'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
John Skyler is a well-known name in the independent circuit. This talented young superstar had a WrestleMania week moment, when he competed against No Way Jose on the RAW after WrestleMania in New Orleans.
What's not very well known is that Skyler has a fantastic association with WWE as well. He's played many roles with the company through the years, and he caught up with us to tell us all about it in an exclusive interview.
Tell us about how your appearance at RAW after WrestleMania came about.
Skyler: So, I've done a lot of work, part-time, for WWE now as an extra. They contacted me about a month out of WrestleMania week and I was backstage for all the festivities at the Hall of Fame, TakeOver, RAW and SmackDown and I really didn't find out until the day of, when I walked into the building on Monday.
That's when I found out that I'd be wrestling on the show, against No Way Jose.
So what are some of the other roles that you've been in, with the company? I know you've wrestled Ryback in the past...
Skyler: Yeah, that match with Ryback was the first time I was in WWE (as Tony Andriotis). I got thrown out there from the get-go, which was a good experience. But, I've done enhancement work where I've wrestled the likes of Ryback, American Alpha, The Revival, Primo and Epico on Monday Night RAW and had dark matches against Kane.
All sorts of interesting stuff like that. And other things too. I got a role one time as a druid for Undertaker and Kane. It was cool to come out with The Undertaker and make the elaborate entrance like that. That's when the kid in you really appreciates what you're doing.
That's somewhere I never thought I'd find myself when I was in wrestling school. So, very cool moment. And it's often not limited to TV stuff. They used my tag team partner and I, Corey Hollis for several of the NXT Live Events. When they first started taking NXT on the road.
Me and Corey did a lot of those NXT Live Events. We also did matches at WrestleMania Axxess, All sorts of interesting stuff.
So, because you were so closely associated with NXT, you must have followed No Way Jose's work
Skyler: Oh, yeah. No Way Jose broke in through North Carolina. I'm from South Carolina and I do a lot of work in the independents in North Carolina so it was very cool to step into the ring with No Way Jose on a worldwide stage.
What was the atmosphere like on the RAW after WrestleMania?
Skyler: Oh, the atmosphere was insane. Because you know it's going to be the most watched RAW of the year. It's not just people from New Orleans converging to go to Monday Night RAW. It's fans from all over the world coming to be a part of this exciting night.
It was almost like there was more added pressure to everything that day, when you take that into consideration. You are going to be part of the most watched RAW of the year. So, it was interesting to see some of the faces popping up throughout the day. So, Bobby Lashley, Jeff Hardy...people like that making their return.
Ember Moon and Authors of Pain making their debut. It was pretty cool to see some of the names popping up throughout the day. You realize you're part of something special when that happens.
Did you have a chance to catch up with Vince McMahon?
Skyler: Any interactions I've had with Vince have been limited and in passing. He's a very, very busy man. He's the guy holding the machine together. Not that he's unapproachable, but he has his priorities. And right now, I don't think I fall very high on that priority list (laughs).
He is very busy. He was obviously in Gorilla right before we go out. But he's got a three-hour show to produce. He's got no time to catching his breath. All the interactions I've had have been in passing. A quick handshake or a hello here and there.
Someone like James Ellsworth managed to elevate his enhancement talent position and make himself into a big-time WWE superstar. Do you see something like that happening in your case as well?
Skyler: You never know. I'm always answering the phone. I've always said yes to whatever has been asked of me. So, I think that's got me very far to this point anyway. I'm never going to say no out of an opportunity and I'm going to make the most of it. Whether it's 30 seconds or 30 minutes of TV time, it doesn't matter to me.
I'm going to do the best I can to make the segment or the match work. I'm going to make myself as valuable as I possibly can to WWE. I want to be a long time employee of WWE. I don't want to have a stint that fizzles out in a year.
Whether you're James Ellsworth or you're Shinsuke Nakamura...you're going to make the most out of an opportunity and try to do your best and make yourself valuable. I see myself as a long-time employee of WWE.
Final question. What was your favourite match from WrestleMania weekend?
Skyler: I'll have to go with probably Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. The ultimate story, emotional roller coaster ride, just an incredible match up. And the climax of the finish. The story that those two guys told. That was just amazing. Really was. Really one-of-a-kind storytelling.
Close second for me and this might shock some people, I'd go with Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. I think that was another one that was simply incredible. And I think Ronda blew people away with what she was actually capable of doing.
Follow John Skyler on Twitter and Instagram at @TheJohnSkyler. Send us news tips at [email protected]
