ROH Star Shane Taylor "My Goal Is To Take Over The Company" - WNS Podcast Interview

This week, the guys are joined by Ring of Honor star Shane Taylor to discuss the upcoming Texas tour, his thoughts on AEW, and much more! The guys also talk about Raw, Smackdown, and the rumored departures for WWE.  

WNS Podcast Interview with Shane Taylor

ON WHAT INSPIRED HIM TO PURSUE A CAREER IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING

At first I wanted to play football. But then after going with my dad to a few shows. Namely shows at the Richfield Coliseum. There was a show there where Kerry Von Erich went up against The Warlord and it went to a double count out. But the vibe they sent throughout the building and the way they had everybody reacting just had me hooked and ever since then it was just something I knew that I really wanted to do.

ON WHAT PROBLEMS HE’S HELPED SOLVE OUTSIDE THE RING

That more deals with things in my past and I’ve discussed on numerous interviews. Used to not always be the same guy that I am now and I credit having my daughter and my wife now for changing things around for me. But, everything to do with just being on the wrong side of things and now and now I am where Iam. It’s just a constant battle to stay on the straight and narrow and stay away from things in my past. But that’s essentially where all that comes from. A lot of people from places, especially Cleveland, where I come from, have to Mae those choices and have to live sort of in survival mode and people that come from backgrounds and see me perform and know that sort of stuff my character resonates with them because it’s something they go through daily

ON HIS CURRENT DAILY ROUTINE TO HELP LOSE WEIGHT

Just smarter with the diet. Road life is kind of tough. Especially you’re on the road late and there’s not really that much stuff open. You can’t really get the healthy options so it’s learning to pack meals and learning to do different things that I know are going to keep me in the kind of shape that I need to be in to perform at my best.

ON HIS INITIAL REACTION UPON LEARNING HE’D BEEN ADDED TO THE RING OF HONOR ROSTER

When I first signed it was sort of surreal you know. Knowing the history of Ring Of Honor and the guys that have come through before me. Guys like Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Nigel McGuinness and all the names that people are familiar with. Knowing what that legacy means and knowing what the history means and to be a part of that, when I first signed I sat back for about 10-15 minutes or so and really just sat there holding it in my hand because it was a moment I had worked so hard for and me and some of my best friends had talked about for years.and it was finally...you know right in my hands. It was a surreal moment then and now being under exclusive deal now that sort of feeling still applies because now that they see value in me and value in what I do and they think I can be an integral part of the company going forward so there’s a lot of pride in that for me and a lot of emphasis for me to prove them right

ON HIS GOAL FOR ROH IN 2019

My goal is to take over the company. My goal is to be the number one guy in Ring Of Honor with the guys we have. Guys like Jeff Cobb, The Briscoes and The Kingdom with Matt Taven and All the additions we’ve added like Haskins and Bandido and now Rush we just signed. There’s a lot of talent there, there’s a lot of competition there but I don’t do anything in my life to be 2nd place so my goal is still to be the number one guy in Ring Of Honor and that starts by winning championships so every single championship that is up for grabs is in my line of sight . Namely, of course, the Ring Of Honor World Television Title currently being held by Jeff Cobb so I’ve got a bit of unfinished business with him and I’ll be taking care of that very very soon

ON HIS PREPARATION FOR OPPONENTS

I mean with a guy with the skill sets like Jeff Cobb you have to be smart about what you do in the ring you know. He’s a very strong guy, he’s a very athletic guy as well so in times where you think you’re safe from danger, you’re not really safe from him you know. He can do standing moonsaults and things of that sort so the guy is incredible and I’ll give him his due. I just have to make sure that instead of worrying about how to defend what he’s doing, I concentrate on being effective in my offense with my striking and the things that I do and the ability that I have. As long as I worry about what I’m going to do then I think I’ll be okay.

ON OTHER OPPONENTS HE’S FACED/WOULD LIKE TO FACE AGAIN

Jay Lethal. Like I said, I don’t do anything to be 2nd place and Jay Lethal right now is the Ring Of Honor World Champion. He is the number one guy in the company. So, you want those chances to be in the ring with guys that are better than you, that are ahead of you on the roster so to speak. Anytime that you can get in there with the man and test yourself and see where you’re at you should always take those chances so I’m anxiously, anxiously looking forward to another match with Jay Lethal. 

THOUGHTS ON ALL ELITE WRESTLING

As far as the locker room goes, it’s full steam ahead for us as normal. We’re used to guys leaving, we’re used to guys coming in. Every year guys leave and every year guys do their own thing so Ring Of Honor doesn’t really reset we just reload so best of luck to them and all their endeavours.its good to see for the professional wrestling business for more guys to get jobs and for more guys to get work and make cash so that’s a great thing and best of luck to them going forward. Competition only brings out the best in people so we can look forward to a,lot of great shows and a lot of great characters and a lot of great stories going forward from all the companies out there because we all have to step our game up

SOME OF THE BIGGER INFLUENCES IN HIS LIFE

My dad has been one. Growing up on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio seeing a guy like him not only leave the military but go to work every single day. Tired, hurt, sick. It didn’t matter. He was just always there to provide for us, for me and my brothers and that work ethic was instilled in me. The women I’ve had in my life from all of my aunts to my mom before she passed. My wife now just sort of guided me along the way. Some of my best friends in the world. Guys like Keith Lee, guys like Ray Rowe, Jax Dane. My career just guided me on the path that I need to be on. I give credit to Ray Rowe for so many things in my career. If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be in Ring Of Honor. I may not even be wrestling at all so he deserves a lot of that credit and my job now is just to capitalize on all those opportunities those people have given me and make sure I make them proud by what I do

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