It's all about starting momentum, hitting the ground running, and starting out hot.
Samoa Joe
I think something that escapes a lot of people is my entire career... I call myself the 'often unwanted' because when I got to Ring of Honor, I was told it was supposed to be one-off deal.
Obviously, when you come to WWE, the level of spectacle and production in what we do is far and above anywhere else I worked, so it's kind of cool to be a part of the big show now.
You've got some very unique individuals in the WWE, and it's a completely different nexus on 'SmackDown' than it is on 'Raw.'
Not a lot of people get into Brock Lesnar like I did. Brock is every bit as intimidating as you'd imagine he would be times two. No, I mean, he's a shaved gorilla. It's just, he's stronger than strong. I don't even think he even realizes how strong he is.
John Cena is a name I will never forget, and in the Royal Rumble, he will be the first man that I eliminate.
I think martial arts, in general, shaped my wrestling style. I think I grew up as a martial artist as a kid.
I've been at the table with some really great poker players. I'm sure Vince McMahon is a hell of a poker player.
When it comes to WrestleMania, obviously you'll take whatever opportunity is put in front of you.
When guys are in NXT - not me, but the guys who are signed to developmental deals that are there - they're setting up the ring. They're tearing it down. They're working every day at the PC. And it's arduous training, man. Those guys go through a lot.
I'm a big believer in the idea that one of the greatest advantages we have here in the United States is freedom of expression and freedom of speech. You should be able to say whatever you want, and I firmly believe that.
In your career, to walk away champion of the Greatest Royal Rumble would be something people will take with them for a lifetime.
My relationship with Shinsuke - I mean, he's a tremendous guy, we've maintained our friendship for well over a decade, and he's one of those incredible, rare, once-in-a-lifetime athletes whose ability transcends international border, which is something that's not often able to be done.
My first remit when I came to WWE was to help build up NXT as a global brand. It was a mission that I took on fully and was more than willing to attack, and lo and behold, here we are.
You never know with Punk. He is definitely somebody who does things his own way, and I think the biggest thing is that you can never count out what his next move will be. I think no one would have predicted his move to UFC - nobody would have predicted a lot of things he does - so whatever he chooses to do, he will do what feels best in the moment.
Seeing myself as a champion in WWE is something I've seen from the first day I stepped into the Universe and the realm of the company.
In WWE, they're real big on letting you sink or swim, and they let you go out there, and they're going to give you the stick and a live mic in front of a packed house and millions watching at home, and if you're not prepared for that moment, you're going to go down in flames.
I think, in general, when you talk about great wrestling towns in the history of the world, I think Memphis kind of shoots up there into the top three if not the top two.
After I made my initial debut at NXT 'TakeOver,' they looked at the interest and merchandise sales and decided I would be better signed full time than not.
I would like to see Jay Lethal and Dalton Castle join the company. Both have made their name in Ring of Honor, and their addition can make WWE a very exciting place.
I think part of my journeys here and the places I was able to be at and the styles of wrestling I was able to experience and the friendships and just the world experience that I garnered before I came here to WWE helped me tremendously when I got here.
They've kind of backed off and allowed me to do what I do. I think that's the biggest testament is that they know when to have a hand in things, and they know when to back off, let me work, and let me do my thing. During my time in NXT, they have definitely done that.
If Kurt Angle's leg fell off, he'd hop twice as fast to make up for the loss of mobility, man. There's no quit in him.
I think when you are dealing with Brock Lesnar, you have to show up ready to deal with Brock Lesnar. Brock is the type of guy who is not going to give you an inch. If you are going to get anything from him, you have to take it, and he's going to dare you to take it.
I relish any chance to punch A.J. Styles in the face, because he's a man I respect greatly. And I find that I want to punch people in the face that I respect greatly. I like to say it's an island thing, but it's not: it' just something that I like doing.
People talk about the Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn relationship and how they'll be fighting forever, but in reality, when it comes to me and A.J. Styles, I defy anybody to find two guys who have been battling against each other longer than us.
I don't care where you go or what company you work for - and I've pretty much worked for them all - WWE by far is the most brutal road schedule in the world. It takes a special kind of individual to navigate that and be able to thrive in that environment. It's a challenge that I've enjoyed.
WWE is very good at doing things that are advantageous. If you have the ability to go out there and get on a mic and be captivating, then they're going to do everything in their power to support that ability and make it even bigger and seem better.
If I do foray more into writing comic books, I definitely would hope that my acceptance is based more on my ability to write than my ability to schmooze my way in as a celebrity.
Backstage, I do my own thing and have my own spots in the locker room, so environmentally, it's not very different for me. But the backstage environments are vastly different, but that is mainly because of the personalities.
This is a dream match to many people in this world... Me vs. Brock Lesnar is what people really want.
Talent is one of the few things that can't be created. It can be enhanced - it can be coached and brought out of people - but you can't deny it.
I worked for my family's Polynesian dance troupe for my entire life up until I started wresting full time.
There is definitely a Japanese influence on my style. I spent several years back and forth training over there, training at the New Japan Dojo in Los Angeles and picking up various techniques from wherever I go.
The sixth move of doom? Yeah. So John Cena went to China, took some lessons, and all of a sudden, now he's got a bad palm strike. Listen, I've been traveling the world for years and I've been beating up people with martial arts techniques from far superior styles and techniques. So, I ain't worried about that.
Shinsuke - he is by far one of the best competitors in the world. It is no surprise to me that he found his way to WWE.
For me, I've always been confident in my ability and what I've been able to bring to the table - what I can bring to a Brock Lesnar matchup.
Anybody that got in your way or stopped you or barred your success, you either push through them or work around them. I don't have enough time for excuses or crying about people saying how someone wasn't given a proper opportunity. Nobody gave me an opportunity.
Anytime I've travelled to the Middle East, I've always experience the very best in hospitality. They are some of the most kind and wonderful people I've had the chance to meet, and I feel that Saudi Arabia shares those same qualities.
It's funny how many people that I've come across in my time that have gone on to achieve great success.
It's a surreal experience when you're working with guys like Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash, and Sting. They were guys that I grew up watching, and I saw the heights that they achieved.
After I win the Championship, I'll be happy to take on anyone.
I've always made my opportunities, I've never been one to wait for them and sit around waiting for something to happen. I've always sought them out.
I think, for an artist, when you're drawing somebody who actually exists, it's a much steeper critical curve, as there is an actual representation of that person out there. You can't just interpret it any way you want.
I grew up watching Transformers. I think it was one of the first cartoons that I started watching as a kid. It was awesome. I would set my clock every morning before I went to school. It was a big part of my childhood.
I had the greatest deal in the history of professional wrestling. I could work for WWE, anybody else that I wanted to, and collect income from every one of those companies, including merchandise. It was a really good deal.
There is a good chance that, at 60, I will be in a wheelchair, but hey, I signed up for that. I know that.
If you were to ask me would I change anything or could I go back to the past and change anything, I really wouldn't.
If there's a game that comes out, I've pretty much got it, played it, and it's sitting here in my room.
In reality, you just don't see many Samoan artists. Culturally, it's just not something that's really emphasized much - at least, hand-drawn art.
