Tyrus On Getting Sasha Banks Her NXT Tryout, TNA Pay Rumors, Donald Trump, Suge Knight Incident
On episode 51 of Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast, TNA's Tyrus, formerly known as Brodus Clay in WWE, talked about whether the rumors of not getting paid in TNA are true, being rapper Snoop Dogg's bodyguard, and how he helped Sasha Banks get her start with NXT.
According to Tyrus, the rumors of not getting paid at TNA are false
"I've heard [rumors] that our checks bounce. I've read all this kind of stuff. If you didn't get paid and your checks bounce, then your ass probably wouldn't go to work."
Also, Tyrus said he would only wrestle for free if it was for Donald Trump's presidential inauguration at the White House.
"Oh, I'm there. Oval Office, falls count anywhere, I don't care who it is, Secretary of State, anyone." Tyrus continued, "I guarantee you, there will be wrestling at Donald Trump's inaugural reception. I guaran-damn-tee it."
Tyrus claimed that he was up for the role of Suge Knight in the Straight Outta Compton film and had three callbacks, but ultimately did not get the part. Interestingly, on a related note, Tyrus had a run-in with Knight while working as Snoop Dogg's bodyguard. Apparently, Knight attempted to intimidate Snoop Dogg backstage at a Keyshia Cole concert until Tyrus made his presence felt.
"He ain't tough when you're bigger than him." Tyrus continued, "I have nothing against Suge. He's a business man. He's going to do what he's going to do and, of course, unfortunately, at that particular moment in time, his business conflicted with mine. His business was Snoop and my business was him not getting to Snoop."
When asked whether Tyrus knew Snoop Dogg's cousin, WWE's Sasha Banks, through his ties with Snoop Dogg, Tyrus said he only met Banks at one of her WWE tryouts. Although Banks did not get offered a WWE contract at the time of their first meeting, they hit it off right away and Tyrus played a role in getting Banks the WWE tryout that ultimately landed her a position with the company.
"I thought [WWE] really missed the boat on her. And we had talked a few times and [WWE] were coming to [Banks's hometown] Boston [Massachusetts] and they didn't invite her backstage for a tryout again and she really wanted to be there, so I asked Mr. [William] Regal and I asked [current WWE Senior Manager of Talent Relations and Development] Kristin Altman if they could get her in there. And I didn't really bother anybody [with favors in the past]. I never really ask things like that, but I was so impressed with her from the first time she was there that I couldn't understand why [she was not invited to try out again]." Tyrus continued, "Sasha Banks's success has absolutely nothing to do with me. All I did was ask her, 'did you want me to say something to Mr. Regal?'"
Tyrus indicated that he did not feel obligated to help Banks secure a WWE tryout from his relationship to Snoop Dogg; he was really just impressed with Banks.
"It wasn't a thing where you're like, 'oh, I [have] got to do a favor for such and such' or whatever." Tyrus added, "when she said 'thanks', I said, 'one day, you're going to be in a situation where you see someone who needs a fair shake and just pay it forward.'"
In addition to these topics, Tyrus talked about his strong WWE debut followed by being depushed, his WWE Hall of Fame wager with CM Punk, and much more. To listen to the whole show, click here.
Source: Sam Roberts? Wrestling Podcast