Lex Luger was the guest interview on Matt Koon‘s second episode of MLW Radio’s Total Engagement. In the first part of the conversation, “The Total Package” details of how he became a changed man while conversing with a jail chaplain in prison, the importance of his faith today, how he wrestled Ric Flair in a one hour broadway with only six months of experience and not knowing what the other Four Horsemen looked liked when he became associated with the group. Quotes from the interview are below (transcription credit should go to @DominicDeAngelo of WrestleZone):
Lex Luger on the “Old Lex” and how his faith changed him:
It would be hard to exaggerate. That’s who I was back then and then I’m not proud of it but that’s who I was back then and thankfully, my life has changed. I know Matt that you know that I had an up close and personal transformation in my life on April 23rd of 2006 when a jail chaplain I met in jail introduced me to Jesus…my life my purpose completely changed at that point. My outlook on life, I had a peace I’ve never had. Chasing it every other way before then and I’m very thankful for that. It took the focus off me, which was always my focus back then, and put it on to honoring God and serving other people and it made life a lot simpler for me and boy, I had moments of happiness back then don’t get me wrong, but I now have a true fulfillment and joy in my life and that’s really the difference. I really can’t take credit for that, that’s all about God. It really is.”
On if having someone peel his shrimp for him would be something “Old Lex” would do:
It would. Yeah, I could be a real prima-donna and that kind of thing. I had a real thing about my hands always being clean and stuff. I was an original hand sanitizer guy so I don’t recall that specific incident with that, but that would definitely fit the “Old Lex” (I call him). That definitely would have fit the “Old Lex” MO for sure.
Lex Luger on how much the Apter magazines helped to ignite his wrestling career:
I didn’t know back then that was a big deal of how the wrestling fans around the country got their first exposure to me. Yeah, that was a huge factor in me getting such a, I call it the “Fourth of July Fireworks” that really basing me for 15 years. I got a rocket ship start and the magazines definitely played a big part in that for sure. I’m very appreciative of that looking back now.
On who introduced him to Jim Crockett Promotions:
Initially it was ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair who came down and wrestled me an hour broadway. I’d only been wrestling six months. Somehow got me through the match (that’s a whole story into itself) and I’ll never forget Ric called a sunset flip in the match, I didn’t know what a sunset flip was which is a very basic move in wrestling. He goes ‘oh my goodness’…He must have seen something good out of that hour that what I thought was a debacle and Ric went back and talked to Dusty and the Crocketts and they ended up offering me to bring me in a few months later.
On if he was promised anything in the future by being a part of the Four Horsemen or if he was just taking the opportunities as they came:
I was taking it as it came, no big promises were made to me. They didn’t have to promise me I looked at it as a step up, this is a big opportunity. I did know enough about wrestling to know that.
Lex Luger on not knowing the Four Horsemen when he first became associated with the faction:
I did not know how big it was. I didn’t know how big the Horsemen were, I’ve heard of them.
Only guy I knew in the Horsemen or ever met was Ric Flair and I didn’t even know what JJ, Tully, Arn or Ole even looked like, believe it or not. Yeah. That’s how clueless I was on that.
