What’s your role in the locker room? On the Stone Cold Podcast you told the story about when your main event run was starting, he approached you backstage and was like…
"When I was here, there was no black curtain [covering the empty seats in the upper deck]."
And then you discussed the need for motivational reinforcement.
Hell yeah, I wanted to get rid of that black curtain. That was a nice little shot across the bow—and I got it. It was like, "You’re working hard kid. You need to work a lot harder."
Do you take that role with younger performers?
I think the industry is forever changing. Steve is of a different era. I can relate more to that than to the way things are now. What I try to do best is lead by example. The reason I do that is because when I look a level up I see Vince McMahon at his age being the first to show up, last to leave, hands on everything, really still so into the product, and he does not have to be.
Do younger guys approach you in the locker room?
It’s tough. I’m in a weird spot in being too old to be cool and too young to go to for advice. It’s really weird. For some reason there is a grand canyon divide. I honestly think it has something to do with my age or where I’m at. But I have all these secrets about this that I need to give away. Because if I take them with me and go quietly into the night, what good does that do for the brand? I need to help. I need to teach—or at least tell people, "Hey I did it this way."
Vince McMahon caused a stir in 2014 when he said that young superstars— millennials—weren’t as ambitious. Have you noticed a similar generational divide?
I think our industry has changed a lot, like, a lot. We’ve changed ratings. We’ve changed names. We’ve done a complete two cycle talent change since I’ve been around. I’m one of the last guys hanging around from that Ohio wrestling class—me and Randy [Orton] and Brock [Lesnar] occasionally. The business continues to evolve. Are things operating in that sweet spot, exactly where I would want them to operate? No, but I got two choices: I can move forward and run with it or I can be a dinosaur.
Jobbers bringing hoes backstage with cameras
