“If you have to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man,” is how 16-time world champion Ric Flair once described the mantra for success in professional wrestling. During his four-year stint with WWE so far, Damian Priest has embodied that mantra every time he has stepped inside the squared circle.
Over the last year or so, Priest has soared through the ranks of WWE. He is currently among sports entertainment’s most popular faces, not least among WWE fans in Kolkata, who are a part of the 20 per cent of viewers from east India.
The Undertaker has been Priest’s role model ever since his formative years TT archives
Born in New York and raised in the municipality of Puerto Rico, Priest won two national championships in full-contact martial arts before switching to professional wrestling. Trained by Monster Factory, a wrestling school in New Jersey, Priest made his WWE debut on NXT in 2018, where he quickly established himself as one of the show’s leading lights. Three years and one NXT title later, he became a feature on Monday Night Raw, going toe-to-toe with the best in the business. His prolonged run as United States Champion consolidated his status as one of the most reliable performers in the business today, and at 39, Priest’s best is still to come.
My Kolkata caught up with the 6’5”, 250 pound wrestler to discuss his WWE highlights, receiving advice from The Undertaker, how he became a melophile, coming to India and more.
Edited excerpts from the conversation follow.
Stepping onto the WrestleMania stage was the coolest moment of my career
Priest in action against The Miz at WrestleMania 37 Courtesy: WWE
My Kolkata: With WrestleMania around the corner, let’s start with your experience at the Show of Shows last year where you and Bad Bunny overcame the Miz and John Morrison. Would you describe performing at WrestleMania as the turning point of your WWE career?
Damian Priest: That was my one and only WrestleMania till date where I wasn’t just a fan. I’ve attended WrestleManias as a fan, but for this one, I was on the other side. It’s weird how I remember everything from the event in pictures…there was so much happening, I was really nervous. But I’ll never forget when I walked onto the stage and heard the crowd. The match was great, we won, but the moment I stepped onto the stage, made my entrance and the crowd cheered and knew who I was, that was by far the coolest moment of my career.
What are your WrestleMania plans for this year? If you could take a pick from the current roster, who would you love to face in Dallas, Texas?
Haha, if I get to pick, I’m fighting the champion. I’m going for the number one. I’m somebody who always strives for more and I want to be at the top. So, if I had my pick, it would be either Roman Reigns (the WWE Universal Champion) or Brock Lesnar (the WWE Champion).
If he has his way, Priest would like to take on either Roman Reigns (featured) or Brock Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania 38 @Roman Reigns/Twitter
Sheamus is the toughest opponent I’ve faced
According to Priest, Sheamus always gets the best out of his opponents Courtesy: WWE
During your 191-day reign as United States Champion, you defended the title against some of the best in the business, from Robert Roode to Sheamus to AJ Styles. Who, according to you, gave you the toughest fight?
The title reign was…everything! I won a championship in WWE…. As a kid, growing up, that’s all I wanted, to be a superstar and a champion. Accomplishing it eventually in front of all those people [at Summerslam 2021] was special. I felt that being able to hold the United States Championship for all those months helped me remind everyone how important that title is. As far as opponents go, it’d have to be Sheamus, the man I beat to win the title. He’s the toughest opponent I’ve ever worked with. He’s an easy Hall of Famer once he’s done, has all the accolades, has held about every championship, beaten just about everybody and he hits very hard! He’s one of my favourites, he brings out the best in you. You’ve got no choice but to bring your A-game against Sheamus.
If I have to be the bad guy, I can be the bad guy. I’m really enjoying it
Priest underwent a character change last October, incorporating a darker, edgier side to his persona Courtesy: WWE
Last October on Raw, we noticed a change in your persona, with a darker side of ‘The Damian’ emerging to complement your previous character of ‘The Priest’. Tell us how this character evolution came about and how are you enjoying the experience so far?
During my first few months on the Raw roster, I was referred to as “The Guardian Angel”. When The Miz and Morrison were going after Bad Bunny, there I was as the protector. When Humberto Carrillo had issues with Sheamus, there I was. When Goldberg’s son had problems with Bobby Lashley, there I was again. That was a lot like me, I was that kind of guy. But eventually I realised that I got to do things for myself, too, and do it the way I like to do it. The darker, more serious character of ‘The Damian’ is more about who I am. So I started to morph things slowly, here and there with some gradual changes. Right now, I feel I’m the closest in character to who I’m in real life. I’m just me. And I’m having a lot of fun doing this. I dress how I want, I get to go to the ring just how I’d go to the club. If I have to be the bad guy, I can be the bad guy. I’m really enjoying what I’m doing right now. This is going to be the best Damian Priest you’ve seen.
I’m at my best when there’s pressure, when I’m nervous
Priest made the transition from NXT to Raw look seamless Courtesy: WWE
What were the biggest challenges you had to tackle while making the leap from NXT to Raw?
The job is the job. I have to go to the ring and wrestle my opponents. But at the same time, it’s the stage. NXT obviously has a lot of reach, but Raw is a different ball game altogether. For me, it was about getting used to the bright lights on a completely different platform. It was a lot of pressure. There’s no second chance, you can’t fail. It’s live TV and you have to be 10 out of 10 every single night. So, it was the pressure that I felt was the biggest hurdle. Fortunately, for whatever reason, I’m the type of person who’s at his best when there’s pressure, when I’m nervous or have my back against the wall.
I fell in love with heavy metal because of The Undertaker
Despite not being a fan of heavy metal to begin with, Priest’s taste began to change thanks to The Undertaker’s American Badass character Courtesy: WWE
Apart from wrestling, you are quite passionate about rock and heavy metal music as well as collecting combat weapons. Tell us a bit more about these hobbies.
You can tell that my style comes with the rockstar mentality. Growing up, all my friends were super excited about heavy metal. Originally, I didn’t like it, I hated heavy metal. But since all my best friends were listening to it, I sort of got used to it. But it was The Undertaker [with his American Badass persona] because of whom I really started liking heavy metal. I’d ask my friends to play some Undertaker music and then they’d play metal that was similar to his vibe. So it’s literally because of The Undertaker that I fell in love with heavy metal.
As for the weapons, I’m really into martial arts and that type of combat. I’ve always been a fan of the skill and the discipline it takes to make it in hand-to-hand combat. I’ve got a lot of respect for it, which is why I like collecting and displaying, especially the really odd weapons.
Since you mentioned your love for The Undertaker, have you had the chance to interact with him at length? What has it been like to pick his brains on wrestling?
Oh yes, I’ve had quite a bit of time to spend with him. It’s been amazing! You keep hearing about how one shouldn’t meet their heroes. Well, that one didn’t work here. He’s awesome, he’ll take time out and give me advice for no reason, even if there’s no gain for him. He loves helping, he loves the business, he’ll go out of his way to help people… and just talking to him is so cool… it’s The Undertaker, after all! He’s the best.
‘I want to enjoy everything about India’
Priest is eagerly awaiting his first trip to India Courtesy: WWE
Have you had any opportunities to travel to India? If not, what are your must-do things or must-go-to destinations when you come to India for the first time?
I’ve never been there, but I’ve spoken to [fellow wrestler] Veer Mahan about it. He’s said that when we go, he’s going to take me to a lot of places in India and make me try lots of different food. I look forward to going to India soon and enjoy everything about the country. It’d be awesome to spend some time in India and learn more about the culture and the people.
Any message for your fans back in Kolkata and the rest of India?
Keep supporting me, because I can’t be where I am without you. If you keep supporting me, I promise you that I’ll keep being the bad boy that I am and working my hardest for you.
Priest’s dream WrestleMania match will see him face off against Hall of Famer Edge
Rapid fire
Who was your wrestling idol growing up?
Quite obvious. The Undertaker.
Your dream WrestleMania match?
If I’m going with guys that are still working, it’ll be Edge.
Your favourite wrestling arena in the world?
Madison Square Garden (in New York).
The best piece of in-ring advice you have received?
Be yourself.
Your favourite sports movie?
The Wrestler (starring Mickey Rourke).
If Damian Priest had not been a wrestler, he would be…
A rockstar.
Lastly, if you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, it would be…
Oreos.
Watch the LIVE coverage of WWE WrestleMania 38 on SONY TEN 1 (English), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi) and SONY TEN 4 (Tamil and Telugu) channels on 3rd & 4th April 2022 from 5.30am (IST).
Watch WWE Raw LIVE every Tuesday at 6.30am (IST) on SONY TEN 1 (English), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi) & SONY TEN 4 (Telugu & Tamil) channels.