The following is an exclusive interview granted to WrestleZone Radio with former WWE Superstar Ricardo Rodriguez. Ricardo is interviewed by WrestleZone Radio’s Nick Hausman.
In the interview Ricardo chats candidly about moving to India to be a trainer at The Great Khali’s pro wrestling school, The Great Khali’s popularity in India, whether he thinks WWE or TNA will be successful in the market and what it has been like transitioning in to Indian culture.
Ricardo then shares his reaction to Alberto Del Rio returning to WWE, whether he was asked to return to WWE with Del Rio, an idea he had for WrestleMania that was dropped, Del Rio wrestling for WWC in Puerto Rico while under a WWE contract, why he was paired with Rob Van Dam for awhile and how it came about.
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You can find the full audio of the interview with Ricardo as well as some transcribed quotes below:
On how he has wound up working as a trainer for at The Great Khali’s pro wrestling school (Continental Wrestling Federation) in India:
RR: It actually happened back in August. I’m close friends with Jinder Mahal and Jinder had mentioned something about looking for somebody to come over here for six months to train Khali’s students. Since he has opened up a school. At the time I was getting booked, I was busy, but it wasn’t anything major. I figured, “Hey, you know what? New opportunity. New country.” Basically, I would be doing here what I am in the states which is training. I figured, “Why not?” A couple months later, here I am.
On what has been the biggest cultural change for him making the leap to India and if he had spent much time there before:
RR: This is actually my first time in India. I think obviously the biggest thing is the language. That’s been the biggest thing so far since I have been here. The good thing is a lot of people here speak English. For those that don’t know India used to be a part of England. Or, England used to own India for a short while. So, a lot of people speak English here. Broken and with a thick accent but we kind of get by. A lot of charades. A lot of playing charades.
On the WWE Network launching in India and TNA partnering with The Great Khali for their upcoming tour of India:
RR: I knew about the Network. I knew the WWE was coming. This is where I get upset sometimes with the dirt sheets. They are like, “Oh, WWE is firing back at TNA for coming over.” That’s all… it’s all… I knew about both months ago. They were advertising over here so we all knew about it before it got over to the mass public in the US. We knew about it as soon as I got here that both companies were coming. Or, that the Network was coming, we knew about it. TNA actually came over to the school maybe about a month ago. They filmed a couple of things. They are looking for the next Superstar from India. The next wrestler. They had Shera from TNA, who is an Indian wrestler and who I believe is TNA’s first Indian born wrestler. He was actually a really nice guy. A really nice guy. I was very impressed by him actually meeting him. They came, I’m not exactly sure what the full details of the relationship between CWE and TNA will be. That’s something you would have to ask Khali. I’m not exactly sure on the full details. I know TNA is coming, I believe, December 4th in Mumbai. There are three dates. The WWE comes, I believe, January 16th or 14th? For three shows throughout India.
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