WWE Superstar Damian Priest liked “relaxing a lot more these days” than he used to, he told t2 in a recent chat. And at that moment, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion became one of us! Ahead of WWE Money in the Bank 2024 where he takes on the legendary Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, the first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Damian shared his preparation process, his mindset before a big match and his tips for his younger self.
How are you feeling going into the match?
I feel great! I feel like a champion. I am excited for the opportunity… Seth Rollins was the person I wanted to beat for the championship because I felt like beating Seth would solidify me as a major player, one of the top WWE Superstars. It didn’t work out that way but I still became the champion. But now I get to have that moment where I could face off with one of the greatest of all time and prove myself, for me, for my fans, family…, and everyone and prove that I belong on this level and in the championship scene and I belong as a champion. I am excited.
Is it true that you featured as a security personnel in Money in the Bank in 2014?
I was definitely (Stephanie) McMahon’s security and I had to escort one of the Bella’s (The Bella Twins) from the building at Stephanie’s command. It was a fun experience and it was funny to think back on how nervous I was that day. All I had to do was just stand there, but I was so nervous! (Laughs)
So, the association with WWE goes back a long time?
Yeah, I did a lot of extra work. I was trying to get a job with WWE for many years, but for a lot of people who start independently or at a lower level in the wrestling markets, this is one of the ways to get your foot in the door… to be an extra. So, I was a security, a Rosebud for Adam Rose… I did a lot of different little backstage jobs before I became a WWE Superstar.
With so much at stake on July 7, what’s your way of dealing with pressure?
I am here. I am the champion. I feel like I don’t need to change much because what I am doing is working. I just keep doing what I am doing… training, watching videos, just making sure that I am ready for anything at any moment. There is pressure yes because I have to deliver as far as being the world heavyweight champion and I am going against the greatest. So, there is some pressure there of, ‘Hey, you gotta deliver and put on your best performance’, but I feel good, ready and like this is exactly where I belong. I do feel pressure, but I am more excited. I can’t wait for Money in the Bank, and, for me to be in the ring and for me and Seth Rollins to just go to war.
What do you admire in Seth Rollins as a competitor?
He has this ability where he just overachieves and overcomes. He is hard to keep down and he is one of the wittiest and he is just so good in the ring that he can adapt to anybody’s style, which probably makes him one of the most dangerous men in the business because if it’s a power guy or a high-flyer, a striker, I feel like he can adapt to anybody. He is one of those well-versed Superstars. He is good at every single style, which is why he is so good and has been so successful. But I also think, I am too and I am bigger and stronger. So, I think I have the advantage here, especially now with this new confidence I feel I have since becoming a champion, I think I am the perfect person to kind of put the brakes on Seth Rollins.
How does a champion’s mind work before a big match especially, if you are defending a title?
It’s definitely more pressure because if you are fighting for something and you lose, you lose nothing. You didn’t gain anything, but you don’t lose anything. As a champion, you are defending, you lose and don’t just lose the match, but your championship, the status as being the face of Monday Night Raw. You lose a lot more than just a match. So, there is extra pressure, but for me, every time I feel pressure, I feel I perform better. It’s something in me that won’t fail. When I had the pressure to face Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico, against a celebrity, I went out there and delivered. My first WrestleMania, I went out there and delivered. I feel every time I get put into a pressure situation, I over-deliver. It’s no different than facing Seth Rollins I feel. This is a lot of pressure. Again, future Hall of Famer and I am excited because I know I am going to deliver and I know I am ready.
What have your years with WWE been like?
A dream and I don’t want anybody to wake me up. It’s been perfect. It’s everything I wanted. I wanted to be this larger-than-life character, a superhero or a supervillain and I get to do that every day. Now I am the world champion and I am on billboards and posters. When I go to Monday Night Raw, my picture might be in the front. All these little things mean so much to me and the fans telling me that they are inspired and they look up to me and hopefully, one day, grow up and be something like me, that’s my favourite part, to be able to inspire others to do something more which is all I ever wanted. I love that I am so lucky to be able to live my dream.
What would you say to your younger self who was at Money in the Bank, in 2014?
A part of me wants to say, ‘Hey, hurry up! Work hard right now, don’t waste your time’. I feel like I needed to do everything the way I did to get here today. So, I would tell myself, don’t change anything, just stay the course.
For anybody else, I would say, ‘Don’t waste your time. It’s your time. Nobody else’s. If you have a dream, only you can work for it and you gotta do it for yourself’.
Tell us about your fitness routine…
We travel a lot. So, everywhere we go, we must find somewhere to train. I treat it like it’s my part of the job. Even when I am tired and sore, it’s not because I want to but because I have to so that I can continue to live my favourite life. These are the sacrifices for your dream, for your life, for what you want to do for your future. So, for me health and fitness are important.
I go find a place to train as much as I can and spend an hour, at least five days a week. If I can get more, great, and sometimes I don’t get enough. We find time to make sure that we stay in the shape that we need to for our careers.
Are martial arts and wrestling a mandatory part of your training?
That’s changed. We don’t get to train as much in a ring or a match any more because we are on the road. I am wrestling three to four days a week and we are on TV and we do a lot of events which are not televised. So, I train by working. So, on-the-job training.
Who are your favourite wrestlers?
The Undertaker for sure was my all-time favourite. Razor Ramon, The Rock, Steve Austin…
Do you follow any other sport?
I still enjoy boxing. I like MMA. I am a very big New York Yankees fan in baseball and I like American football, basketball…. I enjoy sports and love competition.
What’s relaxation time like?
I love going back to Puerto Rico, and relaxing on the beach. I love islands. I also enjoy going to concerts and seeing live music. Or, maybe go to movies… I like relaxing a lot more these days than I used to.
We hear you like rock music…
Mainly rock. Usually, the main band is always Metallica. I can always lean on Metallica to put me in a better or raring mood, whether it’s at the gym or before a match.
WWE Money in the Bank 2024 will be telecast LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu) Sunday, on July 7 from 4.30am IST