Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, Such good Shoot in the Johners podcasting network is proud to welcome you to Such good Shoot. the podcast about everything and anything in the world of wrestling up there, man, Isaac,
Oh, hello,
over there we have shane
but today most importantly, we have a very special guest. Oh baby himself.
Heath slaaaaaaater
or is everyone really remembers you, Heath Wallace Miller, Esquire.
you went back that far doing Research?
he got it, you got to try and you know, you got to dig a little bit, man. All right, if you're gonna, if you're gonna start with like any story, you should probably start at the beginning. But even before we do that, welcome. Thank you so much for joining us. This is truly an honor. And I would I would love to just ask how are they? How are the kids man?
Man, the kids at the moment are atTennessee at play like a play camp. You know, so they get I have seven days to go over the play of Peter Pan. so there's like, I think like 80 some kids up there doing this? I mean, let's say no little like, low budget. You know, church play. These people go all out with my wife steph and a friend Emily her mother does it so they're up buried by learning these lives learning these little songs you know, and all this stuff. So they're havinga blast at the moment.
Is that is that sleep over? They come back every night.
Oh, no. It's a sleep over. It's like
Oh, so so you got like a little vacation little bit.
It's funny because I literally on the second I had to go back in and get it like a little surgery. Nothing major just in and out. So my mom's down here. My mom came down here to take care. And then again, like my mom and she's she's the best but she's like that. Any excuse she can get to come down. She will.
Yeah,I yeah, I hear that.
i understand That completely.
Oh, that's awesome down here. And we've been watching disaster movies. And scary movies like Paranormal Activity movies, and she's all into that stuff, man.
Awesome. And before we get into everything else, I had one more question. I just chatted with you on Instagram. You just put together a beautiful table, man. And I'm uh, I know I'm like feeling old now because I get excited about like dining room tables and shit but that is a really nice table. Did you did you build that? Or was that something you bought in then assembled?
It was me a couple buddies helped do it type deal. You know? So pretty much Yeah, it's a 10 foot table with 15 inch legs. Like, I mean, the legs are huge. I mean, the table weighs about 420 pounds.
It's all live. And it's like the live edge on it. Oh, yeah, it looks really nice.
It was one of those things where like always, like me personally always wanted a nice front door. from my house. I always wanted a big ass dinner table like a kings table at the rough edges
I feel it, I love it. It's a good look. Well, I was like damn, that's a nice day full. I'm like kind of getting so fucking old.
I get happy like grass anymore. I'm just like, yeah, you smell that.
My white new balances on
riding mower and never push
it you know people will see the stains on your shoes and know you're working hard. Yeah,
absolutely.
So speaking of working hard, you got you grow up in West Virginia man at the sort of the end of the 80s, early 90s. What was what was that? What was that like there? Man? What was? I mean? Was there a big difference from like, early childhood toward it towards like, teenage years and,
um, I mean, West Virginia. Growing up, man. I was that boy that woke up and woke up in the morning. Went out started playing came home for lunch, or ate lunch at a friend's house. I just knew that I had to be home whenever the streetlights came on. So that was pretty much my childhood. I would go anywhere do anything. I wanted pretty much but i just had to be home before the streetlights came on.
Yeah, Ifeel like it's sort of the end of that generation.
I'm scared to let my girls walk down to their friend's house, you know, to where I'm like, man, I was out and about all the time. No, you know what it is? Is that like, you know, you hear about, you know, kidnappings you hear about, you know, all that stuff. But back when we grew up, we didn't have the internet so you never heard about it. But it happened.
Totally. You know, I remember the TV to where you had the antenna that you had to twist it to
add the coat hanger and the and the aluminum foil and shit
it in just not working.
I'm like a year a year younger than you. I'm (19)84, October of (19)84. And I grew up I grew up in like a little tiny town in northeastern Vermont like 200 people. Like no pavement. Nothing. So
we just had like stop signs. No stoplights. I always tell everybody the way I grew up. If you ever watched that movie Varsity Blues, like that, that movie Varsity Blues is like, pretty much exactly like my tale was. It was just everyone knew everybody. Yeah, whenever you play sports and shut the town down, everyone go to the games. I always compare my my like, Junior High School is like Varsity Blues. Like all the way
under underrated movie too I like that.
Um, I blame it all on my grandfather was his fault. He's the one that loved it watched it. He's the one that got my mom into it. He's the one that took me to the independent shows when I was like five years old.
As long as you can remember. Basically.
Yeah. Like I never not known wrestling being in my life somehow, someway. Just because it was just I grew up watching it. I mean, like, my family did. I mean, we would like I said to little, you know, Labor Day parades that had a wrestling show on the football field and all that stuff. So yeah, man, like, like, I can't not remember not watching wrestling. It's always been a part of my life somehow.
And was it fairly early on that you're like, I want to do that. I think that's that's right.
It's like cleaning out her house. I
that's super cool to have like the original broadcast.
Oh,yeah. Yeah. She literally just brought this box to me. I hadn't even even opened it
oh man this is this is breaking breaking stuff here man
it has random stuff like this in it (removes tshirt)
That's incredible.
And then, like, you know, she's like bringing these to me, like, Nexus pictures and stuff. Like, hey, you can sell these random things.
That's awesome. That's cool. So So you were just like gung ho and so first opportunity, you know, where you're like looking for places to train? Is that you sort of ended up in the WWA4 Atlanta?
Yes.
Or no, it was like, all through high school man. I played basketball, football, baseball that stuff. And then I backyard wrestling, like on the side with my buddies. It was funny is that my mother actually brought her backyard wrestling title To me. And I have a
That's awesome. That's one of the ones that you're like, yeah, I gotta hold it.
So, so no, like I always had like a hunch to do it. But I never thought I would actually like really go and try to do it. But it was one of those things that like, always said I was going to do it. I always said I wanted to do it, but like in my life at that time, like I went to college. play some basketball so like, my mom kept like putting down get a degree this degree go in college. It's not. So I'm like, Well, I have to do this before I wrestled type thing, you know? Yeah. And then I was young, dumb and stupid and lost my scholarship and had to go back home and and then that's when I said, Hey, I want to start wrestling. And then my mom looked at me like I was nuts. And then my grandfathis literally like, Really? That's what you want to do. I said, Yes, I think I can do it. I think I'd be good at it. He was like, I support that, you know that he was on board. So I'm like, yeah, to talk to you know, that Yeah, they agree to it, man. So I literally moved down to Atlanta, Georgia with two of my other buddies. We lived in this wrestling house in East Point, Georgia, like the heart of the ghetto, and lived there for about a year and a half two years and thank god im still alive its dangerous in their man,
but that's where the best stories come from.
That's true. I mean, like literally like I think our house and our cars got broken into like once a month right? That's a fact like we had everything in our house stolen from like, like controllers the PlayStation ones that didn't take the system or the games you know, like weird shit you know, our dryer? Our whole dryer?
The whole dryer
one our CDs or CD players like hey,
at least they left the copper in the walls
It was like either kids were robbing us or you know middle aged man or something. I don't know. But it was it always happened when we went to train for wrestling school and it was like they had an eye on us they knew wheb we leaving
was part of the maybe that's part of the the wrestling school scam was like, included with your tuition fees. He gives little hints to his friends and...
So I was in WWA4 like, I literally was on the independence man, maybe two years. I mean, short time. That's why I'm like really excited now. Because I'm still at a good age to where I can go out and have some fun and work and everything. But I used to do things that I had never done before. Because I was with debbie debbie for damn 15 years of my life. Right? So so like when I was wrestling at WWA4 and I was making my name in Georgia, Deep South was opening up and deep south was in Marietta, Georgia, probably about 45 minutes from Atlanta. So there but up, you know, the foreign league there, the developmental school, our local wrestler that wrestles off in Georgia. Next thing, you know, they were looking at my buddy crew Jones that they were going to sign him. So they asked him like, Hey, man, you have a guy that you're comfortable working as a baby face. You know? He was like, Oh, yeah, I do. He's like, we'll bring him with the next week. So then he talked me into going up there to work him to where I was just like, bro, I'm not ready. He'll know. I don't want to. He was just like, Yeah, well, I told him you're going to it's gonna look really bad if you don't do it again. If it wasn't for him. I don't even know where I would have been. I probably been on the independence for an extra eight years or something. Who knows. But he walked me in the door with them. They talked to me, but the people that would come to the independent shows went to those shows. So when I came out, I got like, like a good reaction because I was a baby face. So everyone's like, Who the hell's this kid, you know, but the people that watched me for the last year and some change shows, so they were like, Oh, yeah. And I was called the thriller at the time The thriller Heath Miller.
And the thriller heath miller.
Yeah. And they'd always be chanting Miller time miller time
Oh, nice, dude. That's fucking awesome
That's rowdy.
Yes, that's a great chance.
Yeah. So like, I was like an instant baby face. And then like, next thing, you know, after my match with crew, they were like, Hey, man, he might come back every other Thursday. You know, like, keep coming. I like Yeah, sure. So then it was like every other Thursday, every Thursday to them. Let me come and train with them, too. It was just my foot was in the door and I just kept building man and then Johnny Ace came up to me it was I can't grow your hair out. We don't have no long redheads. I was like, Whoa, okay. So I grew my hair out for about six months. He came back and said that I listened. He heard good things about me. He wants to sign me so i was signed
man. That's awesome, man. That's so cool. And so then you're what was was Jody Hamilton, like running things at that point still or was he sort of out of the picture. Yeah, he would. He was running How was how was that man? Was he still running it like old school like power plant style?
brother 100% old school as hell I mean about as old as you can get old school
but yeah, that's
with Jody that I still remember the one story that no one would ever forget he would always we would always watch tape after their shows. So he would come in tape watching Jesus man, it would take seven hours you know he would just pick apart every little thing but he had these shorts that were just so short. I mean so hold on y'all hear the story?
No, I but I am excited for this
these shorts that were so sshort right he had you know those Rolly chairs but they will spin you know to you know talk to people his ass spun around. He's like, you know how old man always puts their hand up on the side and lean over you know? So he's like doing one of those to talk to us man and his nutsack is just hanging I mean, it's like that. It's just like a fake
Are you are you ripping me? like yeah,
it was one of those we're all like we're looking at it like oh its his balls
do I say something?
it was one of those He was just looking at it you know?
It's like the sun you just try not to stare directly at it. Oh my god. Hum so? How long I mean, it wasn't that long before WWE ended their relationship with deep south and then a lot of those guys went to OVW. Did you spend any time in OVW just went to FCW right?
i went straight down Yeah, I never went to OVW not once still have nver been there. Yeah. Um but no Yeah, they did we went to practice in the morning. Next thing you know they all said hey, we're making a complete change everyone come back at the night the dress up because the Bossman is going to be there so we all had like suits and stuff on and we walk in there and next thing you know they said all right boys are closing Deep South down we're moving to Tampa we don't know where we're going to open up yet but we just need to get out of apartment in Tampa. Don't worry, we'll why your money to like cancel your leases and everything. Just get to Tampa next three weeks.
holy Shit, man.
What? And then we're in our suits. We are literally taking down the rain. The banners, the bleachers, the guardrails, everything that needs to go to Tampa and the bad thing about it is that Jody Hamilton is right there watching us to strip it down naked in front of him. And that was his little baby.
Oh man that's
just given this all mean looks whenever we're walking out sick and stuff
is not our fault man.
be brutal that's the worst
just sitting there just ugh
especially after having to look at his nuts for like seven hours straight.
That was every week though.
So it was one of the first things you you were you were sort of managing right as as Heath Wallace Miller Esquire.
Well, with that the reason I was managing is because me and this guy named bad seed had a tag match with Rene dupree and I forget who was tagging with her rene dupree at the time, but they were getting ready to go back up to wb at the time so we're just working a match with them. So you know how the baby face bumps you out you go to the floor you regroup strategy bullshit, get back in the ring. So I'm walking around to regroup with bad seeds. So next thing you know we're like, oh, yeah, yeah, so I'll look at related three and be like, you know, you sound a little bit bad seeds, throws his arms up and catches his elbow right in my boom. And I literally like I go like, you know, sell it back and I look over and I just can't see nothing. But my I get so mad man. I go for a swing dog. I'm ready to find, i swing. Let's say you know like Dr. Tom, TJ Wilson, Kofi Kingston. They're all like running over like nah break it up break it up the dude selling Like being stupid outside elbows, me, right my orbital bone and shatters it. So I have a shattered orbital, boom, boom, boom, right there. And that's why I became a manager because I couldn't wrestle for about three and a half months. I couldn't lift weights could do nothing. They were like by like, pressure and stuff like,
Oh, God, yeah, I'msure you get it like the slightest headache back there. And
that's the whole story about that whole heath wallace miller Esquire is because Dr. Tom Prichard was like, what's your full name? So I told him He's like, yeah, we gone put Esquire i said you son of a bitch your gonna have me manage the guy that took me out?
just be happy They didn't give you a tennis racket.
Right. I wish that would have had that. I hit him with it.
Do you feel like the that, you know, really helps with your mic skills and promo skills. in retrospect?
Oh, yeah. And then I had that. I had a show called handsome Pete's happy hour.
I was gonna ask about the hat. Yeah.
That was some fun. We had no idea what we were doing. We had no clue. Dr. Tom was literally just be like, man, just be yourself. Just keep it entertaining, and try to keep it under 20 minutes. And I'm just like, Damn, alright, that's a long time. He just let me go out week after week to week and just get comfortable on the mic and everything man. And I literally had this song that I came out to. It was from this band called The revolting cocks. And the song was if you want my body and you think I'm sexy, the Rod Stewart remake. Damn, I love that song. And I mean, that was my jam. And I still listen to it today. 15 years ago, my hair just shaking that I used to hump the ring post. Oh, it was Oh, yeah.I was. I was ready.
FCW just seems like it was an amazing experience all around for you
on there. I mean, just that is where my shell got cracked open and I was just like, Damn now this is what wrestling is. This is fun. hell, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, you got to work with Harry Smith and Tyson Kidd and PJ black. Fandango Alex Riley Eddie cologne. You won the tag titles with Joe hennig.
bro i was the southern heavyweight champ the florida champ,
I was gonna say you beat Tyler Rex for the the championship.
I think I was the first ever guy to win them all.
Yes, that's so cool, man. Like, what a great experience.
I got the replica of the Southern title India today.
Oh, shit. All right. What's awesome. I'm very excited for this. Yeah. Oh, damn, look at that.
Good looking belt.
Yeah, that's a really nice looking belt, man.
Yeah, this is what they had back in the day.
So cool,
carry around
And then you got it again.
Oh, it's so like, itty bitty when you look at it,
but whatever. Yeah, I'm sure I'm sure you put that next to your original backyard championship that you got kicking around.
actually it was just laying beside of it i should have grabbed that while i was over there
So, so um, you know, going from that they they, you know, they they bring you up to this new NXT thing, man. What was what was that like going from? From that? And you know, the expectations going in and the you know, the reality of the show itself like?
man, they gave us no direction. Right that that we were guinea pigs. That's all we were. I mean, we were legit guinea pigs on a timed show that WWE I guess got the luck of the draw being like, Oh, yeah, you got a spot for an hour here.
Yeah, cuz I mean, it basically replaced, replaced ECW right on syfy,
pretty much.
And so it was just kind of
it was, it was, it was a thing where it was thrown together. And when it was thrown together, they didn't really know who they wanted to bring up. to. They literally was like, you know, who's the top eight guys down there at the moment? And they pick the topic, guys. And next thing, you know, they had a meeting with us and they're pretty much telling us Hey, guys, there's NXT You know, you're gonna go up there and do this show. We don't really know what to expect, but you know, you're gonna be having matches and getting points and all this stuff. So we're all just like, okay, but then they wanted to change my name. It was someone else I forget. But they wanted to change your names and I'm just like, because I was going Sebastian Slater at the time. And they, Johnny Ace was like, yeah, Vince don't like Sebastian. I was like, hell, like, they were like, We want you to cut your hair and go to trucks to you remind him too much of edge. And I'm just like, what the hell, man? Like, I don't want to go to damn trucks, you know? Shit. And then, like, the one that told me grow my hair out. I am confused, you know? So it's like, Hey, we want to bring you up here. We liked you. And you're a good worker, but we want to change every damn thing about you. I'm like, Damn, the world hasn't even saw me yet why are you changing me You know, yeah, so pretty much man. My hair was like long way down on my nipples, long mane. I had long ties. I was flamboyant. You know, doing the dancing and all that stuff coming up to some badass music. And then when I get up there, they want me to cut my hair, go to trucks and change my name. So after so many names out of my can't even remember. And then they didn't like any of them. And then like, literally, I had a week and I literally told Johnny, I said, let me just use Heath let me be Heath Slater then. And that's my real name. Anyway, and he was like, yeah, let me I'll pitch it. And I think they didn't even know my real name is heath or something. I don't know. But they just was like, yeah, let him use it. We like it. So that's how I got the name, you know, with Slater. And then when it came to my hair, my trunks. I told Johnny, I said, I'm not cutting my hair above my shoulders. I said, I'll cut it here. That's as far as it's going. I said Other than that, I said, I guess I'll try to find my way in trucks. You know? Yeah, that's that was my first time ever being in trunks was national television walking down the aisle, and maybe I'm like, just nervous. little shit. Dude. I really think about it walking down in your underwear in front of the world.
I've always thought that.
I mean, it is. Yeah, don't get me wrong in the Wrestling World. It's totally fine. Because
Yeah, it's it's the expectation, but it's still like out of any other context. You're you're literally walking around. Yeah in your underwear
Yeah. And NXT you got paired with Christian right, Christian? Yeah. What was it like working with with him? Was it like an actual mentorship or anything? Or was all of that just literally,
it was all play
Yeah, yeah yeah
it was all played but Jay and edge both man, they were both good to me. Because like Edge and Christian maybe even backstage, you know, they hang out in their, you know, their buddies and all that stuff. But it was like with Christian like, he would help me, you know, he would be like, you know, instead of doing it that way, try it this way. You know, he would actually watch my matches up there and legit pick them apart. For me. It helped me. And edge was the same way. Like he would come and give me pointers and stuff. So I had like, E and C in my corner. You know, here I am young kid rookie that they did not have to help me.
But that's so cool.They seem like great people.
incredible people to have in your corner as well. I mean,
Oh, man. Yeah.
great, workers.
You know, like, it was incredible. It was so good. And then like, Arn Anderson. He's like a father and rasslin to me. So he wouldn't have my back. You know, like when I would come out of the ring he'd like kid come here you know and he'd say why did you throw that one punch at the end the other two look good. That one looked like shit.
That's God, what? Like, what brilliant minds to be able to like pick.
Like, they were just they were always there for me. I guarantee I could still text them now. And they'd be like, Yeah, man, what's up?
It's so cool.
So I just remember those early NXT shows. I was at one in the Hershey giants center. Oh, good. And they had you out there selling programs.
Yeah.
How much did that suck?
It was horrible man it was horrible they had us do a, you know selling programs, whoever got the most money went all in to win a prize. And then it was you know, there was a keg carrying challenge
oh God yeah.
I have a promo challenge where we're in the middle of a damn ring. And they give us a word that we had to cut a promo on it for a minute. And it's just garbage every one of them's garbage besides probably wades. But it was like that an obstacle course you know, just always It was
so it was so ridiculous.
I mean, the good thing about it is that you know that (points to Nexus autograph) came from it
well that's the thing is is Right before we get to that, because I do want to talk about that because it's obviously just an incredible, incredible moment. But you know, another moment early on where you get like to work with, with it as a giant in the industry on my favorite holiday 4/20 on 2010. You actually beat Chris Jericho on NXT Oh, shit. It looks like we lost Heath. We
may have lost Heath.
Looks like he's frozen. Oh, hold on. You're getting You're back. You're back. Okay, sorry. I was asking about you beating beating why to Jay Chris Jericho on for 20 in 2010.
That was on for 20 Yeah, man. He was really excited. Last night we were researching and I was like, Oh my god, he beat Jericho on4/20
would do that night. Like not just work with Chris fucking Jericho, a guy who pins the rock and Austin in the same day. Like, no, like, like, this is a guy who's a legend in the business. Oh, and you get to pin him on or you get to beat him on NXT
i beat himtwice, man.
Yeah, dude, how fucking cool is that?
A honestly that was like, my Well, it was crazy. Because like they had me be in the undefeated guy you know, because I went like six and o or something before Kane beat me or something. And so it was like i beat Carlito. You know, that was like my first little upset but then when I beat Jericho, and I think he was a champ at the time. Like, maybe not, maybe he was like, going for it, you know, or something. But I remember pinning him. And I remember the whole gimmick Was I supposed to pin him and hurry up and rush out the ring? But I pinned him amd jumped up and said hell yeah hell yeah You can see I'm grabbing the ref and trying to put the wrap in between us and going after me being like,
yeah,
that's fucking but yeah, that's true story. You go watch the match back. But I didn't get out the ring soon. I was supposed to been that upset 123 and then i scurry out. then i jumped up like yeah
you beat Chris fucking Jericho, man. It doesn't matter.
So that no, that was really cool. And it's cool that he he let me pin him twice in my career. So like, I mean, and I get to say, you know, pretty much with those guys. It's like, they don't want to beat me, you know? But Chris has always been good at putting over young talent. I mean, he still does it today. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I tip my hat to that, man. Like, not a lot of guys like to do that. You know? I like um, yeah, we all know I don't mind putting those things we're like, you got to do that shit, man, you know, to build talent and make it you know, make them look good. I mean, how he's Chris Jericho. He beat Chris Jericho. He's been places he's done things, you know, right?
Yeah.
That's it. That's funny. Because like, we never we never knew when we're getting eliminated. You know, we honestly had no idea who was getting eliminated when was getting eliminated nothing. It was like, Hey, guys go out there and surprise. So we I've never been out there and and that last promo you hear every one of us do is its on the flyer row like yeah, here's your last words. And I remember when he said, Oh, he beat the rock and stone cold. And one night, I use that in my promo. And I was like, Listen to the man, the man that beat the rock and stone cold in one night And you know what? I beat you and people will stillplay that promo to me. And I'm just like, man, I was from the heart and shooting from the hip man. Like,
but like, like, you know, jumping up after Jericho or that promo they're like, and we'll get into it a little bit later. You know, we're actually probably really soon but like, a lot of the things that defined your career were things that are those moments that you know, you sort of went off script. You know,
it's really true i did that a few times,
but honestly, I mean, that's the shit that wrestling fans love. They love like, when it's just you being you and turning it up a couple notches. So you like you can't tell where the line is. And that's what we like, you know,
no, and that's what makes it real and interesting.
Yeah, absolutely.
Sorry. I can sit here and still today listen to promos and being like, that's all memerized us. Yeah, all thats memorized but sometimes you hear a promo you're like, oh, they're failing it better Listen, I don't know what's gonna happen. Yeah, no, they don't happen often.few and far between
Well, I'm sure the consequences generally are unless it's like, you know, all this money.
That's true.
You know, I'm sure Brock Lesnar can get it was doing whatever he wants.
Yeah, I'm sure now,
I mean, but then like, but then like you, you know, you look at a guy like that, like the times he goes off the cuff to like even just yelling, you know, the Suplex City bitch, you know, and like, it's, you know, like, those are the moments that we love. So, so getting back on track going from the end of NXT and the elimination. What did you guys know? Like when you get eliminated, like, what, like, what was what happened? Like, I mean, you were just saying you don't know that when but like, what happens after
we literally go back to FCW.
Okay, so that was like, so you go back to FCW and but there was no like real storyline plan until the end of NXT. Like, how like, was it after the show ended that they called you guys and we're like,
Monday in Miami. It was that day. They
holy shit. Okay.
So what happened? Was that like, I got eliminated, and then it went down to Gabriel Otunga and Wade. Yeah. And then they had some three way and all this stuff and then Wade wins type deal. I still was think I should have been in that match. think it would have been way over
over a tango 100% Yeah. I mean, no disrespect. But like you talked about work like work rate.
I just feltlike us. We could have killed it because we had matches before when we killed it. So
yeah, absolutely. You guys can work.
But uh, so after that happened, what I think really got Vince's attention and I still believe this is that we all jumped Kane one time. And it was we all of us the nxt guys got in like a couple of AV guys and we literally jumped kane and beat him down. And then the whole crowd booed all of us as a group, you know, and it was like, Wade was still bad guy. I was a good guy. Gabriel was a good guy. We were playing these faces, but we all beat down Kane was and they booed us and we all left. I think that day on it was like after that happened, like elimination started, you know, and then they I think Vince literally was like all we want to put them together. I love it. You know? Like, who knows? Like, that's what triggered him. We didn't know anything. What was happening? Nothing until it was like a week after NXT man. They were like, Alright, it rolls in Miami. We need all y'all down there too.
Oh, perfect. Oh, wow.
Okay, so then next thing, you know, man, we got to Miami
to the stars kind of I mean, just aligned in a lot of ways because that's where they schedule. Especially Monday night, RAW has got to be booked out fucking a year in advance. Holy shit. That's so cool.
But yeah, we didn't know anything until we got there for Nexus.
How? How exciting. Was it when they gave you the word?
Well,they give us like halfway through the show. And they brought us back in Vince's office man. And they were like, Hey, this is what's happening. And it was like Vince Hayes, ACE Dean Arn. Pat Patterson.
Everyone.
Yeah, pretty much, you know, everyone that was involved. vince each gave us or Nexus ban. handed it too us I still got mine over here. The original we got We got like, we got two originals from him. Like personally from him.
That's so cool.
And then they made us a few. But he says Alright, this is the plan is like cena and punks gonna have a match. As soon as cena gets pumped down, we're gonna have wade come out us through the crowd. He's like, I want everyone to have that armband on. He was like, and I want y'all to destroy everything inside the guard rails. And we were like, okay, and he was like, I mean, destroy everything he was I don't want y'all to be a pack of wolves, a pack of hyenas sharks in blood. Give me like, if anyone gets in your way, take them out. He was like all that assets do not such a fan and do not touch a camera. And we were like, shit, okay.
And what an incredible angle
thing we had to keep with the secret. Like, it was literally like the first hour of raw, you know, like, type deal. So we were just like, oh, shoot, oh, you know, and then next thing, you know, man, once their match happened, they told us to get suited up. And they made everyone go to gorilla. So they didn't see none of us. And then next thing you know, it was like, Let's light the fuse.
Dude, and it was incredible. Like truly one of the one of the last like great, great raw segments. In my opinion. There's been a couple like good raw segments, but like, to me that one was just like, even watching you just like, you know, like a like everyone in the crowd is just like you just shocked.
The first time we're like, all I heard was like, silence but agony. And like people crying. Like we're walking back I'm getting hit with like, you know, people throw in their cups and stuff like I'm getting hit with shit. Like, it was just, it was one of those things to where it we put the whole Wrestling World on notice and everyone was in pure shock to us the kids play in these games on NXT that got pissed off. We we just wanted to show everyone what we could really do type deal, I mean is a blessing that we were part of it and it was one of those things that were like all the pieces lined up perfect to wear. How it was we were being mistreated. We are dressing and broom closets. We weren't loud in the locker room. I this is true story too. We weren't like we were legit dressing in broom closets and everything. And it was just all that shit sandwiches. We ate man, we got tired of the taste.
That's awesome, man. I was a great story. What was the reaction going back through the curtain? Because I mean, obviously everyone knows what
everyone was applauding
and and so when when did it become an issue with Daniel Bryan because if ever like, like, it was an awesome segment
man. Daniel didn't do nothing. No, no, no, I've said it in every interview. Daniel did nothing wrong it Daniel did not one thing wrong. He went out there. He was ruthless. He was vicious, amazing. I mean, it was one of those things where like, I'm the one that grabbed Justin Roberts. I'm the one that put his jacket around his arm so he couldn't move. I'm the one that knocked him down. They say Daniel is just choking the shit out. Let me while I'm smacking him in his face.
It was like we were ruthless man.
Yeah, it was awesome. And then you know, do you think it was the combination and then the spitting in the cenas face all but
it was all that. Like, you can even see in that one part with the ropes down. I grabbed the rope. And I go to choke Cena with it. And he literally takes it off. He's like, No, no, no, no choke. You know that type deal. All right, and you see me just
drop it off. sort of throw the rope away kind of
like I'll watch it back and I'll be like, well, he saved my ass there. We'll do you know who knows? But he literally he stopped he was like No, no, no, you know like, but we think the shit out saying like we laid everything in that night to where he just was like, Damn, boys, you know?
Oh, yeah, itwas awesome.It was awesome
but it's it's cenas a tough dude man. I know a lot of people getting shit you know and all that but like he's a tough dude. Man. He He loves the wrestling business for sure.
Oh yeah, I mean you don't you don't make it to that point and stay there as long as you did if you don't hear you can tell the people who get there a burnout quick are the people who don't care you know, it happens real quick. So that's awesome. Um, our good friend Dennis Day Jr. Whaddya say with DDJ just wanted to know about like your thoughts on the transition from Nexus to the corre and then sort of thoughts about the corre and like, if it just felt like why are
its watered down version?
Yes, like why are we rehashing it
now what pissed me off? This is what really pissed me off is that they let next this loser summer slam when when. We should have won at SummerSlam that still should have been on top all the way to mania instead of us breaking off and being the core and the core rasslin Smackdown super group you know,
I mean, you debuted in what JuneJune or July something like that? It was like June 10 or July 10 something like that. Yeah, so it wasn't like that long before summerslam.
It was so summer slam took all the wind over sails and and then like cenas just was like oh well ill join this and that but I don't want to join bah bah bah my dude already ruined it man like its done. So they thought you know with you know bring a punk in and all that it just watered it down and made it you know not good. And then they wanted to break us off and go to the for Smackdown side but what they should have done was let us take over fucking wwe let's take it over let Nexus reign on top let that roll all the way to mania and then get cena edge taker Kane Big Show you know these guys and then let him beat us at mania man. You know like let them take us out. Let debbie debbie come back on top. Yay. You know, like my Goodness,how hard would that have been?
would have been the perfect story
was that we got way over way fast. And they were like, oh God, we don't know what to do. There's trains going 100 miles per hour. We got to stop. You know, and it's like, Man, fuck you for that. Excuse my language.
No.
no worries,
like, seriously, like, we had no problem losing. Because walking in that summer slam, we were on top. We were winning. And then literally before the show start, we're not.
I've heard Jericho shoot on that we can hear and he was like, and he was like cena you're fucking crazy. What are you doing?
Jericho and edgecame up with the whole match the whole match. They had me beat both of them. And, you know, it's like, oh, yeah, look at this. But it's like, they came up with the whole match and made us all and it made perfect sense it was great. And then next thing you know, super Cena went in there and saved the day, which would have been great if he would have saved the day at WrestleMania.
Yeah, totally.
Let us take over let us let WWE look like they're in jeopardy. You know,
let the story mature.
Yes, Damn let it grow up through nice pretty tree then cut the bitch down.
And then build a beautiful live edge table out of that. Oh, man, Shane, you want to talk a little bit about what comes next?
Oh, yeah. So a little bit of threeMB action. quick story for you. My dad and I'm from Columbus, Ohio born raised still live here. I'm pretty sure my dad and I saw one of the only three MB wins in about a year span. I believe it was an episode of main event it was taped before Smackdown before Smackdown was live Columbus it was you three vs. Tons of funk in a three on two handicap match on announced on main event which is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Probably the three MB ended up winning and my dad wade and I popped large. So thank you for that. I'll never forget it. Um, so but but with three MB. Like who came up with that? Is that is that creative? Is that? Is that you three because like I mean, I wouldn't assume so. But uh, you know,
so with 3mb story with 3mb is that I was doing the whole one man band. You know.
youve been doing that for a while
for a while. But this man Vince just hates me hates my accent. Like he wanted me to like, change. Like go to like vocal classes trying to change my accent like all this shit. Where I'm like, Vince bro. Like, Oh, all right, baby. This is me. Like,
I don't I don't understand that shit.
i dont either He's done that to a lot of people though. Like, it's not just me. Like, I'm sure I guarantee you. There's been more people.
Oh, 100%.
So yeah, so he wanted me to change my voice to where like, you know, I didn't want to happen. So I didn't even try being honest. Yeah, sure. You know, but no, I just started talking a little slower and but like he he wanted me to be the one man band. The one Oh, no, it was the one man rock band. The one man Southern rock band. The one man country band or I don't know, he had me doing so much stuff to where I was like, man, I used to be the one man band. But I pick a pick a lane. It covers everything. I don't have to be rock. Country jazz. Let me just be one man band, whatever. He was like, Yeah, I like that. So I ran with it ran with with for a while. So then it wasn't going nowhere ran its course I was like, come on. I need a band now. Like, I need a band. Like I've been a one man band. Let me have a band. That they're just like, oh, what are you thinking? So I pitch Ambrose Fandango EC#. And this is before any other we're on TV. But Fandango and EC3 were all on like NXT season three or something. So I pitch for those three. And then they were like, okay, the deal. Let me get back with and this is Michael Hayes the whole time I'm talking with. So, um, the month goes by nothing. You know, like, Hey, baby, what the hell, man, I need this. Bam. He's like, I got you guys. Hold on. So, probably about two more weeks went by. He comes up to me. He's like, you get your band. Maybe you get your band, you know? And you know, I'm like, hell yes. I'm like, Is that who I pitched? He was like, No, I said, Hold on. So, I was like ambrose. He's like, Nah, we got some for him. And of course, it was a shield. I was like, What about, you know, dango here now Now we got stuff for him. So it was Fandango. The dancing dude. And then I was like, Well, what about EC three? You know, it's hunter at the time. He's like, No, no, not here. I'm like, shit, whatnot, and then they just fire him. You know? I'm just like, and then he's like, don't worry. Don't worry, you'll love it. I was like, it's not 100% yet, but it's gonna happen tonight. I'm like, What do you mean? I'm just getting strung along. So he comes back to me. And he's literally like, Alright, man. It's settled. You know, you got to do it. When you wrestle tons of funk or something. It was funkasaurus yourself. I'm like, all right, well, who's in the band? He was like, jihnder and drew. And I litteraly just was likewhat? He was like, McIntyre Mahal. I said. I said, that sounds like a bad joke, man. A Scotsman an Indian and a redneck walks into a bar.Well, when he told me that I was first I said, Drew's gonna be pissed, man. Like Drew's gonna be pissed. Because true always wants to be that bad as serious Dude, you know? He legit is. Yeah, he wants to be that dude. and him in 3mb is just
it never sold. it never sold
was literally like one of those things to where it literally, we were good friends outside of wrestling. You know, first off, so then. And then it was we're traveling rode together. We're buddies, we should make the best of this shit. You know? And Jihnder is that guy that he'll be like. Alright, man, let's go first tribe. Yes. Drew, on the other hand was more like pulling teeth a little bit. But we finally got him comfortable. And he was like, Well, I was wanted to be a rock star and a wrestler. So I might as well do both you know. So when he got on board with it, but if steel man like, we were the first three man group, then new day, then shield laid out like we started that shit. You know, they copied us. It was just like how long ended to man it was just like, we had a calendar. We were booked three months, every week. This out. And I said, you know, we got our calendars again, but three months out, and then they got fired. And we're like, the hell What happened? You know? So it was like, Ginger gets fired. He calls me. Drew gets fired. He calls me I'm like, Guys, I'm next. You know, let me call you back. Never got it. So So literally, I called Mark curano. I was like dude, you forget to call me. I swear.
I was gonna ask him about it. Because it's such an amazing story. You must I mean, you must have just been sitting there like, fucking What have I got to lose?
Like, literally, I literally was just waiting just to ring come on. You already called him my next call me. Dude. Never happened. So I called him and he just was like, Nah, but you're safe. I said What the hell? How like, what what's going on? He was like, and his budget cuts. I'm just like, I don't get it. I was confused. And I was I was lost. I was with them for two years. Being this rock star. Bam. You lose your two boys. And you're like, shit, you're all alone. kind of find yourself again. Like it's just a weird feeling, man. Yeah.
And they and they sort of put you into different tag teams. After that.
Brother you just make the best of what you give. Now I always like to chicken shit and turn to chicken salad.
Well, Iknow Shane wanted to talk a little bit about some of that stuff.
Yeah, um, I mean so what was up with Slater Gator like again? Is that just bullshit that you know the like hey man, just there you go. Good.
2 Southern Southern guys
brothers Slater Gator with me and Titus literally was Vince just wanted him have something me to have something Yeah, and I was in a promo and I just off the top of my head. I was like yeah, baby. I guess we're slater Gator here you know your Florida Gator. My last name slater it rhymes sounds good. It was just me coming up just bullshit. Not well. And then next thing you know everyone's like,
yo, slider Gator. No.
Same thing with I got kids.
Yeah, yeah, that was the whole total mess up to man. You know,
how scared were you? I mean, and so from that point on was it was everything from that point on just off the top of the head. Because obvious because was there supposed to be That that talk about your kids.
Well, the topic about my kids was like, not even supposed to be mentioned, you know, its supposed to me trying to find the job. And then Okay, then totally like I had a brain fart and I forgot my lines man
because Brock's response was incredible
Oh, yeah thats Brock Lesnar. He can say that
so so that so that stuff like him inviting you in the ring getting close. Like I want to talk I got kids want to talk about your kids. Yeah, don't give I don't give a damn about. Yeah. Oh, wow. What an amazing moment.
It was just one of those things where I had a brain fart and I said, You know, I just got kids dammit i need this job.
So now and then like you It was awesome. It was a great moment. But I mean, so that the Slater Gator like there's so many moments
was really fun for me through the career was when I got to work all the legends man. Like working Vaders sid keish piper cindi loper and animal and like just all those guys man like
who is under the mask is doink?
Oh, it was brawler
Brooklyn brawler
Oh, wow. Bro man. Steve Lombardi is just hanging out.
I mean, how were all of their attitudes towards you? Was it What was it like a really cool situation with with most of them or?
No, All of them was cool
very cool.
I can like you know, people want to say, oh Vader he was an asshole was me. I'm like, not to me. Shit. man Sid Viscous You better be glad he made it wasn't softball practice. You know, he's an asshole. Because I met he was cool as hell with me.
He made all those guys look incredible. But
they weren't very nice. me. I don't have not a bad word to say about you know any of them just because they came in genuinely like, dude, thanks for doing this for me type deal. Most of them forgot everything in the ring. And I and and i i'm not gonna remember shit. So I'm like, Oh, God.
you took one hell of a clothesline from fuckin JBL Holy shit.
there's a there's a funny story behind that one too. So, alright, I'll make this quick. So before that moment, so all the legends coming down. You know, APA lita all this stuff. So Road Dogg looks at me. He was like, how dare you? before you walk out? Look at JBL tell him the lay that shit in. And I just looked at him. I was like, You don't believe I'll do it? He's like, No, I said watch . So my and my music plays JBL me, you know, we were like, cool, but we weren't that cool. He like smacks me on my back kind of hard. You know, He's, uh, you got this kid. I said, Hey, make sure you lay that shit out. (clears throat). Make sure you lay that shit in when you get out there. I just walked right through the curtain. Bro. After everything happened, and he stood me on top of my head. I got to the back and Road Dogg. It was just me who are laughing our ass off. And he was like, You should have seen JBL face he was like, he was like, What did you say to him? I said, you better lay that shit in when you get out. He threw his hands up. He's like, oh, he was like, he literally he said a JBL looked at me go through the curtain. And then he was like, did yall hear that shithead? yall hear that shithead
holy shit thats hilarious
but it made us like good buddies, though. Like me and JBL cause hell now. So to me, it was just a cool moment. Cool, time. good story.
That's so cool.
Yeah, he laid that suit into as you can see.
Yeah, it looked incredible.
It was a rough one.
I felt it.
Shane, you wanted you want to talk about Rhino a little bit?
Oh, yeah. Just Just real quick. Yeah. Rhino again, just just thrown together. Because I remember watching that live and just being like, what the hell is going on here?
Like, man, the whole thing. So yeah. Let's get this one out. Um, so I'm doing free agent. I don't get drafted. Yeah. And that was a JBL call. JBL was the one that say You know what? You want to make the last ending funny. Don't draft slater, you know? And it's loved it. Vince was like, Oh, I love it. You know, so JBL smarten me up. So he comes to me, he's like, Hey, I just want you to know you're not getting drafted tonight. I'm like, What do you mean? He was like, you don't get the lights shut out on Yeah. What you do with it afterwards is up to you? And I said, I'm like speaking like, oh, Hey shit, you know, but he's like, Don't say nothing. I said I gotcha. lights go out the whole day. I'm just like, what am I gonna say what im gonna do what what should we do afterwards this and that. So then afterwards, it was like, you know, I got mad through the chair, I got up, I stormed off on my stephanie in the shane, you missed somebody. And then, you know, they end on that, you know, next thing you know, I go up to Ed costy. I'm like, Hey, man, what's the plans with me? He's like, Nah, don't worry, we're just gonna say that, you know, we drafted you to SmackDown later on the internet. I'm like, Fuck that. No, I said, Let's make a story out of this. Let me go to Raw and SmackDown. And like, compete and try to earn my way the company. I said, in my mind, I'm thinking, Man, I'm gonna be seen on raw Im gonna be seen on SmackDown Im gonna be a storyline on raw on SmackDown every week, you know,
insanely smart.
That's where I'm thinking. So I'm like, pitching these ideas. Like, let me go back and forth. Let me have Stephanie be like, well, if you can beat these, this guy, I'll get you, Shane be the same. But I just keep showing heart to where they want me. But then I play. So how much are you offering how much are you offereing to play I get above my head, you know, just to make it funny and good. And then, like, this is all for this. This is a yes. And I said, you know, it'd be great. It's like, then they give me Hey, you know what, if you can beat the miz because he was the SEC champion at the time. I say if you can beat the Miz. You know, you can get this contract, but I beat him. But then I become the IC champ. But I don't sign the contract. But I have the title. And I'm like, Oh shit. I'm going anywhere I want with the title. This
is so much better than anything
you tried to pillmanize yourself
I literally, I was throwing all these ideas. And this literally loved it. He was like, I like it. The only thing he didn't want me to do was like I told him like when I'm in let me be this free agent. But let me go to like, be evolve. Let me go to like, you know, these other little indie shows where people are like, David Slater not really with them. Like, they do like really screw with them, you know? Yeah. And I was like, let me go work McIntyre down here and evolve. You know, let me go and work this kid over here in this company. And I like this stuff. where people can I
cant do that pal
Exactly. So my whole idea. Go for ic title. Go for ic title. Shane. Stephanie shane. Stephanie. IC title. Next thing you know, the big whoop came down. We're making Smackdown this new thing was on Friday Smackdown Live we'll have a new titles new this new that blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then they say, you know, Vince was like, hey, you're gonna be the first ever Smackdown Live tag team champion. I'm like, hold on. What happened to this? IC run, I've already had that title three times. I don't want it no more. I want. I want that was you know, he's like, No, he's like, we got plans with miz as I was like, come on this I got these ideas. You know, like, he's Hollywood. I'm hillbilly. We can do skits where he does hillbilly things with me but I do Hollywood things with him is just comical and funny and that don't work, you know? And he's just like, no, I got other plans. He's like, but you're gonna be tagging with Rhino. And I'm like really? Like how do you Where do you come up with this shit? you know. And brother like next thing you know, but you know as much as I want the title and as much as a mess The only time I've ever wanted in this Wrestling World you know? I got a damn best friend I love it you know outta Rhino because we traveled together and everything for nearly four years.
Yeah, youguys won won a like an indie title as well, right?
Oh, yeah, we did. Right before I got hurt. But um, but no, like, he's a damn good friend. He's like a brother to me. And me getting a friendship like that over a title any day is good in my book. So i mean hell I'm 37. I'm gonna give myself about 46 45 46 to wrestle. If I don't make it back up and get it man, my boots are hung up.
There's still a prophecy to fulfill man. Yeah. I believe I believe in the Prophecy.
Oh, the prophecy is true.
The prophecy is true.
i mean It might be Who knows? im just gonna stay in shape and be ready for it. Ifit happens
well we're rooting for you, man
we will be too
100%
I still got a couple of obstacles ago over a few more months before I'll be back but I see the light at the end of the tunnel and there's definitely going to be to be continued for sure.
Yeah, wellthings are starting to get back to normal man. So COVID took you out, man, but hopefully the return to normalcy can get you back.
That's exactly what I'm hoping for.
That's so awesome, man. We're really, really grateful that you joined us. I hope you enjoy the rest of the time Before you get to go watch your kids perform in Peter Pan. Enjoy the little parent vacation.
Most importantly, is there any shit you need to plug?
Yeah, absolutely.
Oh, um,
I got you know, the pro wrestling t shirts. I got some stuff with grudge match brand and total debacle. Do you find them on Instagram? I'm on cameo. But I'm so bad at cameo. Like, I get notifications and then you only get like two or three days to do them. And then I forget.
Oh man, you're better than DDP.
maybe i hope
DDP charges a lot and then he just does an ad for DDPY.
Hey, brother, we're gonna change your life here man.
DDP Y okay.
But yeah, that's pretty much all I got. I think I got some more stuff. Oh, I gotta show on a side network. Heath house. Oh, shit. one of my buddies He has a little network. It's like $5 a month 60 or $5 a month 60 bucks a year or something. But he has stuff with like Lita and her UFO and excursions. The good brothers have a little network show on there where they do all their crazy dumb shit.
Cool.
That shit is sick.I had no clue.
All right.
Yeah, he does some stuff with like all these band members like Twisted Sister Maynard and I he does this other stuff with my all the famous bars around the glands and their famous drinks and stuff. Alright, little network man fans don't know about it.
All right, like metal and drinking dont know who thats marketed to but its probably me
heathshouse, Yeah, you just checked you just checked every single box for Shane.
its a good little Network man. It's like cheap, man. It's five bucks a month. It's really nothing, but it puts out some good shit.
Awesome, man. Yeah, that's about it.
Well on that incredible bombshell, make sure you subscribe to that network. It's cheaper than any only fans you're going to find and we have been Such good Shoot, the podcast about anything and everything wrestling with our special guests. Heath Miller today. Have a great night, everybody.
