Chris Masters has revealed why he never won a title in WWE.
The former WWE star recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet for a new interview. He talked about things such as being signed by the company at the age of 21, the Master Lock challenge, his Mt. Rushmore of best body guys in wrestling, and more.
During the talk, the 43-year-old also opened up about never winning any championships in WWE despite having multiple runs with the company. He revealed that he was actually supposed to win the Intercontinental Championship in a fatal four-way match when he was chasing the title back in 2006. Plans changed after WWE learned about his painkiller addiction and sent him to rehab:
“Then the Intercontinental title—I was actually supposed to win that, but it was at the same point where they had given me an intervention for my prescription painkiller abuse at the time.
They even told me—I remember having the meeting with Johnny [Ace]—and because there was a four-way match that night, it was in Vegas for the Intercontinental title that I was slated to win. But then they caught wind that I had the issues I had, and I had an intervention, and basically told me, ‘You’re going to rehab.’ I screwed that.”
Chris Masters later revealed that he came close to winning the Tag Team Championship with Carlito when they faced Big Show and Kane at WrestleMania 22, but plans were changed the day before the show. According to the former WWE star, the officials wanted Carlito to turn face and wanted to give The Spirit Squad some momentum.
As a result, the tag team broke up after the loss, with Carlito turning face despite having betrayed Masters multiple times over the previous few months. Big Show and Kane then dropped the tag titles to Kenny & Mikey on the Raw after WrestleMania.
Chris Masters says CM Punk worked him with his infamous pipebomb promo.
The Straight Edge Star has previously talked about The Masterpiece being one of the first people that he ran into after his iconic promo.
On an AEW Unrestricted episode, Punk had detailed how he had decided to take the side entrance to the backstage area instead of going through the curtain like usual, to add another layer to the mystique of the whole thing. Punk then ran into Masters who didn\’t recognize him at first and seemed shocked by his words.
The former WWE star gave his side of the story during a recent appearance on Rewind Recap Relive podcast. He noted that he couldn\’t recognize Punk because of the lack of lighting in the backstage area. Chris explained that his reaction was like an extra validation for the former AEW star:
\”It was funny, because whatever I said to Punk completely validated his promo to him, because, you know, essentially he had worked me with the promo. Cause I was like, \’Oh my God, what did he say? You know, you\’re gonna get yourself fired.\’
And I think as soon as he heard that, he knew that the promo went over just like, you know, like it was the validation. He knew. Like he already knew. But, you know, sometimes you just need that little extra thing. And I think I was that extra thing to like, you know, because he got me.\”
Chris Masters was also asked about a potential Royal Rumble return. The heavyweight star revealed that he\’s actually tried to get back into WWE the last few years. Masters expressed his disappointment over not getting another opportunity and said that he finds himself at a crossroads in his wrestling career.
Getting success early in wrestling can be both a blessing and a curse for wrestlers. While some wrestlers like Randy Orton are able to convert the early opportunity into a legendary career, there are many others who are not able to take full advantage of it. A lot of such talents end up getting released and spend the rest of their careers chasing another shot at proving themselves. Former WWE star Chris Masters seems to be on the second list who has been chasing that opportunity so long that he is not sure if it\’s worth it anymore.
The Masterpiece was asked about a potential return to WWE during a recent interview with Rewind Relive Recap podcast. Masters, who first signed with WWE in 2003 at the age of 20 talked about how he\’s been trying to get back to a bigger platform for a while. However the 42-year-old is now at a point where he is not sure if he\’ll ever get that opportunity again:
\”I\’d like to, man, I\’ve tried to work for that. I was with NWA for a minute, and that gave me kind of a good, at least, platform to show what I can do. But it\’s tough, man, because I look around the landscape now and I just, I don\’t know where that opportunity is going to come from. It might not be in the cards.
It doesn\’t mean I\’m gonna walk away from wrestling. It\’s just one of those things where wrestling can be…the career of a wrestler goes through a lot where, in terms of, it\’s a love-hate relationship. You love it sometimes, but sometimes you don\’t feel like it\’s loving you back. I\’ve definitely fallen back in love with wrestling,
But I\’ve gotten to the point to now where I just don\’t feel like it\’s loving me back. I definitely feel like my ability is better than it\’s ever been. If given the opportunity, I could do something. But the question is [if] that opportunity\’s going to come and if it is, who\’s it going to come from? I just, I don\’t know,\”
Chris Masters last wrestled under a WWE banner in 2011. Since then, he\’s had runs with TNA and NWA while also maintaining his presence in the independent scene. Though despite his love for the business, the heavyweight star finds himself at a crossroads, thinking about alternate career paths which may be more financially rewarding:
\”No, yeah. I\’m at a crossroads myself, personally. I\’ve been on the indie scene for so long that, it\’s gone to the point where I need something more. Because this can\’t just be it. If this was just going to be it, then I have to pivot, or I have to, at least, do something else in addition to, if nothing else. It\’s one of those things where you just never know what kind of surprises or what\’s going to happen.
But at the same time, I don\’t want to be 5-6-7, years from now, that guy who was like, kind of hoping for that next shot, but just never got it. Since then has just been dithering on the independent scene. And don\’t get me wrong, the independent scene has been a lot of fun. But shoot, you\’re gonna want something more,
Because you can\’t, even with the independent scene you can only work about once or twice a week most times. So there\’s just a lack of fulfilment and there\’s not enough physical reimbursement, I mean, money just straight up. You\’re not…You\’re definitely not planning your retirement just on the independent wrestling scene.\”
The wrestling veteran was also asked about a potential Royal Rumble spot. He revealed that he\’s actually sent feelers in hopes of getting back after seeing a lot of his friends getting the opportunity in the last 3-4 years. He theorized, however, that the powers may be might not be sure about bringing him in, thinking that nobody would remember his earlier run.
Chris Masters is ready to take his skills to a larger stage than the NWA and has set his sights on AEW, IMPACT, and WWE.
The Masterpiece is best known for his time with WWE from 2005 to 2007 and his subsequent run from 2009 to 2011. He has also competed in IMPACT Wrestling and the NWA and is a two-time NWA National Champion.
Chris Masters Wants To See What\’s Out There
In a video shared on his Instagram, Masters spoke about wanting to see what\’s out there beyond the realities of the NWA.
“[I’m looking to] see what’s out there for me. The last couple years I’ve been at NWA, [I’ve been] trying to develop myself and kind of evolve my character in every way I possibly could. And now I’d like to bring that to AEW, Impact Wrestling, and of course, WWE.”
Masters recently shared a video of himself making his entrance at an event. With the caption \”and now the participant who drew number 2\”, Masters was referring to a surprise return in the Men\’s Royal Rumble match.
Fans are buzzing after former WWE star Chris Masters recently dropped a video clip on social media. It seems that he is teasing a return to the company.
Masters debuted on WWE Raw in 2005 and was a standout superstar due to his impressive physique. He used a Full Nelson finisher known as the Masterlock which gave his opponents no choice but the tap out in many matches.
\’The Masterpiece\’ had a couple of runs in WWE from 2005 to 2007 and then again from 2009 to 2011. Following his departure from the company, Masters went by his ring name Adonis, and has been competing on the independent circuit. He also became the NWA National Heavyweight Champion twice.
Chris Masters teasing the fans
Chris Masters took to Twitter and shared a video of himself inside a hallway which sparked speculation that he could be returning during the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event next year.
Chris Masters on the possibility of a return to WWE
Earlier this year, during an interview with Chris Van Vliet, the former WWE star spoke about his run at WWE and discussed the possibilities of a return to the company. He said:
“I’ve never even thought about going back to WWE, honestly, because, and it’s not out of anything bitter. It’s just, you know, I had a couple of runs there and it ended the way it did. And, you know, I just realized that my love is for professional wrestling even if it’s not with WWE. But you know, with everything that I’ve learned in the last couple of years and then also seen Shelton, Carlito, MVP all my buddies you know, I finally started you know, looking at it and it was more out of this what you just mentioned.”
“It was more not out of Chris Masters coming back, it was more out of because I remember getting in touch with that young wrestling fan. I remember what is it that we’re always looking for? We’re looking for that oh sh*t moment you know, I mean, like that Ultimate Warrior comeback at WrestleMania 8. It’s not to say anything I could do can measure to that but the Bobby Lashley scenario is fascinating because I haven’t been there for so long though.”
WWE is planning to make this year\’s Royal Rumble more special. CM Punk recently announced that he will be in the namesake match. The event is certainly generating massive hype among the fans with big ticket sales already recorded more than a month before the show.
Coming out of the pandemic restrictions and reopening of the world came a reboot for Chris Adonis. The wrestler former known as \”The Masterpiece\” Chris Masters still had a passion for performing and a nice career under his belt starting at a young age. However, the veteran felt there was more he could show.
“I had to look at my past and realize I was never my best self,” the NWA star said, checking in from Mexico City where he would join others on the roster for the AAA vs. NWA The World is a Vampire show.
Without any of what he called past B.S. or baggage boggling him down, the 40-year-old believes he can now be the best pro wrestler he can be. There are fellow former colleagues of WWE who have taken advantage of the platform NWA has given them and found tremendous success. Names include Matt Cardona, JTG, Trevor Murdoch, and the man currently at the top of the mountain in Tyrus.
After WWE in particular signed a lot of us, we never really got the full chance to develop,” Adonis explained. “Back in the day, you had guys working territories and all these places. Then they go to WWF and halfway have it figured out.
“What you’re seeing from guys like myself and others coming into our own. We might have come into our own sooner if we had a longer run in WWE. But we have done it ourselves on the independent scene. That comes by virtue of first wanting to get better and still caring. Through the natural course of developing and evolving as a character. Trying to find your final form so to speak.”
The master of The Master Look took WWE by storm 20 years ago and it didn’t take long before he was working with the likes of Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and John Cena. A second stint with the company never really reached the heights he would have liked.
“I came into WWE I was the body guy, the muscle guy,” Adonis said. “It’s not like I’m not completely that anymore. That was my ticket in, but I wasn’t the performer I wanted to be. I didn’t want to be the one-dimensional big guy.”
He aims for a more athletic presentation today in his matches. After landing in the NWA, he joined up with Strictly Business, the top faction made up of the likes of Thom Latimer and champ and recent opponent Nick Aldis. Sacrificing the National Championship for a crack at Murdoch and the heavyweight gold didn’t lead to a positive result. He hopes things end differently as Adonis gears up to challenge Tyrus for the “Ten Pounds of Gold” at the NWA 312 pay-per-view on April 7.
“He is a polarizing figure for a number of reasons,” Adonis said of his opponent. “First off, when you work at Fox News, that is going to be part of the deal anyway. One thing I will say about the IWC is one thing they don’t know is the true love Tyrus actually has for pro wrestling….The love he has for professional wrestling is not fake. He sits around and watches old Dusty Rhodes matches on his TV at home. He is legit about that. That doesn’t change the fact when it comes to Tyrus and myself, I’ve made it pretty clear he may be the NWA champion, but I am the better wrestler. That is what it all comes down to on 312 pay-per-view.”
Adonis will come into Chicago for the big show with a chip on his shoulder. For the driven competitor, it’s the biggest match of his career and the ultimate proving ground.
“I was slated for the Intercontinental title, the tag titles, potentially the youngest WWE champion of all time,” he said. “But to me, this shot at the world title is my shot at redemption. To me, what matters is what I leave behind in these last few years. If I can look back and say I put forward my best body of work and became the NWA champion world champion, the most prestigious championship in all of wrestling. At the very least, that is going to be a feel-good story for me. It matters to me. It’s important I close my career out right.”
NWA/Hiban Huerta
Beyond Tyrus, he believes 2023 is going to be a big year for him. And if this latest run might be his last, he still has goals to attain and opponents to cross off his list. They range from Moose, Harry Smith, and Aldis to Jon Moxley, Hangman Page, and Drew McIntyre. Yes, there are some that are forbidden door opponents and outside the NWA, but he is still putting it out there.
“There is no part of me that thinks he is going back to WWE full-time or am I campaigning for that,” Adonis added. “But what I have campaigned for the last two years is coming back for the Royal Rumble spot. It means a lot to me to get in front of that audience one more time to show them what I can do now and the worker I became…I know if I was put in the Royal Rumble, and even if I was in there for two minutes I would shine. It would be pretty cool.”
When looking at the WWE roster today, he is impressed with emerging talent like Austin Theory. There are some similarities between the young gun and “The Masterpiece,” who came onto the scene right out of his teens. Adonis likens “A-Town Down” to a little brother.
“Austin Theory, Killer Kross, and LA Knight are my guys on the roster. I root for those guys\’ success and believe in them,” Adonis said. “I think when I watch Austin Theory, I don’t have to give him advice…As long as he keeps his head on straight, he’ll be able to do all the things I wasn’t able to do because, at his age, I made a lot of mistakes. I was impressionable.
\”A lot of what I know about Austin Theory from hanging out with him and talking to him, this guy has no interest in getting involved in extracurricular activities. The business isn’t really like that anymore thank God…He is going to do great as long as he keeps his nose clean. He’ll be able to do what I wasn’t able to do on my first run.”
Watch NWA 312 on April 7 at 8 p.m. ET on FITE TV. Catch NWA Powerrr on Tuesdays at 6:05 p.m. and NWA USA on Saturdays at Noon on YouTube.
Could WWE fans see Bobby Lashley\’s Hurt Lock Vs. Chris Masters\’ Master Lock, 16 years after the two last did battle?
When Masters debuted on WWE\’s main roster in 2005, he put away countless opponents with his take on the Full Nelson, and would have a weekly \’Masterlock Challenge.\’
On the March 19, 2007, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Lashley broke the Master Lock on his road to the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania 23.
Lashley Vs. Masters
After returning to WWE in 2018, it wasn\’t long until Lashley adopted the Full Nelson himself, calling the move the Hurt Lock.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times this past week, Lashley spoke about the possibility of facing Masters again, possibly as soon as this Saturday\’s Royal Rumble.
\”I think if he has an opportunity to come back, I think that would be a really cool showcase. Whether it happens at the Rumble, you never know. The Rumble always has surprises. I think Chris has kind of proved himself in the professional wrestling world.\”
Bobby Lashley.
Since leaving WWE in 2011, Masters has worked for TNA/Impact Wrestling, GFW, and the NWA, and is a two-time NWA National Champion.
Breaking the Lock
Masters has not been confirmed for an appearance at the Royal Rumble and has instead stated that he will likely not be competing this weekend.
Sorry to say I have not been contacted for The Rumble and will almost certainly not be taking part at this point.
In the interview, Lashley said that if somehow, the two do cross paths this Saturday, he is ready to break the Master Lock for the second time.
\”If he comes back, you know what I would do? I\’d literally just turn around and put my hands out and tell him to put it on me again. Then I\’d ask him to do the same. And I guarantee you he\’s not breaking out of The Hurt Lock.\”
Former WWE Superstar Chris Masters has gone on to have a lengthy career in wrestling but is ready for a rematch with Bobby Lashley.
Masters, who signed with WWE in 2003, was just 20 when he inked his developmental contract, making him one of WWE\’s youngest-ever signings.
After being released in 2007, the Masterpiece would return in 2009 before his second release in 2011.
Lock Vs. Lock
During his tenure, Masters would have a regular \’Master Lock\’ challenge, in which contestants would try and break his version of the iconic Full Nelson submission.
After over two years, Bobby Lashley would break the lock on the March 19, 2007 episode of Raw, shocking Masters.
Speaking with SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, Masters spoke about a possible WWE return and said he tried to get one in time for the 2022 Royal Rumble.
\”I\’ve seen MVP come back. I\’ve seen Shelton [Benjamin] come back. I\’ve seen Carlito come back and I kind of felt like \’sure.\’ It\’s been ten years, and it feels like a good time. It\’s been so long that it\’s like who else can they bring back that\’ll be a big surprise at this point?\”
Masters hoped for a return to have a face-off with Lashley in the Men\’s Rumble match before it was announced that the All Mighty would be challenging then-WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.
Despite not getting the Rumble face-off he hoped for, Masters remains optimistic about facing Lashley.
\”I still hope, cross my fingers, that we can make that moment happen.\”
Chris Masters on a possible face-off with Bobby Lashley.
\”Bobby and I obviously know each other really well. I just felt like it would be a cool moment and I still hope, cross my fingers, that we can make that moment happen. I mean, it would obviously be cool for me but I think it would be cool for all of you, all the fans.\”
Lashley would defeat Lesnar at the Premium Live Events, thanks to interference from Roman Reigns.
Addiction
Masters\’ nickname \’The Masterpiece\’ came not only as a play-on-words on his name but also because of his impressive physique.
With his jacked muscles, Masters would often face accusations of using steroids or other performance-enhancing substances.
In the interview, Masters admitted to failing a drugs test in 2006 but clarified that he was fighting an addiction to prescription pills at the time.
\”I failed a drug test but the bigger issue was… I was at a point where I developed an addiction to these prescription pills. I was very young and it was just it was one of those things where you never thought it would be your type of thing and I didn\’t even know I was in it. So I had to go away and deal with that issue.\”
\”You never thought it would be your type of thing.\”
Chris Masters on developing an addiction to pills.
\”They told me either you\’re going to go in for treatment or basically you\’re not gonna have a job.\”
Masters would return to WWE in August 2006, with commentators describing him as \”leaner and meaner\” making reference to his changed physique.
The Worse Debut
After weeks of promotional vignettes, Masters made his in-ring debut on the February 21, 2005, Raw, defeating Stevie Richards.
This match wasn\’t an easy start for the Masterpiece, who broke Richards\’ nose with the Polish Hammer, which he adopted as his finisher.
Speaking about his debut, Masters admitted that he had heat backstage after his very first televised match.
\”Stevie was very upset and rightfully so. He\’s yelling and stuff and there was some heat on me. When you break somebody\’s face like that, their nose and their orbitable bone, it\’s hard to just come back and be like \’oh you know accidents happen.\’
\”When you watch it back there\’s no good explanation for it. I can at least say this to my credit, it\’s the only time in my whole career that now spans 20 years that I\’ve ever injured somebody.\”
After being \”relegated\” to Sunday Night Heat for a month, Masters was brought back to Raw, having been told that the Polish Hammer could only be used on the chest.
Being \’Over\’ with the Boss
Though Masters\’ debut earned him heat backstage, that didn\’t seem to deter then-WWE CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon.
In early 2006, Masters would appear regularly on-screen with McMahon, including using the Master Lock on Marty Jannetty during McMahon\’s feud with Shawn Michaels.
Speaking about the now-former Chairman, Masters said he enjoyed working with McMahon, but that the boss\’ opinion could quickly change.
\”You can be over with Vince like I was. I was over with Vince but also Vince can go \’hold on you.\’ It\’s happened to many guys and the challenge then is how do you turn Vince hot on you again.\”
After the Michaels-McMahon storyline, Masters wouldn\’t be used again as part of a McMahon storyline and would quickly slip down the card.
For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.
Chris Masters believes he knows why John Cena didn\’t take too kindly to him.
At one time, it appeared WWE strapped a rocketship to Masters\’ back. He was given a push on WWE TV, riding an undefeated streak. WWE put over his Master Lock finisher as a move that was nearly impossible to get out of.
After being around the main event scene for a brief time, Masters\’ soon found himself demoted. He violated WWE\’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy twice and never regained success.
Beef With Cena Explained?
Reports have surfaced over the years claiming that John Cena, one of WWE\’s biggest stars, never took a liking to Chris Masters. It\’s a report that Masters himself has confirmed.
Appearing on Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling, Masters shared his theory on why he and Cena never clicked (h/t 411 Mania).
“I just don’t think John was too big on working with me at the time. I think it was just a little more difficult for us to have good matches with each other. I think it was just that Shawn was easy to have matches with, but Shawn had so much experience too.
\”With Cena and me, we never got a good rhythm in terms of our working. That was probably my fault, but it’s hard to say for sure. I just remember that there were some times where Cena had voiced displeasure in my work.
\”It was difficult because I was working with HBK and Cena. Shawn even stuck up for me a few times saying that he didn’t have any problem working with me, and he said it out loud, which was appreciated. It’s just, I think that I had some issues too, around that time.
\”So maybe that contributed to some of that, who knows for sure, but for whatever reason, I just felt like Cena just didn’t take too much pleasure working with me and maybe he felt like I didn’t give him enough of a chance, so I don’t know. I don’t know the specifics. It’s been such a long time.”
These days, Cena is a Hollywood star. He\’s a shoo-in to become a WWE Hall of Famer in the future.
Masters was never able to become a breakthrough star in the industry after his WWE run. He has done some work for NWA more recently, however.
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