Trick Williams WWE's rising star on what Whoop that Trick means and previews WrestleMania| The Pivot

I had to go through the fire to be exactly who I was supposed to be. Everybody can't do it. Some guys are really good at being a stunt double who can do all the stunts and everything like that. No, I ain't no stunt double. I'm a superstar. So, I got to make everything feel like an experience. >> What was that like for you to take the black culture over to that arena and be accepted like that? >> That's all I could be. That's all I knew. Like, if you asked me to be anybody else, I'll be stuttering and, you know, trying to figure it out. And my heart sunk to my ass. I ain't going to lie. like and these are my friends and I was happy for them but at the same time I wanted that spot so bad. People don't understand that man but at that moment it's like a moment of truth. It's in the execution. The beauty is in the execution. It's not about the script. You know what I mean? Like look what I do with it. Nobody can make it feel the way I make it feel. Everybody feel like they tricked Williams for one moment. You know what I'm saying? For one second they could put on their fur. They could put on they lemon pepper steppers and they can whoop that trick with your boy. You know what I mean? This show is called The Pivot and you are a perfect example of that. You had one dream, that dream didn't manifest, but you manifested another one. >> I'm trying to go crazy with this. I want them to say like this is the greatest WWE superstar of all time. >> Hold up. It witnessing me up on a mission. Got me up knowing me. I got the key on the vision. I can trust trust. Limitless people. >> Fellas, fellas, FELLAS. >> WHOOP THAT TRIP. >> OH, COME ON, MAN. OH, come on, man. Nice to meet y'all. >> Channing, what's up, my dog? >> Where we headed after this? >> Hey, man. You let me know. You let me know. Hey, man. Hey, man. I'm glad to be here, man. For real. I don't play around, dog. I got one in the car if you need one. Hey, my dog got on two jackets. You got ON A MINK AND A LEATHER. >> Got on it, man. It's too cold. >> Hey, when you wear a mink and a leather, you a bad man. >> You are a bad man, man. You got a steel toes. >> Yeah, man. My lemon pepper steppers. That's what I call it. >> I know the name, but you got a heel on them. I >> That's right. >> You 6'5 already. What you need? >> I need it. I need it, man. I don't play around, >> man. Welcome to the show. Trick Williams. >> Man, thank you, man. Thank you. >> Metric belt. Yes, sir. Freddy T. >> Channon Crowder, Ryan Clark, man. Pivot fam. Thank you'all for pivoting with us, bro. I'm excited about this. Now, we appreciate it. I'm excited. >> You know, we've we've sat with Bianca, we had Seth on the show. Uh this is a little different. This is the first time we've had somebody outside of The Rock who was a football player in college, transitioned to WWE, and is on his way to becoming a fast rising star. And and we'll get to that. I want to ask you about September 28th, 2013. >> Okay. >> Hampton visits South Carolina. They lose the game 35 to 14. >> Uhhuh. >> You ain't got no stats in that game. >> That's right. >> But there's some news your mother delivered to you after the game. Wow. >> And then you made some subsequent decisions after that. Talk to me about that time in your life. >> Wow, man. You did some research. Yeah. So that game, man, I actually I got suspended for the first half of that game. My fault. Overslept, you know what I'm saying? Late to the meeting. You know what I mean? On me. South Carolina is the crib. That's where I'm from. You know, I ain't played the first half. Now, mind you, South Carolina State, that's the crib. Like, my pops played at South Carolina State. You know, I got like 30 tickets. You know, everybody coming to see me and I messed up. I didn't play. Like my high school best friend, he playing against me and everything. And it was a rough time and I couldn't figure out why, you know, things was just not going the way I felt like it should have went. >> And my grandfather passed like two days before. So now I'm like, I'm really jacked up. You know, I'm young, 18 years old, 19 years old. And my mom told me, she said, she looked me in the eyes. She said, "You are a king created by God Almighty. >> Never forget who you are, whose you are. They can't break you." And I say that to this day when I'm talking trash walking to the ring. people don't know what I'm saying. Sometimes I ain't saying nothing, but sometimes I'm saying something that means something. You know what I mean? So, uh, >> yeah, that that moment right there, like she just reminded me and told me who I was. >> And I love that like when you can put your foot in the ground and just let people know like this is who I am. I'm a king created by God Almighty. Let's talk about God. >> And and bro, that that like the trans like you said, you you you leave and go to South Carolina as a walk-on. >> As a walk-on. >> And so you're you're you're leaving money to go as a walk-on. Yes. >> Confidence in yourself. >> And then just your whole career now football ends and now you going WWE like >> or wrestling now it's all kind of numbers. I'm old. We remember WWE and WWF and all that but it's TNA. You a TNA champion and all. >> Like did those times build you? Did that game build you? Did that game build what you do? Because you were a massive [ __ ] talker. >> Yeah. >> So you got to have confidence in yourself to be >> So were you. You know what I mean? Like it's it's part of the football culture. You know what I mean? And my family, man. We talk more trash than most. So, you got to talk trash to survive. But to answer the question, like, yeah, that's the first time I really had to take a leap of faith as a man. Like, hey, what am I going to do? Like, this is unfamiliar territory for me. You know what I mean? I'm going to leave a scholarship and walk on to the University of South Carolina, which at the time, you know, number four team in the nation. Did you play for Spur? >> No, I was with Zoo. I came right after. >> Okay. You play for Spur? So, you know, you was at Florida ball coach, you know, like that's a big deal. And, you know, that was where I wanted to play out of high school, >> but you know, when the recruiting stars and everything panned out and they didn't recruit me, like a little voice in the back of my head said, you know, are you good enough, you know, and I had to think about it like, man, I don't know. I don't know, but I want to go find out. So, I walked on first day there, we had a meeting. They say if you don't run a 4440 and you don't got a 4.2 GPA, we don't need you. We the number four team in the nation. 200 guys there, you know, notepads, cleats on, everything. Everybody wants that spot. Like I know why I'm here. I got to do what I got to do. First they had trials. They cut it down from like 180 people all the way down to 20. Damn. Cut it down from that 20 to eight. you know, from that I was uh outstanding offensive walk-on. Then um playing the next year when I was eligible. So like that was the first time when I would say I took that leap of faith and I've been jumping ever since and so much good came from that. I could talk all day about the testimony, but so much good from just learning to take a chance on myself and jump that man I've been jumping ever since. >> Trick, you say you can talk all day about your your testimony and we do want to hear a lot of it. Specifically, I want to know what did those moments in football, you know, that brief moment, what did that teach you about discipline and and adversity, >> man? So, Fred, while we here, I got I got a story about you. >> Oh, for sure. >> I got So, I'm from South About you, man. So, I'm from South Carolina, >> right? >> My pops was in the military. He was in the Navy. So, we stayed in Jacksonville for like six years. >> Yeah. >> You know, around 99 to 2005, I think >> we moved back to South Carolina. I play pop one of ball and like my pops, he'll bring us to the Jaguars >> preseason games. And bro, we love Fred. >> I lie you not. Like it's crazy being here right now cuz this is a real story. Like we love Fred. He wore 28. My dad wore 28. >> And um I remember being a little kid, eight, nine years old. >> And you you'll walk out, you was last. >> And we'll wait. I had a Fred Taylor card. And Fred come out, we would run try to catch him. And Fred was so dog on fast, bro. Like like he was just floating across the street all the way to his car. Like there he was and he ran right by us and we chasing him all the way to the car. But like that memory sits in my head because like that's when I was young and impressionable and like I wanted to make it in the NFL. So being here right now with you is cool. I didn't want to say that. Had to share that story. I want to know. This is a grown man. >> It was like we, you know, I did the research. What was it? May in 1994, right? You were born May 1994. >> Yeah. I mean, that's when I graduated. So, >> yeah. I'm just saying like high school. >> I ain't trying to AGE YOU LIKE THAT. >> NO, I just turned 50. I feel good about it. >> But no, I I want to ask you though, >> uh, did did you get the autograph? >> I never got the autograph, MAN. >> GODAMN. WHY YOU RUNNING? >> I SAY Fred was fast, >> bro. It made sense. Like that's why he run for so many yards. >> 842 now. >> 842. >> You talking about from the locker room to the car, >> bro. I'm talking about 422 >> in the parking lot. >> In the parking lot like his feet wasn't touching the ground. >> Floating bloating like kids coming. Watch out. I like that, bro. >> That's the lot of kids. >> No, I I always take I take the time and trick you. You know, >> I'm not trying to blast him like he did. You know what I'm saying? >> But it's cool. It's cool to be here now. That's all I would say. >> Hey, we've been I've been in Jacksonville with him, man. Like, dude is royalty, though. And he should be there for what he did for the organization. But Freddy T, man, with way Freddy T move around. You're right. It's like he on a damn cloud when he in Jacksonville, bro. >> He's crazy. >> Yeah. My brother like, bro, you >> That's a good story, bro. I appreciate it. For sure. >> But like you said, the question was taking those leaps of faith, man. like that at South Carolina when I decide to walk on. But walk on, walking on is not an easy path, >> you know, at all. But luckily, Steve Spurer, man, he's a standup guy, you know what I mean? He sees talent for the most part. He gave me plenty of opportunities to ball and do my thing. But I'll say why that part of the journey was so important to me because, you know, when things wasn't panning out at Hampton at H.B.CU. shout out to my H.B.CU. I love my H.B.CU. knowing I should be the guy there and it wasn't working. Man, I had to get my faith right. I remember going home and opening the Bible randomly and saying, "Hey, God, what you want me to do?" And when I opened it, I believe it to be the story of Jonah and say, "I'mma take you from this land. You going to go to another land?" And I was fighting it like I had an exgirl at Hampton. You know, the ratio was crazy. It's like 18 to1 women to men. I got a fiance now, so I just want to say that. But you know what I mean? But we good. You know what I mean? But that's what Hampton was. You know what I mean? My boys who you got recruited with and everything like that. You know that means something to you when you 17, 18 years old. And I didn't want to leave these people. But like I just knew that's what I was supposed to do. And they seen everything that came from just being obedient. And I wasn't obedient to God right away. You know what I mean? Like it took me a whole another year at Hampton. I had to pull my hamstring girl fooling around with other boys on the team. Like a whole bunch of stuff. like I had to go through through the fire to be exactly who I was supposed to be. >> So just seeing everything that came from that like when Steve Spurer he left the team he quit the team after we lost to Tennessee. This is my junior year. He had a big banner on Williams Price State like 80 feet tall you know the most winningest coach in South Carolina history. and they took that down. And it just so happened like me being who I was as a walk going and having to prove myself and train hard like I was always just in the weight room on the field putting extra reps. So when guys wasn't there, they said, "Hey, hey Matrick, you know, we want to take pictures of you, you know, we going to put on all the tickets in the cups." They put me on the tickets in the cups and then when they took Spurer down off the banner because my photos was already, you know, in the system, they said, "What we going to put up there next? What are we going to put up there next? But they put me on Williams Bryce Stadium. >> And it's a little thing, but it's a big thing though because like what if I never jumped? >> You know what I mean? Like that was just a big 80 foot banner telling you like if you be obedient, you know what I mean? You never know what's going to happen. >> And I got I can go all day. I get worked up. >> But I love that. You know, another thing about, you know, Jonah, Jonah was in the belly >> of the well as well. What's the bigger moment for you then? >> Right. They they pull the banner down and they put your picture up >> or The Rock is talking about the belt. He reaches into his bag and everybody in the arena is screaming, "Whoop that trick." >> Mhm. >> What's that moment like when it is literally the pinnacle of wrestling in the middle of the ring doing his thing and the people around are saying, "Whoop that trick." Which is what they say when you walk out. >> Yeah, man. To me, it's just one of those moments like, and I said it a few times, but since I would say since that jump, I'm talking about from reading that story with Jonah. Been jumping since, you know, I mean, jump to South Carolina. Eventually found myself with a, you know, try out with the Eagles. That took a year and a half. That was a jump. Then jumping to WWE, like just being real, it wasn't the popular thing to do at the time. You know what I mean? like cuz I play football. 20 years I played football. When they see me on social media, I'm Sweet Daddy Trick now and I'm making skits and I'm slamming people. Everybody didn't understand who came from that football background. But like I just knew this is what I was supposed to do because it fit me, you know, seeing how that manifested to whoop that trick and then the rock, you know, being the one in the ring, you know, and they chanting whoop that trick. I'll lie you now. I got stories all day. But here's another one. Here's another. I'm in church and I'm deciding like, bro, do I even want to wrestle? I went to a trial. They said, "You never wrestled before. Go learn what to do and we'll bring you back for another try out." Just like that. Like nobody's checking on me, seeing if I'm actually going to do it. Like, take it or leave it. That's what they told me. So, I'm in church and I'm like, "Am I supposed to wrestle?" Like, it kind of seemed like self-seeking, you know what I mean? I'm I'm coaching kids, you know what I mean? Substitute teaching and stuff and I feel like I'm kind of making a difference where I'm at. But teachers need to get paid more money. I'm going say that on camera right now cuz boy losing hair and sleep, everything. Long story short, I went to church and the pastor's word that day, I lie you not, was talking about water coming from the rock. So follow the rock. I said I went to church. Le one thing on my mind. do I need to wrestle or not? And the pastor told me, "Follow the rock." I lie you not in Columbia, South Carolina, the Brook Pastor Timmy. And he said, "Follow the rock." I never told nobody that story, >> but I moved to Philadelphia two weeks later. I said, "I'm supposed to wrestle." It was something that simple. And like when I say I be jumping, I just be jumping. I moved to Philly. I move with my uncle. His name is Sweet Baby James. >> Sweet Baby James. >> Sweet Baby James. And that's where the swag, you know, he's like, "Man, I'm put these Stacy Adams on your boy. They ain't going to know what hit him, boy. You know, you know, like I like, bro. And that's where all this kind of just kept falling into place. >> Yeah. >> And so, >> long story short, to see The Rock in the ring and people trying to whoop that trick, >> I just like I already know it's bigger than me. It's not even about me. I just I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do, >> bro. In that black culture and wrestling where wrestling really isn't a black thing. >> It's not a black thing. >> But what's what's your uncle name? Sweet >> Sweet Baby James. >> Sweet Baby James. You sweet daddy trick. >> Sweet daddy trick. whooped that trick. The lemon pepper steppers. >> You got sweet daddy dog. Like that stuff that we we've heard of before. >> You took that into an arena that didn't I don't say they didn't even know what you was talking about >> and they accepted that. >> People of all colors, races. >> Yeah. >> Dialects barely speak English. They whooping that trick in Saudi Arabia. >> That's crazy. What was that like for you to for you to take the black culture over to that to that arena and be accepted like that? >> Honestly, be real with you, Channon. Like that's all I could be. Like that's all I knew. Like if you ask me to be anybody else, you know what I mean? I'll be stuttering and you know trying to figure it out. Like I can't be anybody else. Like I don't know how to do that. You know what I mean? Like this is how my people talk. This is how my pops talk. My uncles all of them talk trash. You know what I mean? like if it don't sound like this, it won't be natural to me. >> So, it's just cool that everybody else was on the same page. But >> I I ain't had no choice. >> Yeah. But even even when you walked in here, man, just the fur, the leather, you know, the vi vibrance, the the swag, you know, demeanor, it's easy to see why WWE, you know, is preparing for the big moments for you, right? You're a superstar in the making, bro. Like, you're going to continue to grow and build. But in those moments, how do you kind of step back and stay grounded as the hype starts to build? >> I got fiance at the crib. She's 6' 200 lb. >> 6 feet. >> And she like to fight. >> My bad. Hey, I did not think that. That's what I was going. I thought we was about to get into some John Brown breeding type talk. You know what I mean? Like, I'm 6'5, she's 6 foot. We going to have this linebacker. He going to be a all pro. That man said, "And she like to fight. >> She's vibing. >> She, bro, she say, "Oh, I wish I would have played linebacker." Like, dang. >> Relax. >> Now, I'mma brag on her for a second. She played basketball at Texas A&M, Mississippi State, drafted to Seattle Storm, >> last legend, the bougie bullet. She tag champ right now. >> But like, man, she tell me if I'm tripping, you know what I mean? Like we call in a wrestling being a mark >> if you believe your own hype and your own press too much and we have we vow we'll never be a mark you know like think that this is about us ultimately cuz it's not about you man like we represent something so much bigger than us. >> So if you over here caught up in reasoning your own newspaper clips then you missing what this is all about in the first place. >> Your brother's name is Hassan. Hassan >> Hassan said that you had a delusional belief in yourself your entire life. >> Where did that belief come from? >> I tell you my mama like she she always told us we was going to be exactly what we are right now. She said, "Baby, we're going to practice interviews right now. Sit up straight." You know what I mean? Make sure you articulate. They going to be throwing panties at you. You know what I mean? You're going to be swapping them away. They're going to be throwing panties at you. You know what I mean? Like she programmed us to believe this from a little kid. Like these words of affirmation was just so powerful that man honestly Hassan he say that's me. That's all three of us. >> Like we go getters. He and NASCAR pit crew right now. And you know my older brother he does art and like like she programmed us to believe that we are we going to be somebody. >> So man that's my mom. Like she had that faith that you know it's just crazy. Like I get emotional thinking about it. Mattric Belton >> and Trick Williams >> is there because you say you getting caught up in it, caught up in your press clipping, but there has to be a switch you got to turn because right now watching you sit here and talk >> Mhm. >> just chill and then watching you walk in the ring and wrestle and do all it. It has to be something different. Have you ever got caught up in trick over matric? >> I get caught up in it sometimes. You know what I mean? you know, you start thinking that, you know, you too big for your britches, but there has to be a piece of you on the inside that you can feel that's organic that allows it to like come out. So, Trick Williams is just Matric turned up to 10, >> you know what I mean? That's that's you after you get the sack, you know what I mean? That's you when you stuff, you know what I'm saying? Who Eddie George, you know, at the line for a tackle for loss and you know, I mean, >> now you here. >> Now you here. You know what I mean? And that's how I feel every single time that red light come on. Like this is my family. I'm like this promo right here is gonna pay for college. >> Yeah. >> You know, this promo right here can change the rest of my life. So I got to turn it on. It's game time. >> I mean, you've done a lot of things to fulfill this dream, >> right? You substitute Todd. You met Alon, you met Deuce, >> right? You had that relationship with them. Said you pop in, check in with them. Deuce eventually called you. you got to go to a mini camp, >> but man, you've delivered food in California so you could train like all those things that you've done. Was there ever a point though where you doubted that you could fulfill this dream? >> Honestly, that's probably what Hassan was talking about with that delusional faith. Like I said, once I got the word and I felt like God was talking to me and said, "Follow the rock." I know it was a whole different rock, but I was like, "This is what I'm supposed to do >> really." And then like the way my life has worked like I just thank God because things always there's always full circle moments reminding me I'm exactly where I need to be. You know what I mean? I just look for the signs like okay and if it doesn't work like the Eagles didn't work >> but like there was a sense of closure I had you know when it was like your time here is done >> that I was like okay it's time for something else. So even if it wasn't wrestling, like I would feel comfortable knowing that something's gonna pop off. Like it's sweat equity. Like something has to work. I'm grinding. It's not for nothing. >> So you know, >> Carmelo don't feel like that. >> Yeah. He >> said you backstabbed him, dog. >> Yeah. That's okay. You got to do what you got. >> I see you was in there pleading your case. You was like, "Man, I came to you >> and I told you I wanted to go see about me and you said go do it." >> Yeah. >> He ain't see it like he felt like that. Trick. And I can see why he felt like that because there's a lot of people similar to Melo, this ain't shade, this the truth, who feel like, man, Trick is new to this business. He been doing this four years, three years at the time. How dare he think he main event talent. How dare he think that he can be a superstar like me. I put 10 years on the indies. I've been doing this 15 years. I studied and watch all these greats. I can tell you so and so's birthday and all this other type of stuff. Trick Williams can't do that. They're right. I can't do that. But this what I'm anointed to do. And favor ain't fair. >> And just because I wasn't grinding here doesn't mean that I wasn't grinding period, bro. I >> I work so hard to be okay at football. I I'm man enough to say that I work so hard. People don't understand. >> You know, people don't know like I was substituting kids. Why am I so comfortable talking? Cuz I was doing motivational speaking. You know, I was talking to kids. You know, you know, I said these kids, I couldn't take the role in the class as a substitute teacher. You know what I mean? I had to figure out how do I like get their attention? How can I, you know, be more entertaining? How can I speak up in a certain type of way? Like, you don't get this type of presence from you just wake up. No, you anointed with that. And you got to go through something to command a crowd like that. >> No. You talked about walking on to South Carolina. You said it was 200 people. >> Mhm. >> Then it was 20. >> 20 >> to get down to eight. Hey, >> but we all play ball. You the free agents come in and by the second day you be like, he can play, he can't play, he can't play, he can't play, he can play. So you like you, we saw that that from the football side. >> From the wrestling side, like there's a lot of people >> that went and they told him, "Hey, go learn how to wrestle, come back, and they came back and they told their ass to go home." >> Yeah, for sure. >> What do you have? You were just talking about like, you know, your mentality, the mental side of it, and the the articulation side of it, but it's something different about a dude your size that can do what you do in that ring. Y'all know how it is, man. I played for Steve Sper, man. I played in the SEC. Let's not get it twisted. Like, if you play college ball, you are a specimen. You know what I mean? Like, that's just the real about it. And a lot of these things is opportunities. Right place, right time, right system that really puts you in position to really like exceed to a maximum level. Like, >> I was a dog on the field. Now, let's not get Hey, look, I said my production didn't show everything that I was capable of because I was probably supposed to be here in the first place, >> right? Man, if my foot got in that NFL door any further, I probably wouldn't even be here right now because that's where I I was watching Fred Taylor, man. You know what I'm saying? Like I wouldn't I wouldn't took that rock, you know? >> But um yeah, I was definitely Man, I'm an athlete. I'm a special. >> What's the difference between you and the other guys that was all trying to be where you are like your buddy said, I've been doing it 15, you doing it four, but now you holding belts and on national TV and worldwide tours. >> I'll be real with you, Ch. Can't I can't tell you what it is cuz there's guys in my try out 67 280 abs. Oh, where you play at? You know? >> Yeah. >> Brothers from Africa, brothers from everywhere. Like goodness. Like, but I just got to fall back and I say it's an anointing thing. You know what I mean? I I I can say this another story. Football. Like I said, I walked on, you know, of those eight, two of my best friends, one named Rod Tally, one named Darius Pope, they both play running back >> and we was all roommates. We all like we tried out together. We grinded together like we wanted to be not just on the team. We wanted to be, you know, starters. We wanted to be all SEC, wanted to play in the league, that type of thing. I remember Steve Spur stood up. It's right before my junior season. He said, "Man, we got two scholarships. We're going to award two guys with scholarships. I knew I was getting mine. I mean, I'm second second string. I'm rotating with the starters, you know what I mean? My first season being eligible. I'm 6'4, you know what I mean? Like, I'm playing like I already know I'm about to get mine. He said, "Rod Tally and Darius Pope >> and they one's on this side, one's on this side." And they stood up and my heart sunk to my ass. I ain't going to lie. like >> and these are my friends and I was happy for them but at the same time I wanted that spot so bad. So bad. Like people don't understand that man. But at that moment it's like a moment of truth. Who are you right now? I had to clap it up for I had to clap it up for him. And I think I don't know how God worked all the way, but I do feel like it's moments like that that like it's hard for people to do. And that's why I'm unapologetic when it's my turn because when it was everybody else turned it up, >> right? No, I respect that. >> You know, you got it. You know, whatever that is for the sport, you have that and that's what they like and that's what they can they can sell and that's what fans will gravitate themselves to. I wanted to ask you about mentorship in the sport. What what wrestler has given you the best advice and who do you look to to serve as that mentor for you? >> Book a T. >> Book a T, man. Legend right away. >> Absolutely. >> I'm coming for you. >> Book a T, man. Like, and it's cool like you know he's a legend in the game. WCW five time. Five time. And you know, you hear it's like a legend, you know what I mean? like like today like you hear about people before you actually meet him with Brian Clark. So you know when you meet Booker T you don't know how he's going to feel you know what I mean and he say brother you got something I want to work with you >> you know what I mean? Hey when you hit that move right there you hit him with that kick hold that pose and you flex your bicep so everybody can see how strong little stuff like that you know what I mean and like he's just teaching you the game. I'm like bro this is the coolest thing ever bro like I'm living a video game you know what I mean? So Booker T has definitely been that guy and he helped the whoop that trick thing really set off, you know, he did my ad libs and everything, you know, like he's MCing the track, you know, for the crowd or something like that. So that's really cool. I >> I seen you rapping, bro. You really you you can go. >> Who brought you rhymes? >> Me. Have a ghost rider? Me? I'm just asking him. He He can spit. He can snap. >> I just want to know. He confirmed it cuz some people got ghost riders. Some of the best. >> I can afford that. You know what I I got to get it myself. I can afford it now. >> So my my question is and you being a walk- on, you understand this having to make your own way. >> There are gatekeepers for sure >> sometimes. >> Mhm. >> Right. There there was the the one veteran who will help all the young cats stay late, go through the playbook with them, and then there was the other one like, "Hey man, I got it on my own. You got to get it on yours." >> Is there a gatekeeping in wrestling to a standpoint where some people like, "Nah, man. I earned my spot. You got to go get it by yourself. >> And yeah, same thing in wrestling. And people feel like I said you don't deserve it. Man, some people go out and they say Trick Williams, I tell you what, he's not all that. If he wasn't 6'5, 250 lbs, got eight abs, dressed like that, talk so cool, and had the interest music and can do this and so athletic, then he wouldn't I said, "Well, dog on take a whole person. THEN I BE YOU THEN after that, huh?" Like, "Good grace." Like what is it about him? >> Like gatekeepers, man. But like I ain't worried about that. Like it is what it is. It's a business, man. I'm trying to take care of my family. >> Yeah. What's the moment? What win? What celebration? What crowd cheer was the moment where you felt like what I heard in church that day when they told me follow the rock, it was now confirmed that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be, >> man. I would say all of them. I had my first match. It's like in the indie scene in New Jersey. It was in front of 12 or 14 people. I lie you not. And that jump was so lit. 12 to 14 people that was leaving. >> I li you not. That was sweet that you trick. You know what I mean, >> bro? I say it was so lit. Like my boys pulled up. Some of my teammates from Hampton. They was training with me at the time, too. And like like the atmosphere just felt different. I ain't sleep for 48 hours. Like my adrenaline spiked so high. Something I never even felt in football. Like that's when I really knew this is what I'm supposed to do. Like like it's it's a great feeling when you find out like, bro, I love this. >> Wow. >> And I just, you know, where I'm from, it just wasn't the popular thing. You know what I mean? Like we watched it. I watched the rock, you know, Undertaker and all that stuff, but the idea of actually becoming No, like my pops play football. I'mma play football. You know what I mean? >> But when I did it, training is one thing, but when them lights on, 12 people was there. And I still think about that moment to this day. That's when you know you're where you're supposed to be, though. Because if there's only 12 people there, you're not doing it cuz people filed in to see you, >> right? You're doing it because you loved it. And if it could give you that feeling, >> even though it's not the arena that you will eventually be in, that's when you know you're right. Like I knew I was doing the right thing in little league. >> Mhm. >> Right. So I didn't know where it was going to end up, but I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do with my life, man. So I love the fact that you had a moment that wasn't about applause. It wasn't about what the outside people that could give you. It was an internal thing for you, man. That's a beautiful feeling to have. >> But but that competition, that competitiveness >> on our side, you kind of draw from I don't know what's going to happen at the end. >> Mhm. >> You know what I'm saying? this score, this thing going to hit zero, somebody have more points than they gonna win. When things are, you know, scripted or whatever you want to call it, >> you almost know what's going to happen. Like what's the competitive drive? What's them 14 people doing for you? Cuz you already know the outcome. I play for the outcome. >> I want to get stats. I want to win games. I like there was an outcome that was undetermined. When it's already determined, >> is it a different competitiveness that comes in you? >> Yeah, I agree. I play for the outcome, but my outcome looks different now. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? It's not about winning or losing. It's about I need to hear them people. You know what I mean? That's what is the difference now. It's the same thing even in football. I mean, we have meetings. We have a playbook. >> It's a script. You go out there and you run your play. You know what I mean? If you doing a movie, there's a script. You go out there and run your play. The beauty is not in the script. Like, if it was that, anybody can get the play and then >> it's execution. >> It's in the execution. The beauty is in the execution. and Tric Williams is the best executor. You know what I'm saying? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE between the two. >> You know what I mean? Like it's not about the script. You know what I mean? Like look what I do with it. >> Nobody can make it feel the way I make it feel. >> Me and Freddy T got to go in Madison Square Garden, right? And the one thing we kept saying was they're so athletic, >> right? And then and whether it was women, men, the the ability to think to yourself, I'm going to sacrifice my body for this. >> I know when I jump off of this top rope, there's not going to be nobody there to receive me. >> But I got to give it my all. I got to make sure they're entertained. I got to make sure I look like I fully expected that I was going to land this where I wanted to. >> There's that. How do you balance the entertainment >> with the athleticism, right? >> Because there are people who have one of one of them, right? There are people who could get on the mic and talk >> and entertain you, but they know they don't have the athleticism. They don't have the presence in the ring. And then there's guys who know how to use it, utilize their athleticism in the ring, but you give them the mic and it's like wu. >> How have you found the balance between the two to be for you? >> Yeah, man. And I think that is, you know, that's a special, the person who can do both. You know, playing football, I had a coach, it was Steve Spurer Jr., matter of fact, and he would say, >> he say, if if a guy could wrap both his arms around both your legs in open field, then you're not good. You know what I mean? The goal as a offensive player is to stay on your feet. >> You know, my first day of becoming a WWE superstar, you learn how to fall, flip, backflip, cartwheel, etc. So like I'm not a gymnast, never been a gymnast. So this is the like rewiring that had to happen for me to be good at the sport. You're right. Like that's the execution that you have to learn how to give yourself fully to the moment, you know what I mean? And make things mean something and um everybody can't do it. Some guys are really good at being a stunt double, you know what I mean? Who can do all the stunts and everything like that, you know? I ain't no stunt double. I'm a superstar. So, I got to make it everything feel like an experience when I'm in the ring. >> You say you're not a stunt double, but you do have a little mini twin. >> I I got a confession. >> Mhm. >> As much as you say you were a fan of me, when they said we were doing this, I went on eBay and I was going to buy the little mini Trent action figure >> so I can bring it and get you to sign it. But time kind of ran out and I got busy >> and I knew they would mess they would give me hell if I walked in here. If you would have if you would have brought a Trick Williams action figure and got him to sign it, we was going to end the show >> because we told you stop doing that, Fred. But I'm >> This man coming to chill with us. >> But I'm in the collect. You would have hooked me up, right? >> For sure. I got you. I ain't going to run from you the way you ran from me. >> I don't got a 42, but I got a 457. You know what I mean? >> I thought we was getting along. No, but but seriously, like on some real stuff, I know the first time I saw my trading card >> Uhhuh. >> I was like, damn, I got a trading card. >> What was the the feeling when you found out that you have a little action figure? >> Well, it's unreal. It was cool being able to give it to my nephew. You know, Hassan has a son >> and I mean, he broke my dang own ponytail off, you know, first day, but he had it. You know what I mean? And to me, like I think >> like everything I don't know. I'm I'm a old spirit, you know, at heart, I guess. But like everything that I get that means something like that, like all my Eagles training camp gear. And like my first training card, you know, my first pair of wrestling boots, I put it in a box and I just think about passing it to like the next generation because for me, I lived it. I was there. You know what I mean? Like I want them to see it. And I think that's the coolest part about it. >> In your sport, in in your business, how far ahead can you think, right? Because when when you're playing football, everything feels so like in the moment. >> Like I if I if I'm not present here, this dude gonna run me over, >> right? If I'm not present in this meeting, I'm not going to be ready to go to walk through. Right? All those things had to follow in place. So you had to be in the moment where your feet are >> for you. How often do you give yourself an opportunity to say, "Okay, I know where I've come from, >> but this is where I want to be, and here is how I'm mapping out those goals to get there." I think it's the same thing, but it's in the execution. It's like if you think about what's going to happen ahead of you and you're not present in the moment, it's going to look like that as a performer. You know what I mean? You have to be right in this moment and make this mean the most as possible. As far as the moves, my knee that I'm going to throw, any moves that I'mma throw, know my promos, you know what I mean? I might say, "Oh, I got this great line and I want to hit this. Maybe I should save it." I'm like, "Why would I save it?" Tomorrow is not promised, bro. Like, you don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what the crowd going to be rocking. You know what I mean? When you want to use it again. So, right now, bro, everything I'm throwing my best work at the wall every single time. >> That's dope. >> And both sides of wrestling is the entertainment side, >> which you're extremely good at, >> and the the the physical side, which you're also extremely good at, like you said, but you went from one violent sport to another violent sport. And we talk about CTE and all that stuff comes up football all the time. You hear about it more, but I watched the Andre the Giant documentary. >> I, you know, back in the day, I'm we old. I'm watching Bill Goldberg and Jake the Snake Plumber and all them boys, but you hear about >> a lot of those guys, the Ultimate Warrior. You just hear a lot a lot of >> a lot of tragedies and a lot of physical problems. Do you ever think about it? Cuz football wise, people remind you all the time, CTE, head injury, CTE. But with wrestling, I don't think they put as much emphasis on what y'all put your body through. Yeah, I think they do. But like just like back then, like I don't feel like it was studied as much back then. Like now they got special helmets. Like they do more to protect the players now. >> And they do the same thing with us. Like we rehab more. We train different than they train back then. You know what I mean? Like we stretching. >> You know, a lot I got a coach named Matt Bloom. He probably never reached down and touch his toes and he looked like that way he walked today. You know what I mean? So he'll be mad I said that. But it's the truth. >> But you know what I mean? Like now like a lot of us are coming from different backgrounds. Football, basketball, track and field, gymnastics. Like we know how to keep our bodies in tip-top shape. And we know, man, don't hit your head on stuff, man. Like we know that as much as possible. >> But y'all like they do it now. They tackle different now than they tackle back in the day. >> They they tell y'all keep your head out of this. >> You couldn't play today, huh? It's different. It's hard for defense, huh? >> You see, I look crazy cuz Yeah. I used to go head first into everything. >> Yeah. That's the best way to do it to me that I know you come down. >> I ain't know no other way. It was >> It was what it was. >> His shoulder pads was buckled to his head. >> We talked about right your size, right? And we had Cody Rhodess on the show and I think about like who like the way his dad was built, but his dad was a superstar, right? And I used to watch Junkyard Dog and Kamala when I was growing up, right? Like all of these guys. And it wasn't it didn't seem like everyone involved was the most athletic person. >> Mhm. >> That has shifted. >> That has shifted a ton into No, we are getting like you said there are people who are involved in other sports trick who know that they're going to make this transition. Chase Hatch was the fullback at Arizona State >> when my son was there and he knew full wholeheartedly that he was going to graduate and go into wrestling >> and he's done that. >> Mhm. >> How difficult is it when you are with these people when you first start who have had this dream their entire life and you working off of an email you got the day after you sent the XFL your tape. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Right. How difficult was it was it for you initially to kind of fit in with those people as you guys were trying to make this journey? >> I'll be honest with you, fitting in >> it never happened. Like I wasn't born to fit in, you know, in that circle to be honest with you because I came from somewhere totally different. >> Like we already said, like wrestling is not a historically black company, you know what I mean? It's not a football team, you know what I mean? It's wrestling where people come from so many diverse backgrounds. We have a common denominator being entertainment. >> Yeah. Fitting in was never what I was I say specialized at inside these locker room. >> Yeah. >> But when I when that red light come on. >> So the sexy red thing, the electric slide and all that like >> you did your homework. >> Yeah. Like but I'm just saying but but but to me though like those are things that are uniquely >> our culture. Right. Right. Right. >> Right. And you said it like we don't there's nobody that comes to our high schools and goes, "Man, >> you can be in WWE." Right. >> Right. They bring back the football player that went to your high school or whatever it is. Like that's those that are those conversations when you have an opportunity to incorporate a sexy red or when you doing the electric slide on Junth, where do those ideas come from >> and how are you so confident in bringing our culture to a space that has not normally been for us in that way? >> Man, this is the greatest interview I've ever had. I ain't going to lie. Right. I'm going say that first. Yeah. I mean, I feel like I don't know how to do or be anything else. So, like it makes my options very clear. You know what I mean? Like, you don't go out there and do something that you don't know how to do. You know what I mean? I know the electric slide. So, when I hear, >> you know, a beat that I can let you slide too, like >> you ra it like, you know, I I got a good one. So wrestling is so simple if you let it be simple. Simple as something Steve Spurer made for us a long time ago when I decided to walk on to the University of South Carolina. Like bro, I finally made the team 228 right here. Number four uh number four team in the nation. I finally made it. All right, this is our first meeting. Spring practice. Pull out your notebooks. Let's see what Steve Spur got to say. >> He say, "All right, man. Spring practice. this what we're going to do. And he wrote down all the position on the offense on the board. He said, "Quarter, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, quarterbacks. We're going to throw the ball. Running backs run ball. Wide receivers catch the ball." Hopefully. Ain't that right, Debo? This is I was like, "Bro, I waited all this time to get here to find out it's still 52 and a half yards, 100 yards straight, same football. The magic was, man, do what you do." You know what I mean? Another one real quick. You know, I was told I could jump a little bit. I was physical. I could block. He said, he said, "Mattrick, uh, can can you jump and catch a jump ball?" Like, "Yeah, I can catch a jump ball." He said, "All right, let's throw him a jump ball." Threw me a jump ball. Caught it. All right, jump ball wide receiver. Let's put him in. Yeah, >> let's go get it. >> It made it so simple, you know what I mean? I was like, I don't never got to stretch outside myself, you know what I mean? Of course, you want to work on all parts of your game. >> You know what I mean? You want to be wellrounded as possible, >> but Steve Spur Jr. told me this, too. He said, "Whatever it is that you do best, make sure nobody in the room can do that better than you. Because if they can do it better than you, then we we don't need you anymore. If you the if you the 42 guy and you supposed to go get the deep ball, >> go get it. >> Go get it. But you trying to be the best high point. Now you a halfway decent high point and you're not focusing on the deep ball and now you ain't good. It's not that you ain't good. You just ain't know where you're supposed to be. >> I tell this story to kids I would coach. I was obviously undrafted, right? So my big thing was I could play a lot of positions cuz the way my brain worked if you told it to me I remembered it. >> Mhm. >> And I remember the first time my first year in Washington the first walkthrough I went through that I could you know control the adjustments and I would scream them all right and I would try to be the first one that said them. >> And to me it wasn't that I didn't believe that anybody else knew it. I just needed them to know that I knew it. >> I needed them to know that I knew where people lined up. And it would be the same thing on Wednesday when we go and they give us tips and tendencies. They say, you know, 3x one x nasty, right? We're gonna get the mesh. As soon as I saw the formation, I'd line everybody up and I say, "Alert mesh, alert mesh." Right. And it wasn't because >> it wasn't because I was trying to work myself through it. I was trying to let them know that I knew it. Right. >> Right. That I know. You think I'm supposed to be smart. I know that you think I'm supposed to be able to do this. Let me show you every day and prove it to you that I am. and then you worked on the rest of the stuff that you can't do around that. And so that's such a great point and I hope people who are watching get that, man. Like if you have a thing, >> be the best at that thing. This mother effort is funny, >> right? He is funny. He just is. He just is. And if we do a show or if we around him and we don't give him an opportunity to be himself, we missed out. >> But it's also if he doesn't step up and be himself, he's missed out. So, I love that point that you made. >> Yeah. And like RC said, hoping that people that watch the show get the message because your journey is amazing. >> And for guys who tend to um get lost in the transition, >> you know, they they might not make the team or their college careers or their careers are over, they can look at you as inspiration and see that I can continue and find another career. So, I I think that's dope. But I do want to ask you about legacy. Mhm. >> You know, I want to ask you, you know, what would you think or want people to say about, you know, 10 years from now >> when people talk about you, cuz they will talk about you. What do you think they will say about the man behind the character, >> man? Hopefully, you know what they say about Trick Williams, Patrick Belton, that every room he walked in, he lit it up like people feel better about themselves just having an interaction with him. You know what I mean? just like I said, I did motivational speaking and shoot my mom probably ingrained that in me when she told me, "You're a king created by God Almighty." I know what that did for me at that time, in that moment, like those are the perfect words that I needed to hear. If I can do that, just make everybody in that room, you know, just feel like, man, like I got it. I can do this, then, you know, I mean, even if it's just one person, honestly, you know, even if it's just one person. And that's what I do every single time I have my entrance and they whoop that trick. Everybody feel like they tricked Williams for one moment. You know what I'm saying? For one second they could put on their fur, they could put on they lemon pepper steppers and they can whoop that trick with your boy. You know what I mean? And that's >> how did that even become a thing? How did that start for you to where it became, hey, he's synonymous with whoop that trick? >> Man, that's a great question because I told him I wanted an entrance song. I said, "Man, I want that Kendrick Lamar family ties with Baby King." I said, "I love the horns on it. The horns makes it feel like royalty, >> you know, and I'm black, so I want a little hip-hop on it, too. So, give me some 808 drums and give me some, you know, that hip-hop feel." >> Then they sent me back the song. >> Bro, this is perfect. >> Mind you, this is an instrumental song. There's no lyrics on the song. And I knew it was heat. >> So, the first time I, you know, they play the song and I have a match, it's against Ilia Dragon off the cone the mad dragon. It was like my first really big match at NXT and the crowd filled it in perfectly. It was like meant to be whoop that trick. Like they've been chanting whoop that trick. >> But but the song allowed them the opportunity to fill it in. You know what I'm saying? It was like whoop that trick. And you can see me smirk a little bit like >> we GOT SOMETHING. WE GOT >> WE GOT SOMETHING NOW. >> And then like since then it just kind of took off. >> No, I love that. And listen, we all know the Super Bowl of wrestling is WWE Wrestlemania. >> That's right. >> That's the pinnacle of the entire sport, the entire business. That's uh I think April 18th and 19th. >> That's right. >> In Las Vegas, every Monday Night Raw, like everything builds up to that. What are you most looking forward to in this stretch up to Wrestlemania? >> Man, just killing every single show. Like I say, tomorrow ain't promised. So like, man, right now like the momentum's going crazy. I'm thinking Friday, how I'mma go viral again, you know? I mean, what can I do to up what I did last week? Trying to go crazy with this. I want them to say like, this is the greatest WWE superstar of all time. The most entertaining superstar alive. Like, that's what I'm thinking now. Like, how do I go crazier and crazier and crazier every single week? >> You know what's amazing? Your mother spoken into you, you know, that you were a king. And the thing I love the most about WWE is when you guys join the roster, even if they present you to a show or whatever it is, you're always introduced as WWE superstar, >> right? They they give you that moniker. They give you that name to know what the expectation of you is. The expectation of you when you get there isn't to just be here, >> right? It's to excel. It's to be a superstar. And I think that's the one difference in what you do from a lot of other businesses. They're like, "Nah." Like, "Yeah, you got here, but we don't love you like that yet." >> Right. Right. >> Whereas WWE, like, "We love you like that. You still got to show us every night, >> but we believe you're a superstar. We're going to let you know that you're a superstar. Now, you go show the world every single day." And I think that's a lofty expectation to have, but I would rather the company I work for see me that way >> and present me that way than for them to be skeptical about who I am. >> Shout out to Nick Con and Triple H because like they they laying a platform for us WWE superstars like never before. I'm on pivot, man. You know what I mean? I just left Breakfast Club, you know, did ESPN, you know what I mean? Like I've been on the main roster two months. Like >> that's insane in itself, man. So, shout out to them, you know, cuz they make it happen. >> Well, also too, they don't miss though, >> right? They are they are we was talking about talent evaluators early. They are talent evaluators, right? They know what it looks like. They know what it has to be and when they see it, they make sure they put the proper push behind it to make those people make those athletes everything they believe that they could be. >> Bro, you're an entertainer and you do, you know, you sit down with a lot of people. M >> I got a question I know you ain't heard and I have to ask it. >> Mhm. >> You're you're engaged to Lash Legend. I am. >> She's what? 6 feet 200. >> 200. >> You 6'5 260. >> That's right. >> There you go. >> What's y Bro, what's y'all bet frame made of? >> What y'all I And y'all both wrestle. I know y'all get after it. Like you got to have cedar blocks, >> 2x4 something under the bed. >> That's right, man. You know, I keep that. What is that? Alaskan king, California king. One of them kings over there. >> The big king. >> It was the big king. You know what I mean? One of them. >> I knew that was COMING THOUGH. >> BECAUSE I'M JUST TELL I'M LIKE GOODNESS GRACIOUS. YEAH. WELL, they over there coming off coming off the nightstand. >> Look, man. The NIL deals about to be crazy, >> man. You know what I mean? I'm thinking I'm thinking Ford, you know what I mean? That's my exit plan. You know, >> you got that John Bra got that John Brown, man. I ain't trying to be your friend now. You know what I mean? >> I can never be surprised with you as about the bed frame. >> That's a lot of on that bed. A lot of human getting after it, man. >> Lady said she wish she could been a linebacker. >> Yeah, >> man. You know, and my paws asked me, she said, you know, you know, man, you going out there to wrestle. You going to date a wrestler? I'm like, y'all ain't going to date no wrestler. You know what I mean? Here I am. Can't stop. >> I found your baby. >> Here I am. >> Bianca Bianca and TZ, man. You know what I mean? >> Can't Can't stop God. But no, we always ask our guests their biggest pivot in life. >> That's that one moment you can look back on and say because this happened to me or for me, I am who I am today. >> It's definitely, you know, I mean, going through that that storm at Hampton University, >> you know, when I had to decide that I'm going to take a leap of faith, you know, I mean, I've been jumping ever since. So, you know, whichever camera's on me, like, man, if you got something that you think you want to do, think you might do, something that you dreaming of doing, and it's in your heart and you know it's something that's legit, man. Go for it. Full speed, 100%. Don't ask nobody else for their opinion on it. Like, go make it happen because you never know, you know, I mean, what's going to happen from that. >> So, my last question, this is a total wrestling question. >> Wrestlemania, you're the guy. Who is your dream opponent for the championship belt? >> Roman Reigns. >> Why Roman Reigns? >> Cuz he's the flag bearer of the company for the past three, four, five, six, seven, eight years. How long? I mean, and that's all due respect to Cody Rhodess who's done an amazing job. An amazing job. Like he's still on top of his game. CM Punk doing his thing. Randy Orton, who's talking trash, said that I'm not 6'5. We the same size. you just got quad muscles. But uh but Roman Reigns is the guy, you know what I mean? Like the guy who put the company on his back, you know what I mean? If I want to be in the business and I say I want to be the best of all time, I got to see the best of all time. And right now that's Roman Reigns. >> Man, I love that. Bro, this was so much fun, man. I think the the insight for you to talk about the transition, the parallels between the sports, but also man this show is called the pivot and you are a perfect example of that. You had one dream, that dream didn't manifest, but you manifested another one. >> And I mean, not everybody has the wherewithal or the fight and the ability to persevere like you do, man. So, best of luck, man. Can't wait to see what you got up next, >> man. Thank y'all so much for having me, man. It's a dream come true being here on the pivot, man. That's my brother. >> You should have bought that car for >> you get turned down twice. You ran from the baby. >> HE KEPT TALKING ABOUT YEAH, I SIGNED every >> I was probably going to get a massage to get ready for the game. >> It was after the game, Fred. >> After the game, >> look him hanging again. HE TRYING TO DAB YOU OFF. >> MR. TAYLOR hold up limitless kind of pinning it. I hear the witness it got my people feeling militant. When I'm feeling got me up on a mission got me up knowing me I got the key on this vision I can trust trust limitless [ __ ] kind of here to witness it. Got my people feeling way upcious.