Seth Rollins On WWE, CM Punk Beef, Bad Bunny, Ronda Rousey, The Rock, Logan Paul I CLUB SHAY SHAY

You you meet Bad Bunny. >> Oh yeah, I've met Bonito multiple times. because he he has done a [music] couple. things for us from time to time. He had. an absolutely wonderful match with Damen. Priest in Puerto Rico a couple years. back. Um he loves wrestling. That's. [music] that's insane. By the way, I. just want people to understand that it. was a street fight. It was like a no. holds bar San Juan street fight. He's. going through tables getting beat with. chairs getting choke slammed. This is. the [music]. biggest artist in the world. This would. have been like Michael Jackson.

[laughter] in 1986 [music]. at Wrestlemania. >> All my life been grinding all my life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the [music]. price, want a slice, got to roll the. dice. That's why all my life I've been. grinding all my life. All my life been. [music] grinding all my life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price, want to slice, got to roll a dice. That's why all my. life I've been grinding all my life.

>> Today's episode is at the beautiful. Redwood Room at the Clipped Hotel in San. Francisco. Stopping by for conversation. on the drink today is one of WWE's. biggest and beloved superstars. One of. the greatest pro wrestlers to ever live. One of the WWE's most reliable main. events talents with world championships, Wrestlemania moments, and multiple. reinventions of his character. He's the. only superstar to hold both the WWE. Championship and the United States. Championship simultaneously. A six-time. WWE World Champion, a six-time WWE Raw.

Tag Team Champion, the first ever NXT. champion, an elite level athlete, performer, and an entertainer. He's a. father and a husband, a revolutionary, a. visionary, and an architect, a future. Hall of Famer of the WWE. Here he is, ladies and gentlemen, Seth Freaking. Rollins. [applause]. Whoever wrote that up deserves a raise. >> That's that you. >> Yeah. If you watch yourself, then let's. let's pay this man some more money. >> So, Seth, when you hear all the the all. the I mean, six time WWE Champion, six.

time Raw Tag Team Champion, the first W. first ever NXT champion, everything that. you've accomplished, are you surprised. that you've accomplished this at such a. young age? >> I mean, gosh, am I still young? >> Yes, I got a little time left at it. Yeah, but I mean, I've been wrestling. for over 20 years now. So, you know, you. look at everything that I've been able. to do, my body work in the last two. decades, and I I guess I'm always sort. of surprised. I sort of I I'm always. sort of like when you when you read that. stuff or I hear that stuff, it still.

doesn't feel like you're talking about. me, you know? I grew up in a small town, >> less than a thousand people in the. middle of nowhere. So, like it feels. like we're we're just reading, you know, the the accolades of somebody else, some. some other Hall of Famer, you know? So, it's it's really it's really cool. It's. really humbling actually. >> Well, let's toast that. >> Let's toast to it, man. Six time champ, six time tag team champ, small guy. Came. out of nowhere. >> Congratulation. Congratulations on all. your success. >> Best is yet to come.

>> As you mentioned, from a very, very. small town, a thousand people. Hell, that's even smaller than Glennville. We. had 3,500. A thousand people. >> Less than. Yeah. Yeah. We didn't have a. stoplight, you know. >> Did y'all have a high school? >> No. No. We had to go. We had to like. travel to the big city for the high. school. You didn't have a middle school. All we had was an elementary school. That was it. >> All right. So, uh, you go straight from. elementary and then you have to start. busing to go to junior high and high. school. So, where where are you from? >> I grew up in Buffalo, Iowa. >> Buffalo, Iowa.

>> Yeah. Right outside of Davenport, Iowa, where I spend most of my time. It's in. the Quad Cities. It's kind of like. perched halfway between Chicago uh, on. the to the east and then De Moine to the. west. It's like right there on the. Mississippi River. Is it still I mean. you've had an influx of people since. it's still not it's [laughter] still not. a thousand people is it? >> Oh probably less man. That's one of. those towns people don't stay in. They. try to get out of. >> you get soon you graduate high school. and you can get gone. >> Get me gone. Yeah. Absolutely. >> Your upbringing. Your last name is Lopez.

after your stepfather. At what age did. you change your your your last name? >> Uh my dad adopted me I think when I was. two. Yeah. So, I would have it would. have been about I mean, as long as I can. remember, Lopez has been my last name, and he's been my dad. So, I have no like. I I only recently became semiacquainted. with my biological father and his. offspring. That's recent like within the. last five or six years via 23 and me. test. Yeah, we got a surprise on that.

one. That was fun. But yeah, I mean. Lopez that my dad, his parents are my. grandparents, you know, they've passed. away now, but like that's those are. those are my people. I I don't know. anything any different. Did you know. your biological father when you were. younger? You say you became reacquainted. with him in the last five or six years. But so did you not have you didn't have. any type of relationship? You didn't. know anything about it? >> No, I knew nothing. And only his name. That's it. That's it. That's all my mom. told me. Obviously, she explained, you. know, what happened and why she didn't. stay in that relationship and all that. stuff, but I I never he didn't have any.

interest. And uh I, you know, I did I I. wasn't in need. I had my dad Lopez, Ron. Lopez's name. He's a great role model. for me. My grandpa, my uncles, I had. great male role models in my life. So, I. wasn't there was never that need to. >> to try to find out seek him out. >> Yeah. >> So, what did what does your stepdad. mean? Because you said he like and when. you talk about him, you never said step. You said my dad. >> Ron Lopez was a great guy and his his. brothers, his uncles, they take they. took me in as if I was a bloody.

relative. his parents, my grandparents. You speaking parent, uncle, no step, step, dad, uncle, grandparents. What was. it about him that made him so special in. your eyes, except the fact that he. obviously married your mom and took you. in, but there had to be something more. to it. >> Uh, I mean, he always treated me exactly. like I have an older brother. He has. another son who's a few years older than. me. Always treated us equal. Um, there. was never like any favoritism or. anything like that. I never felt. slighted in any way. But he was just.

like his work ethic was legit, you know, and he didn't have like a glamorous job. or anything like that, you know. Steel plants and stuff like that. Worked. with his hands, you know, did stuff like. that. But he always made time to like. >> coach my baseball team, be around, you. know, coach the so he didn't know how to. play soccer. He coached the [laughter]. soccer team, you know, like he he was a. part of my life in that way. Um, and so. he was always there, always around. And. I got to like I got a sense between him.

and my mom of what like what it meant. to, you know, put other people before. you, what it meant to work hard, what it. meant to kind of just like take all of. the things that life would throw at you. and still put on like a happy face, you. know? I like I didn't grow up uh I. wasn't lowerass, but I I certainly. wasn't like a middle class, but we never. knew the difference, you know? We had a. happy family for the most part until my. folks got divorced. But like everything. was like they were just they were they. were good salt of the earth people.

>> They gave you an example of what family. should be or what it looked like. >> Yeah. Even even after even after they. split up. They got divorced when I was. like 10 or 11. Okay. Even then they were. amicable. And it was like they still. there was still love for for me and for. us as children. There was never like a. you know there was never an animous like. he was my stepdad so he could have. easily once that. >> once the separation happened gone by his. way and not have any contact with you. >> He could have easily done that but he.

never did. He was always there. You know. my mom remarried a couple times. Um and. her her second or would have been her. third husband. He was an incredible uh. you know stepfather for me as well. And. so I I was I was even though I had kind. of a broken upbringing, I always felt. very fortunate that I had extremely. positive male role models around me. I. think that that was like um super. beneficial for me and and kind of. becoming you know who I am as a person. >> It seems to me that your your Ron who. adopted you and you.

>> and from that point on you experienced. love. >> Yeah. I mean that's I did. I've never. felt anything but love from him in his. own way. you know, he's not one of those. guys that's like physically affectionate. or anything like that, but you know, he. just you you know, when you're around. people and you feel love, >> there's just a different there's a. different feeling, there's a different. energy, and he always he's always been. that way for me. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh you said uh Lopez, he um he's Hispanic, Mexican descent. >> Yeah. >> So, what is it? What was it about that?

Because I mean, you grew up in a small. town like Iowa, you're like, damn. >> Yeah. >> We got we got Hispanics in Iowa. [laughter]. >> Yeah. So, did what what was it? What was. it? Was it different? Did you notice. anything different or you just this is. my dad, this is my family, and this is. what this is how we are. >> No, I never noticed, you know, and I. think I didn't notice probably till I. got older and thought about it like. until it like. >> it really dawned on you. >> Yeah. Yeah. It dawned on me what was. happening. We grew up in a small town in. the middle of Iowa in the Midwest where. I mean they were probably like the. Lopezes were probably the only Hispanic. people in the entire town. But I just at.

the time when I was growing up, you. know, probably from at least like, you. know, age two to I would have been 14, it never even dawned on me that my. parents were in like an interracial. relationship. Wow. Like it never even. occurred to me to think that way. You. know what I mean? It wasn't until that. concept started to like permeate your. psyche at an older age, you know, when. you kind of understand relationships and. like that like whatever the the socio. dynamics are between interracial.

relationships, especially in the Midwest. and in small towns like that where it's. not always just kosher. Um, then I was. like, "Oh, wow. I bet my mom probably. got a lot of crap for that." Yes. You. know, and when I talked to her about it. later, Yeah. she was like, "Oh, yeah, yeah, of course. We always got some. weird looks and some funny stuff, but I. never I never noticed that. And I never. received that treatment like in school. from the other kids or anything like. that. No, no, I never got any of that. >> And I don't know if it helped that, you. know, I'm like I'm a little like I'm.

Armenian. That's like half my descent. So I have a little bit of like an olive. tint to my skin, but I never had I never. experienced that. And it was, like I. said, it wasn't until later when I even. realized that my folks probably got some. of those little side eyes, you know, small community. Yeah. Exactly. You uh mentioned you had an older. brother. Yes. Was that the only sibling. that you had at the you. >> for most of my like I said my mom's been. married three times. So she's married to. my dad Ron when I'm two older brother. three years older than me. My best.

friend like he's my brother. I you know. we're as close as blood thicker than. blood really because there's real bond. real love there. And then she divorces. She married second husband. He has a. couple of kids but I don't keep in. contact with them hardly at all. And. then third marriage, her final one. Um, one daughter, so younger than me. Um, maybe like six years younger than me, I. think. And so she would be like a. stepsister, I would consider. >> But your father, your your your birth. father, >> Yes. >> had had other. >> two kids.

>> And you just recently. >> Yeah. I uh I had done 23 and me like. because because I didn't know any of my. family history. So I didn't know any of. like any of them. You know, you get. asked like all the time you fill out a. form. It's like, hey, what's the uh you. know what what's your family history on. this side? Heart disease, something like. that. I don't know. I don't I don't know. anything. So, I was just like, you know. what? I'll do one of these tests. I'll. see like where I'm from and kind of get. an idea of what my heritage is and stuff. like that. So, I put this thing in, get. all the info, look at it, forget about. it, set it aside. I got the app on my. phone, but I never touch it, you know,

after I see all the cool info. Then, like maybe two or three years later, I. get a random message, a ping on the 23. and me. And you get like, you know, if. you have a 23 and me or ancestor, you. get like DNA matches like occasionally, but they're like sixth cousin like you. know, they're like way down. You just. ignore them, you know? You get the. email. Yeah. Yeah. New match. Oh, 14th. cousin. Get rid of it. You know, and. this one came with a message. >> and uh I saw it and I I saw the last.

name and it was from uh my what would. have been my halfsister. And I clicked. the message and I Oh my. And she said, "Uh, who is your dad?" And I said, "Oh. no. Oh no." So I told her, I explained. her what I knew. And what I knew, she. did not know. So she Yeah. Her her my. biological father, our father had never. told her what that he had possibly had. another kid. Never told anybody.

[clears throat]. >> And so everybody in his family like. didn't know. It was called kind of a. surprise. And when she went to try to. like ask him about it, he was like, "No, no way." [laughter] She's like, "It's. right here." You know, I found it's like. it's science. You can't you can't back. up on this. And. >> is she older or younger than you? >> She's younger than me. >> She's young. >> Yeah. And then she So then and she has a. brother who's a little bit younger. I. think a little bit younger than her as. well. And so, uh, they Yeah. They they. once he fessed up to it, then then, you. know, now we're friends and we talk and.

all that stuff. confidence. >> So your biological father never told. that he had had kids prior. So was he. and your biological mother married or. any type of. >> No, no, no. They were never married. She. was um so we're from Iowa. She in her. 20s moved to Chicago and was you know. dating and stuff like that. She ended up. getting pregnant and then she was like I. don't want to be here to raise this kid. I'd like to go back to Iowa. And I don't. know what the dynamics of their. relationship were at that time but he. was like nah I'm not doing that. I'm.

going to go like he do my thing. And she. was like, "That's fine. Just, you know, don't, you know, I'll I'll buzz you.". She like got in contact with him a. couple times after I was born and was. like, "Hey, would you like to see him? Would you like to be a part of his. life?" He's like, "No, no, no." And I. don't know if he even knew or believed. that I was his because they weren't in I. don't know if they were in any exclusive. relationship. So, there's all sorts of, you know, they're just young kids having. a good time and she got pregnant. She. was happy to be a mom and he just wasn't. ready to be a dad. And I I I never felt. any sort of like animist towards him for.

that. I I I just was like, "Yeah, I I. get that. I get that." And again, maybe. if I had been in a situation where it. didn't turn out as well as it did for me. on the dad's side of things, I might. have had a different feeling about it. But I was fortunate about it. >> Everything that he wasn't. >> Yeah, it was great. It was It worked out. better for me in that way. I think if. she would have stayed there and stayed. with him, my I mean, we wouldn't even be. sitting here having this conversation. today. You know what I mean? That's the. kind of butterfly effect that those type. of things have. So, it's really.

incredible that just one decision like. that and changes the whole thing. >> You mentioned that five or six years ago. you you met your father and you know. trying to establish. >> So, I didn't meet him. I've never met. him. >> You've never met him? >> I still haven't met him. I talked to him. on the phone one time. We uh we talked. about maybe maybe meeting up and um I. told him when my schedule was kind of. going to open up or when I would be in. Chicago again and uh he never followed. up. So I I don't think he I don't know. I don't know if it's a. >> You think he's embarrassed? You think.

he's embarrassed, Seth? >> Oh, probably. >> because look at what, like you said, had. the situation, you might have not have. turned out, but you turned out the way. you are. You're a superstar. And and I'm. sure people find I'm sure he's probably. told someone. He probably won't ever. tell you, but you know, my son is Seth. Rollins, right? >> Maybe. >> And it's like, hold on, that's not your. son. It is. [laughter]. >> Maybe. [snorts] And if that's that's all. it is, then that's great. You know, that's just life. Life works that way. sometimes. So again, I got no no ill. will, but no, I never met him. Still. haven't met him. One one chat on the.

phone. He's got a granddaughter that. he's never never met, you know, stuff. like that. So that's on him. That's. that's. >> You think he's embarrassed? I. >> I mean, I assume so. I I I don't pretend. to put myself in his shoes, but I assume. there's a like a lot of complex feelings. that go on there that you that you know, he's probably in his I mean 60s now, so. there's probably just a lot to process. that he's like either doesn't want to. process, doesn't know how to process. Um. >> and and you know, whether it's shame and. guilt and you know, like expectation,

there's just a lot that goes on there. So again, I have no like ill will. towards him. I don't feel any type of. way. I just I if if he would want to, I. would be available, but he's never he's. never made the strides. >> What about the siblings that he that he. had? Your siblings that you have? Have. you met them? Have you seen them in. person? >> Yes. And I have I have good. relationships with them. >> Really? That's awesome. >> Yeah, they're great. They were they were. I mean they don't have like a they don't. have that sense cuz it wasn't their. decision. You know what I'm saying? So, they don't have any sort of feelings. about it aside from like, oh, this is. this is cool. You know, when I met my.

sister um for the first time, uh All. State Arena is where we would do our. shows in Chicago. And so we're all in. the billboards in Chicago all the time. And so she she would see my face and. have no clue. When she first like when. she first saw the match and you know, Kobe Lopez pops up, which is my. government name. She [laughter] she she. puts she puts it into the Google. machine, of course, Kobby Lopez, you. know, and this Seth Rollins guy pops up. and she's like, "What is this? Who is.

this? What's going on? This is. >> is this an alias? Are you hiding from. somebody? >> What's going on? Let me try this again. This is not the same person. Why does it. keep popping up this?" And then that's. when she decided to send me the message. So, yeah, she's it's it's it's a it's a. small world in that way. >> This episode is brought to you by Prize. Picks. Whether you're starting a new. routine, making player picks for the. first time, trying something new can be. hard. But in life and on prize pick, it. always feels good to be right. Find your. community on prize picks. With new. social feeds feature, you can share. prize picks with friends. Copy lineups.

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after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code Shannon to get $50 in. lineups after you play your first $5. lineup. Prize picks, it's good to be. right. What's your favorite childhood uh. moment memory? Oh man, my favorite I. mean how young we talking here? >> Let's go back uh to what you probably. can remember. Say from the ages of say. five to 14. [sighs]. >> My favorite I mean the most formative. memory that I have that probably shaped.

a good part of my life. I mean because. you know you remember small things like. you remember like you know playing Legos. with your brother like my brother and I. used to have this big maple tree in the. front yard and we would just climb to. the top of it and sit and talk about. life and I remember that being fond. But. I think the biggest thing for me is when. I was like five years old, maybe four or. five, my dad um took me to my first. professional wrestling show. Um, like I. I was already like on the periphery of. fandom cuz my grandpa, my uncle, and my. dad all kind of like, you know, were.

into it enough and and this is, you. know, we're talking early 90s, so Hulk. Mania is really big at the time. >> And they take me to my first pro. wrestling show and I just was blown away. by what I was seeing. to me was like. just seeing real life superheroes, you. know, like you see Superman on your TV. or you see Spider-Man in a comic book, but you can't like go to a place and. watch them like fight the bad guys. I. saw it. I saw, you know, Hulk Hogan. fight the bad guy. I saw the Legion of.

Doom fight the bad guys. So, to me that. like changed my life. I was so. fascinated by that world and that that. what that performance that like I was. hooked from then on. So that's that's a. big one for me, I would say. >> Did you play any sports growing up? >> I did. >> You played baseball. I remember you. saying. >> baseball, basketball, football, soccer. was soccer. I was terrible at soccer. I. don't know what we were doing. I mean, I. played when I was young. A bunch of kids. just like like hurting cats with a ball. You know what I mean? That was it. But. yeah, I played basketball probably till. I was about 14. Football, 13, 14.

Baseball. At some point I realized that. the baseball could hit me in the face. and I was like, that's I don't want. that. You became scared of me. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, I'm in the batters. box and I'm like, I don't know about. this. Maybe, you know, it became one of. those. And the minute I did that, I was. like, I got to get out. I'm done with. that. Yeah. >> So, what position did you play in. football? >> Football, uh, I bounced around a little. bit. Played a little quarterback, a. little halfback, little wide receiver. Um, defense, I'm trying to think. I. played linebacker a little bit, played.

safety a little bit. So, yeah, it just. it was a mishmash. I didn't have one. that. >> You didn't have one particular one. particular position. So you your your. your your dad took you and your uncles. took you to this match. You became hooked. >> Hooked. >> So who was your favorite? Who what. wrestle wrestler did you idolize when. you was growing up? >> Idolized? Well, my first favorite. wrestler was Hulk Hogan. He was the big. guy. He was the biggest. >> He was the biggest star in that in the. 80s and the early 90s. You know, he's in.

movies. He's in pop culture. He's he's. >> he's propped up. >> He had all the he had all the par. He. had the doll. He had long dog. He had. everything. >> He had it all. And so I I wouldn't know. that I idolized him because there was. never like I never thought I could be. Hulk Hogan. Okay. You know, the first. guys that I really idolized were smaller. because I never felt like I was going to. be the big guy. So like my favorite. wrestler of all time was Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels is about 6 foot. He's. about 200 lb. Brett the Hitman Hart. They were the two guys, the first two.

guys that I watched on WWE that were. they were different. They were they were. smaller. They were faster. They had a. different style, but they were athletic, >> but they were still stars. And I was. like, "Oh, wait a minute. You don't have. to be Hulk Hogan. You don't have to be. the Ultimate Warrior, the Road Warriors, Legion of Doom to to be stars. You can. be a star and do it that way." And I'm. like, "Well, >> I might be able to do that, right?". >> So, they were the first ones that I. really like, okay, all right. I I I do I.

do see what they're doing. Let me see if. I can try this out. And so that's when. you like, okay, all these other things, basketball, football, baseball, they're fine, but. they're not calling me like wrestling. is. >> Yeah. So I probably I was about 13. I. remember it distinctly. I remember it. distinctly. I'm 13, maybe going on 14, probably 14. And I'm It's a summer. before high school, so I just got out of. 8th grade. And I remember sitting at my. dinner table with my parents. And now. I'm 14. So, I'm full of angst, full of.

piss and vinegar, [laughter]. you know, full of just like. anti-established. rebellious energy. And I'm sitting at my. table and I remember telling like my. parents with just this this visceral. anger of [clears throat] over nothing, of course, in my heart like, I'm not. playing basketball. I want to be a. professional wrestler. >> And and they were you could see like. they. >> look at you, >> they were like, I don't like this. They. were sad. It was like a broken heart, you know, cuz I was pretty good at.

basketball and it was like a thing that. I did and you know, it's just like a. normal pathway through high school. You. play a sport, you go to class, you try. to get into college and I was like, "No, I'm going to be a professional. wrestler." And at this time, um, my my. I'm I'm like I'm I'm wrestling in my. backyard with my brother and our friends. and like we're putting on matches and. we're starting to do shows and like. we're starting to emulate what we see on. TV and it's about the age of the. internet like kind of kicking off in. 2000. So like you can get online and. like kind of see other people doing the.

same thing and like backyard wrestling. as a whole is becoming like this thing. for the first time. And I was I was in. I'm like I I we we started like handing. out flyers at my school to get kids to. come and watch us like jump on our. trampoline through these makeshift. tables and stuff like that. And I got. the performance bug of like I really. like this. I want to see how I can do. it. So I I locked in. I'm like what do I. got to do? I got to get jacked. Okay, give me a weight set. Give me a gym. membership. Okay, I got to learn how to.

public speak. So let's take public. speaking classes in high school. Let's. take acting classes. Like what do I got. to do? Let's let's lock in. Let's start. growing my hair out. Like Shawn. Michaels, Bret Hart, they had long hair. Like I I you know, Jeff Hardy, these are. my guys. I'm going to do that. So that. was it. 14. And then I think my folks. thought it was a phase. They're like, "Oh, yeah. >> He'll grow out of it. >> He'll grow out of it." Yeah. And then I. just never grew out of it, man. >> And so you you jump full speed. You. wrestled Sting in his last.

>> Stinger. >> Sting. Yeah. >> Yes. I was very fortunate to get in the. ring with Stinger um in his last WWF. match. Didn't go well for him um. unfortunately. [laughter]. Um but yeah, I mean I He was a legend. that I was very very lucky to be in the. ring with. >> Um who were you surprised your do you. remember your first match? >> First match I ever had? >> Yeah. Oh man, not really because I I did. some stuff before I was like trained. properly to wrestle like in 161 17 I'm.

doing like I'll pay 20 bucks to do a. camp at a local show and then a you know. I get tossed in like a battle royal or. something like that. I'm 17 and we have. a ring and we're putting on this show. but I'm not trained so it's hard for me. to like. >> what what was my first match, you know? It's hard for me to really pin it down. >> cuz you was on the independent wrestling. team for for a minute, right? Uh about. six years before I got signed to WWE. Yeah. So from like uh maybe maybe seven. years from like 17 to 24. Yeah. I signed. with WWE at 24 I think.

>> Did you ever did you ever get frustrated. because you're sleeping in your car and. you're not making a whole lot of money. Did you ever did you ever become. frustrated like man this is just ain't. working out? >> Yes. I think there's tons of frustration. that goes along with it because it is a. very it you know if you're not making. any money at it you're making no money. You're often losing money and and it's. painful and you know sometimes you're. wrestling in front of like I would. wrestle in front of less than 10 people. sometimes. >> What? >> Yeah. I mean it it was it was I mean.

>> a lot of local YMC high school gyms. Huh. >> High school gyms. I wrestled in barns. I. wrestled in like you know UAW halls. I. wrestled anywhere we could set up a ring. and have shows. Like I would drive my. car and I would go do it. And it was. very frustrating. But it also like I. loved it. I just loved it. I loved. getting I loved going to a show, getting. in a car with my people, driving hours. to a show, like getting snacks on the.

way, talking about the business on the. way there, doing the match, taping it on. your like video recorder thing, your. VCR, I mean, camcorder, you know, whatever. I love taking it a, you know, afterwards, driving back, watching the. match, talking about it, talking about. the show, feeling like we were trying to. get better, feeling like we were doing. something, feeling like we were trying. to change something. I don't know. I. just love that process. And so, even. though there was a lot of suffering. involved, like at some point, I just.

embraced that. Like, I'm willing to. suffer more than anybody. I don't care. I love it and I will suffer until good. things happen. And, you know, it's not. like a linear straightup shot. It's it's. ups and downs and valleys. Peaks and. valleys, but like. >> I had enough peaks that it was like, you. know, like if you play golf. occasionally, right? You're we're I'm. terrible at golf. Golf is extremely. hard. You got to do it often. But you. like you'll hit one shot, you know, >> and you stay and you're like, this is. the why. This is the reason why. >> And I'm in and [clears throat] I'm like,

if I can just do that every time. And. you know, that's how golfers get better. They just do it a million times and. eventually every shot is that one shot. that you hit on hole seven, you know. So. that's how it was with wrestling. Eventually I just started to get a. little bit better, a little bit better, and it's a slow process. You don't even. notice it. And then by the time, you. know, you got enough peaks that you you. get that itch to keep doing more. I had. to go to college, had to work part-time. jobs while I was doing it. My mom. wouldn't let me live in the house and be. a wrestler and not go to school. So I.

had to go to school. And then eventually. I was like, "Hey mom, I think I'm doing. really good, but I can do like I can. really do something here if you just let. me like drop out of the school. Like I'm. not getting anything done in college. Like this is I can do something.". >> My mind is elsewhere, but I'm there. because of you. >> Because of you, I'll do anything for. you. You know, whatever you need, like. I'll do it, but I'm telling you, I think. there's something here. And she gave me. the go-ahhead. And you know, the rest is. history from there. >> The hopes were always to get called by. the WWE. When they finally call,

what's going through your mind? Are you. like, "Man, this a prank." Are you. extremely excited? Or you thought your. buddy was playing a was playing a joke. on you? Because how did they even get my. number? How did they know to get in. contact with me? >> No, I I I quartered them a little bit. I. um I So, I met a guy on the. Independence. His name is Joey Mercury. He's a great mentor of mine, and he. wrestled for WWE for many years, and he. had gotten fired um from the company. And I had uh met him and he the first. time we ever met he's like New York. [clears throat] New York we called WW.

New York because that's the territory it. used to be. He's like New York. You ever. talked to anybody in New York? Said no. I wouldn't even know how. He's like let. me get in touch with somebody for you. >> I think I still got people there that. might like me. So he's like you got like. a tape or anything you can like a video. you know something an email you can. send. I'm like I don't know. At the time. I'm working for a company called Ring of. Honor which was the top independent. company at the time. guy by the name of. Dave Lagana put together basically a. email of here's video of you know what. he can do. Joey got me the contact. I.

sent it out. At the time my contract. with Ring of Honor was coming up. I was. like doing three years with them. I. think my contract was coming up. >> and I was ready to take the next step. >> WWE hadn't they weren't coming for guys. like me at the time still. This was um. 2009 2010 probably. They they were still. looking for. >> big dudes. They wanted you, you know, they wanted someone this size, right? They wanted 6'5, 250. They'll teach you. how to do the wrestling, right? I was.

really good at the wrestling, but I was. never going to look like that. So, they. were having a hard time recruiting guys. like me. >> Um, Dave helped me out. Joey put in a. word for me. I was trying to shop myself. to some of the other smaller companies. at the time, and I wasn't getting any. call back from WWE. Nobody was picking. up, nobody was answering emails. So, I. had a deal on the table to for another. company with TNA and I was like, you. know what? I don't want to sign this. deal. I just don't know if I want to. sign this deal. Like, WWE is where I. want to be. So, I made one final call.

and I said, "Hey," the guy's um you. know, I said, "Hey," the talent. relations guy said, "Look, I'm going to. sign this deal with TNA if I don't hear. back from you." So, uh you know, it's. like Sunday night. I'm like, "I'm going. to sign it in the morning." 15 minutes. later, he calls me back. Hey, kid. Uh. let me uh let me talk to my people. So, but I'm like, "Oh." I'm like, "Oh, oh, oh, >> I should have did this. I should have. said this earlier. >> He didn't tell." Yeah. He didn't tell me. nothing yet. He didn't like give me any. indication. He said, "We'll call you. back in the morning." And I was like, "Oh, God. Oh, God." So, now I'm like.

sitting on it, you know? I'm waiting. like I mean, I couldn't sleep that. night. I was just like, "Come on, come. on, come on, come on, come on." Cuz it. could have just been easy. He come back. and he just say, "Ah, nah, never mind.". You know, so nothing was on the table. And then when he called back, he's like, "You know, we're going to give you an. opportunity." Dude, I like I remember. where I was standing. I remember where I. was looking. I remember everything. I. didn't give I didn't give it damn how. much the money was for. I didn't care. I. was like, that's all I ever wanted was. an opportunity. This is the biggest. wrestling company in the world. This is. my dream. This is all I ever wanted. I'm.

like, I do not even care. Like, I turned. down probably at least triple the money. to go to the other place to just I'm. like, I can this is where I can make my. way. >> And you became a champion. You became. the WWE champion who was born after. Wrestlemania one. actually actually. occurred. >> Yes. Yes. >> So, you had I mean it took you a while. to get there, but once you got there, you had a meteoric rise. >> Yeah. I mean, we once we got to WWE, once I got on the main roster, like I I. they signed me, they sent me down to.

Tampa, Florida, which was their training. facility at the time. Now, moved to. Orlando. This is pre-NXT. NXT is like. the, you know, it's a great minor league. facility now. Um, with its own brand and. its own production. They did not have. that when I went there. I'm in Tampa in. a warehouse for two years, basically. like in a holding cell and um waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. We finally. got the call up. Um. I don't think that my bosses knew.

exactly what they were getting. themselves into when they gave us the. opportunity. Myself, Roman Reigns, Dean. Ambrose, myself and Dean Ambrose, especially John Moxley. Now, we um we. had a little bit of a following because. of what we' done on the Independence. John was there as well. And when we. burst onto the scene, social media. exploded. Oh, the they're finally here. These guys, but we they we heard they've. been signed for a long time. So, this is. the beginning of social media playing a. role in what. >> what happens from an audience.

perspective on WWE. And that response, you know, they gave us the ball and they. kept giving us the ball cuz we kept. scoring touchdowns. That's the thing, man. if you get the ball and you make. plays, >> you know, they're going to they're going. to call your number more. And that was. the thing. I'm like, just give me the. damn ball. That's all I ever wanted. Just give me the ball. I'm telling you, we can make this happen. Myself and. John, we were both of that. You know, Roman was a little bit greener. He. didn't have the experience, so he was. nice and along for the ride. Myself and. John, we were ready and we knew we were.

ready. And when the time came, we took. that ball and we ran with it and we. changed everything. What was the what would you say was the. hardest part of your journey? And what. would you say to other young wrestlers. that's trying to get in this space that. seemingly had a hard time like you did. in the beginning and thinking about. giving up? What was the hardest part of. this journey? >> Well, lucky for you, I own my own. wrestling school, which I've had for 11. or 12 years. Really? >> Yes. Back in Davenport, Iowa, I started.

a wrestling school called the Black and. Brave Wrestling Academy. Still operates. to this day. I'm not there as much as I. used to be, but it still operates and. it's functional and I'm a part of it and. it's great. Um, and we have a lot of. awesome people who've come through. there. Um, but I get this question all. the time because as a young athlete or. performer, it's hard. It is a hard. business and not everybody's going to. make it. I think the one thing that I. say is, well, there's really two things. One, um, you have to understand that it.

is a marathon. It's not a sprint, okay? You really have to try to create a scope. of time in your brain. It is just going. to take a long time. >> But that process, you have to learn to. enjoy that process. >> It's awesome. I want you to shoot for. the moon. I want you to set goals as. high as you can. I want you to think. about and dream about wrestling at. Wrestlemania in the main event and. winning every world title that there is. But understand that it takes little.

steps to get there. And it is going to. be hard sometimes, but that difficulty. is what makes it worth it. And that. journey, and it, as cliche as it sounds, I'm telling you, when you're done with. it 20 years later, the journey will be. the thing that you remember. It's not. the moments. It's not the milestones. It's not the accolades. It's not all. that stuff that you read off at the. beginning of this interview. It's the. process. It's the people you met along. the way. And it's the process of getting.

there that you will look back on fondly. >> because what I read off none of that. mentioned all the nos, the seven years, the waiting. >> Yeah. >> The the the not getting an opportunity. wrestling and and and and YMCA and high. school gyms and barns. None of that's. there. But people But people only see. that. >> Yep. >> The people only see that. And so they. like, "Oh, it was easy. It was easy for. them to it was easy for him." I mean, so. forth and so on, but they don't realize.

like every professional athlete or. whoever or Jeff Bezos or whomever, you. see, it's a it's a it's a process to get. there. >> It's a slog. Yeah. I mean, it is, especially the route I came from. Now, everybody's path to success or to the. top is their own. And sure, there are. absolutely 100% people out there who. didn't go through that process and they. have been handed opportunities for. whatever reason. That happens for sure. But that's not for you. You know, that's.

not your journey. That's not your. journey, man. And so, you can't have. that. You can't look at it as as, oh, it's unfair. You just have to you have. to focus on yourself. What's your. journey? How are you going to take the. next step to be better than you were the. day before? >> When you finally got an opportunity to. meet Vince McMahon, what did Vince say. to you? >> Gosh, I don't remember. I wish I could. remember the first time I met Vince. So. I I probably met him in passing and like. shook his hand and he said, you know, not you know, we didn't nothing. happened, whatever when I was in and.

around doing WWE doing like some. backstage work when I was signed to. developmental. When we first got called. up the like in the debut, it's Survivor. Series. It's 2012 and we're in these. stupid turtlenecks and these cargo pants. and um we are called the Shield and they. they they literally tried to give us. riot gear like shield riot gear like. these giant plexiglass shields that said. shield on them and these night these.

clubs like these like batons you know. that you police ride pe. >> police beat people with you know and. like we we we got rid of the the. Plexiest pretty quickly. But we're like. we're we're rehearsing during the day. and we have these clubs and like I. remember we're in like the we're running. through the crowd because we're like you. know ambushing the show. We're not. coming making an entrance. We're running. through the crowd. So we're out in the. back. It's Indianapolis, Indiana. And. we're in the back and like Vince is on. the ring by the ring and he's like. running the rehearsals at the time and.

he sees us with these clubs because the. camera's there and he's watching the. monitor and he's like you could just. hear his deep voice like echo through. the the empty arena. He's like what? You. need clubs to beat him up? Are you. really that tough? We're all just like. [laughter]. dump the club. All right, let's go. You. know, so that was like my first. introduction to to Vince's Vince. >> But you had a move uh what the curb. stomp that Vince.

>> Stomp Yeah. >> Vince banned it. >> He banned it. Banned it. I I win the I. literally the day after I won my first. world title at WrestleMania. We're here. in San Francisco. It was It was at Levi. Stadium. I win it. I win the title. Get. on a jet. Fly to New York. I do the. Today Show. Get back on the jet. Fly. back over here to San Jose for Raw. This. is all in the same day. And I get back. to San Jose at the Shark Tank and he. like, you know, then Vince wants to see. it. So I go in the office, he's like. sitting there and he does this thing.

He's like, "So, um, you know, the the the stomp, I think. Um, I think we're going to we're going. to move in a different direction. Um, we're going to find we're find something. else, you know, equally as good and uh. equally as uh, you know, devastating. Um, but uh, I think we're going to go in. a different direction." Yeah, he banned. it. I I don't know what somebody. >> You're like, "Damn, Vince. I I just did. this." The. >> I I've been doing it for years, >> right? >> What this is what I think happened and I. don't have confirmation. He watched the. Today Show piece. He sees the stomp. He.

sees people referring it to the curb. stomp. Somebody in his. >> inner circle said, "Hm, Vince, I don't. know about I don't know about that move. I think it might be a little too. dangerous. I might be, you know, there. might be a connotation to it. like I. don't I don't know, you know, and and. I'm like I'm like, brother, we've been. doing it for years, right? It's pro. wrestling. None of it is. >> you can call it something else if you. want. I didn't come up with the name. You came up with the name. You call it. what it call it the stomp. Call it.

whatever. So, yeah, he like took it away. for with no no explanation at the time. Just we're not going to do it. I'm like, okay. and then left me with no finish as. world champion with no finishing move. for I it took me like a couple months. before I decided to just steal Triple. H's pedigree [laughter] because he. wasn't he was he was off he was like. done at the time like kind of not. wrestling anymore so I was like all. right I'll take it I was his protege. anyway so it made. >> so what so what did Vance say when you. started using Triple H's move. >> well I tried to use a couple different. things and like none of them really took.

and like I was afraid not afraid but I. was like if I ask Triple H if I can use. the pedigree I'm I feel like he's going. to say no. He the only person who'd ever. use it, right? >> So, I was like, here's what I'll do. I'll ask Vince about it and then I know. Vince will say yes just to spite Triple. H and Triple H can't say nothing about. it. It was a good idea though. Anyway, I. was a bad guy. >> Hunter was my my mentor. I was his. protege. He wasn't wrestling. It was I. was like, it's a good way to carry on. the legacy of the move. So, uh yeah,

Vince okayed it. Whether he did it. because he liked it or just to take a. shot at his son-in-law, I don't know. But either way, it was it was uh it. worked. >> One of your most iconic moments in the. WWE is that when you had to turn your. back on your team, your your your. friends shield. >> Yeah. >> You're like, damn, Vince, >> that was painful. It. >> if I must, I must. [laughter] It was our. It was But the hard thing on it is they. they had pitched the the the story to.

Break Up the Shield um a few months. earlier. We were like, "No, man. We're. not ready. We're not ready for that.". Like, we we'd been bad guys. The crowd. was really starting to get behind us. We. wanted to be good guys. We wanted a. longer run. Like, we felt like we had a. lot more in the tank. And so, we have a. a match with the the the Wyatt family in. Elimination Chamber in February. Then, we go to Wrestlemania. We're full good. guys at that point. We do two six-man. tags with Evolution right after that. Like, we're awesome. We're on cloud9.

We're feeling great about things, the. three of us. We show up to Raw the day. after and they knew that if we if they. gave us heads up, we would say no and we. would find a way to try to fight out of. the breakup. So, they brought us into. the office and they just said, "Here's. what we're going to do tonight." Tonight. was also in Indianapolis, Indiana, by. the way. A lot of Shield history in that. town. Um, and they're like, "This is. what we're going to do, and Seth is.

going to be the one to pull the. trigger.". >> And I remember like in the room, just. the silence. And when we walked out of. the room, it was like, "What do we what. do we do?" You know, like do do we can. we stop this? Like, "Are we doing the. right thing?" And you know it was it was. it was there was a lot of tension there. and it was I you know it was mostly we. had found our comfort zone as a trio and. we were really relying on each other and. we enjoyed the process and we enjoyed. performing together and we did feel like. we had more legs.

>> but at the end of the day it was one of. the most shocking betrayals and shocking. moments in the history of our company. and our industry and what it set in. motion um over the last 10 years uh 11. 12 years almost now it has been a. complete paradigm shift in our industry. You look at myself, Roman, John Moxley, we're at the very tippy top and if we. had stayed together, it just wouldn't be. possible. So, you needed that break. Uh. I was super fortunate that I was the one.

to be the catalyst for that. Um I still. feel the repercussions for that today. Like people still ask me to this day, 12. years later, why did you break up the. shield? You know, these are grown people. cuz they they watched it when they were. teenagers. You are grown. You know this. stuff ain't real. Come on now. >> That hurts you that bad. >> Yeah. >> God. >> Let who determines whether you're a good. guy or a heel. >> Ultimately the audience. Ultimately the.

audience does. I think you know. there's suggestions about what feels. good. Um you know who what would you. know do we need a baby face here? we. need to heal here. The creative team, we'd like you to do this, we'd like you. to do that. And you put forth your best. effort. Ultimately, the audience really. decides if you're going to be cheered or. booed, you know, and that's it. And then. you got to you got to roll with that. punch. If you swim upstream, >> it only works so well. You know, eventually it's it it it backfires. And.

so I think you you saw that. You know, Roman Reigns is a really great example. of that. Roman Reigns is a guy that they. wanted to be a baby face, the top baby. face for a long, long time. And they. were like, "You're we're going to do. this. I'm going to force this to happen. Force this to happen." And it never took. the way it needed to. When Roman Reigns. turns heel, 2020, 2021. changed everything for him. He became. more comfortable. He became, you know,

an honest version of his character and. of himself. he was allowed to be become. the the star that I think everybody. wanted him to be as a baby face and now. because he was so excellent at his role. as a heel they were able to you know now. he's the biggest baby face and biggest. star arguably in our company and in our. industry and so you you the audience did. that they they forced that by rejecting. rejecting rejecting for so long and so.

you know Brian Danielson is another. great example Daniel Bryan from WWE. Um, he was a guy that the fans they just. sometimes people just catch fire. My. wife Becky Lynch, they tried to force. her into a role as a heel, not reading. the room. This is SummerSlam, I want to. say 2018. maybe and she slaps the Jesus out of. Charlotte Flair in the middle of the. ring and everybody in the back thought. she was going to be a heel. But if you. would have been paying any attention to. what was happening, you knew that when.

she slapped Charlotte, that place in it. was Brooklyn was going to go nuts. And. they did. And it it catapulted her. The. audience took her into, you know, the. biggest female baby face that's ever. lived in this company. >> Is it harder to go heel baby face or. baby face heel? I don't know that this if you do the. switch at the right time, neither one is. difficult. Okay. >> It is harder to maintain being a baby.

face long term. I find I just think it's. easier to be a heel. It's people people. naturally. >> people like rooting against something. >> They just naturally want to hate. You. know, the world's just full of haters, you know? They naturally want to. complain about something. So, it's just. easier and and you have more leeway. You. can't like, you know, as a good guy, you. have to be locked in, right? You any. little misstep, you you you have a bad. promo, you have a bad match. It people. can start to turn on you easily. When. you're a heel, you have so much freedom. It's hard for you to screw up, you know,

because you screw up and they laugh at. you and then you get mad that they laugh. at you and then they get mad at then. they hate you more, you know? So, there's there's more of an antagonistic. relationship with a heel and I think. that's that's just easier to get done. um at least in a in a modern wrestling. setting. I It might have been easier. back in the day, you know, when. everybody didn't know everything. But. yeah, it's I I find it easier to be a. heel, but if you if you hit the. transition point right when the audience. is ready to make the switch, then it's I.

think it's in that immediate point after. the turn. Either way, kind of the same. >> Whether you're a heel or a baby face, do. you need a signature move? >> Yes. Very important. very important. because your audience gets like they get. clued into it. You know, it's it's. that's one of the things about our. thing, our business is the audience. being a having a pivotal role in the. storytelling. They when they feel like. they're a part of what's happening,

>> that's when it's the best, you know, when they're not just they're not just. voyers, they're actually in, you know, they're in some way. So that. participation whether it's a catchphrase. or a signature move or a setup you know. you think of the rock and his all of his. million finally the rock has you know. and the crowd gets to go along what the. rock is. >> Yeah. And I you know I I do my I am a. visionary I am Seth freak and they do. the freaking Rollins you know or they. sing the song. Um, and you have like. some stuff like Ceno where he's able to.

do his whole comeback and you can't see. me and now they know it's the end, you. know. So, it's like just those. participation things and a finisher. having a great signature and finishing. move is something they can look forward. to as the match progresses. >> You mentioned that the WWE for the. longest time they wanted big. I mean, you had Hulk Hogan, you had Andre the. Giant, you had you had these massive. massive men, you know, your Triple H, and you had Undertaken, you had, you. know, these uh uh these guys. You. wrestled Big Show, Kane. You wrestled.

[clears throat] some of the big And. you've also wrestled Rey Mysterio. >> Yes. >> So, when you're dealing with a guy like. the Big Show, he has to help you get him. up off the ground. >> I'm like getting Big Show up off the. [laughter] ground. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, there has to be. some jump to it, but you still got to. be, you know, strong enough to hold a. man that size up and and put down his. back. So, so. >> when you rehearsing, you like when. you're rehearsing and you're dealing. with a man, you know, 280, 300 lb. >> Yeah. >> I mean, like, bro, we got to we got to hit this thing.

cuz I both of us could be a good person. [laughter]. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, it's one of. those things where when you I mean, Big. Show is an extreme example. When I when. we wrestled with Big Show, he was 450. lbs, you know, strong as an ox. Mark. Henry the same. Lit. Mark Henry. literally the strongest human that's. ever lived. You know what I mean? In his. prime. And even in his like not prime. was he could just crush your bones with. his hands. Like you just hope those. people like you enough to cooperate with. because if they don't, you're is over.

You know what I mean? >> I had Ric Flair. had Ric Flair on and he. was like. >> if Andre didn't want you to do. something, no matter what you rehearsed, it was going to get done. It was going. to get done. >> Yeah. Just not going to have same show. is the same way. You just hope that you. catch him on a good day. I don't know. what to tell you. Otherwise, they're the. world champion. That's it. [laughter]. That's the end. >> With all these matches, you know, you. have ladder matches, table chairs, all. that. I mean, I understand it's there's. a certain choreograph. choreography to it,

>> but still that stuff hurt. >> very much. >> Um, Charlotte Flair, we had Charlotte. Flair on um earlier in September and she. was talking about that she tore an ACL. and she still finished. She had to. wrestle another 30, 45 minutes. >> Yeah. I mean, that's probably an. exaggeration on her behalf, but she she. did she did tear an ACL and have to. finish her match. Yeah. But when you. when you hurt something or you you you. tear an abductor or you pull a hamstring. or something like that in the match of. schedule, you know, one fall for a. 15-minute time limit, you know, they. used to say, I don't know how the time. limits are now, but in a situation like.

that when you know something is going on. and you have to finish the match, that. got to be difficult though. >> Yeah. I think it's one of those things. where. [sighs] gosh, you know, I'm trying to. kind of like liken it to a football. injury, but you know, there's plays. No, you get injured, you coming out the. field. >> Yeah. Yeah. You. >> ain't no finish. It could be the first. quarter, second quarter, third quarter, 2 minutes left. I'm out of here. >> Yeah. You get there's a play and you're. gone. Yeah. It's done. It stops. That's. the thing is with us when we get hurt. like there's like a self-evaluation.

process that happens and because like. you know I mean NFL plays what 7 seconds. or something like that. Boom. You know, you you know it's like oh that's it. Now. I'm evaluating. I'm I'm going to go to. the sideline and evaluate. But we have. to evaluate kind of in real time. Like. we have to it's not a sprint like that. It's a bit longer. So like if something. happens, you know, my shoulder is a. great example of that. So I I'm. wrestling Cody Rhodess in the main event. of a pay-per-view in Perth, Australia in. October. I do this move that I've never. really done where I dive from one side.

of the ring to the other and give Cody a. headbutt and I land funky. So I land. like on my elbow kind of off to the. side, pushes my shoulder up and it hurt. But I didn't know how bad it was hurt in. the moment. So I hit him, I cover, he. kicks out, I'm laying there, and then I. just run my selfch check while the. audience is, you know, kind of they're. going through the replays and. everything. We're moving on to the next. thing. But you got to give the audience. time to digest. So you're just sitting. there in the process and I go, "Okay, I. hurt my shoulder. How bad did I hurt my.

shoulder? Is there anything left in the. match that I can't do or that's going to. be dangerous for me or dangerous for my. opponent um or that I'm going to make. look bad?" like do I cut stuff out and. do we just go let's get to the end of. the match? What's the process here? Um. and when it's like a kind of a a. ligament type injury like that, again, I. didn't know what was wrong with it. I. was like, okay, here's the things I can. do. I've probably got about 10 to 15. more minutes of this match. I'll get. through it and then we'll figure out. what happens. I'm not really going to. know till I get a scan and I'm not.

putting Cody in any danger. So, I think. I can get this done. Now, there's. sometimes where it's like you'll get a. concussion or you'll see somebody get a. concussion. Unfortunately, not in this. position. You get a concussion, the ref. sees that happen and that's it. It's. done. Like they just call the match off. Young fell named Javon Evans just had. this happen to him like maybe two weeks. ago on Monday Night Raw. He buted heads. with his opponent. You know, he got. concussed. There was a little bit of. like, "Hey, hey, what's going on?" on. They kind of let him walk through a. little bit of the rest of the match.

while he was out there and then it. became apparent that he wasn't. >> himself. >> Yeah, he wasn't himself. So, they just. that's it. Winner by, ref stoppage and. that's it. And so, it's just. communication. Communicate to your. referee. Communicate to your opponent. You just try to figure out what the best. course of action is. And again, when. it's something like that, like a. concussion where you can't self diagnose. really cuz you're rock. Somebody's We. have people in in Yeah. We have. everybody watching to make sure. No, no, no. Get him out of there. When it's.

something like that where you can't my. shoulder or like Charlotte's knee or my. knee as well, when you can't really see. what's happening, you just have to rely. on the talent to try to figure out. what's best for the situation. >> In a situation where like um you broke. John Cena nose or or something, you guys. are wrestling and and. it's an accident, but you know, things. happen. >> Yeah. >> Um who is that said? I think they said. it's called keeping receipts. when you. do something when you when you do when. you do something to somebody that goes a.

little further than it it should have. been. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's receipts, but. receipts are generally for when things. might be a little on purpose. The John. thing was a complete accident. If if if. I mean, look, John's got ham hands. He's. punched so many people in the side of. the head. Like, it's, you know, he. understands. Sometimes things happen. You know, they we say it's not ballet, which you know, no discredit to ballet. Ballet is hard. I couldn't do it. [clears throat] But yeah, it's not. ballet. Like it's a physical. interaction. So things happen and no one. for the most part there's not a lot of.

bad blood and [clears throat] but. occasionally. >> someone will get a stray shot in there. where you're like, >> h what was what was that all about? >> Was that was that intentional or. >> Yeah, >> I think it was intentional. I'm going to. pay your ass back. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] But you I mean. I'm sure on the field you have those. too. Absolutely. because there's, you. know, it's again physical sport and. there's rules and there's like, you. know, competitive edge and you guys are. I mean I'm How many DBs or linebackers. did you get into where you're like,

>> "Okay, that that I ain't I ain't cool.". >> Yeah, you Yeah, I know. When there's a a. good clean tackle and you cheap shot me, which in turn I'm going to get your ass. back in the course of a play and I'm. going to make it look like a actual. play. But guess what? I know. >> I'm going to get mine. >> I will I will get my lick back. >> But you have a great relationship with. John. >> I do, John. >> And and and John is is finishing up. He's done. But 48. You want to wrestle. that long? >> Yeah, maybe. Yeah. I mean, I'm uh I'm 40. in a couple months and I feel great. I'm.

in what I would consider the prime of my. career where like the physical hasn't. declined and the mental is as sharp as. it's, you know, ever been. Right. And so. I would, as long as I can continue to. contribute uh in a way that's positive. for our fan base and for our younger. talent, as long as I can continue to be. like make the product better, then I I. think I would like to contribute and my. body cooperates, um I would like to. continue to do it. >> Who's your Mount Rushmore WWE wrestlers?

>> Mount Rushmore. Oh man, that's so hard. cuz you get into this trap of like in. ring talent, guys who are just great. wrestlers, and then you get into, you. know, money, right? Who who drew the. most money. So like if you want to talk. like. >> alltime draws, you got to start with. Hogan, you probably got to put Sam. Martino on there, Stone Cold Steve. Austin, and likely The Rock. Yeah, that's probably your top four. you want. to go like in ring all time, you're. looking at Shawn Michaels, you're.

looking at um Eddie Guerrero, you're. looking at. [sighs]. maybe oh man, after that it gets real. hard because you know Dynamite Kid was. really good but he was kind of a jerk. Brett Hart was really great. Um. >> Flair said Flair definitely had Hart and. and and Shawn Michaels in the top. >> and you could put Rick in there as well. Rick, >> nobody could talk like Flair. >> No, no, no. Flair was special. Dusty was. a special, but Dusty's in ring work. wasn't like, you know, he wasn't blowing.

anybody out of the water. Um, you know, Brian Danielson would be up there. I. think, um, you know, I'd like to be in. the conversation at some point. I think, um, >> AJ Styles, who also just recently. retired, is someone who's one of the. greatest of all time in the ring. So, it's a fun discussion, but it's hard to. narrow it down, >> right? You call that the Rock. You want. you want Rock to come back one last time. and you get get your shot at Rock, >> you know? Maybe, man. I don't know. I. don't know. I I I I had such a fun time.

wrestling DJ at Wrestlemania a couple. years ago in the tag match. A singles. match would be a lot of fun with him. Um. if he'd be willing to do it. Um but. yeah, the tag match was a blast and it. was really cool to be out there in the. main event of Wrestlemania with The. Rock. I mean, that's that's a that's a. beyond bucket list. You know, you. mentioned Sting earlier. Like there's. some guys that when I was growing up. watching, you just don't think you're. ever going to get the opportunity to be. in the ring with them because you think. they're going to be retired by the time. you're there. Sting's one of them. You.

know, I got to do promos with Jake the. Snake and Rody Piper. Got to, you know, be in the main event of Wrestlemania. with The Rock. I mean, that's these this. is bonker stuff, you know. So, >> I mean, Rody Piper you grew up watching. and Sting and all those guys you grew up. watching. Lex Luke. >> and and crazy, dude. It's crazy that I. get the opportunity to be um in the ring. with these guys, whether it's a promo or. match, learn from Dusty Roads, you know, any anything like that. It's really for. me as a kid growing up in Iowa, like to. be able to live those dreams and meet. your heroes in in those ways like it's.

really something special. >> You and CM Punk y'all made up? >> No, I wouldn't say so. >> You wouldn't say so? >> I wouldn't say so. I mean, there's. obviously um some sort of working. relationship, otherwise, you know, we. wouldn't be able to go out there and. have matches, but there's just so much. It's so complex. I think maybe once. we're both away from the business or. retired or have hung it up, there might. be an opportunity for reconciliation. there. Um, it's just so hard for me to.

separate. the CM Punk that there is now from the. CM Punk that um was a really rotten. friend to me 10 years ago. And so it's. it's just those those wounds take time. to heal. I think whether or not. >> he cares to make the effort to do that. um and I care to care if he makes the. effort to do that, I don't know. I don't. know if we either of us have the time. for it at the moment. >> Have the the uh the the company pulled.

you and said, "Look guys, I understand. there's some some things going on. between you two, but we run a business. here. Y'all figure that issue out and. and and keep it and keep it moving.". >> No, there was never a time where the two. of us were sat down and had a. conversation like that. um there there. were conversations had before he came. back. >> um. about whether or not it's something that. I could be okay with. >> Mhm.

>> And uh you know, he's back. So I I I. always feel like if if there's business. to be done, that's bigger than me. That's bigger. than my grievances. So um you know, at. the end of the day, it's not my sandbox. I don't make those decisions. I think. WWE would be just fine without CM Punk. Um, but I do think there's a large. portion of our fan base that is very. happy that he is back. >> So, you So, this happened before, this. doesn't have anything to do with. wrestling. This had to do with something.

outside of the ring. >> Um, I mean, we know each other through. wrestling. So, when he he's with WWE and. he was I knew him before that. I knew. him when I first started wrestling cuz. he's from Chicago. So, I would go watch. him on independent shows and I wanted to. be trained by him when he ran a school. back in 2004. Didn't have the money to. do it cuz it was out in Philadelphia and. I couldn't move out there. Didn't have. any cash. So, um you know, but I stayed. in touch. I go watch him on shows. I was. a fan of his. He knew my upbringing. He.

saw, you know, that we were kind of cut. from the same cloth and he was somewhat. of a mentor to me when we got to WWE. and he also vouched for myself and John. Moxley to be brought up um from. developmental uh to the main roster. So. everything was good. He let me sleep on. his couch. He let me ride his bus. occasionally from time to time. He's a. really good guy. Um and you know I would. have done anything for him. And then he.

leaves the company um and basically just. completely ghosted like just stopped. being a friend like just and I reached. out to him multiple times to try to talk. to him and there was never any animosity. between us. There was never like a. falling out between the two of us. He. just didn't like the fact that I stayed. working for the company. And. >> well you Hold on. Just because you leave. Am I You think I Hold on. I got I want. to eat. I like my living style now. And. so because you had a falling out, I'm. supposed to have a falling out, too. >> I wasn't the only person that he felt.

this way about. He lost a lot of. friendships over this. He he did this on. his own. And um and and I think, you. know, that would have been one thing, but then on the back end of that, he. spent many many many years taking kind. of pot shots. >> at what we were doing, uh what we were. trying to do in WWE without him. And he. and look, when he left, he left a pretty. significant void. He was he was at the. top. He was a top star and we were. trying to rebuild and we didn't have a. lot to work with. We were trying to make.

the thing great and he took a lot of, you know, shots on podcast and. interviews at me and at people who were. trying to do good things for the. industry that he supposedly loved. And. at that point WWE was my home. And so. when you starting to talk bad about my. home and the people that I love and the. people I take that personally, right? You know, how am I not? And because we. were friends and you didn't want to talk. to me about anything when you left, how. am I supposed to not take that. personally, you know? So, yeah, it was. hard for me. And I I I did write you off.

and I did say, you know, f you. Like, I. ain't got time for that, man. I ain't. got time for people like you. You know, you that negative energy trying to tear. down everything we're trying to build. here. I ain't got time for that. And so, it really, really bothered me when he. came back because I go, "Dude, you were. gone. We did this. We did this without. you. Not only without you, but in spite. of you. We did this in spite of you and. you tried to make this not happen and. now you want to come back and re. >> I want to be a part of it that you see. that you see we didn't crumble without.

you. didn't we got better and we got. bigger and and everything is better now. and and it had nothing to do with you. and so that was really hard for me and I. I I like I said it's just a lot to get. over and I I think one literally if he. would have just replied one time to one. text or one call and said hey man I'm. not ready yet or hey man it's not you I. just can't. >> I'm going through something just one. time anything would have changed the. whole narrative for me. >> you got an opportunity to wrestle Brock.

Lesnar. Uh. >> the big He he recently came back. >> Yes, sir. >> What What What's it like wrestling the. big guys? Because obviously, you know, running into a guy that's too broad or. one of these big guys is different than. running into somebody that's your size. because I mean, you guys are really. athletic. I mean people talk about all. that that's okay I get it scripted but. all that falling and all that tumbling. and and from 10 15 feet in the air that. takes a lot out of you sir.

>> Yeah I mean I here the thing is I love. what one of the fun things about pro. wrestling is I love matchups. >> Yeah. >> You know there are weight classes in. UFC. There are weight classes in amateur. wrestling. That's for a reason. Yes. >> That's for a reason. In our industry if. things go sideways those big boys will. crush you. There's nothing you can do. about it. Um, but I love the fact in. wrestling, pro wrestling, that we don't. have the weight classes. That you get to. see wild matchups that you never get to. see anywhere else. That that Seth. Rollins can go toe-to-toe with Brock.

Lesnar, that he can find a way to figure. out the beast, that he can use his. strengths against Brock Lesnar's. weaknesses. And you just don't get that. anywhere else. you know, you don't get. those kind of fairy tale matchups. Like. you don't get uh the Big Show or Kane or. Undertaker versus Rey Mysterio, you. know, there's no other world where that. exists. So, it's this amazing like it's. like a Marvel movie in real life where. you get to see Thanos versus Thor, you.

know, or Thanos versus Spider-Man. You're like, "Oh, well, Thanos would. crush him." But no, cuz Spider-Man's got. he's a agile webs and he's got his way. of of figuring it out. And that's what's. fun about wrestling is when you see. matchups and you see the tale of the. tape, you go, "Wow, how's this guy gonna. figure it out?" Or, "Oh man, this big. boy is gonna he's gonna crush that. little guy." Or, "Man, I can't wait to. see these two giants collide." Or, "Man, I can't wait to see these two technical. assassins just get it on or these two. like awesome strikers slug it out, you. know?" So, you get all of that with.

wrestling that you just don't get in any. other form of sport especially. How. would you have liked to wrestle wrestle. so Andre the Giant over 7 foot tall 500. lb. >> That would have been great. It would. [laughter] have been great, man. It. would have been I mean if you. >> you lift it and you getting him off his. feet. >> No, I mean look I'm poundfor-pound. pretty strong but those boys are that's. big dude. That's a big boy. You know. what I mean? I'm have to trip him. That's how I get [laughter] him down. I. run him till he's tired and then trip. him. >> What NFL player, NBA player you think.

would be really good in WWE? Oh man, >> George KD because he does he he he he. does so KD loves it. Yes, absolutely. KD. could definitely do it. >> He loves it. You know, I I think when. he's retired, he's going to come do at. least one match. You think so? >> Oh, dude. Once once the Niners like all, yeah, he's done with his playing career. and he's waiting for that Hall of Fame. Like, he dude, no doubt about it. He's. going to come do one. Um I always I you. look at the big dudes for sure. I look. at like uh like Miles Garrett's one of.

my favorite, you know, just house and. David and Joku again. Like just these. House dudes, man. >> Um. >> trying to think if there's anybody else. off the top of my head that's really. good. Uh you know, I like DK Metaf. Like. DK is a freak athlete, [clears throat]. you know, but he just got that build. He's got the look to him, too. Um, yeah. I mean, the that's a lot of the reason. the WWE likes to like recruit, you know, college athletes because they. >> cuz y'all got a NI I saw I think the WWE.

got a NIL program now. >> That's correct. We do have an NIL. program. >> cuz I saw like a couple of uh uh women's. shot putters and and things like that. that's going to once their career is. over and and and collegiate, they're. going to go to the WWE. >> Hopefully take a crack at it. Yeah. Go. down to Orlando and see if they can. develop a passion for it. So, where are. you on uh influencers or athletes coming. into the WWE? We see Logan Paul did it. uh does it from occasionally. We see uh. McAfee PM Mack comes in. I show Speed.

showed up in in in the ring a couple of. times. So, where are you on that? You. okay with that? >> Yeah, I'm fine with it. I always feel. like it's like, you know, I think it's. as a talent, it can be frustrating. because you feel like, you know, if if. they're in a big spotlight, um, you. know, you're like, ah, they're taking. somebody's spot, right? But at the end. of the day, like you, and I mean this. nicely, and I I would say this to my my. younger self, too. I'm like, that was. never your spot. [laughter]. That you weren't going to do it wasn't. going to have the same impact. The. reason we are able to bring these. influencers or actors or whomever into.

the into the frey is to get new eyes on. the product and that those new eyes then. >> they can find you, you know, otherwise. they ain't going to find you, you know. So, it's it's a it's that's a tough. lesson to learn I think as a young. talent because you want those. opportunities. Um but yeah, I mean I. think it's great and you know not not. all of them are like Logan. Logan's a. great example. >> No, Logan can really do this. >> He can do it and he he developed the. passion for it quickly. I don't know. that he thought I don't know that he.

thought because he's he's pretty much. full-time now. He's every week he's. there. And I don't know that he when he. first started that he thought that was. what here's this fun thing I get to do. You know, he's all about making money. and and and they're getting he's getting. paid and he gets to do this fun thing. and it's kind of like fight adjacent, you know, this athletic uh you know, nature to it. I think he got addicted to. it. I think he got addicted to the. process and like when you get hooked. that way it's really hard to let it go. and so there's not a lot of him you know. most of them are like a speed who gets.

in the rumble and gets merckked by Braun. Breaker and then he don't want to come. back and he's like I'm good. >> Yeah, I'm good. I don't blame her. >> Ronda Ronda uh uh Ronda Rousey uh. obviously she was in the UFC but she. tried it. Are you surprised she didn't. stay longer? >> No, not at all. Uh it's hard. It's. really hard and what they were asking. Ronda to do was very difficult. the. schedule was crazy still at that time. This is pre-COVID. She comes in, she. comes in 2018, 17, something like that. Um, and at.

first it's very easy. Um, and not I. don't mean this in a negative way, but. everything's curated for her. So. everything's choreographed and you know. she has one match every 6 months or. something like that and it gets well. rehearsed and that's fun and you get to. do wrestling that way and that can be. really fun and and that can be addicting. for people but that's not really what. wrestling is. >> Wrestling is a bit of a grind and you. have a. >> couple times a week, huh? >> And you it it used to be five times a. week. >> and you have to you have to that but. that's how you learn your craft, you.

know. But if you're not used to that and. you're coming in and it's not Rhonda's. fault, you're coming in and that's how. you're presented and then you have to. work backwards. You have to work, you. know, opposite of the way I did where I. came up doing all that and then I got to. do the fun stuff at the end. That's. easier because now it's like, oh wow, wait, you tell me I only have to wrestle. 50 times a year. >> Easy. I used to do 250. Exactly. So this. is nothing. when you go the other way. when it that is a really hard thing to.

do and she had other aspirations you. know she wanted to be a mom and it's. really hard to be a mom and do our gig. especially when you want to have. multiple kids and you know she kudos to. her she traveled with her oldest. daughter a lot um the same way myself. and my wife did with our daughter and. that's a really difficult thing to do. and if you're not having fun and you. don't love it it's it it I does not. surprise me that she was like I need to. get away from this and not to say she. won't come back and give it another go. cuz she does have a talent um for it.

But it doesn't surprise me. >> Bad Bunny who performed performed at the. Super Bowl. >> Yes. >> Did you get that? You you meet Bad. Bunny. >> Oh yeah, I met Bonito multiple times cuz. he he has done a couple things for us. from time to time. He had an absolutely. wonderful match with Damian Priest in. Puerto Rico a couple years back. Um he. loves wrestling. That's that's insane. By the way, I just want people to. understand that it was a street fight. It was like a no holds bar. San Juan. Street fight. He's going through tables, getting beat with chairs, getting choke.

slammed. This is the biggest artist in. the world. This would have been like. Michael Jackson [laughter] in 1986. at Wrestlemania. What are we talking. about? That's crazy, dude. Could you. imagine that? No. Like Paul McCartney. ain't getting in the ring and you know. that's crazy. So, I I have a ton of. respect for Bonito. He did not have to. do that at all. What a stud. Like, I. don't know any of his songs, but dude,

that what a savage. >> You and Post Malone had some beef. [laughter]. >> Post he got up in my grill, man. He's. cheering for Punk and his wife over me. and my wife. You can't be doing that. You know what I mean? >> I mean, >> come on now. >> That wasn't rehearsed. >> No, I didn't even know. [laughter] I. didn't even know he was there. there. I. think he was there at Jelly Roll there. in the crowd of Russell Palooa, which. again, Indianapolis, a lot of history. there. And I just saw him and he was. like booing or something like that. And. I I saw an opportunity and I took it.

[snorts]. >> I going to let him I ain't going to let. him dunk on me and my wife like that. Come on now, [laughter]. >> posty. You good? Y'all good now, though, right? You settled it. >> Damn. You don't let stuff go, Seth. >> Oh, I love. >> You got to let stuff go, Seth. >> I'm in the conflict business, man. I'm. in the I there's no money to be made if. everybody revolution. >> That's what it is. That's where we get. paid. Sir, [laughter]. >> a fan [snorts] attacks you. Why do you. press charges?

>> Uh that guy from my understanding was he. was catfished uh by somebody pretending. to be me. And he was not um. he was I I don't want to, you know, be. um rude, but he was not all there. It. was there was something off about him. It felt like to for me it felt like the. wrong thing to do to try to get him. incarcerated in any way and he wasn't a. person that had the means to pay for a.

big fine and go through a whole legal. process. I I asked the uh you know. judicial system that contacted me. I. said, "Could we look into please getting. this guy some help?" Like he he's not. >> I'm I'm I'm lucky that he didn't bring. anything to, you know, >> be particularly violent with. Um that's. something that's like very scary um in. situations like that. But thankfully we. got on the other side of it and you're. able to look at it in its totality like.

okay what's the best course of action. here and it's probably to try to help. this guy if we can do that. So I I was. not able to follow up. I don't know but. what I do know is that I chose not to. press charges for that reason. It didn't. it didn't seem to me that that was going. to solve the problem. >> Goat couples. We got you and Becky. Lynch. We got Randy Randy Savage and. Miss Elizabeth. >> Okay. >> Edge and Beth Phoenix. >> Yep. Mad Hard and Lita, Triple H, and. Stephanie McMahon. >> That's That's a good list. That's a good.

list right there. I mean, we're number. one by a mile, but yeah, [laughter]. shout out to Edge and Beth. They're both. great in the ring, but they don't have. the accolades that myself and my wife. have. Correct. So, uh, Stephanie and. Hunter. They. >> didn't she just wrestle in Wrestlemania? >> Who's that? >> Becky. >> Becky. Uh, she was at the Rumble. She. was at the Royal Rumble last week. Yeah. In Riad, Saudi Arabia. did not. >> live. I think Liv live. >> Liv won Liv won the Royal Rumble. Yep. Becky has won the Rumble before. First. woman in main event Wrestlemania, right? Um. >> and then myself, you read the accolades.

earlier. I mean, there's no there's. nobody on that list that's even close. >> Is it easier to date a woman that's in. the business with you? >> Because a guy told me one time, he said, "You understand why movie stars date. other movie stars?" I said, "No." Why? I. said, "They like each other?" "No." He. said, "Because the other know what it's. like to live that life.". >> Yes. Yes. That part of it is very that. is very beneficial. It's not it's. something that's like um. [sighs and snorts]. you know you don't you don't want to mix. business with pleasure because if it. doesn't end well you know the risk. >> they still wrestle you got to see each.

other. >> yeah it's hard and then they date. somebody else you're dating somebody. else it's it's not fun like that's just. not a fun thing so you do try to avoid. it but when you find somebody and Becky. and I were friends for years before we. started dating when you find somebody. who gets it and understands what you're. doing um and you go through the same. things it's so much easier and and. because our business and our industry is. so strange and so weird. Like just re. asking regular people who do regular.

jobs to understand it is it is it can be. a tall task. >> especially when you're starting out cuz. you're saying you're wrestling three to. five times a week. So you're gone. So. basically 45 45 47 weeks out of the year. you're on the road. >> We would be Yeah. 300 days a year for. sure. Easy. Easy. with the travel and. the media. I'd wrestle like my my my. craziest years I would wrestle probably. close to 215 matches a year. >> and that's not including the travel. days. Like we would leave Friday morning. from my my little town in Iowa. I'd go.

and I'd do non-elevised events Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I would do Monday TV. RAW which was live. And then we would. tape Smackdown at the time on Tuesday. and then I would fly home Wednesday. morning and I would leave Friday morning. every week for years. >> Yeah. And that's that's that's like a. good week. That's like a normal week. I'd have that 36 hours at home. essentially. >> Like we would have tours that were, you. know, would take us away for months at a. time. It was it was I mean there's no.

chance to have a proper relationship in. that situation. I read in doing this this research on. you, you were open to being in a poly. relationship. [laughter] How did how did. Becky come along and completely change. your mind? You're like, you know what? I'm you know, I thought I wanted Polly, but I'm good with just one. >> What what what I really needed was to be. single. That's what I needed. Well, that's what I needed. I was a serial. monogamist for my whole adult life, and. I just needed to Hey, you're okay being.

by yourself, dude. I just You're fine. You just need to figure it out. Yeah. I. mean, I was from 19 until I like I mean, when did me and Becky started dating? It. would have been 19, so six years ago. So, like I was 34. So, like 15 years I. was just in relationship after. relationship with like this much break. in between. So, I never really got. comfortable being by myself. Really just. got comfortable and that's what I. needed. But I was like at at the end of. my last relationship before I started. dating her, I was like, "All right, I'm. just not cut out for monogamy. I'm not.

cut out for being in a relationship. I. just need maybe maybe it's like I can. just do like I can be in a relationship. but you know maybe like some be in that. relationship but not really be in that. relationship. You know what I just. needed to be single and I just didn't. know how to process it all. So and I'm. probably like intaking too much. information reading too much about it. thinking too much about it. And the. bottom line was either a I needed to be. single which I just didn't know how to. do or b I needed to find. >> the right partner. And I did. And that.

was once I found once once we locked. that in, I was done. I mean, I had a. ring on order within like two months. >> But here's the thing. Obviously, when. you wrestle, you probably had a couple. of your dates around and she probably. saw them. She's like, "Nah, Seth, I'm. good. Bro, you ain't you ain't you ain't. ready for anything serious?" Uh well. when we started seeing each other like. because it was you know I was again we. were both scared of getting involved. with someone we worked with and so we. were like you know let's just keep it.

kind of chill maybe this is thing. Yeah. But then she was like you know what. >> I don't think so. I don't you know we. could just be friends. We were friends. before. We don't have to do any of that. romantic stuff. We'll just be friends. cuz like if we're not going to be in all. in then I don't want to I don't want to. just do this little thing. I'm I'm you. know that's stupid cuz I like want to be. all in but I'm not going to. So like. she's like ah we'll just be friends. And. the literal second she said that I could. like feel my heart be like oh no what.

have you done. Don't do that. I can't. let you get away. I can't let you get. away. I'm like but I'm supposed to be. single now. I've decided that I needed. to be single. She's also decided that I. need to be single. You know all these. things are going on in my head at once. And then like I remember she hung up the. phone and I'm like sitting there on the. couch by myself going like, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is wrong. This is. wrong." And thankfully it was wrong. And. then I convinced her that it was wrong. And like two weeks later, she was like, "You know what? We should we should be. together." And like I said, then it was. done.

>> And you guys have been together ever. since. >> Ever since. >> It's. >> How did you know? Did you all because. like you said, you were friends. And yet. as friends, you know, some guys like I. can't be friend with a a young lady or. someone that I'm attracted to, but. clearly you guys were friends. Did you. have any idea that at some point in time. that you guys could be in a relationship. or you just. >> No. I mean, look, being in the being in. the WWE, look, man, I got to be friends. with girls that I'm attracted to cuz. they're all. >> there a lot of them. Yeah. Yeah. >> That's all they are. They're all.

beautiful women. You know what I mean? So, you're friends with beautiful women. You just learn to figure that out. you. know, it's not if you if you're not, then you're ain't going to have no. friends, you know, [laughter] no female. friends. So, yeah, you you learn to do. that, you know, and then that that is. tricky, too. I think that's that's. harder than I think people think it is. Um, and it it was something I had had to. learn a little bit, but yeah, once you. got into that mode, it was like, yeah, no problem. And I we never I I never. thought about her that way. I knew she. was beautiful, thought she was fun, but. the work like we just didn't mix. And.

like she I was again I was already. dating you know I was in relationships. and she was you know seeing somebody or. a couple guys here and there so like. outside of the industry. So we just. never it never even occurred until we. were both single and at the right time. kind of talking to each other and. spending more time together. And it was. like you know the classic one thing led. to another. >> Why was she different? >> Um gosh I mean it's so interesting. because. >> she's going to see this so be careful. >> Yeah. Well, [laughter].

you can't I can't describe it. She was. just It was so effortless. >> Mhm. >> I think effortless to talk about. anything and to um I had a I had a a a a. different type of respect for her right. out of the gate because we had. established a friendship for a long. time. our relationship was based on. friendship and based on a mutual respect.

and based on that kind of love as. opposed to just, >> you know, I think I just I confused the. feeling of lust for a long time with the. feeling of love and kind of let that. carry me through into relationships that. I would I would overstay my welcome for. sure. um with her it was never about. that you know it became lustful became. romantic and it's that part of it it's. incredible but that was not like the. base for it and so there was a respect.

and there was an understanding and an. appreciation and I think those all those. things like laid the foundation in a way. that I had not experienced before I mean. you can say she's smart and funny and. kind and sweet you know give all that. stuff but the basis and the foundation. for the relationship was was unique in a. way that I had not experienced. And you. know when you just find that person that. feels like your person where you're you. know you have that connection that's.

different and unique it was just there. It was it was immediate. Once the. romantic, once the spark hit, I was. like, "Oh, that is that's the thing. That's what they all talk about. That's. what they write the movies. That's what. they, you know, it is.". >> You were originally scheduled to be in. Captain America. >> Ah, >> but they had your scene removed. >> Bastard. >> Did you know they would have were going. to remove that scene or did were you. like did they call and say, "Well, uh, Seth, uh, you didn't make you didn't.

survive the cutting room floor.". >> That's correct. Yeah. So, so the the. movie went through a million rewrites. and um you know I I had gotten a call. from producer also a friend of mine. His. name is Nate Moore. He's wonderful guy, great producer. And uh he was working on. that film. And uh so we had done it. We. shot the whole thing. It was awesome. I. would love to see the B-roll of that cuz. I had some pretty sick scenes in there. where I'm beating up Anthony Mackey. [laughter] Um and I'd love to see where. that exists. But um you know the studio.

wasn't happy with the direction of the. film. They wanted to change some things. Um and they didn't just say, "Hey, you're out." They actually they they. called me and they said, "Hey, we're. repurposing this the beginning of this. film. >> Um you're like I was in like kind of a. group of roles like we were a team. We're repurposing that into one person.". They allowed me to read for the role. >> um just in the chance that they saw. something they really liked. Um um and. they would cast me in that. So I read.

for the role and I was like and then I. saw Jean Carlo Espazito Gus Fring from. Breaking Bad get cast in and I'm like. well I think they had their heart set. I'm not competing with that guy anyway. That's an elite actor. So yeah, then. they called me back and we're like nah, you know, we're going to go in a. different direction. So at least I got a. heads up. I wasn't like waiting for that. invite to the premiere and then got sad. when I didn't get one. No, I I I I knew. it was up. Would you do you want do you. want to do movies or is that something. you're interested in? >> No, man. I I uh I only took the I did a.

WWE movie back in 2016. I tore my ACL in November of 15. WWE. Films. They had a studio at the time. They wanted me to come in and do a movie. during my off time, which I did. Hated. every second of it. I hated it. I did. not want to do another one, which is why. I didn't take another role until Nate. called me and said, "Hey, would you like. to do this thing in Captain America?". And I'm like, >> I got to do that, right? You know, >> Captain America, >> Captain America, it's Marvel. I got to.

do that. So, but [clears throat] that's. I just don't like it. I don't like the. process of it, you know? >> It's a lot of sitting and waiting. >> It's a lot of sitting and waiting. It. you're waiting for months for any sort. of feedback. You don't even know if. you're doing a good job. you're doing. the same thing over and over and over. I. did not I was not for me. Again, if the. right prospect came along, >> I would consider it. But no, I got I got. my uh my toes dipped in some other pools. right now. So, >> if your daughter wanted to become a.

wrestler, her mom's a wrestler, her. dad's a wrestler, you open to that? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think if you. asked me that like 20 years ago, I would. have said no. You know, like the. business was in a much different place. But thanks to my wife and some of the. other women who've really pioneered. change in WWE. Um the the way the. business looks at women now is. completely different. Um what it means. to be successful and good in our. industry is not just about how you look. Um. >> it's about what you can do. You know, whether you can talk, it's all the same.

metrics that it is for men. And so I. think it's just a much better place for. women than it was even when I came in in. 2012. So, um, if she wanted to do it, great. I'd support her and help her out. >> Yeah, cuz I mean, in the beginning, women had very very limited roles in. wrestling. I mean, you they you might. see them like once every 3 to four. months, >> but it was it was And then they were on. TV for 2 minutes and it was probably a. bra and panties match or Jerry Lawler. was screaming puppies or something like. that. It wasn't. >> it was it's it was awful, you know. It.

was awful. We've seen some of the biggest stars in. the WWE come on go on to become very. very big in in acting. >> We see Rock, he's probably your biggest. and you got Batista and you see Roman. Reigns. >> Um, >> you said that's not something that. you're really interested in. >> I I'm Do you think those guys got into. WWE thinking they would it would. transition them into acting? Because I. remember rocking the Mummy and the next. thing I know he's in the Scorpion King.

and the next thing I know he's. >> the Rock. I mean, he's DJ. He's huge. He's doing everything. Yeah. Same thing. with Batista. >> No, you know, I don't think so. I think. they all, you know, they came into it. different ways. Like you look at the the. big ones like John, Cena, and and DJ and. they both I mean DJ grew up in it, right? His dad, his his uh grandpa, like. all his family, like he's he's a part of. it. So, he grew up around it, you know? Tried college ball. It was really good. Got hurt. didn't make the pros. Um, and. said, "Hey, let me give this thing a. shot." And, you know, he just had an.

aptitude for it cuz it was he'd been. around it his whole life and he's a. natural performer. >> And he's perfect. I mean, he's, you. know, 6'4, 250 lbs, athletic, can jump, can tumble, can do, >> you know, he's got it all, man. He's. unbel I mean, he's a total package. Perfect. Like, just But he and he but. his goal was never to be around for a. long time, right? He wanted to kickstart. and go to Hollywood. And when he got. that opportunity, he he, you know, made. the most of it. John, same way. Love the. business. Just wanted to be a wrestler. Like he was working in gyms and stuff.

like that. Got an opportunity to get. trained and become a wrestler and did it. and just was like, I love this. I'm. going to do this. And then eventually, you know, the role of Hollywood came. calling. It came asking and he was he he. developed a love for that. Now he's, you. know, >> John Cena, the action star. Um, so yeah, I think when you see the people. transition, it's it's they have a. genuine passion for our industry and. Hollywood sees that and they see. marketability in these guys and or girls. and they come and the opportunities are.

there and you know some people love it. and want to do it and are great at it. That ain't me. >> What's a uh what's a routine like? So. what's your what's your week like uh as. far as working out when you're on the. when you're on the docket? Um, yeah, I'll train like four or five times a. week usually. Um, man, I used to train. like a psychopath and then I hit 35 and. I just didn't recover the way I. [laughter] used to and I was like, you. know, I think I pump it down a little. bit. So, you know, and then I became a. dad as well and you know, your time just. changes. You got to give it up.

>> Yeah. Your priorities change a little. bit and I didn't want to be at the gym. for two and a half hours anymore, you. know, and so I didn't want to train. seven days a week anymore. I wanted to. spend time with my kid and my family and. and all that stuff. So, yeah. I mean, I. I'll do like four four days a week. We. travel on Sunday, do the show on Monday. Occasionally, there's the pay-per-views. on Saturday, and it's a longer weekend. Um, you know, I again, I'm a little bit. older, so I got to count what I'm. eating. You know, wrestling's an. aesthetic business, so I got I got to. look a certain way. Um, you know, I try.

to get some body work done once a week. just to make sure everything's tidy. If. I've got something that's worse, you. know, I might get a couple couple times. a week, uh, get the girl over to the. house who gets the elbow in the knots, you know. So, um, I mean, and that's it. And then I try to be a dad when I'm. home. Try to take my kid to school and. pick her up from school and do all the. stuff. >> Does she travel with you guys when you. guys on the road? >> She used to when she was younger. She. started uh like preschool this year and. so she's kind of locked in in one place. We'll still take her on like some select. trips, but um Becky, so she was born in.

December 2020, and Becky was off until. July of 21. And then once Becky was back. in July, our daughter came with us. everywhere. Every she came with us every. weekend. We took her all over the world. It was awesome. I mean, it was it was. hard, but it was awesome. I mean, not. everybody who's like a traveling working. parent gets the opportunity to just like. take their kid everywhere in the world. with them, and we were so fortunate to. be able to spend that time with them. situation now that you guys alternate. weekends or something when you she's on. the road, you're at home, you're on.

you're. >> My mama my mom moved out to Los Angeles. >> Oh, okay. Well, that's awesome. >> Yeah, my mom's out there. So, grandma, she gets to spend time with grandma, you. know, but we just make it work. I if if. you know, Becky's gone, she was just. gone for a good three three week stretch. or so. And fortunately, I was hurt and. home and able to do it and I wasn't on. the road. But yeah, I mean, if if the. schedule looks daunting and we're going. to be gone for long periods of time, we'll get ahead of it, we'll talk to. WWE. And they're so much better now than. they than than days past where they are.

more familyfriendly. They are like, "Hey, let's make this work." And there's. not a lot of like Becky and I are pretty. unique in the sense that we both do the. gig, right? Like a lot of times when. people have kids, it's, you know, their. their partner stays at home. They don't. they don't have they work from home or. they have a regular job or whatever. So, we're a very unique situation where we. both do this and WWE has been extremely. accommodating and helping us make sure. that our kid is, you know, has a parent. there at all times.

>> when you have to go to the bathroom. >> in the ring. In the ring? >> Oh, it never happens. >> Really? >> No, no, no, no, no. I mean, we're not. playing. You You guys got a a three-hour. game. You know what I mean? That's we. don't our matches are at most, you know, a crazy one would be an hour long. Like. the Royal Rumble is an hour long, but. you're not in there for the whole time. So, you know, you don't It never It. never occurs to me. >> So, you Nobody's ever had to go to the. bathroom. >> I'm sure it has happened. It's I mean, it's like it's just like it's not there. You know what I mean?

>> Cuz you know, we got we go we go on the. sidelines. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We get a nervous like. I have a nervous pee sometimes before. the match. You know what I mean? I got. to run to like a bathroom real quick and. get it out, but once it's out, I'm good. Yeah. Once I'm in Once I'm through the. curtain, it's done. It's over. >> Well, that would be bad. Yeah, it would. not be fun. >> You tell the, "Hey, ref, I got to go to. the bathroom. You got to go ahead and. count me out." I know. >> I'm going to roll into the ring, get a. little bottle, and go. You know, >> you [clears throat] roll up under the. ring. That's what you did. >> That'd be If you needed to do it, that'd. be how you do it. You go get a water. bottle in there, a Gatorade bottle or.

something, roll into the ring, and do. your thing. Get back out real quick. >> Wow. >> I've se I've known guys who've actually. ran to the back, not on TV, like on a on. a live, like on a non-elevised event. Like they'll like do something, boom, go. to the back, come back. [laughter] But. it had never happened to me. Knock on. wood. >> We know you are a big a huge ginormous. Bears fan. >> Yes, sir. >> They might be here in the Indiana. The. Indiana Bears. >> Oh god. Chicago Bears. >> There's no way that Come on. Can you.

even imagine it? >> Can you even imagine it? The Gary Bears. Come on. Get out of here, dude. >> Get out of here. You know, look that. that's a PR stunt. There's no way. That's that's that's that's the Kevin. Morren's going, "Come on." Yeah. Keep. keep pushing. They're not leaving. Illinois. There's no. >> Well, they said they said that same. thing about the Chiefs not leaving. Missouri. >> That's fair. That's fair. I mean, as. long as we still call him the Chicago. Bears. >> How you going to call somebody Chicago. Bears when they in Indiana? >> I mean, if you Kansas City, I mean, I.

guess Kansas City is the same. >> Kansas City got Kansas City Kansas. >> Well, we're just going to have to rename. Gary. He's just going to have to be. Chicago. We're just going to change the. name. Yeah. Chicago, Indiana. has. changed the dang thing. >> What you you saw the vast improvement. from the Bears this year. Oh, it was. crazy. >> I mean, you see they brought in Ben. Johnson. Caleb Williams has performed. unbelievable. The defense played better. You got skill position, but Ben Johnson. is the big reason. >> Yeah. >> What has you so enthusiastic about the. Bears moving forward?

>> I mean, just you they've got it. They've. got a quarterback and a coach. And if. that stays synced up and you you stay in. that same system, I mean, you see the. modern NFL, that is the recipe for. success. Especially when you look at the. big dynasties, you look at Brady and. Bellich, you look at Mahomes and Reed, >> I mean, that's it. You know what I mean? You want that's what you want and that's. what everybody looks for. And so when. when you and you see teams that getting. rid of coaches and drafting. quarterbacks, just hiring coaches just.

so they can link them up like that, you. know? So, I mean, I think when you've. got the guy behind center who's tough, who can throw the ball, wants to learn, wants to get better, and you got the guy. calling the plays, who also seems to be. a great leader from what I can. understand, players want to play for. him. Um, you know, that's the recipe for. success. And it feels like this year. felt different than for the Bears. You. know, they over the last 20 years, they've had a couple seasons that, you. know, you look good. And, you know, they.

had Naggie's first year with Trabiscy. You said, "Oh, baby, this just felt. different, man. Felt different this year. with with Caleb." And, you know, could. be wrong. Could be a wash next year. The. NFL is crazy place, but it did. I went. to some of the games at Soldier Fields. this year. It was a really special. experience to be there and watch this. team. >> Can you guys win a championship? How. soon before you guys win a championship? >> You know, I honestly thought and I. predicted the Bears would have a really. good season, but some of that was a. little, you know, just me having a good. time. I'll be honest with you, they. exceeded my expectations this year. They.

exceeded my expectations this year and I. think everybody kind of thought it might. take two years to get them where we. wanted, you know, where we're what's. this going to look like with Caleb. Williams, right? >> The fact that they were able to progress. so quickly and start winning games and. continue to win games through the. season, win the North with with the. Packers and the Lions. I mean, the. Vikings had a great year last year, but. the Sam Darnold thing was chaos for. them. You know, they might live to. regret that decision. I think the Bears.

to win the North this year was was huge. I think they were and I I look the. Packers game, the wild card game I was. nervous about. I actually thought they. were I was kind of not too scared about. the Rams. I thought they were going to. win that game. >> Um and very close. >> They're there. I mean, you took look at. the elite teams in the NFC. I I don't. think they're that far off. If everybody. stays put and they get healthy and they. they you know, they keep going. that. offense. You only touched on what it.

could be, >> right? >> So, yes, they can win a Super Bowl with. this. >> Seth, thanks for stopping by Club Shay, bro. Appreciate you, [clears throat]. man. Seth Rollins, >> great chats, man. >> Thank you to the Clif for hosting us at. [music] this beautiful Redwood Room. This iconic space has been the crown. jewel of San Francisco for over 100. years. It was in this very room where. the masterminds [music] of Silicon. Valley met to plan the future. All. inside of space made out of a. 800-year-old redwood tree. Thank you. again to the Redwood Room at the Clif.

for having us. [music]. >> Grinding all my life. Sacrifice hustle. paid the price. Want a slice got to roll. a dice. That's why all my life I've been. grinding all [music] my life. All my. life been grinding all my life. [singing]. Sacrifice hustle paid the price a. [music]. rolling dice. That's why all my life. I've been grinding all my life.