Bobby Steveson reflects on working with Roderick Strong during his time in NXT.
During his WWE run, Bobby Steveson, formerly known as Damon Kemp, worked with Roderick Strong in Diamond Mine. He later joined No Quarter Catch Crew after Strong left WWE and joined AEW. Steveson has since departed WWE, as the company opted not to renew his new contract.
In an interview with Fightful, Bobby Steveson discussed working with Roderick Strong. He said that he wished he asked him more questions. (H/t Fightful for the transcription)
“I think the one regret I have is not asking him a lot more questions about his work and learning what wrestling was,” Bobby Steveson said. “Because at the time, dude, I think I was five months in when I got to wrestle with Diamond Mine and I didn’t know the etiquette of pick the veteran’s brain and just like get to know their background and how they work, what you can work on, taking them aside and like getting in the ring with them. So I was still learning what the business was. I didn’t know how to approach them, like asking, cause I didn’t want to seem like a bother. So that’s one thing that I do regret because, like I said, I didn’t come from a pro wrestling background.
“So I knew who the stars were growing up, but I wasn’t the guy that was watching it religiously. It wasn’t because I didn’t like wrestling. It was just wasn’t what I was into at the time growing up. But now that I look back and I seen, I obviously wasn’t watching NXT until like I started getting the hiring process and I watched every show and every Monday and Friday night show. You look back now you get to see what him, what he did and Undisputed Era and just like going back and watch some of his matches. I was like, ‘Man, I really wish I was able to like get in the ring with the guy and just pick his brain and just like learn more.’“
Bobby Steveson: Teaming With Roderick Strong Was Great
Bobby Steveson also discussed teaming with Roderick Strong. He noted that he wished that he was able to pick Strong’s brain more. Steveson also stated that teaming with Strong was great. He recalled how experienced Strong was.
“I’m not saying I was being nonchalant in any way or shape or form. It was just more so just like showing up to work and then doing what we had to do for promo or do the match and then just be done with it. So I wish I was able to just pick his brain more. I think that just came with inexperience too, just like not knowing what pro wrestling was and just how to go about it. But teaming with him, it was great. Just so much experience ‘cause, like I mentioned, five months in, you tend to walk your matches through step by step.
“A guy like that who’s been doing it for so long with the pedigree he has, he’s not gonna wanna talk about everything step by step by step by step by step. So that was a big learning thing for me too, is just like, ‘Hey, when we go out there, you don’t necessarily have to call your shine in the back. You can call it out there,’ but obviously him, his experience was way different from mine.”
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