Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Damian Priest On Rhea Ripley, Wrestling Bad Bunny, Winning The World Heavyweight Championship At WM40

Episode Date: September 3, 2024

Damian Priest (@ArcherOfInfamy) is a professional wrestler currently signed with WWE. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Cleveland, OH to discuss his Money in the Bank victory in 2023 that led to his World Heavyweight Championship reign that began at WrestleMania 40, wrestling Bad Bunny at Backlash in Puerto Rico and what that match meant to him, his time in The Judgment Day, his friendship with Rhea Ripley, R-Truth getting him to break character live TV, nearly giving up on his dreams of becoming a professional wrestler, what a Gunther chop feels like and more. Quote I'm thinking about: "The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding." Complete this survey for your chance to win $500: https://bluewirepods.com/survey Sponsors: FACTOR MEALS: Get 50% off your first box and 20% off your next month at http://factormeals.com/Insight50 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 http://bluechew.com ROCKET MONEY: Join Rocket Money today and experience financial freedom: https://rocketmoney.com/cvv 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 http://plunge.com For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com 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.  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 to another one here on Insight. I'm CBV, Chris Van Fleet. This episode is brought to you by F3 Energy more than just an energy dream. Thank you so much for being with us on this one. And thank you, as always, for helping to make Insight the number one wrestling podcast on the entire planet. Hit a big old power bomb on that follow button if you haven't already. Man, what a story Damien Priest has.

so pumped to have him on the show here. He's not quite the journey from being homeless in New York City at one point to winning the WW World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. We talk about his time in Ring of Honor, where he worked under the name Punishment Martinez, to get signed by WWE in 2018 the work he did with NXT before getting called up to the main roster, winning the United States Championship.

But it was joining Judgment Day, which really changed everything for him. And I mean, come on, who could forget that match he had with Bad Bunny at Backlash in Puerto Rico and that entrance. Insane. Snap a screenshot and tag us so we can share this out. He's at Archer of Infamy on social media. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. Let's do it.

Please welcome Damien Priest. I appreciate you making the time. We've been talking about doing this for so long. Yeah, we have. Yeah, it worked out. So, man, I'm happy to do it. How's life? Life looks pretty good for you right now.

Weird. Yeah? Weirdly cool, though. And I can't complain. It's like one of those things that's everything you want and you have it. And then it's like a kid in a candy store. You don't know what to pick. You don't know what to do with yourself.

It's exciting. Does it feel like at times that it's all coming at you so fast? Yeah. I mean, it has. Somebody put it in perspective the other day. I found on the main roster for three years. When you really think about all the stuff that's happened to three years, this is wild.

So it's a lot being thrown at me. And it's one of those things that they say enjoy the moment. It's kind of hard to when you got to look forward at what's next and what's next and what's next. You know, every once in a while, I'll take a breath and look around and like, wow. You know, but it's one of those things that, yeah, it's a lot. But this is what I wanted. How are you able to appreciate the moments when it's fly into a city, do this show, fly to the next city, maybe you're home for a few days, then it's, you know, rinse, lather repeat? You just got to, like I said, you got to take a breath and really think about it, even if it's while you're laying in bed or, you know, just on a car ride to the building or on a bus to the next town or whatever it is.

Look around and really appreciate, you know, this is a different life, something that you couldn't have even envisioned, but you wanted. And those are the moments that I take to really appreciate it. And every now and then it hits me hard, especially like I said, when I'm alone. I don't know. I have a day home off. I just really like think about everything and just, I'm in awe of everything that's happening around me. Like, I don't know how this happened, but, you know, I'm happy it is, you know. That night after WrestleMania 40, when you laid in your hotel room in Philly, what was that like?

If I'm being honest, it was emotional. You know, I partied with my friends and family afterwards. We had a celebration. It was a great time. But then when I got back to my room, it was kind of one of those things where I was like, what is this? Like, how is this happening? You know, and it's holding the title in my hand, looking at it and just, it was like one of those things, like my entire life flashed. You know, everything I had to go through to get to that point.

And it was one of those realizations of. I thought I had regrets. I thought I wish I could do things differently. And then it was one of those things was like, no, this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. And this is the only way it would have happened. When you find success later in your life like that, do you feel like there's a point in your life where you're like, oh, man, I just feel like this isn't going to happen for me? Of course. I gave up on the idea of working for WWE.

You know, I tried multiple times to get in. And in 2017, when I got an email saying, there's just nothing for you here, I gave up. And I was just focused on, you know what, let me just live a happy life and figure it out, you know. And then they called me, which is crazy how that worked. When I gave up, that's what they wanted to be. Wow.

And it wasn't like I gave up the dream of wrestling. I was still wrestling. It was when you were with Ring of Honor. Yes, yeah. So I was like, I guess I'll just stay in Ring of Honor. And, you know, I get to wrestle. And that's what I wanted to do anyway. And it's cool.

And, you know, they have a, well, I'll be small at the time, but it was still television program. So I was like, hey, I'm on TV. I'm doing what I wanted to do when I was a kid. It's okay. You know, and then here we are, you know, WW. So, yeah, there's many, even in WWE, there was many times that I looked around and seeing everybody and how people, some of them are progressing faster than others. And although it happened to still fast for me, there was still times that I wasn't sure if it was going to be like that.

And, you know, maybe it's cool that I made it, but, you know, this is it. You know, it's one of those things. Like, I don't know if I belong. I don't know if, I don't know what the future is going to be. And not that I gave up, but that I did doubt. And I was like, I don't think this is going to happen. I never thought I was going to be world champ. It's so interesting because there's a lot of people that are just like, I'm just happy to be here.

Like, I'm happy to be signed. WWE was my goal and now I'm here. Then you push that a little bit further, right? You have to. Like, yeah. You set a goal, right? And to me, I was like, I wanted to make it to WWE. And then I made it.

Then it was like, well, now I want to be on NXT. Like, I want to be a regular Superstar NXT. Then I got to do that. Then it was like, well, I want a championship. You know, I want this. I want that. Actually, I want to get called up, you know? And it's a lot of things like that.

But you set short-term goals, but you keep moving forward. And even when you doubt, like I said, like, I wasn't sure about things. It didn't mean I stopped and quit. I didn't quit. I still worked very. hard and I still strived for more. I just wasn't sure what was going to happen. I was just being realistic. But in those moments of self-doubt, how do you push it forward from there? How do you get through that and get out on the other side of it? So I was never a believer in the power of positivity

until I decided to change my life around. And when I have those moments of doubt, it's like, all right, well, even though you doubt, still strive for that because even if you, even if you don't make it, you're going to encounter a lot of cool stuff on the way, on the journey. You know, if you put your best foot forward and you give it everything you got and you work your ass off for your own dream and your own goals, even if you don't make it to the finish line, the stuff you're going to experience and accomplish on that route, you're going to be proud. I mean, there's no way you're not. So that's what kept me, you know, pushing.

There was that photo that people were posting of you and Gunther before your match at Money in the Bank. And it was a throwback to what you guys looked like at the start of your career. And then fast forward to what you guys look like now. When you look at that photo of you back then, who is that guy? That's exactly what I asked. Who is that guy? Like, how did I think that way?

How did I think that was okay to be lazy and complacent and not work your hardest for what you want, for your own life? You know what I mean? Like, it's wild to me that it's like a distant memory of who I used to be. Like, I don't know that person. It was like, to me, it's like I watched a movie of a character, but I don't know that person. It's hard for me to imagine being that way again. Like, it's like a form of life. What was the thing that changed in your life?

It's weird because I don't, like, I remember the day that I made a big decision. I quit my job. They were offering me more money. Where were you working? I was working a club in Atlantic City. Free apartment, free car. And anybody who knows my story knows I didn't have anything. So that was everything.

Literally everything. I had nothing save nothing. And they were like, oh, we're going to pay you an actual really good salary. Keep the apartment, keep the car. We just need you to stop doing that little wrestling thing you're doing the weekends without hesitation. It's like, you have my two weeks notice. And then they were like, oh, that's how you feel? And I was like, yeah, yeah, this is not what I want to do in my life.

Wow. walked out of there and then I was like oh my god oh my god oh my god what did I just do but and immediately just immediately started going to the gym and then dropped all these people that I was surrounding myself with that would basically just telling me what I wanted to hear on the back you know just you're going to be fine you're good man you're six five like whatever stupid compliment. And I would be like, yeah, what's wrong with everybody else for not giving me everything?

You know, I just dropped all those people surrounding myself with a different type of mindset. Yeah, it was like a whole three-sixth. I mean, I completely turned my life around. And again, to the power of positivity, I just, I made a decision. I was like, let me give this a shot. I need something to believe in.

Let me try. Even though I don't, even though I think it's silly, even though I think it doesn't work, it's not real. And it's crazy how it's not that it's power. You know, it's just a, when you don't care about the negative stuff, you keep moving forward instead of sitting there, you know, just complaining. You just keep working. Some more things are going to happen for you.

And that's how I saw it. I was like, oh, wow, now there's an opportunity. Now there's this door opened. And then that's how I got a tryout in, and with the W.E. in 2014 and 2015, Then that's how I got my job in Ring of Honor. You know, like, things like that. I just kept on progressing and I lost like almost 200 pounds. I think the biggest thing I want to key in on there is try.

And I think there's so many people that are just scared to try because they might fail. That's it. One of the outcomes could be this doesn't work out, but one of the outcomes is it could work out. Exactly. And that's the fear, right? Like, you're telling me that I tried my heart is I gave it my all and I failed. I'm worthless. You know, I think that's what people think.

And when I realized that even if you don't make it, it's still cool. Like everything, like I said, like what I was experiencing, when the WD told me no in 2017, I wasn't even crushed. I was like, okay. You know, like, I'm happy, you know, like I wasn't financially said or anything, but I was happy. I was happy. I was good, like mentally. I was in a good mental place, so I was okay.

And then they called me and I was like, see? It's crazy how things work. That's why you can't stop. Because at the end of the day, at least you'll be mentally satisfied. You know, like nobody can take away my effort.

Nobody could say I didn't try. Like, nobody can take that away from me. Where did you even think that it was possible growing up? You know, born and raised in Puerto Rico, then you... In New York, yeah. In New York, right? Where do you even think it's possible?

It's wild. I just, it's one of those things since I was a little kid. I just, I believed that I was born to do something else, not the norm. Like, I wasn't born to do a 9 to 5. Yeah. And I mean like Puerto Rican descent, like New Yorkerican, right? New Yorkerican. New Yuriken.

That's it. Yeah. I just knew, like, there has to be something more for me, you know. I thought it was fighting, but UFC was like starting. Basically, it was still illegal in most places. So, like, that wasn't a future. If, who knows if UFC would have been like it is now, right? Do you say fighting because you've gotten a lot of fights?

No, well, I did that too. But I used to train. My father had a martial arts school. So he was trained in traditional Japanese martial arts. And then he had his own school. And he trained fighters. So, and obviously, I'm in the son, so I had to be the best one. So he was the hardest on me.

But so I thought that I was pretty good. So I was like, I'll do this. But then there was really nothing to deal with it. There's no money. So after I got out of high school, I didn't want to go to school. Like this is not what I'm gonna do with my life anyway. You know, that's the way I thought.

And I just, you know, bounced around job to job. And then finally a buddy of mine from high school was like, hey, we always talked about being wrestlers. Why don't we do it? And I've told the story before, but it was one of those things that it was funny because I didn't know what Indies were. I knew WWF, WCW and ECW.

That's it. That's all that ever existed. And I would see Japanese wrestling in magazines and whatnot and, you know, tape trading or whatever. But I didn't know Indies. And then he was like, but he was like, what do we do? Just show up to the garden when they're there and just say, hey, we want to wrestle. I'm like, sure, a lot of people do that. He's like, no.

It's like anything else, you've got to learn. You got to train. You got to go to school. And then we found the monster factory in New Jersey. Man. And then where does it go from there? Because then it's still a long shot, right? Yeah.

So at the time, there's a system at the school at the time. It's different ownership now. But it was very like secluded. Like it wasn't like, we'll train you, now go venture out, do Indies. I still, Wallow's training had no idea what Indies were. And it was basically basic training. You know, I just knew basic wrestling. and I remember when they were going to run their first show in years,

a little indie thing at a firehouse in Delaware. I remember them telling me, they're like, hey, you're going to be on the show. In my head, I'm like, I made it. That's it. I'm wrestling at a stadium. I don't know. And they're like, it's going to be at this firehouse.

And I was like, man, there's got to be a big firehouse. It was not. It was like 30 people. No music. no nothing I just walked out and I was just like this is awkward you know just tights and no shirt on you're just so weird but then afterwards I was like oh man that was cool you know just the adrenaline and everything and then I felt more in love with it and then little by little I started learning but I still stayed secluded into with the school

and just doing their shows and that's it so nobody aside from the same people every month nobody else saw me and this went out for years because I didn't know I didn't know any better. And then until I did. Prize Picks is America's number one daily fantasy sports app with over 5 million active users. It's the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports. Because unlike other apps on prize picks, it's just you against the numbers. All you do is pick more or less on two to six player stat projections and watch the winnings roll in.

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Keep your ride or die alive today at eBay motors.com. Eligible items only, exclusions apply. Who were the people that really inspired you when you were watching wrestling growing up? There's a lot, but the main one was The Undertaker. I never been shy about that one. That was my idol, watching him, and it wasn't even so much the wrestling. It was just the aura, the presentation, everything that I was like, I remember how I felt.

And then that's when I knew, I was like, I need. to make people feel this way. I want to be, because I was big into comics, I want to be a comic book superhero or super villain where people are that emotionally invested in me. Like even as a little kid, I knew that. Maybe I couldn't articulate it that way, but I knew that.

And then, you know, obviously then I saw Razor Ramon, who I legit thought was a Latino. You know, as a little kid, you don't know the difference. I'm sure, like my dad, I'm sure he knew, like this guy was fake accent, you know. But I didn't know. I thought, I was like, yo, he's one of us, you know?

Then as you get older, you start, you know, you learn of all the resters. Sting was another one. I loved Sting. Still do. Like, just the character, especially when it became the Crow, and I thought it was the coolest thing.

And then attitude ever obviously happened. I was in high school. So, you know, Austin Rock were my favorites. And obviously, Taker was always there. Yeah. And then DX, forget it, you know. And I was a Brett fan. But then the NWO took over,

and then that was it for me, you know, NW all the way. But so it was funny, I would watch WCW just for the NW. And then that's it when they weren't on. You switch back. Yeah, yeah. NW.O. and some of the cruiser weights. And then I would switch back. That first hour, like when Nitro went to three hours and the first hour was cruiser weights, I was locked in.

Yeah, yeah. I had some favorites there. I was a big fan. Obviously, Ray De Malenko, Sikosi. I was a huge fan of these guys. So the stuff they did, Kidman. Like, I just thought it was so cool because nobody was doing that stuff. Yeah.

You know, nobody. The closest was ECW, and you could barely see it. Yeah. There were a lot of parts of your presentation that felt very much like The Undertaker. Like, there's one where you're like, you're kneeling in the ring, the lights on you. Like, that looks a lot like The Undertaker. Yeah, when they presented that to me, they were like, you're going to play some mind games, you know. I remember Edge wasn't there that day, so this was like showing a representation of Edge just playing mind games with AJ.

And they were like, you're going to do this. And I was like, so I got powers. They're like, no. It's just, you're just messing with them. It was like, you got you, it's almost as if you planned this. I was like, all right. They were like, so kneeled down and so they're trying to explain to me. I was like, like, like the Undertaker.

They're like, yeah, I was like, I got it. I got it. Did you kind of like, you kind of vanished? Yeah, yeah. I got sucked out. Like, there was like a sucking sound. And it just disappeared. It was pretty funny.

It's like The Undertaker. When people see stuff like that, I know that some people that's not for everybody's taste. I love stuff like that. I think it's the coolest thing because, again, now it's like the comic books, which I was a fan of. So every once in a while, I like doing stuff like that because it's the little kid in me that enjoyed this side of the business. Do you remember the first time you met The Undertaker? Yeah. It was 1999 at autograph signing in the Palisades Mall in New York, Rockland County, New York.

Oh, man, that day I was doing impressions. There was so many people. There was a long line. I was doing impressions of him and everybody was trying to. I said, you got to do it to him. And I was, I mean, now you got to do it for us. No, no, no, no. But at the time, as a kid, like, I could mimic his voice a little bit.

And I would do the eyes. I was good at doing the eye rolls. And I had a trench coat on and his bandana. Like, I was decked out. And they're like, you got to do it to him, you know, like, do it for him. And then I got to, when I'm right up to him, I joked. I was like, I watched wrestling because of you. You know, but he was so nice, too, which blew me away.

like he's the Undertaker, right? You're expecting like, then to set me on fire. I don't know. And especially that time, he's in full character up until recently. And he was, so, and that was the year where he was banned up. And he had, he was leaving. And then he came back as the American badass. So he was thinking about retiring.

So that's what I said to him. I was like, please don't retire. And he was like, ah, stop, you know? Like, he was just cool. And we got a picture shaking hands. I was in my teens. That was the first time I met him. And I won't forget that.

I remember choking. And then I remember meeting him again at the performance center. Yeah. So fast forward to when you're signed with WWE and you meet him again, you know, what's that like? Yeah, I choked again. I was like, hi. You know, like, I couldn't even like, man, what's my name? You know?

It was really funny. And he used just a cool, man, what a cool dude. He's such a good person, too. Yeah. He's such a good dude. And just there's nothing fake about him. Like he's like, he's legitimate badass with swag.

Like he just carries himself with such a way that it's just, it's cool. You know, like you see him and you're like, I want to be like that guy, you know? And I was like, I'm glad I looked up to him.

Like he's everything I thought he shouldn't. And he was. And it was cool. And then he got to critique my matches. Oh my gosh. Oh, yeah. And, uh,

I went on, different day. So the first time I met him at the PC, basically Eddie, the referee Eddie, one of my best friends, this is the best thing. He text me. He's here. Out of the blue. Just he's here. I knew exactly what he meant. I was home. I drove to the performance center just to meet him. And then Bloom knows I'm a big Undertaker fan. He goes, you want to say hello? I was like, yeah? So he brings me over and, of course, embarrasses me, you know, in the introduction. They're like, hey, this is one of our fans that's, and I'm like, man.

But then later on, like, I would go in, like, if I knew Taker was going to be in to work with, like, the big guys. Even though, like, and when I mean big guys, it was like, Omas, Batoon, like, all these guys that are close to seven feet tall. So, like, I'm small compared to these guys. So I wasn't even invited to the big man class. But I would go. And I would, like if he was trying to demonstrate something, and since everybody else was newer, I would be like, yeah, do it to me. You know, and I would bump or whatever and just show.

So it was kind of cool that I got to work with him, you know, literally, physically work with him. Demonstrating stuff. I mean, he just beat me up, but it was the coolest beating of my life. You're in the ring with The Undertaker. It was so cool. And again, like I said, he was, man. And he's even dead. Like, he was so good.

Like, there's explanations were very, very clear and understanding. And just like his punches and everything was so perfect. And I was just like, this is incredible. When you look at you when you sign with WWE versus now, it's a huge difference. Where do you think that shift started to happen? I think the first, well, because I've morphed a few times, but I think the first big jump was after my match with Finn Ballard at In Your House and at the Performance Center, just during the COVID era.

I don't know. I can't even explain what happened that day. It was just something clicked, and I just let loose. And I remember getting to the back, and Sean and Hunter were waiting for me. And he was like, that's the guy I need to see from now on. There's no going back. That guy that was out there, that guy's money. Like, you have to be that guy, always.

He would stop pretending. And Hunter told me, and it's cool because Hunter told me, he gave me advice that, I guess, Taker had given him. And he goes, when Taker told me this once, when you learn how to just be yourself, you're going to make a lot of money in this business. And then he was like, I know, that's weird, because how the hell do you not know yourself? It's you. And sure enough, I was like, yeah, what the hell does that mean? And then I figured it out.

It's just we try to be a version of ourselves that we think everybody else expects, which is not you. You're still pretending. I think now it's the closest to really me that you see. You know, especially with the judgment day and Maria. You saw a different version of me, you know. And I like that. I could show off different layers, like when I did work with truth. You know, that I just showed a different layer to me, like,

oh, I'm a normal person, you know, but still I'll kill you, you know. But yeah, going back, it was that moment with the match with Finn Bauer. He just brought something else out of me. And then Finn and I became boys after that match because I was like, oh, man, I'd love to do that. again and he was he was ecstatic about it and he chose me because at the time i think he was supposed to go into a program with gunther the pandemic happened he couldn't they just couldn't work and i think they asked him like well who'd you like to work with and he picked me wow and i'm grateful for it

the stuff with art truth is so good oh ronnie uh that guy i mean look it goes about saying at some point we're going to have to team. Like, we're going to have to properly. The guy is unbelievable how talented of a performer. Actually, I can't even say he's a performer. That's him.

Wow. Because we're in the locker room or backstage, just walking by off camera. And a guy has been in tears sometimes laughing. It's unbelievable how funny he is. And it's just his natural way of being. He's just a funny guy and a really lovable person. So everything you see on TV, that's real.

That's why. And it's clear as day that he broke me a few times. It seems like his goal is to get you to break, you know, when you're on camera. Yeah. I remember Hunter also telling me, like, laughing. You know, he was, Hunter himself was laughing about it. He was like, you have the worst poker face when you're around True. And I was like, what am I supposed to do, man?

You know, like, he does it to everybody. It is what it is. Yeah, I really enjoyed working with him. And I almost feel like Carlito was. was like a different version of that comedy, you know, just bringing a different aspect and a different layer to the judgment day. Or to me specifically, I think Carly does that a lot because, like, I react to stuff and then as soon as they're like, okay, I just die and laughing. And I'm like, bro, you're really funny. You know, I love working Carlito. What's the one where truth got you the

worst? Oh, man, there's a few. The one that always comes to mind is we were in the ring. And I know he said something about it. I could see it in your eyes or something. And I turned around because I was supposed to be serious. Like I wanted to be serious in that moment for me. Like I wasn't told to, but I wanted to be serious. So I turned around to laugh and the cameraman is right there on me. And that's what showed on TV was me laughing and then turning back around serious.

That one always stands out to me just because it was in the ring. But there's a bunch of backstages that I just couldn't have it. I can help it. It is what it is. I feel like the promos you cut now feel so effortless. What's the work that you've put in on your promos over the last few years to make it feel so seamless? Before and after every, anytime I have to speak, I'll go to somebody like specifically Heyman. And he just constantly reminds me of like, where are you from?

He goes, you from New York? And I'm like, yeah, he goes, why don't you talk New York? And I just got to remind myself and stuff like that. And then he'll critique my delivery on stuff. And then he's always like, don't worry about, don't try to force remembering what you're going to say because then you lose yourself.

Just talk, you know, and feel what you're saying and react accordingly. Because you don't have to pretend. You don't have to go out there. And then I think just having those things said to me over and over, now when I go out, I'm not so much worrying about a or what I plan on in my head to say, I just, I know what I have to talk about and just talk and react. You know, and I feel more comfortable.

I really do. And I think the judgment day obviously helped me with that. Having people to fall back on, especially when we were all talking. So it's like conversational. It just having your friends there made it so much easier, you know, like they took pressure off for you, you know. In those backstage segments with the judgment day, your voice booms through. right? Because like you've got this

deep voice, but it catches your attention, right? So if you're in another part of the room or if you're looking at your phone and they hear your voice, it's like, oh, damn, I've got to listen to this now. Yeah, it helps. The voice definitely helps whether there's intimidation

or just standing out and drawing attention. It definitely does help. Coming from a six-foot-five guy, it definitely seems imposing. So I'm glad I was blessed with a deep voice. You ever thought about doing voiceover work? Yeah, but I guess it's one of those things that,

like what I learned when I was in, you know, with my buddy when I was younger, with like, you gotta go to school for something, right? Because I was like, well, how do you do that? You show up and just be like, yeah, I can talk. I got a voice. No, you're sure you have to go train for that too in some way. So, but that'd be something, of course,

once I'm done wrestling, why not? It's probably a lot of guess. I would hope it's a lot less painful. I would assume so. I would assume so, yeah. And that's something you can do until you're 100 years old, too. You're just talking. Yeah.

So, of course, that's there. You know, I got the voice. Might as well. I feel like you could be like the new James Earl Jones. You know, it's like Darth Vader's voice. Or you could just say, this is CNN. You know, that's the big, deep, booming voice. This is there.

We got options. You've got plenty of options. And I feel like it just works so well with the promos that you cut. You know, you're big, you're tall, you're dark, you're intimidating, and you've got the voice too. It's like it all comes together. Yeah, I appreciate that. You work where you got, you know, and, you know, I've been blessed with, like I said,

like you said, the side and the voice. So I used it to my advantage, just like others before me did. You know, Scott Hall, Undertaker, these guys, they had imposing voices and size. Yeah. And they used it. Yeah. Let's go to backlash in Puerto Rico. First of all, when it gets announced, what does that mean to you?

It was when it became official, because what a lot of people don't know, that there was back and forth, that it almost didn't happen in Puerto Rico. And plain and simple, I don't think we would have done the match if it wasn't in Puerto Rico. Like, we were only going to do the match.

It was in Puerto Rico. So when they announced backlash in Puerto Rico, I was like, okay, this is real, this is happening. The island is getting a little shout-out. We get to represent. And for me, it was always, of course, I'm very proud Puerto Rican. But it was just representing the Latin community, you know, all Hispanics.

That to me was, look, opening the doors for a lot of stuff. And I'm not saying that Puerto Rico did, but look at how many PLEs were doing outside the immediate country. You know what I mean? I feel like the crowd reaction there was like got the company excited for, man, let's see what else they can do. And so we were excited and thrilled for that representation. obviously I was nervous in the idea of this has got to be really good it's me versus bad bunny one-on-one

you know in a high-profile match it isn't just a typical celebrity match they do two or three moves and it's tied by like really we're going to go 20 plus minutes have to get everybody emotionally invested into this and it's more than just again just be We were clapping hands for a celebrity. People needed to feel sympathy, excitement, fear, you know, all of it. That's what you want. So there was nerves in that sense. I knew that the work was going to be put in on Bunny's side.

Like I did not worry about him not being ready. But you never know of how things are going to play out, you know. That's a lot of confidence in you as well to be able to carry the majority of that match and make him look good. And I would think there had to have been. been a concern in the office too. Like, yes, there's confidence in me, but at the same time, they have to have been like, ah, that we make the wrong decision here. The hats, there has to be. Clearly, they did not make the wrong decision. Thank you. I don't think so either. I don't think

they do either. But I'm sure beforehand, because there was talk of changing it to a tag match. But at the same time, Bad Bunny and I were very adamant. We were like, we don't want to do a tag match. And I was proud of that one because, you know, obviously I helped train Buddy. I piece this match together the way I envisioned it. And he did as well, you know, like he had input and he had good, great ideas. And then I was very adamant about other representation. Like I wanted to use the LWO. I wanted, I requested Carlito and Savio.

Maybe requested it under the guys of, you know, Bad Bunny thought it was a good idea. You know, but they added so much, you know, especially for the crowd. Like, it was a cool moment. Like, it wasn't a typical match. So it was like, well, then let's go all out. If we're going to do it, let's go all out. And it was great that everybody was receptive, you know, and they thought it was the right move. And clearly it was.

I mean, every moment of that match was, I thought it was great. Hads down, my favorite match just because of what it represented. It was bigger than any winner loss. When you were standing in the ring and his music hits and it's one of the loudest reactions ever for an entrance, what are you thinking? Oh my God. It was overwhelming.

And I've said this. I've never felt a ring like a rumble or shake. Not what you're standing in there, you know, because you just don't feel it. I actually felt the mat shaking during his entrance. And I was like, wow, this crazy. And I even took a second to look around, you know, because it was just a, it looked like a wild scene.

Like it was a mixture of a concert with, I don't know, but like a Woodstock type of, it was insane. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Goose bumps as you're talking about. It's crazy. And it's funny because the following year, obviously I faced Jay and France at backlash. And that entrance was insane.

I feel like you want to have the greatest entrance of your life face me at backlash. Yeah, it was like everybody, every single person in the audience was singing his song. That was incredible. I mean, since then, now it's like common now. Everybody does sing a song. Nobody's saying Randy Orton's theme. Now they do. Now everybody sings it.

And I'm sure it wasn't like, I'm sure some did, but not to the scale. just like Cody's song. You know, people do the wall, and they sing along. But it wasn't the whole song. Yeah. It might be certain parts. It's not 100% everybody.

This was like literally 100% the entire arena. Yeah. It's the first time I've ever seen anything like that. Yeah. And I think a testament to you and a testament to the hard work that Bunny put in, the match was good. And whenever you put a celebrity in a match,

you kind of go, I don't know. It could be fun, but is it going to be good? And it was good. So congrats to both of you. Thank you. And that was the thing. Like, it was both.

Like, we had fun. Probably me more than him because he was in a lot of pain. A lot of pain. What hurt him the most? He's just not used to bumping. Well, that's the thing. It's like when we were training, and it was one of those things, I was like, we got to train a little harder than we did the last time.

I was like, because, and I explained to him, I was like, I'm going to hit you really hard. I was like, I have to. This is one-on-one. I was like, it's a street fight. I was like, I need you to not hold back. Like, you're in a street fight for real. Give me all you got. I was like, I'm not going to give you all I got because you'll die,

but I'll give you a lot. And I did, and I gave it to him. And, you know, that was the one thing. Like, you got to respect the guy that's not from this business. His body's not used to taking that much physical, you know, impact. And he kept on getting up, you know. Granted, he told me that it took him a few weeks. weeks to recover. He messaged me like three days after and he was like, I finally feel good enough to walk around.

Like he was, he was like, I barely come out of my bedroom. Like, I've been in so much pain. He was, I feel like I've been in a train wreck. Wow. And I think the worst thing for him was one of the Kendall shots. And I only gave me like 20 of them. I gave him one shot. But I did tell him, I was like, I'm only going to hit you once. Don't worry. And he goes, oh, okay. He goes, you sure? I was like, yeah. I'm sure. And it was one eye, so I went like a baseball bat. Then you, you rode that momentum, I mean, really into money in the bank, right?

So when did they tell you you're going to win money in the bank? Shortly after it was like, you know, after that moment, great moment, great for the community, great for the island. But now what? I just lost a celebrity at the end of the day, right? Like, okay, that was bigger than anyone lost, like I said, but the show continues. Sure. So now we got that business done, but now what happens to Damien Priest, the character on TV?

So I had those questions, and then, but I think I don't know if it was already the plan, but after that match, like, they knew they can trust me, like, more than ever. And then shortly after, within a few weeks, but then it was with always that wording of, things can change. Yeah, yeah. But as of right now, the plan is. And I'm, you know, obviously fortunate that the plans did not. Did they tell you you're going to win?

And then the idea is you're going to have this really cool WrestleMania moment. No, no. That's one of those things is like, we'll see what happens. You know, I, when I won the briefcase, I wasn't sure if I was going to catch in that night. Wow. You know, they don't tell you everything. I'm just putting that out.

I know that people think that we know. No, they might. They might have a long-term plan, which I know they did. Yeah. But they don't really articulate it fully to you. Probably for the main reason of they don't want you to get, you know, amped up and hyped and then, yeah. Sorry, things change.

Yeah. Then you're heartbroken, you know, like, because that's not cool either. So I'm pretty sure they like to keep it, you know. But like it's, but when they do tell you, they tell you with, but you know things can change. So take it with a grain of salt type of thing. That WrestleMania moment was pretty incredible. Yeah.

So before your music hits, you're standing backstage. What are you feeling? I just wasn't, I couldn't believe it was happening. You know, like that whole day, I didn't think, I knew that there was a possibility of things. They told me the day before that, look, things can change. We've seen things change. Yeah.

We saw the money in the bank when Brock won the briefcase. They came out of nowhere. You know, like, and that was a decision in that day, apparently, from what I hear. So to me, I was like, what if Brock's music hits? You know, like, I don't know. Just anything. Or at the last second, they're like, hey, don't catch it, you know, do something or whatever. I don't know, but I was, but then a part of me was like, I just go into business for myself.

So the whole day I was, I didn't want to have the same conversation with the talent and just everybody in the building of, are you catching in today? What are you doing here? So I stayed hidden for me, not because I didn't ask me to hide. I stayed hidden for me just because I didn't want to have these conversations. Only like the judgment day and Roman, because he saw me in the room. Like very few people knew where I was all day. And even still all day, I was just settled down because we don't know if this is actually going to happen until it happens. And that's how I treated it. But then when I went up to Guerrilla, right before the match started, then it was like, oh, boy, is this really going to happen? Oh, boy. And then I'm sitting there just watching the match and watching. And I'm just trying to stay focused on the match and enjoy the match as a viewer to hold my, nerves together. But when that bell rang and I was like, oh, this is happening. And I look

around, there's nobody telling me no. I was like, everybody's just, oh, everybody's relaxed. Nobody's coming up to me to be like, hey, don't change the plans. All right. I'm not listening to nobody right now. I was like, it's over. And that music hit and I was like, oh, right before I ran out, all I was thinking about was, I'm not going to sprint because, God forbid, I trip and fall. I was like, I'm going to have a good stride. Watch my steps. Make sure I don't trip over the mat. I don't want to do the funny around the corner.

You know, just comfortable. Yeah. Look cool. Forgot all about that. I said it just jetted down, just went around, almost fell. Like, around the corner. Thank God I didn't slip. I hit Drew so hard with that briefcase.

And it went flying. I didn't even know where it was. It almost ended up in the crowd. Can you imagine? There goes my cashing. You guys up with the crowd and somebody runs off with a briefcase. So I, like, I hit him and the, it left, and I didn't even know where it was, and then it landed in front of me after I took like five steps.

And I was like, oh, give it to Eddie to cash it in. But man, that was, when he hit the three, I just felt so accomplished, like, mission accomplished. That was a cool one. And that's one of those that I took it in. I really, like, I was in tune. Like, as soon as a three hit. I was very in tune of what was happening. Like I screamed, I looked at the crowd.

I see her. And that was the other thing. The fact that the way they reacted, of course, they were more reacting because everybody wants to see something special, something cool. It's not because they were cheering for me. I understood what it was. But it was still, that Philadelphia crowd made it 10 times better than what I would expect because of how they reacted and their energy.

They were hyped. And that, of course, now gets me going. You know, so I got to thank that crowd at WrestleMania for making it extra special. There's a lot of people to think like, oh, man, I'm 28. I'm way too old to do this. I'm 34. I'm way too old to do this. You win your first world championship at 41.

You're not too old for nothing. No. The world has changed. Like, when they say my age out a lot, like you just did. I'm the same age, so that's why I said it. It reminds me. Wow, I would never guess that. It reminds me of like, oh, wow.

I actually am that age, but I don't think that way. I don't feel that way. I feel the same way. Maybe I'm just because I'm immature. I don't know. Probably helps. Yeah, definitely helps. But like, when people are like, well, how many more you think you can do this?

I'm like, I don't know, a lot. Yeah. Because I'm fine, you know? And once I start getting stuff fixed, I'll be even better. So, like, I don't see any, like, I'm not going anywhere. But I think it's the idea there of, like, there's probably a point in your life when you're like, this isn't going to happen anymore

and I'm only going to keep getting older. Well, now you're at a point where it's like, well, I'm a world champion. Life's only going to keep getting better from here. It's got to. Like, that's exactly the way I'm thinking. You know, and I'm not the first to do it. There's guys way older than me

that I've been able to continue to have success and not just in wrestling, just in anything that they set their minds to. So I feel like I'm good. Like, I have a lot left, a lot left in wrestling and just entertainment business as a whole. So I'm pretty confident that, yeah, like, to your point, I feel like my best years are still ahead. Who instilled this in you? Who instilled this mindset in you that you can accomplish anything?

Like I said, I just decided to think the opposite of what I used to. I love that. Of course, you get advice from a lot of different people, family, friends, you know. people that you look up to idols, but ultimately it's on you to make the decision of what you're going to do with yourself and your life. And I, just the choice I made, I was like, if I truly believed since I was a kid

that I was destined for more than just the average, then it's got to be. And I got to be this way. I have to be this way and I have to be not just confident, just positive and willing to do what it takes. This episode is brought to you by Timeline. Timeline is a Swiss-based life science company, and they're a global leader in Eurolithnae research.

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Yeah, Rocket Money will negotiate your bills lower for you, sometimes up to 20% lower. And this was a nice surprise. I had kind of forgotten about this. And then this email showed up and I was like, okay, 20 bucks in my pocket. Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps you find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps you lower your bills like they did for mine so you can grow your savings. You can see all of your subscriptions in one place so you know exactly where your money is going.

And for any subscriptions you don't want, Rocket Money can help you cancel them with just a few taps. Stop wasting money on things that you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to rocketmoney.com slash CVV. That's rocketmoney.com slash CVV. When you talk about life outside of wrestling, there was talk about you being in Black Panther, too. Yeah. What ended up happening there?

It's a long story, but basically it got taken away from me, but not from Marvel. Did you have the role? Yeah. Oh, wow. Because I know earlier on it was like you were reading for the role, you were auditioning for it, so you got the role. Yeah. And I think we can read between the lines here that the regime was a little bit different at that time.

Exactly. Maybe you need another Marvel opportunity. That would be cool. I'm ready. And I feel like it could happen now. Well, and it's funny because now I'm busier than ever. So, look, come with me. I'm good with it.

You know, maybe I do something like that. I go a different route. and I'm not sitting here with you as the world champ you know like being a world champion like I won a world championship at WrestleMania like I don't know if that happens yeah so look

and I said this before like I live a certain way now that I can't look in regret I can't think about stuff that didn't work out my way I got to think about what's next and what else I can do positively for myself so it didn't work

it didn't work out Not the end of the world. The movie was great, though. It was a great movie. But you're right. Everything happens in life. Like, if this thing doesn't happen, then this thing doesn't happen. And then maybe you're not, you know, seen your money in the bank.

And then maybe you don't cash in it mania. And then and then and then. And all of that added up becomes the person who's sitting here in front of me right now. There's no reason to live in regret. Yeah. Exactly. Especially when there's so much positive to come. Yeah.

Like, we don't know. Yeah. So there's no point of being miserable for something that did or didn't. But it's, you know, you can't go back in time. It's not yet. So maybe one day. Maybe one day. Tell us something about Ria Ripley that we might not know.

She's a cornball. I mean, I pretty much, I think we've, in different, whether it's interviews or in the ring or just social media. Yeah, we're out there of how we are and, you know, what people know about us. She's my favorite person. Like, she really is. That's my homie, right to die, like, love her to death, you know. It's nothing I wouldn't do for her. But yeah, she's corny as hell sometimes.

She was wearing, when we interviewed her yesterday, she was wearing like these nine-inch heels. Ridiculous. Yeah. On these spiky boots? She sent me a video that the fans were taking. Yes. the broken on the ramp. Yes.

Yeah, yeah, holding out to my shoulder. She was like, I'm not going to make it. And I was like, hold on. You know. What's funny is her wearing those heels. She's almost as tall as you. Which I was like, what's wrong with you? And like, all they like, Hunter Caesar.

And he's like, of course. Then he actually told a funny story from NXT. He was like, it was almost like a competition between her and Raquel of who can seem taller. He was like, I would do these interviews instead of, I'd stand next to them. And I'm just looking at that at Rickal. Maria. I started laughing because I do remember those days that they were like doing it as almost like a rib to each other to see who could look taller. Yeah. So they were these ridiculous platforms and they're like six four, six five. She's already very tall. Yeah, exactly. So this is not necessary.

Not necessary. Where do you see things going from here? Like life is pretty great if you're Damien Priest right now. How does it continue to keep going up? It's one of those things that I don't know what it is, but there's got to be more. And I'm just going to keep striving for more, you know. Obviously, I've accomplished some goals, but there's still more. Like, I want to have, I want to be in the Hall of Fame. So I got a lot of work to do. Like I said, I've only been in the main roster for three years.

I feel like I need a few more and a few more at a high level. I need just more moments. For me to enjoy with my friends and family, you know, there's a lot more to Damien Priest to go that I need to happen so that when I actually am done, I could be like, man, I did everything. You know, and I haven't done everything yet. So that I want to do it all. I want to work with everybody.

I want to have every moment possible, you know, everything. You used to do hit the lights as you're finished. sure. What was the conversation of like, that looks a lot like the crossroads. Cody's coming back. You can't use that anymore. That was pretty much the conversation. Actually, they didn't say you can't do it anymore. It was like a conversation of, look, obviously it's a similar move. It's different, but it's still similar. Like, I do it differently, but it's one of those things. They're like, you might want to, but they never said change it. And even Cody was like, you didn't have to change it.

I was like, yeah, but if you come back and I'm doing this move, every time I hit it, people are going to think of you. But who had it first? Actually, I don't know the answer. I mean, Tess did it. So that's... That's also, is it similar to play of the day? Remember, Eilocks Skipper used to do that?

Elyleck's Skipper? Oh, that's similar. Similar, right? Kind of. I mean, I think I'm Stiner did it. Okay, all right. The move's been done. Yeah. It's a rolling cutter.

Yeah, variations of it. Yeah. So, and he has his own twist the way he hooks the arms and twists back and forth. I would do it more with, you know, taking my arm out and spinning underneath. But at the end of the day, it's a rolling cutter, right? So, and I was okay with it, you know, so basically anytime I face Cody, I'm going to hit him with it. But it's, look, it's a move. It's not that serious.

Like, I think everybody else thinks of it more serious than we do. I really didn't care. I was like, okay, I'll just go back to using the South of Heaven or razors or the flatliner that I do. I wasn't sure which one I wanted to use. You're like, I've got a lot of moves. Yeah, and I haven't even started doing submissions yet. Oh, uh-oh. So, which I got a few.

That's a page right out of The Undertaker's book. Wow. Yeah, and I have a different version of a Gogaplata. Oh, okay. But, no, but there's, that's what I mean. Like, there's a lot of stuff that we can do. I wasn't mad. I wasn't upset.

I knew it. I just didn't want people to think of him every time I did a move. You know what I mean? Like, it's one thing paying homage to somebody. It's one thing doing a similar move to somebody who works somewhere else, but when they're working in the same company,

on the same show. Yeah. It's, all right, you know, there's got to be a difference. When you premiered the documentary at SummerSlam, what was it like watching it with that audience? Odd. It was,

Although I was behind a curtain watching, it was very uncomfortable. I remember punk was sitting right next to me, and I would pretend to be on my phone sometimes just because I was feeling uncomfortable with certain scenes, just whether I was speaking or somebody in my family was speaking, and it was emotional parts, I would just pretend like I was not paying attention, just because I needed to distract myself.

Because it was a weird feeling of seeing something about you around a theater full of people, and then around some friends. It was just, it's not something you're used to. But punk was super cool with it. He was like, dude, this is so good, you know. He was like, don't feel embarrassed. And I'm like, bro, this is weird, you know.

But it was odd. But also, I was proud. Because at the end of it, like, it kind of reminds you of your whole journey because it's not something you think about all the time. Like I said, I think forward all the time. Like today, tomorrow, next month. Like, I'm looking ahead. not necessarily just constantly thinking about what I've been through.

This was like a crazy reminder. Even though I did a sit down interview about it, but as soon as I was done talking, it was, all right, go about your day. This was different sitting there and watching it and then watching clips and pictures

and having your family talk about it. I don't really talk to my family about that stuff. So it was a lot. It was heavy. But I was proud at the end of it. And then the reaction to everybody was it was pretty neat. How did it,

how did it even get pitched here that they wanted to do documentary? So I went to Connecticut to the headquarters for like some other interviews. I think I went to do the bum and do some other content. And then

I was just telling stories. And then when I was done, one of the producers came up to me, he was like, I'm not sure if we're going to use this. He goes, but I'm going to show this to some of the execs. And I think this is going to develop into something more.

I didn't even know what he meant by that. I was like, okay, like what? All right, whatever. Had me come out here just talk for an hour and then, like, for nothing. But I didn't realize what it was. And then they came back there like, remember when we told you? And I was like, yeah, they're like, okay, so we want to do a documentary on you.

And I immediately said no. I was like, ah, no, no way, no shot. I was like to show my, like my personal side, like my personal life, I show glimpses. Like, I've talked a little bit about it. Very, you know, sporadic, like, once in a while on the social media, I'll post something. But they don't do personal life too much. I'm Damien Priest.

Damien Priest is completely different. But then they convinced me with the idea of maybe somebody who's in a similar spot that you were in can listen to your words and see your journey and it can change their life. Yeah. the moment they said they worded to me that way, I was like, oh, yeah, fine. Like, of course, like, if I can inspire,

like, that was a thing, if I can inspire one person, just one, um, to change something for the better for themselves. It was worth doing it. I feel like in that promo that you did with Gunther, that inspired a lot of people.

He's talking about your upbringing, you know, and maybe it wasn't as good as his. And I think there's a lot of people, that see a truth in that and go, man, the way I grew up, maybe it wasn't that great. Damien Priest is my guy. That's the thing. And that's why I was okay with it. Once they got worded in a certain way and explained, yeah, because people can relate.

You know, there's a lot more people struggling than there are people that are set. Yeah. You know, that's just the unfortunate reality of the world. So, but I am one of those. not supposed to. So if I'm here, I'm sitting here with you talking about this right now, why should anybody else? It's possible. It's all on us. Gunther really went in on you on that promo. Yeah. It wasn't very nice at all. And I really went in on that right hand. If you see the way he dropped, there's no phoniness in that. To be fair, I may have told him to say

that. But it still got me hot when you hear somebody else saying. No, no. But it was, especially with the amount of time that we had to put in to make our match a SummerSlam worth, you know, people's interest, we needed to get personal fast and make it intense. And I think we accomplished that. Yeah. What's a Gunther Chop feel like? I can't even, there's no explanation. There's nothing you can compare it to. I don't grab a frying pan and have somebody swinging as hard as they can against your chest But like the and it's him drood like these guys just with these heavy hands This ginormous people and they perfected the art of slapping

Which is crazy right it's ridiculous It's brutal I mean you see how you've seen it Yeah it sucks Like there's no other word for it it But I hate being marked up like that for, like, and it doesn't go away right away. And you just marked up and you take a shower, it hurts, take a deep breath it hurts. You put on a t-shirt it hurts. Like, it all hurts.

So, yeah, not fun. Was it your idea to rebrand the Money in the Bank briefcase? Yeah. To make it senior money in the bank? Yeah. It's great because it, you know, everybody knows your heritage, but now it's in front of your face. It's like, okay, we see it. Yeah.

After a few failed cash-ins, I was like, It doesn't seem like I'm cashing in any time soon. So I went and I was like, hey, got an idea. And I presented it as merch. And they were like, great idea. I was like, you do a custom. And I was like, and I want to be called seigneur. You know, like throw a little difference.

Like, did everybody that's had different briefcases had like a thing to it? You know, the rated R, RVD, what his? Like there was different ones. I was like, I want to be seor. You know, it's the first one. It's completely different. And that's what you're always trying to be different, right? And I was like, I'm going to do purple, obviously, the judgment day.

And then they made a mock of it. And they showed me. And I was like, yeah, that works. That looks cool. And I loved it. And I'm glad I was able to hold it for so long now. In retrospect, because I had a cool briefcase that I was able to hold for so long. It also came from the idea.

It looked like I was carrying around a giant lunch. box around the airports. It was embarrassing. So that's really why I wanted to change it. And it becomes your carry-on luggage, right? Yeah. It becomes your personal item when you board a plane. Yes. A lot of times I would put it in my, I would check in bags just so I could put it in my check-in. Gotcha. Even though I didn't need a check-in bag, but I would just- But now you got to wait for luggage, you know, when you land in the city, I think there's nothing worse than that. The purple one, it was a little easier. And then it was, you know. When you're taking a money-in-the-bank briefcase through the TSA check-in, when you don't.

check it. Are people like, what money in the bank? What is this? Yeah. First of all, is the funniest thing. It was like, you got money in there? I'm like, it literally says in the bank. It literally says in the bank. But okay, let's let's let let's let them go. And then, like, some would be like, money in the bank manifesting. That's good. Good for you. And I'm like, thanks. You're like, well, actually, kind of. That's exactly what I'm doing. But then is it Empty on the inside? Just a contract. But I would put my toilet trees.

Sometimes, like, I wouldn't put my dirty stuff. That was a complaint that they told me from the get-go. They're like, hey, don't be, like, previous holders that they put their dirty stuff in here. And then just ruin these briefcases. I was like, I'm good. Don't worry. Like, I would just put, like, literally, like, stuff like that, like toilet trees or take my gear to a show in them. but yeah i used it i legitimately used like a real briefcase just i don't have like paperwork so

yeah i have to use other stuff just have the contract in my sunglasses and stuff like that's so funny your story's really inspiring and i'm sure you heard this when you aired the documentary but there's something about that that people can relate to and just the whole idea through this whole conversation we've had of like if you can believe that it's true if you can believe that you can do it if you work enough, you can accomplish it. You can. And worst case scenario you don't is still a great scenario because you would have experienced so many cool things on the ride. Yeah, you're in a much better place than you would have been if you just gave up and didn't try it all. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. Congratulations on everything, man. Thank you. I appreciate it. And I appreciate you making the

time here. I'm going to hit you with the question that I end every conversation with because gratitude's so important to me. What are three things that you're grateful for as we see? As we sit here right now? The number one thing is able to help my family. I wasn't in that position before, so I am extremely grateful for that. I am grateful

for the fact that I've changed my life around, and I live positively, and I'm mentally healthy, and I'm grateful for the fact that my story can inspire others to do the same for themselves. Appreciate you, man. Thank you.

All right, my friends. Thank you so much for being with us on this one. And a big thank you to Damien Priest for making the time to sit down with us. It is so hard not to be inspired by that story. He was the World Heavyweight Champion when we recorded this. I wonder how long it'll be till he's the World Heavyweight Champion again, which I guess begs the question, how long does Gunther hold it for? And then who does he lose it to? What are we talking here? We're talking Gunther holding it into 2025? Does he lose it before the end of the it'll be so interesting to see.

But we talked about Damien Priest's documentary. It was the weekend that it was being premiered. We sat down for this interview during SummerSlam weekend. Go check it out. It's available now. And man, it'll hit you in all the feels. So snap a screenshot of this episode. Go watch that episode of 24 and tag us so we can share it.

He's at Archer of Infamy on Instagram. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. and I will leave you with this quote. The magic you're looking for is in the work that you were avoiding. Be great. Be grateful, my friends. We will see you on the next one for some more insight with Drew McIntyre.

We will see you on Thursday for that one. 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. What's your beef? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned.