Former WWE Superstar Erick Rowan (Josephy Rudd) is the guest this week on “The Ryback Show.”
Rowan was on the show to talk about his wrestling career, his WWE release, his frustrations with WWE creative, his future in wrestling and much more. Check out some of the highlights below:
Erick Rowan talked about his frustration with WWE creative: “This was the first time in my career when I was the most vocal about things. I was professional but I was vocal about it. I said, what’s the plan for the cage? Why am I doing this? I was told it was something that’s going to be killed by a babyface but it will set up a good feud. Ok, it’s going somewhere. I’m waiting and waiting and that never happens. They strung this along so long, I thought let me pitch something else. I would send in a pitch. I was sending it straight to [Paul] Heyman and he would relay it supposedly to Vince. Whether that happened or not, I don’t know. I would like to think he did, but, who knows unless you go directly to the guy himself. I had no problems waiting outside the door (Vince’s door) but when the show gets changed a lot of times and you can’t get in that day, you’re stuck doing what you got to do that day. Then you’re told what it’s going to be. Then after it’s been shown, then it’s something else. I’m like, well, let’s try to save this. Maybe we can save this. I would have a whole character pitch there. Then it was well we are just going to kill it. It was the last show I was and it was the last live show they did. It was me vs Drew. I was really frustrated at the time. Not only because they built me and built this thing up and didn’t want to use any of the ideas, but because I felt at least I could work with Drew. Drew is awesome and he’s going to be working with Brock at Mania. I thought, ok, this is going to be good. It was a 4-minute segment with entrances and he is going to kill the thing. I’m like, ok, do you want me to stop him? They said no and you can’t punch him. I think it was that day I went up to Heyman and said, hey, I feel bad the cage didn’t work. I pitched ideas. I asked if I was ok. I couldn’t get anything to work. I am very proud of what I do in that ring whether it was written or not written. If I can’t make something work, I get down on myself personally and professionally. He said I’m in great standing with the company. Those were the last words I heard. That was the last time I was on TV. It was a complete blindside in that respect.”
Rowan talked about his future: “Obviously I see another side of things I want to pursue. I don’t really feel like signing a contract that is going to lock me down anywhere and not be able to do other things. That would be the huge takeaway for me. I want to see what else is out there. As far as wrestling goes, I still have fun.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Ryback Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription
