Sheamus: BANGER After BANGER, Chasing The Intercontinental Title, John Cena, Gunther
en
January 07, 2025
TLDR: Sheamus (WWESheamus), professional wrestler, discusses his YouTube channel Celtic Warrior Workouts hitting 1 million subscribers, first WWE Championship reign against John Cena, pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship, iconic matches with Gunther, return from injury, new 5-year deal with WWE and more.

In this episode, Chris Van Vliet sits down with WWE superstar Sheamus, discussing his journey through wrestling, his success on YouTube, and his aspirations for the future. The episode is rich with insights that span Sheamus's career, reflecting on his achievements, challenges, and what keeps him motivated.
Key Highlights
YouTube Success
- Sheamus has recently celebrated hitting 1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, Celtic Warrior Workouts.
- The channel started as a personal project during a tough time, where he rekindled his passion for fitness through unconventional workouts.
- Sheamus uses the platform to inspire others, showcasing exercises that promote health and fitness for all levels of expertise.
Career Milestones
- Early in his career, Sheamus won the WWE Championship in a significant match against John Cena, a noteworthy achievement he reflects upon.
- His famous 18-second victory over Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 28 remains a pivotal moment in his career, showcasing the unpredictability of wrestling.
- One of his proudest moments was being Edge's last opponent in WWE, further solidifying his place in wrestling history.
On the Pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship
- Despite his many accolades, Sheamus continues to chase the elusive Intercontinental Championship, which he associates with a significant part of his wrestling fandom.
- He expresses his desire to be the Ultimate Grand Slam champion, which involves winning every significant title in WWE.
Matching Up with Gunther
- Sheamus discusses his incredible chemistry with Gunther, emphasizing the way both wresters push each other to deliver exceptional bouts.
- Their matches are noted for their physicality and storytelling, a testament to the progressive nature of their wrestling styles.
Overcoming Adversity
- Reflecting on a potentially career-ending injury, Sheamus discusses the rigorous rehabilitation and physical therapy that allowed him to return to the ring.
- He emphasizes the idea of resilience, stating that every day he competes is a gift, fostering a deep appreciation for the art of wrestling.
Expert Insights
- Sheamus's philosophy revolves around the importance of persistence, echoing his favorite quote, “A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – Jim Watkins.
- The wrestler aligns his mindset with the challenges he faced in his career, stressing that passion, community, and dedication are crucial for long-term success.
Practical Takeaways
- Value your journey: Sheamus illustrates that every athlete has a unique path and struggles that mold their identity. His story inspires those who may feel intimidated in their fitness journey.
- Persistence leads to success: Sheamus's continued pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship despite numerous accolades is a reminder of the importance of goal setting in personal endeavors.
- Community support matters: His relationship with fellow wrestlers and fans serves as a reminder that having a supportive network is vital in any career.
Conclusion
Sheamus's candid reflections on his career offer a wealth of insights for wrestling fans and aspiring athletes alike. His journey from overcoming personal hurdles to achieving significant milestones in WWE demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the sport. As he continues to deliver banger after banger in the ring, fans can expect more exciting matches and momentous occasions.
In the world of wrestling, Sheamus remains a tenacious competitor and an inspiring figure, proving that with hard work and passion, no goal is out of reach.
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Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Blee!
Oh, how are you my friends? Welcome back to another one here on Inside. I'm CBV. Chris family. Thank you for tuning into this episode. And thank you for making insight. The number one wrestling podcast on the planet hit a broke kick on that follow button so you can stay up to date with everything that we have going on.
Hope the holidays treated you well. Happy New Year to you. Hope you enjoyed some of my favorite conversations that we had in 2024. We re-aired them. We sprinkled them in as repeat episodes over the last month or so, but we are kicking off 2025 with some bangers.
pun intended, of course. We've got Seamus today, then Seth freakin Rollins on Thursday. And the thing I love about Seamus is when you see his name on the match card, you know, it's going to be good. Banger after Banger isn't just a catchphrase. It's just what he does. He's been signed to WWE since 2007. So there's a lot to cover with Seamus.
His first championship ever was not a mid card title. It was the WWE championship. And oh, by the way, he won it from John Cena.
Wow. We also talk about his many WrestleMania moments, spent a lot of them, his Celtic Warrior workouts channel, which just recently hit a million followers. So congrats to him on that and that elusive Intercontinental Championship. Will he win it and become the ultimate Grand Slam champion? I think it's just a matter of time, right?
Snap a screenshot, let us know you're listening, and tag us so we can share it. He's at WWE Sheamus on Instagram and X. I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and here we go. Enjoy this conversation with the Celtic warrior himself, Sheamus. Well, congratulations. A million subscribers. A million subscribers. Yeah.
Yeah. What a ride, man. I, uh, we started that for me and a friend of mine, Ray senior, we started in Dublin. I was going through some, like issues with my training and I just kind of like lost all motivation to work out. And I started doing like these kind of like, I wouldn't say their crossfit style, but just kind of like,
more like more like functional training stuff like wall balls and burpees and then sled pushes down the street and all these different exercises I just kind of got my just just kind of challenging myself in the way I never challenged before rather than just in static weightlifting like bench press or
barbell corals like doing like one armed lamb mines and stuff. It just became a thing where I started getting my passion back for working out. And I talked to Ray about it and we're posting all this stuff on Instagram because it was not really happening at the time. But the time means is our we're tagging, but we're kind of in a period of just
purgatory where we weren't really doing much. I think we might have even been in the champs that stage, but we weren't really doing much on TV. So I was just trying to figure out a different way to burn off energy and be more creative. And then came up with the idea of the channel because for, you know, for WWE, whose entire roster is made up of athletes, there was nothing that I touched on, like, working out. And I just, from one handheld camera, did a couple of videos.
Um, and then on the road I asked the talent just as if like if they wanted to do and if they'd help me out and they all did and it was just I'd phone up the gym I'd ask one of the social media guys to come in on a trauma few quid to record it and We basically go in there and we'd film the workouts and Ray would tip like four o'clock in the morning edited them So my part was easy and his part was torture and nightmare, but
It just grew and grew and grew and then the biggest thing for me was seeing the responses from people in the comments about how they've always wanted to work out and they just didn't know how and they started doing these workouts and how it changed their lives was incredible. That's really the biggest benefit from the channel and seeing people just have their lives changed by
just becoming, you know, diving into health and fitness. Well, it works for people at any level, right? Like if someone works out every day and has worked out their whole life, they're still going to pick up tips. Like when Randy Orton was talking about doing the reverse bicep curls and talking about how it worked this head of the bicep, I'm like,
That's like the science behind that's so good. Yeah, and you know, you know, I think for me as I'm learning all the time as well, like just, you know, being comfortable in the uncomfortable. John Cena said that in an episode one time, it just challenges you because you just become
Like no matter how much you train or how hard you train as well, you can become complacent and you can become like set in your ways and get into a routine. But like by doing other people's work that you keep learning. But yeah, Randy's one was interested and that was fun. That was a fun day. I think we did that before TV.
out of this house and just jumped in the zip line at the end. They all thought it was going to kill myself, but it was good crack. You just hit a million subscribers, so have you got the actual plaque yet? No, not yet. It's big. Big gold plaque. Yeah, I haven't seen it. I'm definitely looking forward to it, because I had the silver one at home. And that was an incredible achievement. There's a couple of milestones. The first one was the first one million viewed video, which was seen it. And then obviously then there was the platinum one.
I know the goal, so I try to put the pressure on WWE to get out to me as quickly as possible, but we'll see what happens. I'm jealous. We're knocking on the door. You're going to get there, mate. It's good. It's awesome. You're going in the right direction. I'll tip it in the right direction. If we have guests like you, I feel like we get there a little bit faster. You got a lot of big guests on the show. I feel very few. You have to rock on a couple of times, too, right? Many times? Yeah. They've always been shorter, though, and I'm super grateful for any time I get with him.
But they've been shorter as he's promoting a film or something. But I got to get him for like an hour, one day. So it's not just W.E. Town, right? You do a lot of movie interviews too and get to the stars, yeah. It's a lot more wrestling stuff now than it ever was. But I mean, in the last year or two, it's been like Adam Sandler and Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Aniston and Ed Norton. It's been a lot of fun. Let's go. And the thing about it, kind of like what you're talking about, is like everybody has something you can learn from.
you can pick the brains of these people who have been there and done it and been super successful. And then I can selfishly borrow a little bit of that and apply it to my own life. Hey, look, I feel that like everyone has their own journey and everyone has their own obstacles to overcome. Like one of the big things that really annoyed me, I don't know if it's out there as much anymore, is like when Instagram is kind of a thing
I'd say about five, six years ago, there was all these people posting these pictures of them looking perfect with chisel abs. It was all filtered and doctored and whatever it is, photoshopped.
You know, I don't think normal people can't relate to that like nobody can I can't relate to that like nobody can understand like There's there's a story behind it. You know, I think one thing that people were afraid to show was that How they got to that position in the first place like you don't start off looking like looking like you know, you're made in a chisel that a marble you don't like in the in the wrestling business and
You don't just come out and you're the best wrestler ever. Everyone has a journey to go on. Everyone has to overcome physical obstacles, mental obstacles. Trying to weigh up is just going to work it. I'm going to make it. And I think that's really important to tell that story. That's why the biggest thing for me in the workouts was I never wanted to go in there.
Look at me, I like bench somebody or lift or look great all the time. Like, no, the take the beauty in the channel is the fact that I struggle doing other people's workouts. So it kind of gives that shows lots of chinks in my armor. So kind of in my way, I'm trying to motivate people who've never worked out before. And they're kind of like.
They're very hesitant or they're scared or intimidated. It's just like, listen, let me train you since I was 16 years old, 15 years old. I can't keep up with some of these workouts and I'm on the ground dead. That's me. There's no shame in trying to fail.
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hymns.com slash insight results vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride prescription products require an online consultation with a health care provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate restrictions apply see website for full details and important safety information that quote from john cena get comfortable being uncomfortable did you ever feel like there was a point in your career where you were comfortable in the ring yeah
Or just where you were at with your career? Yeah, I feel, I definitely felt after, during the pandemic, I really came into my own skin. Like, I really felt like I had an opportunity to kind of recreate myself and show people what I was really about. And that's, I think, where the whole physicality came from, you know, how there's nobody is physical in the ring as I am. And then that's where the net of that then went into the banger era of Seamus, you know, the banger after banger, but only two.
after banger, after banger. Do we have enough tape on this or not tape or SD, SD storage on the camera there? But yeah, it's, you know, I still get nervous. It's still every time I go out there, because I care. I've still got passion. Like I've always said to myself, I never want to, if I'm ever in the business where I go out there and I just phone it in, then I think it's time for me to hang on my boots. But it took me a long time. Like I definitely faced a loss of negativity.
uh, from people when I first started at the whole thing, working at which triple H is workout, booty, and then it became, they'll be champion really quickly. And like people just, they hated that, you know, a lot of talent hated that too. But, you know, it's, it's been a long journey. And I'm like, sometimes like you kind of feel like where's this going, you know, especially, but I think the whole part where it really came together was when I started tagging with Cesaro, when we became the bar, that best of seven series, where I was like, that's where I really got my passion back.
And there's just such a physicality to what you do. There always has been, but something about that era with Cesaro just took it up to another level.
Claudio just come back, and he did it shortly before, and he was off for a while taking it to his shoulder, I think. And then, all of a sudden, he was doing nothing. So he was like, and I know Claudio, well, BDTs, you're calling him Big Dick Tony. He's very, very passionate. He's very motivated. He's very disciplined. And I know he put a lot of effort into coming back, and when he comes back, and then
After a short time, there's nothing here for him. He has a chip in his shoulder to show people how good he is. In the ring, he is one of the best. There's not many people who can touch him. So I was going to a phase after being world champion with Roman, and then we did the League of Nations thing, which kind of just self-imploded, and then we went on to... We're just trying to get to the best of seven stuff. You've already rested each other twice, and people are just...
I've seen this match twice already. But then by the end, we told a great story over seven matches and really had people involved. And then the yay-boo stuff as well was fantastic. And then just our chemistry just grew and grew and grew. That was one of the funnest periods of my entire career working with him. It was great. What do you attribute your hot start in WWE, too? It's like you debut and your WWE champion pretty quick.
raw, raw talent. Looked different than anybody else. There was nothing finesse about me, you know. There hadn't really been somebody to come into WWE. I've tried it a couple of times. I think they tried it with Vladimir Kozlov, Khali. There was a couple like,
talent that looked different. Obviously, Cali was a giant, you know, and then, you know, a cause office is Russian mauler. But then I came in, spiky red hair, just raw, no tights, no logos, nothing, just like just so raw, pasty skin, mad hair, you know, and I was aggressive. And that was true when I was in FCW with Dr. Tom.
He had me watching tapes of Stanhans and a couple of guys as well, but Stan was really the guy and I watched him and I studied him and he goes, this is who you are. This is who I see that you are. Dr. Tom Prichard was
one of the biggest influences, you know, in my development part, in my career in FCW. I know he was awesome, and then I just became that guy, and everything I did was just to fuck you up, you know, to just destroy you. There was nothing there, no show about him, really, not like that.
And when people saw me, they just didn't know how to react. And then I took down Sena. And then the people were just like, what's going on? But I think that definitely helped a lot. And I was open to work. And I wasn't the best. I was the best worker at the time. But I was learning all the time. I was like a sponge. And I wanted to learn. And I don't want to get better. Because I've seen so many people come in and flash the pans and go. Because I've been a fan.
off WWE since 1987, 1988, and I just, you know, as a fan. Like, I remember watching it as a kid, like, you'd see all these talent coming in and they disappeared, but I didn't really need to be in dirt sheets or anything. You just, they wouldn't be there and then you'd see them come back and you remember them or you'd see them, you know, the WCW or something or whatever, you know, or...
World Championship Wrestling, I didn't even realize that World Championship Wrestling was a thing. I was just so focused on originally World of Sport in the UK and then WWE, WFWE. Who were the people that you really loved about? Savage man, much a man.
I hated the baby faces. I just was not a fan of baby faces, but I love Savage because, and I've said this a million times. That's all I don't think about doing these interviews. I feel like at Stone, after 17 years with the company, I just don't. I hate repeating myself and to sound the same story about him. I love the million on our mind. I love Paraffects.
You know, I just I just love the I love the heels man. I just love them I love the love the bad guys cuz just There's so much I think this felt like that's so much more fun. They had just so much more
creative control on themselves and they didn't care, right? So we don't care then. When a baby face thing, it's like, you know, it's like, sometimes it feels the sun, baby faces. You're always like worried. Your energy is going on the crowd to keep them involved and keep them. I'm mostly invested in you.
when you can't win everybody over. So if you're a baby face and some people are booing you, you're like, well, what am I doing? When you're a heel and people start cheering you, you're like, I don't care. Yeah. Yeah, you do, especially. And that would bother me. So the 2012 or when I wrested a brine, I did a match of mania 20 years.
Mainly at 29, was it? Or Ace, 28. You're 28, Miami. It was just, that was... After that, I just, I felt like I was pushing, I felt like I was swimming into the tide. Do you know what I mean? I just felt like after that, I just, people were, I just started to turn against me and it was just a matter of time.
That's basically when I went out there and I physically had myself beat up to try and I was working the hardest I ever had because I was still trying to get that sympathy from the crowd Getting the crap kicked out of me, you know, I was just trying to tell those stories But yeah, that was that that's the first time I was like, man, you know, that's when you're going like shit. I'm not losing them, you know
There's not too many people that win the WWE Championship as their first title. No. And was there talk about you winning maybe the United States title first? No. It was nothing. I just, the Randy saying the thing, I just thought it's rounds that wrestled about a hundred times. And then me and Kofi got picked. Kofi got to go Randy and I went with John.
We had a couple of matches on a European tour. We definitely had one in Wales, our mind had, I think it was, where it actually wrestled for all start wrestling before I got picked up by WA. And I guess that was a test. I think, be honest with you, I don't know for sure, but there was talk of it. There was a troll between me or Swagger to go in with John at the time, because obviously Jack was
Like, uh, Hager was obviously a fresh new town as well. And that whole initiative, you look back at the survivor series, which we're, we're touching on next Saturday. If you look at that, like it was me and me and Drew and that the talk at the time was,
I was supposed to go with Hunter. Drew was supposed to go with Taker. A Miz was supposed to go with Sean. And then I'll switch with, you know, Taker and Sean for SMA-26. Which is in Phoenix, which is where we are right now. Yeah, it's funny. Let's follow this, this watch is keeps. You're a busy man.
Yeah, I was at Munich there for my wedding, sorry, my honeymoon, which we got married just over two years ago, but we just had the honeymoon this week. So I just literally went back to Jerry's. He switched to me bikes, Jerry's to Phoenix. So I'm right after the honeymoon here. Right after the two years after we got married.
Whose idea was it early on to make your pastiness part of your character? Actually, good friend of mine, Ray. The same guy I helped me with the challenge. He's like a leading Pandora's box of ideas. So I was doing the opposite, man. I was using fake Tanner and I shaved my head.
I was just trying to look like everybody else, but not knowing what I had, my look was so unique that it was something I should lean into. So he was, he was one, I was like, what do you do, man? He got like, he looked like the most liars fell on the planet. Like, I know you're trying to look like everybody else. So he was the one who kind of like just snapped, snapped some sense into me.
So there's photos of a tan shamas out there somewhere. There are, yeah. There's a couple, yeah. There's a couple. There's a couple. There's actually a picture of me and Drew, where, so I was like, kind of like the Irish folk of Irish with wrestling, which is the first promotion I started wrestling. So there's a picture of a Drew's like this, it's where I took off my boots and everything. So I was in my socks and I was pregnant because I had this.
I don't know what it was, maybe just me being like still fresh into the business, but also a huge wrestling fan. I remember there was a photo of like Diesel and Brett, you know what I mean? I don't think it was like maybe in Survivor Series too, but like it was just told that David and Goliath story. Yeah. And I had the same idea in my head. So it was a picture going around to me and Drew where I'm like, I'm kind of crouching down because I wanted to make Drew look as big as possible and it's formidable because everyone else in Irish will breast and go, that's something they're all like,
little ads, you know what I mean? They're just, they weren't really taken seriously. They just wanted to do it for the crack. I knew once I started that I wanted, this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. But there wasn't really a path, right? There's not a lot of other people you can look to to go. They've been there. They're from around where I'm from. I can follow those footsteps. Not at the time. So fit was the only one.
Fit went into a world of sports So he was over in the UK mostly anyway, so for me it was it was kind of uncharted territory a meth fergal fin just before he went to He went to New Japan So he obviously went to Japanese before he came over but for me that really wasn't and that's wes where I really always wanted to go so
They had a couple of live events. The only person reading you had gone over there, like obviously Regal, but again, Regal and Dave Taylor, they'd all come into a world of sport and they'd all, you know, cut their teeth in Jeremy and Regal went to WCW, fit went into WCW. So, it was different. But the only one I think was like with Paul Burchill, he was the first kind of, I think he was the kind of one that we all looked at, like, and, you know, he was a big dude in England, but then over there, you know, we could do all these crazy
like high-flying moves, but then he went over. So we're kind of looking at him and then Katie Birch or Katie Lee, whatever. It was Katie Birch. What was her real name?
I don't know. Katie Lee or something, I think it's Katie Lee. Yeah, so, so yeah, that was, that was basically it. And then so me, Drew and Wade, me and Drew were wrestling, Irish were wrestling and then went back and forth to Scotland for British Championship Wrestling. And then Wade kind of, I met Wade at Celtic Pro Wrestling. It was a show in Wales. And then we saw it so as a hymn. So then I talked to the promoter of Irish repressed and then we had him over us. And then me and Wade and Drew kind of,
You know, I just became friends over all that. And then we did a couple of live events and dark matches. Or we did a couple of triads before some of the shows. What were you doing before wrestling? Like, is it true that you were a bodyguard for Bono? No, no. I worked in my club called Lily Sportello. It was like one of the top nightclubs. All the stars would go in there. And Bono would go in there all the time. And Googie is a friend of his. So I'd just be pulling a task and make sure that nobody would even, you know, wreck his head.
So he's in his own little VIP area? No, maybe in the main VIP area. There's two areas, very, very famous nightclub back in the day, but it was like, you have this woman called Valerie Row on the door, and she's like, you know, vet everybody going in, and then you'd have like the members, you'd have the main club, which is really, really small. Then you have a members bar.
If you buy a membership right, or you get invited in there, and then you have the library upstairs, where there's like, there'd be a lot of piano, and there'd be someone serving, so Bono would just go in to the members bar. And I just, one of the guys would just be like, make sure that he didn't get his head wrecked. But I worked in IT as well. I doubled triple job. I worked in Symantec, and then I worked in the Hartford Life, which is a company over here, but I worked in IT, and then I, after that,
I was working at Nightclub Doors, I was working at Bursale's Door and I was working at Lilly's. So I was working like four nights a week and five days a week and got me first house when I was about 24-25. Wow. Yeah. So I was just, I was never being afraid of a bit of work. I was actually working, first job I had was 13. I was working at Servant Patrol, Washington Carres and Cabra. So, never being afraid of a bit of work. I guess when you're built like this, it's easy to be a bouncer.
Yeah. But the column Dorman there, you know what I mean? The bouncer, the bouncer term went out because it was, you know, intimidating with the Dorman. The Dorman vibe came into Dublin. But yeah, Dublin was hopping mate. Dublin was like, wasn't like just buyers busy all the time and it was just...
Just the way that people coming in and out, you know, there was a few quid, a few quid in the hands, and something that would help me, you know, pay for trips over to the UK and stuff to do, but to work in the Indies. Because it was actually fit family, or I was talking to him, I did a couple of triads in Dublin before the show started.
before that live and started. And then when they're on tour and then I went from there over to, uh, he used one to recommend that I'll start wrestling. So I called up Ryan Dixon, tell Brian a fifth family of recommended me and I went over, I went over to all star.
But the amount of time you've spent now in the US, do you feel like you've lost a bit of your accent? Not really. It goes back when I go home, you know? When I'm talking to you, that's, you know what I mean? It's definitely gets watered down a bit. Because the first year was tough because nobody understood a word I was saying. People still don't know what Drew was saying half the time. Drew said he had to get lessons. He still has to get lessons. I can't even understand some of his texts, to be honest. But yeah, he...
He, yeah, there's no chance. Allocution classes. Allocution, yeah. He gets the bollocks like that from there when he goes to Scotland. There's actually, there's, I think there was a Scottish comedian who has a comedian, like a show, like a sketches, you know, like a kind of sketches, like I think he should leave. And one of them is where they just, this lad goes over. Scott's lad goes over to America, comes back and starts speaking like an American. True records, it's about him.
It's a bit of an ego in Aaron Drew, I think. You know? He thinks a lot of himself, but yeah, I still don't understand him at the time. Drew told me he wants to win the Intercontinental Championship first so that he wins it before you do. He's already won it. Well, I guess win it again before you win it. Really? That's weird. Scott's a weird man, you know? I do everything backwards.
Yeah, I already shitting his parade the first time he won the icy title on the TLC, what's that? And then, yeah, about an hour later, I beat John for the world title. So no one remembers I went in the icy title. Sorry, Drew.
I feel like it's just a matter of time before you become intercontinental champion. You say that, right? But it's like the IC course, you know? The IC course, the Celtic War, it's like the one thing I can't win. And it's the irony is that it's the one title that the first title I really became focused on because matcha man was in a feud with steamboat over it. So he was the first I see when I started watching matcha man was the first I see champion. So the one title that, you know, I was exposed to like as a fan is the one I can't win, which
It's become this kind of like crusade, you know, but it's definitely an icy course for me. Is it that you want to become Grand Slam champion or? Ultimate Grand Slam champion. I'll just come on, fella. What's put out there? It's basically the first one to win everything. It's true. King of the Ring as well is in there. Well, Rumble. Rumble. Yeah. Yeah. The other wrestling. Jeez. Jesus.
I was almost one of the longest reign in world heavyweight champions too. And I'm a big shell mess that up. But I was close. I think I'm like the forward longest, whatever. But yeah, it's been a hell of a ride, man. Sometimes it's hard to imagine that I'm going into my 18th year with the company. It's crazy. Yeah. What do you attribute your longevity to? Passionate, passion, just stubbornness, just like.
I don't know. I feel it's... I just got so much passion for this job. I love it.
talking to me around those days when you kind of like, you wake up in the morning and ask yourself, you know, what am I doing? You know, especially when you're waking up and you're just covered in ice. But for me, it's just, I love what I do. I love being out there. Traveling is a lot of bollocks. You know, there's a lot of things that are, but when it's going out, going out to that crowd, like it's just, because I know one day that won't be there, you know, and it's, it's something that I cherish every single time I go in there. And I have a point to prove as well, like for the first part of my career,
I thought there was under mind a lot and people didn't really like, for example, if I was in a match with someone, I brought the best of them. People were talking about, oh, this guy carried shame. It's a great match. Or it would be, oh, this guy is great, you know, and then just only talk about.
10 years for me to realize, wait, hang on a second. There's a bit of a, there's a bit of a common denominator. A lot of shamelessness in all of them. But no, I just, I just, I love it. And I love the fact that I'm in a kind of a gatekeeper role now with a lot of new talent coming in and.
getting their help, getting their confidence up and getting to show the world who they are. Because there's a lot of talent that I think that wouldn't do that. But I love it. I love stepping them, stepping up to me. Everyone knows about the contracting, what we did to clash the castle. I know people would say NXT, but I feel like to their other fans who weren't NXT fans, I would definitely put him on the map. And we had some lead and barber on us since then.
Uh, that to me, that was, you talk about when I got like, that was a mom, one of the, probably one of the best moments of my career, the standard innovation I got after. You tell people to talk about winning titles in this in 18 seconds of mania, but to me, that was probably one of the most memorable moments of my entire life after that match, getting a standing ovation in Cardiff Wales.
you know, then he obviously got like going in there with like priest, the stuff I did with priest. Before that, you know, the stuff I don't want like Ludwig, it was just an answer now. People are seeing how aggressive bastard he is and how good he is. Breakers, well, Bronson Reed, like all these lads going in there and just just just
just getting the best out with them, you know what I mean? It's just great to see. I'm proud of all of them. I honestly am. I see them doing really well. I have to be dinner. I'm so happy for them. You know what I mean? A bit of pride there for me seeing how well they're doing. Especially with Bronson as well now.
I feel like when we were in there, it was a couple of things. It was too nice a little bit. Now he's in there as a killer. We had those two matches where we just baked the bollocks out of each other and then I was fighting underneath the whole time because he is a monster. He may not be seven foot tall, but the lads are about leading close to 400 pounds. You know what I mean? And he's athletic. He's so athletic as well. What is it about Gunther that allows you guys to bring out the best in each other?
You were paying still maybe? I think it's, there's just, I think a lot of, a lot of towns when they come up, when they're going in with top towns, I feel they're just afraid of hurting them. And they're afraid of like, just leaving it all out there. For me, they know I don't give a choice. They know it's like, you better bring it, because I'm gonna, I'm gonna beat the shit out of you. And if, but I want them to beat the shit out of me too, I want them to bring it. It's not a thing where I'm going in there, taking advantage of,
taking liberties, that's the word he used to say. It's not just like people going, he's taking liberties with the younger talents. No, I want them to step up. I want the show aside that no one has seen before. I might bring it out on whatever way I can, whether it's the shots, whether it's the clubs, the 10 beats, the baron.
I want to see them show a soil to them that's never been seen before. And they've never seen in themselves before. So that brings it out because he could do all the flips and he could do all the stuff. And this is definitely a place for that. And people love that. I'm never, I can't do it. I'm never going to take away from anyone. But there's still a lot. This is still an art to to physical people to physical lives going to there and just absolutely just tearing each other apart physically where the people in the crowd are like,
They're just, they believe that these two, these two individuals hate each other. And I take pride in that. Like, get better, step up or just step off. That's the way it is for me. And I love it. And I know that. And do I get the crap knocked out of me as well? Because I have that style. Absolutely. I just, this time last year, I was sitting on the sidelines, coming back from what I thought could have been a career ending neck injury, where
I went, people don't realize I went through like a lot of, a lot of procedures, a lot of physical therapy. And I couldn't do my neck. I went in, I got like cortisone shots. I went to see spine storage and specialists. And then, you know, I thought it was good. Then I go back in the ring and I take a bump and I got to get stingers.
So it wasn't looking good, you know. And then eventually I got my nerves burned in the back of my neck. And even then it took a while for all the sell down. But I literally thought I thought that was it. Was it a certain match that happened? Oh, it was just just over
I took one big bump in the last one before I went away my last match. I think it was the edges last match too. I just took an awkward fall and that itself just, I woke up next morning, I thought my neck was broken. Just because again, we're me and edge, we're just not gonna show you how we should end. I just took a bad fall on the ground and at the time I felt it, well, I just, I worked through it and then the next day I woke up it was not good and I just didn't go away. I just could not move my neck. And then after that, you know, I was trying to work through it and then
I didn't think it was going to be, I didn't know how serious it was, I just thought it might be something. Because, you know, over time, it's just wear and tear, you know, especially if I work for example, when I have my first major surgery, when I tore my shoulder at the Money in the Bank match.
I was there for six months, but I got ready in three months. I tore up my labor. I had six anchors in it. My left shoulder. So I came back and the first thing I did was take the hardest post on my shoulder. And the flare was in the back going, you're a lunatic genius. What are you doing? You said shoulder surgery and you're hitting the post 100 mile an hour. I said, yeah, I got to make sure it works, you know? I got to make sure it's all right. I got tested out, you know?
You know what I mean? When someone has something or injury, you got to just go head first into it. You got to go make sure you get that fear out of your way. So I took a post 100 mile an hour, but that's just the kind of mentality to me. But yeah, it was touch and go and I do this a couple of times. Pete Dohm was there. He was in the United States. That was Ridge. They both helped Ridge and Pete really helped me out.
back in January, but I was working out with Phil. I couldn't even take a bump. Even a headlock takeover was stout. I didn't know whether or not I'd be back. Did a doctor say to you, like, hey, this might be it for you? You just said, I don't know. You still know what's going on. You obviously wouldn't take a bump and get a stinger. I couldn't get off the mat, so I take one.
And I get just like, shock out of my body. And I'd be off the lathe air for like, what felt like two minutes? You can't wrestle like that, right? So it was the thing where I didn't know. And then the doctors were kind of out of, they were out of answers because they couldn't do the surgery. Because I have like two naturally fused, two sets of discs that are fused naturally appeared down there. So, but it was kind of so basically,
Now every day is a blessing, right? So now it's like, every time you get out there, it's like, you know, there's a time I was, I was told to not be able to do this. So I was going to go out there and, like, I just have to grab the crack, just go out there and put on banger after banger, just, just tear it up and, and just kind of like see if anybody can follow it. Does it affect the way you work now? No. No.
When I first came back, there was still a little bit in there. Obviously, I put a lot of weight on the burger after the burger thing when I came back. I was hoping to make Demania when that didn't happen. I kind of lost a little bit of discipline on my diet. I just took the foot off the gas too much. But the first couple, it took a while.
like it just took a couple. But then I think the main thing, the main match for me where I realized I was good was when me, Drew and Ilya did it three away on my 15th anniversary of Boston. That's when I realized I was good to go. That's when I'm good, I'm back.
Did they call you back too early? Is that why the burger after burger thing happened? No, that's on me mate. So I was pushing for mania. I was pushing for that Walter match at mania, or gun for match. Keep calling him Walter. I did have a pack of his show as well. We know who you're talking about. I know, yeah. Walter has quite a few more pounds on him. Yeah, well, so, yes. Not many more. He doesn't. He looks like a swimmer now. Oh, yeah. He turns it on to different people. Like twins. He just had different ideas and diets.
But yeah, so Walter Gunter, I was pushing my magic for Gunter at Mania, and it just didn't happen. So I was really hoping to end the trilogy and not know. And then that didn't happen. So I just kind of like a loss of motivation.
I was like full on speed towards that. And then once I heard it, once that was kai-boshed, I was like, fuck, whatever. So then I just kind of like took the foot off the gas, probably drank too many Guinness. Enjoyed myself too much. What's the food that you're like, yeah, I can probably have some. I'm not really a broker going to be honest. I do like Guinness.
A lot of carbs, you know? Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial. Carbanial
It's funny, I get compared to Hunter when he had him. He started wearing a bite. Was he Tara's growing or something? Yeah, yeah. He was trying to just keep everything. Keep everything in. I was trying to keep everything in, too. Didn't work too well for me. But then, like, a few weeks later, you're back to being the way that we normally see her. Once I got back on the rails, you know, I came off the rails a bit, went back on the rails. It was fine. That WrestleMania 28 match with Daniel Bryan, 18 seconds. Did they tell you specifically how long they wanted that match to be?
No, they didn't give us a time. They just, I guess what happened was there was, I heard from, from somebody that there was supposed to, it was either going to be punk and Jericho's match was going to be short or me and Brian's match was going to be short. So there's a difference between a short match and an 18 second. Yeah, I don't know what the time was, but they just said the idea was ding, ding, ding. Distraction. Finish. So just one move. Boom. That's it. Were you good with that?
I mean, look, we knew that we could have an amazing match. When we were running the US title back in the end of 2010, 2011, we knew how good our matches were. And we're putting on such good matches, I think, a couple of lads in the main event. We're asking you to say, you don't have to kill yourself. I just kept saying, no, I was trying to break that glass ceiling. But we're stealing the show every single night.
We're tearing it up, man. I'm knocking the crap out of each other. I remember one time, I don't know where we were. I think it was just before the, I think it was before the garden. I think it's actually before WrestleMania 27. But yeah, so we were running really good, like we're having great matches. We had these street flights, we're painting a bollocks out of each other, hitting each other with everything you can think of. One time I went for the brogue and this happened, literally happened on accident. I was gonna, he ducked the brogue. My left foot got stuck between the middle and the top and I flipped over, upside down. So it's hanging upside down inside the ring, totally by accident.
The rope is just like, it's just strangling. I'm just like, it's so much pressure on my ankle. Brian comes around with a lead and candle and just starts wacking the shite. But that's what it was. We just didn't care. We just went out there and just was physical as hell. That's why I love working Brian. Brian was just like, he wasn't again.
At the time, he was so unique, because he wasn't the biggest tallest, whatever, but he just had this heart in it, you know, and this fighting style, and he just never gave up. Just unbelievable, great athleticism, but also like, just very, very physical. The kicks when you're on your knees, like he brought everything he did, every kick he did, it was just, it was brought with as much intensity as he had. And I told this to Regalier today, before we did this, before I did this, while I was doing this stuff, what Pete donned.
I felt Pete's exactly the same, you know. He's just, he's very creative. I mean, he realized that. I mean, he's got great, very creative mind. But he's also, when he needs to be physical, he can be really, really physical. And that's kind of like when I was doing that feud with Pete Don, it kind of brought me back a little bit to the stuff of Brian. I feel like you never phoned it in. Cants. Like any time your name is on the match card, you're like, well, that's going to be a great match. Yeah, I appreciate it. Where does that come from?
Pride, Irish pride, pride of myself, pride of my work, pride of what I do. Sometimes, I'll be honest, there's been times in my career where I've had to be in a situation where I didn't really like the outcome. Well, rather than just go out there and just moan about it and whatever, I just go out there and I put on the best match I can. I think for me, it's always been about the pride of my work because not only
I'm representing myself every time I go out there, I'm representing my country, where I'm from, where I grew up, north side of Dublin, Cabra West. There's nothing fancy about Cabra West. It's a lot of true individuals, people who just experienced some hardship, but just suck it up and get on with it.
And I feel like for me, do it myself and everyone in the service. I go out there and just like mope or just don't go and do it. That's what I said earlier. Like I feel like I've said this before. If I feel like my point where I am doing that, it's going to walk away. What's the point? Like just to pick up a paycheck that's never been my thing. I could have retired long, long ago, but I don't want to cause I still have passion. I still have plenty to give in this, in this business. And for me,
That banger after banger is real. Like, I just, I want people to talk about my match. I want people to be invested in it. I want people to know when they see me up next that they're going to see a bleeding slug fest, like a scrap like they've never seen before. That's, that's what I want. I've took me years to get here. I'm not going to just piss it away because like I just don't amount in the mood or I think that happens to a lot of people. I think a lot of people just, they get complacent. They, they lose their passion. They lose their focus.
And they kind of phoned it in. And I've seen people here when I started and they come in and they get to a certain point, but then they're just like, there's like, oh, I'm here now. And I just rest on my laurels. And I just do enough for that. To me, that's kind of disrespectful. It's embarrassing. But you see it all the time in every aspect, even in sports.
Even in NFL or even in like soccer or, you know, if there's people like getting a paycheck and they pick it up and they're glad they think they've done all this. I've worked hard to get here. Now I can rest. You can never rest. Even when you retire, you can never rest, in my opinion. Like what's the point? Yeah. But yeah, as you can see, I love what I do. I know I bring an element that nobody else can bring. I know when I'm out there that my job is to make sure that people remember what happened in my segment or my match.
and they walk away talking about it. I may never be the number one marriage seller, but I don't give a shit. I don't want to do that. It's what I want to be remembered for. My style, my passion, my heart hitting, my just scraping myself off the floor, and let's go again, fella. It's all you got. Hit me. And I've seen that match as I'm like, hit me like, you know what I mean? What the fuck? What the fuck is that? Hit me. You're gonna hit me. Hit me.
Do you know what I mean? Hit me like I like depends on it. Because I guarantee when I get off of my knees, I am not able to beat the shy area and slap you around the ring and I'm expected to come back and slap me back as hard as you can. That's really what drives me. I just passion me.
They love for what we do. And there's days I complain like everybody else. I'll give out like everybody else. And then I got back to Dublin and I talked to someone back home and I'm like, cop on, will you? Look where you are, you know? I was like, you're right. People forget. But then also when people get to a certain point, I feel there's nobody there to keep them in check.
I think you want people in Ireland you're my keeping check, you know, and your friends are keeping checkers. It doesn't matter how famous you are in Ireland, like your mates, you grew up with that slap in the balls. They'll take the piss out of you. They'll bring it back down to earth like that, you know, and it's good. It's good to surround yourself with people.
who know who you are and are not afraid to tell you to get a grip on yourself. I feel like I've gone off the boil of this question. That was great. But it's true, mate. Yeah. But that's what keeps you grounded. Yeah. And that's also what keeps you driven.
Yeah, like one thing, I remember on the phone, I remember one time we were at the garden, I think, or we were in New York. I don't know where it was, I was like, that loop. My firearm was going off. I had this alarm in the first company phone. I said, treat every show, like it's your first, like every match, like it's your first match, or every show is like your first show. And I had that remind me, probably go off the hour and a half before, before the rest, and before the show started.
And a couple of lads in the locker room saw that the senior lads at the time, and they were like, that's incredible. I said, well, that's just in case I forget, that's to remind me. It was like a reminder. Treat every show, even if you've had a million matches. Treat every match like it's your first match, because there will be someone there who's watching your match for the first time. So, as I said, I don't give a shot about being a top married seller. I don't care about that stuff. I don't like, I'll just keep fighting away. I'll keep fighting my car until the very end.
And, you know, and there's a lot of good lads up there. There's a few that you know what I mean. But heads went whatever over the years. But there's also a lot of good lads not locker room now. And I love to see them do well. And I love to be involved in that process of them doing well.
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Have you had any opponents like you bring it in every match? Have you ever had an opponent who's like, hey, man, he's up. Like, oh, yeah, you don't need to hit me so hard. Of course I have. So many are still there. So I'm not going to go down that road. Sure. But yeah, most of them don't. Most of them don't. Most of them like enjoy it. Like, I think, I think most in the beginning are kind of like.
They're like, they're taking it back there in the headlight stuff. But if you ask them afterwards, that was brilliant. 99% of them after match like that, because I'm not dropping them on their head. I'm not breaking their nose. I did kick out Jeff Hardy's two twins. That's probably the most I've ever done to someone.
Yeah, it's all, it's all, everything I do is say, they could all wrestle again tomorrow. It's not like I'm putting them on the sideline or I'm putting them in surgery or I'm putting them in like in hospital or on the shelf. No, no, no, they just, they'll come back and they'll say, that was awesome, that was great. And you'll see just kind of like adrenaline going in their face, you know? And do you ease up if they tell you to? No, absolutely not go harder. That's the biggest mistake you can do is pretend to ask me to ease up.
That's just not a chance, mate. Not a chance. Listen, it's just this kind of like this part of my year now. It's part of my son in a new five-year deal. It just started about two months ago. I'm loving it. The child's in a million.
A lot of great men and women, WWE superstars, have given their own time as well to make that happen. So that's not something I go. I got a million followers. Again, the challenge wouldn't have happened only for a lot of the talent. We're so gracious with their time. And they were so like...
so nice about it, because I'm drinking any money, right? They're just, they're on Saturday, you're on the loop, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, whatever, back then, and they'd like have a Saturday morning off to get dinner, go to gym, and I'm like dragging them into a Celtic Warrior workout, you know.
and they gave their time graciously. So, definitely thanks to all every single person being on that channel because every single one that gave their own time. And it would not have happened without them given their time to make the channel what it is. When you talk about bangers, that match with Ed was incredible. How did you get the honor of being his last opponent in WWE? I don't know, it was something we talked about. I remember we talked about doing an angle together, a storyline together for a while, and
It just, I didn't even, I thought, I wouldn't say I became able to put a storyline on. It was, it was shot down. It was, it was for whatever reason. And then it just happened. I just got a call saying like, I think it was, because we did the, we did the promo the week before, and then we did the match the week after. So I think, I, I just contract is coming up. I didn't know we, no one knew if he's going to stay or go. No one really knew. I didn't know. I thought it was, I thought it was, I thought it was going to stay. Um, because we were talking, doing something after that as well. Uh, but,
Yeah, it was just a situation. I think it originally was Damon Priest was penciled in, but then it just turned to me. So I don't know how ever it happened, but it was kind of a really surprise that it happened. But I was excited about too, because me and Edge have never had a one-on-one match. Great mean race, still haven't had a one-on-one match. Me and Punk still haven't... Well, I know before I'm talking about me and Punk did rest a couple of times back in the day, about 12 years ago.
For me, it was, yeah, I think the only person that was me and Ray, I'm trying to think of anyone else that haven't wrestled, that would be on the roster, it's a staunchly man at the time. That's crazy. Don't wrestle Ray. I know, yeah. There's a couple of four ways, yeah. Talked about it, but it just hasn't happened yet. Hopefully it will one day, but that's, I'm trying to think of anybody else. That might be somebody else.
I can't think right now. Me and Brock never had one. That'd be a great one. We had a live event, we did, we had a live event, but never on TV, sorry we did, we wrestled a live event once or twice actually.
I think. But yeah, but on TV, on TV are the singles mean Ray have never had a match. That would be cool. Drew McIntyre told me that that match that you guys had at WrestleMania 39 is the greatest triple threat match of all time. All right, yeah. It's hard to argue with that. Yeah, I mean, it was, it was awesome. It was great. It was great. Listen, it was, it was unbelievable. It is so far stadium.
It was something else. And in the story with me and Walter, obviously, but in the side story of Drew put himself, integrating himself into the match. When Drew was supposed to be the best man he knew how much his life he taught him meant to me. It was a great story. And the fact that he was the reason I didn't win as well was cool. We had a lot of great matches with me and Drew. Obviously, we go back over 20 years now. So that's especially in itself. Like I remember doing Irish WordPress in shows where
We're in like, down the country and we haven't like, we're asking them for the 25 people, 30 people. And true at the time, it's just a skinny, gangly kid. Really tall, but like...
And he was doing like leg drops off the top. I think he gave me like five leg drops off the top, bro. Off the top? Yeah, yeah. Off the second, maybe. Maybe off the second. Yeah, he says, I don't think he's ever going to do that again. But yeah, it just, it's been kind of like, I feel like I've gone through so many stages of WWE where like obviously came in when kind of taker, hunter,
and Sean all and the full-time schedule were kind of phasing out and then then we came in just the NXT group came into the FCW crew, the NXT group came in and then the next phase of us, I think it's like four different phases into the group we're in now, you know? So many talents. It's just 17 years, it's kind of, I think 17 years, going into 18, it's kind of like, it feels sometimes it feels to come like that. And sometimes it feels like it's,
You know, do you have a number in your mind of how long you want to wrestle for? No, not really. Again, I just signed a new five-year deal. So... That'll take you into your fifties. Yeah, 50... My wife reminds me all the time, 52. There's a 52. Listen, I'll go to the wheels for a lot of me. You know, I could do a visit, can't do it anymore. I love what I do. And listen, there's plenty of time to sit back and read a book and just watch TV.
Like, there's a lot of that, you know? And I know a lot of people, I've talked to some talent as well, but you meet them all at Mania and everything when they come in, like especially the Hall of Fame, but also everybody gets invited. At Mania, you can tell a lot of the talents who just retired too early. That we're in like, I mean, look, if I had to hang on my boots when that stuff happened, my neck.
I'll be at peace with it, right? Because you know, there's nothing you can do. But when sometimes they're retired before their time, you can tell there's a bit of regret there. Well, there's definitely a difference between people who were forced into retirement and people who said, all right, I'm going to wrestle until this date, this time, and then I'm good with it. But for example, like me, like, let's say, you know, after the bar went away or retired then, right?
You know, I got about the reason. So after the reason the bar ended was because I mean, yeah, I don't even know mania was one of New York. Well, me and we're in the far way to I guess so many manias, but I'm whenever I technically New Jersey. Yeah. So that Monday, we were supposed to be off right the raw because we were smack down talent. And then we got pulled in to break up the set. Kofi match.
How many of you are like, this is this is horrible. They're just going to shit all over us. People want this is a title versus a title match, right? Call if he's just beating Brian and then set to beat Brock, I think. Maybe, I don't know, whatever it was, but they're having a title in New York, in New York, right? Embarically sent. We're like, we're going to go in there and break that up. That's that's a terrible idea. They're just going to shit on us.
So in Ant, it was a desire. What happened was with the singles that turned into a tag. That's when the beach balls came out fella, all the beach balls, because people are just angry. Like, you know, you took away what you're giving them, which I think is a terrible idea. And then the next night, then we had a six minus me drew and Cesaro against all of the new day. So time that messed up on that one, right? It was like,
It just got messed up, and it was a taped show as well, but whatever happened, I ended up getting a concussion in the back of the head, so I was knocked out cold. I was knocked out on my feet. I don't remember anything after the kick, and then I went back, and all I remember is I was not good for about a month after I got a really bad concussion.
So, like that could have been, I didn't know if that was it, you know, and that could have been it. And if I think, if you think back then, like if I'd retired then, like I'd missed out on the whole, like, you know, coming back during the pandemic era, you know what I mean? Going into the banger after banger, like all the stuff I've done lately, like that, that would never exist, you know? And that's kind of like, that's kind of really where I started, you know, show people start realizing like who, who it was and how much passion it had.
The matches are putting on. So you take that out, what do you get? You know what I mean? So it's like, when do you retire? You know, when do you actually retire? When do you go like, I'm going to pull the plug? Like, when is the right time? Because if I've been like, okay, a massive concussion, I can't do this anymore, or let me produce or whatever it is, or just, you know, go on and then I went on and then I got like, then the next stuff, you know what I mean? And then it's like,
So, you know, that just wouldn't have existed. I wouldn't be sitting here with you right now. Yeah. So as long as you have, I think as long as you've got passion and your body can go. Yeah. Like, obviously, I don't want to be like, I think my biggest, my biggest fear of me, the, the message is that like, you know, if we have kids and stuff that I won't be able to play with them or whatever. Well, I think for a 47 year old and January, every 47, January, I feel like I'm doing all right physically and I'm, I'm moving around pretty good. But like, I just, you go and tell you feel like, I think I'll go to the feel like,
You know, I'm not wanted. You know what I mean? It's gratifying. You're like, you know what? Thanks for everything. But, you know, we just don't enjoy watching anymore. You can't do what you can do. You know, I don't know. When is that time? Yeah. Could be 70. Can't you imagine? I don't know. I don't know. I'm just, you know, just throwing stuff out there. It's popping into my head. It's going into my head. It helped me melt real quick. So I'm not really thinking. But I just feel like
As long as I can do what I do. As long as I enjoy what I'm doing. As long as the fans are enjoying what I'm doing. I keep that banger after banger thing going. I keep the banger after banger here. I just keep going and going.
Who knows where we're going though, because I'm still enjoying what I'm doing. The schedule's a little bit, you know, it's a lot better now as well for the talent. So I think a lot of the talent are going to have longer careers because of the schedule the way it is compared to what it was. I think that's good, you know? So... Hey, you guys are getting holidays off? Crazy, right? I just went to Munich last week, you know?
I saw something online about people giving out about the double tapings and spoilers, but guys don't realize, those double tapings are great for family life, you know what I mean? Keeping families together, you know what I'm saying? That time off, it's invaluable to have two weeks off that you just get to spend to chill at home and time for yourself and your family or whatever it is, your friends or whatever, your home life. It's a godsend.
And guys, if it's three or four episodes a year, what does it matter? Yeah, it's gonna be great. Yeah. But yeah, but so I think with all those those those circumstances and the situation weight is now. Yeah, who knows? I'm not I'm not putting a date on it. I'm not going to put the label on it. I'm just going to keep in to enjoy what I'm doing. And I'm having the crack. What is the definition of a banger? Shame is match. Every shame is match.
That's perfect. I think this is... 15 minutes late already with 20 minutes right to go. I got two more for you. Okay. One is, did you hear the reference, or when did you hear the reference of lobster head in regards to your theme song? Oh, man. It turned out about a long time ago. Maybe... Oh, I don't know. What mean 2010, maybe? Maybe 2010. People are very creative on the internet. Very creative. Especially music. I do miss that song, though.
Um, uh, a lot of people are upset. I brought it back, but, you know, I wasn't allowed to keep it. Could we have it back again? I don't know. Do you want to go and ask? You go ask. I'm tired. I ask. I'm all that. I ask. But thank you for everything. Thank you for all the matches. The last question that I have for you, gratitude, such an important part of my life. So I end every interview with this question. What are three things in your life that you're grateful for right now?
My wife, my family, family and friends, and my health. Amazing. I'm my dogs, too. I've read for a lot of things. There's more than three. You know, my wife's been one of the biggest supporters, understanding, and she's always there for me.
tough times, great times. Best of me, my best of me, you know. My family who are still all very healthy, thank God. And we made it back home. Ray, Patty, all the boys, grateful for them as well, because there's never a time when, you know, you need to pick up a phone to talk to someone about something, get out of your chest. They're always there. Ray, unfortunately, they're at three o'clock in the morning, Irish time when I'm calling them on a long drive, and I'm venting about something.
Um, and then of course, uh, my dogs about unbelievable. I've got four rescue dogs. Um, we lost one Vesper. Um, she was overbred. She was like a seven year old stuff. You may got her. She was mine. Like same color hair was made. The whole thing.
They're kind of like my kids, you know. Every time I come home, they just don't carry wheels to see me. And there's no better feeling. If you don't have a dog or a cat or whatever, you feel like there's something missing in your life, it's probably because you don't have a dog or a cat. So I definitely advise you go to any animal, wherever you get them is amazing. But I always say, please adopt, don't shop. There's plenty of amazing pets at animal shelters. I just, you know, dying for an amazing home.
Yeah, the joy that dog has when you walk through the door. Yes. It doesn't matter if you've been gone. It's crazy. Minutes or five days or five weeks. It's amazing, bro. Oh, you're back. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's it's it's insane. Like I love them. Like it just when they're not there, it's just the place feels empty. My health, of course, and the fact on my job and the fans of people who supported me my whole life, like everyone who's been out there and every time I walk to a court and all those people to share and
and go nuts. I can't tell you how much, how great that feels now. And I'm like that, yeah, I'll give it down about me. Because you can't put that into words. The feeling of love I get from everybody when I go out there is just, it's incredible. And I don't want to sound like one of these people, just trying to have phony shit. But it really is. I get goosebumps every time I go out when you guys are gone nuts.
Um, because at the end of the day, like looking at COVID and stuff and pandemic, you know, people don't like to talk about whatever happened, but the difference having them, all of you guys, them back is incredible. Like this, I mean, we, we got through about a year and a half with no fans, but basically, like, I don't think it would have lasted longer now without them. Cause that's, they are the greatest fans in the world. And when people talk about social media and stuff and Twitter and all, they're the first ones doing all that, bringing their signs, being involved.
It's a two-party, you know what I mean? It's a collaboration with the talent and the ring. Everybody in that arena. Yeah. So, yeah. I would like to, you know, I'm not wanting to give like, really like answers in the box, like cute answers in the box, you know? I have to have to explain what I'm saying. I'm sorry, I mean, we'll talk forever, you know? What a career. What a career. What a curse to the gap.
And you're still going? I'm still going, yeah. I'm going to Phoenix, going to the Grand Dale tonight. So, if I get fine, I'm going to split it, right? Yeah, it's like 50 bucks, right? I'll be more than not me. All right. Thank you. I appreciate it. I wanted to sit down with you since our last interview, which was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. Yes! When was that? 16? 2016. It's been a long time.
You know, the one thing I thought you talked about like, what I'm grateful for, one regret is that me and Gary Anthony Williams didn't get an opportunity to do a spin-off movie because that would have been awesome because me and Gary, like the chemistry we had was crazy. And a lot of people said to watch the movie that the biggest thing they loved most was bebop and rock steady. So the thing I was always hoping that like, that me and Gary could definitely do a spin-off and that would have been awesome. I mean, so much fun. You guys were great. It was great to do. This was great. Thanks, fellow.
Maybe you'll do the Celtic Warrior Workout one time, Christie, yeah? Sure. I'm not going to die or anything, right? No, just do your workout, your workout, mate. I mean, it doesn't work out in Celtic Warrior Workouts. The brave change, the brave change motto is that, you know, I was making a great change, but make a brave change. And you, we do the workout that you do. So I have to do your workout. That's the whole challenge. And then you explain what, what, why you do it, what you like about it.
I need to tell your story. Sign me up. Yeah, that'd be awesome. Chelsea Green as well. Big shout to Chelsea Green, who did the last workout, could be coming United States champion. That's right. Thank you, sir. Thanks. I'm going off. Cool, fair. Have you cut that part out? Cheers, fella. I appreciate it.
Well, there we go. Congrats to Seamus for hitting a million subscribers on his Celtic Warrior workouts YouTube channel. If you haven't subscribed to him yet, go check that out. Go give him a subscribe on there. The CBV Clips channel is getting real close, real close to a million subscribers as well. So if you're listening right now and you haven't subscribed, man, that would be so greatly appreciated if you took the few seconds that it would take to hit that subscribe button.
I feel like 2025 is the year that Sheamus wins that Intercontinental title and becomes the ultimate grand slam champion. So that would be WWE champion, United States champion, Intercontinental champion, tag team champion, money in the bank, Royal Rumble winner, Slammy award winner, and King of the Ring. Impressive, impressive. Intercontinental titles, the only thing he hasn't done there.
It's going to happen at some point in time. Like he said, he's not going anywhere. He just sent a five year deal plans to wrestle into his fifties and my goodness.
I'm here for it. Like I said during this interview, like I said in the intro, the thing about Seamus is when he's in the ring, you know it's going to be good. Hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did. Snap a screenshot and tag us online. He's at WWE Seamus on Instagram and X. I'm at Chris Van Fleet and DDP shared this quote earlier this week. I love it. It's from Jim Watkins.
A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence. Be great. Be great for my friends. Have an amazing day. We will see you on Thursday with Seth freaking Rollins.
All right, guys, it's jail sun and MMA superstar American gangster and the host of the one and only your welcome podcast, which drops every Tuesday and Friday. I'm going to bring you the best sports coverage from the best talker in history, me. And once in a while, I even spent a whole show calling you.
Yeah, that happened. Guys, follow me, subscribe, listen. Whatever the terms are they're using these days, do that with my show, you're welcome, and do it wherever you get this blue wire podcast. That includes Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you're listening right now.
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