Fr: When are you going to shave that beard?
WB: When do I shave my beard? I think I never shave my beard! I grew a beard when I had a broken arm. I had become very lazy, I stayed at home all day watching TV, so I just let it grow. And finally I decided that I liked. So for now I do not plan to shave, but who knows? Maybe I’ll shave when I would again like a little change.
Fr: We will talk about wrestling now … What’s your next target after WrestleMania? You have the Intercontinental Title, that’s great, what’s next?
WB: I really want to be World Champion Heavyweight. There has never been a World Champion British Heavyweight. And that’s why I’m here, I have to change that. And I cross my fingers to get the opportunity.
Fr: As you pointed out you just Britain, are there things that you miss when you’re particularly in the United States?
WB: Yes, absolutely! Football I miss when I’m there, I’m a big fan of the team … this is a team of high school division in the UK, it is the club of my hometown. It is very difficult to keep abreast of it. The food in the UK I miss. The food is so unique there … Foreigners complain about English food, they say it is the worst in the world, but I really miss it. I miss the pubs, there is nothing really like it here. And of course my friends and I miss my family. Yes, there are many things in the UK that I miss.
Fr: I guess you love in the UK when you’re on tour, there other cities or countries where you like?
WB: Yes, I’ve always loved in Paris. There are always really crazy fans out there. So there is always a lot of fun. The arena is filled in each case at Paris. The fans are really noisy … Munich is also cool place. I had the chance to go there for a few days for a promotional tour a few years ago, and I love the city of Munich. I’d love to go there for one day Oktoberfest. Maybe when I have my retirement. I want to see it, it looks amazing. Anywhere in Europe, in fact, I’m European and I traveled a lot when I was young with my family etc. … I love Europe in general. It’s always great for us to be here and I am very happy to do this Smackdown tour.
Fr: What is it you that some fans do not like you and they boo you when they see you?
WB: I’m fine. I mean I have no problem with the fact that people boo me. Since my first day in wrestling, even before the WWE, I almost always played the villain, and for me it is quite normal if people boo me, I have no problem with that. It’s just part of our business. We are here to give people storylines. If people want to hate me I’m fine if people want to encourage me that’s fine too. As we have a reaction and you see they’re having fun!
Fr: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
WB: In ten years I see myself on a beach somewhere, my laptop off and a beer in hand. Not having to get up early. With a little luck I’ll have success, I retire, and I’ll be the former World Heavyweight Wade Barrett.
Fr: On a beach in England?
WB: Certainly not in England, no! (laughs) I would die frozen on a beach in the UK. So I’ll probably be in the Bahamas or something like that.
Fr: Is there a Hall of Famer who you would like to team up?
WB: Yes. Mick Foley is someone I’ve always been a fan since I was little. I have read several of his books I think he’s a great athlete, truly one of my favorites. I think the team Wade Barrett & Dude Love was rather interesting, an odd couple but interesting.
Fr: What are the opponents that you fear the most, or against which you like best?
WB: I’ve always loved to face Kofi Kingston in fact I beat him to win the Intercontinental Title and he’s just an amazing athlete. Very fair … He’s a bit my opposite in fact, his style is totally different from mine but we always wrestled together, we had some very interesting games and you’ve seen the kind of challenges I faced when I stepped into the ring against him. Randy Orton is also amazing, and I think this is probably the best athlete in the WWE. His movements are so natural; it’s great to get in the ring against him. This is someone who I wrestled against him. And Sheamus, we know each other since our arrival in the WWE and even before, it is both the same kind of major European wrestlers and can take a very brutal style against each other. I have lots of blue when I face, but it’s always fun to have someone like that in front of you. If I had to choose three people that would be them.
Fr: Speaking of fighting, your new finisher called the Bull Hammer before it was Wasteland. The Wasteland lost some fans; one day will it make a comeback?
WB: Yes 100%, it is still part of my arsenal, it will return one day. This is a great decision and it was very helpful to me when I arrived. I think I progressed with the Bull Hammer but Wasteland is still there. So do not be surprised if you see him again soon.
Fr: How did you find this Finisher?
WB: Simple, I watched former wrestlers. I talked to William Regal and he gave me some suggestions when I came back, and Triple H came in and also gave me suggestions, we sought ideas together for a while and the Bull Hammer appeared, and I think it’s a pretty cool plug that goes well with my character.
WWE.fr: What it makes you to be a movie star and what are your plans in this area?
WB: I really enjoyed myself! It happened because I was injured and I was not able to climb into the ring for a while because of the operation. It’s like I’ve had the opportunity to play in a movie, I think it was quite natural, and if in the future there are more opportunities of this kind that I’d really have to seize . It was an incredible experience.
WWE.fr: Thank you!
WB: Thank you very much!
