Exclusive Ring Rust Radio interview with former WWE Superstar Brad Maddox on his time in WWE, his depature from the company, and more

The hosts of Ring Rust Radio – Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin – recently had the chance to speak with former WWE Superstar Brad Maddox. Maddox made his debut on the main roster working with CM Punk and Paul Heyman and in addition to speaking about his recent departure from WWE, Maddox talks about his roles in the company, working with legends like The Under taker, his future after WWE and more.

To hear this entire interview, head over to www.Patreon.com/RingRustRadio and for a donation of just $10 a month, you can hear every RRR interview before they air on the show! And not only that – you get every previous tier, including a guaranteed email read on the show per month and the chance to vote for your favorite card in the upcoming fantasy draft! For only $10 a month! So head over to www.Patreon.com/RingRustRadio to see all the reward tiers Ring Rust Radio has to offer.

Otherwise, continue on and you can read the entire interview here!

Ring Rust Radio: The biggest topic of conversation for you recently has been your release from WWE. Will you explain why you were let go by the company and if there are any hard feelings regarding your departure?

Brad Maddox: Well at least I’m making news now. You guys know what it was all about at this point. I called the Indianapolis crowd pricks in the dark match of a SmackDown taping, which I didn’t consider inappropriate or a bad word knowing that it was a dark match. My job is to go out there and work up the crowd get them warmed up. You don’t have the rules you have while on TV. There I can talk to the crowd directly, make fun of their football or basketball team, tell them that they smell bad, and whatever you want to use to get them worked up. I just kind of threw that in there and was going to call them losers, but thought that was a little lame. So instead I called them pricks, and Vince did not take it as lightly as I did.

Ring Rust Radio: If WWE came back to you and said enough time has passed, would you be open to going back to them?

Brad Maddox: Depends on what I am doing. I am certainly not going to close any doors. I have enough experience in my 31 years to know you can never say never. We will see what happens, I have some other plans and things I am working on, but I am not opposed to it.

Ring Rust Radio: You debuted on the WWE main roster in a pretty high-profile spot getting involved with CM Punk as a referee in his world title match and then doing stuff with Paul Heyman and The Shield, but as a fan it didn’t seem like the payoff was everything it could have been. What was your expectation for how that angle was going to play out, and looking back, what do you think could have potentially been done better or differently?

Brad Maddox: I agree with you as far it could have led some where better than it did, but that is where I messed up early on. I wasn’t proactive enough. I didn’t go to Vince in those days or knock on his door; I didn’t go ask questions to the right people or ask where this is going or say, “Hey did you guys know that I can wrestle and came up through your developmental program?” I did all the things there that they said I had to do to get moved up and show that I am qualified. It was a lack of communication on my part with Vince and Hunter and the right people. It probably would have had a totally different impact instead of just sitting around and waiting on the writers to come hand me my script and assuming they had some grand plan for little old me. I can definitely say I could have been more proactive in those early days. I did love working with Paul and working with Vince in his office and working on promos in his office. It was a really cool experience.

Ring Rust Radio: WWE's creative team has been under fire not just from fans recently, but also former WWE legends. What was your experience like with the creative team and what are your thoughts of the creative process as a whole in WWE?

Brad Maddox: I mean, I got along with all those guys really well. It’s a matter that they have a lot of content to get through every week and have a lot story and a roster full of guys to write for. Obviously, I was in a pretty good spot, but I wasn’t one of the most important guys. They are focused on the main angles that are going to make money for the show and then of course everything has to be run through Vince, so there is a limited amount of time there. You can’t rely on someone else to handle your career for you. You have to go knock on Vince’s door and say “this is what I want to do” or “what do you think about this.” That’s where I should have taken care of business for myself. I am no John Cena and not making a ton of money for the company, so I am not going to be a priority upfront.

Ring Rust Radio: While everyone watched The Undertaker on The Tonight Show, starring Jimmy Fallon last month, it was your role as the turkey that really stole the show. How did you get the honor of working with Undertaker on national TV?

Brad Maddox: I knew the Undertaker was there, but I was a turkey on Thanksgiving, I felt that there is no higher honor. It was like, “Let’s book this turkey and see if we can get anyone to work with him.”  It was fun, and I might have been the only guy left in the states at that time since everyone was working the European tour. I don’t know why I was picked for it, but I had fun with it. I assumed at the time that it was going to be a full turkey mask. When I got there they showed me the outfit and I thought, “Where is the rest of it?” I guess everyone is going to know I am a turkey and that’s awesome. I did get to meet Jimmy Fallon and he let me know I had made it in show business. We were talking to their writers and to see what they were thinking about us. There wasn’t much for Taker and I to talk about. We pretty much walked around and just tried not to laugh about it. Then during rehearsal he said this is the part where he was going to tombstone me. I thought that yeah, this is the Undertaker, I’m sure he has done enough tombstones to where he doesn’t have to practice it and I was pretty sure I could trust him. I will say that I didn’t envision my first tombstone from the Undertaker being in that environment. If someone had told me nine years ago when I started wrestling that I was going to be tombstone by the Undertaker but it’s going to be on 30 Rock on late night television I wouldn’t have believed it.

Ring Rust Radio: You weren't given many opportunities to showcase your skills in the ring as a wrestler, but you were certainly able to generate a reaction from the crowd with your speaking skills and natural charisma. Do you think you would have excelled as a manager and why do you think WWE never tried to put you in that position?

Brad Maddox: I would never have stuck around to be a manger. I just wouldn’t have. I love wrestling and that’s why I started. I watched guys like Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho be entertaining in the ring and that’s what I wanted to do. If I had gotten pinned into that role, I wouldn’t have made it very long because I wouldn’t have been happy.

Ring Rust Radio: Now that the WWE chapter in your career is closed, at least for now, what are you hoping to accomplish in the wrestling business. Where do you see yourself going over the next year or more?

Brad Maddox: I plan onto diving into acting. I don’t want to say that’s a priority because I want to do both. I am excited to get back into working on a regular basis and getting into ring shape. Being in ring shape is so much different than being in regular shape, and you can’t accomplish that working a dark match once every two weeks. I have no idea where I am going wrestling yet, but I know I will do both. I am going to focus a lot more on acting now that I have the freedom to do that.

Exclusive Ring Rust Radio interview with Lucha Underground and AAA star Brian Cage

The hosts of Ring Rust Radio – Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin – were recently able to speak with Lucha Underground star, Brian Cage. With the rise in popularity of Lucha Underground, Ring Rust talks to Cage about working for Lucha Underground, AAA, the independents as well as being a part of FCW and much more. Check out this interview on the YouTube link below or you can continue past and read the entire interview here.

Donald Wood: The big news from Lucha Underground is that Ultima Lucha will now be two weeks long. It was announced that you would be taking on The Mack in a falls count anywhere match. What are your expectations for Ultima Lucha overall and what can the fans expect from your battle against The Mack?

Brian Cage: I think the reason they made it two weeks long is because my match is going to be so epic and will be an episode in its own right. Ultima Lucha itself will be awesome and I feel every week of Lucha Underground is amazing. I don’t want to sound boring or cookie cutter and say expect more of the same, but really the wrestling is awesome and the matches are so great. It’s going to be the culmination of everything up to this point and what you would expect from a season finale. Mack and I are going to tear the roof off of the place. We have had a couple of good ones though they were short and sweet. This time we will get to put it all out there and have a great match and I don’t think it is going to disappoint.

Mike Chiari: I think some fans were somewhat surprised to see you sign with Lucha Underground initially because they were expecting more traditional Luchadores, but you’ve really seemed to gel with the rest of the roster. Why do you think you’ve been such a good fit for Lucha Underground, and how have you enjoyed your time with the company so far?

Brian Cage: You know like Striker says, “I am the total package of everything that is lucha.”  While I think it’s good to have those opposites here and there, but I think my styles fit really well here.  At first they think I don’t belong here, but then they see my styles and my ability and it meshes well them and their style altogether.  It gives them something new and brings almost a hybrid style of a so called big-man.  I love it here.  I was a little unsure myself jumping on board and seeing how it would work out.  I was worried it wasn’t going to work out or turn out to be a flop.  It’s been phenomenal and the best company I have ever worked for.  I am glad and couldn’t be happier that I signed on board.  I am looking forward for everything down the road and think it will be a big success.

Brandon Galvin: Your match with Prince Puma for the Lucha Underground Championship back in March was one of the best matches of the year for us, but it seemed that you were quickly pushed aside for other wrestlers. Given how much Lucha Underground was marketing you at the time, do you think they missed a chance to capitalize on your momentum?

Brian Cage: Yes and no.  I mean it was amazing I got such a huge opportunity out the gate.  That really elevated me and Puma too who was already doing such a great job.  I don’t think it’s a missed opportunity because it is still there.  They bumped me down to mid-card status to help elevate other people and to lead the way for other people to work with Puma since it can’t be the Brian Cage/Puma story the whole time, you know what I mean?  So a missed opportunity I don’t think so.  The plans moving ahead I am sure I will be in the title scenario again at some point.  I wish it would have gone a little longer but no love lost or hurt feelings.

Donald Wood: While your popularity is rising in the mainstream thanks to Lucha Underground, Indy wrestling fans have known you for years thanks to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Do you think the freedom to show your athleticism at PWG has helped give you the chance to shine anywhere?

Brian Cage: Oh undoubtedly, absolutely.  Going back to not wrestling how people thought I would wrestle is my niche.  That’s what sets me apart from everybody else.  Besides Uhaa Nation, we’re the only guys with that type of appeal or ability in the ring.  PWG really launched me and helped me get out there and show on a national scale what I can do.

Mike Chiari: In addition to your great work with Lucha Underground you’ve been involved in a long-running feud with Alberto El Patron in AAA, and it’s going to culminate in hair vs. hair match at TripleMania August 9. What does it mean to you to be in a featured match on such a huge card, and what are your expectations for the match?

Brian Cage: It’s really awesome to be down there this year and feud with him; it’s helped me out a lot internationally.  To be part of TripleMania, which is their WrestleMania down there, it’s just so awesome.  Being listed as one of the headliners along with Rey Mysterio and Myzteziz and to be on their first full international PPV its just such a huge deal, I marked out a little myself.  When I saw my name next to Alberto on the PPV synopsis I was like, “Ohhhhhhh this is amazing, I’m going to be on real PPV!”  I think it’s going to be an awesome opportunity and my matches down there with him I have been really enjoying.  I think this will be the best match we have over the past 6 months and I am eager to see what the future has in store for me after.

Brandon Galvin: We've been major supporters of Lucha Underground since Day 1. We recently had Vampiro and he was confident a second season would happen. First, what are your thoughts on the structure of Lucha Underground with it being a season and finally, what are your expectations for a second season?

Brian Cage: The season thing I was shaky going back and forth with at first. I know originally they wanted a shorter time lapse but I’m not so worried now.  Its shot more like a TV show, and I think that will help to keep people wanting more.  Like when we took that winter break last year.  Everyone thinks it won’t work because you will lose momentum, but this has never been done before.  There are a lot of things Lucha is doing that no one has before like shooting in a whole different angle.  The only way to see how it works is to try it.  I am getting more and more confident that it will be fine and not too long of a break.  We will see how it goes moving forward shooting the seasons.  I think season 2 will be everything season 1 was and just so much more.  You know what to expect, people will want to be a part of it, and wrestlers will even want to sign on.  Everyone is going to more excited for season 2 and deliver more than season 1 did.

Donald Wood: You spent time in WWE’s developmental territory, FCW. Despite having the ideal bodybuilder look the company is going for and being a great athlete, why do you think you never got the chance to show your skill on the main roster and would you be open to a return to WWE?

Brian Cage: I’ll be straight and blunt with it, because they are idiots.  They want something to hang their hat on and if you are not their guy they will let you go.  Not going to pull any punches, but I would be totally open to going back to them.  With many things permitting.  I am not opposed to going back, but I don’t care if I ever go back.  If I ever work for them cool, if I don’t my life is super happy and I am living the dream right now.  I did love my time down there and things did go great.

Mike Chiari: There are quite a few nicknames that you go by, but one that’s started to pick up steam recently is Lucha Lesnar in reference to your similarities to Brock Lesnar. How do you think you compare to Brock, and what would your interest level be in terms of having a match with him one day?

Brian Cage: That one was promoted by some fan and my mom thought it was totally hilarious.  I like the name and I would love a match with Brock.  He is my favorite guy to watch in WWE though I don’t get to watch much of it nowadays.  I think it’s funny because he is a better wrestler now than when he left the ring the first time.  His style now is more of a shoot, just the way he literally throws people around the ring for real.  I would love to work him but I don’t know how similar our styles would match up.  We both are huge beast-like individuals who are more athletic than we should be for our sizes.  I don’t think there are many similarities in our styles.  I think a match together would be amazing and I would love the opportunity. 

Brandon Galvin: I mentioned your match with Prince Puma earlier, but is there a match or performance you would choose to show somebody who has never seen you work as a way to define the wrestler you've become?

Brian Cage: Wow that’s a good question; I’ve never been asked that.  If I had to pick one match for everything, man that would be hard to do.  There are plenty to choose from and it’s hard to pick one.  My matches with Puma, my matches with Roderick Strong in PWG, my debut with them, I mean those matches are older.  My matches with Tyson Kidd those were amazing.  Maybe my match with Roddy or Prince Puma match from the past year cause it gives a better view of who I am and what I do is what I would say off the top of my head.