nZo Explains How He’s Reinventing Himself as a Pro Wrestler and Rising From the Ashes, Says Fans Will See ‘The Real 1’

– Sports Illustrated recently interviewed former WWE Superstar nZo (aka Enzo Amore), who discussed his upcoming match against Brian Pillman Jr. The match is set for Friday’s Northeast Wrestling Prison Break event in Poughkeepsie, New York. Below are some highlights.

nZo on how he’s reinventing himself: “You’re going to see a wrestling match this Friday, unlike the Enzo you were used to seeing. I am reinventing myself, I’m rising from the ashes, and you’ll start to find out this Friday that the only thing real in this business are the money, the miles, and me. … I won’t have any entrance music and I won’t have a microphone. I’ve been training in boxing gyms and in MMA. You’re going to see ‘The Real 1.’ I’m reinventing myself as a formidable pro wrestler.”

nZo on bringing in new opportunities for brands to collaborate with wrestlers: “When I was with WWE, I got Champs Sports to give me a Champs Sports sneaker deal and had my own pair of Jordans. When I got fired by WWE, that persisted and now other people are making money in the shoe game and the fashion world. Now I’m going to be bringing new opportunities for brands to collaborate with independent wrestlers. We’re independent artists working in a social media driven market, and pro wrestlers need to be influencers and collaborate with brands.”

nZo on not creating a sequel to his WWE career: “I loved my WWE career and it’s perfect the way it was, so I won’t give it a sequel. The character of Enzo Amore, the one who people loved and loved to hate, was put in a casket after the ‘Phoenix’ music video. The guy getting back into the ring at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center this Friday is me. I played a character on a television show that elicited a greater reaction than the guys hitting high spots, but now I’m going to show people what I can do in the ring.”

nZo on not being signed to any match after Friday: “As it stands right now, this is the only wrestling match I’m signed to do. If the timing is right, then maybe you’ll see me again. The timing is right for this Friday against Brian Pillman Jr. I idolized Brian Pillman when I was a kid, and his son is one of the best cruiserweights in the world. He’s young, he’s hungry, and he has one of the best haircuts in the world. We’ll see just how good he is when he gets in the ring with me.”