WWE Fans

[Absent Friend]

Sweet interview with the next WWE Champion

On August 18 at SummerSlam, Daniel Bryan will take on John Cena for the WWE World Title. DIRECTV sat down to talk with the #1 contender in an exclusive interview:

What were your initial thoughts when you found out you would be facing John Cena for the WWE title at SummerSlam?
It was incredible and humbling. I have been wresting for a long time and most of the time it was in front of very small crowds who couldn’t care less about who was coming out there. I have wrestled in front of 13 people! And just hearing the reaction of the people in Brooklyn who were shouting “Yes! Yes!” – it was very surreal. Like “is this really my life?”

What did you think about the Brooklyn crowd in general?
It was my second time there – we did the TLC PPV last December – and both times the Brooklyn crowd has been really great and crazy. Even if they don’t like what’s going on they will entertain themselves somehow, like dancing for Fandango or Yes-ing for me.

What’s your game plan against John Cena for SummerSlam?
I can’t stray too far from what I normally do. I’ll make sure to do a lot of my kick boxing and grappling for training but then also just prepare cardio-wise for what’s going to be happening. A lot of the John Cena’s matches go about 30 minutes so a lot of that is just being prepared physically for something like that. Nerves are always good and play a factor in big WWE match but Summer Slam is by far the biggest event of my career so I’m really excited about it.

Mick Foley recently posted something very complimentary about you on Facebook, Did you happen to see it?
No, I don’t have Facebook. Unfortunately, I don’t understand technology very well. I have a Twitter account that WWE set up for me so if I want to tweet something I can but I’m very bad about it (laughs). What did Mick say?

To paraphrase – he said your match with John Cena at SummerSlam would be one of the few matches that, as a fan, he would do anything to see live and that while Cena has been great for the company, he thinks your time is now. Hearing that coming from Mick Foley, what are your thoughts?
Well, I hope he is right and that my time is now. I feel like it is. It’s also very humbling. You know it’s crazy because I feel like my story is very much like Mick Foley’s story in the sense that I grew up a really hardcore wrestling fan and it took Mick a really long time to get to the WWE and to get opportunities to become respected. But it was the people who brought Mick to the main event, it was the people who were so entertained by how good he was – I feel the it’s the same for me. I’ve been wrestling 14 years so when you get a compliment from Mick like that it’s pretty awesome.

He also went on to say that your match would be competing with the CM PUNK v. Brock Lesnar match for Match of the Show at SummerSlam.
I think there is also a bit of competiveness behind it. We feel that we are carrying on the tradition of being a wrestler and with that there’s comes a certain pride in having the best match of the show and being the best performer. It’s unspoken but each of us come SummerSlam, we’re going to go out there and want people to remember our match. There will definitely be an element of one-upsmanship. Everyone at SummerSlam wants their match to be the best.

You and CM Punk first met in your early indie wrestling days, correct?
Yeah, It was 2003 or 2004. I wrestled CM Punk for 45 minutes in front of 30 people in Florida. We’ve known each other a long time.

Can you talk a bit more about your relationship?
It’s interesting because CM Punk and I have a lot in common personally, yet we are very different. He is very brash and kind of says whatever he feels. I’m more laid back and not the most outgoing person. But we have a certain respect for each other. I have been on shows that Punk drove 14 or 15 hours for from Chicago to get paid 100 bucks. We’ve done those shows in front of 30 people together. It’s a long road for guys like us to get here. I’m always astounded. There was that December PPV when I had cashed in my Money in the Bank contract to beat Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship and Punk had retained his WWE title that same night. We used to work on the indies together and then there we were, both champions. No one really thought we could do it. It’s very cool and surreal.

Tell us more about your start in the business.
I always wanted to be a wrestler but I didn’t think I could be because I’m relatively small. I’m 5’8 and weigh 195 pounds. When I started I was a lot smaller. But when I was probably 15 or 16 years old, WCW started bringing in these cruiserweights like Rey Mysterio who was 5’3 and 150 pounds. That gave me no reason not to at least try and follow my dream.

Where did you start training?
I ended up training with Shawn Michaels. He’s the best. I left the night I graduated from high school, drove to Texas and trained with Shawn for a year. When I look back, I was so poor – I mean living on 20 dollars a month for groceries. I couldn’t fathom that now. It was tough but it was a lot of fun.

Who were your idols coming up?
I loved Dean Melenko and Eddie Guererro. Bret Hart was always one of my favorites. I’m also a big Seahawks fan and the guy who I really loved was a wide receiver named Steve Largent, who ended up being a politician in Oklahoma. He was always so respectable and was never about himself, he was about the team. A lot of people like the brash players but I like people who focus on the team and downplay what they do.

What was it like working with Kane?
It was incredible. I was watching him when I was 16 and it’s crazy that we were Tag Team Champions for 9 months. I have always had a tremendous about of respect for him but seeing how hard he works night and day takes it to another level. The anger management skits we did were great. It was a lot of wackiness. I was in charge of his birthday celebration in Russia and he ended up in the ring with his eyes closed with two Russian hats on before I abandoned him in the ring. He was such a good sport about it. We had so much fun together.

Aside from Kane, who are your dream tag partners or opponents?
Because he trained me, I’d love to team with or wrestle against Shawn Michaels. I would also love to do something with William Regal. He helped train me also. He has been there for me my entire career. He helped me get into England and Japan. He did all this stuff and he didn’t have to. He has been an awesome mentor for me. He is a great wrestler but he is really funny in the backstage segments and I think we could do some hilarious stuff together.

Who would you say has given you your best matches in WWE?
I’ve had some really great matches with CM Punk and I’ve had some really fun, physical, brutal matches with Sheamus. I’ve also really enjoyed wrestling The Shield.

I did take a read at exactly what Foley said, this was from July 16.

Here it is: almost exactly the same article I wrote earlier, but with a little cleaning up, and a little extra explanation.

SUMMERSLAM: A SHOW I NEED TO SEE

Long before I was a wrestler, I was a wrestling fan. Back in the days before PPV, there were monthly matches at Madison Square Garden. As a teen of little financial means, there was no way I could catch every Garden show. I had to save my money, and pick and choose wisely. Then SOMETHING would come along that would make me know - absolutely and positively - that I HAD to be there. Snuka vs Morocco. Sgt Slaughter vs The Iron Shiek. Hogan vs Orndorff. Somehow, I was going to beg, borrow or earn that money to see the matches I knew HAD to be seen.

Last night's RAW gave me two of those matches. Two matches that I absolutely, positively HAVE to see. While I still wish Daniel Bryan had won MITB - just to enjoy the anticipation of the chase, the kid (yeah, he's a 14 year veteran, but the joy with which he competes makes him a perpetual kid in my mind) is simply so much fun to watch, so good, and so popular, that it doesn't really matter. With all due respect to John Cena who has been a work-horse and the face of the company (and borrowing a line from Cena's own theme song) it's Daniel Bryan whose time is now. Fortunately, we'll all be able to see him at Summerslam.



And Punk vs Lesnar? Expect intensity personified. Expect promos that will send chills down your spine. Expect to see a David vs Goliath match-up for the ages; the most believable monster of this generation against a man who sees shame in any effort, at any show, that is anything less than his best. It has all the elements of a classic confrontation: man vs man, man vs himself, and man vs phenomenon - in the form of this Daniel Bryan wave of momentum that is currently sweeping through WWE. Make no mistake about it: the competition for the #1 spot in the WWE line-up is as real as real gets. With Punk a newly minted "good guy", and with the rapid ascension of Bryan into the upper reaches of the WWE atmosphere, the battle for that #1 spot is intense indeed. CM Punk realizes the phenomenon he's up against at Summerslam in Daniel Bryan, and if you don't think he'll be looking to steal the show - just like he does every month, in order to prove that he's THE best in the world: then you don't know CM Punk very well.

Throw in the recent turn and transformation of Dolph Ziggler, and the revitalization of Randy Orton, and you've got a very hungry pack of dogs - all looking for that same bone.

My days in the ring are over. Saturday Morning Slam should be resuming taping soon. I don't have any idea whether I'll be needed in any capacity for Summerslam - even though I have my post-Summerslam show right down the road at The Hollywood Improv. I'll be showing up at Staples Center whether I'm needed or not - and when the action is at its best, I'll be sneaking away from the backstage viewing area; wandering out into the arena just to feel the atmosphere. Because after all these years, I'm still a wrestling fan. And this is one show I absolutely, positively have to see.

[MIB04]

Christian has always been better as a heel than a face, and a comical heel at that. Christian as a face has always reminded me of a poor man's Chris Jericho, or current Chris Jericho.

[vimla]

That's has always been the problem with cristian he has always lived in another mans shadow will it be y2j or edge.

But nice to see wwe not having grudge against wrestlers that have been in tna as I guess wwe don't see tna as competition.

Btw here is a recent pic of big show he looks ripped.

[Love Buzz]

Gotta love Foley, he made everything there seem so real and important and gave me a little boost to get excited seeing as being so sure Cena and Brock will win is a bit of a downer.

Fucking hell, they make anyone a mod round here

Daniel Bryan doesn't have facebook, that just makes him even cooler.

lets go Bryan, lets go Bryan. lets go Bryan, lets go Bryan.

Originally Posted by MIB04

Christian has always been better as a heel than a face, and a comical heel at that. Christian as a face has always reminded me of a poor man's Chris Jericho, or current Chris Jericho.

I agree

Originally Posted by talltrekkie

I think the Christian no heat problem is partly because he's had injuries and has missed a LOT of time. He had a good deal of heat back when 'One more match' was new(which was like 2 years ago??). And he's not a guy who just gets the pop back on return like an RVD or Rey does(Where's Rey these days anyways? Still injured?).

.

I keep thinking Rey is gonna pop up to have a match with Ryback because he keeps saying he hates average.

[Love Buzz]

I'm happy Rey has been out for ages, he annoys the heck outta me. At least Sin Cara, his replacement, is unintentionally funny so I like him.

Ya know 7C will be pissed everyone having a go at Christian lol. I hope he wins the WHC, that arsehole ADR doesn't deserve it. Btw is Sandow still good for a WHC match? I don't get what's going on now his case has sunk.

Pretty much repeating what I said the other day.

but Cody went back in the water once the camera stopped, so Cody has the briefcase. This will be revealed over the next couple of shows, and they will have a match at Summerslam, and the case will be on the line.

You think wouldn't Cody have to put something up? I say no because Sandow will just want the case back so badly that he agrees to the match, and wins.

I know I said I have my doubts about Jake the Snake being clean and stuff, but whatever the case, I have to doth my cap to DDP. I have so much respect for what he is trying to do. If you look up the definition of 'good man' you will probably see the face of DDP.

Why I mention this? because I read an article about the Mick Foley comedy show, and he brought out DDP, Jake The Snake, and Scott Hall for a Q&A

Last night, I went to the Punchline in Sandy Springs (Atlanta), GA to see the Mick Foley comedy show. The place was packed with wrestling fans. It was a great night.

Foley told some amazing wrestling stories, specifically one about the famous Hell In A Cell match, some things I have never heard before, yet they were funny as hell. He talked about how, after he was stretchered out and got off the stretcher, how he climbed the cage again and then Undertaker choked slammed him through the cage back into the ring.

Terry Funk made his way into the ring and walked by Undertaker and Taker casually said to Funk.. "See if he's alive". When was it was evident he was "not dead" Taker leaned over Foley and said… "Go Home" and (I can't remember which ref he said this about) told Foley… (who was still a bit groggy according to the story), we are going to stretcher you out.. To which Foley said… "haven't I already been stretchered out tonight?", and the ref said.. "yes" and Foley replied.. "sorry, I can't be stretchered out twice in the same night", and somehow he finished the match with the planned finish.

Foley told great storied of traveling with Jake Roberts (the story where Roberts pissed all over him in Detroit) and of Stunning Steve Austin and DDP traveling together… oh.. Before I forget.. The opening act was a former WWF writer Jennifer Bloodsworth, who had a good portion of her act dedicated to the "tearing down" of Ric Flair. It was all good humor, but knowing Flair, it was all probably true. And Foley had a pretty monologue about Hogan, and the sex tape, brother….

Then Foley did something that was full of absolute class. He allowed the audience to take pictures, and brought out… Jake the Snake Roberts, DDP and Scott Hall for a very lengthy Q&A session. Both Jake and Scott looked tremendous, seriously. And the audience gave DDP all the respect in the world for his reaching out to them. This was an absolute fun night. I brought my wife Karen, who admittedly, had a great time, even though she didn't understand the wrestling related humor.

One last thing… Foley was actually in the Atlanta area going to Santa Claus school. That's right. He graduated from the school this past weekend. It was legit, as all his Santa class mates were invited to the show, and the Head Santa, was actually invited to do a short five minute routine on stage.

This was absolutely a phenomenal night.

Last thing you want to hear as soon as Raw kicks off

''ladies and gentlemen, Stephanie McMahon'' I'm shouting fuck off already , and she has only said two words.

epic Dazzler video here though

he is looking very sharp.

[Booster Gold]

Yeah, fuck you Stephanie.

WTH Love Buzz is a mod now!



Seriously though, congrats Buzz!

Daniel Bryan looked a little like Y2J back in the day when he had long hair, beard and all that.