Mike Mulipola is a fantastic artist.
NXT was at a really exciting place and transforming in and of itself, and I find it's always good to be around that kind of environment and those kinds of companies. It just felt right. It was a good fit.
Anybody who has wanted me to go out there and pull some emotion out and act like we are going to get down, that's what I specialize in. That's fine. That's something that I do, and that's something that I've done over the breadth of my career. With Brock Lesnar, regardless of who he is, it was going to be no different.
In reality, you just don't see many Samoan artists. Culturally, it's just not something that's really emphasized much - at least, hand-drawn art.
I think, in general, when you talk about great wrestling towns in the history of the world, I think Memphis kind of shoots up there into the top three if not the top two.
If anything, I feel like I like to be ambitious.
I've always been aware of what I've been able to do and my ability to bring interest to a match and make people want to tune in and see.
I'm a big believer in the idea that one of the greatest advantages we have here in the United States is freedom of expression and freedom of speech. You should be able to say whatever you want, and I firmly believe that.
If there's a game that comes out, I've pretty much got it, played it, and it's sitting here in my room.
I believe in simplicity. Where some people in TNA take the high-flying back flip route, I'll replace that with a punch or a nice kick square to the face.
I've had the opportunity to wrestle Daniel Bryan through several phases of his career, except for his time in WWE. What I remember is that he was great the first time I wrestled him, and he kept getting better every match afterward.
WWE is very good at doing things that are advantageous. If you have the ability to go out there and get on a mic and be captivating, then they're going to do everything in their power to support that ability and make it even bigger and seem better.
I think the biggest thing is kind of working everywhere and working with different people that, when I did walk through the door at WWE and looked around, I didn't really feel that out of place because every second face I looked at is somebody I've known for over a decade or worked with or I've been around in some capacity in the industry.
I've always made my opportunities, I've never been one to wait for them and sit around waiting for something to happen. I've always sought them out.
If you were to ask me would I change anything or could I go back to the past and change anything, I really wouldn't.
After I win the Championship, I'll be happy to take on anyone.
When it comes to WrestleMania, obviously you'll take whatever opportunity is put in front of you.
I've proved I'm a formidable opponent.
I've thought of the independents as a stable industry for a little over two decades, and that's because I stably worked in it, so I've understood it that way.
I realize people feel a complex way about me and how I handle things compared to what I do in the ring.
