SEScoops

Author: Scott Fishman

  • Damian Priest on Rey Mysterio\’s Influence: \”I’m Still Learning a Lot From Him.\”

    When WWE talent transitions from developmental (NXT) to the main roster, there\’s always the issue of how much of their act will be changed. There is the old adage, \”If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.\” When talking about the creative side of pro wrestling, this adage isn\’t always followed.

    Damien Priest is one of the lucky performers who did not skip a beat after leaving NXT. His success in WWE comes down to timing, but also making the most of an opportunity. The Bad Bunny mainstream rub certainly helped. At the same time, the two’s alliance felt far deeper than your typical celebrity involvement. Priest was entrusted with helping one of the biggest music stars in the world succeed in the ring. The imposing Raw superstar opened eyes and turned heads, showing what he could do when given the ball. 

    The former United States champion continues to prove himself as a pillar of Judgment Day. Among his biggest tests comes in a marquee match on Raw against rival Edge from his hometown of Toronto.

    Over SummerSlam weekend I had the chance to sit down with Priest to reflect on some of his biggest recent moments, the impact Bad Bunny made, and Judgment Day’s future. 

    Rey Mysterio\’s Influence

    You were part of Rey Mysterio’s big 20th anniversary in WWE live from Madison Square Garden. What did that night mean to you as a fan and New Yorker?

    Damian Priest: \”Obviously, we’re feuding, but realistically, when I go out, the main thing I get told is \’Thank you\’ for representing. There isn’t any of that without Rey Mysterio. He was someone who was looked at as somebody who shouldn’t have achieved the success he has. Forget his size. Just being Latino. That meant a lot. I remember growing up watching him, so it was meaningful. Now I’m in that role of also someone representing our culture.

    I’m still learning a lot from him. The way he treats people and tries to enhance representation. It was a big deal. Then it’s The Garden, so many things. Talk about the perfect place and time. It became, \’Man, I just worked Rey Mysterio in Madison Square Garden on the night he was celebrating his 20th anniversary with WWE.\’ That was just wild to me.\”

    Judgment Day

    \"The
    (via WWE)

    It seemed things were really picking up with Edge leading Judgment Day. How did you react to this change of guard? 

    Damian Priest: \”Our idea is still the same. With Rhea Ripley healthy, we’re excited. We’re all giddy in the back talking about the chaos we’re going to cause. Even without the cameras on, we’re dangerous. The three of us are dangerous together. We’ve been looking forward to this. That’s the idea. We were all fine on our own and as singles competitors, but this gives us a different look. A different vibe, and opportunity. Growing up I’ve always wanted to be in a faction. I was a big faction guy. The nWo, DX, Four Horsemen, Evolution. So many groups I was a fan of. 

    To be a part of one and the idea there is no leader. We support each other. Whoever a particular moment is about, we’re going to support that person in the front. It’s all the same. It’s a revolving door of leadership. As long as we maintain that mentality, I think now the fans are really going to see something special. We haven’t really been able to do it yet, but we’re just getting started. The future is going to be really cool for us and for the fans.

    Working with Bad Bunny

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    Your profile really grew alongside Bad Bunny. You can see he really put in the work. Do you think he helped change the overall perception when celebrities decide they want to wrestle? That it’s more than a publicity stunt. 

    Damian Priest: \”We’ve had celebrities before, but I think he is an example of what someone from a different world can do in our world. You don\’t have to come in, promote something and leave. You can earn the respect of the fans and the talent. You can create something special for yourself, your fanbase, and us working together.

    I haven’t been here the longest, so I can’t speak on celebrities who have been here before, but what he did was unprecedented in the way he treated us and this business. The respect he showed everyone. When you have guys like Randy Orton going up to him saying, “Hey, thanks for showing us respect. Thanks for doing this. You are one of the boys.” I was there and felt emotion for Bad Bunny. 

    That’s amazing when you have someone of that caliber saying that to you. That’s awesome. Now you got guys like Logan Paul signing a contract. These guys are not coming in for just a one-off or for a joke or laugh. They are taking this seriously. Bad Bunny may have changed the narrative about how celebrities should treat us and how the company should accept celebrities coming in. Not just opening the doors to anybody. Earn it. He may have changed a little bit of that culture.\”

  • Ciampa Credits Miz With Helping Him Transition to the Main Roster

    Ciampa is faring quite well at the start of this new era for WWE.

    The former NXT Champion recently transitioned to the Raw brand as part of an unlikely pairing with The Miz. Any fears that he \”wouldn\’t translate\” on the main roster have dissipated.

    Since joining Raw, her\’s scored wins over Dolph Ziggler, Chad Gable and AJ Styles. He also challenged Bobby Lashley for the United States championship. Although the challenger came up short, the battle against “The Almighty” turned a lot of heads.

    With his momentum building, I had a chance of catching up with Ciampa over SummerSlam weekend. Below are some highlights from our discussion.

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    Ciampa and The Miz

    You’ve been aligned with The Miz, which brings a unique dynamic. He is this over-the-top entertainer where you’re this straight-laced tough guy. It somehow works. How has it been working with him? 

    Ciampa: \”I love it. I think it might have been my idea. I don’t remember. I know he was up there on my list of, \’Hey, if you’re going to do the first program with somebody. Who would that be?\’ He was right at the top. I just have a lot of respect for him. I think he is fantastic. He has been in this system for a long time and knows how the system works, as far as headlining WrestleMania, being a main-eventer and winning different titles.

    He has faced adversity and overcomes it. I’m excited I get to be part of all the stuff we’re doing on Raw. We have our talks. He is a good dude to be around. He has earned his spot. He is very unselfish as far as giving to new talent. You come from a new world to Raw and SmackDown. He is really good at helping talents navigate through that.\”

    Ciampa\’s Raw Talk Promo

    Everyone began really talking about your Raw Talk promo. What were you channeling there? 

    Ciampa: \”The main thing that stood out to me, and it’s going to sound arrogant, but I’ve been doing this for a long time. That’s how I saw it. That I’ve been doing these promos forever. It goes to show the reach of Raw and SmackDown from NXT. I’ve been doing sitting in a chair promos on NXT for five years now. Some of those were really freakin’ good.

    I know when something is good. Good is good, bad is bad. You do it on Raw Talk, and all of a sudden, the machine gets behind it and more eyes are on me. That was for me eye-opening. I thought this is great and exactly what I was asking for.

    Let’s be honest, when Miz gets attention and Logan Paul gets attention, well, if I’m in that bubble, I’m going to get that attention too. They gave me the opportunity to talk. That’s the best thing you can do for a guy like me. I’m not going to win you over with my backflip. If you give me a microphone and tell me I can go for 60 seconds, I’ll win you over.\”

    Johnny Gargano\’s Future

    There is a lot of buzz surrounding Johnny Gargano. Do you think we’ll see him back in a WWE ring down the line? 

    Ciampa: \”You are one hundred percent going to see him in a ring again. I don\’t know which ring. I would think it’s tough to say. I don’t know if Candice [LeRae] is interested in wrestling again or not. It’s a lot of decisions to be made with a child at home. He has got to be getting close to wrestling somewhere. The itch has got to be getting there.

    We’re almost at a year in now since he has been in the ring. I think at some point he’ll make his way back to WWE. I feel like everyone does at some point. Never say never.\”

  • From ECW to AEW, How Pro Wrestling Shapes Musical Tastes

    Flipping through television channels in South Florida in the mid 1990\’s, I found Extreme Championship Wrestling on the Sunshine Network. The in-your-face presentation wasn’t the only thing that caught my attention. It was the music. Those long string of vignettes. The entrances. Even the commercials for the merch including VHS tapes of events all had signature sounds. I began to associate the entrance themes with the stars I saw on my TV screen as a young teen. 

    They were in many ways extensions of a performer\’s character. From there I soon realized these were not just music for these pro wrestlers. They were legit top names and legends in music at the time. Icons. There was Alice In Chains, Metallica, Pantera, White Zombie, and The Offspring to name a few. 

    This was truly a moment in time as it relates to a renegade company pulling copyrighted music. Yes, ECW’s mastermind Paul Heyman had some label deals for the company. Though much of those songs were used cease and desist be damned. If you watch ECW on streaming like on Peacock, you’re not hearing those original songs but rather similar sounds. Kids today don’t even know. Man, I aged myself saying that. 

    Watching Stranger Things got me thinking about how impactful music can be to a television show, as well as the artists themselves. Look at what it has done for Metallica and Kate Bush, who is running up that hill straight to the bank. There is a connection formed. One I felt when it came to pro wrestling too. 

    All these years later I further come to the realization that watching ECW in actuality helped shape my musical tastes even today. It opened up the door for me in so many ways. I can’t tell you how many times I’ll listen to the radio or be out and hear a song. The visuals of a pro wrestler come up in my head. Does that happen to you? 

    Music is such an important part of pro wrestling. One cord or line can elevate talent and help them get over. All The Sandman had to do was walk to the ring to “Enter Sandman” and fans got what they wanted. A giant beer-soaked party.  

    WWE and WCW also helped grow my musical palate. There was Hollywood Hogan coming out to “Voodoo Child” from Jimi Hendrix.  From Rob Zombie to Alter Bridge, Edge always had killer song choices. And then there are those incredible video packages the production team puts together along with PPV themes. Ronda Rousey made a big splash right out of the gate to the sounds of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts\’ “Bad Reputation.” 

    Another fan during that 1990s time period and clearly inspired by the concept of using familiar music, and that’s Tony Khan. The AEW visionary has spared no expense to secure songs like “Tarzan Boy.” Now I can’t see Jungle Boy walk the aisle without hearing “Jungle Life.” As a result, Jungle Express’ entrance brings a festive party atmosphere. Ruby Soho first arriving with the sounds of “Ruby Soho” by Rancid was perfect. 

    Even Chris Jericho’s own band Fozzy has a win-win with “Judas” being a giant karaoke singalong every time the legendary performer appears on AEW TV. “Wild Thing” by The Troggs somehow works well for Jon Moxley. And of course, there is Orange Cassidy, who had “Where is my Mind” by the Pixies before switching to “Jane” by Jefferson Starship. That was met with some disappointment on social media to an extent.

    And then there is CM Punk. You can’t really picture him now coming out without “Cult of Personality” by Living Colour. Though all of Punk’s song choices felt right for him. I remember witnessing fans flip out when Punk went with the AFI throwback Ring of Honor at Revolution. 

    Music is a powerful vehicle and tool. It crosses generations much like pro wrestling. All these decades since I was an impressionable teen, I now look at kids in the crowds and think how maybe how their own musical tastes are being cultivated.

  • Michael Cole Has Built a Lasting Legacy After 25+ Years in WWE

    When you think of all the big moments in WWE history over the last quarter of the century, chances are Michael Cole was ringside.

    The longtime broadcaster transitioned from hard news to the wacky world of pro wrestling/sports entertainment in the midst of the “Monday Night War.” Cole learned early on this meant more than calling matches. He was tested on every level, even feeling the sophomoric brunt of DX complete with wedgies.

    No matter what assignment, Cole always maintained the utmost professionalism and did his job. It was that consistency that saw him step into the lead announcer seat while Jim Ross battled Bell\’s palsy.  

    This was no easy task as JR had been the beloved voice of WWE for so many years and fans aren’t the best with change. Still, Cole took on the challenge, which included calling Mick Foley’s first WWE championship win, the 1999 Royal Rumble, and everything besides the main event of WrestleMania 15. Talk about trial by fire.

    When Ross returned, Cole’s work ethic and preparedness shined through, taking the ball while sitting along Taz on SmackDown. He built a solid friendship and rapport with John “Bradshaw” Layfield no matter what brand they were assigned. 

    One of the most valuable traits Cole carries is being able to cancel out the outside noise and remain the voice of the company. That\’s no small task when you have a very demanding audience coupled with an even more demanding boss to please.

    At times WWE seemed to be pitting Ross against Cole, even in front of the camera. Their “feud” led to a match with the leader of the “Cole Miners” facing Ross’ broadcast partner and friend Jerry “The King” Lawler at WrestleMania 27. A match Cole technically won. Yes, he is undefeated at the biggest show of the year. 

    During the often revolving door at the broadcast position, Cole keeps on as the reliable constant. The familiar. Looking at all the episodes and hours of programming produced, it’s pretty incredible that he rarely missed a day on the job. A son\’s wedding or the like. Think about all the sacrifices required for the position. To be depended on that much comes with immense pressure. Yet he always looks cool as a cucumber. As Ross exited, Cole became even more crucial to WWE TV.

    He has also played an important part in grooming the next generation as vice president of announcing. You see the evolution and growth of Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves each week, as well as new faces like a recruit from the combat sports world in Jimmy Smith.

    Cole encourages talent to step outside of their comfort zones as he did with a Lita or Beth Phoenix for the Mae Young Classic or NXT or another show. Or giving his support to Renee Young trying her hand in the proverbial booth. In 2018, he went as far as to tweet Young’s first trailblazing night on Raw was a Top 5 highlight in his WWE career. He thanked Young and Graves for making him feel young again. 

    Fast forward to today and it seems Cole shares the same sentiment with Pat McAfee. Their chemistry on SmackDown is undeniable. Not surprisingly WWE signed the former football player for a multi-year extension. Cole came on Twitter for the first time in almost six years just to comment on the news. He said McAfee is the highlight of each week, complimenting his contagious excitement and revitalizing his love for the business. Often showing Cole respect on the air, you have to believe those words meant a lot to McAfee. 

    For Cole to not only last but thrive in WWE for more than 25 years and counting is a massive accomplishment. And the fact nobody has ever talked ill about him, at least in public, makes the run even more impressive. I for one look forward to the day Cole writes a book about his experience in WWE. Although that could probably be an anthology or weekly podcast. I\’m sure Conrad Thompson has thought about the potential of that. Until then during the next SmackDown, think about Cole’s journey. You\’ll certainly feel an appreciation for the man himself.

  • Logan Paul Brings Massive Potential for WWE

    When news broke that Logan Paul signed with WWE there was the usual response. You know. The one where certain fans have that knee-jerk reaction of, “Here comes _____insert celebrity___ to collect their payday.”

    They can\’t stand when someone, an “outsider,” comes into the pro wrestling world to take up television time or a spot from someone else. The common response has become a “one size fits all.”  In actuality, it has been a mixed bag. 

    Mr. T may have not been the easiest to work with for the likes of Roddy Piper, but boy did it create big business in the 1980s. His involvement helped put WrestleMania on the map. Even Lawrence Taylor put on a stellar performance against Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event at WrestleMania 11 no less. Dennis Rodman helped take WCW and the nWo further into the mainstream through his involvement. 

    Over the years WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, Kevin Greene, and countless others could be credited for a positive uptick. Along with Paul,  Bad Bunny, and Johnny Knoxville are among notable recent successes. You can even mark MMA legends Ken Shamrock and Ronda Rousey in that upper echelon of seamless crossovers.

    Celebrities who excel in pro wrestling

    Usually, those who tend to do well come in humble with a willing-to-learn attitude. They genuinely wanted to pick up each facet of this unique form of sports and entertainment.  

    Of course, there was Jay Lenos, Drew Careys, and Kevin Federlines. Though even not-so-good outings, the one constant remained. Drawing new eyes to the product The pro wrestling fan base tends to live in a bubble without thinking big picture.

    Bunny merch was right up there in top merch sellers during his run. Whether you like Paul or not, he brings buzz and a massive social media following. And in 2022 that’s prime currency. 

    The 27-year-old also looks seemingly committed to putting in the work. That was evident at WrestleMania 38 where he teamed with The Miz against the Mysterios and impressed a global audience. Yes, Miz and Rey Mysterio are veterans who know how to elevate opponents, but Paul also brought athletic ability and somewhat of a fighting background. He has done some serious training. The viral YouTube star demonstrated how to work an audience working alongside true pros in Sami Zayne and Kevin Owens.

    There is a clear interest in Paul joining WWE. His name trended on Twitter while his image became the most liked photo on Instagram in company history. It’s a good start, but wrestling fans are hard to please. The keyboard warriors, the trolls that lurk on Twitter and the like. Paul is used to managing the social media waters. But pro wrestling has proven to be its own animal that can’t be put in one category or box. 

    His first test comes in a program with The Miz. Someone who came into WWE from Real World notoriety, which put a similar target as Paul will experience on a certain scale. Through unwavering determination, Miz changed many detractors\’ minds and clawed for every accolade. Paul is going to have to do the same.

    We’ll see what happens heading into SummerSlam. Whether he excels or has a run that goes up in flames, one thing is for sure. People will be watching. 

    \"WWE

  • Claudio Castagnoli\’s Journey to AEW Paved on Respect

    When Bryan Danielson teased a replacement for Forbidden Door, there were a handful of names thrown around. Though at the top of the list for many fans was who emerged from the tunnel on the pay-per-view before a red hot Chicago crowd at the United Center. It was Claudio Castagnoli, the former WWE superstar Cesaro, who walked to the ring with a hero’s welcome. 

    Social media was abuzz watching this goosebump-inducing moment. Tweets flooded timelines from not only fans but those in the business across company lines. The universally positive reaction was indicative of the man himself, who built an impressive body of work and garnered much-deserved respect in the process. 

    I remember meeting Castagnoli in 2012 at an FCW-NXT show in Miami when the WWE developmental brand held shows as part of the local fair there. The outdoor atmosphere provided a fun and festive atmosphere for young and emerging talent to work in front of a unique crowd. Hours before showtime, interviews were set up for me. Stephen Keirn, who was a large part of the brand at the time, and other PR folks would decide based on who had the biggest upside. Naturally, a Jason Statham-looking doppelganger was among them. The impressive Swiss superstar honed his skills working all over the world and earned a name for himself in Ring of Honor. 

    He couldn’t have been more professional, expressing his goals set out working for WWE. Fast forward to a few weeks later when Cesario would get the call-up. I could see a future world champion in the making. The latest addition to the main roster went through it all starting with a love interest in Aksana. Cesaro began collecting gold along the way including a lengthy United States championship reign. 

    He’d return to NXT for an acclaimed feud against Sami Zayn where the two tore the house down at NXT TakeOver: ArRIVAL. It helped set the tone for what audiences would come to expect from these events. Then there was his time in The Real Americans, the Andre the Giant Battle Royal win at WrestleMania, being chosen as a “Paul Heyman Guy,” and an amazing tag title run with Tyson Kidd. And who could forget how he answered that open challenge against John Cena. 

    The Cesaro section continue to grow, but Vince McMahon wasn’t completely sold. The Chairman told “Stone Cold” Steve Austin during a WWE Network interview that he felt Cesaro basically wasn’t grabbing that brass ring. Rather than complaining about the comments, he used it as fuel to continue on putting in the work and turning heads with stellar matches. The fan favorite was randomly paired alongside Sheamus, which turned into one of the most celebrated and successful tag teams of the era. They were certainly raised The Bar. 

    Throughout the years there were points viewers thought Cesaro was finally going to swing into the upper echelon of WWE. There were so many starts and stops, but there was always the hope there would be followthrough. The most example was the win over Seith Rollins at WrestleMania 37 leading into the main event against Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania Backlash. WWE never pulled the trigger, and Cesaro had clearly reached the ceiling there with no signs that would change any time soon. 

    Through the ups and downs, the one constant for Cesaro was being that reliable workhorse. Someone who could make everyone better by just sharing the ring with him. One of those few talents you won’t hear anyone say a bad word about. And in speaking to him from that one day at the fair more than 10 years ago and a few other times during his WWE journey, I can say Castagnoli has always kept that fire to compete and deliver with the lights on bright. 

    Enter All Elite Wrestling where Castagnoli tests his skills with new challenges and some familiar ones. If Forbidden Door and that banger against Zack Sabre Jr. is any indication, the newest member of the Blackpool Combat Club will fit in just fine. And dare I say just getting started. 

  • Impact Wrestling Memories Over 20 Years

    As Impact Wrestling celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first show, I think back to my own memories.

    Mourning the loss of WCW and ECW I was excited at the idea of something that felt familiar and new. Built on the foundation of the NWA complete with stars that I missed seeing on weekly television. Needless to say, I was intrigued. I remember those Wednesday night shows and going over to my friend\’s house to watch them. As a broke college student, I’d shell out a few dollars to help cover the $9.99 cost. 

    Not long into Impact’s (or should I say NWA-TNA) run, I decided to rent a car with a friend during spring break. We drove from South Florida to Nashville for a taping. The company couldn’t have been more accommodating, even taking us on a tour of the Nashville Fairgrounds. We were even treated to a visit to the White Trash Cafe where the crew would eat before the show.

    That night Chris Harris was within an eyelash of becoming the NWA champion over Jeff Jarrett. Seeing Sting again was another highlight. Earlier in the day, I’d banked interviews with not only Jarrett but America’s Most Wanted, Konnan, Johnny Fairplay, and Vince Russo. 

    A little less than a year later I was happy to make the drive in 2004 for the promotion’s first three-hour pay-per-view Victory Road. The energy in the Impact Zone was palpable right from that top-quality produced opening video package. The last time I\’d get to see Macho Man Randy Savage live. I’ll never forget those trips to Universal Studios Orlando. Even the time the soundstage had to be evacuated in the middle of a pay-per-view due to fire. Eric Young, Traci Brooks, and other talent did an amazing job keeping the fans entertained before the crew let us back in for the rest of the show. 

    One of the things Impact did well over the years is create some unique fan experiences. In 2010, for Slammiversary I remember a particularly fun night at the NASCAR Sports Grille. Stars interacted with attendees in an intimate and festive setting. I mean where else could you share a shot with members of the Beautiful People or play a game with Abyss? A few years ago I also recall covering a mini-golf tournament between Impact wrestlers and fans. I kind of wish I also attended the bowling tournament.

    Then there was 2014’s Lockdown when Impact hosted its first Miami pay-per-view. That fan weekend was a big highlight for me as I got some time with the legendary Great Muta. Ahead of the show, I also spotlighted hometown boy MVP for a local publication. 

    Early on in dating my now wife, I recall taking her to Impact’s first live event (house show) in Miami. She was ecstatic to see “her champion” Taylor Wilde. She was invested in the Knockouts at the time no doubt. We actually spent one of our anniversaries in Daytona Beach during Bound for Glory weekend. When we got two dogs, the names bestowed upon them were Shelley and Sabin after the Motor City Machine Guns. My first big feature for Pro Wrestling Illustrated was actually on Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin’s return to Impact. 

    Even recently I reached out to Ross Forman, head of PR  about having some stars come out in support of a “Day of Giving” event at my local YMCA of Central Florida. Since they were in town for TV tapings, he made it so Deonna Purrazzo and Moose stopped by to help support the cause and raise a few dollars. For that, I’m extremely grateful. 

    You see, in many ways, this company has run parallel with my own life moments. I feel I’ve essentially grown up beside them. And for that reason, the company will always hold a special place for me. So I say thank you to Impact Wrestling for the last 20 years. Here’s to looking forward to its next chapter. 

    Order Impact Slammiversary 2022 now from FITE ($39.99)