Two years in the past, WWE Famous person Damian Priest had his Wrestlemania second when he partnered along with his then-brother-in-arms Unhealthy Bunny in an action-packed tag-team match. For Priest, he was a burgeoning rookie trying to make a frog splash of an entrance alongside the music behemoth. Their chemistry was electrical, as Priest’s powerhouse power and Bunny’s daredevil acrobats sealed them the win in opposition to The Miz and John Morrison. Quick ahead, and now the 2 friends-turned-enemies will sq. off in a San Juan Avenue Combat this Saturday night time (Might 6) on the WWE’s dwell premium occasion Backlash.
The lovefest between the Puerto Rican stars ended final month, when Bunny concerned himself in a skirmish between Priest’s villainous group, The Judgement Day, and WWE Corridor of Famer Rey Mysterio. Priest — the secure’s muscle — showcased his unrelenting energy, chokeslamming his former buddy by way of a desk. Weeks later, Bunny returned the favor, mercilessly attacking Priest with a kendo stick and difficult him to a San Juan Avenue Combat on the similar present he could be internet hosting in Puerto Rico.
The hellacious showdown may have an thrilling backstory: Priest and Bunny’s relationship dates again to their time on the island, when the WWE famous person’s aunt — a trainer — taught the singer’s brother. Priest additionally served as a mentor to the wrestling aficionado, whose in-ring abilities are actually equally spectacular to his hitmaking prowess.
“Being somebody who was additionally a avenue fighter, then knowledgeable fighter, that is what I do for a dwelling,” says the previous WWE United States Champion. “I’m not doing a battle of the bands with him. Now, he’s moving into the ring with me. He’s been profitable within the WWE as a result of I used to be there to assist him. Now I’m there to do the other. I’m gonna harm him, and I don’t assume he’s gonna be prepared for that.”
Billboard spoke to Priest about his pleasure performing in his homeland of Puerto Rico, his upcoming match with Bunny, their historical past and why the worldwide famous person’s presence is a giant win for the WWE.
As a result of you have got Puerto Rican roots, what does it imply for you performing in entrance of your loved ones and buddies at this yr’s Backlash occasion?
In the case of tradition, it’s all about illustration, making an attempt to degree up and placing Latinos and Hispanics — not simply from Puerto Rico, however all around the globe — within the highlight. I really feel like we’ve had completely different Latinos right here, they usually’re making a splash. However by no means like now. I really feel like there’s a bunch of us and all people’s on fireplace.
Then, you’re taking all that, and now we’re having a premium dwell occasion in Puerto Rico — which is insane to me that we received to do that. We made it. That is hopefully the start to a whole lot of different alternatives for lots of various individuals. Going out and having completely different premium dwell occasions in several nations like Cash within the Financial institution in London, and clearly we had [Clash of the Castles] in Cardiff final yr — I’d like to maintain that ball rolling and proceed going to completely different nations.
Talking particularly about Latinos and Hispanics, that is large. The illustration that we’re placing on show proper entrance and middle is wild. I get goosebumps simply speaking about it, as a result of this one means so much. There’s matches that, clearly, for achieve and progress are essential, however this one is for lots of people, not simply myself. The strain is there, but in addition pleasure and the gratitude outweighs that, and I’m so pumped for this.
Your relationship with Unhealthy Bunny goes again. You guys had been tag companions at Wrestlemania 37 two years in the past, and now you’re making ready to battle in a San Juan Avenue Combat. Discuss that relationship and the way we ended up right here with that upcoming match.
Bro, Unhealthy Bunny Vs. Damian Priest in a avenue combat in Puerto Rico simply sounds wild. Look, we hit it off as a result of I used to be raised in the identical city that he’s from. We’ve these roots within the island. Then, our love for the enterprise, that’s how we grew to become buddies. Then, him getting concerned with WWE and getting picked on a bit of bit, I wasn’t cool with that on the time. I had his again and we shaped a relationship.
Then, I began doing my very own factor. He went off to do his and I did mine. I’m extraordinarily pleased to have my homies in The Judgement Day by my aspect always, and we’ve grown into mainly like a household. I do know we are saying that at instances on the mic, however we imply it. Like I really like these three people — they’re like my brothers and sister. I don’t know what I wouldn’t do for them.
So when he will get concerned… like all people else, when somebody messes with your loved ones, man — it doesn’t matter in the event that they’re your buddy, your loved ones is household. That’s how this got here to be. And clearly on TV, I advised him, “Come be part of the WWE. Nice. Do your factor. Simply keep out of our stuff.” And he didn’t, so he we’re. He made the match. He’s internet hosting Puerto Rico, so he had the ability to make this match. He’s the one which stated he desires to come back for a avenue combat. I don’t assume he actually understands what’s taking place.
Yeah, man. In the event you chokeslam him by way of one other desk, I don’t know if he can go on tour anymore.
He virtually didn’t make it at Coachella! [Laughs.]
You stated on a latest episode of RAW in reference to Bunny that you just don’t go to Coachella and do his job. When you consider individuals like Bunny, Shaq or perhaps a Logan Paul who stepped contained in the ring, do you assume that provides to the game or takes away from it?
It has so as to add, since you’re bringing in new viewers. I do know now we have our faithfuls that aren’t too thrilled when this occurs, however they don’t flip away, and we achieve some extra. Those self same faithfuls should educate the brand new fanbase and I feel that’s cool. I feel that’s nice. You’re creating extra moments for extra individuals and I feel that’s useful to all events concerned.
With Unhealthy Bunny, we could have our variations now, however I take nothing away from his contributions to what he’s carried out for the WWE, what he’s carried out for the tradition and what he’s carried out for me and my identify. As a lot as I hate to confess it, he’s carried out extra for lots of us than if it simply occurred by itself. I don’t know if the present in Puerto Rico is going on [without him]. I don’t know the place I’m at. My debut on Uncooked was subsequent to Unhealthy Bunny. I don’t know the place I’m at right this moment. So it’s simply a kind of issues the place celebrities can undoubtedly improve. I’m not saying it all the time works, it’s not all the time a house run, however particularly talking about Unhealthy Bunny, there’s been no failure in any respect, it’s been all optimistic and it really works.
It’s good as a result of he’s passionate concerning the enterprise, too. I’ll give him that. Quite a lot of celebrities like to come back and promote or simply put one thing over that they’re doing on the aspect — that wasn’t his curiosity. He loves this enterprise, and he simply wished to be part of it and dwell out one other dream he had. Whether or not that is the easiest way to go about it — a avenue combat in opposition to me in Puerto Rico — in all probability not. [Laughs]. I don’t understand how he’s going to take pleasure in this dream, however he we’re.
Do you have got a gameplay going into your match with Bunny, particularly realizing you teamed up with him earlier than and he’s a high-flyer within the ring?
Yeah. beat him up. [Laughs.] Take him out, go dwelling and have a good time it on the island. That’s the gameplan. I imply, to start with, I’m the one which educated him. So I do know what he is aware of at what to do, that’s No. 1. No. 2, I get it’s a avenue combat and I do know the place he’s from. I’m certain he’s had his share of avenue fights, however I’m a distinct animal, man. That is what I do.
Who’s the one artist you’d like to see within the ring subsequent and really feel they’ve probably the most potential?
That’s a very good one. Artist? , Unhealthy Bunny, I might have by no means guessed he would have been this good as a famous person. So it’s arduous to select one since you don’t know what they’ve inside. You don’t know any of that. That’s a troublesome one as a result of I don’t know.
And even athlete?
Athletes are a bit of simpler since you see they’re bodily. Each sport has their monster. We’ve tons of men that got here from the NFL and collegiate. I all the time attempt to choose a distinct form of athlete, like a baseball participant or a basketball participant,x as a result of it’s not that frequent. For me, Aaron Choose. I feel he would match proper in with The Judgement Day. All rise.
I noticed Finn Bálor posted an edited picture of him having holding the newly-revealed WWE Heavyweight Title. Why do you assume he ought to be the primary to carry that belt?
I feel Finn Bálor has unfinished enterprise in relation to a brand new championship being introduced. The final time was the Common Title, and sadly he received to carry it for a day as a result of he received injured. I feel he’s hungry, man and I get it. He wants that again. He wants that second again and showcase what can come after with him being the man.
To me, I feel the world of him and I do know precisely what sort of champion he may be. It might be good to point out the world on the largest stage him holding that title. That may be superior. However to counter that one, too, I feel it’s time to see one other Latino Heavyweight Champion. Extra particularly, a Puerto Rican one. The title may be very stunning, however I feel it could higher round my waist.
Is that an inner dialog you guys are having, relating to making an attempt to carry all of the titles in an identical approach to how The Bloodline has over the previous couple of years?
We’ve undoubtedly had these talks. Everyone knows that might be so particular if all of us held titles. That’s all the time on our minds. Clearly, all of us have enterprise to care for so to talk in the meanwhile whether or not it’s Rey [Mysterio], Unhealthy Bunny or whoever else comes our method. However in some unspecified time in the future, I really feel like that’s inevitable. We’re all going to be holding titles on the similar time.
