Mason Ryan
recently appeared on the RCWR Show. Check out some highlights below:
On his
WWE RAW debut in January 2011: “To start off with that night was
amazing. I only found out that day what was happening. I heard rumors and
suggestions that I was going to join beforehand. When I was told that day I’d be
doing what I was doing I was very excited as it just blew me away. To be
interfering in CM Punk and John Cena’s match on Monday Night Raw was massive. It
was actually in January and I was in my first year with the company. That wasn’t
my first year with the company as I got here in January (the previous year
before his Raw debut) and then the following year I made my debut. That was a
phenomenal experience. I remember waiting beforehand cause I came in through the
crowd just waiting and looking around, seeing the crowd cause the match was
going on. Knowing I was going to be a part of this in a few seconds at that time
was just fantastic. I was just kind of looking around thinking how great it was.
It was an unbelievable experience, standing on that apron and having the eyes of
the world on me and be a part of what those guys were doing and to go on to be
in Nexus was awesome.
On
working with CM Punk: “There’s not many guys like him around. To be
under his wing and have him around lots of time as we traveled together, just to
be around him was awesome. He’s such a big star, just the way he carries himself
and his matches. That was another huge thing as on the live events we got to be
a ringside for a lot of these main events like with him and John Cena and stuff.
We got to witness first hand as we had the best seats in the house watching,
learning and seeing what these guys do and watching two people at the top of
their of game. CM Punk is what what he puts out there, he is the best in the
world, he’s phenomenal in the ring and on the mic. To be around him and witness
how he does stuff was—you don’t get much of a better experience than
that.”
On if
Punk ever offered him advice: “Yeah, he was always great. A lot of
times we’d drive together and stuff and he’d ask us if we had any questions like
me, Joe, who’s know Curtis Axel, Dave Otunga. We’d have other matches on the
card and then he’d ask us how it went. Anytime we had any questions or sometimes
he’d ask us if we had any questions for him, he always had time to answer
questions and help us out which is great cause I’m sure he had a lot on his
plate. Being a top guy in this business, there’s a lot of demands and you’re
quite busy. So to have time for us all the time was really cool of
him.”
On if he
thinks CM Punk will return to WWE: “Hard for me to say really because
I was back with NXT at that point. I wasn’t in the locker room so I can’t really
tell you the feeling or whatever. I don’t know with this business it’s
impossible to work anything out because it’s such an unpredictable business. I
don’t anyone would have thought he’d walk away to start off with if you asked
two years ago. Who knows in two years time or two months time what can happen
you know. I personally have no idea.”
On
working with Bray Wyatt in Nexus: “I’ve known Bray a long time. He was
there when I first got to FCW. I always got along great with him, he’s a good
guy. There was a group of us there that go out and have fun and he was one of
those guys. I’ve known him a while and he’s a really cool guy to be around. I
remember when him and Curtis Axel debuted with New Nexus, that was quite crazy
seeing what they were doing and then to put of it myself alongside him and that.
That night when he got punted we really didn’t know if that was the end for him
or what ever. Turns out they didn’t but he went away and reinvented himself like
I don’t think anyone has. To come back with the Bray Wyatt character that he has
now which is phenomenal! To see the interviews he does, promos are unbelievable,
they blow you away that there that good. Very cool to watch cause I came back
down a little a bit after he was working on his character, just to see the
development of it over months and months and what he put into it was really cool
to see. He deserves all the success he gets.”
On if
he’s surprised with Bray Wyatt’s transformation from Husky Harris:
“Yeah that’s quite a u-turn isn’t it? I don’t think he himself expected that. I
don’t think there’s any chance that when he got kicked in the head by Randy
Orton that night that he’d come back and be Bray Wyatt. Have this cult following
and be this mega star that he’s going to be…to see it from my viewpoint was just
so cool because you get to see a little bit more. I was at WrestleMania this
year and just to see him against John Cena — I can’t remember who it was but I
just turned to someone and said he’s one of us and he’s there. I was so happy to
see him there.”
Did if
WWE pulled the plug on Nexus too early: “I don’t know. There was a few
things going on at the time. Punk was our guy but he was involved in other
angles. I guess it could have been a blow off but at the same time I always
liked what we did. I always enjoyed the storylines and angles we were in. I
can’t really say too much because I always think that they (WWE creative) know
what they are doing. I wouldn’t say so to be honest.”
On
developing a leaner, more athletic body: “When I was on the main
roster involved with Nexus I wasn’t wrestling as much, it was a lot of bodyguard
type stuff. I put quite a bit of size on, it was close to 300lbs or maybe a bit
more at one point. I wasn’t doing as much cardio and stuff like that. Then when
I came back down I realized the size looked good but it wasn’t that practical. I
wanted to be more of an athlete and be able to move and be athletic rather than
just a big, bulkie guy who couldn’t move and just looked good. Still to this day
I work on a lot on my athleticism, my agility, flexibility and all that stuff is
important to me. It was a constant change in my part to improve myself. I kind
of saw as well that times have changed these days. Obviously everything evolves
and the product evolves, it’s more of an athletic product these days. Just being
big and immobile isn’t suitable for today’s product. I saw a need for change and
I wanted to change myself for the better to make myself a better
performer.”
On his
WWE release: “First and foremost I don’t know if anyone follows me on
Twitter but I released a statement saying I had four great years in the WWE.
I’ll be forever thankful for what they did to me. My experience in the last four
years has been incredible. I’m just a small town boy from a little town in
Wells, grew up there all my life. Just through luck got into wrestling and
before I knew it I got a contract with the biggest wrestling company in the
world and got to come over to America. I absolutely love it over it here. I’m
very proud to be Welsh but this has become my second home and this is where I’ll
be living. I’m so thankful for that and to get the chance to entertain the
audiences and be part of this great, great industry we love so much. To travel
the world on top of that on their dime and get paid for it was just—sometimes
when I think about how lucky I was it’s just mind-blowing. I think it was just
one of those things where I’d been there for four years and they didn’t really
have anything for me and couldn’t see much for me at present. I left with the
door wide open. I left with a lot of good relationships with everyone there as
everyone was always so good to me. I have no reason not to leave that way. That
was that and now I’m just concentrating on the future as all I can do is work
hard and be me and try to be the best I can be and you know what? I’m looking
forward to what the future holds and going down different avenues, trying
different things, being part of the indie scene and hopefully traveling the
world again and going to places I haven’t been. Obviously I love the WWE dearly
and I loved being part of it but now it’s own to a new
chapter.”
On if he
would wrestle for TNA: “Yeah well obviously I’m now a free agent. I’m
going to be in this business, it ruins in my blood. I love it and I love being
part of it so yeah I’m absolutely open to any offers. I have no idea what the
future holds for me but like I said I’m a free agent right
now.”
