Highlights Of Our Chris Masters Interview: Working With HBK, HHH's Insult, His Release, TNA & More

Chris "Masters" Mordetzky recently spoke with us about his start in the business, his WWE runs, drugs in wrestling, TNA, Ring Ka King and much more. We posted the full interview last week, in case you didn't read the full 13-page chat, you can check out highlights below:

If he was ready when he was first called up in WWE: "Definitely not, but you know I could have? I wasn't ready, but if I didn't make some of the mistakes I made – like I fell off the wagon with the Wellness Policy violations and what not – I think if I would have had my head on straight and I was really focused like I was with the second run that I just had, which was a lot easier for me, I think I would have been able to adapt and get better and really take it in. You know it was my first? I don't know, I think I just fell into some problems and I wasn't appreciating it the way I should have."

How the "Masterpiece" monicker came about: "It was like a process, I got out there and my real name is Chris Mordesky, obviously. One one day I came in and Dr. Tom Prichard told me I am no longer Chris Mordesky, I am Chris Masters, and I didn't question it. And then I remember one day I was sitting around with Mickie James, Matt Morgan... maybe a couple of others, we were just sitting around hanging out and I don't even know how we led into it, but Matt Morgan came up with 'Masterpiece.' So Matt Morgan, and I always give him credit for it even though he says I don't, Matt Morgan came up with the 'Masterpiece' and it just clicked because I was already getting the perception of being a body guy. So we brought it to Jim Cornette the next day and he was all over it right away, pumping me as the 'Masterpiece' Chris Masters. Eventually when I got called up, the Masterlock was the next addition to the whole thing so it all kind of tied together. That's kind of how it happened for me."

Working with Shawn Michaels: "Oh, it was like a dream come true! It was like winning the world title basically, just 'cause you know I'm under the impression that he is probably – and I think a lot of people would agree – that he is probably the greatest in ring performer ever. And I had watched his whole career, probably like a lot of people who are reading this interview, and I get to watch this amazing career that started as a tag wrestler and progressively to where you get to work up to where you are the world champion. You know, for me to actually get to break into the business and work with him on a pay-per-view before he retired, I mean that's a rare thing for any kid to be able to do. Any kid who looks up to a childhood hero, you know to watch like Kobe Bryant and then get to take him in a basketball game. You know, that's very rare and it was really cool experience for me. I mean, we said a prayer before the match? Shawn was really good to me, especially when I first came in, he did a lot to help me and he always took credit for making the Masterpiece? until I messed it up."

Triple H making fun of his physique after his rehab stint: "That was a scripted interview. People always ask me about that and some people think it was a cheap shot. I am more under of the impression... first of all, I remember the way Hunter looked at the time... I don't know. I didn't really treat it much as an insult as a lot of people jumped on it like it was that big of a deal, but I was still thinking to myself, you know, you [Triple H] take off your shirt and stand next to me and we'll see who looks better? I mean, you know, he wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer either, he is a little pudgy. So, in his defense, Hunter is a ball buster and is an equal opportunity ball buster, so you know, it might have been a cheap shot. I mean, you seen the way him and Shawn are, that's just the way he is, he's a ball buster. So it was probably like not the most appropriate thing to do, especially where the business is and the message they were trying to convey. But you know, it was said and I'm sure if they could take it back – considering the controversy it raised – I am sure they would. But they don't live in the past, so they don't even think about it."

The reason he was given for his second release: "Company restructuring is what I was told. What that means, I don't know. I know they have a lot of people in developmental and that was a really bad week for the market, but I still don't know necessarily if I should have been one of the expendable few just because I feel like I was coming along so well. I just needed the right opportunity to re-insert myself and just some kind of reinvention of myself. But in the long run, it can always be the best thing too. Again, I am staying busy working, I'm doing other things and if it's meant to be you know, maybe I'll be back there. If it's not meant to be, I won't. I am 29 years of age and I still feel like there is a lot of things I can do with myself, you know wrestling and non- wrestling. You know, sports entertainment and wrestling is always going to be my ultimate passion. So I don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon.

How he felt after the second release: "I was surprised, shocked. I felt kind of betrayed because I felt like I had worked so hard over the last year and not to have a conversation of really why. After having some of the talks I had with Hunter and hearing about how high I was on everybody's list, it would have been nice to know a little more specifically like, 'well hey, this is the deal, we really just don't know what to do with you right now.' You know what I mean? 'It's best if you go off and do your own thing' rather than just tell me the company was restructuring. I mean it was a combination of things; it was shock, betrayal, a lot of things. Looking back now, if they weren't going to use me at that point rather than continue to be buried or just on Superstars, it would probably have been better to do my own thing and stay low on the radar out here for awhile and then maybe see what's up in a couple of years."

His favorite guys to work with: "Well, definitely for my first run working the legends was you know, Shawn, Flair, Hunter... I mean working with all those guys was just amazing. During the second run, which was obviously a very different landscape, a lot of guys there had started after me. Two guys that stood out to me were guys that I wanted to have a program with, Dolph Ziggler and Drew Mcintyre. Dolph Ziggler to me is kind of like the Shawn Michaels, Curt Henning of this generation; he's a heel, he can make a comeback awesome and pounce around. He is so athletic, he can just sell really well.

"With Drew McIntyre, he's got a very snug style, which I like. He also paces a match so well and he gets the details, he is very detail oriented and he always has a good idea to bring to the table that really gets things cookin', you know, something interesting or different. So it was always a pleasure to work with him and he was one of my favorite guys up there. Him and Tyler Reks, too."

If a TNA run is a possibility: "Oh, I am definitely open to anything at this point in my career. I mean in terms of whether it being going to Japan, or I will be going back to Europe with NWE in April. But TNA, as far as American wrestling, that's really the only alternative. There is a lot of great talent over there and I think a lot of it will have to do with how Impact kind of takes shape over this next year, and how 'their company restructuring goes,' and if there is a place for me. I think I'm definitely in the peak of my career and have something to contribute and a fire lit under my ass. So I definitely know that I can bring something to the product, especially at this point. I've got that soldier's 'man on a mission' mindset mentality right now. I definitely love the stage."

Once again, you can check out the full interview by clicking here.