Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Paul Wight on leaving WWE for AEW, CM Punk, All Out, a match with Shaq

Episode Date: August 23, 2021

AEW star Paul Wight, better known as "The Big Show" in WWE is a professional wrestler, commentator and actor. He joins Insight with Chris Van Vliet to talk about why he left WWE for AEW, working as a commentator on AEW Dark: Elevation, his in-ring return at All Out against QT Marshall, what he has left to accomplish in his wrestling career, his thoughts on CM Punk appearing in AEW, his role in the 1998 Adam Sandler Film "The Waterboy" as Captain Insano and more. If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://chrisvanvliet.com Follow CVV on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All systems are good. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris. Well, here we go back with you for another audio adventure on Insight. Thank you so much for being with us for what can only be described as a big show. Huh? Huh? See what I did there? Paul White might be one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of interviewing.

Not just wrestler, just people in general. The first interview that we did was five years ago in Miami. If you've seen it on YouTube, it's the one where we're next to the beautiful water in Biscayne Bay. That video has four and a half million views on YouTube. Crazy. It's my most watched wrestling interview of all time. And it's so great to have him back for another interview

because a lot has changed in those five years. The biggest, of course, being his current employer, he was with WWE since then. He was with WWE for 20 plus years. And since February, he's now been, with AEW. Take a screenshot. Let us know that you're listening to this episode and tag us. Tag Paul. He's at Paul White. Tag me. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. And hey, give us a follow as well. And if you're not already following or subscribe to the show, take a second right now to subscribe

to Insight wherever you're listening to this right now. Thank you to James T for this review on Apple podcast. He says, great interviews. Chris is one of the better interviewers around. It feels like more of a casual conversation rather than just a Q&A session. Well, thank you for that, James, and thank you for taking the time to leave a review. If you keep leaving them, I will keep reading them. All right, let's dive into this big show. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome. Paul White. Paul, so good to see you. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me, Chris. It's been awesome to see you again, man. That's good to see you, too. I wish it could be in person, but this is how things are right now.

Yeah, that's how they work, right? All of us in the past two years have learned how to use Zoom quite well. I don't think I ever knew what Zoom was before all the pandemic and stuff. Now I feel like a Zoom pro. That's right. The last time I saw you was five years ago, which is crazy. We did that. That's so fast. By the beautiful day. out there. And at that time, we were talking about a match that might happen between you and Shaq. And we're still talking about it. I feel like more than ever, that actually might happen now. I think it will happen now because there's not as much red tape. I mean, you know, he's already

competed here in AEW. Had a great match with Cody Rhodes, Jake Cargill and Shaq versus Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet. That was an incredible, incredible showing for Shaq. So hopefully we'll be able to cut some more red tape and make it happen. You know, he's been hitting the gym. lately. Shaq's pretty big right now. Like he's he's he's huge shack I guess is the best way to look at. I think he's a little nervous about me so he's putting on a little size. Well he's huge shack and you're like the opposite. I feel like you're smaller than ever. Yeah, I'm like I'm like a tall Paul, the slim car salesman. That's what I am now. When we talked last time, I think it was the first time that you were under 400 pounds. You were 396. What are you weighing in at these days?

I got as low as 370, and right now I'm about 408, 410. So I'm still keeping it low. COVID is the pandemic put a real big hit in a lot of training and stuff like that. So just now that things are starting to work, I'm getting stuff back together. But it's fun now. You know how to get there. So you just got to really gear up on getting there again, like get your diet and order and make that commitment to get the cardio in and stuff.

I like how you casually talk about 400 pounds being low-ish. When I was 500 pounds, I was a quarter ton of fun for 15 years. You know what I mean? So for me, when I say 400, I still feel a little light in the pants. You know what I mean? But I think for what I'm planning on doing with future stuff, it's just easier for me to get under 400. Stay around 375, 380 would be good.

That's such a weird thing. I'll stay around 375 or 380. You know, I'll look like I've got, you know, like I'm, you know, I've got an eating disorder, but it would be okay. How is your hip feeling? Good, good, the one that I had the surgery on, of course, QT was gracious enough to show that on dynamite, you know, with my big butt with my big scar all over National TV. It's good.

We went through some complications with it. That's our. There's so many surgeries. But now it's, I feel like Wolverine. It's five pounds of titanium and I can do anything. I'm actually cleared to jump out of an airport. plane. I could parachute. Not that I would because we don't need to see Operation Dumbo drop. So I'm not jump having an airplane same time soon. You know, like they probably have to use like a tank parachute or something.

So that's funny. Years ago, I was at Fort Bragg. Mark Henry and I were there with the soldiers and they were all out of the jump tower. They were like, oh man, you got to go out of the junk tower. You got to go out of the jump tower. We'll build you a harness to go out of the jump tower. Right there. Build me a harness. Like, no, I'm good, bro. I got OR disease. I can't do it. it. And Mark Henry, my best friend, puts his hand on my knee, he looks at me, goes, you've got OR disease? What is that, man? I said, old and rich. I'm not doing that dumb crap. He about fell off the bleachers laughing. So there'll be no, there'll be no, uh, Paul White jumping out of airplanes anytime. Well, how long were you walking around with your hip bothering you? Because I imagine there's a lot of wrestlers that would, you know, let that go for years.

I had like pieces of the ball joint that were broken off and missing and holes in it actually. So I will probably want to say probably a year and a half I worked like that. Constant, constant, constant pain, sleeping, riding in cars, sitting. And I was still making a gym and still doing what I had to do. I was still biking and still doing everything that I wanted to do. It's just it got to a point. My biggest thing about getting an implant put in is I thought it would end my wrestling. career. So and then after taking the time, because before when doctors would talk to me about,

I was like, no, I'm not interested. You know, not interested. I'll get through it. I'll get through it. I'll get through it. And then when I sat down and talked to somebody new at their time, I said, no, you can have a career. You can still do everything you want. The devices are, it's different and the physics of it and all that. I'm good to go. So once I finally got it done, and after we got through the complications, it's the best thing I've ever done. It's amazing. Like I went from being constantly 24-7, being in discomfort and pain, to like now I feel like John Travolta.

I'm going to go out there and do some Saturday night fever and do some disco dancing. So how excited are you to get back in the ring? Oh, my God. Chris, you have no idea. I've been sitting, and I'm having a great time doing the commentary on elevation. Although if I had had a live rampage coming on T&T, I might have pushed for that. spot. But, you know, at the time, my opportunities were the new show Elevation. So I jumped at it. And I'm having a great time of elevation, great time working with Tony Shibani, a great time seeing

a younger talent. But man, I have just been chomping at the bit to get back in the ring. There's so much, there's so much I want, so many talents that I just want to work with and spend time in the ring with and try to help pass that knowledge along and still have fun. I mean, that's the biggest. That's one of my biggest reasons for, for, for, for making the transition is I still wanted to compete in the ring. You know, I had to leave WWB. I had done everything there. There was nothing for me to accomplish. There's nothing there for me to do more of. And I still like lacing up boots. I still like getting in the ring, you know, so luckily Tony Kahn gave me that opportunity. I just feel like you're right. You've done everything

in WWE. You've done everything in wrestling. What's possibly left? on your bucket list or your goals list? My bucket list, you know, it's funny. Like, I guess I'm going to really tell a bad professional secret. I don't have a bucket list, Chris. I've never been a guy to say, oh, I've got to do that. I'm not a goal setter. I know some guys wake up every morning that have goals, they have checklist,

you know, think, believe, achieve. I try to enjoy every day and be thankful for every day. And every day that I get to go out and compete, or be around the talent or interact with fans. I mean, it's a good day. I've got other projects that I'm working on the side, some TV projects and some movie stuff. So that's all picking up speed now.

You know, I don't have anything to complain about. I just take every day and enjoy it. That's bucket list. Man, I'll take, I mean, here's me. I'm like Samuel Jackson. I won't turn anything down but sheets as far as opportunities go. I say yes to everything. You know what I mean?

Yes to everything. So I look forward to whatever opportunities are available because AEW, I'm telling you, after rampage tonight, Chicago, the wrestling world's going to get knocked on its ass. I'm telling you, it's going to be, if the scuttle butt is true, it's going to be, I can't put it into words, maybe attitude era-ish all over again, who knows? Because AEW is definitely on the rise. If this scuttlebutt is true with CM Punk, what does this mean? I like that word scuttle butt.

It's a great word. It's a great word, right? Yeah. What does this, if CM Punk is in fact in WW or it's, sorry, in AEW, what does this mean for the world of wrestling? For the world of wrestling, I mean, it's probably the biggest most anticipated return ever. I mean, you think about the biggest impactful moments in wrestling, moments which you look back here. I was there. Were you there when Hulk Hogan slammed Andre the Giant?

Were you there? Where were you when Stone Cold Steve Austin cut the infamous 316 promo? When Hulk Hogan came to WCW, you know, the NWO, when the NWO was formed? I mean, there are so many moments in history, and I'm guaranteed I'm leaving a lot of special moments out. But I think this is this is one of those moments tonight. It's our second rampage. It's in Chicago, sold out United Center. I mean, the stage is set.

It couldn't be served up anymore to make an incredible wrestling moment that reignites the wrestling industry. There's so many companies now that are springing up, they're doing well, impact, and all these other different companies that are NJPW, all these companies are now that are recovering that are growing

that the fans are searching out for. Now you're getting to that competition of let's give up the best product that we can to our fans. Let's turn it out. Let's give them authentic, unique, diverse talent. I think now is the opportunity. Go ahead, put the spotlight as long as we're ready to shine. I think the phrase rising tides lift all ships is so applicable to what's going on now.

That's a good see. Well, it's not my saying. This is not my saying. Let me put that in my notebook. I'm going to answer now. I need things like that. Yeah, you should use this from your next one. Yes.

But I feel... My friend, Chris, said, Rising Tides, leave all ships. There you go. I just feel like it's so applicable with what AEW is doing because there was a time there when WWE had no competition,

and now with AEW coming in, it's changed everything. Well, and that's the thing, too. And that's not a knock on WWV. That's a tale of success for their business plan, their business model. I mean, WVVE's the biggest

global wrestling company in the world. They owned everything for a long time and dominated the entire industry. But at the same time, that's not good for the talent. It's not good for the fans because there's only one place to work, to be successful, to make money, to become a star, to develop your brand, then if you don't make it there, there's no other opportunities.

You know, if they deem you're not right for us or whatever storyline that you were put in is not right for you, then you could literally see your resting careers of trying to feed a family, make a career out of it could go away because companies were so choked off they weren't allowed to make money. Now with a company that does have some sincere backing and does have the opportunity for the talent to create authentic characters. And what I mean by authentics, I mean characters that are true to the person portraying the character. Like, you know, and I tell the younger talent time, wrestling's an art form.

It's an interpretation. All the moves are the same. Backdrops, hip tosses, all of that's all the same. Once in a while, somebody will come up with a new move that's innovative and great, but basically it's all the same. But it's still an art form and how you take something. We all steal stuff from each other. We steal stuff from the past. We steal stuff from Mexico, from New Japan, from all over from the UK.

And that interpretation allows you to develop your own character and make that connection with the audience. And the thing that I love about AEW, there's not 35 writers backstage running around, hand you a promo. you know, I mean, if you have a promo in AEW, you have a promo. I don't know how's, you have one, you know, and it's like, why, it's a little bit different pressure. The pressure before was trying to remember, was trying to memorize a whole bunch of stuff. And now the pressure is, oh, geez, I'm a pretty witty, funny guy, but this pressure is real, you know. So I'm just, I love the, I love the fact that AEW gives the talent a chance to be authentic. make true in themselves because if the talent doesn't believe in it, the audience won't.

I just assumed you'd be with WWE for the rest of your career. I mean, you'd been. So did I. 20 years. I was there for four decades, man. And here's the thing. It was just, it was just, things, for me, it was just, I wasn't ready to be in the position that I was getting, I was getting, I don't say pushed to, but this was the only

opportunity available to me was to go this way. And I just felt like at the time, like, that's not for me. You know, and I didn't leave mad or pissed off or any of that kind of stuff. You know what I mean? I mean, it's a business. You have to do what's best for your business. And you have to do, and they have to do what's best for them. And they have their company plan and what they want to do and moving forward. And if you don't fit, then, you know, you seek a life elsewhere. Because I didn't know, actually, I didn't know if I was going to get a job after leaving WWE. I didn't know if I was going to be arrested again. I knew I was working on some TV stuff

and some movie stuff, so I didn't pursue talking to anybody until after my WWE stuff. And, you know, and then I had some conversations with Jericho, of course, who's a dear friend, and I was like, you think you know, you think they would be interested in talking? He says, well, you should

talk to Tony, and I'd met Tony a long time ago. So, um, I had got his number from Chris and shot him a text after my deal was done. And, um, we talked on the phone for a couple hours. I mean, Tony Conkeets's weird hours.

Like, he's one of those guys that's up from 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. You know, but that conversation was exciting because we talked about future of wrestling and psychology and helping younger talent and character building and all these different things and playing to the FRAEW. And he actually got me super excited on the phone, which I haven't been in a long time. I mean, I have fought in the grind and, and then a cog in the gear in the machine and been a good soldier and I've done all the stuff

and fought long hard and fought through pain and been sick with fever. I've done that whole rigmaro and toured the world. So it was hard for me to, because I have passion, I had desire. But then to have someone else who owns a company or runs a company inspire you further. I mean, Chris, I'm the luckiest man on the planet right now. Yeah, I have a chance to be a part of an organization that's growing, which for me is great because I get to have input and I get to help build something, which is important.

I get to have fun. I mean, oh, and I get paid too. Yeah, that's another one. I get paid too. When you were leaving WWE, was there any part of you that thought, maybe I'm done with wrestling? Yeah, there's a part of me that thought that maybe the door is going to be closed on this. because, you know, for so long, you can get into your head on so many things, and there's always

that doubt there. Like, you have to be willing to move forward. You have to be willing to say goodbye to yesterday. You know what I mean? And for me to move forward. That's a good one right there. Really? I just made it up.

There you go. To move forward, you have to be willing to say goodbye to yesterday. So good. Put it on a shirt. Don't put it on my shirt because even John Cena said, I can't sell merch. So there you go. He used to tease me all the time. Sini used to say, if my merch was money, nobody would buy it.

I said, well, I'm too busy making you look good. So anyway, you know, bad guys sell tickets and good guys sell T-shirts. So there you go. Yeah, but that was the thing. I had to be willing to leave that comfort zone of WV. Look, I could have stayed with WV. I could have made an incredible living. I would have had a golden parachute, if you will, do media things, you know, all the, the,

the fanfare that go with that comfort. I didn't want that. I'm still hungry. I still like to fight. I still like to compete. I still like to be a part of something. Standing around twiddling my thumbs and being bored, I can't do.

Cannot do. I need to be always moving forward. I'm about what's right now and what's tomorrow, and I could give really two shakes of a fig of what was yesterday. It's not my thing. I don't care about titles, I don't care about accolades, any of that stuff.

I wanted, what are we doing today and what are we doing tomorrow? You know, and to be, have the opportunity to be a part of something that's moving momentum with that kind of synergy enforced in AEW, I can't be lucky or happier. But yeah, it was scary leaving, leaving WWE, it was. Because even now, I'm still, I mean, even I'm in AEW and I've been around a long time and stuff like that, you know, Kenny Omega is an executive VP who bust his ass, backstage in the company helping everyone who has earned that spot who who helped put AEW on the mat.

Chris Jericho, big part of the company helped put AEW on the map. Cody Rhodes is a big guy backstage. It aligns a lot of things with AEW's community directive and works for a lot of the talent. The young bucks are all over executive positions there, but it's not just the stuff they do on TV. It's all the stuff they do behind the stage.

So yeah, I'm not the biggest, I'm not the big star there in AEW. I don't have four decades of putting asses and seats and drawing money and making the company money. I don't have all that. I'm like the new guy that's got to earn my stripes a little bit, and I dig it. I really do dig it.

I mean, everybody's been super cool and super respectful, but just for me on my gut on the inside, I can't wait to get out there and prove, you know, why I've been this business as long as I have and why I am who I am. Do you think there's anything in the ring you can't do now that you're, you know, You could do it. I can't do a moonsault. Yeah, can't do a moonsault. So you could do a moon salt.

I could do one. I'm just not going to. There's a lot. In the ring right now, I don't think so. You know, I think that for me going forward, it's just whatever opportunities we can help to move AEW forward. You know, I mean, do I want to wrestle five nights a week like I used to? I don't think I can do that.

I mean, you know, that's, that was wearing on me years ago. I think, but I don't know if our product is going to develop to that stage or not. I know that we're really television-oriented and, and sure, I wouldn't mind working a couple times a month. You know what I mean? I know that I'm doing the commentary. I want to keep working hard at that and get better. And the competing and have fun with it. Yeah, if I get an opportunity to compete for any kind of championships, if something works its way out.

and it's good for AEW. It's good for the talent I'm working with. Absolutely. That's always been my theory anyway on things about working in the ring. If you get the match over and get your opponent over, you're going to get yourself off. Take care of A and B, C, is automatically going to happen. So I think that's an attitude that's allowed me to be around for a long time to have that business attitude about doing what's best for everything around me, not just what's best for me.

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In the ring, well, I mean, I've got a pretty, I've got a pretty extensive deal with Tony. Tony wanted to make sure that I had a home for a while and gave me a lot of security with that. And that's just, that's just a, depending on how I feel. I don't know if you can ever say goodbye to something. But if I ever do make the choice to retire, I will retire from in-ring competition. Will I leave wrestling? I don't think so.

I mean, you know, I'm still fortunate enough to do the commentary. I'm still fortunate enough to help build the AEW brand. And, you know, as far as films and TV, if that stuff still works out, I mean, you know, they always need an extremely good-looking, bald. Oh, they already got a guy's name is Dwayne Johnson. Yeah. I might want to rethink that. Damn it.

Yeah. I got to rethink my portfolio strategy. No, but for me, it's just having fun right now, having fun and trying to keep the fans entertained and just making something out every day, man. Got it. I do want to ask you about your film career. And was it the Waterboy that really puts you into the zeitgeist for a lot of people? I think Waterboy was definitely one of those iconic things that you're part of, but you don't realize it's the time.

You got this small part in Adam Sandler film, you know, which was very cool. But you don't know at the time there's going to be this iconic character that that people will never forget. I mean, I go places and people ask me to sign Captain Insanil all the time. I'm true story, man, true story. I mean, he does show no mercy. It shows no mercy, brother.

But I would love to do, I would love. love to do some kind of a spin-off wrestling character with Captain Insano. If I ever got the clearance to do that, buddy, I would break out the stars and stripes and the capes and the whole nine yards and I would have a hoot with it. It would be a brand new character and I would, Captain Insana would be a hoot and a lot of fun. But that was a cool thing. That whole thing was one day to do that, that Waterboy part. That was all one day and it took me literally about an hour and a half, like maybe two hours

for the whole thing. And Adam Sandler was so cool to work with and just so kind. I don't know how to explain it. He was so kind and fun to work with. And his mom for the longest time, just would any time we would like Super Bowls and stuff like that, they would be there, you know, Adam and his mom and his dad. And she would grab my hand and run around an introduction to people as Adam's giant wrestling friend Paul.

You know, like she was just so proud of the fact. that Adam knew this gigantic human being that was a pro wrestler and she was so sweet, nice. So yeah, I mean, here's the thing too. That's one of the other things you talk about opportunity. For so many years, being on the work schedule

that I was with with the WWE, I didn't have time to do anything else. There were so many projects that I had to step away from. I mean, years ago, when I first signed with WWE, Nick Cage had reached out to me because, you know, his son at the time was a big fan of me as a giant.

And Nick Cage was trying to hook me up with this Russell Crow movie that was being shot in Spain. But I'd have to be in Spain for six weeks for it. But I'm thinking, oh, Russell Crow, you knew this guy was going to be a star. Nick Cage is helping me get this part. Like, all I got to do is just, I've got it. I just got to get permission to go. I just got to show up. I've got the part, you know.

And I go to Vince, and Vince is like, paying you to be a wrestler, not an actor. So, okay, well, that was the end of that. So then, okay, you're right. And you're paying me a lot of money to be a wrestler. You're right, yes, sir. I'll go back to work, sir. You know, and the wrestling business was different then.

You know, it wasn't as much crossover. Because for a while, WWs very against wrestlers crossing over in the movies. You know what I mean? And then eventually they got with a program. But so I'm sitting in a movie theater watching this movie, Gladiator. And I'm sitting there going, oh, yeah, yeah. yeah that would have been awesome to be a part of that that's awesome yeah well yeah good choice paul

good good choice man way to go dummy but again those are you know now with a eW um i have all the opportunity in the world to do outside projects to be a part of um you know i'm doing it right now i got scripts right now i'm sitting there going through for reads i got i got a read to put on tape later this afternoon so that's captain and saino the movie that's what the Captain Insane for the movie. Actually, Bobby Boucher is finally going to get to be a water boy for Captain Insane. So, yeah, having the ability to do outside projects and having that freedom to help build the Paul White brand. Because it's a little bit of an identity crush, too, to be, you know, for so long to be one thing.

And then I don't own the intellectual property. Now I have to walk away from it. and I have to reintroduce myself to everyone. Please allow me to reintroduce myself. You know, that kind of thing. But you're one of those people that when you meet you, even if you aren't aware somehow of who you are through wrestling, you go, oh my God, that guy is massive.

And he has this huge star quality to him. I think so. It's either a star quality or I just stick out like a sore thumb, one of the two. Like I remember before I ever got into wrestling, before I ever had a chance to be, I guess, famous, whatever that's worth. He was saying,

oh, you should do something? So, yeah, really? Should I? What should I do? Like, you should play football. You should do this. You should do that. You know, like everybody always has an opinion when you're tall and you're athletic and

you're big. Like, there's plenty of people to give you advice. You know, and I will tell you this funny, true statement. When I was at Wichita State University, Xavier McDaniel is a former shocker in Wichita State basketball player. So Xavier McDaniel over the summer, would come back to Wichita and work out with some of the guys in the wait room. And X-Man was always great at talking trash, you know.

And he was giving me a hard time in the wait room. He says, man, he says, you just need to quit playing basketball and going to pro wrestling. I said, man, I'm going to be a pro player. I said, I'm going to try out for every team in the league. I said, I'm going to be pro. He was like, man, you're going to be the only seven-footer cut by the Japanese team. Like that, like he's just giving me a hard time. He says, you know what you should do?

He said, you should go into wrestling and tell him you, Andre, the giant son. You're here to avenge his dad's debt, your dad's debts. And I'm like, man, I'm not going to be a wrestler. I'm going to play basketball. And then years later, years later, like five years later, boom, I'm in WCW, the son of Andre. So if you really want to think about who thinks about the future and who knows, that was Xavier McDaniel. Yeah, that's it.

Who was it? came up with the name the big show? I was Vince. I was Vince. Because I first came into WWI, I was Paul White. Yeah. You know, and I just don't think Vince, I don't think Vince like the spelling of my name or liked my name.

You know, I mean, I mean, what would Vince McMahon know about marketing? You know what I mean? But he walked by me one day and he goes, I was the big show today. I'm like, good, who the hell is the big show? You know? you can walk, you can talk, you're an athlete, you're the big show. And when he walked off, I went,

oh dear God, I hope that's not my wrestling name. And it was. But if you think back then, there was the attitude, it was the Monday Night Wars, the big show, also TBS. So, you know, there was a lot to win into it. And it's okay.

I mean, over the years, just like anything, if you do something long enough, you can, it's all in what you do it and you can make it your own. Just as uncomfortable as it was to be known as, you know, the big show for so many years. And I'm grateful for that opportunity now to rebrand, to restart as myself. It's a little hard because, I mean, like, you know, I have a great big show autograph.

You know, my real autograph, my real signature is good, but I don't want to be putting my real signature out there for, you know, document for. And next thing you know, I'll end up owning a bunch of timeshares in the Bahamas or something. But, you know, just trying to figure out, right now I've just been trying to figure out that new identity. And for once, I actually have a little bit of input on my character. So hopefully my character won't be as schizophrenic as it was the past four decades. You know, one day, babyface the next, you know, changed two or three times in a match. I mean, I don't know if that's talent or what, but I was prepared to do anything. Is that talent?

Is that what it's called? I mean, not everybody can get over. as a baby face or a heel. Yeah, but... And you do it so fluidly. See, man, that's why I love you, man. You're the best. You're the best.

You're like a motivational coach. Like, right now, I'm ready to do it. Rising tides, lift off ships. Rising tides, lift all ships. That's it. How much of the big show getting over could be attributed to your music because there's a reinforcement

every single time you come out to the ring? Listen, when you have... I'm so grateful for that big show song and Jim Johnson and I think Michael Hayes actually sang the original big show song. I think for a while he's saying the demo on it when I first heard it. So there's a lot of history with that big show song. It's iconic when Sean Michaels walks in the locker room and he goes, well, it's the big show. Like he'll sing the song.

So you know you're making an impact on people. And to transfer, move forward to now, AEW, We got Paul White, we've got our new theme music. And it's incredible how we were able to kind of make it feel a little bit of the same, but improve it, make it new. And it's definitely not the big show anymore. It's something new. It's a new attitude. And old friends, you know, old faces and still same attitude.

So it's cool to have that kind of iconic music because you need to walk down that ramp. You need to feel. you need to feel that it's you. I don't think I could come down to to like Jack Evans or on Helico's music. I mean, I could. I mean, and Helico dance is really good in the ring. Like, you know, he's one of our big stars in AEW,

and he's got his own disco dance, like he's catching the wind. I'm a huge fan of it. I talk about it all the time on elevation. I just, you know, the guy knows 2,000 wrestling holds, but I'm not worried about that. I just like seeing the guy dance. I think it's cool. It's been such a pleasure catching up with you, Paul.

Awesome, man. I'm so happy that you're out in L.A. enjoying that beautiful weather out there. And hopefully I'll get out there. We'll hook up and go get some street food. I don't know if I could afford the bill for all the things that you eat. Come on, man. Number one, I'm eating more sensibly now.

And number two, I pick up the check. Look, I end every interview with the same question. I appreciate that. I talk about gratitude. Every day I start and end every day saying out loud, three things I'm grateful for. And I end every interview with that. So what are three things in your life that you're grateful for right now? Three things right now that I'm grateful for.

My health, my peace of mind, my friends and family. I love it. I think those are core beliefs to keep everything going because everything else is transitional everything else is up and down but you know if you're physically healthy and mentally healthy and you have friends and family the rest will you can you can make on your own love it paul thanks so much thanks chris man you're the man bro and you're really getting the l.a look down now i'm just saying the hair the beard you're jamming the l a look like you should you look like you look like you're like a lead in your own detective story or something see you and i should be in a buddy cop comedy

The good-looking guy in the ogre? There you go. So you're calling me an ogre? How dare you? Well, you know, I didn't say that. But come on, you know. You're the man, Chris. Thanks, buddy.

Thanks, Ben. That guy is awesome. Big thanks to Paul Paul, Paul White, or should I call him Captain Insano? Big thanks to him for spending some time with us. And of course, thank you to you for being the best part of every single episode. As you can tell, we recorded this last. Friday, just a few hours before CM Punk shocked the world and appeared on AEW Rampage at the

United Center in Chicago. That was pretty epic. That crowd reaction was incredible. And as we talked about in this conversation, rising tides lift all ships. So whether you're a fan of WWE, NWA, Ring of Honor, AEW, Impact, New Japan, or any other company, man, what. What? a time to be a pro wrestling fan with everything that's going on. Oh, and by the way, it is okay to like more than one company. It's amazing jumping on Twitter and seeing how much, ah, just toxicity there is around all of this. It's okay to like more than one. Now, since Paul talked about so much about not focusing on yesterday and focusing on the here and now and being president. I'll leave you with this quote from John C. Maxwell. Don't worry about yesterday.

It ended last night at midnight. There you go. Be great. Be grateful. We will see you on the next one for some more insight. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. Back in the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock. But there was one band that had it all hammer alley whatever happened to hammer alley how did they go from top of the rock i'm looking for a music video they're a band from 1987 hammer alley ever heard of them to rock bottom dude i was born in 1987 uh i can't believe he's doing this hammer alley follow and listen on your favorite platform