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Shawn 'X-Pac' Waltman was recently interviewed by WrestleTalk TV in the UK. The conversation centered around Waltman making it as a short guy in an industry dominated by large men. They also discussed what younger talent will have to do in order to make it in the WWE today.
* The interviewer called Waltman a "pioneer" because he paved the way for smaller wrestlers to be succesful in the big companies. Waltman agreed.
* Waltman admitted that he didn't like bragging about his past achievements. He believed that there was a lot of exceptional talent at the time, and he was fortunate that he was the one who got that opportunity.
* He did not expect to ever rise to the top of the WWE. He just wanted a chance to prove that he was good enough to belong there.
* The interviewer pointed out that The Kid's cannonball dive onto Razor Ramon was the first somersault plancha in WWE history. Waltman did not know that, but remembers it as a botch that could've blown his opportunity. The match with Ramon was a main-event on Raw, and was supposed to be the beginning of Waltman's first push. He hurt himself on the concrete, but insisted that he still had to finish the match well in order to ensure he stayed in the WWE.
* The interviewer felt that the bigger risk to Waltman's push was the time limit. Waltman clarified that the match started late, which gave them less time to put on a great match and have it finished by the time Raw went off the air. Had the match lasted another 30 seconds, viewers would've missed the ending and his push would have been gone.
* Waltman was surprised to hear that the WWE Network in the UK cost £9.99 a month, which is more expensive in than in the US.
* Referring to the botched dive outside of the ring, Waltman said that he hit his head on the concrete.
* The interviewer was asked who the biggest up-and-coming talent in NXT or the independents is right now. Waltman refused to answer because he believed that once too many people put that assesment on a new star, it makes it hard for them to reach people's expectations. It also dismisses other great talents who haven't made it yet.
* When asked about Daniel Bryan's push, Waltman sat on the fence. He agreed that Bryan should have had more support from the WWE because he was clearly the fans' choice. But at the same time, he can't fault Vince McMahon for having his own personal preferences, and that happens to be bigger guys.
* Waltman tried to explain what "look" Vince McMahon prefers talent to have. He only got to say that Vince hates tattoos before the interviewer interupted him with a joke. The interviewer mentioned a rumour about how Vince was angry with himself for sneezing in front of people, and now hates it whenever anyone sneezes around him.
* He compared Bryan to Bret Hart. Whether fans like it or not, Hart was just a "fall-back guy" to Vince. If Lex Luger had been a better success, he would've got Hart's push. He feels that Luger had no chance because it is very hard for someone wearing red, white and blue to get over. If Waltman had been in Hart's boots, he would resent being that guy who was only chosen because the first option didn't work out. He hated watching the WWE back one guy until he "fell flat on his ass" and then go back to Bret who would always be there. He believed Bryan was in the same position, but worse because he is smaller.
* Waltman quickly noted that Vince also hated facial hair, knowing immediatly the irony in his comment (X-Pac has had a beard for most of his career).
* He believes that Vince only pushed Bryan at WM30 because he was left with no choice because of the fans.
* The interviewer commented that Kurt Angle is now being considered the greatest wrestler ever over Shawn Michaels. Waltman was surprised because while Angle was great, he had only ever heard people argue about Michaels and Ric Flair.
* Waltman believes Michaels' greatest advantage was making people feel things that others couldn't make them feel. This was bigger than his ability to do what others could not do. Many people do not realise this first point is more important. When is he being beaten up, he makes fans believe that he is actually being beaten up.
* The interviewer brought up a WWE produced documentary on the Kliq. Waltman said the he had only seen the shortened footage on the WWE Network but not the whole thing. The WWE never sent him the full DVD, so he would have to buy it.
* He mentioned that Kliq has always had a lot of heat on them within the industry, but they were still some of the most succesful men within it. Even now, people seem to geuinely hate Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Triple H. He asked how did Waltman escape that heat, and Waltman had no idea. He thinks that it was because he wasn't as selfish as the other four.
* When Waltman returned to WWE in 1998, he was surprised that nobody had a problem with him. He felt that people would hate him because he was opinionated. He now believes that people in the industry should be more prepared to state their dislikes when someone doesn't work.
* The interviewer asked Waltman if wrestlers have less control over their careers. He said that the terrirotories are all gone and there is no WCW. If they want to make it big, they have to go to the WWE and do things their way. Waltman disagreed because he feels TNA and Ring Of Honor are legitimate options, and that there terrorities have become based on style than region (Chikara Pro, EVOLVE, etc).
* The interviewer disagreed with Waltman because anyone wanting to make it in the WWE had to go through NXT. Waltman did not see what the problem is.
* He praised Triple H for keeping his eye on the indies and all rival companies. He may be taking away their biggest talents, but the WWE's biggest talents have always come from independents first.
* The interviewer mentioned that Waltman was already working in the WWE before Triple H joined them. He asked if he saw any clue that Triple H could become what he is today. Waltman insisted the Kliq knew right away he was going to be a big deal, which is why they wanted him in their group. Triple H had been trained by Killer Kowalski and continued to travel with him on a nightly basis. He praised his determination and motivation.
* The final question was what piece of advice would Waltman give to every young wrestler. He said to be different because they have to stand out. He also advised them to learn everything about the industry, including learning from British wrestling history too. You need to keep learning.
* The interviewer called Waltman a "pioneer" because he paved the way for smaller wrestlers to be succesful in the big companies. Waltman agreed.
* Waltman admitted that he didn't like bragging about his past achievements. He believed that there was a lot of exceptional talent at the time, and he was fortunate that he was the one who got that opportunity.
* He did not expect to ever rise to the top of the WWE. He just wanted a chance to prove that he was good enough to belong there.
* The interviewer pointed out that The Kid's cannonball dive onto Razor Ramon was the first somersault plancha in WWE history. Waltman did not know that, but remembers it as a botch that could've blown his opportunity. The match with Ramon was a main-event on Raw, and was supposed to be the beginning of Waltman's first push. He hurt himself on the concrete, but insisted that he still had to finish the match well in order to ensure he stayed in the WWE.
* The interviewer felt that the bigger risk to Waltman's push was the time limit. Waltman clarified that the match started late, which gave them less time to put on a great match and have it finished by the time Raw went off the air. Had the match lasted another 30 seconds, viewers would've missed the ending and his push would have been gone.
* Waltman was surprised to hear that the WWE Network in the UK cost £9.99 a month, which is more expensive in than in the US.
* Referring to the botched dive outside of the ring, Waltman said that he hit his head on the concrete.
* The interviewer was asked who the biggest up-and-coming talent in NXT or the independents is right now. Waltman refused to answer because he believed that once too many people put that assesment on a new star, it makes it hard for them to reach people's expectations. It also dismisses other great talents who haven't made it yet.
* When asked about Daniel Bryan's push, Waltman sat on the fence. He agreed that Bryan should have had more support from the WWE because he was clearly the fans' choice. But at the same time, he can't fault Vince McMahon for having his own personal preferences, and that happens to be bigger guys.
* Waltman tried to explain what "look" Vince McMahon prefers talent to have. He only got to say that Vince hates tattoos before the interviewer interupted him with a joke. The interviewer mentioned a rumour about how Vince was angry with himself for sneezing in front of people, and now hates it whenever anyone sneezes around him.
* He compared Bryan to Bret Hart. Whether fans like it or not, Hart was just a "fall-back guy" to Vince. If Lex Luger had been a better success, he would've got Hart's push. He feels that Luger had no chance because it is very hard for someone wearing red, white and blue to get over. If Waltman had been in Hart's boots, he would resent being that guy who was only chosen because the first option didn't work out. He hated watching the WWE back one guy until he "fell flat on his ass" and then go back to Bret who would always be there. He believed Bryan was in the same position, but worse because he is smaller.
* Waltman quickly noted that Vince also hated facial hair, knowing immediatly the irony in his comment (X-Pac has had a beard for most of his career).
* He believes that Vince only pushed Bryan at WM30 because he was left with no choice because of the fans.
* The interviewer commented that Kurt Angle is now being considered the greatest wrestler ever over Shawn Michaels. Waltman was surprised because while Angle was great, he had only ever heard people argue about Michaels and Ric Flair.
* Waltman believes Michaels' greatest advantage was making people feel things that others couldn't make them feel. This was bigger than his ability to do what others could not do. Many people do not realise this first point is more important. When is he being beaten up, he makes fans believe that he is actually being beaten up.
* The interviewer brought up a WWE produced documentary on the Kliq. Waltman said the he had only seen the shortened footage on the WWE Network but not the whole thing. The WWE never sent him the full DVD, so he would have to buy it.
* He mentioned that Kliq has always had a lot of heat on them within the industry, but they were still some of the most succesful men within it. Even now, people seem to geuinely hate Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Triple H. He asked how did Waltman escape that heat, and Waltman had no idea. He thinks that it was because he wasn't as selfish as the other four.
* When Waltman returned to WWE in 1998, he was surprised that nobody had a problem with him. He felt that people would hate him because he was opinionated. He now believes that people in the industry should be more prepared to state their dislikes when someone doesn't work.
* The interviewer asked Waltman if wrestlers have less control over their careers. He said that the terrirotories are all gone and there is no WCW. If they want to make it big, they have to go to the WWE and do things their way. Waltman disagreed because he feels TNA and Ring Of Honor are legitimate options, and that there terrorities have become based on style than region (Chikara Pro, EVOLVE, etc).
* The interviewer disagreed with Waltman because anyone wanting to make it in the WWE had to go through NXT. Waltman did not see what the problem is.
* He praised Triple H for keeping his eye on the indies and all rival companies. He may be taking away their biggest talents, but the WWE's biggest talents have always come from independents first.
* The interviewer mentioned that Waltman was already working in the WWE before Triple H joined them. He asked if he saw any clue that Triple H could become what he is today. Waltman insisted the Kliq knew right away he was going to be a big deal, which is why they wanted him in their group. Triple H had been trained by Killer Kowalski and continued to travel with him on a nightly basis. He praised his determination and motivation.
* The final question was what piece of advice would Waltman give to every young wrestler. He said to be different because they have to stand out. He also advised them to learn everything about the industry, including learning from British wrestling history too. You need to keep learning.
