends, the American Dream Team, we like to say that's our squad, me and Wheatley who's been a wonderful and continues to be a wonderful partner. I ask people all the time, who is your dream team? And sometimes that qualifies with such. Going into his zombie apocalypse, going into the survivor series, war games, something like that. But also, it can be anything. It can be animals. It can be spirits. It can be fictional characters. It's who is riding with you to the big show. Is there an amount, a number? No. It could just be-- It's very tough. In general, okay. Well, I definitely need to bring both of my dogs, or that were my dogs, which would be Callie and Ellie. Okay. Because I need that companion. We're Callie and Ellie, the Huskies? No, so that-- My Huskies. Yeah. The sad story, the guy that was taking care of him, just ended up passing away while he was taking care of him, and in an accident, random. And the wife, when I try to get him back, she just would not give him back. Terrible. Yeah, very terrible. Yes. Well, Callie and Ellie, who were they? Callie and Ellie are the dogs that we had when we were in San Diego. Now they've been to their respective owners now. My daughter has Ellie, and then Callie, obviously, now is with my deadbeat son. Okay, but they're all under dreamt team. That is part of my dream team. Okay, we're getting them back. When those dogs see me. Yeah. Love. Love just some bad energy. Yes, yes. The alpha, yeah. I definitely need my right-hand wingman, which would be K-dog. Callie and? Yes. He's been there with everything, thick and thin. So, definitely would need him. And who else would I bring on board? I mean, two dogs and K-dog is not a bad. I mean, that's three dogs. Yeah, three dogs. That's three dogs. Beautiful. I just keep that be my dream team right there. Three dogs. I think. I'm having a hard time with this. When I have so many people in my mind, who do I throw on board? But I think I'm just going to keep my dogs. K-dog, Callie, dog and Nelly, dog. Keep it simple. Dogs only not. They'll give you trouble. No. They listen. I mean, the track record of success is there. K-dog has been with you. From day one. Yeah. I love that dream. They're crazy. Yeah. The dogs. The dogs. The dogs. Who? Dog dream team. We're going to run this for you. This is the Wheatley American vodka jingle commercial. And I'll ask you to replace a word at the end. And again, thank you for being so generous with your time and being such a wonderful guest. This is our last little game. I'm going to hand it over to you. [MUSIC PLAYING] All right, so Wheatley, so good I drink it neatly. If you could replace the word neatly, what would you put there? Wheatley, so good I drink it. Is Masley a word? Masley? Yes, it is. I would mask. Maskedly. Wheatley, yeah. Wheatley, so good I drink it maskly. Yeah. So good I drink it maskly. Done. Yeah. I like the way that sounds. And actually, this is what I'm going to have here in my sense. Thank you so much. Oh, yeah. Oh, so many. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, brother.