Former WWE NXT star Bull Dempsey recently appeared on Vince Russo’s “The Brand” podcast to talk about his career and more.
On Why There Aren’t Characters in NXT:
It makes sense as to what you mean, and I’m going to sum it up the issue in two words, at least to why it hasn’t been the way it was, and the way it should be: Dusty Rhodes. When Dusty passed away, I feel as though, there was this void that he couldn’t feel. He knew us on a personal level, and dealt with us in a certain way, and knew which direction to run with it. I think once it gets in the hands of other people; in creative there are so many people now, and there are plenty of different opinions of people to listen to, and then all of a sudden, it went from initially what it was, something pure, like an example being Adam Rose. When it gets far away from where it was supposed to be, and where creative originally should have been for it, it falls flat on it face. It’s no fault to the talent, but that is what happened when Dusty passed away.
On the Attitude Era Characters Against Today’s Lack of Character Development:
We would always talk shop in the car, where we would talk about wrestling to one another. We would bring up the Attitude Era, and never was there a character who was on that show that wasn’t an over character, now all of a sudden it’s, hey, you’re going to get over, but only as much as we want you to.
On If He’s Worried Whether Or Not There Isn’t Any Creative Assistance in Their Characters:
I think, where we were at. It was starting to work, especially on live events; we hadn’t put the “Bull Fit” Character on TV yet. I think, the concern was more for the people who hadn’t been around Dusty a lot because they weren’t going to get that guidance. It’s not to say there wasn’t anyone good down there for guidance and knew what they were doing, but Dusty had a way around it where he could just see someone, turn the volume on them and turn them into a star. It was unreal; and I think not having that for the younger guys, I believe took out so much of how good that place was for a long time. Not that it’s not good now, but he just made it special.
You can listen to the interview here.