I think timing is everything. I have no regrets in my career. I've been able to make a name for myself and build my own brand.
When I started here, I didn't really have prior plans. I just wanted to be part of WWE, to get the opportunity to show what I can do.
That's the beautiful thing about the WWE Universe: everybody has an opinion, and everybody can cheer and boo.
Obviously, I was fortunate enough in my first WWE experience was to be at WrestleMania in Dallas. That itself was pretty incredible, just to meet everybody and to get familiar with the NXT guys.
There are a lot of guys in those SmackDown and Raw locker rooms that, given the opportunity, I'd love to have matches with, tell stories with, and do stuff with.
Being in the WWE is special; NXT was a great experience: being the champion and the face of the company was amazing.
I just like being me, and whether the people love me or hate me, that's their own prerogative.
To me, I think I've always carried that type of WWE style with me throughout my career, even before I got here, so the transition hasn't been that difficult. I've been enjoying the transition, to be honest with you, because in my opinion, this business evolves all the time, and it changes all the time.
We're social media-driven now, the social media team is huge in WWE. It really helps expand our brand.
For the Robert Roode character, wrestling is kind of secondary, and money is his main priority.
Everybody knows I'm Canadian, and I'm proud of that. I'll never deny that fact that I'm Canadian.
People will come up to me at live events or wherever and have me sign Canadian flags or the old 'Team Canada' shirt and have me talk about those days back in 'Team Canada,' so it's a moment that I'm proud of.
I was in TNA for over a dozen years. I had a great run there - I had a great career - but obviously, WWE has always been the be-all, end-all of sports entertainment. Until you get there and experience it on a personal level, you just don't know.
I think Impact Wrestling can stand on its own without Ric Flair, but it's always nice to have a guy like that around.
As far as memories go, I was around for the very first WrestleMania. I was a young kid upstairs at my uncle's restaurant in a change room or staff room watching it, I think, illegally, on a black and white television.
I've always been about learning. No matter how long I've been in the business or where I've been in a company, I've always wanted to continue to learn.
The WWE is the be-all and end-all of sports entertainment. They just do things right.
I enjoyed 12-plus years in TNA, but in the end, I didn't like being there doing what I was doing. That was my issue. I needed to get away.
I study a lot of tapes. I have a passion for the business, and I've always wanted to be the best ever since I got in the business. I have a love for this sport and just want to be the best in it.
The one thing I've learned in sports entertainment is that nothing is for certain, and you never say never.
