Damian Priest On Not Initially Being Invested In Leon Ruff Storyline, What Changed His Mind, Working With Johnny Gargano

In a recent edition of X-Pac 12360, Damian Priest discussed not initially being invested in the Leon Ruff storyline, working with Johnny Gargano, and much more. You can read his comments below.

Damien Priest on not initially being invested in the Leon Ruff storyline: “When we first started this whole ordeal, I’m completely honest and I even explained it to Leon to where I wasn’t 100 percent invested in it. I didn’t know what to expect. Of course, everybody has a better idea, everybody is the best booker ever, right? So, I had other ideas and wasn’t sure. I didn’t know him, so to me, it was like, ‘What are we doing?’ And then we did it. I got to meet him and be around him a little bit more and actually have a conversation with the kid, and as we progressed, I couldn’t have imagined a cooler storyline that was about me and somebody else but actually elevated and helped somebody else. Super cool.

“I really like Leon, and he’s actually just as lovable and humble and respectful. The person you see on TV, that’s really who he is. I’m really happy he’s getting the spotlight. I don know what his career is gonna be, I don’t know what is gonna develop from this, but I look forward to watching it and following the ride like anybody else. He hit my heart too, just like most of the audience. I felt a bond to the person. He loves this business. He’s a little younger and less experienced, so that raw love that you wish to find in something like this and something that we cherish like this business – I’m so happy for him and I’m glad he got this opportunity. I’m glad it happened, and I’ve learned my lesson in not everything is gonna be what you think, but it’s probably gonna be pretty good if you just trust.”

On his current character in NXT: “I’ve been enjoying the aspect of just showing who I am. Just be you and have a good time, but don’t pretend just for the sake of wanting people to like you or something like that. I’ve just been enjoying being me and having a good time, and also, being able to work with other people, whether it’s elevate myself or elevate others. I’ve been enjoying this little run we’ve been having lately.”

On working with Johnny Gargano: “It’s been said before – Johnny Gargano is an incredible technician. He’s a wizard inside the ring. You can hear it all you want, but when you work with the guy – man, that guy is good. Johnny is one of the best I’ve ever been in the ring with. He’s so easy to work with. Every positive word you can think of, I really don’t have any negatives.”

If using any of the above quotes, please credit X-Pac 12360 with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.