Bobby Roode Talks His First WWE Meeting After Leaving TNA, His In-Ring Work Being Secondary, More
On episode 108 of Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast, NXT Superstar Bobby Roode spoke with radio host and professional wrestling enthusiast, Sam Roberts, just ahead of Roode's homecoming match against Tye Dillinger at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. Among other things, Roode talked about making the gutsy decision to leave TNA without planning out his next move, knowing WWE was the place for him after WrestleMania weekend, and his 'glorious' entrance music.
According to Roode, leaving TNA was a huge gamble for him, as he did not know where he might end up. Roode admitted that he thought he might go to work in Japan if stateside work did not materialize.
"It was scary [to leave TNA] and a little bit nerve-racking. I mean, I'm not sure if I'm a guy that loves change. I was very, I guess you could say, comfortable, doing what I was doing there for a long time."
Roode said, "so it was a risk. I didn't know what was going to happen when I left. I really didn't. I thought maybe I could go to Japan and work if it didn't work out anywhere else. Like I said, at the time, I didn't love doing what I was doing. I didn't know where I was. I was just at a point in my life where I just had to go home and sit and figure out really what I want to do."
Roode professed that leaving TNA was a risk worth taking as reaching his professional goals is only possible in WWE.
"Obviously, the WWE is the be-all, end-all of sports entertainment and the opportunity that it presents for a lot of individuals is something I got in the business for in the first place almost 20 years ago. So there [are] a lot of things on my bucket list that I want to do in my career and the only place that I could go and possibly achieve those is being a part of the WWE."
Roode recalled, "and thankfully, I had the opportunity to talk to WWE and they flew me down to Dallas [Texas] WrestleMania weekend and I got a chance to talk to some pretty important people and got a chance to meet some of the guys. And just kind of take in what the WWE is all about and immediately, I just knew, at that point, that I need to be a part of it all."
Roode indicated that he had a conversation with Triple H prior to WrestleMania weekend about what he wanted to do now and in the future. 'The Canadian Enforcer' said he just asked Triple H for an opportunity and that is what he has been given.
"Before I got down to WrestleMania weekend, I had a conversation on the phone with Triple H. And, obviously, I've been around for a long time and I'm not a spring chicken anymore, so, obviously, my age was a bit of a concern. He wanted to know, kind of, what I was looking to do, what I was looking to do when I'm finishing up, and if I had to hang up my boots, what would my next thing be. Just all kinds of different questions, it's really just getting to know each other. Even though we've been in the same business, we've never really talked to each other, so we didn't know each other on a personal level and it was a really good talk. And at the end of it, I basically told him, I've been around for awhile and I just want an opportunity, basically, and that's all I'm looking for. Bring me in, have a look at me, and give me an opportunity to do what I've been doing and see what you think. And he gave me that opportunity and I've been grateful for it because, obviously, whatever I did has been good because here I am, days away from another NXT TakeOver event and being in my hometown."
During the interview, Roode discussed how he got his 'glorious' entrance theme. Apparently, Triple H and Roode agreed to a completely different song at first and after Triple H, Michael 'P.S.' Hayes, and a WWE music executive all loved the 'Glorious' theme, Roode decided to defer to the experts. 'The Glorious One' went on to say that it was the best decision he could have made.
"It was just the song. The story behind the song is I talked to Triple H about what I kind of wanted to do at NXT as far as character, on TV stuff, how I wanted to be portrayed and he had some ideas, so we collaborated. And I told him that I wanted to go back to wearing the robes and being that character I was before. I felt really comfortable doing it. I felt I could do a really good job of it with the guys in NXT. And he gave me the song and we agreed on it, so I thought that I had this music. And then, I get to TV, and this was before I even debuted, but I'm at TV, and they were like, 'Hunter wants you to listen to a different song. This song was created for somebody else, but we didn't use it and he thinks it's a little more regal, a little more character-driven towards what you're looking to do.' So there I am at ringside and I put the headphones on and the 'glorious' song plays and it's like night and day compared to what I picked out, like, five days before this. So I'm standing there with Triple H, I'm standing there with Neil Lawi, who's the music guy for WWE, and I'm standing with Michael Hayes, who is a creative genius and if you know the history of Michael Hayes, then, you know he loves music and the character he played as a sports entertainer. So there I was, standing there with those three guys and I was thinking, 'this is totally different from what I have, but you know what? If they love it, then so do I.' Gave it a whirl. And it was the best thing that I ever could have done because the song was number one on iTunes right after my debut in Brooklyn [New York], so, and it's still catching fire and people love it."
Now that Roode has nearly 20 years of experience as a professional wrestler and is armed with a 'glorious' gimmick, he believes that his in-ring work is now secondary to his character.
"Obviously, I play the character that I play, I'm in the ring with guys that people love to cheer, and they sing my song and they love my entrance, but I think that it's all they came there [to see]. My in-ring stuff is secondary, when you think about it. But that's cool after being in the ring for 17 years and doing what I've been doing, being able to add another layer to your character and that's the easy part, the character stuff. I mean, that song hits and the people react. That's what you want as a performer. You want passion and whether they're cheering you or booing you, whether 15,000 people are singing your song as you walk down the aisle, that's what you live for. That's what you perform for."
Finally, Roode expected NXT TakeOver: Toronto to be louder than NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 2.
"I remember thinking [before NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 2], 'I have to do this song justice somehow.' I had some things in mind and they had the creative people at WWE for the entrance in Brooklyn and a few ideas as well, so there was no better way to start. We set the bar really high that night and I'm hoping we can raise the bar a little higher in Toronto [Canada]." Roode continued, "so I'm thinking the Air Canada Centre is going to be a little bit bigger, a little bit louder than the Barclays Center, so I'm excited."
Check out the podcast here. If you use any of the quotes that appear in this article, please credit Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Source: Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast