Despite what Bully Ray says, D-Von Dudley is certain that the Reverend D-Von character got over.
WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley was a recent guest on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet to discuss a wide variety of subjects. When asked about being separated from Bubba Ray in the 2002 WWE Draft, D-Von said the idea came from Vince McMahon. He also confirmed that McMahon was the person who came up for the Reverend D-Von character.
“It was Vince’s,” D-Von Dudley confirmed. “Vince had this idea of us going on separate ways. Also, there was talks about Vince having a hard-on no point intended — maybe I shouldn’t use that phrase with what I’m about to say — but he had it in for the Catholic Church. Because remember, at that time, we had people picketing, protesting us, and being hypocritical, especially people from the church but meanwhile, this was at a time when the church was having controversy within its own home, with the priests with little boys and things like that.
“So there was always an issue when people are being hypocritical, especially back during that time. We’re doing what we’re doing, but yet they’re doing what they’re doing and getting away with it for so many years. But meanwhile, you want to chastise what we do in the ring. So it was that then plus Benny Hinn, some of the TV evangelists, Jim Bakker. He was basically making a dig at them. That’s what he was doing, and he used me to do it. And I just remember going home and asking my parents. I was like, ‘Listen, they want me to do this. I would like to do it, but I would like to get your blessing.’ My mother was a little against it. But my father was like, ‘When you’re done doing that in the ring, you come to where it really belongs in the pulpit. That’s what you really do it and spread the word.’ And I said you got it, sir. And it took off from there.
D-Von says Bully Ray likes to give him a hard time about the Reverend character not getting over, but he respectfully disagrees. D-Von points to his victories over some of WWE’s biggest names, including a 2002 win on SmackDown over Triple H, as a reason why his partner is wrong.
“You know, a lot of people — Bubba makes fun of me. He says, ‘Oh, we don’t talk about that Reverend D-Von because he didn’t get over.’ I’m like, bullshit it didn’t. Look at all the people that I beat, Randy Orton, John Cena, Val Venis, Mark Henry, and the biggest one, Triple H. And I always said this, if Triple H didn’t believe that the Reverend D-Von gimmick was getting over the way it did then he would have never in a million years, especially at that time, would have laid down for me. He would have never let that happen.
“And Hunter had a lot of power and a lot of say-so back then. I’m not gonna say even more than he does now. But he had a lot of say-so back then; he had just married Stephanie. Him and Vince are freakin tight. They’re not butting heads or anything like that. They’re full-blown; here they go. If he had a disagreement at all, he would have said no; I don’t think so. I’ll beat D-Von. But I’m not letting D-Von go over on me.”
When asked about working with a very young Batista, D-Von revealed just how little The Animal knew when he started his WWE career.
“I mean, this big guy, he was massive. Ten times the size he is now,” D-Von Dudley said. “I just remember looking at him going, good god. I just wondered what the hell are they gonna do. As long as they don’t have him turn on me. Because if they do that, he’s got to beat the shit out of me, and it’s gonna hurt.
“And I just remember Dave didn’t really know anything. Like for instance, we did a spot in the match with myself and Triple H where I would throw Triple H on the outside and take the referee. Hunter would be getting up, leaning up against the post; Batista sees him, does the sign of the cross goes to clothesline him, but Hunter gets out of the way, and Batista hits the post and goes down.
“And I remember Batista had come to me and said, ‘Rev, I gotta ask you a question.’ So what’s up? He goes, ‘How do I do this?’ I go, ‘How do you do what?’ He goes, ‘With Hunter.’ I go, ‘Batista, what are you talking about?’ He goes, ‘How do I clothesline him when he moves out the way and then hit the post.’ I go, ‘You’re messing with me, right?’ He goes, ‘No, I’m not.’ I go, ‘Wait a minute. You’ve never done anything like this?’ He goes, ‘No, at OVW, all they had me do was come in and do run-ins because I was so massive and big they never really worked with me the way they did with Brock [Lesnar] and Randy [Orton] and [John] Cena. I was just the guy that came in and nailed people. And that was it.’
“I was like, ‘Oh my god, you gotta be kidding me.’ I’m trying to get a character over, Reverend D-Von, after being in a tag team match for almost 12 years at that time. Now you put me in singles, and you put me with a guy who’s green as shit. And now I gotta help him get along and help him get over as well as myself. How the hell am I gonna do this? And I’m already scared to death about going on my own. It worked, though. It worked for a little bit of time that we did, and then somebody pulled the plug on it.”
READ MORE: D-Von Dudley Reveals The Cinematic Origins Of His Name And Character
What do you make of D-Von Dudley’s comments? Did you enjoy the Reverend D-Von character? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
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