TNA Star Tyrus, fka Brodus Clay, recently appeared on Ring Rust Radio, and the following are some interview highlights:
YouTube interview: https://youtu.be/-XfXBP-Enco
Blog Talk Radio Episode: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ringrustradio/2015/09/08/ring-rust-radio–sept-8-w-tna-star-tyrus-and-wwe-raw-night-of-champions-talk
Ring Rust Radio: You’ve perfected the bodyguard role since you’ve done it both in TNA and WWE and even in real life, but what do you think needs to happen in order for you to eventually branch off on your own in TNA and have a run as a top singles star? How do you go about reaching that level?
Tyrus: The one thing I have learned in trying to be successful in this business is timing. Sometimes you are a fly on the wall but really you have your own personal agenda. You have to play the game the way that they play it. It’s always been my plan whether it’s been to be a tag team partner and get the tag team gold or a singles championship, that’s always been my mind set and that’s what I train for and I’m willing to work my ass off to put myself in that position. Sometimes with politics being what it is, sometimes you have to sneak in underneath their noses then all of a sudden they can’t do anything about it. When EC3 came to me and said he needed help I said I would get his back and help him get to the championship and I have done that. Now I am looking at things differently since I have accomplished that goal and helped my friend out.
Ring Rust Radio: One of the top wrestlers in the business today is Ethan Carter III, and your presence is a big reason his character has been successful. What do you think makes your partnership work and where does ECIII rank among people you have worked with?
Tyrus: For one, we are complete opposites. I talk loud and he talks loud but he really isn’t saying anything, like he is always talking. He is pampered obviously and I have come from a rougher upbringing. I don’t have a lot of family support where he has been coddled from day one. Like if his Mom and Dad aren’t in the audience then he has an aunt or uncle or cousin there. The guy’s family list just goes on and on and it doesn’t hurt that Dixie is his Aunt, that kind of helps a little bit. I’m sure his job interview went a lot smoother than mine did. At the same time though, we both do push each other. We both train hard, work that hard knocks style, we experience the ups and downs and just handle people in different ways. As far as people I have worked with I think he is one of the most creative guys I have worked with. A lot goes into being EC3 and Tyrus and you would be surprised how some of those conversations go. We understand where we are at and he has gone on record a lot of times saying I have taken a lot of bullets for him character wise. Overall, I would say we are the top of TNA. Even with the invasion going on it didn’t even faze us nor have anything to do with us. PJ Black got a title shot and he handled it well. I don’t want to say an easy defense cause PJ Black is one of the best in the world, he definitely showed up and that was one of his defining moments. He wrestled a guy from another place he didn’t really expect to wrestle and went out there and beat him clean. Technically he should have both titles around his waist but I don’t make those decisions. I have been in there with some really good guys with a lot of experience, but as far as creative I would say EC3 is definitely the most creative.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
