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Open Mic 29: Chris Wain
27 Plays2 years ago
On this episode of Open Mic, The MVP chats it up with style as he talks to fashion icon/cosplay aficionado, Chris "The Model" Wain. They talk about his love for wrestling (of course), beginnings as a model, getting into fashion, transitioning into cosplay, and the ultimate discussion as they talk about the best way to make a grilled cheese. This episode is brought to you by Arrogance cologne for men.
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Transcript
Introduction and Interview Approach
00:00:27
Speaker
Who the hell told you tonight was open mic night
00:00:42
Speaker
Welcome, everyone, to another episode of Open Mic with the MVP Marco. And of course, your host, the MVP Marco, back again with another interview. I say this every week. I always want to keep myself limited and not do a bunch of interviews.
00:01:01
Speaker
I always get inspired by the people I see on social media and I reach out to them. Whether or not they answer back, that's a whole other story. But the ones that do, I take the advantage and I get them when I can. So I'm back again with another one. I think this one is going to be very, very fun and we're going to have a good time.
Pod Foundation and Wrestling Influence
00:01:21
Speaker
Before we get into the interview, always, I always shout out the pod foundation. Um, that's pretty much why I'm here. You know, it's a group of content creators, you know, obviously it's wrestling based, uh, but we cover a lot of, uh, you know, different avenues of wrestling. Um, my show isn't very wrestling centric, but it's based, the blueprint is, you know, if it's wrestling inspired, I'm going to interview you. Um, but you know, if you've listened to the show the past, I think this is the 26th episode so far.
00:01:50
Speaker
I've interviewed a vast majority of different types of people within social media, if you want to call nerd culture, collecting, all that type of stuff. So I run the gamut there, but back to the Pod Foundation. It's the Chick Foley show, obviously that's the anchor show, the ones that create the Pod Foundation. We have the Extra Cooler show, great show, obviously Nick, great artist. Definitely check him out at Extra Cooler.
00:02:17
Speaker
We also have the turnbuckle Tavern who helped me actually design this this logo And my personal logo my MVP Marco logo, so and I'm also on one of their shows called the raw down
00:02:29
Speaker
every Tuesday 9 p.m. EST on patreon.com slash the turnbuckle tavern you can watch me and J bone who's also part of the pod foundation with coming down the aisle we team up and we talk all things WWE all the news and notes as much as you can bring you
00:02:48
Speaker
So that's live every Tuesday 9 o'clock On the turnbuckle Tavern patreon and then if you don't get to see the live the audio drops on Wednesday So you get to listen as well as you don't have to look at our you know hideous faces You can just hear our hideous voices.
Meet the Guest: Chris Wayne
00:03:03
Speaker
But anyway Let's get to my hair my my next guest for the show. So this person here is a
00:03:12
Speaker
Very I was just actually talking to a little bit before this I'm kind of running the theme here You know bringing out a lot of like people that do cosplay within wrestling obviously if you listen to the show I've had over the moonsault I've had the macho verse very very recently and I always get inspired when I see I'm starting to see them running the same circles. That's where it's kind of running to
00:03:36
Speaker
But this person in particular is not only a cosplayer, but he also has, you know, a fashion page as well, which I'm going to ask questions because I don't have very great fashion sense. So maybe he can give me some tips. He won't get he can't give me tips of the looks department or the long hair that he has. He's he's a very attractive guy. I'm just going to say that that much. He's probably heard it a lot. If not, then I mean, he's going to hear it a lot during this interview. But I'm going to bring him on
Fashion and Cosplay Journey
00:04:05
Speaker
right now. It's
00:04:06
Speaker
Chris Wayne, how are you doing, sir? I'm doing fantastic. I mean especially with an intro like that Yeah, the first the first thing like I see it obviously on your you know, your IG page you know, you do a lot of cosplay but you also have a secondary page which is a like a fashion
00:04:29
Speaker
like page there how did how does that you know let's let's start with that how do those do you see those two things connect at all or are they two separate things in your mind yeah so i'm trying to draw some parallels between the two because there's so many similarities in like both worlds um so like growing well i wouldn't say growing up but maybe like like high school i i kind of found this like passion for for fashion and i started like dressing differently
00:04:55
Speaker
I was like a lot more deliberate with my clothing choices. And I followed, like back then, you know, there wasn't social media. So I was clipping out pictures from like GQ magazine, drawing inspiration from there. It was huge, like David Beckham fan in terms of like his style. Like that guy is like, you know, he's like my ultimate man crush. Like what guy is it? If they tell you they're lying, if they say otherwise.
00:05:21
Speaker
So it's funny that you call that my secondary page because that was actually my initial page. Oh, okay. But lately I've just been having so much fun with like the wrestling cosplay that I've been spending all my time on that page, on that account, interacting with people I've met there. I've met a lot of great people, a lot of talented people. So it's been a lot of fun doing that. And I've kind of been neglecting the fashion stuff. But again, there's,
00:05:48
Speaker
It's funny because like a lot of people, like people that know me and like have like grown up with me and know me like personally, they know like the guy from the fashion page, right? And the people I've met through like conventions and social media and wrestling events, they know me as like the wrestling cosplay guy. So I almost feel like I'm living like a split personality. By day I'm like this guy and by night I'm like somebody else.
00:06:18
Speaker
So that's where my Instagram accounts lie. But then on Facebook, again, it's more like my personal stuff with my wife, my children, and more fashion-oriented stuff. So occasionally, I'll throw some rest and cosplay in there, and people are like, oh my god, what are you doing? I'm like, wait, what are you doing with this?
00:06:41
Speaker
Do you tell me like do you tell like I mean have you seen uh? I mean if they if you show them like Seth Rollins and the stuff that he comes out with every week You'd see that you know wrestling can be very fashion-forward even the young bucks I gotta give them props as well the stuff that they they wear like
00:06:56
Speaker
And was that like, obviously, you know, with wrestling, it's there's always been some type of, you know, different type. There's always been different type of styles and things like that. I go back to like, you know, like, you know, superstar Billy Graham, the stuff he used to come out with. Obviously, Macho Man, like he's probably like the focal point of like fashion forward when it comes to. But you can throw Jesse the body of the turn every with the you know, we're in the boa, you know, the earring and the that type of stuff. But what do you do? Have you have you always
00:07:24
Speaker
was that something that attracted you to you know wrestling because that's something that attracted me to wrestling was the obviously the wrestling but like the the the characters the stuff that they wore the you know the gear and stuff like that like is that is that something that uh do you see as as a first attraction to it or was it the like like the actual wrestling like the product itself
00:07:45
Speaker
Oh man, a thousand percent with the gear choices. I mean, like you said, definitely the wrestling, the presentation, the larger than life superheroes. I started watching wrestling back in like the eighties. So that's what like drew me in. But like, even like as a kid, every time there was like a big show and like a big pay-per-view and I have like that new gear, I always got a sense for that. And then like, you know, fast forward a couple of years. So like when I'm playing like No Mercy or like, you know,
00:08:13
Speaker
I'm like I spent like hours just changing everybody's like gear and trying to get them like up to date or like I'll have like like one for like, you know, like raw or Smackdown and then if you keep You know shifting through the the gear choices I'll have like one special one for like, you know Yeah, and it's funny you mentioned Seth Rollins because I have cosplayed
00:08:43
Speaker
So, like, every time he comes on Raw, he's, of course, you know, to the outside casual fan or, like, non-wrestling fan, they're like, he's wearing, like, the most obnoxious, ridiculous, loud outfit, right? And the wife will look at it, and she's like, don't tell me you're buying this outfit. Or, like, please don't.
00:09:00
Speaker
So like I'll joke with her like sure she'll give me the look now She doesn't even have to say it and I'll just say like I already ordered it. It's coming tomorrow. Yeah Yeah, I see me but one of my favorite videos is uh It's the dueling Seth Rollins where you know you were the what he came out with the big red boots Like kind of like the black the black hair with the bun and then the other guy had like the lace Kind of a shirt on stuff like that. I was actually it's like it's one of those things where you know
00:09:30
Speaker
It was kind of like a it seemed like it was like a gimmick, but now it's like it kind of when he started doing that, all the other like we'll say like AEW, although those guys started doing it as well. Like the Bucks started coming out like with like, you know, obviously not as fashion forward as he is because they have like this. I think the guys like these names King Troy. He does a lot of designing for like not just Seth Rollins, like a lot of a lot of celebrities and stuff like that. But you see it kind of like like like a ripple effect.
00:09:59
Speaker
Oh, absolutely.
Balancing Cosplay and Family Life
00:10:01
Speaker
I've actually had interactions with King Troy. He's a super, super awesome guy. Oh, awesome. And I think the story was like, he did a lot of the women, like Becky Lynch and like Charlotte Flair, like very like over the top. But I feel like for female wrestlers or like, just females in general, it's more acceptable. You don't really see a lot of men doing it. So once Seth started coming out with these suits, I was like, oh man, that's actually like, I've always appreciated Seth's in-ring work.
00:10:25
Speaker
Yeah. And you know, I love the shield, one of my all time favorite factions, but he was never like my guy. Yeah. He started wearing these suits and I was like, Oh man, I'm all in now. It's something about like, you know, even dating back to like Ric Flair, when he would come up with the expensive suits and the fur coats and all that stuff. Like it's something about seeing, you know,
00:10:46
Speaker
like uh like athletes in general just like wear like you know nice suits it just seems like not not that like not wearing a suit isn't presentable in a way but it's like it just it seems like professional like when Cody Rhodes comes out every week like yes the guy looks like amazing like it's like what is it yeah obviously that stuff is expensive all those suits and things like that but it's just something that brings like a authenticity to uh to those guys or they when they you know when you see them
00:11:14
Speaker
in that in those kind of clothes like huh you you could dress like kind of like a gentleman and you know you know you don't have to wear like you know like a t-shirt and jeans like even the rock the rock is i kind of like the outlier back in the attitude era where he was wearing like the 500 shirts and the you know the the slacks and stuff and everyone else is wearing their pretty much their merch just a t-shirt and jeans and that was literally it and he's kind of like he kind of like stuck out in that sense and i always i always appreciated that because like
00:11:39
Speaker
especially if you're a champion you want like and you're a fan of that guy you want that champion to present themselves in a way where they look like a champion not that Roman Reigns isn't doing that can't say that but uh you know what he does is like media rounds and stuff he you know he cleans up and all that stuff but yeah you definitely want like you you want a presentable champion i think uh i think that's you know they've come a long way in that in that sense with the with the fashion and things like that but
00:12:02
Speaker
Yeah, most definitely. Another another thing I see too, is like you actually mentioned, you said your family, sometimes they're, you know, in the in the cosplay aspect, I see on one of the posts you had was the, the Judgment Day. That was amazing. Like, dude, your Damien Priest is
00:12:22
Speaker
Insane like you would like you would over the moonsault like if you guys if you guys ever get together her Rhea Ripley Yeah, she does and your debut priest would be amazing. But it's a shame because she she's in Texas I believe and yeah, I'm in New Jersey. So like we again we've We've had interactions. I've never met her in person, but I'm kind of her work. I'm constantly telling her like you're amazing I really think she's like the best at like what we do. She's so creative and like talented and you know super sweet as well and
00:12:51
Speaker
Um, but yeah, I think, I think that'd be such a great collab, you know, like that's one of like my dream, like, like team Cosplays. Yeah. Anything with her. It could be a judgment day or like, you know, and yeah, she can do anybody. So I think it'd be fun. Yeah. I want to, cause the thing with like the family stuff, like I want to, I've been trying to get like my, my, my girl, cause I have two twin girls, uh, the identical twins. I've been trying to get my, my son.
00:13:19
Speaker
And he's like, they're both, they're all wrestling fans, but he's like way into it. And I've been trying to get them to do like a bloodline cosplay. Obviously they're the Usos, cause they're twins. I'll be solo. Or my wife could be like Paul Heyman, or vice versa, whatever she wants to do it. And then my son, obviously he's going to be Roman Reigns, but the girls will not, they will not do it. They just don't. I'm like, just one, just for daddy, just do one thing.
00:13:47
Speaker
I think it's easier than you think, especially with the bloodline, because if they're going to be the Usos, they're pretty much in street clothes. Exactly. Bloodline shirts, they still got them on WWE Shop. They can be pretty simple, and then you and your son can go all out, and that'll really sell everything, put everything together.
00:14:07
Speaker
I mean, it's a thing that they, you know, I think it's because they're, you know, they're boys, they don't want to dress up like him. They think they're dressing up as boys, but like, yeah, it's they're really into like, you know, like Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, you're into all the like, the girl they love, like, you know, they love when they walk down with, you know, especially Charlotte Flair with their robes and stuff like that. So I could see why they won't do it, but I'm going to get them.
00:14:27
Speaker
one day to do it. Because I got jealous of you. I was like, if we can dress up like that, like, I know my son will do it. I'll do it. My wife will do it. It's the girls that won't. They won't do it. I'm like, damn it. I just want you to just like like you said, just don't want a t shirt, a pair of pants and then
00:14:45
Speaker
You'll be the Usos. That's it. You don't have to dye your hair red. If like one, like, cause I think like Jay had like shorter hair, right? For a little bit. Yeah. And then like, you know, Jimmy's got the longer hair. So one, one can like have the bun. One can just have her hair down and just throw on some bloodline shirts. And I think, I think you could do it. You know, I think so. It shouldn't be that hard, but so let's go back to like a little bit to the beginning. Like what, what got you into.
Wrestlers and Cosplay
00:15:15
Speaker
Like, well, let's say we already kind of talked about like what you got, how you got into fashion. How did you get into cosplay? Like where did that come into play for you? So like as a kid, I was into like, well, before I answer that question, like I grew up, I was born in the eighties, but I really grew up in the nineties, like all of like my, um,
00:15:39
Speaker
I guess like my core memories and of like pop culture and things that were cool. And I really think like that was the great, I'm not, of course I'm biased, but that was like the greatest era of like everything basically, just all the stuff we had. So I was, I was a big fan of,
00:15:54
Speaker
anything and everything from like Ninja Turtles to like Marvel to Star Wars to DC. I'm going to throw like a deep cut like WMSE Masters or like American Gladiator. Things like that. So as I got older, I discovered New York Comic Con and I thought it'd be like a fun experience to go. And the first year I went, I remember just walking on the floor and I saw like these incredible costumes and
00:16:20
Speaker
I again it was my first experience at any of these conventions so I legitimately thought that they hired like the Hellboy to like come I have this vivid memory of standing on the floor and there's like these other like really elaborate like cosplayers and I'm just like oh my god this is this is incredible and I was like too scared to like go up to them I again I thought you had to like pay to like see them or like yeah like I had no idea they're just like regular people just like
00:16:50
Speaker
So like, I went to a couple of conventions and
00:16:56
Speaker
I'm just seeing all these different fandoms being represented. Again, Power Rangers is really popular. Anime is big. There's always Stormtroopers and Deadpools. So I'm enjoying this stuff. And one year I decided, hey, let me give this a shot. I've always dressing up for Halloween, but this gives me another time to do it. I just do it once a year. You do it multiple times a year. So I was like, OK, this is cool. And I think at the time, I was really drawn to this character Deathstroke from DC.
00:17:26
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Yep. Yeah. So I thought he had like a great look with like a patch and he had like silver hair and he had like really cool armor. So this is like me like getting my feet wet into like the game. So yeah. So I found some like cheap motocross gear on like Amazon and I did some spray painting like really minimal stuff. But I thought it looked pretty good. And like at the time, I'm like, I'm the man at this, you know, like I can't get any better than this.
00:17:52
Speaker
And like looking back, I was like, oh my God, I would never wear this in public. But as I'm doing that, I'm having a lot of fun interacting with people. It's really fun if you're like one character and you see like another person who's dressed as like the same character, you have an automatic bond, right? And you gotta go.
00:18:10
Speaker
So I'm doing this. And then as I'm walking the floor, I start noticing not many, but there's like, you know, maybe like one or two people doing like wrestling cosplays. And I'm thinking, oh man, like, why didn't I think of this? This is like my, like, even though I was a fan of like all these different things, wrestling was always like my number one.
00:18:26
Speaker
And I was like, this would be cool. So I started looking into who I could do. And in the beginning, I was really timid, because wrestlers, you and I both know, they're not wearing a whole lot, right? Exactly. Yeah, very revealing things that they wear sometimes. Right. So I'm thinking some of my early favorites, like I was like the ultimate warrior. And I'm like, there's no way I can just go out and get some of the tassels.
00:18:57
Speaker
Uh, so I was like, okay, how can I do this? So I was thinking of like guys that were like dressed like from head to toe almost. I started off styles. Um, I had, I, I created like my own.
00:19:09
Speaker
like long tights, I bought some kick pads, and he has that entrance jacket, but he has a shirt underneath. Yeah, exactly. So I'm like, okay, this is fun. I had a blast putting everything together, and I thought it came out really cool. It was the look that he, it wasn't a very popular look, but it was one of my favorite looks. It was, I believe it was 2016 when he was the United States champion, feuding with Kevin Owens. Yeah. He had some red, white, and blue attire, so I,
00:19:37
Speaker
I did my best trying to piece everything together. And then as the years went on, I slowly got more bold. And so when I finally did Sean Michaels, who's my favorite of all time, I'm like, all right, he's not wearing a shirt, but he's got like, I did the 1992 version when he first turned heel. So I'm like, OK, he's got a vest, but no shirt. All right, let's see how comfortable I feel in this.
00:20:00
Speaker
Fast forward the year after I'm like Roman Reigns just lost a shirt and like so every year I'm like kind of like getting more and more naked. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't yeah. Yeah, definitely I noticed that on the page.
00:20:13
Speaker
Definitely have to have the body to pull off a lot of those things, too. That's the other ingredient. Stay in shape and eat right. Yeah, yeah. It definitely motivates you if you definitely wanted to go that route. I was actually going to bring that up. What's your favorite person to do? Obviously, like you said, they start getting less and less clothes as you go along. Who's your favorite to pull off? Sean Michaels, is that your favorite cosplay?
00:20:42
Speaker
I think so. Yeah, like the easy answer would be yes. I mean, it would be Shawn Michaels just because again, he's my personal favorite of all time. Yeah. The gear I have like made like I do a lot of the gear myself. So I spend a lot like most of my time and like effort on that cosplay. Yeah, that's like my pride and joy. Like I it takes me like almost a year to like get everything together and like, like, piece of Yeah, it's hard to like,
00:21:09
Speaker
I think with people that see you on social media on the other end, they think you can just crank it out in a week or two. But it's all this research and finding the right materials and the right colors. Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent now. No, because I would say, so you don't have any help with your gear or do you just do it all on your own?
00:21:36
Speaker
Uh, no, I want to say I
Community Engagement and Personal Experiences
00:21:37
Speaker
have no help. So like I, um, when it comes to like sewing or like manipulating foam or anything like that, I have like zero skills. So that I'll get like outsourced, like, like tights and things like that. Yeah. Um, like when it comes to more elaborate stuff, like, um, like my Sean Michael stuff, I'm, I'm nowhere near like talented enough to like make that myself.
00:21:57
Speaker
Yeah, so I'll have that commissioned, but something that's like maybe a simpler logo where it's like a solid color, maybe some like graphics. I found like ways to like customize that myself. So like that kind of stuff I'll do myself, but like when it comes to like entrance attire that that's all me.
00:22:14
Speaker
Oh, wow. No, that's that's pretty because I would like I said, when I interviewed over the boots, she said, you know, she does everything herself. Like she sows everything like the in particular, like the Ricky the Dragon steamboat. Oh, man. Yeah, she did that whole wings and all that stuff by herself. I was like, geez, how long that? Yeah, yeah. One of my favorite characters and like.
00:22:37
Speaker
That one, I was blown away. Yeah. I'm not. I totally forgot to bring up. I interviewed Heal Liz if you don't, if you don't hurt as well. She does a lot of cosplay too and stuff like that. So totally forgot to show it around. Selena Vega. Yes. I don't know like how she did it so quick because like normally it's easy for me to like get a look from like the 90s and I have like all these reference material. But I remember Selena can't, I'm not familiar with the character. I believe she was like,
00:23:06
Speaker
cosplaying as somebody or like inspired by something. Yeah. But it was like, like gold and red and white and it was like relatively new. And then I feel like the next week, like he was just like busted that out. I was like, how did you do that? Yes. Like, like nailed it, too. Yeah, that that's like I said, it's a it's one of those things where because you kind of brought it up wrestlers themselves also
00:23:30
Speaker
do cosplay with it like with with their gear as well so like if you know like Shayna Baszler she's like a huge Warhammer fan so like a lot of her gear is like um based off like different Warhammer characters um obviously you know the new day a lot of their gears infused with different things um Zelina Vega because you brought her up she's always doing something different like a different anime or something like that
00:23:53
Speaker
Yeah, I think the one that like kind of sticks out the most from everybody is Sasha Banks when she came out of Sailor Moon at that Royal Rumble. That she's ever worn. It was it was incredible. And the funny thing is, I never watched Sailor Moon, but like my I have two younger sisters, they would watch it like every morning before school. So I was familiar with all the characters and all like the different like outfits and looks. So as soon as she came out, I was like, oh, that's Sailor Moon.
00:24:20
Speaker
It's what do you call Raven stereos another one like all his Gary like it's so it's it's sometimes like comic book character or something like He said I think he's done everything from like the Joker. Yeah, spider-man silver server. Yeah, silver surfer You gotta like some of them you gotta like kind of like research like because it'll look for obviously they can't like Carbon copy like the actual like character because it would get sued. Yeah, like some of you like why does it look so familiar? Yeah, go back like
00:24:47
Speaker
There's one one of the one of the gears he wore I think it was when he's facing Seth Rollins like during the pandemic and he had like that eye patch Yes, he was wearing like it was like he's heard blue basically like Superman colors Okay, so I was like I was like he said is that like super is he dressed as he's dressing as Superman cuz like even has the the question mark logo that he has was in like the Superman and
00:25:10
Speaker
Oh, they got a logo. So like, is it them? And then I like, I ended up looking up like it was kind of like he kind of modeled it after like the old school. Yes. Like Superman, like those. So I was like, Oh, the boots and everything, because I see the red boots and I'm like, is he doing something with Superman or not? I'm like, I couldn't figure out but uh,
00:25:27
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's a little like homage to the character, like not overly being them and not like being obvious. Yes. Like you can tell there's some inspirations drawn and exactly. Yeah, it's also actually speaking of that feud. I think it was when Seth won against I think it was during the feud with Mysterio, but I think he wrestled Dominic and he was actually cosplaying. Well, not I guess cosplaying, but his gear was inspired by like Ray's gear. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The Halloween Havoc match with Eddie Guerrero. Yeah, that was awesome. And he did that with he did that with
00:25:58
Speaker
Cody Rhodes with the polka dots. Yeah. I haven't gone around to it, but that's been on my list for a while too. That would be awesome. That one in RVD.
00:26:14
Speaker
face Riddle in that like pit fight thing. Yes. Uh, with our RVD inspired gear. Yeah. The, uh, the, the airbrush top that was, yeah. Have you ever, have you ever thought of doing, have you done RVD or ever thought of doing RVD with like a singlet? No.
00:26:30
Speaker
I just just wait a little bit. Okay. All right. You may or may not see see an RBD cosplay. Possibly in Philly during mania weekend. I'm not going to say. Oh, man. That would be insane. Yeah. So when I asked us to like the macho verse as well, like when you're so when you do these, when you do the cosplays, right, you're going to these conventions and you obviously a lot of them have like the wrestlers there and you beat them. Like, how is that? How is that experience when you actually like, you know,
00:27:00
Speaker
Meet well sometimes you don't meet the person that you're actually dressed as we're like What is it like when you like when you walk up to the table and like what is obviously how we talked before this before we started recording? I talked about the reaction The new day had when you dress up with Seth Rollins and you came in dancing and stuff and they were just like I just lost it they thought was the most funniest thing like you always get those reactions or are there some
00:27:22
Speaker
that aren't as pleasant. Let's see. I can answer that two ways. Let's go with that. All right. I guess in a good news, bad news situation, let's start with the less responsive, I guess. Yes. So I talked about the 92 Sean look that I did. That was one of my first
00:27:46
Speaker
Actually, that was the first Sean cosplay I did. Over time, I kind of felt more confident with my skills, and had more details to it, where I got it a lot more accurate than I did the first time around. So I was going to a convention, and Kevin Nash was there. So I thought it'd be cool to see him as Sean. Yep. I'm excited. I'm one of the first people online. And this guy totally no sells it. I knew you were going to say that. I knew you were going to say Kevin Nash for some reason.
00:28:18
Speaker
It's funny because I met him once at Comic Con and he was super nice. We had a great conversation. He was with Scott Hall when he was still alive. Two of the nicest guys I've ever met. Normally those lines are really quick and you get your picture, you get a few words and you gotta move.
00:28:38
Speaker
like I had to be the one being like okay I should probably step back because you know so much time but they were so nice and like so um like like welcoming and like they were like engaged in the conversation that we're having and um so I was excited to see Nash again and I don't know if he was like tired or like having a bad day but yeah he was like he wasn't like rude or like I'm not gonna say anything bad about him like he wasn't negative in any way but he wasn't like you know
00:29:07
Speaker
Yeah, because it wasn't like the new day reaction. They were just like hysterically laughing. Yes. That one was great because that was the first time I ever cosplayed as Seth. And that was like when he was getting that character over with the conducting and the crowd singing so long and the suits were like becoming a thing. So I thought it'd be like fun and comfortable because most cosplayers are very uncomfortable. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
00:29:35
Speaker
And again, going back to like my love for fashion, this is a great way to like blend those two worlds together. So I can kind of, you know, look a certain way and kind of like portray a character that I'm a really big fan of. Side note about that though, it's really funny because I think
00:29:52
Speaker
maybe like 75% of the people that I saw had no idea like I was dressed up as anything. They were like, oh, it's a nice suit or like, oh, but so I'm online waiting to meet Xavier Woods, Biggie and Tyler Breeze. So my friend is behind me and I was like, hey, I'm just going to try conducting and dancing and
00:30:14
Speaker
Oh, and actually, my wife was there, too. She was Becky Lynch. So she had the video, too, as well.
Wrestling Nostalgia and Family
00:30:20
Speaker
So I'm like, hey, I'm just going to start conducting. Let's see if they react. You know, if not, whatever. Let's, you know, let's see how it goes. So. So my guys behind me, like my friends, they're like singing the song. I'm conducting my wife's dancing and like he's got that like high pitch laugh. Yeah, that's what. Yeah.
00:30:38
Speaker
Yeah, that was one of my fondest memories from any comic con. Have you had gotten other reactions like that in your cosplay?
00:30:51
Speaker
um like a pinnacle like they were just that was just like they were completely like in terms of positivity i mean like no pun intended but like really like sold it they they were having a blast which made me have fun and like my wife was laughing like she was really into it so like you know i'm happy and then i think um i forgot if it was their channel or i think like up up down down like put it on their
00:31:12
Speaker
oh really wow that's awesome that was really cool and i think um they either tagged becky or she saw it somehow and so she like reposted and i'm like oh wow this is actually like getting some attention that's amazing i think like seph liked it so um yeah it was a lot of fun um in terms of like reaction though like
00:31:29
Speaker
Again, that's probably the most over-the-top fun we had. But if I'm going to cosplay as somebody and meet them, it's always good. I would say 95% of the time, it's a very nice interaction. They're not like, oh my god. But they respect you in a way that, hey, you took the time to make this in honor of me. So thank you for that, really. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, that's awesome.
00:31:57
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. I met Brett Hart, dressed as Brett Hart. I met Ed, dressed as Edge. I'm a huge fan of Matt Cardona and Ryan Myers, dressed as both of them. Let's see, who else? I'm sure I'm missing a few, but hopefully.
00:32:11
Speaker
I'm trying to get some more this weekend. I'm sorry, not this weekend. It's WrestleMania weekend. Hopefully there's a chance to like do some of that. My ultimate meet and greet like in cosplay, again, going back to Shawn Michaels again, he's like the one wrestler I have never met. And again, I can't say this enough, but he's my favorite of all time. So like- As there's a lot of people though, definitely. Yeah, yeah, for sure. If I can meet him, like dress with him, I think,
00:32:41
Speaker
I could die happy that's that's like the ultimate goal I have like as a cosplayer man because you brought up the edge uh the edge cosplay that was I think I did see that one that was like more of the uh I kind of like the old school edge with the um with like the shades and stuff right did you do that one yeah yeah so it was like the the uh the edge in christian version like what because yeah I was like playing his music like
00:33:04
Speaker
So that reminds me of like the Edge, not like, obviously he was kind of like the same Edge when he was with Edge and Christian, but like when he started, when he was like solo, when he was like, he had those vignettes where he was just like, you know, in the streets, like running around and everything like that. That's what that, that's what that reminds me of. Like, oh my God, that's so sick.
00:33:22
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, exactly. So like I think for, I think that was like earlier in like maybe like March or something. So like later that year, I did like that version of Edge. Yeah. It's very like universal because he didn't like change his look too much. So I was kind of like that Edge, but I could also be like Edge and Christian Edge, but I was going for like Brood Edge. So like blended. So as far as like, so I think one of the, one of the things I want to ask you too is like, as far as like, you know,
00:33:52
Speaker
Balance with like, you know what you do in cosplay and like, you know, cause we talked to you, you have a family being a dad and a husband and stuff like that. How, how is it like, you know, balancing all those, all those things at once?
00:34:06
Speaker
It's incredibly hard. So like I said, again, if you're like scrolling through people's like social media, you get to see like the best version of them, right? So you see the final product and you're like, Oh, that's cool. You know, but you don't see like the planning, the headache, the late nights trying to like balance work with like,
00:34:30
Speaker
spending time with your wife versus spending time with your kids you have like other things going on so it's not easy to get like you know everything together so like my way around it is um for me New York Comic Con is like the big event for the year so it's a four-day event I try to go all four days if I can and I'll pick out like some top tier cosplays um
00:34:54
Speaker
like the year before like so i'm already planning for like that right now yeah and that's in october so um so once so and i started planning this like when last year's new york comic con ended so it gives me enough time to like get my materials ready like um figure out like which look i'm gonna do what um you know what i need like i'm if i like if i buy everything in one shot i'm
00:35:19
Speaker
going to go broke. And I need to know when I could buy certain things, if things are on sale, if I can get things cheaper, if I need help in anything. And also, I don't want to rush it either. If this is my, I guess, WrestleMania for the year, I want to make sure it's right and it's done well. So that I will spend a lot of effort on. And it's OK because
00:35:48
Speaker
like I can work on it like really hard for like two three days and then I can kind of forget about it and you know spend time with my family and um do other things like I go on business trips a lot so I'm not home for that uh and then I can come back to it right and I can just kind of take my time with it I don't need a rush it'll still look good because
00:36:07
Speaker
I spent an adequate amount of time on it. But throughout the year, I might do something quick or small or something simple where I just need, I don't know, like the usos, for instance. Pretty simple cosplay that I can pull off quickly. Pretty deadly. I've got the hair. Oh, yes. So things like that.
00:36:32
Speaker
And I've always got like a couple things like in my pocket that like I've, I've had planned, I just haven't done like I have like, I don't even I've lost count but I could probably just like pull five or six hospitals out like you know right now that like, I just have time to like do like, they're probably like,
00:36:49
Speaker
I don't know, like 85 to 90% done. I'm just missing like that one bit. I just got to do something. So yeah, but like you said, once you have like kids and you're a father as well, and especially with like multiple kids, they have their own activities.
00:37:08
Speaker
And yeah, it's a lot going on, but you have to make time for what's important, which is family. And then when I have free time, I'll spend my time on that. So it's a lot to juggle. And I got to throw in working out and meal prepping and other things like social life. I need to have friends too, right? So it does take up a lot of time, but you got to fit it in when you can.
00:37:36
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. Like I can kind of relate this into a, you know, doing like, doing like even this show, like, um, you know, prepping for this, like, you know, obviously like doing the outreach and stuff like that. You've seen all the, like pretty much the communication and the coordination it takes to like, you know, figure out a time things happen, that type of stuff. And then like, obviously when the show ends, you know, I'm editing, if I have to edit, not edit.
00:37:58
Speaker
things out that you say but like you know do like uh like intro music and outro music and you know make make the cover art for this so when the you know when it does happen when we do promote it you know the cover arts there um and then try to like promote throughout the whole you know while it's out and stuff like that so like and then you know just there's a lot that goes in and i do another show too that's the other thing so like uh like i said at the beginning i do you know a show for another another um
00:38:25
Speaker
podcast so that takes a lot of well that's kind of like scheduled so it's not as like different as this this show I try to at least do like you know I try to pick times that are like convenience or like a lot of people like to do like Sunday nights because you know it's the end of the weekend it's you know it's not much going on and then you can it's done and then I'm free for the rest of the week essentially but then there's times are like you know I want to do like I'll even double up sometimes which is probably not the best thing to do like I'll finish like one show and then I'll go right to the next thing
00:38:54
Speaker
Which is probably not the best thing to do, because I have work in the morning that makes it worse. But like you said, you definitely have to like kind of, you have to kind of like plan and coordinate, especially if you're going to do something. If this is like your passion, whatever your passion is, you definitely have to try to find the time to do it. Absolutely. And I see like a lot of content creators out there that do, you know, obviously they have like day jobs and stuff like that and they get so much done. It's kind of like, it's insane. Like I interviewed
00:39:22
Speaker
Al Peterson, he's one of the leading figure collectors out there. Not a big fan of his work. He pumps out a lot of videos, obviously. When I interviewed him, he was like, you know, I pick Sundays my day, and I just bang, bang, bang, do a bunch of videos, and then at least I'm like, I couldn't even think about doing that. That's not even my thing there.
00:39:44
Speaker
Like all those figures and all those like, Oh my God, man. That's like a dream basement for whatever room that is. Um, yeah, for anybody. Oh yeah. No, definitely. And, uh, just speaking of that, so kind of stay with the figure thing. So you did mention, you know, the major bros, the major, uh, wrestling figure podcast. Like I'd say like, obviously you do, like you've done some things with them. Like how did that like, uh, like relationship come about between those guys era?
00:40:14
Speaker
I got to say like in terms of like fan interaction and like building a community, there's like nobody better than those guys. Like they started a podcast about wrestling figures and I'm like, okay, I love wrestling. I love wrestling figures. This is right up my alley. So I started listening from their pilot episode.
Perfect Grilled Cheese Expertise
00:40:35
Speaker
Like so now I've never missed an episode. And I think before that I never use Twitter or like X whatever you want to call it now, but like,
00:40:43
Speaker
You know, I had an account, but I never use it. And they would have like these weekly things where you can like ask questions or like post stuff or like repost or stuff to like, you know, be eligible to like win a prize. So I was like, okay, let me see what this is all about. And they're like very responsive. They're very like good to their friends. They have like a Facebook group that you can join and they're like actually in it. Like, yeah, yeah.
00:41:10
Speaker
And I remember one time, Matt, at the time he was still Zack Ryder, he was doing like an elaborate collection of all like the Jack's classic superstar line. He was looking for like very specific, I mean, he was trying to get the entire set, but he was trying to get them like,
00:41:27
Speaker
figure by figure. There was this old, it was a Bret Hart versus Yoko Zuna two-pack and Bret Hart had like the all pink singlet. I believe this was like WrestleMania nine look. And this is a pack that I bought like years ago from like Toys R Us like when that was open. I had it mitten in the package. It still had like the orange Toys R Us price tag on it. So he was looking for it. And I tweeted him and I mentioned him.
00:41:56
Speaker
And I was like, hey, I have the figure if, you know, if you want it, it's yours. And so he funny enough, they were actually doing a promotion at the time where they were selling shirts on pro wrestling teams. And if you bought any of their merch from a certain window, they would give you a call. And I'm thinking like, OK, like that sounds cool. Will they really do it? And they always delivered.
00:42:20
Speaker
so like one day I'm like just hanging out at home and I get a call from like a restricted number I was like oh who is this and um and I hear you know Matt he's like is this Chris Wayne are you related to Bruce Wayne I'm like so him and uh him and Brian like you know driving around and um and I mentioned the tweet to him about the Yokozuna and Bret Hart 2-pack
00:42:43
Speaker
And he's like, oh, I haven't seen it yet, but, you know, message me again and, you know, we'll do something. So I, um, I, I retweeted it and then he like DMS me and he's like, here, let's trade. And he's like, you know, I want the figure and just, you know, tell me what you want basically. And, and it's yours. So, um,
00:43:03
Speaker
I mean it wasn't like that. I think like as we were talking like in the car like Brian said like oh if he's got that figure for you you should give him like a signed figure of yourself so um so he honored his word he wrote he signed like Zack Ryder on like if you remember his um it was actually the outfit um did you see revolution when like stain came out with like his two sons
00:43:22
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Yeah. And like one of them was having like the USA gear. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So Zach Ryder at the time had like gear inspired by that look. He's got like the jacket with the stars and he's got like the fringes on like the side of the arms and stuff like that. So that was like one of his elite figures. So as a trade, he like signed that. He personalized it. He signed it for me. He sends that to me and I send him to Brant and Yoko.
00:43:45
Speaker
And it was just like, I would never dream of like having this type of interaction like as a kid, like with the wrestlers that watch MTV. And you know, we're like a first name bassist and they're just like, yeah, each other. Like, what kind of world am I living in right now?
00:44:00
Speaker
That's crazy. But yeah, so it started from there. And again, they're like so awesome with like their community. They have like live shows. They do like a toy drive every year at Bryan School. So I try to make it out to that. But they're super like interactive.
00:44:16
Speaker
And I don't mean to keep going on about this, but funny enough, I was on my way to New York Comic Con last year and I'm like half asleep and it's early. I'm like, I want to get there and then get my adrenaline going. I haven't had coffee yet. And I get into Penn Station and I look up and I see Brian. He's like pointing at me. I was like, what are you doing? What's going on, man? And I was like, what's up?
00:44:43
Speaker
We're leaving the train station and we're walking in the direction of the convention and normally I just like walk there. So I figured, you know, we'll leave the station together. He'll do his thing. I'll do my thing. And then he's like, hey, you want to take an Uber together? I'm like, uh, that's awesome, dude. Why not?
00:45:05
Speaker
Um, I'm trying to like play it cool. And I'm like, yeah, sure. Let's, let's get like racing. So, um, we're, we're like in the car, we're talking about life. He's got two daughters. I have a, I have a daughter and a son. So we're talking about family. We're talking about like figures, wrestling. It was such an awesome experience. And I like, no other wrestler would do that. Like, Oh yeah, definitely not.
00:45:25
Speaker
Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. Me and my buddy usually, I mean, we've been going for the past couple of, I went the first day myself and they do the stomp at Calhoun. Yes. They call it Saugus. Saugus in August. They'll be there the past couple of times. So hopefully they do it again this year.
00:45:46
Speaker
um again that'd be that'd be pretty awesome and uh have you ever been have you went to those or no i mean you're like um yeah so i i've only attended the new york shows so their first three live shows were in new york oh like this is great i can go to like every one of them and then pandemic hits and then they started taking the show on the road so they're like florida and like like massachusetts and i'm like i can't travel they're like in l.a
00:46:09
Speaker
This is crazy. But thankfully they're piggybacking off of like WrestleMania weekend. So they're going to do a live show there. This will be my first major pod live show. Oh, really? Yeah. I mean, well, since. So I went to one, two and three. And I think this is like 19. So. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
00:46:29
Speaker
So I mean, I still listen to the show every week. I follow what they do. So I'm still up to date, but I haven't been there in person. So I'm excited about this one. I got a special cosplay planned for that one. You'll probably get some preferential treatment when you go there, definitely. Yeah, because there was a few people that drove out to that Saugus one the last year, because I think it was the anniversary
00:46:53
Speaker
the show's anniversary. It was a five-year anniversary last year, I believe, and they're kind of celebrating that. But yeah, it's actually really cool. That one actually, I think the night before was the match that
00:47:07
Speaker
uh Matt Cardona head with uh at GCW where there he had the uh Ghostbusters. He literally like drove from there to like Massachusetts so he's like he's like oh I'm still like bleeding under my gym. Did you feel like you would like get you know get time to like clean up or anything like that? Yeah that show was actually pretty awesome but um
00:47:30
Speaker
Yeah. So speaking of things like, is that like, do you still collect figures and things like that? Or are you? I want to. I do like from time to time. Yeah. It's just like, going back to like, exactly. I mean, the short end. Very expensive. But like, like,
00:47:51
Speaker
in my early adult stages, I spent all my money on like clothes and then I was like figures and collectibles. So I was like, okay, if I'm going to buy more figures, I should buy less clothes. So, you know, maybe like a few months I'm more into fashion and then a few months I'm into like figures and collectibles.
00:48:08
Speaker
and, you know, other things in that realm. And now, like, within the last few years, I've really been into cosplay. So with that, I'm buying less clothes and less figures and more, like, cosplay items. So I try to get, like, my favorites. And so I'm, like, very selective on, like, who I buy. So I won't buy, like, an entire wave or an entire set. Oh, yeah. No, I try that once. Yeah.
00:48:37
Speaker
So I'll try to stick with people that I grew up with, not so much the modern guys, unless it's someone like a Seth, like a Roman, or like a Cody, I'll get those guys. But yeah, guys like Mick Foley, or Undertaker, Warrior, all the guys from the 80s, 90s, early 2000s. Yeah, those I'm a sucker for. Again, I'm not gonna get them all, but I'll pick which ones I really like, and then I'll go from there.
00:49:04
Speaker
Yeah, like I actually I was my I was actually thinking I was talking about that like Before one of my buddies like just you know, he's a one of my friends is like a huge figure collector He has like he collects wrestling figures and he has like a he has like one of the
00:49:19
Speaker
I'm not sure if he has like the, like the craziest like Ghostbusters. He's like a huge Ghostbusters fan. And in his basement, he has this room. It's literally just all Ghostbusters figures in like, in like the, you know, the proton pack. And like, he actually has the like legit, like actual proton pack, which is incredible. I'm not an interesting guy, but that, that's awesome.
00:49:41
Speaker
But the suit yeah, he bought the suit with his name but like we were talking about that I'm like, you know as I'm like, you know my son's into wrestling he's into you know wrestling and stuff like that so he likes to play with Wrestling figures and things like that. So like obviously if I'm if I'm buying them and he sees it he's gonna want to play with it So I'm like, of course, they're not like I can't really
00:50:03
Speaker
Buy anyone new cuz he's gonna want like all the new people so like yeah I had to like kind of pivot and go you know what? I'm just gonna like like you like kind of like you collect like the people I grew up with like yeah, like y'all two warriors, you know old-school triple age old school rock You know bam bam anyone that's like, you know late late 80s early 90s or like new gin type guys like the the beginning the gimmicks before they were gimmicks so like I have like
00:50:29
Speaker
You know Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and I kept that figure with the red jacket and the cream. That's such a good figure. Obviously Rocky Maivia when he was actually Rocky Maivia with the tassels. Yeah, that's a lot of crossfire I've been dying to do. Oh man, that's definitely something you should definitely do. And like, just like, you know, I think I had kept my, like, Isaac Yankum figure. Obviously that was crazy. I think that was hard to find.
00:50:53
Speaker
Yeah, I have that one there. Who else? I'm just trying to stay with the older gimmicks. So I still have a representation. And if I want to upgrade, because they've been making new versions of all the old figures, I'll probably replace it with the newer version of it. But other than that, it's like,
00:51:12
Speaker
I don't want to buy anyone new unless it's for like my son. So like he's really into Roman Reigns. Like he literally took, I have like, I had a bunch of Roman Reigns figures. They're all gone. Like he has them from the best Roman Reigns, like all the way up to like now. And, uh, the only Roman Reigns I do have is the, uh, the shield three pack that they keep the last one, but that was a good one.
00:51:34
Speaker
Yeah, that's the last. That's the only like that I'm really keeping right now. But yeah, it's it's like I said, it's tough when you have a kid that's like really into wrestling and wrestling figures to collect because he's going to want everything that you have. So he's not going to know who like big boss man is or like a party. But guess what happened? So
00:51:54
Speaker
We, you know, I buy 2k 24, right? Or 2k 23 on there. Ronnie Piper's on there. So he's like, now he started to understand like, you know, all the older guys, you know, he throws on peacock and he's starting to watch like, like older WrestleMania. So like, you know, Andre the giant and Hulk Hogan, he's really into that match. Like fascinated by, uh, he's more fascinated by Andre the giant than he is with.
00:52:18
Speaker
Like Hulk Hogan because Andre the Giants it's like obviously he's you know eighth wonder of the world How does your son
00:52:26
Speaker
he's uh he's gonna be eight he's seven okay my son's eight right now so they're about the same age yeah no it's something about like big like larger than life characters i think that draw like like my son's favorites are like bobby lashley um yeah he's like oh boss my son nobody likes obas except my son he loves obas
00:52:50
Speaker
Like realistically kid like if these guys are actually in a Royal Rumble, they should technically win in the real world scenario Tossing everybody out of that ring No, yeah, exactly like yeah, like I noticed that cuz I like you know and I don't want to like obviously with you know The Hulk Hogan stuff and like you know the stuff that we know I don't want to like it's kind of like with Santa Claus and all that I don't want to like ruin his if he isn't a Hulk Hogan I don't want to be like
00:53:15
Speaker
you know, oh, yo, how cold gets this matter? Like, I want him to like, yo, see what I seen as a kid, like red and yellow, how the media say your prayers, your vitamins, like, that's all, all well and fine. But he like, he kind of gravitated towards that, uh, that match that Hogan and Andre match. And now he's into the, uh, Savage and
00:53:35
Speaker
Good match to make a positive reason don't know why He just started watching watching that I'm not sure if he knows he's got good taste I think he just like he cuz he it's so weird like does it my son does this how like he'll look at the WrestleMania logos and he'll watch the media Depending on what the logo looks like
00:53:57
Speaker
From the back of the day. So like he'll go. I don't like that logo. Oh, I like this one It's like it's this color and they'll start watching it and it'll sound like the matches and stuff like that. I'm like, oh, I mean Are you talking about just like the WrestleMania like text? Yeah, like so like Like because obviously it stayed a little bit like we were younger in the early 80s and the late like it started It didn't change but like obviously they started changing it towards like, you know the attitude error like yes It was different logos like throughout the whole thing. Yeah, he's going based on like what they look like
00:54:27
Speaker
So like WrestleMania 11, he's like looking at like, oh my God, that's pretty cool. I'm gonna watch WrestleMania 11, which it wasn't really like a great WrestleMania. And it was like known as like the worst WrestleMania of all time. Yeah, that's yeah. I mean, notice I didn't say it was the worst. I said it wasn't a great, it wasn't a great. I enjoyed it.
00:54:46
Speaker
Yeah, I was with that. It was 30% of mental reasons. But like, actually, funny story about that. Not to sidetrack, but I was, I think, 10 years old going to that. So I was in fifth grade. I had school the next day. And my father, I begged him to take me. I begged him to take me to WrestleMania 10. It was too late. Tickets sold out. So I begged him the year after. WrestleMania 11 was in Connecticut. So I'm like, please, can I just go? And he was able to get tickets. We go. We see Shawn Michaels versus Diesel.
00:55:16
Speaker
And then he's like, all right, we got to go. I'm like, we didn't see LT versus Bam Bam. And he's like, no, no, no, we saw the main event. I was like, no, no, no. He's like, no, that was a championship match. That's it. I was like, no, there's one more match. And he's like, well, you have to go the next day. So I'm like, ah. So I go, I get home. My mom's like, oh, you guys came back early. And I was like, yeah, I missed the last match. And she was like furious in my back. She's like, you paid all this money. You didn't even save her last match.
00:55:43
Speaker
So again, I was 10 years old and I went on like, I don't know, like 15, 20 years. I never saw LT vs Bambam. Like I just never went back and watched it. And I was like, really? Yeah. So then like I told my wife, you know, my wife couldn't care less about wrestling.
00:56:02
Speaker
He's more of a fan now because I watch so much and the kids are interested, so she can't help but know stuff, right? But when we first started dating and seeing each other, she had no idea what was going on, especially the older stuff. So I told her the story, the same story I just told you. And one year for Christmas, she always does the most thoughtful gifts. It's funny, I don't remember the main present, but on the side, she gave me the WrestleMania XI VHS.
00:56:29
Speaker
And so here it is. You can finally watch it. And that was the first time I watched it. Like again, I don't remember how long after it was, but it took like over 20 years to see that. That's amazing.
00:56:43
Speaker
You should have, oh man, I wish you could have pleaded with them like, dad don't you know they're like pretty much like the whole like offensive line of like the Giants are gonna be there like right in the front row like everyone's gonna be there. Yeah I missed the whole like music entrance and yeah it was uh it was uh salt and pepper that's great.
00:57:00
Speaker
Yeah, it was. Yeah, that's right. Okay. Yeah. Man, that would have been so upset. And that's like the funny thing is that's like one of those things where I mean, that's one of my like wishes from Comic Con. Yeah. Or maybe Sandy, the SDCC when that one comes out that like Mattel, they announced is that they're going to do it like a
00:57:22
Speaker
WrestleMania 11 two pack with Taylor and Bambam Bigelow like ultimately I'll have to buy it like I've been waiting for your first ever they have that at some point like Muhammad Ali's already there like yeah exactly gone back and done like they like everyone's like they go back to the old like so hopefully they get something with Lauren sailor they can get I would buy that like instantly
00:57:47
Speaker
Yeah, because as soon as when they announced the no holds barred I was kind of like yeah Yeah, I wasn't like really I was like I was buying figures, but I wasn't like going too crazy with it Yeah, but when they announced that I was like, oh my god, dude, that's those bars my childhood. Like I love that. Oh, yeah Obviously watching it now. It's awful. It's like the worst movie ever It was just like the way that it comes up like the like when you pull it out It comes to like it like a cassette
00:58:14
Speaker
Yeah. So good. Oh, so sick. Oh, man. But did you watch a suburban commando also? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Like me, like you obviously now being an adult growing up and like seeing like obviously like, you know, the Hulk Hogan stuff and all of the like that's still like a part of my childhood, like suburban commando, you know, the holds bar like Hulk like Hulk Hogan still it's Hulkamani is the most known
00:58:41
Speaker
It is wrestling out there. Like, besides I get a Ric Flair, if you want to put Ric Flair out there, but like, everyone knows Hulk Hogan. He's a global icon in wrestling. So like, it's like, it's hard to escape. And like, would you like, like I said, with my son, like him, like getting into like the older wrestling and stuff like that.
00:58:58
Speaker
know the stuff that we know now about a lot of those guys. I'm like, you know, the dark side of the rings and stuff. It's like, it's like, it's hard to like, you know, for him, I'm like, I'm just glad he gets to see that stuff through his eyes. I guess a kid, not like, you know, when he gets older, he can find out all the stuff he wants to find out about, you know, Santa Claus is still real right now, right? Santa Claus is still real. How community is still running wild in his mind. Yeah, my son.
00:59:25
Speaker
He's like, where's Brock Lesnar? And I was like, I don't know what to tell him. We'll be back for a while, if ever. Yeah, I didn't even think of that. My son's a hardcore Roman Reigns fan, so he could care less if Brock Lesnar.
00:59:44
Speaker
Like lives a breeze I think it is mine. He's like he's like as long as Roman Reigns keeps his title Okay, he's fine. He doesn't want anyone coming back and anyone So he doesn't want you to finish the story though. Yes. He does. I mean He he doesn't so it's weird because he likes Cody Rhodes. Okay, but at the same time he doesn't want I
01:00:03
Speaker
roman to lose his title but at the same time he doesn't want roman to cheat to keep on to keep his title right he hates when solo shows up he hates when like when the usos at the time would show up because he'd want he he wants roman to win like you know by himself like he wants to like to beat somebody he doesn't want like you know everyone coming in like he i showed him the uh not to go opportunity but
01:00:26
Speaker
He watches on repeat, don't know why. Extreme Rules match with Demon Finn Balor. Yeah, he loves that match. He loves it so much, but every time we watch it, he has the same reaction when the Usos come out. Finn's about to win, literally about to win. Kudagra,
01:00:49
Speaker
Yeah, one, two, three, and then they pull, and then one, two, then they pull him out, and he always, he always loses his mind with that, but he like, yeah, it's funny, but yeah, he watches like, he, does he, does his son do that at all times? Does he like, does he watch like, like any, like anything on repeat or does he, is he, is he that like into wrestling where he's just like, you know, constantly watching something or like talking about someone?
01:01:12
Speaker
I want him to be like that but yeah again he has like all these interests he's a big fan of like Star Wars yeah my daughter's also like hogging the TV or like they're fighting over like what they want to watch so like wrestling is like they they're they're big fans but like they want to like they don't want to watch wrestling like all the time
01:01:30
Speaker
Like when I was a kid, that's all I want to watch. I'm watching it like... Oh yeah, yeah, that's my son. Yeah, my girls, not so much. They'll watch it when we watch it, but other than that, they don't care less. So as far as other interests, besides wrestling and stuff, for hobbies anyway, are there any other hobbies that you're...
01:01:50
Speaker
that you do besides, you know, cosplay, watching wrestling, that's collecting those type of things. No, it's just wrestling. Yes, that's it. All right. I mean, hey, no judgment zone over here. I mean, you want to do that. There's only time with me. No, I mean, like I said before, I'm a total nerd. I'm a total geek. I love Star Wars. You know, a lot of stuff that I grew up in the 90s.
01:02:16
Speaker
But I guess, aside from all that stuff, I'm very much into fitness, into eating rights. And I try to be humble, and I don't like to do my own harm, but I got to say, when it comes, there's one thing that I do, I think, better than anybody, is make a grilled cheese sandwich.
01:02:34
Speaker
so i take that that's me do i take pride in being real cheesy with his name yeah i'm i always check my ego to the door i'm not better than anybody but challenge you to make a better one
01:02:50
Speaker
All right, so how do you do it? Because I know everyone does it different ways. Is there a secret to it? You don't have to tell it, but is there a certain way that you build?
01:03:06
Speaker
your your grilled cheese when you're actually making it because i i build mine as it goes yes i don't know where to do it you know okay so you do like the you do the bread that you throw the cheese on and then the bread after and then you is that what you do so before i do that i have i have to figure out like i well first i can really go on about it no i don't hey i want to i want to i want to hear because
01:03:29
Speaker
So like my bread of choice is sourdough. That's my favorite. I think you get like a nice crispy edge. And then like when you bite into it, you got like a, if you do it right, you got like the crispy edge on the outside and like a soft chew on the inside. Oh man, you do look, we're on the same page with that.
01:03:49
Speaker
Um, so I figure out like which, which is like the inside and then of the sandwich and which is the outside. So I lay it like reverse. Uh, so I butter the outsides. Yep. Uh, so then, um, I, you gotta go low heat cause you don't want to burn the sandwich. Exactly. Yeah. Right. Exactly. So, um, I go too fast actually. So I do oil in the pan and then I put the, um, the butter side down.
01:04:12
Speaker
OK, my cheese is of choice. I go Munster, Swiss. You got to have like American. And if you want to elevate a little bit, I throw some Parmesan in. Not like I've heard like the block that you grate yourself. Like you get a better melt with that, I feel. Yeah, you might have to be with the cheese. I kind of cheated. I watch a lot of YouTube videos and figure out like the right blends. I do mayonnaise on the inside. You got a salt and pepper.
01:04:41
Speaker
and then uh yeah then then put the other side of the bread on top you got the butter on there and you got to go like low heat you know so yeah do you do uh do you do any sides with it at all um occasionally i'll do like a tomato soup but like um my wife likes that so if if she wants that like as her dinner i'll do like both sides but uh if it's just me it's just a sandwich yeah i'm the same way i just like uh i've seen like so many different variations i've seen people use like mac and cheese
01:05:08
Speaker
with grilled cheese before. I mean, it sounds very good, but I don't want to make macaroni and cheese and then like add it to. I'd rather just like.
01:05:20
Speaker
go with that like the funny thing is like my uh my son i'll be making him like you know all right i should say like all three of them i'll make them like a little cheese and stuff and like they're like oh mommy doesn't make it that way but or you know i'm like i don't i don't make it that way i don't know which way my way is the right way whatever they're doing is exactly burnt it doesn't it doesn't taste good it's my it's my way or no way so exactly that he's got the right way to do it right
01:05:49
Speaker
They rush it. They don't take time with it. They just want to get it over with. A good girl cheese, I feel like takes like, you know, maybe like 10, 15 minutes. It's not just wrong. Yeah. Like you said, like a nice crust on the outside, nice and chewy on the inside.
01:06:05
Speaker
Not like a not like soggy She listens to this so she'll probably So like because you gotta mention this before like your wife
01:06:29
Speaker
Like, and I asked, I asked macho versus two as well. Like how she actually, she actually helps him like do his, like his outfits and stuff like that. So like, how is she involved in like your, your cosplay and stuff like that? Um, as far as like, you know, planning and stuff like that, or is it, or is it, is it all you, do you go to her for like, you know, how does this look? Should I go this route or how much input does she have? Not at all. She's kind of like,
01:06:56
Speaker
Well, I was going to post about this, but I think it's kind of funny. I was trying on, I forgot what it was, something I'm working on. I put it on and she's like, who would wear that? And I'm like, oh no, this is for like, you know,
01:07:15
Speaker
my WrestleMania cosplay. She's like, no, no, no. Like, but you bought that from somewhere. Like people like wear this. And I was like, yes. And she's like, like, like slippers. And I'm like, no. That's a good point, actually. I will say, though, I am very grateful and very appreciative of the support I get from my wife, because like the stuff I wear in public, that's it. Yeah.
01:07:45
Speaker
That's true. I didn't think of that. And it's so funny because again, like people know that I like wrestling, but if I'm just going to meet you, it's like I talk about my family. I talk about, you know, work or like.
01:08:00
Speaker
Yeah. What my kids are doing, you know, like regular stuff. If you ask about, I mean, nobody ever asked me about wrestling, but unless you like, we know each other in that way, but like, it never comes up in conversation. So if you just like, see me like all of a sudden, like, you know, dressed like this one day, and then the next day you see me like shirtless, like what happened there?
01:08:29
Speaker
That's funny. And actually, last year, I remember we have a friend in town. She owns a restaurant, like a small restaurant. And it's it's takeout only. So there's like no dining customers. But there are people like waiting for their orders. So I just got back from from near Comic Con. And that day I was dressed as Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
01:08:49
Speaker
and my wife is at the restaurant because you know we're close with the owner and sometimes my wife even if she's ordering food or not sometimes we'll just go to hang out with her with her girlfriends and she's like oh I'm at the restaurant I want you to stop by and I was like no no come as you are I'm
01:09:07
Speaker
Oh, man. So I got the feather boas. I got the bandana, the mustache, the beard, the belt. I got it all. I'm like, I walk in. And she's cracking up. The customer's like, what is going on? Is it something like game night or like what's going on? Oh, my god. But yeah, going back to my wife, she's definitely a team player.
01:09:34
Speaker
somebody who's like gonna initiate any of this stuff. And she knows like how seriously I take it. It's almost like to a fault or like, I gotta do this right. I need this. And she's like, nobody's gonna know if you have the right pants. And I was like, no, I will know. But like, you brought up our treasure that got cosplay for a while.
01:09:58
Speaker
She was just like, all right, just tell me what I'm gonna wear. And I was like, I'll try to keep it as like tame as possible so that, you know, you don't have to like, you know, be like, let me be like the over the top and you can be like a casual and and
01:10:14
Speaker
Um, but again, she, she is very supportive because, um, I mean, she, maybe not initially, but the fact that she lets me do it and like have fun. Um, I can't thank her enough for that. Yeah. She went, she went with the, uh, the fed, right? She was fed baller. Uh, no, she was, uh, she was dirty down. She was dirty. Yeah. She had the big Dana. Yeah. So she was, so originally my plan was to have her be Ria.
01:10:36
Speaker
And then my daughter would be Dom and my son would be Finn. Again, there would be like the casual versions of them and I would be like, like the ring version of Priest. Yeah, yeah. It just made sense. But then like my daughter, like all of a sudden, she's like a casual wrestling fan, but she's like, no, I want to be mommy. I'm like.
01:10:52
Speaker
okay let's uh if you want to do it let's let's do it and um so it's so funny because normally she's either very she's like one of two extremes she's like like tom she's not like a tomboy but like if it's up to her she just wants to wear like sweats and like a hoodie
01:11:10
Speaker
yeah and then like when she dresses up she's like so beautiful and like so precious and like you know she's uh we went on a disney cruise one year and she did like the bippity boppity boutique so yeah so she's like so like you know like so glamorous or like very like comfortable so that those are the two sides i'm used to saying and like when she like put on like the whole rear ripley like with the black lipstick and and like the dark makeup i'm like oh my like
01:11:37
Speaker
I remember Rhea Ripley. I'm like, this is like a nightmare. Like for me, like, it was so funny. But she was like really into it. And like, it was it was fun. Yeah, you could definitely tell. Like, you know, it's yeah, it was like the like that picture is awesome. It's you could definitely tell. She sounds like I was like, oh, how come how come his wife was it? Rhea Ripley. And I was like, maybe she didn't want to like go the whole Rhea Ripley route with the you know, how Rhea Ripley dresses at us.
01:12:09
Speaker
You can walk out in public like that I'm sorry That's awesome, especially when they could like, you know, you get your family involved And I did see the the other picture I want to ask you about was the the Sasha Banks one
01:12:31
Speaker
that you had when you actually got to do the Shawn Michaels pose and she's doing like the Triple H pose. Yeah, that was unreal. They were like very strict. I think with like certain, if you're like a legend or like an indie wrestler, they're like very lenient about like what you can do and like how much time you have with them.
01:12:50
Speaker
But like Sasha Banks, like Mercedes, she's like very high profile, right? So like, yeah, there's like, I think she had like an autograph line, but I always prefer like pictures over like signings. So she had like a professional photo op. So she's got a backdrop. And it's like really quick in and out. And they had like very specific rules. Like they said, like, you can't touch her. You can't pose. You can't do like this. I'm like, Oh my God, I'm like so nervous. Like, what am I going to do?
01:13:18
Speaker
So I go in and automatically, like, she was super sweet. And she's like, oh my gosh, Shawn Michaels, you're doing your heartbreak kid pose, right? I was like, do you mind? Like, can I do
Personal Celebrity Experiences
01:13:30
Speaker
it? She's like, yeah, of course. So I do it. I have no idea what she's doing behind me. And then people can say what they want about her. But I've met her multiple times. And she's been extremely nice all three of those times. So that's like my takeaway from her as a character. I know people.
01:13:45
Speaker
well you know they'll say she has a bad attitude or I've never experienced that so I'll never say anything bad about her. Oh yeah no definitely definitely even if you see the picture she's like yo she's into it. Yeah right so like I go like so after you take the photo you you line up and then they've got like all the photos like on on like a table and um I didn't even see how much my friend saw it and he's like hey your picture's awesome. I was like oh yeah man I see her like going like this with like yeah
01:14:13
Speaker
Yeah, she was such a good sport about it. And again, like, my takeaway is she's extremely nice. And I can't go against that. Yeah, no, I get. Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, you hear like the, you know, the stories from people and stuff like that and all that stuff. But yeah, you can you can only speak to your experiences. You can't speak to anybody else's experience. Like I said, from Judge from that picture, I mean, she was, you know, she was into it. She's doing like that. She said that she's making the face. She's doing the pose and all that stuff.
01:14:42
Speaker
Yeah, man. There was something else I was going to ask you about that, but I totally forgot about it.
Cosplay Choices and Family Fun
01:14:51
Speaker
Oh, have you ever thought of doing a, what do you call it, Santos Escobar?
01:15:01
Speaker
Yes. OK. Yes, I have. And so not to bring up the Judgment Day cosplay again, but it was between the Judgment Day and the LWO before they broke up. Yeah. Well, I thought it'd be really funny if I was Sancho Soskovar, and then my son was Rey Mysterio because of the height difference. Oh, that'd be sick, dude. That's actually a good idea. I wanted to do that. And then my daughter would have been Zelina. But then I was like, who's my wife going to be?
01:15:30
Speaker
If she just wore like, you know, like, like an L.W.O. like time topper t shirt and have like, yeah, like, like the top hat. I think, is it Joaquin Wilde that does that? I think Joaquin. Yeah. Yeah. So I was like, okay, I guess, you know, if she's like, as long as she's got like an L.W.O. shirt, that could kind of work. And
01:15:48
Speaker
Yeah. But I just felt that the Judgment Day was so popular. And funny story, both my kids love the Judgment Day. I'm like, you don't want to cheer for the good guys? I mean, I love the Judgment Day, too. But we're adults, so it's expected. But they love Dom. My son is a huge Damian Priest fan. They love Rhea. So I think that one worked out better. But yes, it was between the two. But hopefully, I can go do a Santos one one day. I think he's got a good look.
Subway Mania and Wrestling Involvement
01:16:19
Speaker
Before I go, I got to ask you, because I asked, Macho Verz brought this up. Subway Media. He told me his experience with Subway Media. He said he loved it. He said it was a great time. But he's done other like, you know, other like house show type of things.
01:16:38
Speaker
So what was, so actually I'll ask you this before we get to Subway Mania stuff. Have you, have you been like, has anyone asked you to get into any like, you know, any indie shows or anything like that or take heart in any, you know, matches or segments or anything like that? So not, not, not in the traditional sense, but I guess on the topic of Subway Mania,
01:17:02
Speaker
There was a convention I went to where I was dressed as Jeff Hardy. My buddy was, my friend John was Matt Hardy. And we went to go meet the Dudley boys. And the two guys that portrayed the Dudley's from subway mania, we became good friends over time. So we were going to take a picture with the Dudley's and the Dudley's were going to take the picture with the Dudley's.
01:17:26
Speaker
So we got our shot and then we were about to get out of line and Bubba goes, hey, you know, like, hold on, stay right here, don't move. I'm like, what's going on? So he pulls the Dudley's and he's like, you know, you guys got dressed up for a reason. Let's take this picture together. So we get a shot of the guys playing the Dudley's. My friend and I and them. And it was such a cool moment. And the guy who
01:17:51
Speaker
Tim, like he's the mastermind behind, I'm sure you're familiar with his work. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Behind Subway Mania. So he did like a quick video of us as the Hardys facing off with the Dudley Cosplayers. And so many people were like, oh, we got to see this like Subway Mania match.
01:18:10
Speaker
talked about that we might see a hardy's versus Dudley's in the subway but you know we we've uh we've we've planned it out but it we haven't done it so that it's a possibility i don't know i'm allowed to say that but yes so to answer your question like that's the only like offer like official offer i get but yeah no no i think he worked for me
01:18:33
Speaker
Oh man. Would you ever do it? Cause I don't like, you know, like, uh, heal Liz. Uh, if you obviously, if you follow her, she's, she's been involved with that. She's unannounced thing. She's doesn't like, you know, she's been like a manager and all that stuff. She's, she's hit someone over the head with the light tube before, if you watch our videos. Yeah. Would you ever get involved with like, if they ask you, would you do something like that? If they're just like, Hey, we're thinking of like, you know, having you do, you know, this, you know, hit someone with a chair, would you, uh,
01:19:00
Speaker
Would you, would you oblige? Would you just go in and be like, Hey, I'll do it. I mean, if you're asking me, if whoever's going to approach me and ask me, I'm going to say yes. But I'm going to have to like talk about it my wife. I'm like, I have to tell her I'm not going to get hurt or make sure, you know, cause she's very concerned from like my safety and she should be. Um, but, uh, yeah, I mean, if you're going to ask me, yeah, a hundred percent, I would, I would do whatever is asked of me. Oh man. Yeah. Cause I'll jump off the ladder.
01:19:30
Speaker
Remember now I think macho bars he said he I'm not sure was a subway media or something else and there was another thing that he did He got it. He didn't get like hurt. He had to go to the hospital like Yeah, yeah, you know, yeah he told the whole story and he's like he's so like obviously in full gimmick like dress up as you know macho man and everything I'm not gonna mention real names because I think the source funnier that way so the macho man got hurt and goes to the ER with Roman Reigns and
01:19:59
Speaker
Yeah, that's right. Yeah, I shouldn't be laughing at him getting hurt, but that's that's what it's like. It's almost like it sounds like the beginning of a joke. Roman Reigns and Matrimid walk into a DR. Yeah, that's that's what.
01:20:14
Speaker
But yeah, no, he, yeah, no, that's actually a plug. Go listen to Macho versus a interview on my show. He actually tells the whole story. That's where it's checking out. It's hilarious, man. It's he's a, that's a funny dude. So like, I did notice that you guys all get together and stuff like that. Is that something that you guys are playing to do around Wrestle media weekend? Cause he did mention that he, you know, he's going to make it to Wrestle media weekend, Wrestle media for you. That's coming up. So I'm assuming
01:20:43
Speaker
everyone's gonna get together and it's gonna be a grand ultimate down there.
WrestleMania Weekend Plans
01:20:48
Speaker
We're hoping so but like there's so much going on that like it looks crazy this year. Yeah like I've never done like a mania week like this before like yeah I'll just go I mean I haven't been to mania since it's been two nights either so normally I'll just go to the show and you know maybe I'll do like like access or something else but yeah there's um
01:21:11
Speaker
We're talking about the major wrestling figure podcast. They've got a live show. There's Russell time going on. I'm going to like a House of Glory show. And then there's like SmackDown and Raw and like NXT and WrestleMania, of course, and like a tailgate party. There's like a pop-up shop. There's another live podcast. So it's hard to get everyone together, but hopefully, I think like, so I'm going with a childhood friend.
01:21:38
Speaker
Yeah. He's been my best friend my whole life. So we're going together. But I think like Machaverse is going with like other cosplayers. So at some point, we'll have our little groups here and there. But hopefully at some point, we'll all get together and have some fun.
01:21:55
Speaker
We'll definitely see the video because I know stuff will pop up. Last question is, as far as, you know, we'll second to last question. What's your, what's your, what's your like plans? Do you have like for this, you know,
01:22:15
Speaker
for this thing that you're doing with cosplay. Is there any, are you looking to do like, you know, start licensing yourself? How are you starting to look into, you know, looking into like do indie shows or try to like, you know, maybe do like host your own or be like an event, like a person at a thing where, you know, you're doing signings and stuff like that. Like what's your future plans for this?
01:22:38
Speaker
I know that's a great question. The sky's the limit. I started doing this as something that I enjoyed and something that was fun for me. It's a creative outlet. It's a challenge and it's also very rewarding. And I love all the people I've met, whether it's somebody at a convention or somebody that I'm still friends with now. But I think
01:23:03
Speaker
I mean the ultimate goal was would be to get into like some type of like indie wrestling but I think that ship has sailed for me. It's just like the stage of life I'm in with like children, family, house and like all this stuff and it's not something I aspire to do like now anyway. Yeah. But I think what you're alluding to would be like a fantastic
01:23:24
Speaker
goal to have just to be some sort of personality where I can meet people. I love interacting with pretty much anybody and everybody, especially if you're a fellow wrestling fan. And I know macho versus always in character, there's no all sorts of characters. Yeah, if you look at the interview, I'm not sure if I'm talking to him or if I'm talking to macho. Yes.
01:23:48
Speaker
Go send it out. I think, you know, like when they say like Batman is like the true identity and Bruce Wayne is a mask. Yep. I think that's like the case for him, you know, so, but, but for me, I mean, I'm not judging him. There's nothing wrong with that. I mean, he does a great job with that and he enjoys it. So yeah. But for me, like when I meet somebody, I always thank them for like coming up to me and I always
01:24:14
Speaker
show my appreciation and I always talk to them like as myself and I always introduce myself.
Professional Aspirations in Wrestling
01:24:20
Speaker
I'm not here to like plug my socials or anything but I tell them like hey thank you so much for taking the time to stop to talk to me. You know it's been great and like if we get to exchange information at that point and like
01:24:32
Speaker
build a friendship even better. So I love that type of interaction. So if I'm in a position to like, they always have like these like featured cosplayers at like random events. Yeah, yeah, something like that. Yeah, I think would be a lot of fun.
01:24:48
Speaker
Um, but like looking like, I guess long-term and like, again, if this ever happens, it'd be amazing. But just throwing it out there, if I can have like some sort of affiliation with like WWE or even if it's like just like WWE shop or like something like that. I think I don't know what that would be, but just like any, any type of, it doesn't even have to be like an extended.
01:25:11
Speaker
um I don't know like employment or like partnership but even if it's like a one-off I think that would just be like an incredible experience just to have some sort of um like professional uh relationship like with anybody there um but yeah like small goals again just being like somebody that can interact with people maybe if if um
01:25:30
Speaker
I mean, I don't consider myself like a professional by any means. I am good at certain things, and I'm not good at certain things. So if I can have some sort of platform to kind of like share my experiences, if this is something you'd want to do, I'd like to be like that type of personality as well. So I'm not sure if I answered your question or I just started rambling, but.
01:25:53
Speaker
I was gonna I was gonna ask you like as far as like what about like Like any like modeling you do like do you do? Modeling or you would you ever pursue going into that cuz that could be something That could be done with like WWE or even like a chalk line or something like that Doing stuff like that like you know with the you know because they do like obviously they sell on WWE shop They sell like a lot of that. Uh, they sell a lot of the gear and stuff like that. Yeah
01:26:22
Speaker
So maybe you can bottle light the gear. Maybe if they sell like, uh, that's, that's what I'm saying. Like there are, there are, it doesn't have to be like cosplay, but, um, yeah, cause you have the fashion page there too as well. So like, I was thinking maybe like, is that something that you like, whatever it's considered doing is like going into some type of like, like modeling, not like full full career, like going full blown into it, but like just like modeling jobs and stuff like that. Is that something?
01:26:49
Speaker
that you would consider if the cosplay thing or the feature cosplayer thing didn't like, that wasn't like your avenue? Yeah, 100%. So I, again, going back to, I believe like 2015 was like when I started taking modeling seriously. So I started getting like professional photos taken. I had like a
01:27:11
Speaker
I started building a portfolio. That's when I like launched my Instagram, um, tried to like make connections. I would go to like shows and make connections, things like that. 2015 is also the year my son was born. So I had to kind of like take a step back and like
01:27:27
Speaker
you know, you know, the drill, like being a father, like what you eat is not a priority. Like you just want to, when you sleep is kind of like non-existent. So it's very hard to like, you know, like have some sort of like public
01:27:43
Speaker
And I'm not blaming my son whatsoever. That's not what I'm talking about. It's very hard to juggle fatherhood with my job and to pursue modeling. So I have been fortunate enough to do some modeling work. And again, that was my end goal, to kind of do that on the side until eventually it became more of a full-time thing.
01:28:08
Speaker
Yeah. But it's so hard to get into that. And especially with the environment and the industry being so cutthroat and very competitive. Again, that's something I have never stopped pursuing, but it's just been taking
01:28:28
Speaker
Like a backseat right now just because I'm focusing again with on my family for like first and foremost But again, like my my my actual job that I do from like nine to five. Yeah Cosplaying has just like kind of like taking off for me. It's it's become so like
01:28:47
Speaker
involved and engaging, but like it's also like very fun and like very enjoyable for me. So it's not like, even though I'm like, if you want to say like working hard on it, like I'm having fun with it. So it's, it's been challenging to bring like the fashion aspect back into it. But like you were saying with like chalk line or like, that's why I mentioned like WWE shop, like if there's some sort of like avenue that I can kind of like go in that way, it's blending all of my passions together. And that would definitely be something I would be interested in.
01:29:15
Speaker
That's awesome. Last last question. I always ask this question at the end of every
Wrestling Matches and New Fans
01:29:21
Speaker
show. So I would bring up a scenario where, you know, you have a you have a long time. You're a longtime wrestling fan. And maybe you have a friend that's, you know, kind of like on the outside, like, why do you watch us still? I don't I don't get it. Why do you find this exciting type of that type of person? Well, what match?
01:29:44
Speaker
Would you show that person to get them involved in wrestling? Like, like I said, they're on the outside. Like, man, I get it. They're athletes, but you know, it's, you know, the F word, it's fake, uh, that type of thing. And I don't get why you watch it. But so what match would you, would you be like, all right, you get to sit them down. They got to watch this match and literally after this,
01:30:07
Speaker
Or it could be a segment. I shouldn't, I shouldn't, shouldn't pigeonhole it to a match. It could be like a movement too as well, or a promo, a promo. Something that you would show them that would be, they'd be like, Oh my God, I'm hooked. Now I gotta watch. Now I'm in. I gotta watch wrestling. What, what would that be? What would you show that person?
01:30:24
Speaker
Man, that's a loaded question. It's a fantastic question. But before I answer, though, I feel like I go into all these tensions. But the WrestleMania press conference segment, I put it on. And we don't allow the kids to have screen time during dinner or after. We try to limit their screen time during the week. But I had to watch it.
01:30:52
Speaker
Everybody's invested, both my kids, even my wife is like, my God, what's happening? Are they gonna get a match or something? So the quick answer, I think that's a very compelling segment. But if you're gonna talk about match, one that kind of sticks out to me is Sami Zayn versus Shinsuke Nakamura from NXT TakeOver, I wanna say Dallas.
01:31:18
Speaker
Um, that one, like I, I do enjoy a new Japan, but like it's hard for me to like watch it. Right. So like, I knew I'm not warm, but I wasn't like.
01:31:29
Speaker
I've seen his elaborate entrances, and of course, I saw that classic he had with AJ Styles. That's probably another one I would show them. But this is my first time actually seeing him perform live in the US. And I was hooked. I became an instant fan. I wish I could be one of those fans like, oh, I followed his stuff in Japan, and I knew him. I didn't. But when I saw that match, I was invested in, I've always liked Sammy, but my god, that match, it's still one of my favorite matches to this day.
01:31:56
Speaker
That's awesome. Yeah, that would probably be the one. I think about this question every now and then, and I always go back to that. I know there's a huge list that I would show, but yeah, I think that match just has it all. Man, you're the first person that actually brought that up. Actually, an NXT match. A lot of people bring up Hogan Rock, Russell Media.
01:32:24
Speaker
uh Brett obviously like Brett Harden like Austin or stuff like that like you know yeah I don't say like generic ones but like those are like the go-to ones but yeah that one right there like Shinsuke was like
01:32:35
Speaker
the way you like, like even he still moves the same way, but like, just his entrance was like different too. Like you never seen like someone like walk down to the ring, kind of like, you know, you know, and then like, as you like learn about him more, like where he gets his inspiration from, which is pretty much like Michael Jackson. And you know, it seemed like move into how he moves his head and like the way you move towards the ring, like you get it. And then like, yeah, I was like, I was really, I was hooked on Shinsuke as well when he,
01:33:01
Speaker
when he first came into NXT. It was kind of like a breath of fresh air when he showed up because it was like, you see new Japan guys come over, like you see like Finn Balor came over, they do styles, but like when he came over, and Asuka, I'm gonna give Asuka credit as well. Their style of wrestling was like not known to like
01:33:22
Speaker
I shouldn't say, uh, people of the U S but I should say like WWE people definitely not know about like Japanese strong style or any of that stuff or, or maybe even new Japan. People didn't even know about, but he'd show it up and his hard hitting style. Like, yeah, this is unmistakable. Yeah. That's a, that's a perfect match to show somebody. Definitely.
01:33:45
Speaker
I think I've watched wrestling with like non-wrestling fans and it's so frustrating. They're like commenting on like, oh, he didn't really punch him. Like if you're not going to enjoy it and appreciate it, like I get it. I'm not going to let me watch it. Or like they'll go for like a splash and like, oh, he didn't even hit him. I was like, and or like the chairs are fake. I'm like, oh my God.
Perception of Wrestling's Realism
01:34:11
Speaker
But I feel like with that match, like you don't have like,
01:34:14
Speaker
Like that, that persona of like an Andre, you just have like incredible wrestling and you have this money. And I think that gets lost on a lot of people. Like, I think when most people would think about wrestling, they're thinking of like, like, like fake stuff and like,
01:34:30
Speaker
over the top drama and like, yeah, great movements. And like, Oh, like, why is this guy acting like this? Like, you don't have any of that. You just have two guys, like just doing what they do best in between the ropes and like they deliver. And I think like, you can get sucked into them. Anybody can get sucked into that match. Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely. Like, like, if someone like ever like does that, I'm showing up like a, like a Okada
01:34:53
Speaker
Yeah, the Omega match or even recently. Oh, kind of sorry. Yeah. I love my God. Yeah. They like he's yeah. He he I mean, he's not the few people out with with his hidden blade move. So, yeah, there's I think there was a video of him knocking someone out before with that hidden blade. They're just like you. They go step on pretty much. Yeah.
01:35:20
Speaker
But man, no, this is awesome, man. This is a great interview. Like I said, the reason why you're pretty much like one of the reasons why not you specifically, but what you do is one of the reasons why I wanted to do a show like this was to, you know, I follow so many different, you know,
01:35:38
Speaker
accounts as far as like you know wrestling accounts you know like I said nerd culture if you want to say like collectors it could be comic book it could be sci-fi it could be literally anything and I always get a horror too is why I've interviewed people in the horror field stuff like that but like
01:35:54
Speaker
it's it's one of those things where like like I said you're probably you're one of those people that like I see you over the moon salt macho verse like he'll is like the effort that gets put into what you guys do it always fascinates me and I always want to like
01:36:09
Speaker
find out how you do it, how you balance it, and how it's done it.
Podcast Purpose and Social Media
01:36:16
Speaker
Like I said, you're pretty much a perfect example of what I look for and what everyone looks for when they're looking for shows like this and they want to find the inside, like they say, go into the weeds.
01:36:30
Speaker
Yeah, so thank you so much for that. That really means a lot and I've had a lot of fun This is my I mean, I haven't done a lot of interviews, but I've done several that this might have been the most fun I've had. Oh, well, thank you I can add that to uh to macho for us because he was like he's like Oh, man, this is he's like this is a photos interview ever like you like use the message of eating stuff afterwards. He's actually looks it back, man This is great. I know We weren't recording we can just keep going for hours. Oh, yeah. No, that's why I had to like I
01:36:57
Speaker
I have to stop myself because I'll keep going. I'll keep going. I think the longest episode I did was with the wrestling classic, Justin. OK. Follow him. Yeah, he's he it was like I think it was two hours and 20 minutes was a lot of time because he was like he he he actually kind of warm. He was like, I could like I could keep on going and like a majority of it he's.
01:37:22
Speaker
He's going and going. It was like, and then we talked like another 30 minutes after, like after we stopped the show, like we started talking about stuff and it was like, oh man, it could have been like a three hour show if we kept on going, but. You got to divide that. Part one, part two, you know. Yeah. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not like a Joe Rogan type where you can like sit there and sit there for like three hours and be that. I try my best, but anyway. Yeah. I mean, where can everyone find you?
01:37:51
Speaker
Oh yeah, let's go for it. So if you want to follow my fashion, it's I am Chris Wayne. Wayne is W-A-I-N. Everybody thinks it's like Batman, like W-A-Y. My wrestling is, again, my name. It's Chris Wayne, W-W-E. Those are both on Instagram. And I do have fun on X.
01:38:14
Speaker
That sounded really dirty when I came out on Twitter. I'm going to keep going with Twitter. That didn't sound right. If you follow me on Twitter, it's master underscore Wayne. Again, W-A-I-N. That's funny.
01:38:29
Speaker
Yeah. It gets tricky when you talk about X when it's like, yeah, I mean, because X is still or Twitter is still like kind of like an outlaw lane where anything goes pretty much. It's not really sanctioned like Instagram and Facebook is nowadays. So yeah, you know, you got to watch what you say when you say, yeah, I have fun on X. Come join me on X. Well, tons of fun together. But as soon as those words left my mouth, like that's not.
01:38:56
Speaker
Other than that well, thank you again for joining. It was a pleasure And we'll talk to everybody soon. See you later