Dalton Castle Talks Character's Sexual Orientation, Inspiration, Whether WWE Is A Goal, More
Recently on The Ross Report, WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross interviewed Ring Of Honor's Dalton Castle. Among other things, Castle said he has decided on the sexual orientation of his professional wrestling persona, but he will never tell anyone what it is. Also, Castle talked about how glam rock has inspired his character, if he would be willing to drop his current gimmick, and whether performing for WWE is a future goal.
According to Castle, he has decided on his professional wrestling persona's sexual orientation, but he will never say what it is because it has no impact on his in-ring ability.
"I've decided what sexual orientation Dalton Castle is, but I don't, I won't, I will never address it. I will never tell anybody because I don't think someone's sexual preference has a damn to do with their ability to kick ass. But do you think he's gay? Sure. Maybe he's straight. Who knows? It doesn't matter because, when he's in the ring, he's going to kick whoever's ass is across from him." Castle added, "and is that going to change the way you feel about me? I mean, whether you wonder who I'm going home with at the end of the night or who I'm picking up at a bar, does that change who I am as a wrestler?"
Moreover, Castle claimed that professional wrestling has progressed insofar as his current flamboyant androgynous persona probably would not have gotten over as a babyface 10 years ago.
"That's what I think is great about the progression of wrestling and the fans who are watching because 10 years ago, could Dalton Castle get over as a babyface? I don't think so. Right. And it's wonderful that I can continue to be the way I am or act comfortable in there and people accept me just because they are entertained."
Castle, who is often compared to professional wrestling's most over-the-top performers like Gorgeous George, Adrian Street, Goldust, and Ric Flair, shared that glam rock inspired his gimmick, not professional wrestlers.
"I didn't use wrestlers [as inspiration]. I watched a lot of glam rock. I watched Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, and even current guys like Justin Hawkins from The Darkness or Eric Nally from Foxy Shazam, all these great performers on stage. Like, their music is one thing, but their live stage show and the way they carried themselves, was larger than life, even though they're tiny little, skinny dudes with moustaches."
During the interview, Castle admitted that he used to be concerned about being a professional wrestler under 6'0", but has learned that he must give a promotion something a larger performer cannot.
"I know early on I had my doubts. I didn't have the confidence in it. And still today, I'll see a guy, like at the gym, and if he's like 6'7" and I know he's not an athlete, it's like, 'ah, what a waste. All that size, what a waste! If I had that, where would I be today?' But yeah, [Ross is] right, it's not a game-ender. It doesn't necessarily stop you in wrestling, so a guy like me, we talked about this earlier, has to find a different avenue to appear big or give the company something that no one else can give them. Like, I can't be the giant. I can't be 7'0" tall, so I have to give them something a 7'0" tall guy can't give them, and just a giant puddle of charisma falling out of my armpits, maybe that's what they're looking for."
Castle, who has demonstrated the ability to portray different characters such as CHIKARA's Ashley Remington, indicated that he would be willing to drop his current gimmick if the right project came along, though he would be "heartbroken" to part ways with 'The Peacock Of Professional Wrestling'.
"Yeah, dropping Dalton Castle and doing something else, I'd be heartbroken because I put a lot of work into it and a lot of creative thought, but at the same time, doing a different project, could be fulfilling and a challenge is always welcomed." Castle said, "I'm not concerned to play a different role at all. I'm an entertainer, a performer, an actor. I can do whatever is asked of me. In fact, at one point, I was playing two different characters at the same time, that I thought were incredibly different than each other."
With that said, 'The Charismatic Milkshake' indicated that he would have a problem with going to another promotion with the Dalton Castle persona and having it taken into directions he does not like.
"I would be concerned if they took this character and they spun it into something that I did not feel was right. Like making fun of a situation, doing something I would be uncomfortable with. That would be a problem."
While Castle acknowledged that going to WWE is always the goal for professional wrestlers starting out, he does not know if going to WWE would make him most happy ultimately. The man billed from Catalina Island, California stated that he would like to try to be paid well and travel the world without WWE.
"I want to see the world. I want to be able to travel the world and have someone else pay me to do it and I'm starting to do that. WWE, when you start, it's always the goal, but I don't know if that's going to be what makes me most happy. As I started getting older, I realized I want to do what I love and I want to make a really good living at it and if I can do that some way without WWE, I think I'd be happy, but I don't know for sure."
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Source: The Ross Report