Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Austin Theory Beat John Cena At WrestleMania! Viral Moments With The Rock, Stone Cold, Brock Lesnar

Episode Date: November 7, 2024

https://cvvtix.com - Tickets for the first ever INSIGHT LIVE the day before the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2025 in Indianapolis are on sale now! Austin Theory (@_Theory1) is a professional wrestler currently signed to WWE. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Brooklyn, NY to discuss being in the ring with The Rock and Pat McAfee, his amazing sell of the Stone Cold Stunner, winning the Money in the Bank briefcase and failing to cash in, facing John Cena at WrestleMania and that promo the led into the match, being F5'd off an Elimination Chamber pod by Brock Lesnar, getting knocked out by Tyson Fury and more! Quote I'm thinking about: “You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light.” – Kobe Bryant Sponsors: VUORI: Get 20% off your first purchase! Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/cvv ZOCDOC: Instantly book a top-rated doctor today at https://zocdoc.com/insight BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv MAREK HEALTH: Get a 10% discount on Marek Health's Optimization Package with code CVV: https://marekhealth.com/cvv BLUECHEW: Use the code CVV to get your first month of BlueChew for FREE at https://bluechew.com ROCKET MONEY: Join Rocket Money today and experience financial freedom: https://rocketmoney.com/cvv MANSCAPED: Get 20% off plus free shipping when you use the code CHRISVAN at https://manscaped.com PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank which was designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/ PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at https://plunge.com For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast or Spotify? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back, my friends, to another one here on Insight. I'm CBV, Chris Van Fleet. There's a lot of wrestling podcasts out there. So it means the world to me that you're listening to this one right now. Some of you have even listened to all 677 episodes, which I don't have the words for. So I will just say thank you. And thank you for making Insight the number one wrestling podcast on planet Earth. lay the smack down on that follow button on Apple or Spotify or wherever it is that you're listening.

If it is Spotify, please leave a rating on there. Currently sitting at 5,200 ratings. I know we can be at 6,000 before the end of November. So if it is Spotify, just go in there, go to the show's main page, click the dot, dot, dot, and then it'll pop up rate show. That's it. It'll take seven seconds. That's probably exaggerating.

It'll probably take more like four seconds to do that. So I will just say thank you in advance for that. Austin Theory and I go back years. We worked in an independent wrestling show together that my buddies, Jamil Malick and Mike Bortner run, Blueprint Pro Wrestling in Deerfield Beach, Florida. This was in January 2019. We talked about it during this interview,

but I actually did an interview with him then. He would have been 21 years old. And you could just tell. you could just tell that he had it. And we all knew that it was just a matter of time before WWE signed him. And that's what happened later that year, later in 2019. And what a ride he's been on since.

Think about this. He beat John Sina at WrestleMania. And there's a whole backstory to that that John Sina was his guy when he was growing up as a kid. And not only did he have a match with John Sina, not only did he have a WrestleMania match with John Sina. Oh yeah, he beat John Cena at Russellmania. So there's that.

He's been in the ring with Vince McMahon and Pat McAfee, took a stunner from Stone Cold, took a people's elbow from the rock, that crazy F5 off the elimination chamber pod. He's a two-time United States champion. He's a former tag team champion. And my friends, he is just getting started. And I feel like you're going to see a completely different side of him during this interview. I absolutely love being able to catch up with him and just dive into everything that he's been doing

over the last few years. Snap a screenshot. Let us know what you thought of this episode and tag us so we can share it out on social media. On Twitter, he's at underscore Theory 1. On Instagram, he's at Austin underscore Theory. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. And here we go.

Please welcome Austin Theory. Let's do it. Let's go. It's been, you see, since 2019 since I saw you in person. Yeah. A lot's happened. A lot's happened.

A lot's changed. I mean, you know. These don't even fit in the shot. They don't even fit in the shot. Look at the size of these. But that was 2019 Blueprint Pro Wrestling. Yep.

Independent show in Deerfield Beach, Florida that my buddy, Jamil ran. I was the ring announcer there. You were. You were. I just remember that. I was the ring announcer in your main event match. Yep. And then we did an interview as well.

And that interview was so interesting because you would talk like a few months before you had called out John Cena. And then we talked in this interview about like, you're not even signed at WWE and you're calling out John Cena? Yeah. Yeah, I think around that time, man, I was doing a lot of things, especially on the Indies. You know, there's a lot of different experiences and places you go that you've never been before. I think that company blueprint, that was the first time I worked it when I did that interview with you. So, yeah, I think to me, I was just looking at the mountaintop, you know, and not being signed to WWE. Well, I mean, who is there in WWE that would really make that, you know, noise for me?

It's John Cena. Do you remember when I announced you in that main event? You were doing the thing where I would about, I would say, go to say your name and you'd be like, no, no, no, no. And you'd give me another moniker. Yep. You had like seven monocers or something? Yeah, it was the first one would be the legend, the epitome, the real superstar, all day, Austin theory. Man, it was great.

Yeah. Mega heat from the crowd. That was it. Yeah. It was so good. How do you get arms this big? So you have to do an arm day. Every day?

No, just once a week. But you have to do it every week. And you should start at the age of 12. That's when I started. But when we look at the older photos of you, with great respect, your arms are like strands of spaghetti. I don't know. I don't know. If you look at some of the past photos, I've always had pretty big arms. But like when you're like young, young, they don't look like this. They don't. They don't. But it's, man, like, especially now with working out, I've really, like, dialed in, just focusing on what I'm actually doing.

Like, taking the time in between the sets and stretching during the rep and holding and holding and, all the negatives and stuff like that. As much as they suck, whatever sucks usually is what works. So that's all my mind's been on. But I love it because it's such a like, man, it's such a tough thing, you know, to be able to really not rush through a workout and just bang out those reps. But when you really take your time and you can fill everything and just get into it, and I'm blessed that I can really get in like that mind muscle connection.

And that's something that here in the last like two years, man, it's been great. When I fully understood what the my muscle connection was, my workouts changed. Right. And I think that you hear this when you're younger of like, oh, you know, like feel the muscle, like, you know, put your mind into the muscle that you're working. It doesn't make sense. Yeah. And when it clicks, it clicks. Yep.

And I felt, man, the same way, especially like, you know, just take your time on what you're doing. But then it's like, well, what does that mean? You know? And then I'm like, well, this weight is not that hard. I can do 10 reps. But it's not about that. Because even now, like, I could go into the gym and there could be a guy smaller than me next to me. And he's probably lifting more weight than me.

But is he doing it as slow as I'm doing it? Is he breaking it down? How I'm breaking it down? Is he really doing as many supersets as I'm doing? Because I do a lot of supersets too, but everything I just like to not let it go to waste. Are you one of those people who, like, when you see someone to the gym lifting more than you, you're like, I guess I got a lift. I got to grab some heavier dumbbells now? Maybe when I was like, maybe like 15, but now not at all.

If you're lifting that kind of weight and it's good and your body can sustain that, cool. But oftentimes we see people that shouldn't be lifting this kind of weight and they're doing it and it's wrong. Yeah, yeah. You know, but if that's what you do, you know, I don't want to tell anybody what to do or how to work out. But you see results. When I met you, and that was January 2019, you were so dialed. in on your dream and your goal of WWE. And it was nothing else.

It was, I want to be in WWE. Was that always the way that you were? Always. Man, like, I have such an interesting, like, story from the beginning because, like, eight years old, I saw Deep South wrestling, which was the developmental territory for WWE at the time. It was in McDonough, Georgia, where I grew up. And just seeing that, I was just so captivated by,

wrestling. Like, what is this? It's like you're getting to see a Marvel movie live. And these guys, they don't look like the normal guys walking down the street. So for me, I was hooked. And then just as I got older at 12, I remember walking in the room. And I'm sure people have heard this story a lot. But, you know, I told my mom, I got to get started on my career. And she's like, what? I'm like, I got to go to the gym with you. So started working out at 12 and just, I wanted it so bad. And I could see it. And then always, you know, high school or middle school, people laughing about my dream. Oh, that's impossible. You're on TV. It's stupid. It's this. It's that. But always just believe in it. And I even remember, too, when I was about 11 years old, connected to the Gold's Gym my

my mom worked out at, there was an MMA place. And all the MMA people ended up moving. But there was one ring still in there. And to save a long story, Bill DeMott was in there. And before the MMA people left, he was in a boxing ring showing guys had a bump. And I saw it. So from that point on, I talked to him and I would show up. Every time my mom went to Golds at 11, I would show up to this MMA gym that was no longer existent. But there was one wrestling ring in there. It was Bill DeMont.

He was training two guys. And I'd show up and just watch. And I just felt like, I told my mom, I'd be like, hey, Bill's training today. I got to go. And she's like, you're not even doing anything. And I'm like, you don't understand. Like, this is it. This is the ticket.

Like, I just got to watch this and learn this. And as the years went on, you know, he had to go do his thing. and I got older, but I would always tell him. Every time he came back to the gym, I'd be like, hey, I'm almost 18, I'm almost 18. But just hearing so many people over the years, especially as I got older before I officially went to the school and became a pro wrestler, just telling me, like, dude, like, that's insane. Like, it's crazy. But I even tell, like, my friends this and my family, like, it's such an insane feeling

to describe when you just know, man. like you just know and like it was just crazy to me it's like saying like the sky's not blue like i was like it's blue dude i don't know how you don't see it you know like you just knew that one day yeah yeah and i and i could tell too like with the working out and stuff and kind of watching myself like progress and a lot of people don't really like working out this many times a week a lot of people quit at it a lot of people play sports and they rely on their teammates and stuff sometimes at like a young age. And for me, I was just all in and like just the grind.

Like I loved it and the process. And still to this date, I love the process. People talk about manifesting. You're talking about like you saw that it had already happened. And now you're just going through the motions because you know it's going to happen. Yeah. And the way you said that, I feel like I didn't know the detail of it, but I knew it was going to happen.

What made you so confident it was going to happen? I didn't want anything else. Nothing existed to me. Nothing was realistic enough for me to think that when I grow up from being this big dream-filled kid that I'm going to go work at 9 to 5 or I'm going to do this or that, that was it. And I had no idea how I was going to do it. I had no clue. I thought at 18, the Performance Center ended up popping up as I was younger and I saw it. And I think it came out in like, was it 20.

2015 or 2012. Yeah, like that, yeah, like 10-ish years ago. Yeah, something. But I remember seeing it and I was like, all right, I'm going to get in my 1997 Ford Explorer and I'm going to live in it in Florida and figure out how to make it. And obviously, that's not the way things turned out. I had a better route. But that was the mindset. It didn't matter what was going to have to happen.

It was going to happen. Did you set a deadline for yourself? I wanted to be 21 when I signed. And I signed, I believe it was, so my birthday's all. August 2nd, and I think I signed like August, like 12, 14, something like that. So I turned 22. But that was the goal was 21. Man, that's a hell of a birthday, brother. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Man, and then where does it go from there? You get signed, but we don't see you on TV for a little while. Yeah, just figuring it out, you know, learning the WWE style. And then obviously when it comes

to TV, there's got to be a spot for you. It's got to make sense. And then if you just get put on there and have a match, well, there's no telling if you're going to be on next week. So it depends on the storyline. But for me, it was just, you know, going to class every day at the PC. There was like an actual ring class. Then you have gym class. Then you have school session, whereas you're watching your matches back. You're learning how terrible you really are. But all these things and then you're beat down all the time, but then you want to go to the gym so you can keep muscle on. And then you have these coconut shows. The NXT has. and it's like Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

So the only time I was having off was Sunday. So this was just like a complete grind, man. So just doing that up until I got on NXT TV. What do you think it was that WWE noticed in you? Because you were making waves on the Indies. Yeah. But to get signed that young, like obviously you made an impression. Well, I think the first thing that comes up is the age.

I was really young. But also I just think it's the level I was on at my age. And you were jamming, you still are, but like to be, I met you at 21. Yeah. And you just absolutely jacked. Yeah. Yeah, it just goes back to working out all the way from 12 to when you saw me still doing it now. It's just embedded in me.

You know what I mean? Yeah, I appreciate that you made sure you weren't wearing sleeves for this interview. Hey, today, I, you know, I did my little harvest, you know, giving back to the community thing. And I was upstairs and I was looking at my outfit. I was like, you know what? I'll just put my gym outfit on. That's where I'm going after this anyway. And, you know, the viewers won't mind.

You know what I mean? You won't mind at all. That's why I'm wearing plenty of sleeves here. Actually, let me show you this photo. All right. I think it was the last time. You've always been pretty fit, though, man. Thank you.

You know? It's very kind of you. Yeah. This was the last time that we were together. Oh, wow. Look at us. Look at that tricep, though. Yeah, look at that tricep.

That's like a tag team. It is. But I can't speak on the tag team too loud because gracing, he does get jealous. I'll take him out. You said it. I'll take him out. You said it. Yeah, I was just trying to show off to the world here.

Dude. Look at those guys. My biceps were, yeah. So what year was that? 2019. Yeah. So I was, man, I graduated high school in 2015. This was January, like early, January 2019.

Probably 21? Yeah, I think. 20, 21? I mean. Well, I went to WWE in 2019. Yeah, you went later that year. Yeah. Remember that.

Yeah. Okay. I was a little older. You know, you can see from my muscular development. I saw that tricer. Out of control. Out of control. You also signed with WWE at a time when they might not have kept your indie name.

Yeah. Was that a conversation? So, man, it's so funny thinking about it now. Like, even when I got to the main roster, I became theory. Yeah. But yeah, that was like a thing I was hearing. And they're like, hey, like, you know, we'll offer you this for your name or we're going to change it. And to me, I was just like,

well, like, I mean, my name I came up with when I was a kid wrestling in the backyard, but I mean, I don't know why I wouldn't just give it to them, you know, because what am I going to do with it? They can do more than I can do with it. So, but yeah, I'm glad I got to keep the name. But on the main roster, it was funny, like, walking in one day and just, here's your, you know, what you're doing today. And somebody gives it to me and I read it. And it's like, wait, theory. Like, I'm just theory now. And the guy's like, yeah. I thought they would have told you. I'm like, you know, nobody was going to tell me.

So I had to go have a conversation about that, figure out what it was. But we got it back on track. We're back to Austin theory. Is it because of Stone Cold Steve Austin? That was a reason. But also I was told that, and that had just happened around the time of the mania thing, when I did the greatest stunner cell of all time. You went a thousand feet in the air.

Yeah, but I also was told that theory just sounds like a name. that stands alone and can't, you know, complain about that. I don't know. I think we're all happy that Austin theory is back. For sure, because when you Google theory, I mean, what's going to come up? It's not going to be these 20-inch arms, you know? It's just not going to be something scientific. Yeah, it's not going to be cool.

It's going to be hypothesis. That is the plural of hypothesis. Hypotheses. I've always tried to really go deep for people and try to give theory a meaning. and I just think it's a cool name. Do you want to try to go deep? Well, I have in the past, and it's confused a lot of people, you know? Like I remember when I started wrestling school, I was trying to say, you know, I'm Austin theory,

and a theory is unproven. So it's not a fact. But if you're unproven, that means you can always get better. But if you're a fact, you're proven, that means that's it. But if I'm an unimproven athlete, that means I've always got more to prove. But it just gets pretty complicated for people to understand. I feel like this is that scene from the hangover where all the like numbers are going in front of Dacelphinax's face. Or it's like, what is that, a 21 Jump Street where Chan and Tateum solves the

equation on the bay, it's just the same thing. He's like, science, yeah. I asked you in that first interview, what is Austin's theory? And that's the exact answer you gave me. Yeah. Theory is unproven. Yeah. But honestly, when I really think back to that when I was trying to make it make sense, being unproven, I think, is like, it's a great way to live because I'm always, like, trying to improve. I'm not set on who I am or what I have. And I don't think there's anything wrong with, like, you know, like if you're confident and that's how you feel and where you're at, like, not like that, but just in the sense of, you know, just wanting to prove, like, you know, you can do this accomplishment and you can be here in your life and you can have

whatever it is you want. But just never satisfied. That's literally the meaning of Do you still feel like you're unproven? Oh, man, I think so. I think I have a lot of things. And it's not even just in the world of wrestling. I think just in life, like, I just want to be better at, you know. I read a lot of books now. What are you reading right now?

So right now there's this guy, I can't think of his first name, but it's something Meisner, but this is an acting book. Oh, the Misenre method. Yeah. Yeah. So it's almost like in this book. My technique. Yeah.

Yeah. In this book, you're basically like, feels like you're in the class and you're just watching how, you know, he teaches basically through these different students and you get all the detail you need in it. So that's really cool. But that's something a little different I've tried, like just going down that route, like the acting route and kind of, you know, because that's all in the world of what we do. But a lot of like self-help books I like. David Goggins, that's somebody that, man, like my whole mindset is just, like I thought. Like, I had a hard mindset and I was tough, but man, like reading this guy's stuff. Yeah, can't hurt me as a hell of a book. Yeah, but I think now I love the idea of like whatever sucks, I'm going to do it. You know, like working out, I could be doing, I remember I was doing like hack squats and my legs were done. And I did like, I think I was like five sets in doing really slow, doing a super set with it. And I was done.

And then I was like, that little voice kind of creeped up. And he was like, do one more. And I was like, no, I'm not. And then it was like, wait a minute, this sucks. This really sucks. Do it again. Yeah. And I did it again.

And it's that feeling after, you know? Because I feel like you can have like crazy workouts in the past with, you know, your friends or by yourself or whatever it is. But like, the feeling is what you love after of knowing what you did. But I've had so many of those days and like, I need that feeling again. It doesn't matter, you know. there's something about doing something hard. And I feel like we have every convenience in our modern life. Yep.

It is so easy to just take the easy path. Yep. And there's something to be said about someone who chooses to do something hard every single day. Yeah. And work your way through that. Even if it's something simple, like a hard workout or getting into a cold plunge or whatever it happens to be, there's a real lesson to be learned in that. Yeah.

And I think, too, like, excuse me. me, but like just over time, the more you can pile on these things that you don't like to do. And I was even listening to like a podcast about a, I don't know the exact terminology on it, but growing like something cortex in your brain, but it basically, when you do something that sucks, it grows. But the same way it grows, it can shrink. So when you do stuff like, I remember a guy was giving an example of like, well, if you really like doing like slow reps, you like that, though, what stuff you hate to do.

And for me, it's like, well, let me think. Usually on a leg day, it's that hack squat. I can't stand it. So that's what I'm going to go crazy on. If you've watched any of these interviews on my YouTube channel, you know that I know a thing or two about a good, plain t-shirt. It's kind of become my uniform at this point, just a solid black t-shirt or a solid white t-shirt.

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Timeline.com slash. I heard a story about Kobe and he would just practice the things that he was bad at. Because it's so easy to get on the court and shoot the shots that you know are going to go in. He would go on the court and shoot the shots that were difficult for him. Yeah. Because the more that he did that, the better he would get. Yep. Right.

And when you're practicing the things that you're good at, are you really practicing? That's true. It's kind of showing off at that point. Just like repetition, right? Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

When you're talking about reading books about acting, is that just in the WWE space? Are you talking about, like, do you want to do stuff outside of, like, movies? Man, I'm very open. I think for a long time, and even how you said it about, like, I've always been tunnel vision focused on WWE and not saying that I am or I've taken a percent of my focus off. I'm all in on WWE. And I plan on being like that for a while.

But I'm very interested in other things as well. But I always just want to make sure that WWE is that priority and that I'm given the most. to that. And the outside stuff, if it works at the time, cool. But if it needs to be later, it can be later. You've done some extra work, right? Yeah. So what movies will we have seen you in? So the first one that comes to mind is Neighbors 2. I was like a main frat guy, but I was still, you know, in the background and stuff. Can we find the scene, though? So the main scene that you, I'm sure I'm in a lot of things, but you might not be able to see me. But the main scene that I'm in is if you watch Zach Efron when he like it's like the big like pep rally outside everybody celebrating he jumps

up on the stage and he like starts stripping and he's like in his shorts and he starts dancing so before he like when he gets on the stage before he starts dancing me and this other guy are standing up there and I have like a yellow beanie on and I have like a blue t-shirt on I have like my arms crossed and we're kind of like watching this guy and then like he kicks us off the stage So as you watch it, like the, what's the word when like something's out of place in a scene? Like, I think it starts with a C. Continuity. Okay.

Is that it? Yeah. So when it doesn't match. Yeah. So if you watch, I'll be on the stage and I'll be behind him on the ground. And then I'll be back on the stage at some points. But that's like really when you can see me. And that's like, that's my Hollywood career.

No. Spider-Man Homecoming. I wasn't that as well. That was a crazy day. They just said that was actually in the Jackson prison in Georgia. We went down there. We put on like a, you know, prisoner outfit and everything. And they said, hey, make sure when we tell you guys to line up and you're walking to not touch the bars, do not encourage the inmates because the inmates were yelling out of them.

They were actually there. They were wild. Yeah. Yeah. So this was like real. Like it was okay. And then we're in two lines. So one line's walking this way down the hall and one's going this way.

And then you have the scene with Michael Keaton and you can see me like walk right by real quick. And a couple people have caught it online. Yeah. You know, maybe they bring me back in the Marvel universe, you know. What other movies were you at? There was one called, it was something with Ice Cube and Charlie Day. They were teachers. Oh, yeah.

Fist Fight. Yes, fist fight. Yes. I interviewed them for that. If you watch it back, I'm in Charlie Day's classroom. I think I'm in his first period. But I remember the shirt that gave me, like, I thought it was a joke because the lady's like, hey, we got a different outfit for you. I'm like, okay.

And they give me the shirt and it's so small. Like, I feel so jacked in this classroom. Like, it was crazy. But yeah, I did that. And then a couple other things. There's a thing I did like, I think it comes on like adult swim. It's called like the initials is like MDE. It means like it's something.

But basically, I guess it's like a show. about like random things I guess but I'm in a classroom that's like at a decline and I'm sitting at the top and the teacher like me and a couple kids are like bullies and we're like sitting here and the teacher's here and then he like starts crawling up backwards you guys can probably find this is a real thing it's like MDE just put in adult swim it'll probably come up it's like substitute teacher or something did you do something with Fast and Furious I did yeah um I was actually like a winner soldier so which fast and I think this would have been, man, I'm so bad because there's like a hundred of them.

Maybe, maybe five. The five would have been a long time ago. We have all the world's information in our pocket here. Yeah, it's one of them, five or? What year do you think it would have been? It would have definitely, I would say 2000, I want to say 2019. So that would. And that's the filming of it.

So probably fast nine then came out in 2020. one? Maybe. Maybe. Does that make sense? Maybe? Yeah, I guess, honestly, if they kept the scene in the movie, it's the one where, like, it seems like they're in the snow and there's like a gate, and the car drives through the gate, which sounds like every movie. Oh, the scene with the car. Fast and Furious. The car flies through the wall. Yeah, that's the one I mean. Go on with the car. Yeah. Okay, here's the list in order. Uh, maybe it was Hobbs and Shosh. Huh? Maybe.

With Jason Statham and Rock and they had their whole thing. Fast 9 was 2021. Fated the Furious 2017. I don't know. What do you think? You know, I want to go with... Fantastic that you were in a Fast and Furious movie and you don't even know which one. You know?

Because the real movie is Theory v. Duane. That's the real one. Okay. And we still got some unfinished business. Did you see Dwayne? I actually seen him on one of the days of set. This is way before WWA. Yeah, this is way before.

So let me take you through first before I had the luxury of meeting Dwayne, everything that I had to do before. So we're out here filming a winter scene in Georgia. And it's like 98 degrees. And these like army outfits are like shoot like sleeping bag outfits. So we put them on. And as we're out there during the day, a couple of the guys were like pouring water down our backs because you know like you're nerves and stuff just to cool down. Yeah.

Some people were like kind of passing out and stuff. It was brutal. But I thought it was funny. We're like playing like dead soldiers on the ground and I'm like, oh, I'm really dying. You know? I'm not acting. Man. But I do remember we went back to kind of where they keep us and stuff.

And there was kind of like a catering in there and stuff. And Simone walks in, Rock's daughter and his mom, they walk in together. And I remember just, you know, being a fan of wrestling my whole life. You know who they are. Sure. You know, you've seen him in the crowd. And I was like, oh, wow, I wonder, like, is the Rock here? I'm like, oh.

And I walk out the tent to go to the bathroom. And he's sitting right there on the golf cart, just has his arm on it. And as soon as I walk out, like, I just can't even hold it. I'm just like, what's up, Rocky? And he's like, what's up, man? How you doing? And then that was it. That's the first encounter I had with the Rock.

And the second one was on TV. When I told him what he has to say, doesn't really matter. So let's talk about that. Like that's crazy. You were in the ring with Pat McAfee, and that's the Rock's completely unannounced return. Yeah. How do you even find out you're going to be part of that segment?

So the day starts. I have nothing. That day at Smackdown, you know, I'm kind of lingering around wondering, like, am I doing anything? I haven't heard anything. Was it a setup? I don't know.

But it didn't feel like one. But if it was, then, wow, you got me. But I remember maybe like we have an hour before the show kicks off. So probably we were in, where was it? Is that Colorado? Yep, Colorado. So the time is probably what like a couple hours back. It's mountain time.

Yeah. So we had like an hour before the show. And I get a call and I end up going to Triple H's office. And he basically gives me the rundown of like, hey, Pat McAfee's coming back. We're thinking you go out there, you cut a promo. And then kind of get on him and then we'll have the rock come out. And then I'm just like, for real? Like, all right.

So then they're sitting there. And then the head writer, he's like, hey, well, you know, there's not a lot of time left now. There's like 40 minutes, 30 minutes left. He's like, just, you know, go figure out what you want to say to Pat and then we'll figure out the rest. And you guys are kicking off the show. Yeah. And they're like, we'll tell you, you know, what you're doing with Rock when he gets here. So I'm like, well, he's not even here.

This is crazy. So I like, go away. And I start thinking in my head. And I start thinking, too, about the last time. I was in the ring with Pat McAfee and how the promos were. Like, I remember he said some things that I couldn't, you know, I could only say what I was able to say, but I felt like there was some more freedom there for him, you know. So in my mind, I'm like, well, this is where I've got to take it.

Like, I've got to get it back, you know. So going out there, like, we had the same outfit on. So I ripping into him about that. Like, you know, you don't look like me in a tank top. And I called him something. And then a rock comes out. And before Rock comes out, kind of going back to when I met Rock, I remember I came up with what I wanted to say on Pat. I was like, okay, I got it.

And then I just get a text, come outside Meltown. And I come outside. And it's one of the riders. And he's like, come with me. And then next thing I know I'm with Hunter, Triple H and Nick Con, and we're all walking outside. The buses are there. And this black car pulls up. Like six people get out.

It's so like, like, it's just insane. to me. Rock gets out and I'm like, this is crazy. He's like the size of a blimp. He looks insane. I'm like, what is going on? Um, they walk over to, uh, I think they're just trying to get us on a bus so we can, you know, this can be private and nobody sees rock and stuff. And I think we get on, uh, the, Nick Con knocks on like Charlotte Flair's bus and like, they're like, hey, can you get off? Like we kind of, she's like, all right. So she just gets off and then we get on the bus. And then, uh, I just remember I was in the back of the bus with the rock. And he was kind of telling me like, you know, he's like, man, when we get to be.

get out there. It's going to be magic. Just feel it. It's going to be good. And I kid you not, being out there with him, he did like these Jedi mind tricks, like with his eyes when I just knew when to go, like when to say something and like just feeling it with him, you know, and he would just, I don't know, just with his eyes. Like, boom. And I was like, oh, man, but it was such an experience. And like, I just felt like so just on top of my game, you know, How loud was that pop when it came out? Crazy. Crazy.

And what was even louder was me getting called an asshole from this side and then this side. Asshole. They were like, you're an asshole or stuff like that. But it was great. I was just standing there and I was like, this is insane. And then the most messed up part about it, though, everything was great. But this is where the beef is with Duane.

My Yeezy came off during the people's elbow. You know what Duane did with my shoe? He threw it in the crowd. Yeah. Yeah. I bet you didn't get it back. You know how easy it probably is for him to get a easy? Do you think he pays for it?

I don't think so. Do you think I paid for it? Actually, he's probably wearing under armor shoes, so. That's right. Yeah, but I bet you paid for him. I bet I did. I bet he didn't pay you back for that one shoe. He did not.

And that is what we still have to talk about. This sounds like a Russellmania match to me. And let's be fair. Rock was gone a long time. and who was the one person he decided to come back on because he knew it was going to be hot. That's a good point. You know.

That's right. But enough about DeWain. Enough about that guy. I do have to give you a lot of credit. You laid there for a long time for that people's elbow. Man, I think I fell asleep. I fell asleep. Just hearing the rock talk for so long,

I just fell asleep. And then Pat was there, so I was already just like, I'm going to sleep. And he hits you with the people's elbow. Mm-hmm. Got really good at taking finishes. Is that what you think? Is that what you think? There's got to be like an ultimate, like, side to this, right?

Like, you take all the finishes really good, and then now you hit everybody with your finish. Ooh. You know? Mm-hmm. You know? If you just think of the last few years, it's crazy, right? It's in the ring with the rock.

Yep. In the ring with Stone Cold. in the ring with Vince McMahon. WrestleMania match with John Sina. Here's the crazy thing. If we rewind it back to 2018 when you're a kid calling out John Sina, not only are you going to one day

have a match with John Sina. Oh, it's going to be at WrestleMania. Oh, and by the way, you're going to beat him. What? Yeah. That moment I'll always like just hold super close to me just because looking at it from the outside and not as Austin theory,

just looking at it as like the kid that didn't have his dad around was bullied. And just to be able to like see this guy grab a mic and like it didn't matter if it was six guys against him or 10 guys like always said what he had to say, stood what he stood for and like would fight them all and would never quit. And it was like as simple as that message is, right? Because you hear it a lot. Like never quit, never give up. But for me, I took it to heart and I was like, that's it.

If I don't quit and part of it too might be, you know, when you look at me along the way of like, you know, because a lot of things add up to why somebody is the way they are. But it's, I don't know, I've seen him at a young age and I believed in myself. And I think the never give up thing is definitely a strong part of why I already seen it. Because, well, if I don't quit, how can I not have it? You know? How did everything line up for you guys to have that match? to WrestleMania? Well, I remember hearing like hints of it and stuff like that, but ultimately,

I remember like showing up and they were like seeing this coming back and you're going to do a backstage with him. So I did a backstage with him. I had a promo and then he was like, okay, he was like, that's good, but like what would you say to me? Like, you know, and I think at the time, even to like going back to the promo me and him did in Boston in the ring, I think just like, Like, I was just kind of having a hard time understanding, like, exactly where he was coming from and, like, what he was trying to get out of me. What was he trying to get out of you? Well, I think it's just, like, like, give me you. Like, really give me you, you know?

Yeah, he said, I don't believe what you do. Yeah. And I think, oh, it's a complicated thing. But it's, it's like, in my position at the time, I was like, oh, I'm doing everything I need to do. You know, I try to make sure I have great matches. And when I have the mic, I know what I'm saying and I know what I'm doing. And I remember that whole process that day of just like with him, like, putting it together and trying to make it meaningful and matter. And I don't know if like part of him was just saying like, you know, I know like what I was to you and like the inspiration and stuff.

But like you got to leave that out. And I think a little bit of me was just still like, it's John Cena, man. Like, you know, and then my whole life, I was like dictating this road, but like watching this character to kind of help me like focus, you know, at a young age. And I think it's so like, it's crazy, it's weird. It's insane to like just be sitting in front of him and like, we're going to have a match now. Like, I'm going to fight you now. So yeah, it's just very like mind blowing. The whole experience was. But I think, did you take what he said in the promo personally? Because Like a lot of fans watched that promo and went, man, he was mean.

Like, he tore in to Austin Theory. I think, like, for me, like, because I've watched it back and I've seen it and some of the things he said and stuff. And I just think it's the character. I think he just wants to see me, you know? And it's like, it's hard for me to just say exactly what he means. and I kind of see where it is and if people can kind of pick up on what I'm trying to say,

but I think he just sees more of who I really am being displayed in a different way. So was he saying, give me a little bit of an edge? Like, you see the words on the piece of paper, but like, I don't know, make it feel authentic. I remember Sina telling me, he was like, I don't believe that you're arrogant.

I don't believe that you're an arrogant guy. And then I'm, I'm going to tell us, spot there, right? Because I'm like, oh, man, like, but I'm, I'm trying to do the best performance I can, and I'm trying to, like, do everything that this evil Austin theory would do, but he's wanting me. He's wanting me. And it's just, like, it's just hard to, like, kind of what he did to the rock during the WrestleMania matches. Yeah. I feel like he dug in. He was, like, I want to get, like, I want to get you out of this. Yeah. And that's what we got at WrestleMania at 28 and 29, like it got, it got heated, right?

Because they had a long time to tell that story. Yeah. Yeah, it's one of those experiences, though, I think, like, I just wish I could slow down time and really, like, take in everything he said. Because even, too, man, I'll admit it, like, when, because I have seen his number and, like, we'll text. And, man, I've done it in the past, like, go back and just really read what he wrote me, you know, because I feel like with him, it's nothing wasted.

He's not going to just write something to say, like, good job. And, you know, it's like, it's a detailed message. And I try to go in and, like, really figure out, like, where I'm missing at and what is it exactly, you know? I have the same experience because I have his number as well. Yeah. And they're not, like, one-line texts. They're extremely thought out, like, cohesive, like, thoughts. Like, it's just crazy to me.

Yeah. That he's, like, putting this much time in every. He's John Cena. Yeah. You can be doing anything else. That's true. Except for texting me, you know? I think that's why, like, he is who he is.

And I don't know anybody like him, you know. I remember like, I remember just talking to him. And as I'm talking to him, like, I know my grind. I know my work ethic. And I know, like, being that eight-year-old kid that believed in himself and got himself to where he is now, that's hard work. That's dedication. That's every day. But as I'm sitting here, like, talking to him and looking at him, I'm like, wow, this is a whole other mountain of success.

You know, but it's just cool to know that, like, he will give you that insight and he will give you that much detail. But it's, I think it's just of like what you can understand in the time. Because for me, like I said, like I was just, it's a lot. There was a lot going on and the position I'm in and the stuff I'm doing. And I just, I feel like going back to that promo of, you know, things he said. And sure, like in the wrestling world, things are, you know, there's a line between make believe and what's real. But I just think everything he says, there's a meaning behind it. So I don't think anything's wasted.

and I just feel like for me, the way I look at it is like, I just want to be the best I can be. And like, it doesn't matter to me if like I fell in front of a bunch of people. Or I have a mic in my hand and I say something wrong or I mess up a word and stutter or I'm in the match and I don't know. I roll in and do my drop kick that I've never messed up on, you know, knock on this metal table. But I messed that up. But it's okay. Like you're going to fail.

but will you get better? Will you try to figure out how to, you know, obtain this and accomplish it? And for me, that was a great experience. And it's something that I think about all the time and I use it in the best way possible. What was putting together the match with him like? Very, very easy. Yeah. There was a little bit of things that day, like running around trying to figure out from creative, like, hey, can we do this for the finish?

Hey, can we do that? But as far as the match goes, I remember, like, just in the practice ring, he was like, let's just play around. And, like, we locked up and he just called some stuff. And then that was it. We didn't practice anything in the match. He was just, like, we go out there and he talked to me, like, in the ring. And I will tell you this.

And he made it so comfortable for me. But he also, like, really opened a door for me of, like, live event perspective, right? Because he always says how, like, people get into a different. mindset of like, you know, if it's not a live event, they're going to work a different way. But he told me, watch today how we're going to go out there and it's going to be a live event. And we're on the biggest show that WWE has, the biggest show in pro wrestling, you know, WrestleMania. And he was like, watch, watch this. And it was so easy. There was no stress I had. I was not nervous at all. I was so confident. And even too, I remember because they moved the

screen behind me and I'm like this about to do the entrance and back up and then walk into the whole arena. I remember like looking up and I could just feel like my grandma and like she was like my best friend and right before I like got signed. I think she was there when I got my tryout or no when I got signed. She was there for the trial and when I got signed and then she passed. So she never seen me do anything in WWE. But man, I can like I remember looking up and like I could feel her that day and just going out there and my grandfather was there. And that was important to me because like ever since I was a kid, he was like at WrestleMania, I want to see you fight John Sina and I want you to bring me a hot dog

and a Coke. And I was like, I don't know if I could bring you the hot dog in a Coke, but I could do the match. So is that your WrestleMania moment or is it WrestleMania 40? You're holding a championship at WrestleMania. I would say that. Or is it taking a stunter from Stone Cold? I'm such a like, like, how do I describe myself in this way? I guess I just like really like to live for everything right so like at the time of like WrestleMania getting stunned by Austin I fell out the ring I kept one eye open I'm watching Stone Cold do this horrible stutter to Vince and finally Vince takes the stunner and we get out and I remember I picked up Vince his shoe and his arm was around me and we're walking up the stage and I just remember being like, yo, I don't know if he's, I don't remember him saying anything back,

but I was like, that was so fucking awesome. Like, it was just so cool. That's what Vince is saying? No, that's me. You too Vince? Yeah, I just said, that was so fucking awesome. And I think he just gave me like a hurrah, you know, or whatever. But like that moment, I was just in it.

Never having alcohol in my life. I came to the back after that match, thinking in my head already like living in the future, I'm about to drink a whole beer because Stone Cold's going to walk through the curtain and he's going to hand me one and if I don't drink it, that's so disrespectful. I was like, so here we go. First beer, I'm going to be so drunk tonight.

And he comes through the curtain. He's covered in like beer on his shirt and he like hugs me and I just taste all the beer. That's enough of the beer I needed. And he didn't get me a beer, but he was like, hell of a stunner, kid. That was a great sell.

So it was awesome. Did you tell him you were going to jump as high as you did? No, I didn't tell anybody. I did not want anybody to know because I just feel like in the world of like what we do there's so many opinions

and there's so many things that I feel like can help you go and there's so many things that can help you kind of bring yourself down and I just felt like there was no reason to even like talk to anybody about this or share the idea because like I want you to just see it

like if I'm going to share the idea with you in hopes of you being like oh it's going to be really cool well why don't I just go and do it but if I share it with you and it's not in thoughts of that. I feel like I'm kind of like, hey, is this going to be okay

or am I going to step on anybody? Or if you share your idea and they go, hmm, it might change your whole opinion. Maybe I shouldn't do that thing I'm thinking about it. And then I was already ready for like, if I did ask somebody going like, well, Rock has the best one, or Scott Hall goes the highest or this.

And it's like, well, you haven't seen Austin Theory yet. So, and I'm going to wait, and I'm going to save it for Stone Cold. I mean, it's got to be, it's top five for sure. Dude, it is number one. Well, that's not go crazy. I mean, we did go crazy.

I mean, you did. Rock or Scott Hall or one, two, depending on who you ask. So let me ask you with those names, and we break down moves of selling. Okay. Who can sell? Who's your guy that's selling the best? I mean, I think when we talk about the all-time greats people who sell. That's right.

Awesome theory. Seriously, so you and Dolph Ziegler. Dude, Dahl Ziegler is the man. Like, the way you guys sell. In fact, I think one of your best cells, and maybe it's one of the most underrated cells you've had, is the punch from Tyson Fury. Oh, yeah. Because you sold that like a legit punch.

Well, that's because, like, I was ready for a legit punch, you know? And it could have been. It was so fast. And, like, I just remember, like, Triple H making the joke to him, like, hey, like, you know, he'll come down with his briefcase. He'll try to cash in and, you know, you'll just punch him. But try not to knock his teeth out. And then I'm just looking at Tyson Fury.

I'm like, whatever. I'm like, at least, you know, if I get knocked out, it's by this guy. You know, I'm a world champ. Yeah, you know. So I just remember running down as soon as I turned and locked eyes with the ref and put my arms out. It was over. So I don't know if it was a real one or not because I was just laying on the ground. I was like, all right, it's over.

But you sold that like perfectly. Like you went stiff, like in the way that you would sell it if you got actually knocked out. Yeah. Let's see what we got. Tyson Fury. Terrence Crawford. I got issues with these boxers, man. You know?

I feel like when a celebrity comes to town, they're going to be mixing it up with you. Man, yeah. Especially jelly roll. You know, he got that choke slam. Dude, a one-arm choke slam. Dude, he is strong. He is strong.

It actually looked legit when he went for, like, the grab of your throat. Oh, it was. Like, it looked like. He grabbed you. Man, so when we were rehearsing, with Truth and Ms. and kind of going over the chair stuff with him.

We were trying to get like the chair shots right and stuff. But everything he did was awesome, man. You know, like even the, I told him too. I said, man, like, grab me and like just look around. You can tell he gets it. Yeah. And he even said that too. He's like, no, I understand.

Like, you know, but obviously you can understand it, but there's still a difference with like, you know, how you do certain things and timing and stuff like that. But I told him out there, I was like, there's going to be like that gear change where you're going to feel like, whoa, like the people are watching. I got to go a little faster. But I was like, man, when you grab me, the whole world stops.

Just look around. And when you look at me in the eyes, I'm going to be like, let's ride. And we're going to the sky. I was like, I will do everything. Just hold on. And I remember, too, like just grabbing him. Like, I was like, there's no way this is going wrong, you know? And that day, I remember the idea was, I think, a scoop slam.

and I hated that idea. Because I was like, well, if you're worried about somebody that's not a wrestler doing a move, I think a scoop slam is one of the most technical things, you know. And sure, maybe I could try to help a little bit on it, but he actually still has to lift you. Yeah, you got to pick me up and slam me. And usually those moves, even when a wrestler slams you, if your feet hit first, that bump sucks, man. So in my mind, I was like, well, like, jelly roll is huge, man, like with his outside. albums and his music and just as a person, man, like a star.

Yeah, he's larger than life. Yeah, man. So I was just like, what is the move? And it's like, well, there was ideas of the choke slam. And I was like, well, that's it. It's the choke slam. And I remember we were all in the ring, jelly roll. Triple H was standing there.

And I was like, hey, boss, man, just trust me on this. Like, I will make this look amazing. I won't fuck it up. You posted it all the way up on him. I was gone, man. Yeah. I was gone. You were, like, legitimately 10 feet in the air?

Yeah. 10 feet in the air? Yeah. I felt all of it, too, when I landed. I was like, oh, let me just lay here now because there comes this triple five-knuckle shuffle. How did you take that bump from Brock Lesnar? Oh, man.

Off the Elimination Chamber Pot. Man, let's talk about this story. All right, this is a story. So I remember the night before, we're at rehearsals, and everybody's there. And A.J. Stiles is on, Brock Lesnar's shoulders and there's a crash pad down on the floor

and Vince steps up behind me and he goes, I want you to take that and I was just looking and as soon as he says it like Brock throws AJ to the pad, AJ like lands on his like his side and anybody that knows AJ he

doesn't cuss and if you catch him cussing even on TV that man is angry but he goes, what the frick and he's like, I'm not stupid, I'm not taking that. And then Brock comes climbing down and Vince goes, Brock, go back up. There he's going to take it. I was like, oh man, and I'm just walking through the motions. I'm climbing up the cage. I'm just going up and I'm just panicking. Brock picks me up. I'm just like now my whole world has went from like here to like sideways. And now I'm all the way up on this pod and I'm looking like, you know, and I'm just like, I don't know.

Because that pad's not going to be there. Yeah. But I was like, here we go. And then Brock's like, you ready? And I'm like, yep. And he tosses me. And the way I was tossed, I landed on my feet on the pad. So in my mind, I'm just like, okay, well, if somehow he throws me like this again and I can land on my feet, I'll be fine. Yeah. So I was kind of like thinking about it. And I remember like the whole day, rehearsal, the next day, Michael Hayes, everybody keeps messing with me like, hey, you sure you want to take that bump? You don't have to. And then I'm like, knowing damn well, Vince just told me he wants me to take it. And I remember him saying, like, I wouldn't make you do anything I wouldn't do. And I was like, I know he would take it. And he'd probably kill himself. You know, but I was just like, so we're in this match.

And the idea is that I get thrown in a power bomb into Bobby's pod by Seth. When that happens, Bobby gets messed up, so we take Bobby out of the match. But in an elimination chamber match, even if somebody leaves their pod, their pod still has to go off. So we were playing with the idea of like, well, Bobby's going to get eliminated, but when his pod goes off, me,

Matt Riddle, AJ Stiles, and Seth Rawlins, we're all going to look at Bobby's pod, but, oh, he's not going to come out, and Brock's going to come out last. So that spot happens.

Bobby doesn't come out. So then we start doing a sequence with each other, and Brock apparently, like, isn't in on that, knowing about the Bobby spot. So he just starts breaking out his pod like just shoot kicking it and breaking the plastic and stuff and uh next thing you know um

we're doing this sequence and i'm getting ready to like hit set and like i just turn and i just like because i hear this crazy sound like i'm like what is going on i just turn to look and it's just brock's arm and i'm getting clothes line and then i take that and i like roll out of the ring and i'm against the cage and i'm just watching him pick he picks up a j and a j's like what the Frank. F5. One, two, three. Seth Rallin starts laughing. F5, he's out. One, two, three. Riddle just gets thrown. He's out. And then I had this whole thing with Brock at the end and I'm like, are we doing this still? I don't know what's going on. I'm just terrified. I'm like, okay. And then sure enough, he starts chasing me. I get that low blow on him. I hit him with the drive kick, hit a little DDT. I'm trying to beat him. And then I see him give me that look and I'm like, I don't know what to do. I'm going to get out. So I just try to escape. the elimination chamber like it's a steel cage. And dude, I look down and he's under me. And he grabs me.

He starts slamming me into the plastic glass we have. And as I'm hitting it, I can just feel it like coming off. And I'm just like, dude, if I go through this, I'm going to fall all the way down. And I'm not even going to make it to this F5. But could that be better? I don't know. You know, picks me up for the F5, throws me, man. And I landed right on my feet super hard.

but as soon as I landed, I just tucked myself and just kind of rolled with it. And like I hit the metal a little, but I was safe, man. How high do you think that was? I don't know, but... Because you're on top of the pod and you're on top of Brock Leasier's shoulders.

Man, no idea. It's high. It's just one of those things where you look back and I'm just like, I could have broke my legs, man. Like, for real. Yeah. Like, you can't like fly off somebody's shoulders and perfectly land on your feet, you know?

Somehow you did. somehow. I felt like everything when I landed, though. It was wild, man. And it was just, what an experience. The amount of moments that you've been part of. Yeah. Yeah. It's crazy. It's insane, man. I'm the moment, man. You really are. Yeah. Like money in the bank. Yep. Like another one, like last minute entry and you win the thing. That was so cool. And how many, like, world champions were in that match that I beat? Oh, man. When did you find out you were going to win money in the bank? Oh, that day. So, uh, and I was such, I feel like a lot of people were kind of looking at me crazy because I did the match with Bobby and then I was told, hey, after this, you need to come to the room with everybody for the money in the bank.

Okay. Do the match with Bobby. Go in there. Theory is over. I'm like, oh, shit. Here we go. So went out there and, yeah, then I'm standing in the MGM grand at the top of the ladder, holding a briefcase, you know. and then somebody's like, Vince, what you to cut a pro bros?

Let's get the bike and I'll just start talking trash. But that was such a cool moment for me because the money in the bank, it meant so much to me because, like, I just remember being in, like, fifth grade, maybe fifth grade. I feel like somebody's going to look all this up to make sure I'm wrong. I think I was in, you were in sixth grade. Yeah, that guy, the guy that never does what sucks. He does everything comfortable every day. But I think, like, I was with my friend and maybe. fifth grade. It was like WrestleMania, maybe 25. Like it was a ladder match. The money in the bank

ladder match, maybe it was then? Yeah, the one with, was that the one where Hornswoggle took that huge bump off the, no, that would have been earlier. There was a lot of good ones though at mania. There was always the ladder matches with the briefcase. Yeah, John Morrison's always doing something insane. Yep, yeah. That's when we had Jeff Hardy do the leg drop off onto edge. Man, that was brutal. But that briefcase, like, I just remember that as a kid, and I thought that was the coolest match. Like, you know, and now being able to be in one of those, it's not the coolest match. It hurts a lot. There's a lot of ladders.

A lot of people want to do crazy things with the ladders. Like put them on their head and spin around or put you on it and spin it around, you know, crazy stuff. There's people that think these aren't real ladders. Yeah, that's insane. Especially, I hate ladder matches, especially when I go back to this past, the biggest WrestleMania of all time. We're, me and Grace and Waler won the tag team championships first, so we ain't no second place tag team champions like, is it truth? That day of rehearsal, we're out there at like 9 a.m. It's freezing on the ladders and we're just rehearsing and stuff.

And then it's time for the match. And I remember at the beginning of the match, everybody attacks Judgment Day. So me and Grayson, like, look at each other. And it's like, let's grab a ladder and get the boats, these idiots. So we both get out. And as soon as I put my hands on the ladder, I was like, oh. And all the fans are like, yeah. And I'm just like, oh, my gosh, it's so cold.

And then just, like, getting hit with it and stuff is the worst, man. So you're probably, like, watching ladder matches, but maybe not being in them. Exactly. Yeah, I love to, you know, we just had a triple threat tag team championship ladder match. Me and Grayson Waller, those tag team championships are ours. They will always be ours. But in that scenario, in that match, we're just going to let those guys play. And that was, it was fun to watch.

When they tell you that you were going to win money in the bank, did they tell you there's a plan? I don't feel like there's ever a plan. I didn't, to be honest with you, the only thing that I kind of knew that was going was going to be, like if you know like a match, you're going to have it, like a pay-per-view. If you're kind of on that road, like Sina, for example, like I knew we did the promo, so I know we're going to have the match.

But honestly, like a lot of things, like even when I had the U.S. title, the first time. Money in the bank. Second time U.S. title. Mm-hmm. You know, it's just kind of seeing what rolls. And then at the same time, too, with the briefcase, I was in such a tough spot because Roman reigns,

like the position he was in and where they were going with him, it's like, you know, I would have loved, though, to cash in on Roman. Like, even if it was a failed attempt, I think that would have been cool, you know, because I would have never cashed in on the United States championship. It felt like you were in line to be a world champion.

It still feels like you are. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. But at that point in time, it was like, you know, there weren't a lot of failed attempts. Right. And then for some reason, your character's now cashing in for the U.S. title, which really doesn't add up. Yeah.

But it's like, all right, when do you get to, when do you get a redo on this, right? When do you get another title shot where, because you're on that path? Yeah. Is it now a year? Is it two years? Where is it? So that's the thing, right? You don't know. But kind of what I was telling you, maybe before the interview, the process. I love it. I love it. I can, you can give me a bowl full of crap. I'll eat it all. And then give me another one and I'll eat it all. And then I'll finally get that golden piece of steak and I'm going. But I know how to eat the crap, man, to keep going. And like, if you have this great attitude in your heat, When you get right here, you got to have that same attitude. You got to be the same guy.

And for me, it's just never like losing myself, never losing that kid that walked into wrestling school in the first time, you know, because I even remember being in Evolve and looking at Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre in the main event of Evolve and being like, how am I going to get there? I don't know, but I'm going to get there. Same thing with this. It's like, I came in, boom, I'm rolling. I'm youngest U.S. champ, youngest Mr. Money in the Bank. two-time U.S. champ. And it's not, to me and my eyes, it's how everybody looks at it. Sure, you can look at the trajectory of like, well, if you're doing all that, you should become a world champion, and that's when you hit the top. And some people would say, well, he did all this, and then now he's kind of doing

this. But to me, I don't see that. As long as that, as I'm on TV every single week, that matters. And if I'm doing something, like, it really doesn't matter what it is. Like, I just want to be all in. It doesn't matter if I'm showing up and they're like, hey, you and Grace and Waller are going to become tag team champions today. Cool. We're going to kill the match. We're going to do great. If they come in and they go, hey, we got jelly roll here. First time here, a lot of people are going to view it on his platform.

You know, not just on ours. It's going to be insane. I know what I'm doing. I know what I need to do. I'm not going to go out there and be like, well, I'm the guy that beat John Cena at WrestleMania. I'm the youngest this, the youngest that. I was this. I was doing this.

Like, this is what I do now. I like take a choke slam from somebody. Like it's, it's just understanding what I'm doing. And people are always going to have an opinion. Like, it's the funniest thing in the world to me when you see a fan and they go, well, you should be getting booked better. You should be getting this. But it's like, what are you saying?

I'm living my dream. This reminds me of the Ms. Yeah. Right? Because the Ms. just, you need me to do that? Absolutely. You need me to put that person over?

Absolutely. Look at him now. 20 years in future Hall of Famer. because he did all the right things of the right time. Yeah. I mean, look at Ms. He's got a wife. He's got kids.

He's got a mansion. He's got... Have you seen that new mansion? Yeah. Vegas? Yeah. Yeah. But it's like people can say whatever they want about him,

but look at his accolades. Look at the family life that he has. Look at the home he has. Look at all the things he's constantly doing. Just at SummerSlam. They had a whole bus for the Miz. Like, you know, it's just like, it's how you see stuff and how you perceive stuff.

And I think a lot of times, too, like I was saying, like with fans, I don't like the way you're getting booked and this and they should be using you better. But it's like, you're not always going to satisfy everybody. And the thing is, too, is, well, let's go back. What if I did already become world champ? Right now, where would I be at? What am I doing? Because we all know I can't keep that title forever, you know?

And maybe you can't hold it for a while, you know? But what are the odds of that having it for years and years? And I just think it's like owning that and just knowing the spot you're in. But it's not that I'm like, okay, I'm this guy now. Like, I'm not going to have anything. It's like, no, I am everything. I got it all. I know I got it all.

But I know when I need to go and I know when I need to pull back. And I think that's the mindset. It's all behavior, I think. No man wants to lose his hair, but for men, it's actually pretty common. And now with Hymns, the solution is simple. Try Hymns' hair loss solutions. be joining hundreds of thousands of subscribers who got their flowback. HIMS provides access to a range of hair loss treatments that work, all from the comfort of your couch. HIMS makes treating hair loss

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Hems.com slash insight. Results vary based on studies of topical and oral monoxide and finasterite. Prescription products require an online consultation with a health care provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety information. If the goal is to get to WWE, then you get to WWE. Yep. Then you create a new goal.

Maybe it's, I want to have a match with John Cena. Do you have a match with John Cena? Yeah. Do you just keep moving the goalpost? You just keep setting new goals? I think it's like life when you, like, you know, I can talk to you today and you could, you know, bring up a topic about something. I could be like, wait, what is that?

And then I learned about it. And then it, you know, it's like the, it's so funny. I just watched this movie. I think it's old, the butterfly effect. Oh, what a great movie. But just how little things can change and alter everything. So it's like, I even saw this quote recently, but it's like, you know,

so many people have anxiety about the future because they're trying to plan it. But there's really nothing to stress about because it hasn't happened. I heard a great quote, and I've shared this so many times, but no amount of regret can change the past. No amount of anxiety can change the future.

Wow. But any amount of gratitude can change. change the present. It's like, wow, because you're so right. You can worry all you want about the future. Yeah. It's not going to do a damn thing. No. And that's why like when it comes to the goals, they always change. I always want different things. But for my whole life, I have been locked in, anybody that really knows me, I've been locked in tunnel vision about this dream. And I think one day it'll be pretty cool to do try something different where I'm not so like, you know, like I've been chasing this my whole life. And I've been.

I just think like there's a lot more to it. It's not anymore like, like, uh, like, WrestleMania win the big title there. That's amazing. I definitely want that moment. I think anybody that's in this that wants to be somebody wants that moment, but I think too of like the experience of it all, like the people I get to be around. Like, Grayson says it a lot too. Like the Smackdown locker room right now, it's amazing. Like everybody is so cool. Everybody is like just wanting to get it, man, and like be better. And we all know. that we are the best in the world, but we have to like treasure that and we have to appreciate that. And I think Triple H says it best to us all the time. He talks about, you know, like, yeah,

that'll be okay for this week. Yeah, he's like, we can't be like that ever. Like we can't just, yeah, this will get by. He's like, sure, things can get by and you can get views and you can get this. But screw that. Let's be the best. Let's always be all the way up. Let's turn the knob all the way up. Let's always give them everything that we can. Let's not. oh, this idea, let's just do this so we can get by and then make this awesome. No, let's make all of this great. And I think we see that with Triple H. And when everybody on the roster has that mentality, that's when the show ends up being as good as it is. Yeah, right. I guess what you're saying, what it sounds like, and it's so cliche, but it sounds like the journey is the destination.

Like you can set these goals, but what you're doing along the way to get there, that's the goal, Really? Yeah. Yeah. And that's that's the real enjoyment of it, right? Is like you can make the moment. And then that's the other thing, right? Living in the future of like you're creating this moment and I beat John seen at WrestleMania and I do this. But like the coolest thing was like after the match getting to tell John like all of that. Like, hey, my grandfather like this and getting to share that story with him. And then being like at a table at like a dinner restaurant after that with my family like taking that in, you know? And it's. just like, it's cool. Like, my little brothers are right there. Like, one of them was like six years old before I moved to Florida and I'd have full matches with this kid. And like, I don't even know where his mind is. Because like for me, as a kid, when I knew anybody that knew anybody in WWE and I met them, I freaked, man. But my little brother just watched me beat John Cena at WrestleMania and back before I left in 2019, he was six having matches with me in Luke Gallo's wrestling school. Like, what does this kid think right now? He's just

right behind commentary watching me at mania. Like, that's crazy. Yeah. You know, but I, I love that. I love that. Like, my brothers can see that. And like, the life, like, in this place in McDonnell where we, you know, grew up, it's not super popular, you know, you don't see people every day doing great things, you know, it's not a terrible place. I'm not saying it's a, you know, we came from rough beginnings, but, like, seeing, I think me do that, like, I love that I could do that for them, you know, because it's like, you can do anything you want. Yeah, it makes them realize that it's possible for them as well. Yeah, right.

Yeah, who is that for you? It's hard to, like, name, like, one person, you know? I guess, like, for me, I'm just, like, it's, like, moments kind of, like, those certain feelings you get, you know? And it can even be for me, like, you know, like the David Goggins, right? Like, he's not there, but I'm reading this book, and, like, I can read one thing in there, like a callish your mind and I'm just like whoa and I'm just like you know a lot of people don't even know what that means but it's like dang man you know and then even thinking too on like what people

think about me like wow it doesn't even matter yeah let them think what they think because that is what they're entitled to do and if one of those souls wakes up and it's important to use their breath or their fingers or their energy on saying something negative about you or even something good that person cared about you that much. And to me, it all means the same thing. Thank you or, well, that was a very nice, but, you know, but it, I don't know, even that world. I just don't try to get into that world of, like, being brought down and stuff.

Like, especially, like, on, on X, right? Like, whenever I see somebody of status, like, arguing or, like, making a comment or starting stuff with, like, somebody that's just not even in the league like that, that's crazy to me. because I think Sean said it best, Sean Michaels when I was in his class, but he was just like, you know, think about it. Back then, you couldn't reach out to anybody. You couldn't get any contact.

But think about the stigma and the aura that gives you as a superstar. Wow, I can't even get this guy to, like, view my story. I can't even get him to like something. He doesn't even retweet it. Like, he doesn't even say a word back. Like, that bothers me. But, like, you want to see him because you don't, you can't figure out this mystique. And I think, like, Roman's a great example of that, you know.

And I think it's funny. too how like Paul Heyman will be like well look who has the highest engagement on social media the guy that's never on it you know but that's like a perfect example too right like if you saw Roman or even Sina like saying something to a fan that says like oh you weren't really like a great champion of the decade or whatever they say you know something stupid if they comment that maybe some people would be like oh this is cool like we're getting the back and forth but the real ones we all know like wow that's really unprofessional absolutely you know because what do you need to say that for. And also when you're confident enough in yourself and you see something like that, you just go,

oh, I don't believe that. Yeah. I know that's not true. Yeah. If that person wants to believe that, they're entitled to say that. Yeah. But that's not the truth. And that's the thing, too, like, especially for people listening, because I know it's like easy to be like, well, I read a negative comment. And then I'm like, oh, go work out, you know, I'm a human being. I read stuff. And then sometimes I'm like, wow, man, like, this guy really felt that way. Well, that sucks. But like, it does, back to what you're saying, does boil down to, well, what do you believe in yourself? Because who's in your head all day. That's who makes all the decisions. It's you. So if you believe something that somebody's saying, it becomes a part of you, man. This was great, man. This was awesome. I feel like we could just

keep going. I feel like we could just talk about mindset and books for another four hours. Heck yeah, man. It's so good to be able to catch up with you, man. Dude, it was an honor, man. And I hope in, I don't know if I set any crazy goals in this interview, but maybe, you, in like three years, we'll have another crazy one. Maybe we should just say one. I think of you, I mean, you called out The Rock. Should we do it? Oh, yeah, I did.

So that's one. Yeah. They'll replay this when you have that match with the Rock. Yeah. And even if I don't have the match, I still got some things to say to him. What about, you know, John Cena's coming back in 2025

for an entire retirement tour? He is. And I would love to have that. I know I've had a piece, you know, and everybody else, there's some limited dates. but, you know, if I am going to put a little selfishness out there, I definitely would take a match. Or, you know, another promo.

Yeah. Another promo for sure. I would love that. Congrats on all of your success. Thank you so much. It's been amazing watching your rise and you've got, man, you're 27 years old. That's it, man. You got an entire future ahead of you.

Thank you so much. So I end every interview with gratitude because that's the cornerstone of my life. I wake up every day. I say out loud three things. I'm grateful for. Wow. It kind of sets the tone for the day. And I do it before I go to bed with my wife.

Because like when you focus on the things that you have, rather than focusing on the things that you don't have, it's impossible to be upset. Oh, sure. So what are three things for you, Austin, that you're grateful for right now? The first thing I would say is my family, just because there's always like that strong support there and they're always there.

And even when I'm irritated, like they're always there, you know, to help me. second i would have to say just uh my mindset um it's i'm just blessed uh to have it and to be able to um continue to grow on that um and then third i would say is just uh being able to get up out of bed man and just do whatever i want to do because i share this with certain people um that i'm close with but uh there's a lot of times um like today we did like uh you know helping the community with food and stuff but there are times that we're we do go to the children's hospitals and stuff. And just to like be upset about like something so small.

And then you have, you know, a kid that has a screw in the top of their head that's connected to a whole bar that's connected to this whole thing that they have to have pushed around. And they're just smiling. And they're so happy and they're lost in who you are. And I'm sure when we go there, sometimes they don't know who we are. but they know wrestling or even if they don't, but it's just the energy that we bring

and I see that excitement. And I'm like, how can I wake up and be ungrateful for anything? Because like this kid, like can't even go out and play, won't even have like a regular life like a kid, but they are smiling and they are so happy right now and they have no idea what's going on. And it's,

I see so many kids like that and I think it's just to me, that is like, it's just a blessing to be able to get up out of bed every day and be able to be able to, do whatever you want to do. You can do whatever you want to do. You set a limit on that because there's these kids that they can't do whatever they want to do. And I feel that when like somebody's like, well, I can't do this or that. Man, stop. That's you thinking that. You can do anything you want to do. There are people that can't do things, but they're happy, but you're not. And you can do anything.

Like you said, gratitude, man. It's completely changed my life. To focus on the things that you have, rather than being upset about the things you don't. Yep. So good to see you, man. You too, man. Appreciate you. Always a pleasure. Yeah, man.

Ready to do another one already. All right. All right. Fast forward this in three years, two years. Man, Austin Theory is just getting started. He's got a great thing going on right now with Grayson Waller, but it's going to be great when they break up. And like, think about this.

If slash when they break up, it's going to be a when. But like when that ends up happening, I think that means theory becomes a baby face. And he's done great work up to now as a heel, but I think theory is a baby face will just be on a totally different level. And I hope that you saw a side of him in this interview that you don't normally see from him on TV and you see from him in his matches.

I just think there is so much more to him and we're really just scratching the surface of what's possible. And I feel like he's had it within his grasp, right? He was Mr. Money in the Bank, two-time United States champion. He's been in so many of the first. those big positions and he's delivered every single time. I mean, think about it. Stone Cold,

the Rock, Vince McMahon, Pat McAfee, Tyson of Fury. The list goes on and on and on of all of these big moments and they trust Austin Theory in these moments. So I can't wait to see what's next for him. Take a screenshot, tag us so we can share this online. He's at underscore Theory 1 on Twitter. He's at Austin underscore Theory on Instagram. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. And we will wrap this up with a quote from Kobe Bryant that I love. You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light. Be great and be grateful, my friends. We will see you on the next one for some more insight. We'll be back tomorrow with Ask CVV number 56. Send those questions in by leaving a comment on Spotify. Leave it using the hashtag Ask CVV on social media or send me an email. CVV at

Chris VanVleet.com. And then we've got Graysson Waller on the show next Tuesday. We will see you back here tomorrow, though. Like I said, Ask CVV number 56. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. Back in the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock, but there was one band that had it all. Hammer Alley. Whatever happened to Hammer Alley?

How did they go from top of the rock? I'm looking for a music video. They're a band from 1987. Hammer Alley. Ever heard of them? To Rock Bottom. Dude, I was born in 1980. I can't believe he's doing this.

Hammer Alley. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.