Name: Wade Barrett
The College Times newspaper of Phoenix, AZ recently phoned Wade Barrett for an interview before he appears in Phoenix next Tuesday with the WWE SmackDown brand.
Smack Down, Fast Rise: Superstar newcomer Wade Barrett looks to recoup at PHX Smackdown
By Patrick O’MalleyLife as a pro wrestler may look glamorous, but according to the WWE’s Wade Barrett, it’s hard work.
City after city, night after night. Work, sleep and travel – it’s really not much different than the life of a businessman.
“You don’t actually get too much spare time, wrestling every night in a different town,” Barrett said. “I was just in Spain, then we flew back to Rhode Island.” Cap all that travel with a vigorous 5 to 6-day workout schedule, and strict eating guidelines; and you have a good sense of the commitment if takes to do what Barrett and others in the WWE circuit do.
Fans will get to see the result up close on Tuesday, when WWE Smackdown visits the US Airways Center. Limited tickets are available. Other stars scheduled to perform include Sheamus, Christian, Randy Orton and Sin Cara.
For Barrett, Tuesday’s event will be another step in a quick rise to WWE prominence following his win on Season 1 of WWE NXT, a mash-up reality/competition program produced by WWE. In it, camera crews pair wrestlers in a Florida developmental league with WWE pros and put them through a serious of competitions.
Barrett – who had been wrestling in developmental leagues since late 2006 – won handily; and was awarded a WWE contract. He won the Intercontinental Championship early this year, then lost it on June 19 to Ezekiel Jackson, who is also scheduled to wrestle at US Airways this Tuesday.
We caught with Barrett via phone to ask him a few questions:
College Times: What’s the greatest achievement you’ve had in the WWE, and within your entire wrestling career?
Wade Barrett: Really if I had to pick the main thing, it’s getting signed. There are tens of thousands of wrestlers. It’s almost like trying to get into the NFL and all a very small percentage make it.
Read the rest of the interview after the jump!
CT: How did you go from being a bareknuckle boxer to this?
WB: It used to be legal, it’s now illegal, I don’t tend to go into to much detail, because it doesn’t reflect too well on WWE, I can make a lot more money here. … I don’t regret it though, I don’t regret very much of my life.
CT: What is your daily routine, for someone on the outside wondering what you do outside the ring?
WB: I don’t actually get too much spare time. You got me on my day off, and I’m doing some media interviews. You’re wrestling every night in a different town. I do five or six workouts a week, and you’re eating and cooking and things like that. (During certain periods), I get a break. I live in Florida. It’s the best place in world to go to the beach, or watch a film and relax.
CT: It’s a college paper, and students are in the gym all hours of the day and night. What are some tips for the guys especially to get into great shape and even pack on weight?
WB: Yeah, I wouldn’t want to give a specific routine, my body type is naturally skinny. You wouldn’t find my diet in many exercise or diet books. I get a lot of calories more than anyone would recommend. I eat peanut butter, flaxseed oil, chicken, steak, protein shakes. We’re up at 11:30 at night and not many places are open, if we eat at McDonalds we make sure we’re careful to eat healthy, even then.
WWE Smackdown, US Airways Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, Tuesday, June 28, 6:45 p.m., $20-$75
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