Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Buddy Murphy's plans after surprise WWE release, Alexa Bliss, Seth Rollins, Aalyah Mysterio kiss

Episode Date: July 12, 2021

Buddy Murphy (Matt Adams) is a professional wrestler known best for his time in WWE and NXT. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet from his home in Orlando, FL to talk about what his plans are since being released from WWE, his thoughts on signing with AEW, growing up in Australia, what he learned from being tag team partners with Seth Rollins, the original plans for why he started going by just "Murphy", his storyline and kiss with Aalyah Mysterio, why he is grateful for Alexa Bliss, his opinion of Tommy End (Malakai Black) in AEW and much more! Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? 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.  For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://chrisvanvliet.com Follow CVV on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All right, my friends, good to see you. Welcome back to another audio adventure here on Insight. I'm Chris Van Vle. Thanks for being with us as we start another week. And man, can you believe that 2021 is already more than half over? I feel like 2020 was either the shortest year or the longest year, depending on how you look at it. But with that said, we've now got six months left in this year

to either make it the best year of your life or, you know, just another year of your life. And that is completely up to you. You're in charge here. And my guest today knows a thing or two about that. So excited to share my conversation with Buddy Murphy, because the way that he thinks about details and storylines will just blow you away. And when his 90-day non-compete is up on September 1st,

I feel like the world is his oyster. He's been calling himself the best kept secret for years. and we're going to see exactly what that means, regardless of where he pops up next. Give him a follow if you don't already. He's at WWE underscore Murphy on both Instagram and Twitter, although I'm sure that will be changing here very, very soon. And if you don't follow me yet, I'm at Chris Van Fleet. It would also be so great if you could subscribe or follow Insight wherever you're

listening right now. And please, please help to spread the word about the podcast. I'm not sure if you noticed or not. But these podcast episodes are posted first. They're on the podcast first before we put them on YouTube. So this is just like a constant sneak peek here. This is all the more reason to listen to the podcast. Although I do appreciate you for subscribing to the YouTube channel,

but all the more reason to be a podcast listener. And thanks to Jesus Cruz for this review on Apple Podcast. He says, Chris, please read this on your show. I'm going to be honest. I think I barely found your podcast as of this year or maybe late last year. At first, I didn't seem to like it a lot. I always listen to different wrestling podcasts and yours just didn't catch my eye. However, after you listen to more and more episodes, I started to love them. I admire the fact that you care about these episodes and you bring guests from all over the place. Keep up the good work. Well, thank you so much. And the username is Jesus Cruz. CR7. Thank you so much for giving the podcast a chance, even though maybe you didn't like it.

At first, I appreciate your honesty there. And I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to leave this review. And I'll keep reading one out on every single episode. So if you happen to be listening on Apple Podcasts, please take a few seconds. Just write a few words, write a few emojis. Anything. Anything really helps. All right. We cover a lot in this conversation. aside from him talking about his time in WWE and what could have been, this is just a story of grit and determination. And it's so inspiring. Please welcome.

Buddy Murphy. Man, so good to see you. Thanks for joining me on this. It's been a long time coming. I've seen a lot of your work. And now I'm part of the work. So I wish it could be on different reasoning, but we're here. Well, I appreciate that, so it's very kind, but I feel like we're in the cusp of like this.

This is like the cusp of things about to be really big for you. You've got an endless amount of opportunities in front of you, I feel like. Yeah. Yeah. The future is unknown. It's a little scary, but it's exciting at the same time. It's, you know, I've never worked at independent in America before. So, like, I'm brand new.

I'm a brand new fish in the sea. So, you know, I came over. I had a tryout. I got signed off that one tryout, and I was with WWW for eight years. So I've learned a lot, and I'm willing to go out there and, you know, spread my wings. Had you been to America before your WWE tryout? No. Really?

I got my passport for my tryout. I find this so fascinating. Yeah, it was, yeah, I'd never, never been out of Australia. So, I mean, and I'm not. from America. I'm originally Canadian. So I asked this as like someone who went through the whole process. Are you now working under a visa, a green card? What's your situation? It's a unique situation. I'm making the, I'm doing what I need to at the moment, but, you know, I'm going to cross the next bridge when I gets to it. So I've done everything like

can. There's not much point really struggling. Or like stressing over it because I don't really have much control, obviously. So I've done what I can do. And it's kind of just wait, kind of see what opportunities come. And then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Your Twitter name recently was a date. And then it changed. What was the significance of this?

It wasn't even a real date. It was September 31st, 2021, which does not exist. Yeah. I was just playing around. Shit staring, some would say. That's the Aussie in me. Yeah, just kind of playing around. I was like, all right, well, because my,

there's obviously a lot of speculation now that Tommy that's got AEW with the 90 days. A lot of people asking about my 90 days. So I put a date that didn't exist. And then people were like weird. And then I changed the date to 31st of August, which is my non-compete. ending date.

So, yeah, I just kind of, I just play around. And, you know, my current, I think my current name is like B. Murf now. Like, you know what to me? Like, so just kind of stir in the pot a little bit. What else am I going to do? I'm kind of sitting here. I've got my hand in a whole heap of different pots, which are exciting.

And, you know, shit stirring the internet and kind of getting people talking, you know, like I'm good friends with Tommy. so it's kind of cool to and it's awesome to see him do it but I'll poke fun of it and get the internet talking like that's entertainment right I mean the internet was certainly talking

after he debuted I mean as we sit here right now he debuted last night on Dynamite and then you sent out a tweet basically going hey how's your eye doing yeah well still messed up so you know just just a friendly you know just concerned for a friend

but yeah it's awesome that he gets to go over there. He's going to do his thing and do what he wants to do, right? Like, I feel like WWI dropped the ball with him. I've been in the ring with him firsthand. I know how good he is. So, you know, I'm excited for him. He's a, he didn't tell me. So he kept it pretty, pretty low, low. And I was talking to him yesterday and he didn't have been telling him. So, yeah, they are only good things for him in the future. When you say you've got your hand in a lot of pots, I feel like one those pots is spending a ton of time in the gym. And you recently posted this photo. You're bigger than ever now. And as you sit here right now, you're gigantic looking. I appreciate that. It's the hoodie.

But it's so funny. I spoke to as someone else. Like, it was a strategically taken picture. Obviously, there's no one else in there. Like, I look a lot bigger than what I actually weigh. So I guess it's just, maybe I have like a, like I don't hold much water. So maybe like, you know, you take the water weight out of the muscle and maybe I'm a little smaller. But my time ending in like WWE, like the last match I did, I think was around mania around the battle royal. I was about 200 pounds, right? But I visually look a lot bigger. It's just, it's just a number on a scale to me.

But at the moment, I'm about 2.13 through 15. So I've definitely gained size. My strength is really good at the moment. But I'm not going through this vicious. I had a bad, a bad, like, mentality when it came to food, especially like towards the end of my run in WWE. I would die like crazy Monday to Friday in hopes. like, you know, maybe, maybe Fridays's the day.

And I always wanted to be ready. I never wanted to be that guy that when his ticket number is called that he's not ready, right? I've been training at a wrestling school for the last six months just in case you need a 20-minute match I can go. And I'm doing that on my own time. Same with, like, in the gym, right? I've had some time off. So when it takes, when it's time to take the shirt off, I look. good, you know what I mean?

So then people go, damn, my buddy's looking, you know, you should use it, you know what I mean? Like, you just don't know. Like every time it's kind of like a job interview, you just don't know. So I was dieting like crazy, Monday to Friday,

and then Friday we get, just look at the piece of paper, disappointment. So then I go, well, binge eat on the weekend. Monday comes, maybe Friday's the day. Crazy cut.

Get back down. Friday, disappointment, eat. So really, I'm eating more now. Nothing's really changed besides that I don't have to panic about taking my shirt off and being ultra lean or holding water going into a TV taping. So that's the only thing that's really changed. I just have a lot healthier, like, a lot healthier with food. Like, you know, I'm not going out to binge, you know what I mean?

because I got to get it in. If I want to have something, I'll have something. It's not going to end the world where I was just on a bad cycle of mentally thinking the food and getting prepared. It was just a bad, bad loop. When you cut down, or when you were working a lot of 205 live and cruiserweight stuff, did you actually cut down a bunch of weight to wrestle there? Yes.

So how much weight are we talking? So I was originally about 230, but I was actually about 2.30. but I already started to I hated wrestling in NXT like once the tag team broke up I wasn't doing it I was off TV for a long time we were promised stuff like me and Blake

we're going to get this thing you know like that never happened and then when we finally got our match together it was 30 seconds and Smoljo wiped us out we'll never see it on TV again so then I'm doing live events but I'm sometime booked

but not booked but then I'm wrestling guys at seven foot tall that don't, you know, really know what they're doing. So now I'm limited. And I just wasn't enjoying wrestling. So I needed to look. And my fiancé at the time was always on the road. So I'm here working a job that I wasn't enjoying, looking after the animals, doing like, you know, doing dog dad.

I needed something for myself. So I started like looking to the gym, right? So I started like changing my body and looking more like learning about. nutrition and stuff myself as like a hobby for myself. And from there, I kind of lost a little bit of weight. So I wasn't the full 230, 235 that I was. I was probably 2.18, 218, 220. But I had to, and I wanted you out of the cruise weight division because I thought it was my style.

They weren't doing anything with me in NXT. you can call, say that I'm doing all the right things in NXT every single day, but nothing's, I'm not getting any proof of that I'm doing any good, because I'm not doing anything. That's where the best kept secret came from. Like, you're telling me how good I am, but no one knows. They only know of that enhancement guy that was in the tag team. That's what they knew.

So the people within the confines of NXT, knew what I had in me and what I was capable of, but the rest of the world didn't. So that's why I created the best kept secret name. Not saying I'm the best in the world, because we had one of them, but just saying that I have potential here. And, you know, just let me do my thing. But I wanted to go to the cruise race for a super long time. I was yelled at.

I was kicked out of meetings for mentioning it. and then I end up reaching out to like Adam Pierce secretly via Twitter and I said hey man I saw it you're doing this tournament don't know if all the spots are filled but love to throw my name in the hat weight's not an issue and I just said it to him but I've already been yelled at kicked out of meetings because of this cruise weight stuff and then I was a bit lower at that time

but then I was doing a live event in NXT somewhere and I had a call from Ryan Katz and he called me up and he goes hey what do you do what's your availability on Wednesday on Saturday I was like what are you talking about is they didn't tell you no he's your debut on Tuesday we need to create a vignette and I'm like what like didn't even know so

went in and there that weekend filmed it and went down but I did have to weigh in on the Saturday I needed to go in during a tryout and prove that I was under 205. You actually had to weigh in? Yes, they'll just try to make me jump through hoops. That's ridiculous. Yeah, it was, but I came in. I went to the sauna because at that time, I wasn't, didn't, you know, I was a bit heavier,

but I was lower. But I just went into the sauna and didn't eat. And then I went and weighed in. So, and you can tell when I, I, first in that first weigh in with W.E and I'm shaking Drake's hand. I didn't have the physique that I gradually got, right? Because I was still in that process and I had to do it really quick. But yeah, the weight cuts, I really got to 205 and the whole character was based on weight cutting like UFC. Yeah. So my whole character was a bully that weighs in at 205, but really

he's wrestling at 220. So you have these guys, it's an unfair advantage, even though I'm making the weight, it's an unfair advantage. So when I would do the weigh-ins on 205, I would, whatever city we're in, would find a gym, work out,

I'd be all wood, all the cruise weights. Then I was sitting in the sauna for 20 minutes, but I haven't eaten, go to the show, just sit there until I had to film this weighing. So then I looked completely sucked in, you know, water, no water and then as soon as I'll drink so then when I would wrestle it looked visually

different these are just details that I like right and that's what I want to see and it was it's just something that's it's just in my head right it details like when we watch the Avengers and stuff it's the details it's the throwbacks back in the attitude era when I used to watch wrestling if Austin didn't have black tape around his wrists I knew that there was a match happened, right? It was just a little subtle detail. Yeah. Which I wanted to dot those eyes and cross those T's.

So I liked that whole looking lean and then being bigger. That was the whole basis of the character. I love those little details. I remember in the attitude era, if the pyro wasn't taped to the ringposts, we knew Kane wasn't coming out.

It's true. It's a subtle, subtle detail. So it's with everything, right? You know that if the pyro don't go off at the start of the show, it's going to be a hot start something, right? It's going to be a promo or something backstage has happened. Like you just know and you just get accustomed to it. But it's a different time, but now people are more alert of these things that now nothing's a surprise and, you know. So you've had a ton of time on your hands over the last month or so.

Is your mind just going crazy with all kinds of ideas? Yeah. They're the pots that I was talking about. So I'm working with a band creating entrance music for myself, which we're both kind of writing the lyrics, and it's my story that's in the lyrics. So it's a notable band. The song is awesome.

I listen to it at the gym all the time. Then they send me a new one, and then I get caught up in it. I'm doing some video projects coming up, which should be really, really cool. I just jumped into the Twitch scene, which is fun. I play video games a lot, so why not do it, interact with some people. You know, me and Tommy have done some streams together,

and people enjoy seeing what they see on the, you know, these two rivals now like coexisting playing Fortnite or whatever like that. You know, we just talk about the stuff. Remember this, remember that. And it's kind of like this cool little throwback that other people. people are getting genuine responses. And I enjoy it. Like, you know, I press one little button, go live,

and I just play. So it's a cool little community to be, I found out. Like, people are quite nice on it. Like, you go on Twitter, they're not so nice, but you go on Twitch and everyone's like looking out for each other. They're like gifting subscriptions so other people can talk. Like, it's kind of like a cool little community.

Probably found out pretty quickly that, you know, everything you say on there is also being recorded too. Found that out too. Found that out too. Yeah, I wasn't expecting like all those kind of clips to kind of come out,

but it is what it is. And, you know, it's nothing that I shy away from. Like, it's the truth. I'll do cardio and look at a clip and get up to date with wrestling.

Like, there's a lot of content. And maybe it was taken out of context a little bit, but you can't watch all the content. anyway, there's just way too much. So if I can do cardio, waste five minutes, I'll do it. Yeah, I think the thing that people might have taken out of context was you saying, I couldn't watch it.

And is that like you couldn't watch it because you couldn't stand to watch it? Or it's like, there's too much of it. I just can't watch everything. I think it comes to a bit of both. So, yeah, you can't watch it all. And at the end, I felt like I wanted to wrestle so bad, felt like I had so. much I can contribute, whether it's help, you know what I mean? Like, I feel like I wasn't even scratched.

Like, I have so much more I can do. And all I want to do is I've sacrificed my whole life to be a part of this company. I have busted my ass for eight years. In my opinion, I've been a ideal employee. I've never failed a drug test. I've never been late. I haven't had days off. It's just I feel like I've done so much.

And then I'm going to the Smackdown and the ring is right there. And we get the card and I'm not on it. I just feel very deflated from it. And it's like here it is, but you're not allowed. Like it's kind of like I was sitting in time out or getting punished. So it just kind of. had made me feel like I didn't want to watch like you know what I mean like I wanted to and with no crowd as we're talking to earlier it's it's tough you know it's tough to watch the stuff

and especially when you've seen it week in week out week in week out it's just the same same thing and it's got nothing to do with the talent the talent is amazing right it's just it's repetitive point in your eight years did you feel like you were really close to breaking through and maybe it was taken away from you? Well, I feel like my career was like this. It was like, whoop, and then boom. It's tough. So my whole time in the cruiseway, loved it.

I can't be any more appreciative of my time in two or five. It was fun. I felt like I was creating, I was having great matches. Everyone's game was lifted. We felt like we had a little bit of pull or we could suggest stuff and it would be at least considered. Awesome group of guys would all travel together. So that was just all awesome. And then I win the title, do some great stuff, go to WrestleMania, lose it, pass it to toe.

Tony and then I get drafted Smackdown like this is it and then I don't do anything for or five months and then I just so happened to be accidentally in the background of a Roman shot which kind of gave me a little spotlight or had the internet talking right and you know you when the internet talks they can either shy away from it but luckily in my case they they brought attention to it. So, and then I had this killer match with Roman, and the week after I had a killer match with Brian. Then I was in the king of the ring gets Ali.

Three weeks in a row, I had killer matches, and then I'm just dropped, and I'm not being used to it. Like, I didn't understand it. But I kind of thought that I was in tortured Hamon, and he was going to take over Roar. So I kind of assumed that he had spoken up and said that he wanted me, and then the people of smackdown didn't want to use me or use their show to highlight someone that's going to go to a Monday. And then, you know, so I guess that, you know, some people say that, you know, once Paul,

like, is an advocate for you, if you work in your favor or work against you, maybe that worked against me, but I felt like I was delivering. So did I lose that or did you? You know what I mean? I feel like what you, you know, you mentioned that they dropped the ball with Tommy End. It seems obvious that they dropped the ball with you too. Yes. Like, because I feel like I have so much I can give.

Yeah. And I'm still young. Like, you know, I've been with the company for a while, but I'm still barely new on the main roster. which you didn't really put your eggs in my basket. So I really wasn't overly exposed. You could still make me wherever you want. But I felt like I was doomed as soon as I beat Seth

and I got put with the Mysterios and we'll kind of, you know what I mean? Like that was my baby face. This is my big coming out as a baby face. Yeah. and I need four members of a family to help me beat King Corbyn and we cheat and then I cheat and that was my big opening to the baby face like I'm and you know love working with Ray love working with Dom, Alia was amazing but the whole the original idea wasn't for me to become baby face and go with Mysterios the original idea was me to stay in set

which I love because I didn't want to be locked down with a person that isn't contacted to a company. And that was a big, and then once they agreed on it, I didn't like it. I knew that that was going to be a problem that I'm associated with someone that's not signed to the company and that has her own ambitions in life. You know what I mean? She's doing her thing, like the wrestling thing, she kind of came in for the angle. and maybe they sucked her in for a little bit, but I was associated with that now.

So if she's not on, I'm not on. If I'm not on, she's not on. And then there was a big issue with like a, towards the end of the year, like I think someone close to the Mysterios tested positive, so they got quarantined. And then they were gone for two weeks. And then I had to quarantine

because I was around someone that tested positive. So then I quarantined. Then I came back and then, Blake and Cutler had been sent home and I'm not getting any answers and then dirt sheets are saying that the angle's been dropped but I can't get an answer. Ray can't get an answer. I'm messaging Dom asking if Alia's got a flight. Like we had no answers.

And Ray was saying that, you know, he's got Alia messaging him. Hey, dad, am I needed? You know what I mean? There was no communication. And then I was trying to track down Bruce, trying to track down Bruce. And finally I'll get him. I go, Bruce, what's going on with this whole league? He goes, oh, we've dropped the angle.

Okay. Yeah, we need to figure out how to get you away from the Mysterios. And then we're going to insert you in something by yourself. I said, okay, cool. Yeah. Just FYI. Love to go back with Seth because the plan was never to leave him. And he goes, all right, awesome to know.

Awesome to know. I let Seth know. Hey man, like they want to get me away from the Mysterios. I suggested going on back with you. We'd love to work with you. Felt like, you know, we could go back into this with a different chemistry right now because I beat you. You know, you look at me as one of your own now. Yeah.

And he was like, yeah, cool, man. Like, you know, if something comes up, like, I'll definitely, you know, suggest it. And nothing ever came from it. They just kind of left me there. And then I did that thing with Cesaro during their promo. And then I came back for two, three minute match. And originally when I was told about those matches, I was like, he's just to bring me and set back together with what's going.

I guess I don't know for sure, but it looks that way. I'm like, okay, that was just telling me that to keep me happy. So I did those two matches and then that was it. At what point did they tell you or how did they approach you and say you were Buddy Murphy, now you're just going to be Murphy? That was my idea. Okay. But the whole story behind it was never told.

So I was talking to Michael Hayes and he was, you know, he was buddy. And I'm up, yo, yo, Michael, what's up? He's, ah, he's, man, it's too friendly. It's so friendly. I said, well, like, maybe I just go back to Murphy. Like, in NXT, it was Blake and Murphy. Like, I don't need Buddy, but, like, maybe because I'm this disciple character and Buddy doesn't fit, fit it, right?

Like, you know, Buddy Murphy, the disciple, okay. So I said, how about I sacrifice my given name for the greater good? So now I'm becoming like a reborn to set, right? So your parents give you your first name. That's your given name. Well, I'm giving that away. I'm sacrificing that given name and I will be known as this, like a number, right? for the greater cause.

I'm sacrificing my given name for Seth. He's like, okay, next week, I'm just Murphy. Never explained. And then the whole idea was that if I was, I'm doing this for Seth, and then once I leave Seth, I come back to money, that was never, I'm just Murphy now. Like, I don't, I didn't like that. You know what I mean?

That was just a detail that could have explained a lot. the fact that we're talking about it still now. And it wasn't, you know what I mean? They're questions that shouldn't have to be answered a year and a half later. Well, there was so many people during that time that lost their first name,

Apollo Cruz and Mustafa Ali, so many where it was just like they came out and they all of a sudden had a new name and just like Murphy, it was not explained. Yeah, but I thought that mine was a great reasoning. Yes, sounds like that.

And it's just, it makes me more unlikable that I'm willing to sacrifice my name to a jerk, right? So, but it was just never mentioned. It was just never brought up. And next thing you know, it's just too late. You can't go back to it. You can't go back to enough you've been called Murphy for three weeks and go, oh, no, the reason why, like, it's, they missed the ball with that one.

So is there a certain amount of frustration then when you think that things are going to go a certain way? and then out of nowhere it's changed and you're not even told? Yes. It is because like everything that I felt like I was given, I hit out of the park. And everything, even if I wasn't comfortable kissing Alia. You know what I mean? I did that because it was my job and it was going to create this, it was going to create more drama in the story.

Yeah. And originally when they, like there was no kiss. originally scripted. And it came back. They went and they talked to Vince about something. The producers came back and they're like, all right, I'm okay.

Like I'm sitting there and they're pitching it to me, but they're kind of like weird. And they go, and then you kiss her. And I started to laugh and I go, fuck off. Like, you know what I mean?

Sorry and swear, but I was like, fuck off. And now they're like, no, serious. And I looked at the other producer and he's like, and I was like,

no way. How did you come back with this? Like, Because my whole thing was, and I had to play it very, very carefully, especially the timing of the situation, right? And I said to them that I am not going to express feelings for her, right? I can't pursue her. She has to pursue me because of the age difference. And then you don't make it any easier when you use.

my birthday as the message, right? So now you've given them information a look, oh, how old is it? Right? How old is she? What? Now you're giving them like that bad. You just didn't have to mention my birthday. I think them saying, oh, happy birthday, by the way, to bring some real life detail to it.

Yeah. Basically just outed that. Yeah. So, you know what I mean? Like, I wasn't comfortable with it. they didn't help the situation by saying my birthday but i didn't really i'm just kind of okay well what does she say about this and you're like she's cool she's cool with it and i'm like what like they had gone to her first thinking that she was just going to shoot it down like what are that

ray like they're like they're okay with it and i'm like well now if they're okay i can't be the one that goes whatever um but yeah i was very very very like blunt with them i cannot pursue her she has to pursue me if i pursue her i'm a creep i'm a you know pedo as people would say on the internet if she goes from me she's an empowered woman that's going for what she wants i said that's the picture we have to paint right and they're like agreed with it and then um i think they sold her on like a like a Hollywood style kiss right And I'm like, what's a, like, I'm not in Hollywood. What's a Hollywood?

You know, like, they'll film. We're live on TV. Like, you can't do these shots from behind and what, like, there's eight cameras on you. Yeah. Who knows which one they're going to shoot. But if there's a gap, whole thing's done. Yeah. Whole thing's done.

Yeah. So we're out there. And like, Seth was very, oh, man, like, he used to look good. And they're like, they said it look good and stuff like that. and he was like nervous about it because the whole story I was writing on this one kiss and I don't feel comfortable she's brand new and you know she's obviously you know come up with her dad in wrestling so she knows the ins and outs to an extent but that we're out there we're about to cut the promo and we're in commercial and I look back at her and said this needs to

look good and I said if I know we rehearsed the way it is, but if you're having any second minds, I'm giving you the green light. If you do whatever you want, right, it's 100% you. It's, I give you the green light. So I don't want you to go, well, I was going to do it with this, we practice it that, right? Do what you. I say, I'm just giving you the green light. Do what you need to do.

This needs to look good. And it looked great. The aftermath wasn't great for me. But, you know, I think that, you know, it's, it's, we're both adults, we're acting. You know what I mean? But at the end of it, we walked back, we gave each other a high five and that was it. You know what I mean? Like it's, look, first kisses are awkward regardless.

But you're not usually thinking like the entire world is going to see this. Yeah. And having a whole storyline ride on. Like, yeah. Because the whole idea it wasn't meant to be about us. it wasn't meant to be about me and alia they didn't plan that it just got extended extended extended started to get stale that kind of got involved and and then it kind of became about me and alia so because i know that the videos were like some of the most viewed videos in 24 hours like most

views on on youtube so the ratings were really good that's why we were on every crossover over of Raw. So we're on Raw three, four times a night. Yeah. And then they had the idea to bring the whole storyline to smack down. And that's why we all got drafted to Smackdown. Seems like there was so much momentum that they could have used here to turn into something. I think that once I did that, like to my original pitch, which I didn't want to, I didn't want to turn, I wanted to go back with Seth, right?

And I thought that in my ideal world was that we go either two ways with it. Like maybe it comes out of that big blow-off match, but I'm kind of in between. But I'm with the Mysterios because I've already fought Seth and Alia. Like the Kendo's thing was such a big part of that story. So maybe they're both going for it, but Alia steals it, you know, just in time before Seth gets on it. but they're both like miss it. And then I'm like,

Alia, pass it here. Like, they're going. Like, so then it comes, Seth, go, give it to me. Her dad, go, give it to me. And then me, go, no, give it to me. Like, you know what I mean? And she's all in my,

she believes everything. So she gives it to me. And then I go to get, and I throw it over. And it just goes over Ray's hand. Seth gets it. Blah, blah, blah, blah. We get the win.

Seth embraces me again. So now I got what I wanted. And I finally, because everything that, Seth was doing me to me was a lesson. Because that was the original thing. It was like, I'm taking, like, it's like, he was my dad, right? And he was, like, beating lessons into me.

Like, he didn't mean to hurt me. He's teaching me a lesson. And then the idea was, like, once I do that, like, Alia's heartbroken, right? And then we're like, come with us. Come. And then we can either go two ways. She can join.

And then we bring her in. She's turned on her family. I bring her to the dark side. And then Seth goes off. My whole idea was that he gives me the glove. And then I become the Messiah while he goes away. And then we start recruiting. And then he comes back.

He kind of wants the thing back. But now I've had a taste of power. I don't want to give it back. So then we get into the thing. He becomes baby. We do something to Maine. Or I hug Seth. We embrace her.

She leaves. storms out. I don't care anymore. I got back with the guy that I want to be with. So now I'm an asshole. And then we never see a lear again because she's not signed. If she wants to do whatever, she never see her in Smackdown again.

She never wants to see my face again. Because I had broke her heart and threw it on the ground and stood on it. Right? So then I'm where. But that's not what happened. But look, the fact that you've put this much thought into what could have possibly happened makes me so excited for when you can go and explore and do whatever you want in a few months here. Yeah, I'm excited, man.

Like, I haven't, obviously, it's still a little while before I can get back out there. But, you know, like I said, little pots, you know, come out with a bit of an impact. And, you know, like I said, man, I don't think I've been touched. I think I have so much to offer. I'm excited, you know, to see where I will end up and what I can bring to them. Because I believe in my heart of hearts that I have a lot I can give. And I feel like, and I keep saying it, but like maybe it's just a belief in myself, but now I'm 32 years old.

like I'm ready to go. And I think that most fans would agree with you. Have you thought about what your name's going to be when you're able to work again? I've thought about it. I'll probably release that later on. So it's like a big reveal, kind of like a package. But yeah, I'm sure it's going to get, you know, people that agree with it, people that disagree with it, you know. you're never going to win everyone that's the thing and like you know

Alastair or Tommy End or whatever we call it you know what I mean like like to me like like you know I'm sure that there's positive there's negatives there's in-betweens there's you know what I mean but yeah we'll see but I'll probably release it I have a project that we're probably going to get through next week which I'm excited about AEW seems like a great place for you. And you've mentioned a few of your friends that are there. I mean, Tommy's there. Andrade's there.

These are people that you've worked closely with. I feel like you'd have the opportunity to do whatever you want there. I'm excited. I'm excited for the, you know, for the possibility. I think I could do some great stuff and impact. I think I can, you know, I got friends there, like Sammy Callahan. You know what I mean? Like, I'm pretty sure I wrestled like nine dark.

matches on NXT with Sammy Callahan in a row. Ring of Honor, you know, some of my guys, my friends back home are signed with Ring of Honor. Like that excites me, you know, being with some people that I used to, you know, ride the streets within Australia. Like, I don't, it's exciting, right? It's an unknown. But I have, you know, just under two months left. So we'll see what comes.

I'm excited. All I know is that when this new theme song hits, wherever it is that you debut, everybody's going to go, my God, Buddy Murphy is gigantic. Oh, well, hopefully I'll release it and we get it on iTunes beforehand

because it is a good song. Okay, well, the song, maybe we'll hear the song. I don't want to go past the song. The song is very, very good. But like when Matt Cardona showed up on AEW, he just looked huge. And I think that that was the big talk was like, look how much time he's been spending in the gym and look how much time he's been spending dialing in his nutrition.

Yeah, it's, I have the, it's like this weight came off. And I'm excited and I'm bringing a new package. Like, you know, a bit bigger, a bit stronger. Like, you know, I'm, it's, there's so many unknowns on stuff. Like, like, because I've done so, like, I've done. a lot. Like, and I want to, you know, like, you looked at my looks in WWE.

I've gone from this two or five guy with ripped up shorts and, you know, smug into a disciple with, you know, long ties, the long sleeve, not moving, very stoic. So it's, you know, I've done multiple things. Maybe I'll take a bit of everything, you know what I mean, and we'll create a more muscular package. You know what I mean? It's exciting.

I'm excited. But, you know, wherever I end up, man, like, I'm excited to work and, and do what I do best. And have these 15, 20-minute matches. Like, you know, and it's, you know, it's exciting to know that Andrade and Alastruitt one thing, you know, they're my boys for one. One's my biggest rival. you know what I mean like it's it that's exciting and then like other companies man everyone

there's just talent everywhere you know you bring a bonnie and like J. lethal and stuff like you know what I mean it's I'm excited like getting in there and mixing up with some people so wherever I end up I'm excited I'm really curious as a kid growing up in Australia it's not like there's a ton of

WWE superstars who are from Australia so who inspires you when you're growing up in Australia to go, yeah, one day I could actually live that dream of being a WWE superstar. So one of my youngest moments of like stands out, like cane ripping off the door of the hell on the cell. So that that stood with me. But when I first watched wrestling, I hated it. Like the very first episode I ever saw, I hated it. And my brother made me watch it because he heard about WWF Raw.

And it was on Fox Sports at the time. But he heard that this show is really cool. I got maybe 20 minutes in and turned it off. I hated it. And the following week, my brother comes back. He's like, hey, let's give that show again. I don't want it. Not good.

He's like, nah, last week, shit. Today's meant to be really good. So I'm like, okay, I was hooked. That was it. And then, like, you know, the Austin Rock. Like, I was a massive fan of Road Dog and Billy Gun. Massive fan of him. And then I just kind of, you know, did my thing.

And there was a kid that went to my high school in pro wrestling, right? And I had no idea that there was, I didn't even know you had to go to school to find it. But then I got some information from it. And I was like 13 at this point. And I went to this school. And basically it was these 40-year-old men hidden on my mom. Like, well, I'm paying, you know, a couple hundred bucks to, to roll around on tires.

Like it was insane. Very memorable. And then I did that for a little bit. I left. And then I did some, but I thought, you know what I mean? I knew how to have a bump, right?

I knew how to take a couple of bumps. And then my best friend from Kinder, who I was really close to, he went to a different high school than me. And I was playing Australian rules football. So like I was focusing on that. My friend at the other school, was telling us about these backyard wrestling,

his friends at school wrestle and stuff like that. He showed me some tapes. It's not backyard wrestling on some like, you know, mattresses and one was a hardcore. So he had like thumbtacks and stuff. He's a big mankind fan. And I was like, oh, we'll do that. Oh, do that, yeah.

So then we ended up doing this thing where I went over to their house. But we kept me secret from all the wrestlers, the wrestlers, right? hit me in a room until my spot was to run out and mess these guys up. And what happens is that big show? And like we're 16, 15, 16 at the time. So we think this is great. Like we are better than NOVAWE. We are better than any other project, you know, any other company in the world right now.

Our product is awesome. So he was one of the friends who was selling tickets to the show. And he had like 60 people there. and we're wrestling on a mattress and I'm running out. No one knows who I am. And we just treated it as if it was real. So we did that for a while and then we ended up going to a wrestling show, a local one, where the promoter actually goes, you guys wrestlers?

And we're like, yes, we are. But we wrestled in the backyard. And you guys should come to training on Thursday. I'm like, okay, we'll see. So at this point, I had to do the bump. and my friends didn't know how. So the day right before we went to training, I went over to their house

and I'm teaching them how to fall on the floor, on the grass. It's like, this is it. So we go there, we do this little assessment. We do it. We pass it. What are you doing tomorrow? I'm like, oh, nothing. You want to work?

I'm like, yeah. So that was my first show. It was a Friday, Saturday, Saturday, double header just because we looked like wrestlers, and that was it. that was my wrestling like all self-taught pretty much. How bad was that

match if you think back to it? Well the first match if you, it wasn't that no psychology. We're doing, we did a triple rope triple rope German. So yeah like

Canadian destroys that we all went all out. My friend who also was in the same match he liked to think that he could do everything that I could. So he would say that his finish was a Phoenix splash. But he never hit one. But that was the finish.

So he tried. And the guy that he was wrestling didn't move, but he didn't make the full rotation. So imagine this guy's head and his feet double stomping there. And then he just lays it. So then I'm there and I throw the guy out. I throw him out and I go, kick me on. off. So I go up, top rope moon sole, one, two, he kicks me, I roll

all the way in the floor and he gets the win. So you look back at that, that's my first match ever and I'm already thinking on the fly. Yeah. So, you know what I mean? But it was, there was no, it was just high spots, whatever, as much shit as we could get in.

I like to think that I've learnt from that. And I'm a better performer than what I once was in 2007. But how do you go from the mattresses to this first match to going, I think that I can make this happen. I could go to America and impress them at a tryout.

And again, it's not like there's a ton of Australians that are pro wrestlers. No. So at the time, like Lance Storm School was kind of like the path, right? If Australians, they would always go to Lance Storms.

They would do their three months. And I think a lot of them would go there purely because it was easier to get a visa, like a working visa. that it is America. So they would go over there, like, you know, reputable school, great.

One of the best schools in the world. Yeah, but you wouldn't hear of anyone going anywhere else, but Lances. Because, you know, it was just such an unknown. But to Neil Dashwood, she got signed through,

she did Lansing School. and then I think maybe she got signed through Lancers school, but she got signed. And I knew her on the Australian scene. And I'm doing okay on the Australian scene. I was on everything and whatnot. It was everything as you could be. And then she was moving over.

And she said something to me that just made that white bulb go off. Like that one thing. Like I had always knew it like that I wanted to, but I never took the step. Like I would go there and do like little meet and greets and they'd be like, hey, when are you going over? Vince would love you. That's what Vince would love you. Like they knew him.

Like Vince would love you because I was a bigger guy in Australia. But you know what I mean? I'm like, oh yeah, you know, maybe next year. But because I didn't want to, I probably didn't want to fail, to be honest with you. And she mentioned some issues, you need to get out of you. You need it. And I'm like, okay. And then she left.

So I knew that you could do it, right? Like there was a possibility. And so she moved over. And I was on like something that she said, you need to do it. You need to do it. You're way too talented to this. And then that was the light that went off. And I'm like, all right, time to change stuff up.

So then I just got more intense with stuff. My work changed. I started putting more effort into my way. I wasn't there from a social aspect. just to go out there hanging out with the guys and then whatever i was treating it like a job i would go there i would work i would leave i wasn't associate like hanging out with people afterwards it was a job um working out changed um and then i wanted to get over but i didn't know when i worked someone from all japan pro wrestling masawa and he wanted to he spoke to great muda

after our match and said that he wants to come to the dojo and I was like, okay, that's my inn but it didn't feel right. And then I kind of like sat on that while having that offer there. I sat on it.

And then Bill DeMont put out a tweet and it was like, want to be a W super star? This is how blah blah blah. It was try out. And that just worked. I go, I need to do this. This is it. This is the one.

And I had like a little dojo contract sitting on the side, but I needed to do this. And it was like, to this day, like Sammy Callahan was there. To this day, I still say it was to get Sammy. It was a try out to get Sammy Callahan, but he got hurt on like day two and couldn't participate. But I think it was to get him. And I tell him that all the time. But there was, I remember like it was yesterday. It was insane. So I went and spoke to my boss and I was like, hey, I know I've only been here for a little bit, there's a tryout in Tampa. I need to go. And I said, if you have to fire me, fire me. But I have to do this. And it was the first, it was like the first time I had to

die on my own sword, right? Like go there, spend everything, not come back to a job. But I had to do it. So he agreed. He goes, yeah, you can come back. You have two weeks. That's all you have. I was like, okay, sweet. Training picked up. I paid $3,000 for the tryout. I paid $3,500 for my flight. And then, like, obviously, accommodation and stuff. So we get there. I left on my birthday.

So I flew over. We're in the back of this plane. First time I've ever been overseas. We're in the back of this plane. Like, it was crazy. Like, you know, when you see those movies, like when they go to India or something like that, There's like, it's just like everyone's standing up leaning.

It was like that. It was crazy. We land, we get to Houston and we're like waiting for our connection. And we missed the flight. So we're like, oh, damn, like, what do we have to? So we had like wait, caught the next flight to Tampa, went the tryout to this day. Norman Smiley, Robbie, Brookside still say it was the hardest tryout to this day. There was 85 people.

It was four days. of hell. Guys were falling like flies. It was the first three days were like in ring. Last day was promo and like Dusty was there. It was beyond anything that I can even like I've never been through that. But I was so focused, right? Everyone's falling.

We had NFL guys falling on top of us like, well, what the hell is going on? and the number slowly going to get him down but there was 85, these guys would knock us out of the way, these big, beefy, like football guys will just hit us out of the way. And nothing was breaking me. And I was in this killer instinct mood.

And then at the end of the four days, they said, oh, thank you for everyone coming. The winner of the triap is Matt Adams. And I'm sitting there. And I was with my, I had my friend who decided, come with me. And I'm just sitting there. And he starts hitting me. He's, that's you. And I'm like, what? He's like, that's you. And I'm like, and everyone starts clapping. Yeah, and everyone's

super happy. I go over. I shake their hands. And then I'm waiting up there. And then they're like, everyone else is like, yeah, clap it. And then they stop and they look back at the coaches. And then they go, that's it. And then everyone just looked at me. And I instantly became the biggest teal in the room and maybe four people stayed back and congratulating me that was it wow and then i came back and it was the first time my parents became i told you so like they hated wrestling it was always get a real job because i couldn't hold a real job because wrestling was number one and if i had a hundred dollars in my account i was good right if i went dropped under under a hundred I'd panic.

I just needed $100. And that's how I was living. And yeah, like it was and then you like everything that I would get wrestling, I would spend like on tape and tanning and all that stuff. So I wasn't making any money, but as long as I had $100 my account, it was good.

So how long after you win the contract? You fly back to Australia and then how long until you're back in Florida? So that was the start of October. October 2nd, I believe, was the last day. So, and I came in June. I let, when I got released, was literally two weeks before eight years. Wow.

I left, yeah. So why was there such a long gap between the tryout, getting off with the contract, and then moving there until the following summer? Obviously, like, visa issue, like, you know, they had to get the visa and stuff like that. but they knew that they were moving to Orlando. And they said that they can hold me back because they didn't want me to relocate to Tampa just for a month to relocate to Orlando.

So, you know, I appreciate that and save me a lot. But, you know, like I literally put my suitcase, I put my life in a suitcase. Yeah. I had one suitcase. And that's a very, very, very scary thing to do. It's like I'm leaving on this adventure, which I don't know how long is for

and I have a suitcase with everything I have, right? And the scary thought was like once I'm going to release and the visa stuff that it would be potentially ironic coming to America with one suitcase, staying for eight years and then leaving with one suitcase. Because what else am I going to do? well that's obviously not what's going to happen here well fingers crossed but it's kind of it's kind of crazy right you you do eight years and then you could potentially be leaving the same way you came in

like yeah you know what I'm sure you have more than two pairs of shoes right so imagine you had to pack your life up and you have 10 pairs of shoes you know what I mean you have to narrow it down to one pair of shoes to bring to your next life for no reason like you know what I mean for a budget cut. Yeah. You know what I mean? It's disheartening when you break it down like that and you give it straight. But a budget cut could potentially, you know, cost me my life.

I have dogs. I have an own house. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, well, you have an entire life there, you know. That's what I mean. And that's the very disheartening part. That's the very disheartening part. And I know that the other, the Australian girls, the Iconics, you know, from what I've been

told they've been very, very open about it. But it's just, I think a system needs to come out where, you know, they do all these other programs for like, like, substance abuse or alcoholism after, you know, there needs to be something for internationals after that happens. Like, it's, it's, yeah, you're giving me, you're giving me money and tools to build a life. And then on a budget cut, it gets torn up. You know what I mean? It's, it's hard.

I mean, I had conversations with Cassie, with Jessica, with Chelsea Green that wasn't recorded going, hey, I've been in that same situation. Like, I am not from this country as well. And I had to figure out a way to live here long term. And I understand it is not an easy process. Yeah. You know, like I said, I'm making, I'm making progress. You know, Jess and men, Cass have been amazing, helped me out.

they're suggesting people that they've worked with, which has been tremendous. So I can't thank them enough for that. But yeah, making the steps, but hopefully it doesn't come down to it. And on the end of August, we can see what comes my way.

Is there also someone on the inside of WWE that will help you with social media? Like, they got their social media name switched like that. Your social media name still has WWE in it. Yeah. It is what it is. You know what I mean?

Like they reached out so that they'll help me switch it over. But like, you know, it's what am I going to switch it over to now? Like I feel like that 90 days, like when we get like, you know, like the 90 days is to kill all butts. It's to kill all hype, right? That's what it's there for. It's so you don't have any momentum going anywhere else. So I'm not going to, you know, so to speak, blow my load in the first. weeks I have to expand this over over the three months like that's why I dropped the

photo the the progress photo now people are kind of talking oh like now you're a little bit more excited and then I'll drop something else like you know what I mean like the t-shirt was right the t-shirt like the first good wrestling t-shirt you know sold out on the pre-sale like you know so you know what I mean you have to do it over a period time. Because if you drop it all, then you've dropped it all. You know, you spike and then it was just going to go like that. So the other thing is everybody else's 90 days are up at the same time too.

Yeah. So what I'm saying is at the end of those 90 days, it's a whole bunch of people that are trying to go, hey, look at me. Remember me from 90 days ago? Exactly. And I feel like they're re, they hoarded a lot of talent.

And now that they're saturating the talent. Right. So it's a business move, I believe, that they're making. It's a business move that, you know, if you send out three guys, you know, they can do what they want, but if you send out 40 guys, now all the work gets cut again. But, you know, man, there's a lot of talent. And, you know, wrestling could be, wrestling could boom again. now that the pandemic is, you know, kind of coming to an end, you have all this awesome talent now coming to, you know, the Indies or whatnot, like, and shaking things up going to different companies.

That's exciting. And the fans back, they get to be, they get the best seat, right? They get to witness at all. They get it all. Yeah, with full houses, I mean, we saw it with AEW in Miami last night. SummerSlam is going to be gigantic in Las Vegas. I feel like the momentum is picking up. So as we head into the latter part of summer and then into the fall,

I feel like it's ready, like wrestling's ready to boom again. Yeah, there's possibility, you know, and it's an exciting possibility. It's just everyone needs to do their part, I feel. Yeah. Everyone needs to kind of work together. Did you have any inkling, any reason to believe that you would be released in June? No. Because I did speak with.

So I have this cool story idea that I pitched to Haman who loved it. I even mentioned it to the Uso's that loved it. And it was basically to get me as like a, not as a part of the bloodline, but to be an associate of Paul. So I don't do, I don't take orders from Roman, but I do his bidding because Haman asked me. So it's like a little sub-story on the side of Hayman. And I'd be like a Judge Dred. So I was going to be like a mixture.

Big boss man, Judge Jedd. Judge Dred for Hayman. You know, don't worry. He's got it. I've got you. And then he sends me out to do it. Heyman loved it. And then I ended up having a conversation with Hunter while he was at a smackdown

taping and just mentioned to him that, you know, I pitched this idea down. Heyman loves it. You know, we'll see where that kind of goes. I understand that needs to go through a particular ranking, talk to being approved by Vince, but if nothing comes from it, like, maybe I come back to NXT. You know what I mean? Like, I never had to run in NXT as a singles guy or with the steam that I have behind me and the portfolio that I've created on 205 and whatnot.

Maybe I come back to NXT and try and take my cruise away title back. And then there's an inside story with a guy coming down going, this is mine, you know, and then I can do my thing over there. And Hannah, like, he loved the idea. He had said that, you know, he asks, there's like three or four guys on his, that he asks about regularly.

what are we doing with these guys? And I was on that list. And he could say he couldn't really get an answer. Like you know what I mean? Because in the way that I look at is, I guess Vince looks at us as, I don't want to say it in a condescending manner, but looks at it as like toys, right? He doesn't want to give his toy to help.

Because in his eyes, I guess that he sees us as WWB superstars that he created and he doesn't want to give his creations as help something else. that's kind of how I felt having that conversation and he goes but I'll keep asking they're going to do some shake up stuff because I definitely love to have you down there it's like we'll give you a new coat of paint cool all for you so just hover around you know I'll keep in contact and whatnot I said okay so

having that conversation I felt like well if there's nothing here that's definitely an open door, you know, it's just depends on when. Like when they did the shaker. It didn't happen, obviously. But again, all of this leads to like, there's a lot of exciting times ahead for you. Hopefully.

Hopefully. Stop saying, hopefully. You're going to. I'm just a bit, you know, it's just like one of those things, like, you know, you don't want to get your hopes too excited. You know, you don't want to sit your, set your sights on one thing and something happens on the other side.

So I'm just going through it and whatever happens, whatever is presented my way, I'll take it all and go where I think that I could thrive the most, where I could help the most and just exciting stuff. I mean, if you stay healthy and injury-free, I would have to think you're writing your own ticket. Oh, I appreciate it. Well, it is a damn bad. Definitely healthy.

I feel like I'm staying healthy. I feel, I'm feeling good. Like, like I said, I train weekly at a wrestling school. So I'm conditioned to go. Like, if you said, hey, we need you on Friday for a 25-minute match. Yeah, I'm good. Let's go. I think we'd love to see a 25-minute match with you.

It's been a while. It's been a while. I know. It's been a long time. This is, speaking of a bit of a while, this has been a lot longer than I promised you, but so I want to be respectful of your time because this is... Oh, good. It's been a great conversation, and we've learned so much about you and the potential for it.

This is so excited. I appreciate it. No, I appreciate you. And I'm curious in your path in WWE, what was the best advice that you feel that you were given there? Best advice. It's tough because I used everything as like a learn. Everything I did was on, I stripped down and learned. So when I would like finish a match or whatever,

I didn't care about what I did good. I didn't care. What, what, what was shit? You know what I mean? Like, because that's what they're going to make me better. I don't need to hear the good things. I need to hear the bad things. And then I fixed them up and I only become better.

Seth was massive on just like learning stuff. So with Seth, I would get thrown something and then I would be like, hey, what about blah, blah, blah, and then I'd see what he hit back at.

Right, rather it was good. I'm like, okay, cool. Or I think, blah, blah, blah,

blah, blah, and I'm like, okay. So then I would break that down and go, all right, why did my mind go A and why did his mind go B? Like,

why? are we on two different wavelengths? So I would do that nonstop. And I don't know if I annoyed Seth by asking him all these questions and on, but I was literally character-wise, literally and figuratively his disciple. And I took everything as a learning, something to learning.

And like working with Roman was a massive, you know, he was like the guy that, you know, you come off doing the, cruiserweight stuff and you know you had that stigma of moving fast he was like the guy just slow down like you know what I mean just let me sell okay and like he opened that I'm like don't be afraid to sell you know what I mean like you do less get the thing over more and then it makes so much more sense to me now you know what I mean but when you see it and you experience it um but man like just advice I couldn't I couldn't tell you my best advice I give is

die in her own sword. You have to die in her and sword. There's no point, like, in my instant, working in NXT, doing something, just going through the motion, not enjoying it, and then nothing's progressing,

and then I get released. You know what I mean? I did everything you told me. I wasn't enjoying it, and I got the shit end of the stick. But if I go, hey, I'm wrestling like this, I'm having fun doing it. I feel like the crowd is enjoying. and you release me,

well, at least I got released doing something I liked. Yeah. So, and it's inevitable, you're going to get released. Everyone's getting released. It's just, you know, Austin was released. You know what I mean?

Like, everyone's been fired. Everyone's going to get that call eventually. But, you know what I mean? It was a weight off my shoulders. Like, now it's, all I want to do is perform. And I want people to, you know enjoy wrestling enjoy what i like right i'm gonna i'm a product of what i like and i'm gonna wrestle

what i want to want you know what i mean so and i feel like people like that i feel like that's why i was getting like responses like i was an unknown guy um and i felt like my style was a a mixture of the independent scene and wwee style mixed up so then it felt that different, but we were unknown guys going on post-smackdown after they've seen everyone that they want to see. And we're getting the bigger reactions. So, you know what I mean? To get a building, a half-empty building because everyone's left chanting 205, man, that was like a huge accomplishment. You know what I mean? They didn't know what the show was. They didn't know what was going on and they chaned the show's name during it.

It's cool stuff. It's like accomplishment. And it's not, and I'm not, it's not me. I didn't do it. It was the guys in 205 that elevated me and hopefully I elevated them. And, you know, we create, we create good content. We have fun doing.

I want to acknowledge you for like betting on yourself. And I think that so many people are scared to do this. And when you, you look at your career path, you lived on the other side of the planet. Bet on yourself to come to America to win that contract with WWE and as you put it, to die on your sword. And I think it's so, like it needs to be acknowledged that you've taken all these, not steps, massive leaps to get to where you're at in your career. Yeah, I'm very proud of it too. You should be. Like the house, you know that I live in like you know I bought

wrestling doing what I want and I was even talking to my my mom the other day and I said like really I'm 32 years old I haven't really worked a job like you know what I mean like she's like well you have it yes it's work but you know I mean there's there's people that do nine to fives and they despise it and they don't want anything to do with it even though there's been times where I've despised it but it's always been to love him, right? And I think that goes into fitness too, right? We don't always enjoy

lifting, and we don't enjoy eating clean, but there's parts of it that we love that make it not a chore. And it's more of an activity than a chore. That's what wrestling is. It's an activity rather than a job. Yeah. And when you talk to your mom, is she like, why do you sound like an American now? No. I'm just more Americanized when I speak over. here. If I go back, I'm give me, yeah, even when I talk to people on the phone, it comes back. You just have like a hybrid

accent right now. Yeah, well, because I've learned. Otherwise, you would be able to understand me. So I'm like a I think it's still pretty good. Cicks love it. Of course they do. Look, I've

really enjoyed this and I end every conversation with the same question because I think that it's so important to lead your life with gratitude and be thankful for the things that you have. So what are three things in your life that you're grateful for as you sit here right now? Man, this is intense. So I'm definitely grateful for, I'm grateful for WWA. I don't want it to be lost in translation.

they made me a better performer. I learnt to bust my ass daily. I got to see the world. I am financially set myself, you know, up. I mean, this is the house that WWE built that you're living in right now, literally. Yeah, I should do what Seth does, burn it down. But now I'm just joking.

But yeah, like, so all those things, you know what I mean? So I'm grateful for WWA. I'm grateful. It sounds weird, but I'm grateful for Alexa Bliss. Like she was a massive pivotal point since I've lived here. She's massive. You know, we share dogs together. So they're my family.

And pigs? Sorry? And pigs as well? Yeah. Resty place. Larry. I was actually looking at photos before of Larry when he was little, and I was like, heartbroken. And then you're like, are you ready?

I'm like, oh, shit. But no, but like she's been pivotal. She went, she was with me when I hated it. And, you know, we had the ups and down. So she's riding that roller coaster too. But, you know, I don't think that I would have lasted as long. She helps me, obviously. she was just that shoulder to lean on when when stuff got hard and so I'm definitely thankful for her.

Dude, another one. I'm grateful for the next step, the next opportunities, the next, I'm grateful in advance for the next chapter. That gives me the platform to do what I like to do and what I love to do. and in return give them something that you know they love yeah so those three W.WE but the inner context Alexa or Lexi I'll call it Lexi and and the future what's next yeah love it and I'm grateful to you thank you for doing this with me I know you're not doing a lot of interviews, so thank you. No, I'm only, yeah, I think maybe two.

That's it. Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with this. Thank you for giving me your time here. And thank you for opening up. These were some amazing stories. I'm an open book. You know what I mean?

Like, I get like, so how I was portrayed on television, you know what I mean? Like, I was in, in NXT as an enhancement guy and, you know, blah, blah, blah. and then I come to 205 and then, you know what I'm doing my thing there and I come over to Roar and I'm doing a disciple character that's very stoic and not showing much emotion. And to a lot of people you are on TV, right? And I think that's the business that makes it a little strange. And my good friend, L.A. Knight, Eli Drake, Sean Ricker, whatever you want to call him, he would always say it to me, we'll get an argument to you.

This is the only business that you play the character. every day. Like you go to a radio station, they don't call Robert Downey Jr. Tony Stark. They say Robert Downey Jr. Who plays Tony Stark? We don't get that.

I don't get, you know, this is Matt Adams who plays Buddy Murphy. I'm Buddy Murphy, day in, day out. If I go to Walmart and I get noticed, I'm Buddy Murphy. They don't know who Matt is.

And I feel like when I got released, that night was probably the, probably the toughest thing was to, because I didn't know my identity anymore, because I was always buddy, you know what I mean, or MIRF, or for the last eight years on my entire life in America, I've been buddy. So when that gets taken away, you kind of go, who am I? No one knows me as Matt. The real person doesn't really exist.

So that was a little bit weird, weird sensation. but when I was getting back at is like these characters I play on TV like you know oh you can't cut a pro I can cut a promo I just didn't feel like like the character in the situation I had these visual ideas on what I wanted the character to be but how I wanted to be wasn't necessarily that what was portrayed on television like I wanted the disciple not to talk right disciple that doesn't talk the commentators put over that he sacrificed his name and then eventually when I speak out it's big it's unexpected he doesn't do that but if I'm even just chipping in a little bit to me the character is already talking but you're not showcasing you're

right you're either just giving little parts but you're not showcasing it where I'd rather go completely quiet and then when the time is right speak up oh that's wrong and then it's more impact but these characters I played on TV don't really show the personality that I really am like you know I'm a very open book. Don't give a shit. You know what I mean? Like, Aussie. So, you know, and a lot of people wouldn't even know I'm Aussie because I didn't get the chance to showcase that part of me. Yeah, I feel like I'm pretty fun loving and and chill. So, yeah, it's, it is what it is. And, you know, it's cool to be able to showcase the real me in a way. Well, that's exactly what people are going to see here. They're going to say who the

guy is. So thank you. That could be good or bad. No, this has been awesome. So thank you so much for this. I appreciate. Thank you for your time and I appreciate it. All right, there we go. Buddy Murphy, although we won't be calling him

Buddy Murphy for much longer. Again, I truly appreciate him trusting me with this interview because he's only doing two interviews. This one and the amazing interview that he did with my dude Sean Ross Sapp from Fight dot com. And I appreciate you trusting me with this last hour-ish of your time. I know there's

literally a million podcasts in the world, wrestling and otherwise. And I'm very, very grateful that you choose to listen to mine. Snap a screenshot. Let us know what you thought of this one. Tag us on social media. Let us know. Buddy is at WWE underscore Buddy. I'm at Chris Van Vleet. And I'll leave you with the words of Theodore Roosevelt that you can chew on here. In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing is the wrong thing. And the worst thing you can do is nothing. Be great. Be grateful. We will see you on the next one and it will be filled with oh so much insight. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do with rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava

pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Take advantage of it, but get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast.

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