Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Heath Slater on WWE release, Cody saying he's not interested, "I Got Kids" was an accident

Episode Date: May 8, 2020

Heath Slater joins Chris Van Vliet for this conversation from his backyard in Fort Mill, SC. He talks about being released from WWE, never getting an opportunity as a singles competitor, his thoughts on 3 Man Band members Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre winning the WWE Championship, how his catchphrase "I Got Kids" happened by accident, being genuinely surprised to wrestle Vader on RAW, his thoughts on Cody's comments that he's not interested in hiring him for AEW, what's next for him and more! Thanks to Bet Online for supporting this episode. Use the code BLUEWIRE at https://www.betonline.ag/ to get a Welcome Bonus on your first deposit at http://BetOnline.ag to get a Welcome Bonus on your first deposit. Also a big thank you to BlueChew! Visit http://bluechew.com and get your first order for FREE when you use the promo code BLUEWIRE. Just pay $5 shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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That's a great question. Look at you, man. What's the powerful questions. Woo! Is the Chris Van? Vliet show. Chris Van Vleet Show. Ladies and gentlemen,

Chris! Well, here we go. Welcome back to the Chris Van Vleet Show. This episode is brought to you by Bet Online and Blue Chew. And what a week this has been. Oh, man. Thank you so much for tuning into the conversation with Matt Cardona, formerly known as Zach Ryder, when that one dropped on Wednesday.

Thank you for joining us now for this chat with Heath Slater. Woo! Two bangers in a week. And if you listen to the interview with Ryder, he was super open about being released from WWE and just so super positive about it. And the same is true in this interview with Heath. So many of you guys took screenshots of that interview with Zach Ryder and that episode. You tagged me on Instagram and Twitter.

That was awesome. I re-shared all of them. And as you know, VEG goals get vague results. And I said in January that the goal was 100,000 followers on Instagram. So if you haven't followed me yet on Instagram, I'm at Chris Van Vleet. Let's get in on that. Speaking of specific goals,

we're getting really close to that goal of a thousand reviews on Apple Podcasts. We're now at 855. So do some out here real quick. 145 away. And it's all because of reviews like this one from Greg Matt Doff. The Joe Rogan of Wrestling. That's what you called this. Wow.

Great podcast. The best wrestling podcast out. what Joe Rogan is to MMA, CV is to wrestling. Love the content. Keep up the great work. Let's get to a thousand, followed by three exclamation points. I couldn't agree more with you, Greg Matt. Greg Matt Doff.

Thanks for the very nice review. Joe Rogan is also someone I've looked up to as a broadcaster since he was hosting Fear Factor. That was almost 20 years ago. I remember talking about how much I loved his conversational style when I was in college. and I'm studying communication studies. And the thing I love most about Joe Rogan

without going off on too much of a tangent here is he's taken all of his passions and he's turned them into jobs. Very, very lucrative jobs. He loves MMA and he's the color commentator for UFC. He loves comedy. He's a touring comedian. He loves having in-depth conversations.

Well, now he's one of the biggest podcasters in the world, if not the biggest podcaster in the world. throw some hosting in on top of that man. He's carved out a pretty nice career for himself. So back to the reviews. I'm going to keep reading one on every episode until we get to that goal of a thousand reviews. I wonder how long it'll take.

Hmm. I wonder if we'll get to the thousand reviews before episode 100 of the podcast. Because this is officially episode 87. Not bad for a show that started last June. Wow, that's actually more podcast episodes than I thought. 87 episodes in like 10 months. But that all leads us to this one with Heath Slater,

who was released from his WWE contract on April 15th after 14 years with the company. He sees it as an opportunity to spread his wings and fly like a new baby bird leaving the nest. Those are his exact words that you'll hear here. And if you think about it, he never really got a chance to shine in WWE. I mean, sure, he won the tag team titles three times with Justin Gabriel, once with Rhino,

but he kept being bounced between different tag teams and different factions. Nexus, the core, three-man band, Slatergator, social outcast, you get the point. He never really had that chance to shine as a singles competitor. He talks about what the plan is from here as a singles competitor. And also how the I've Got Kids gimmick was created by action. accident and how he was genuinely surprised when he wrestled Big Van Vader on Raw. Says he, the advice that he received from Arne Anderson and Dusty Rhodes has helped him so much in his career.

We dive into that and so much more. Put your hands together for my guest, Heath Slater. Well, Heath, thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me, my man. For anyone that's, too, man. For anyone to do, man. Oh, well, thank you. I haven't got a haircut in forever.

So it's just going to keep getting bigger and bigger up here. That may be. Elvis look, man. Well, I'm trying to make it a little smaller. You got the right idea. I should just be wearing a hat all the time. Yeah, why not, right? That's the way to do it.

For anyone that's watching this, it looks like you're in a beautiful setting here. Oh, yeah, this is my, you know, my peaceful place. I got my water over here, nice, cool breeze. I come out here to think and bullshit and stuff like that. But you live out in like the middle of, you know, nothingness, right? I want to say people think that, you know, just because of how it's set up. But no, I live in a nice community, you know. I mean, it's close to places and stuff.

It's close to places and stuff. Yeah, it's not way back in the boom docks. But you can, I can see how people get that feel when they look at the pictures I take or the videos I shoot with kids and stuff. What is the closest, like, major city that you're close to? Well, I mean, I live in Fort Mill, South Carolina. So that's a pretty big city, but... I guess. I think most people know, like, Charleston or something. True, yeah. But Charlotte's the closest city to.

Okay. And how far are you from Charlotte? 25, 30 minutes. So that's your airport? Yeah. Okay. So, okay, I don't make sense here. I get it. Yeah, not bad. So you've been spending a lot of time? out in your thinking and bullshitting area?

Honestly, yeah, I have. I've just, I don't know, you know, thinking about the future, thinking about what's next, you know, planning and stuff like that. So, you know, just get my mind right. And during the day, man, hitting these garage workouts. It's been kicking my ass. I've been keeping up with your workouts, which I'm jealous of. because my workouts have consisted of body weight workouts, which, let's be honest, they're not real workouts.

Man, it keeps your heart rain up a little bit, I guess. I guess. I'm so excited for gyms to open whenever that happens. For sure, I know. Who knows, you know? But yeah, man, I've been doing this CrossFit stuff now. And, you know, I never was a fan of it, you know, or anything. And then the last month, man, it's just been getting it hard.

and it's like one of those things that it sucks so bad that you start liking it, I guess, you know. But yeah, man, those workouts, they really get to you. But they work. So, you know, I've been telling, you know, the inches have been leaving the body and tightening it up more. So, and then again, it's one of those workouts. It's good for the ring because in the ring, you know, you go, go, go, go, go. Then you have a little rest spot. Go, go, go, go, go.

Go-Go, go, go, a little rest spot. CrossFit kind of works like that also. Do you have like a goal in mind of how much weight you want to lose or perhaps gain and muscle? Not at all, man. I'm just going to let my body form itself. I'm just going to bust my ass and see what happens. Well, how's everything going, you know, for you, you know, obviously, one with quarantine. And it's been about three weeks since the news came that you were released. How's everything going for you? Um, quarantine is, I mean, to me, it's not bad at all.

You know, I go to the store once a week, get whatever I need for that week or a week and a half. And I stay home, chilling with the kids, man, and working out, doing homeschooling, which is hard. I didn't understand how hard second grade and kindergarten homework was. You're a teacher now. Yeah, right? I'm going to have so many skills when I come back. But yeah, and teachers, man, they don't get paid enough.

I mean, I'm going to put that out there. My goodness, man, some of the stuff they're doing, I'm just like, I don't think I did this until, like, the fifth grade. So, I don't know. But the whole release, you know, like, it's one of those things, you know, it happened. I mean, hell, I was there for 14 years, and the pandemic had to take me out.

So whatever, you know, 14 years is a good run. You know, 10 years on the main roster. I have no ill words to say, you know. It's just one of those things. I mean, hell, they gave me everything I've got, you know. And one thing I've always wanted to do was wrestle, and I got to do it for, you know, a decade on television. I mean, I was 22 when I got signed, I think.

Something like that. I mean, I was a kid. And, you know, just exploring life and adventure. And, hell, that's what WW does, too, man. It's like, you know, you go everywhere and see everything with them. But no, you know, of course, it's like any other relationship. You have your ups and down. I mean, that's any job.

If anyone ever, anybody out there says, oh, I love my job so much, I wake up every day and I do it. Man, that's bull crap because it's not true. You know, everyone has their ups and downs with their jobs, but you know, you just got to make the best of it with what you get. So, you know, I mean, the only thing I have to say is thank you. But now, I mean, I'm 36. I still feel like I'm active young and I can still go out there,

you know do some things so I just want to do things that never were able to do you know like the whole I never ever been to an other federation you know like I've been to be the whole time so yeah it's like TNA has good workers you know triple A you know new Japan AEW you know all these like you know feds around here to where like you know new spices go in there it's going to chase some things up you know even in W.A, man, NWA was fun. You know, so, I mean, that's just one of those things where, like, yeah, it sucks. It happened this way.

But then again, it gives me the chance to go out there and spread my wings and fly a little bit like I never have. Like a new baby bird leaving the nest. We had Zach Ryder on Matt Cardona recently, and he said that he kind of saw the writing on the wall that he was actually expecting to get released after, you know, the pandemic happened. Same thing for you? I want to say, like, I saw the writing on the wall

for like a couple years or something. Only reason I say that, because like, you know, I never was really into anything after me and Terry or rhino. So it was one of those things where it was just like,

well, he can you put this guy over and make him look good, you know, whatever, you know, and I'm good at that, I guess, you know, that's what people say anyway.

But it's one of those things that were like, uh, yeah, you know you can see it but it it doesn't really smack you in the face until it happens type deal you know but i literally thought with this whole pandemic and everything how everyone was letting body off like i felt like w w w w you know they would have kept them all you know kept them strong but um but yeah i mean it happened but it was like like matt was saying um he saw a miss call from carano same thing

with me because i saw it and i'm just like looked at my wife i'm like hey i'm about to get fired she was like think i said oh yeah i am so then i called carano and i said that line to him like can you tell me after dagon 14 years a damn pandemics will take me out he did he literally just was like man like i'm sorry you know but you know this is the decision it was like one of those things that he just was like man i didn't want to say it but right well there i mean there was a point in 2014 when two of the three members of three mb were released yeah did you think that that was going to to be, you know, your time as well back then. Oh, I called Corona again and asked him if he forgot to call me, you know, and he told me I was

safe. Dude, I, seriously, like, I remember Drew calling me, let me know. And I'm like, no, you have to be kidding me. And then gender calls me, let him me know again, you know, and I'm like, oh, I'm next, you know. I just waited and waited and waited and nothing. So I literally called Corona and I was like, hey, man, like, am I getting let go? what's going on and he was like no you're safe i'm just that's when i was like blown away like what what what what happened you know like it's just confusion you know and then there's one of

those things that i'm lost up there like i was been in this rock band you know for them two years going around you know and now it's just me again so it was like well i already did the whole one-man band thing and two well i had like a one-man band one-man rock band one man southern rock band one just the one man band after that and then after all that ended it was oh i need a band three on beat for two years after that you know and i'm just like oh my goodness what now it's like i didn't want to go back playing air guitar and looking like an idiot so it was just like trying to remold yourself you know and then it's like i've become this free agent into a guy with a lot of kids live in a trailer park So I don't know.

Yeah, where did that idea come from? I got kids. Who came up with that? Brother. Excuse me. I literally had a promo with Brock. And halfway through the promo, like, because it's like one of those interaction ones, me and Paul going back and forth.

I just forgot my next line. So I'm just like, shit. Damn. So next thing you know, Paul delivered him. And I just remember saying something like, you know what, I've got kids. You know, I have to do this. Am I going to get my ass with probably? You know, like I just went off, like just saying whatever I wanted to wear at least the people like that.

You know, they giggle. It was like, yeah, come on Slater. But it was just one of those things that when you're out there and then you, you know, with all the written promos most of the time, it's like you forget, you know, because it's not really you saying it. So I just turned into me out there. It's like, man, I got kids. You know, and I guess it's heard that and was like, that sounds obnoxious, but I love it. Next thing you know, it's on a t-shirt. That was my very first ever singles t-shirt.

I got kids. I need this job. Like, come on, man. Speaking of, I appreciate this one. I appreciate this Leonard Skinner t-shirt you're wearing. Oh, yeah, man. Heck, yeah. Who doesn't like some winner?

No, like I said, I just had Matt Cardona on and he's putting himself over with his own gear. I appreciate your just rocking your favorite band. Yeah, yeah, they're one of them, man. Oh, what are the other ones? Guns and Roses, I love. Literally, I think I'm just saying this because I've just recently started listening to him again. Do you remember Hinder? Oh, yeah, the lips of an angel.

Yeah, man, they had so much good stuff. What happened to those guys? Dude, I know, I don't know. I remember their whole first CD, man. I can just stick it and listen to it. And I think Hawkins literally posted something about Hinder. And they're saying, you know, I'm like, hey, Alexa, play some Hinder. You know, and I've been listening to Hinder now.

I can't name one other song other than that one, though. Lifts of an angel. And still do you know. Oh, no, just buy their first CD and just listen. It's so good. I'll just look it up on Spotify. I don't know if anyone's playing CDs anymore. Dude, I'm kind of old now.

I'm the exact same age as you, Heath. 36? I'm 36. Oh, well, no, I'm going to have an old soul or something. I don't know. Maybe. So, you know, you said you've been spending a lot of time thinking and planning, so what's the plan? Man, my plan is to get the best shape that I can and literally just come back with a whole new look and a whole new me.

Just me being me. Like what we're doing right now. Because I always had to play a part, you know. Always was something or someone. But, man, it's like every time I'm just being me and being myself, like everyone's just like, dude, just do that guy. Just be him. Just go out there and say that, do that, you know,

to where I'm like, shit, that's easy for me now. So, I mean, I think I'm pretty good in the ring. I'm not great. I'm all right. But if I can just be me and be a half out there and look good, be in me and having fun, I can't lose, man. You know?

So, well, if you're going to be you, does that mean you're planning to wrestle under your real name? You're going to be Heath Miller? I think I'm just going to be just simply Heath. Just Heath, you know, that's it. I mean, it's either that. I don't really want to be Heath Miller, but my middle name is Wallace. So Heath Wallace, I don't know, because I don't know. I could see that like on a billboard Wallace.

You know, I don't know. I may be just think of Braveheart or something, I don't know. Being just Heath, I feel like that, you know, that was a missed opportunity in WWE. They took everyone else's last name away, you know. That's true. It didn't happen to you. I know, that's true. I don't know, man.

Yeah, probably just Heath. All right. So we've got, you know, a new name, a new attitude. And I'm guessing when things open back up, you're going to be looking into maybe taking some indie bookings. Of course. I would love to I want to I want to do it all man

I just want to swim up the stream and just hit them have a good time hitting them man and just make it like a you know a chapter two you know but it's like I don't know a lot of people's telling me it's like I'm going backwards

because they they always say man you push the start there and then go to WWE you know not stay up there forever and then hit everything on the way down I was like well I mean that's just the way

out of my cars were dealt, you know. Sorry. My wife's mad at me. I screw the jars on the lid's too hard. Come here. And, uh, you can't do. We're going to unscrew this live in the interview. Oh, yeah.

I love it. No, we're not, not live on like, oh, look at, look at the strength of this man. Dude, I know. I've been working out. Wow. Um, she says hot. Oh, wow.

um where was i at i don't know i got so distracted by the strength of you opening these jars you were talking about how you're you know you started to the top and now you're going to work back but but it's one of those things like that's how my cards was dealt man like i didn't have the opportunity to you know go to japan and hit up all these other fads you know and work the indies you know or go to you know Mexico and Puerto rica like all these other guys got to say they they knocked them all out and then you know you know went to w w v i was lucky enough to get signed in a year and a half on the georgia indies you know like wrestling in georgia for a year damn i got signed so it was just one of those things where i'm

like whoa all right i'm here heck yeah i must be good but but then you know 14 years later man i stayed with it stayed with them and i'm not the type of guy that's ever going to quit so i mean if i'm going to keep signing contracts of course let's go you know hopefully something's good going to happen, you know? Yeah. But, yeah, it's just one of those things that where, like, I never got the opportunity to do that, you know. And there's like, and like I was saying,

there's some good little, you know, organizations out there to where you can have a lot of fun with. Are you hopeful that at WWE, maybe in a year or two or three, we'll say, hey, you know, we figured things out, and we'd love to have you back. I mean, if they do, they do. They do. I mean, I'm not hope or, like, planning on that to just happen.

I mean, I'm going to have to bust my ass and, you know, re-event myself and do my thing, you know, getting, like, stuff stirring again. So, but I'm kind of good at that. So I think, you know, that I'm where I'm at right now, I want to go and have fun, look good doing it, and just, like I said, have fun. That's my main goal right now, you know, like I've done good with my money. you know we got everything set up you know it's one of those things to where like i'm okay so it's i want to go out there have fun and just rock it man

was there look good doing it of course were there a point where this wasn't fun anymore oh yeah of course man of course man you know like like i was saying like before like everyone knew that i was burnt out you know like i was like i mean like during my arrive nose run was awesome and fun but then towards the end when it was just the same thing over and over and over and over again and he left and then I was doing nothing nothing nothing for like three years it was just you know you burn out you know and I mean this happens to like everyone when I say that they're just like oh how can you be burn out uh you know how can you do this man you can't tell me other people at their jobs you know doesn't get burnt out like it happens you know it happens sorry but it happens but it happens but it's just one of those things were like I was burnt out. I wasn't being used. And when I was being used, it was just getting my ass slaughtered.

So it's like, damn, like, I could do more than just this, you know. But it's just one of those things that were like, you know, you do get burned out, you know. I mean, but that's on me, you know. Like, it's not like I, like, really pushed and strive to get what I wanted either. So it's like, you know, I'm not blaming them for nothing, if anything. It's all on me. But yeah, but I mean, I was burned out and like I know my co-workers saw it.

My family saw it, you know. But it was like I've told people this before. Like I would have never quit. But with this release gave me that chance to get motivated again. Gave me that chance to like all the fires out. But if you stirred a little bit, you can see that flame. You know, like I guess the main thing is. motivated. Like, I'm motivated again. I like it.

That's, that's 100% the main key. Like, I'm, I'm wanting to go out there, like, show my ass and prove myself, you know. But it's motivation, man. I've got it back. I'm motivated to do things again and go out there and actually perform work and do it my way. How much of the travel is what, you know, kind of factored into you being burnt out? Bro, I was a decade every week. I mean, with the travel, man,

it was like the first six years. I was home two days a week if that. Wow. A week. And this is like five, six years. You know, like on the road every week. You know, getting home, the first day you're home, you're just tired and a zombie. You know,

and then the next day you're okay, or waking up, you know, and all this stuff. And then the following day, you've got fly right back out. And then it's, you know, know Friday show Saturday show Sunday show Monday show Tuesday TV home Wednesday Thursday Friday back out you know it's just go I mean like I was telling Lillian it was one of those things where like I had to watch my first girl's steps on Facebook or FaceTime you know I miss Christmases Halloween dancer saddles like and all of that weighs on you know man I'm it's like I'm getting little emotional talking about it

But it's one of those things like, man, it was like just weighs on you. Yeah. But WWV is a good job. And it's where I always wanted to be. You know, so it's like, it's like a tug-a-war battle because it's like I'm providing for them. But I have to sacrifice for them to get that. You know, it's just one of those things where it's like it's a double blade. Yeah.

When you say that, you know, it's on you that you didn't push for some of the things that you wanted, What would you hope that you could have pushed for? What could you have accomplished that you didn't really fight for? The whole free agent thing is what always comes to my mind. Because when we always was talking about it, it was like for me to work my butt off for Stephanie and shame, but I get a shot in the ice and tight. And I win that. That's how I get a contract.

You know, that was the whole story. and then it went from that to the tag team title. And I get signed and put with Rhino and stuff like that. I mean, which was great. And I love Rino, you know. But it was one of those things where I'm like, man, I already been championed three times. Like, let me swim this way a little bit, you know?

I mean, too, let me get it. And next week I'll lose it. Like, whatever. But it's like, let's get that, you know. But they wanted to get it this way. So we went that way. Something that Matt touched on in his interview was sometimes they only see you the way that you entered the company. And you guys both entered the company super young.

And you know, you might be five or ten years in your career. And they're still thinking of you as that 20, 22 year old. Do you think that might have been part of it? I kind of feel like with WWV, they always have like these tiers of shelves. but you start at the bottom shelf and then you know there's always that top shelf and then you got your middle shelves you know it's just like at a grocery store but I felt like for some reason I'm always on that second shelf I never could get to the third fourth fifth or six you know I was always stuck on that second shelf and then whenever they wanted to use me to take me off the shelf

shine me up me out there but they put me right back on that second shell you know I could never go out there, you know, shine for the people and everything, come back and get on the third shelf, saying, oh, we can use him more or nothing. I feel like I've always been, like, on that second shelf where I'm just like, dude, why can't I climb up to the third

or the fourth level? Like, I can have good matches with these guys and make them look amazing. Like, what's the problem here? You know, like, that was always my, like, what the hell? Why can't I move up? What's going on? Like, why is that ceiling so thick?

You know, but then again, they honestly might think of me as West Virginia country boy with no teeth with 30 kids at a trailer park. What I was playing. Like, I don't know. You know, like, I don't know. Well, I don't know their mindset. Like, I try to talk to him, but it's like, you never know. You never, you always go around the bush. But now you've got the opportunity to be and do anything you want to do.

That's why I'm happy and excited, you know? That's why I'm like, let's go, you know. New chapter here. What was your reaction when your name was brought up in Cody's live Q&A? And he said, no, no, no to Heath. It was funny because I think it was like two days later, one of my buddies sent me a thing of it. It was like, is this true? And I like read it.

And I'm like, first thing I thought of was like, one was, I mean, me and Cody, we've never had harsh words or nothing, you know, like we never disliked each other. but I know how Cody is, you know. And when he said it, I was either like, he's either serious, which he very well could be, who knows, or he wants the reaction. And he knows I'm going to, I don't shut up, you know, I'll tell you how I feel. You know, I mean, people I shouldn't know this by now. So it's one of those things where I'm like, oh, no, huh,

you didn't even scratch your damn head, even think about it. Like, my goodness, like, to me, like a lot of people might see me as Pete Slater, WW Superstar, Jobber, you know, workhorse, always put the guys over, whatever it is, you know. But in reality, I'm a 14-year vet. My goodness, I have wrestled everyone underneath the daggone sun, anyone and everyone you can think of, you know? I have been trained by Mr. Hughes, Rocky King, Pistol Pez-Watley,

Abdullah the butcher, Elych Skipper, Bill DeMont, Dr. Tom, Norman Smiley, Billy Kidman, Steve Kern, Dusty Roads. Like, I have a list of guys that has sprinkled stuff on me, you know, to where I'm like, shoot, there's a lot up here that I never could show. But now I'm going to be able to show what I want and do what I want. bad business decision hell yes you know but it's his business whatever he wants to shoot well i think you followed up and basically said i would you know you should obviously be able to tell that i was joking maybe who knows this is coding i never know with it i guess well i mean when you talk about that travel schedule being really tough with w e w's travel schedule would be perfect for you. I don't even know what it's like, man. Hey, what is? Did they do just TVs once a week?

I'm out watching. You either fly in Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning and then you fly out Thursday morning. Oh, thank you. Wow. That's nice. I'll salute to that. Yeah, you're gone for one, maybe two nights and then once a month with the pay-per-views since one weekend. Oh, yes. Yes. I'm sure you know this from your friends that are in AEW. Well, I mean, I speak to them and everything, but we usually talk about life and, you know, and how it is there, you know. We don't really talk about traveling schedules and stuff like that. But, shoot, that's great. That's a good schedule.

A very good schedule, yes. Well, from your friends that are in AEW, what do they say about how it is there? Man, they're having fun. Legit having fun. And that's what you want to be having to be having. Exactly, you know. So it's one of those things where like they're having fun. They don't have no bad words. That's a fact. So that's always a plus, you know, but then again, it's just one of those things where I mean, it's brand new, you know, like it's new, you know, so you never know what's going to go on, you know, two years down the road, three years, who knows, you know. But as of right now, the ones I talk to, they're just loving it. And I mean, that's good for them. only option, impact wrestling, ring of honor. You could go to Japan. NWA has a great thing going right now. I wouldn't mind to hit up all of them. You know, just go in, have some fun with whoever it is,

and move to the next one. If you had the chance to spend some time in Japan, since, you know, you haven't wrestled there, is that something to be interested in? Of course. 100%. I feel like you're going to say yes to everything. I love this. This is great. Yeah. I mean, well, I like, I like, I like, like New Japan, one, because I always did want to know, you know. But then, two, it's like, I've got friends over there and, like, friends over here that's, you know, still go back and forth, you know, so, but it's just one of those things to where, like, just the atmospheres over are so different, you know, the crowd's so different. But then again, it's like they get into it in different ways to where your work's going to have to be different also and everything. But like, I just like the fact because, I mean, shoot, it's New Japan. I mean, it's been around for forever to where, I mean, it's just one of those things

where it's like one of those, like any wrestler I feel would always want to be there and go there. Yeah. Do you have an opponent, not necessarily in Japan, but do you have an opponent that you haven't worked with somewhere that you'd love to do some work with? I would, like, over there, you know, like, always, like, I remember. Tanahashi came to FCW and this was a decade or so

no long as that yeah it was when FCW finally got into the warehouse he came down I want to say he was with Yoshi but he came down for a visit you know and just talking shaking hands and stuff but then left and then

he was huge in Japan but I remember there me and him just talking this stuff and he had like his you know hair all you know, cut weird and wild and stuff. But then I remember seeing his clips and everything, and then people reminded me that was him, that was him. And I was like, oh, crap.

You know, and then he became, you know, the megastar over there to where, like, I would like to go and work him over there, to where, you know, I feel like that would be cool. And, like, another match is like Kenny Omega, you know. I worked him back in developmental days in Deep South. And that's the only match being him ever had. And we were babies, you know, to where I like to work him again. get, you know, because it's, oh, there's only one time, you know, but then again, I feel like

now, you know, it's being seasoned matured and everything. I feel like we can kill it. I just want to take a quick pause to thank our sponsors for this episode. A big thank you to betonline.ag. And with currently no MBA, NHL, or MLB, you might be thinking there's nothing to bet on. Well, that's where you'd be wrong, because our exclusive partner, BetOnline, still has hundreds of events, games, and props to wager on. From their online casino to poker and Blackjack, they are bringing Vegas to you. Missing the NFL? No problem, because Bet Online has live daily

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short matches of yours or I've seen a lot of tag matches. And if we really take it back here and if someone really wants to see what you're all about, what match do you recommend they take a look at? Oh, goodness. I know the one that me and PJ Black did back in FCW, and this is a long time ago. Wow. We had a 30-minute Iron Man match to where...

A three-man 30-minute iron match? No, no, no. It was me and PJ Black with a 30-minute Iron Man. match and dusty you know was on commentating uh Howard Finkel introduced us uh aren't Anderson would came down to be the agent like they made it like special and big and we had 30 minutes to go we went down all the way down I think three seconds to when he beat me but that was like one of the last matches as a singles competitor that I had time in you know instead of doing like that's what I'm saying instead of doing like 10 minutes here 12 minutes there you know not really

showcasing kind of rushing like that match we actually took her time and it was like paste and good you know but that was that long ago you know I had long hair you know down to here you know so it's like my goodness but it's like it's like one of those things to where like I feel like over my years I became more of that entertainer wrestler instead of the wrestler So, I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm still going to entertain and have fun. But I'm just going to try to showcase more things now and stuff like that, I guess. Well, you've got the opportunity.

You could wrestle PJ Black. He's wrestling all over the place still. That's very true, man. He actually just got off the phone with him for about an hour ago before I got on here with you. Oh, what a great guy. He's been on the show before. I'm such a big fan of his work and just him as a person.

Oh, yeah. He's a great guy. You talk about your long hair, which is obviously such a different look than what you have now. Take me through the process of that change in your look. When you're talking about from long hair? Just when you went from long hair to short hair. Man, I remember Johnny Ace came to me at Deep South, and this was before I was side. And I was just going up there being their little rag doll.

And he looked at me and he was like, man, you're good. You know, I need to sign some guys. Grow your hair out for him. Okay. You know, six months later, I think, it was in that awkward stage of where you can't do nothing with it. There's a few pictures out there where it's like spike to where it looks like I stuck my finger in electric.

Oh, kind of like mine right now. No, yours was way better. Mine was horrible, like Drop Dead Fred style. Like, just nasty. And he came and looked at him and he was like, hey. You're growing your hair out. You listen. He was like, you can have a tryout, that type deal.

So I'm like, great. Then I had a tryout and got signed. So from there on, I just let it keep grow and growing and growing until it was like to that point to where I can like double bun it on top of my head. You know, it was just so long. And then I let it grow as long as can be shaking it, coming out to my music, being that cocky dude I was down there. And then right before NXT told me to cut it.

And I just was like, whoa, what? I was like, you had me growing this hair out for this long, and now you want me just to cut it? You know, he said, yeah, cut it off. I was like, no. He was like, what do you mean? No. I was like, if anything, I'm going to cut it like here.

Like, I can't cut it all the way off. Like, there ain't no way. So then he's like, all right, take it to your shoulders. So that's when I debuted on NXT on television with the shorter hair because I had a fight to keep it that long, but he wanted me to cut a cut it, just to look different. I'm like, hell no, I can't do that. And then from there on, it was just like, man, it was like, it'll get in your mouth when you wrestle and choke you.

And then it's like one of those things. Like with me, I would always wash it, but then put it in a bun and go to sleep. And then I wake up the next morning and then it would just stink again because I just let it sit, you know, with the water in it. I'm like, man. And then like, it always had this kink in it to where I would have to have a hair straightener and try to straighten it. And I don't use hair straighteners, you know? So I'm like trying to straighten it and everything. And it's just, I don't know, just too much is what it was.

And then I remember I got hurt or something. I was out for like two months before a Rumble. And I just cut it all off, showed up the TV. And everyone just was like, what you didn't ask them? Oh, no, I just did it. And they just look at me like, what the hell is that? What did you do that for? I was like, man, I needed to change.

I didn't want to do it no more. I just couldn't do it. Wow. And that's how it pretty much the process. Well, you know, is the new character, the new gimmick, going to have even different hair now? You might have, like, no hair. Yeah, maybe not.

I don't know. Hmm. Yeah. Maybe you have no hair now, and that's why you're wearing a hat. No, it's still there. No, it's not. It's already gone. Are you serious?

No. I don't know. You don't even know. Of course I don't know. Yeah. It's one of those things where I have three options in my head. One, just to grow it all the way out again, which that's probably not going to have. And then cut it, cut it really, really, really, really short just to where I don't have to worry about it.

Or I want to go with like that faux Hulk mohawk. Okay. Like just big, like Rufio. You know? Yeah. Something like that. But then again, it's like in between those three. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Let's hope. I just look back at your 14-year career, and it's like you were put in tag teams, you were put in groups, you were put in factions, and it just doesn't seem like you were given the chance ever to really go on your own. I never was, man. The only shot that I had on my own was whenever 3-on-B broke up. and it was literally a month of single runs and a little bit single wrestling on the live events. And then I think it was like, shoot, where did it go from there?

Slater Gator, I think, maybe. And then Slater Gator from there to whatever else, the other ones I did. But yeah, just, I don't know. Do you count your, you know, that run you had where you got squashed by the legends? You count that in there? Well, that wasn't even supposed to happen. That was supposed to be in me, wrestle, Vader. And then it's supposed to be in someone else the following week,

someone else the following week, you know, with legends, just wrestling, whoever, just showing up. Yeah. So where, like, I literally walked in to Corona's office and saw, you know, he's Slater versus Big Van Vader. And I'm like, what? What? Hey, hold on, no.

Is this a joke? What's going on? I'm thinking, you know, one of the little guys is going to run out in a Vader costume and they just kill me or whatever. But it was just one of those things that were like, I go to Corona. I'm like, what?

He's like, yep. He's here. It's happening. I'm like, whoa, no way. And then before the match, you know, I was talking to, I think Mike Rotunda was my agent. And I was like, so does this happen each week? And he was like, yeah, leading up to Raw 1,000, man.

And he was like, there will be new legends coming each week. I said, who are they going to be working? You know, he's like, just me? He's like, nah, he's like, you ain't going to just be you. It's going to be other guys. He's like, no, hell no. I was like, let this be me. Let me be like, you know, we don't want these old timers here no more, you know.

Instead of like me being the legend killer like Randy was, you know, I'll be the legend builder or something. I don't know. So after the match with Vader, I walked to the writing room, pitched it. I remember Vince was up in Gorilla. I went up to Gorilla and I was like, hey, this is my, spot like I want to work every one of these legends you know that's coming in he just looked at me he's like really I was like every one of them I said every one of them let me have them you know he's just like okay let's talk about like that type of you I went to the writers and they said you know

man it was me me me me they gave me a little promo I cut the BS you know and that's how it happened did you look at like rotunda and go are you going to be one of them yeah no he probably wouldn't want to get in the ring with me who are you most surprised by that you got to work during that run. Well, Vader and Sid, you know, those were the two that I was like, whoa, what? You know, because, like, I didn't expect it at all. Like, the whole Vader one was like, whoa, you know, but when it was Sid and you haven't saw him since his accident, you know, all that stuff.

He looks good, too. Yeah, he is. You know, he's a big dude, man. And it was just one of those things where I'm just like, I remember being a kid and being scared of these dudes and next thing i know like i'm in the ring cut promo working them now you know know to where it was like a big full circle thing because like i remember back when it was in wa wc and sid coming out in the all black singlet and that was it and then they're coming out with that mastodon helmet that shot smoke up and everything like and here i am in the ring about to

work these dudes and he'd be like whoa this is kind of really cool right now Who were the people that you loved growing up? And I love that the birds are chirping in the background. You're like, I don't live in the country. And there's birds chirping throughout this whole interview. It's amazing. I thought that was your phone ringing, man. Right.

Who were the people that you really, like, you know, idolized growing up? Growing up, man, like, of course I was a huge sting, man. Sting was my guy. So you were a WCW guy? Yeah, I was more WCW than WWE, just because WCWCW. would always come to my Civic Center. It would be like on, it would be the one that I could watch on my television.

Like, it was just one of those things that were like, they would always come around and I just related to that bunch more, I guess. I don't know. But growing up, absolutely loved Sting. Love flying Brian Pilman.

The great mood of, you know, I always, for some reason, like the people with face paint, but never thought about wearing face. face pain. Are you thinking about it now?

Probably not. Oh no, it might be a good thing to hack this. I don't know. What are you talking about? You look great. Yeah. But yeah, like Legion of Doom. But I love the Midnight Express too, though, but Jim Cornett.

But I think I really loved them because of their music. I remember every time the music hit, I just be bopping my head to it, like enjoying it. But yeah, those were like the ones that I like really really really. I like really suck my teeth in growing up like you know that bunch in that air and stuff. Do you have new music picked out for, you know, when you do? Yeah, one of my buddies, his name's Matt Mullins. He's making it for me. Yeah, he sent me a copy of it actually a couple days ago.

Yeah, so we're like fine tweaking stuff and everything. Man, this is, this being proactive. I love it. Oh, yeah, you have to be, man. Obviously, the news came down on April 15th. How long did it take you to be okay with everything and to go, all right, it's time to kind of pick up and move forward from here? I want to say the next day, it was just one of those things that were like when it happened. It was one of those like, damn, you know, but I don't want to say that I was shocked, you know, or surprise or anything.

it was just one of those things where it was like what happened. I mean, that happened. So now it's either I could sit here and reminisce something good old days, or I can, you know, start and going to work. You know, it's like, I mean, I do have kids, two kids, not 15, but it's one of those things. Like, I got to, I can't stop. Shit, I'm 36, man.

It's time for me to get that old man strength in me, you know. Not pretending like 36 is old. Brother, it is. In my gaze, I'm old right now. I don't feel old. Yeah, but you haven't been getting thrown through tables off of cages, hit with chairs. It dropped on your back for 15 years.

This is true. You know? With that said, do you have something that when you first wake up in the morning, you take that first step out of bed, that you go, ooh, that part hurts. It's every morning, man. And it's the left side of my hip. It's your head.

Right here. Left side, right there. Okay. Every morning I'll get up. I'll just be like, oh, shit. And then I try to get it up. Now, is it something that, like, just works itself out throughout the day? Or is this something that you think you're going to need surgery on eventually? I mean, I hope not, you know, but it's always tight.

It always, you know, hurts, you know. It's just, uh, I just think. over just the years, man, just consistently falling on your back and your hips and, you know, people slamming your wrong and you landing on your hips and stuff like that. But I mean, this goes for every one of us. And, but, you know, luckily now, I'm starting to take care of myself better. I mean, this has been like, you know, last year or so. But before that, man, I go to the ring, touch my toes, twist my hips, and I'm ready to go. You know, like, that was it. I didn't stretch out or I just go, you know, just not even thinking about it.

But now it's like I can tell now when I do stretch and loosen up, I feel way better than when I don't. So I'm starting to put that in my little repertoire of stuff. And Darren Young, you know, Freddie, he always jumps my ass, man. Dude, stretch. Why don't you stretch, man? I mean, this has been back in developmental days. Dude, why did you stretch it? You got to stretch.

So now I'm stretching after 14 years, there. You got to get on that GDP yoga. Oh, I know. Yeah, I should, man. That would probably fix your hip. I'm about to say. A lot of people swear by it. Yeah.

Yeah, I need it. I think you just call up Dallas and say, hey, man, let's make this happen. Yeah. Hit me with a bang, man. He would. He would make that happen. Of course. He actually did it.

Of course. Only for the people watching this. When you first signed your contract, who was it that really took you under their wing, really showed you the ropes, and, you know, kind of helped guide you along? You're talking about, like, in developmental days? Yeah.

On the road. Well, about a little bit of both, then. In developmental days, man, Dr. Tom Pritchard, man. Like, the best, by far. Broke me open, showed me the ways. talk to me like a friend, you know, gave me good advice inside, outside the ring. He's the one that pretty much opened me up, you know,

to be, you know, who I am right now, like just free and having a good time, you know. But Steve Kern showed me how to be, like, that turn to gear, aggressive, you know, like I would always hear him, like, whenever I'm kicking someone, I just hear it. Kick it harder. You know, like, I just hear that.

And I'm just like, mother you know like just digging in but uh yeah like those two helped me out a lot back in the day um but like when i got to w w u.m like over the years man like uh adam edge you know he would always you know share good advice with me you know stuff like that uh mark henry would always share good advice with me big show would help me out you know taker would like share advice but he'd be like intimidating when he does it you know so it's one of those things like

you take it all right yeah cool you know but um but yeah I feel like like a lot of Arne Anderson man like Arn Anderson was a guy that pushed for me believed in me

I mean even whenever we were in Atlanta we would ride back to Charlotte that we would ride back together and just talk for four hours you know just chit-chat and you know And I dropped him off at his house and I take the car back and stuff like that. But yeah, he always, like, I don't know, he always seen something in me. And always was like, come here, you know, try it this way, try it that way, do it this way. You know, try to move by, like, just little things, too.

But, you know, it's Aaron Anderson. He knows what the hell he's talking about, you know? But, Arn was, Arn always had my back. And everyone I've spoken to that's worked with Dusty, even for any length of, of time always has something great to say about how he helped to, you know, kind of guide your character as well. Was that the same case for you? You're all about Dusty Rhodes? Yeah, yeah. Oh, man, like, yeah. He would always help me with my promos just because he would always tell me, he's like, man, you got so much personality, baby. He was like, so much he said, just let it out.

Just let it out, you know? And that's why I've been like, was shaking my hair, pumping up ringpost, you know, shaking my, like, dude, you told me to let it out. So I'm letting it out, you know. But he made me, like, so comfortable of just being whatever fantasy guy that was up here, the wild man, that if I did it in public, it'd probably been a bad idea. But in those ropes, man, I'd get away with anything. And he was just always, man, you got so much personality, dude. Just let it out.

Don't be shy. He was like, that's your world. That's your room. That's your house. right there. He would always just make me believe that probably I was way better than what I am, you know, but he gave me that confidence to make me just be like, you know, let it go. You know, just let it go, let it out. Dusty made me, like, he made me, like, pushed me to just turn that charisma and, you know, up and have fun with it.

When wrestling does start happening again, and, you know, and you're not. 90 days are up and you can, you know, work elsewhere. July 18th, man. What day? July 18th. That's okay. Well, there we go. Is it one of your goals to be a singles champion?

Well, I mean, of course, you know. I would love to be a singles champion. I mean, whoever says they wouldn't, you know, it's crazy. But it's one of those things we're like, yes. But I just want my main goal, like I told you before, is to have fun. But I just want to make whoever, you know, wherever I fall at, wherever I go, I just want to be there for them like I was with WWI and just make it the best all-around place, you know, I can bring there, you know?

That's my whole goal, you know, because, like, my favorite thing is the locker room. You know, I love going in there, BSing with the boys and having a good time, you know. So it's one of those things where, like, I feel like wherever I do land, wherever I do go, I just want to try to make it the best all around, you know, organization it is. And if I can shine a little bit of light in it somehow, you know, let me shine, you know. So my whole goal is, yes, of course, I'll take a singles title or two or three, or I don't care. But I just want to have a good time and make sure, you know, the people around me and the matches that I do provide and do is just good and entertaining. I mean, if we talk about singles champions,

a guy that was in three-man band with you is now the world champion, Drew McIntyre, which is what an interesting path he had, you know, to be in three-man band, released, comes back, completely new look, completely new gimmick,

and now he's the world champion. Did you always know that he had that in him? Oh, 100%. Yes. Like, he always did, you know,

but like, you know, just like with, like just, you know, anyone you know you you fight for so long and then sometimes it doesn't happen sometimes you know your cars aren't played right or whatever it is you know and you got to start over again but he always had drive he always had to look he always had the in-ring ability i mean he's a specimen man

like and he is a like him now i think would be better than he ever would be if he stayed you know what i mean him leaving i think just made him survive finds who the hell he is and he kicked down the damn doors again and came in charge it you know and i mean i don't want to get in this way he's big as hell you know so but no man of course i knew he had it in me that's a mess effect i just kind of you know i kind of feel for you when two of the three guys from three mb go on to be world champions And you're not even given, you know, a fair shake. You know what? I mean, like I said, that's however you play your cards, you know, maybe it wasn't lined up for me this time.

Well, you're the dealer now. Oh, of course, you know. So I'm going to make sure, like, I can just tell you this much. I'm going to make sure I do play my cards right. I am focused. I am ready to take on new challenges. And just hang on and hold on because, damn, it's going to be a roll. roller coaster ride but it's going to be fun so yeah just hang on hang on with me i think that's a

pretty good place to end this and man it's been such a great conversation with you i really appreciate your time oh shoot did i just lose you no we're still on okay good don't worry came up on my battery it's like 10% left i'm like oh they're at perfect timing then to wrap things up unless there's anything else you want to add like uh you like your new merch well yeah for wrestling t's man And I got some awesome damn t-shirts. Everyone get them. They're pretty good. Yeah, they're not bad.

But, yeah, I got some shirts out there. I'm thinking about wanting to sell some of my gear. And I don't really know what else is up. I guess July 18, right? I probably do have other things. Yeah, July 18th, for sure, man. July 18th is whenever I'm capable of going and doing things. bad thing about it is this whole damn pandemic, but yeah, you know,

there's some places that are open to go to on July 18th. Let's hope. That we'll find out, but Heath, I'm super excited for what's next for you, man. I think that the sky's the limit now. Thank you. Sky is the limit. There ain't no ceiling above me now. Love it.

Thank you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. Thanks for having me. So there we go, my friend. What a great attitude about everything. I love how July 18th is the date that he's looking forward to. That's not just the day that he'll be able to wrestle again or sign a contract elsewhere,

but that's the day that anyone who was released on April 15th can work elsewhere. It's going to be an exciting day. July 18th. I certainly hope that there's some wrestling going on at that point in time. I hope that the world is a little bit more normal than it is here in May as we sit here and record this and listen to this. Take a screenshot. Tag me. Tag Heath. He's now at Heath XXII on Instagram.

Let us know it stands out for you the most. Share this episode with a friend. Or just with someone who likes wrestling. They don't even have to be your friend. Just send it to them. Maybe it can be someone you don't like. Just send it to them anyway. Surprise!

Listen to this interview with Heath. A big thank you to Heath Slater for hanging out with us for this chat. I guess we should just call him Heath. That's the new gimmick, right? Big thank you to Heath for hanging out. Thank you to the birds in his backyard. who were making the lovely background noises in that peaceful and serene setting.

And thank you to you for listening all the way until the end. I really appreciate you. The biggest thing that Heath kept coming back to in this interview was reinvention and how he has a chance now moving forward to do and be exactly what he wants to be. As Alan Kay famously said, the best way to predict the future is to invent it. and Heath is inventing that future for himself as we speak.

Lots more interviews coming up with recently released WWE superstars. The Hurricane and Aiden English, those are coming up in the next week or so, and also a very nice, in-depth conversation with Bubba Ray Dudley, aka Bully Ray, and I don't think he's really done one of these long-form conversations talking about his entire career. So, man, I'm so excited for these interviews, and I'm so excited for you to be joining us for them. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary.

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