Welcome back to the bank.
We have a lot would you want to talk to you about but
before we dive into that, it's been a crazy several weeks for you so
just want to hear from you how it how it has been for you personally.
>> Yeah, I mean it's been a long process actually to get to the point where I could
get my myself in physical condition to step in the ring again.
As everybody knows, I retired because of injuries seven years ago, and
I'd be lying if I didn't say that edge returning last year at the Royal Rumble
kind of made me think a little bit when I heard him step through that curtain.
And as a performer, you're a control freak right when you when you're out there and
it's you in the ring you can control what happens.
And I felt out of control that situation for him I wanted it to go so well for
him that I got nervous and I had to walk away because I was getting so
anxious that I just want him to do so well and be, okay.
And but when I heard his music hit and a reaction and man,
there's nothing like that, that live reaction from the web universe.
And when I watched him I know we had different injuries but
I started thinking man, just kind of put that bug in my ear and
I started thinking maybe this is a possibility and
I kind of put it to the side and didn't really think anything of it.
And then in the summer when I had the unsanctioned match against Randy Orton.
I kind of looked at where it was in my life and, everything like that and
I was like am I making healthy choices as far as diet goes and
things like that I wasn't in the best shape that I've ever been in.
And, living that retired life right?
>> [LAUGH] >> Right Wait,
what's an evening what's better than half a box of cheeses, hold on.
[CROSSTALK] >> Yeah,
>> So that would be like my thing, right?
So then I started thinking maybe I should start making some some physical changes
and get back into shape.
And let me see if this this can actually happen.
And I started thinking to do I want that to be the lasting memory that people have
of me getting punted in a 10 second match the way that my career ended before,
never sat well with me as it was.
>> And I was like, I need to get back in there.
I need to finish this on my terms and do it my way.
And if it was just that one match the Royal Rumble and so be it, but
I needed to end it on my own terms.
So I hired a nutrition company, a place here in Tampa called nutrition solutions
and they really helped me out like dialing in my diet, putting that on point.
Obviously with the pandemic going on.
I am telling you I put a minimalist gym in my garage.
It is because weights and exercise equipment are so
hard to come by through everything.
So I was going out I was finding little pieces here and there and
I put a little tiny gym in my garage.
And I just put the work in there every single day.
I thought to myself if I if I get up and I go when I do these tests and
I pass it opens.
Have a bunch of doors for me and if not, I'm in no different position than was when
I woke up this morning and they told me I wasn't crazy.
And it just kind of snowballed from there.
>> That's awesome.
Chris, I have to tell you, we were on the watch along during the men's world Rumble
match and you've never seen a more lively or
an enthusiastic zoom chat than when you came out.
>> [INAUDIBLE] >> Everyone just erupted.
It was an incredible moment one of the best in Royal Rumble history and Just for
me personally as well, you really just kind of laid it out there in detail there.
But when did you find out that you would be eligible to compete that
night when in terms and then in comparison to when you actually.
>> Yeah, I mean, well,
that's a whole different thing I found out at 7:30 on Friday night.
>> Wow.
>> Yeah, so it was kind of a whirlwind from there.
And in hindsight, it was like, man, I would have liked to have a little bit more
time being able to get in the ring and things like that, but then,
it also gave me, I was nervous when I got the call.
And I was like, man, where's where's my gear?
Where's my tights?
Where's my girl things have to find, so once I kind of found all those things and
sort of piecing things together.
[MUSIC]
If there was no time to think, I had so much to do to prepare on Saturday and
then we don't want you to arena on Sunday and I was surprisingly calm for
not stepping foot in the ring for seven years.
There was no nerves.
I was like this is what I was born to do.
Like there's nothing to be nervous about.
It's second nature to me and I went out and did my thing and
I haven't watched it back yet I'm afraid to watch it back because I don't want
to see something that I didn't like so eventually I'll watch it back in and
I'll check it out but I haven't yet.
>> Yes, so Christian what was this Sunday like for
you as best as anyone knew you were just there as a spectator right?
>> Yeah so the good thing is I've been around so
much doing different things still with WWE I'm always kind of have their backstage.
And so it's not out of the ordinary for
me to show up at some point in time to be doing something for the WWE Network or
doing a pay per view pre show panel or something to that effect.
So I just kind of edge was obviously in the Royal Rumble he was announced to
be in it he was staying at my house for the weekend.
So, as far as anybody knew I was just there at the arena with him,
hanging out there for support to watch him make his return.
>> Christian things moves so fast as we know when you get in the ring but
you're in there edge through to number one.
Yeah, he was your housemate of course on top everything else but
what are these moments like?
Did you really have a chance to kind of stop for a second ago?
I'm back and so is my buddy we're both in the Royal Rumble.
>> Yeah that moment where we kinda locked eyes, that smile.
I mean, this was all just spur of the moment stuff.
It was such a busy day for both of us,
we didn't even really have a chance to talk before we went out there.
So I was like, I think I dropped Dan O'Brien and I turned around and
I saw him getting up and he had this look of joy on his face and
this in a weird way, this meant more to him than it did to me.
I mean, he's always had my back and always wanted the best for me in my career.
And he was one of the very few that knew the grind, the hours,
the time that I was putting in, to get back to this point.
So, I think that, there was very few people that knew.
And he was one of them obviously and, so
I think that it meant just as much to him if not more in a weird way.