Bobby Roode came into NXT last year in a big way, quickly established as a dominant presence in the ring, and someone whose entrance was, ahem... "Glorious."
Yes, that incredibly popular entrance music of Roode's certainly made an impression, which the current NXT champion discussed with me the day before NXT TakeOver Orlando, where he'll defend his title against Shinsuke Nakamura. We talked about that song, defining his persona in NXT, and what it was like to finally come over to the world of the WWE at nearly the same time as several other noted wrestling veterans like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Austin Aries.
IGN: When you came over to NXT last year, there was a lot of excitement. For you, I'm sure it was an exciting time too, but was there also just the wariness of the unknown? Of "Okay, how will this go? How will the crowds react to me?"
Bobby Roode: Absolutely. That was definitely in the back of my mind, but thankfully with the song... The song caught fire before my debut even happened. So, I was kind of hoping that my song would help my reaction a little bit, and it happened to help me out a lot. Being in Brooklyn for NXT Takeover this past summer, and my debut match, and just hearing that sold out arena, you know, fifteen, sixteen thousand people sing my song. And just the reaction that I got and the reception really, in general, was pretty incredible.
IGN: When you first heard that song, did you know it would work? Or did you go, "Well, this is a bold choice. Let's see how it goes"?
Roode: It was more the latter there, yeah. I wasn't sure what to think about it. It was definitely different from all the other songs. And I originally had a different song chosen for me. So when they switched it up, it kind of made me a little nervous, and of course the song being so different than any other thing that you heard... So it could have worked both ways, it could have really sucked, or it could have been really great, and it's been really great.
IGN: My wife texted me a few weeks ago, and said "I can't stop listening to 'Glorious!'" It seems like it really has actually helped fuel the character as well. Did you think, well, anyone who comes out to this has to act a certain way and really to go for it?
Roode: Yeah, for sure. You want to make sure that the character and the entrance and everything really is a package, and it's gotta be a total package, you know what I mean? That song has been such a hit, and you wanna make sure that the entrance matches it, and you wanna make sure that the in-ring work, once the bell rings, matches it as well. So, it's been a work in progress, but I think we're getting to where we need to be.
IGN: Its funny because you, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles - there were a few of you very respected guys were people wondered "Will they ever come over?" did come over fairly close together. Does it feel like things kind of worked out the way they were supposed to work out, as you ended up joining around the same time?
Roode: Yeah, I think so. You know, Eric Young is another guy, Austin Aries also is another guy. If you were to ask us maybe five years ago that we'd be in this position, I don't know if we would be able to predict it. Obviously things happen for a reason, and we're all happy to be here. AJ, his last year and a half here has been unbelievable. Samoa Joe, getting the start he's got on the RAW brand now... And of course Austin Aries challenging for the Cruiserweight Championship at WrestleMania is unbelievable. We've had a pretty close-knit friendship for many years, and just to be able to bring it here to the WWE has been special.
IGN: Last fall I finally got to go to an NXT taping and the energy is so great. It's a small room, and yet that crowd is intense. Is that cool for you to just feel how much people are invested in the product at NXT?
Roode: Yeah, it's a special thing. The NXT fans are certainly different, and obviously we're gonna see that at NXT TakeOver Saturday night at the Amway Center too. It's just a different... There's not really a word that you can describe it with one word. It's just a totally different feel in an NXT arena. And like you said, it is a smaller arena, it's a smaller building, but it gives the people a chance to get a little closer to the action, and I think that's what makes NXT a little special.
IGN: I feel like NXT almost lends itself to sometimes going a little broader than in WWE. I was there when Tye Dillinger doing the "10!" in your face was almost repelling you - things like that. It really plays well. Do you feel like that audience is receptive to maybe a little more heightened aspect?
Roode: I do, I do. I think you're right. We give it a little bit of creative liberty, I guess you could say, at NXT. For the most part, we just try to go out there and try to have a lot of fun, and I think that the fans react so well because I think they can feel that we're having fun.
IGN: The TakeOver events have also really taken off. Are you excited for that, and what I'm assuming might be an interesting entrance for you?
Roode: I'm really looking forward to it. It's special because, obviously, WrestleMania has come back to Orlando, and this has been NXT's home now for a couple years, so it's basically WrestleMania is coming into NXT's home. And to be able to go to the Amway Center, a sold out arena, and being in the main event as a champion is pretty special. I think the TakeOver entrances have been pretty special for me, from Brooklyn to Toronto, San Antonio and now to Orlando, I think each one is getting bigger and better. So, I'm really looking forward to Saturday night, seeing what's going to happen with the entrance.
Eric Goldman is Executive Editor of IGN TV. You can follow him on Twitter at @TheEricGoldman, IGN at ericgoldman-ign and Facebook at http://ift.tt/LQFqjj.
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