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Mike Johnson: You mentioned the term fan pleasing, September 18th NXT is going to move to the USA Network two hours live. Obviously, you mentioned NXT earlier, it was a big part of your development from the moment you signed with the company in 2013. What's the impression of the Smackdown locker room, and even the Raw locker room when you're there? Seeing that NXT is going to be brought up on this major stage, and as someone who's got NXT blood running through his veins, what are your thoughts on the brand taking yet another step up and being placed on a higher plateau?
Chad Gable: Yeah, for a guy like me, I couldn't be happier for them. And I'm also very competitive at the same time, so I will treat it as competition. Never to be out done. But as a guy who came from there and kind of cut my teeth down there, it's so special. And it's just unique, you know, because when I first got there, in 2013, they were still doing the buildings in Tampa and the smaller buildings were ... man, when I first got there, the crowds were 15, 28, 25 people, you know what I mean? So I'm kind of like, "Whoa, like what did I sign up for?" And then in a matter of nine, eight or nine months, it just blew up man. And we were doing the Barclay Center, which was the show I was on and so I was part of it at a very special time where I just got to see it explode, and it just hasn't slowed down. Which is kind of mind blowing to think about because they just keep going and going. And now with this announcement, it's just further proof that what they're doing works, you know, it's an incredible product and I'm just excited to see where it goes. Who knows? I mean it's gonna keep balling up and keep getting bigger and bigger obviously. So who knows? Maybe there's going to be some talent match-ups between the brands and stuff, which is something that I would look forward to. Anytime I can get in touch and get in contact with the new opponent, it's good for me. So you know, really happy for all those guys.
Mike Johnson I was just going to ask you that, like if they came to you and said, "We'd like you to come back and do a cameo or we'd like you to come back and do a couple of episodes," would that'd be something you'd be into? Or do you look at it as, "NXT should be for that younger generation that that kind of still needs to cut their teeth, and I'm focusing on my endeavors in Smack Down?"
Chad Gable: No, not at all. I'd be open to that for sure. Yeah, I look at it the same way. I looked at the opportunity I got with 205 live. You know, in this company you kind of have to take advantage of anything they offer you and everything, because the opportunities aren't always there and that's just the fact of the matter. You know, it's like you see that we have a lot of guys, and they're not always being utilized every week. So anytime you get a chance to do something, especially something that's going to be really like, to me creatively fulfilling, which would be kind of wrestling in NXT, and the stuff I did on 205, I'm more than happy to jump at that chance. You know, above all I want to put on great matches, show people what I'm capable of doing, and just deliver and do what I'm best at. So yeah, I would absolutely be open to that.
Mike Johnson You bring up a good point about the opportunity. I think when the 24/7 title was introduced, especially online, there wase sort of like this ... kind of the head tilted sideways and people were like, "What is this?" But we've seen in the last couple of months, especially in the case of Drake Maverick and R-Truth, they've taken that spotlight and brought themselves up to a higher plateau than they had been previously. So you know, it really is about opportunities...which brings to me to this that I want to ask you about this. There's been ... you mentioned it earlier, the whole Shorty thing, and there's been a lot of talk about Shorty G and the potential that that's going to be married to you, and it's going to eventually become part of your onscreen persona. When you hear things like that, do you look at it as like, "All right, it's going to be my job to make something like this potentially work?" Or do you look at it and kind of scratch your head and go, "All right, how did we get here, and how do we bridge this?" Like when you hear different things that are online, like are your reactions to them? And do you look at it as a creative endeavor or do you look at it as, "I got to figure this out. I got to kind of solve the Rubik's cube here."
Chad Gable: So I mean, first of all, I've gotten pretty good at avoiding the online stuff. Just because I got two little girls and a boy on the way, so I'm pretty busy with life outside of wrestling when I get home. But as far as your other question, it's like if I'm presented with something, regardless of what it is, I'm excited. And I'll tell you from experience, when Bobby and I were broken up when I got traded to Smack Down, I immediately went to Vince, you know, with character ideas, pitches for stories, and I made my own vignettes. I made my own promos that I would bring my laptop in and show him. Just basically like begging, pleading, doing whatever I could to get something, get anything. And I wasn't married to these ideas that I was giving him. I just wanted to throw as much at him and say, "Look, I'm open to anything. This is what I've got for you, but I'll do anything you've got in mind because I'm ready to work. I'm ready to deliver for you." And so when I'm doing that, it shows them that I want to work, that I'm ready. And so when they come back to me with something, there's no way I'm going to be a guy that is going to poo poo some ideas, you know, or anything that they give me. Because them offering me anything means that they want to invest in me, and to me that's a compliment. And so I'm going to take that and I'm going to use it to its full advantage, whatever ideas they throw at me. And I take them all as a compliment and I'm ready. I'm ready for them to invest in me, and I can guarantee you they're going to get back their investment. I will deliver.
Mike Johnson: That's a great attitude to have and congratulations on the new addition to your family on the way. That's more important than anything else we're talking about. As we start to run out of time here. One last question. You're standing at the quarterfinals of the King of the Ring. Why should fans make sure that they tune in Tuesday on Smack Down and pay close attention to the quarter finals and beyond? Like, what is it about the King of the Ring that that sets it apart and makes it as important, or more important than all the other crazy storylines and important matches that are going on in WWE in your opinion?
Chad Gable: Yeah, so I think ... and they've kind of seen it already so far, but it's guys that are, including myself, kind of just scratching and clawing to show everybody, "I'm here, I have arrived." Because not everyone in this tournament has had all the exposure, and been on TV a whole bunch. So for us, and those guys, you're seeing a different kind of wrestling. You're seeing a different kind of attitude, and energy, and delivery from these guys in this tournament. And I get it even from watching it. When I'm watching the matches on Raw, there's like a special kind of energy when these King of the Ring matches are coming out, because people know, "Okay, like these guys are about to throw down because this match means something to them." Like, deep down, you know, more than just winning, losing all the time. It's just they want to prove something, they want to prove they belong in this tournament, they want to prove that they are capable, you know, of making it to the finals. And I'm in the same boat, and I think the more that we all contribute in that way, like we just give it this big fight feel every night. And it's just something that we haven't always had night in, and night out, on a weekly basis for a long time. So I just think it's a really, really cool and unique thing they decided to do to showcase some of the best talent on the roster, and we're all delivering. it's going to be good.
Mike Johnson: All right Chad, I know we're out of time and you've got other interviews you've got to do. I want to thank you for sitting down with us for a little bit. Everybody can follow chat on Twitter at WWEGable and you can check out his path to the King of the Ring video, which is stickied at the top of his Twitter account. And of course we'll see you Tuesday when you face Andrati. Wish you nothing but the best personally and professionally. And sincerely, thank you for sitting down with us for a little bit. So thanks very much.
Chad Gable: Thanks for having me, Mike. I appreciate it.
MIke Johnson: My pleasure. Until next time, everybody, I'm Mike Johnson. Take care.
Chad Gable will compete against Elias in the semi-finals of the King of the Ring tournament this Tuesday on SmackdownLive from NYC's Madison Square Garden.
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