Mark Henry recently talked to Digital Spy to Promote WWE Money in the Bank and the new Attitude Era book. Below are the highlights:
Was there anything in the Attitude Era that you think went too far?
-Ā āSeeing Mankind and Undertaker in the Cell, jumping off the top. I thought it was a little much. But itās the moments in ourĀ businessĀ that make up theĀ history. They told aĀ completeĀ story that thereās no limit to what we can do. And thatās what I got out of it.ā
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Does the WWE miss theĀ competitionĀ from the WCW to spur it on?
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-Ā āI donāt think so. I think theĀ businessĀ in its current state is better than itās ever been, and that includes the Attitude Era ā from aĀ businessĀ standpoint. From a fan standpoint you like to see people mix it up a little more. You like to see or hear some profanity or adult situation or whatever. But right now thebusinessĀ is working. And you canāt stop a boulder from rolling, youāve just got to let itĀ playĀ out.ā
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You had a match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 22 ā what did you think about him eventually losing his streak to Brock Lesnar?
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-Ā āIf youāre going to lose to somebody losing to a guy like Brock Lesnar is not something that people will laugh at. Brock is arguably one of the top ten fighters on Earth. Heās young, heās big, heās powerful and heās fearless. Heās a dominate entity in sportsĀ entertainment. If youāre going to lose to someone itsoundsĀ like a pretty good option.ā
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How do you think the Nation of Domination would be received in 2015?
āI think it would be taken very strongly. I think it would succeed. But itās a different time, and the militance and the collective thought process on people wanting to turn things because of color is always gonna be there, but is less prevalent now than it ever was. I think it would work but it would go through some struggle.ā
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YourĀ retirementĀ promo withĀ John CenaĀ is one of the best ever ā where did that come from?
āIāve been trying to retire for the last eight years and theĀ businessĀ wonātĀ allowĀ me to. Iām at the point now to where I appreciate the crowd and I appreciate the locker room and all of the people that I work with and work for. āBut Iām getting to the point to where Iām getting too old for this stuff and I need to drift off into the sunset. Thatās where that came from. The opportunity to pull the wool overĀ John Cenaās eyes was too good. He was believing and I took the chance to do it.ā
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When you do finally retire, what would like to be your lasting legacy?
āI have it already. Longevity. Not only longevity, but Iāve been in theĀ businessĀ for 19 years in August. How many people have nine year careers, nevertheless another ten added to it? Iāve been through from ā96 to now. Iāve learned more than a normal person would learn because I wanted to. I understand marketing. I understand licensing. I understand theĀ businessĀ side of ourĀ business. That comes from paying attention and wanting to do better, not just as an in-ring performer but as someone who loves the industry. Iāve left my legacy. Iāve been a success in every facet of theĀ businessĀ in every era. I challenge anybody to go through their career and not have a failure as a talent. Granted thereās a hundredĀ wrestlingĀ monikers and gimmicks if you will that never made it. Thatās something that I never had to cross.ā