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WWE NXT will present week one of the revived Great American Bash tonight on the USA Network. Among the featured bouts this week will be the first-ever NXT Strap Match featuring Dexter Lumis facing Roderick Strong, with the storyline that Strong has been afraid to face his kidnapper from several weeks ago at Takeover: In Your House. Roderick Strong sat down yesterday with PWInsider.com to discuss the Bash, Lumis, the strap match, The Undisputed Era and more.
Mike Johnson: We are on the line with Roderick Strong, who, of course, has had an incredible career, and we've covered a lot of it over the years. Sir, it's good to talk to you again. How are you?
Roderick Strong: I'm doing fantastic. Just hanging out in hot Florida. Enjoying life.
Mike Johnson: Enjoying life? Well, that's good. We've seen you in a lot of different environments and a lot of different scenarios over the years. But the last couple of weeks on NTX TV we've seen you and the Undisputed Era in some uncharted territory. We've seen you in therapy. We've seen you get tossed into the trunk of a car and kidnapped. All of that's coming to a head with NXT TV this weekend, or I should say this Wednesday.
Mike Johnson: Everyone looks at Roderick Strong as one of those great, pure wrestlers. This allowed you to show our NXT viewers a different side of Roderick the character. Was it strange? Did it feel like uncharted waters, stepping into that more WWE-esque character driven presentation?
Roderick Strong: No. Actually, I was very excited. When the idea of some of that stuff was brought to us, it made me very eager to do it. It's funny. The therapy thing, it was something I had mentioned that I wanted to do, because when we were talking about everything and the fact that they took that ball and they ran with it, and they wanted to make it something. Because for that reason. The fact that I haven't been able to do anything like that, and I never really had the opportunity anywhere else. No one puts that amount of time and effort into building characters like a Dexter Lumis. So, it's been fantastic to just do something different than just wrestling. It's been a fun experience, and it's allowed the group itself to show different sides and just show the people and remind them just how entertaining the Undisputed Era is. They not only put on the best matches at night, they can have the most entertaining segment, as well.
Mike Johnson: What's the difference in the preparation for you? Between a segment like we see where it's pre-taped and you're doing the therapy versus going out for a major match on NXT Television, or a live event, or a Takeover. Obviously, pro wrestling encapsulates all of these different things that are needed, but what's the difference in the preparation to do a series of vignettes like that versus going out to the ring?
Roderick Strong: For me, it was actually easy. Obviously, I'm having an opportunity to do that with my buddies, and we just spitball ideas. We get in a flow before that stuff even starts. It really made it easy. A lot of the stuff ended up getting better. I really, really hope eventually there will be some kind of director's extended cut, because there's just some really funny stuff. I didn't have an opportunity to see a lot of the stuff that was going on around me, because I was legit not looking anywhere, keeping my eyes closed and just going with it. I just ... I don't know. There's just a lot of good stuff. Anything with those guys is just so easy, like I said. We just legit talked for 20 minutes beforehand, and we start feeling like we're getting a groove, communicating, and then we just say, "All right. Let's try it." It's easy.
Mike Johnson: Plus, It was a nice way to get Kyle O'Reilly back onto the programming since he hasn't been able to compete in the ring.
Roderick Strong: Oh, 100%. 100%. It's funny because that was one thing I was like, "Oh. Man. Kyle's got to do the therapist." We just didn't necessarily know how to do it, because Kyle's just so entertaining and has so much skill. He can do anything. Kyle can literally do anything. So, I was very, very happy that they let him do it and that people are giving him the credit that he deserves, just how amazing he is in that role and how much he's been missed. It's been nice. We've been able to put him in here or there, and just the reaction to him being in it has been fantastic.
Mike Johnson: You, obviously, have a long relationship with Kyle and Bobby and Adam, dating back to your days prior to WWE, traveling all over the world and wrestling in different companies. Do you think that's the secret sauce to why Undisputed Era works as well as it does? Having those long relationships?
Roderick Strong: Well, I'll tell you, I was saying something earlier. It's the fact that we know the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, the good and the bad of our past to where we're at now. So, we've been in situations with each other that we know when someone's a little down or someone's really high. We can push each other to keep reaching the next level, or we know how someone thinks. We can say words for each other. It's crazy how much we know about each other. I think that's 100% it. I couldn't imagine being put in a situation ... Well, I guess it's happened to me before, where I didn't really know guys, back with Generation Next. This is just completely different because this has so much longevity because we barely have scratched the surface of who we are as performers and who we are as people, and the stuff that we can do together. We've constantly seen the change in each other as we've gotten older, and we're different people than we were back then, and we truly have a good relationship. It'd be a lot different if I knew those guys and I hadn't seen them for 10 years, and I was acting like it was 2010. It'd be very difficult to get on the same page. We've stayed in constant contact. It's made it really easy. We have a lot of the same goals. We're just trying to do the same stuff and leave a legacy that people will remember forever.
Mike Johnson: This Wednesday you're going to be facing Dexter Lumis in a strap match, playing on everything that's happened in the last couple of weeks between the two of you, from Takeover on. What can fans expect from the first NXT strap match that airs on television?
Roderick Strong: Oh, violence, pain, bruising, all on Dexter, not on me. Not going to let that creep touch me. I think it's going to be something very special. I'm very honored to be involved in the first ever strap match on NXT. I've never actually been in one, ever. So, for me, just that whole experience is something that's so unique, and I'm going against a character that's so unique. We're trying to build his brand. I think we're going to be able to pull off something very, very special. I'm just excited at the opportunity. But it is going to be a very, very rough, brutal, violent match. I will be your victor though. I hope to never see him again.
Mike Johnson: When you've got a blank slate like this and a match style that you've never competed in before, what's the preparation like? Do you go and watch old tapes? Do you just start brainstorming? How do you start to prepare mentally for something that you've never done before that's, obviously, going to bring a lot of physicality to the table?
Roderick Strong: I mean, a lot of times, honestly, I just try to think about it and put some ideas into my head about what I think I want it to look like. I may briefly go over a few matches that some people have suggested to me. A lot of times, I like it to just be a clean slate. Be what it is. Be an original. I have a hard time sometimes going back and watching something and then trying to replicate it or duplicate it, and try to make it the same, especially now with the situation with there not necessarily being fans there and stuff. Everything is different. So, we're performing, mostly, for the people at home. Just trying to put my own little touch on it, because I feel it's in those type of match-ups that are unique and my first time in them, where I get to actually use a lot of my mental experience in this job. Obviously, I have the best coaches and mentors in the world around me. I think we're going to be able to put something together that is memorable.
Mike Johnson: So, the show is going to be subtitled the Great American Bash this week, WWE bringing back some old intellectual property from the days of World Championship Wrestling. Do you have any Great American Bash memories? Anything that comes to mind in terms of the legacy of that show and being part of the Bash this time around?
Roderick Strong: I was watching a William Regal vs. Sting match, I think. Was it from '95, '96? [Mike: It was 1996.] I just watched it. I think it was '96. It was amazing. Because Regal, he was amazing in his position. That, to me, is one of the moments that stick out for me. Just to see him and Sting go at it, and Sting being in a position working against someone like Regal was, obviously, two different styles. Making the most of it, and both really getting over from it. To me, that's something that just sticks out in my mind right now that is very memorable. I have a very similar situation. Me and Dexter are two extremely different styles, and we're putting on a match that is a first time in NXT match, and we get a chance to both elevate ourselves.
Mike Johnson: So, with the recent Takeover In Your House and now with the Great American Bash, we get to see NXT become this nexus where old concepts can be retooled and utilized for the 21st Century. Are there any old shows or any old concepts that pro wrestling has used over the years you'd like to see utilized in NXT?
Roderick Strong: Bash at the Beach. I just want to go to the beach. That'd be awesome. Let me think. Let me think. Hmmm. I really dug the In Your House one. To me, I wish, obviously, I would have done more on the In Your House, but, hopefully, that's something that sticks around, is a yearly thing, because that's something that I remember from back in the day. I don't know. Which one do you suggest?
Mike Johnson: The one that comes to mind for me is Halloween Havoc. I think NXT could have a lot of fun with that.
Roderick Strong: Oh! Oh my gosh. Yes. That would be great. I will agree with you. Halloween Havoc. Then we could do some [inaudible 00:12:01]. That would be fun. We'll just put it in the air and see what happens.
Mike Johnson: All right. Well, we've put it out there. The Fall is still ... There's still time for WWE to do something this Fall. Maybe it'll happen. So, you mentioned the change that everyone in pro wrestling has gone through in recent months, in terms of performing without fans. For you, as someone who ... I think most observers in pro wrestling, most fans in pro wrestling look upon you as such a great in ring wrestler, who lets your physicality tell so many tales in the ring. Was it hard for you to pivot from playing off of the audience to figuring out what works best just for the television cameras in that empty arena setting?
Roderick Strong: Actually, I don't think so. For me. Personally, I have a lot of experience wrestling in front of very little to no people. For me, that was in a time where I wasn't very comfortable, and I had very little confidence, and I was trying to figure out who I was as a performer. I believe in myself and my ideas and my opponent's ideas when we're going out there. I really feel like because of my style it translates well. So, no. For me, it hasn't been very difficult. I mean, it hasn't been hard to find the emotion, because I've been in that position a lot, and I'm far more confident in who I am as a performer now. I just go up there and I work like I would 20 years ago. It doesn't really matter to me. I just want to give my all and hope that the people at home are being entertained by the performance me and my opponents are putting on.
Mike Johnson: So, you mentioned wrestling 20 years ago. 've interviewed you a number of times over the years, dating back to those early days in Florida. Building your career has been a process. What advice do you give the talents who have spent some time on the independents? Not the newer talents who are just breaking in, but the ones who have been out there, and toiling, and working hard, and grinding. When there doesn't seem to be an immediate chance to get to a WWE or an immediate tryout offer. What's your advice to talents, like yourself, who had this long, winding road before they got to the WWE system, in terms of bettering themselves to finally get that opportunity?
Roderick Strong: For me, it's just being honest with yourself, and/or have people around you that can be honest with you in areas that you need to work on, and try to constantly improve on those. Just stay consistent in the areas that you're good at. I mean, it's a very difficult, difficult road for a lot of people in this industry, anywhere, in anything like this. Be it MMA or acting or whatever it may be. Certain people get opportunities before others. It's disheartening at times, but you've got to understand that consistency is key. Yeah, certain people may be able to do X, Y, Z flashier than you, but can they do it for as long as you could do it for? If you really are as good as you feel you are, your opportunities will come. You just can't let yourself be affected by it. I mean, I went through a few stages in my career where I just felt like, maybe, I just ... I wasn't enough. It wasn't that I wasn't enough. I just wasn't enough in certain areas. Until I started putting some emphasis on those areas, I was grateful that an opportunity hadn't came yet, because I wasn't going to make the most of it. So, when I did finally get that, I have been able to do that. The guys around me have been able to do that, too. Because they took the hard road. They really surround themselves with people that wanted them to be their best and for you to be your best. That's my words of wisdom, my advice, because it's too easy to get caught up in all the other stuff in this job, when your job is to just night in, night out, give all you have. You'll eventually get what you deserve, if you really deserve it.
Mike Johnson: There is a lot of competition this Wednesday, and every Wednesday. What's your pitch as to why fans should make sure that at 8:00 PM eastern they are tuned into the USA Network for WWE NXT?
Roderick Strong: Well, first off, they have the opportunity to watch the first ever strap match between myself and that creepy [inaudible 00:16:52], Dexter Lumis. I'm going to put a beating on him. I did not want to say something. I don't know how I'm going to do it. My strategy has not worked out yet. But I am going to put a beating on Dexter, and I'm going to ... I'm just never going to see the guy again. Who knows? Who knows what's going to happen? On top of that, you have the four way for the number one contenders for the women's, the NXT Women's Championship, which is elimination match, which looks amazing. And you have Sasha Banks against Io Shirai. Io is one of my favorite performers in the world. She is just on another level. That is someone that has consistently just worked her butt off. It's going to be a special night. And the fact that the Great American Bash night one, and then on Great American Bash night two, you get Adam Cole against Keith Lee, when Adam Cole becomes double champ, champ, champ, is very exciting, but you don't want to miss me versus Dexter Lumis in a strap match. First time ever....I'm going to just be making artwork with that strap all over his back, his front, his side. He's really going to be the tortured artist.
Mike Johnson: Roderick, our best to your family and our best to you personally and professionally. We thank you for sitting down with us yet again, and we look forward to the next time our paths converge. We thank you for your time again.
Roderick Strong: No. Thank you. I appreciate the time.
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