O’Neil informs that Bautista opened the door to WWE for him by getting him a chance in FCW many years ago. He was initially supposed to do a 2-day trial with WWE, a Friday and a Monday, but after his Friday try-out he got a call and was informed that they wanted to sign him. He was about to begin coaching football in Florida so he had to make a quick decision in terms of what he wanted to pursue in life, but his children validated his decision to pursue wrestling.
He admits that wrestling didn’t come easily to him, and it was the hardest thing he’s ever done. The physical side of the business came naturally to him because he has been involved in physical sports his entire life. The ‘performance’ side of the business was a real struggle for him and the backstage politics were hard to get used to as well.
He says that he’s not in love with the professional wrestling business because it can be too political for him at some points, but he’s very much in love with what the business does for people. It gives people an opportunity to make a living and it also provides countless memories for children and older fans alike.