WWE Cruiserweight Rich Swann recently did a Q&A with Auburn Pub and below are some highlights:
Do you know much about your role at WrestleMania? You had that match with (WWE Cruiserweight Champion) Neville last week and they were setting that up as whoever wins that will be carrying the belt in, but unfortunately you came up short. So do you know what your role is gonna be at the show?
“I don’t have any direction right now, but you know, things change. And if anything happens for WrestleMania, if I get an opportunity, it’s just like I’ve taken anything before: I’ll take that opportunity to the fullest and watch that thing explode like TNT. But you know, if not, then that’s OK. This is my first year and I’m very happy learning about every single thing that goes on, and how WrestleMania is going to change lives. If Austin Aries does end up challenging Neville at WrestleMania that’s one thing that I’m definitely going to keep my eye on. You got a guy like Austin Aries, his stature — look at his accomplishments in the industry and what he’s done. The guy is definitely a very great opponent for someone like Neville. And you got a guy like Neville, whose attitude has switched, a full 180-turn, and he has not really cared about what the people have to say about him. And he’s really taking the role as the king of the cruiserweights. You can say what you want about the guy, his tactics and his attitude, but he is one of the best, if not the best performer in the WWE today. One of the best athletes I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve spent the better part of six years of my life with that man, all over the world, and I know him like the back of my hand. He’s at the top of his game right now and I feel like this is his WrestleMania.”
It’s kind of different being a cruiserweight today because you have a lot of guys wrestling in the heavyweight division, if you will, who are wrestling similar styles to you. Guys like Sami Zayn and Seth Rollins. Do you think that makes it more challenging for you guys to separate yourselves?
“I don’t think it makes it hard at all. I don’t think there’s a challenge at all. Why even separate? We’re all professional wrestlers doing the same thing, you know? We’re all entertainers, coming out and killing it night in and night out. No matter what. If Conor McGregor with the UFC — he could probably fight a heavyweight, why not? But he’s in the lightweight division, you know what I’m saying? He’s doing the same thing as a heavyweight.”
You’ve only been in WWE for a little while now, so I imagine there are a lot of guys you have yet to mix it up with who you want to. Who are your biggest dream opponents on the roster?
“That’s a tough one, because there are so many guys. I’d love to one day have a match with Shinsuke Nakamura. Man, you know what, I take that back. As much as I love Shinsuke, the biggest dream match of mine is Chris Jericho.”
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.
