Mark Henry Explains How Beating Randy Orton In 2011 Changed His Life

In an interview with Isaiah 1 (via Wrestling Inc), Mark Henry spoke about his 2011 feud with Randy Orton and how beating him for the World title changed his life. That match happened at Night of Champions that year, in the middle of Henry’s ‘Hall of Pain’ run on Smackdown.

He said: “I won titles before but it was not at the level of a world championship. But man, I just felt like the fans got served when I won, because it wasn’t just about me, it was about giving the fans what they really wanted. Because there was times where I got beat and the crowd would boo, and I was the bad guy. They respected my work so much that they were like, ‘Oh man, I don’t believe that. That’s just garbage. That’s bull.’ I really grew to appreciate the fans because there was a time when I was so into my character that I isolated myself and, I mean, until I retired I never did autograph signings, I never went to comic cons. I just didn’t put myself in a place where fans would get to know me, right? All I wanted them to know was what they saw on television. And now I go to Comic Con, I go to autograph signings, and I’ve met thousands and thousands of people that I took a picture with, shook hands with, talked to about their kids, and you name it. I had a guy tell me that him listening to me saved his life.“