At the Gamescon 2013 in Cologne, Germany, a representative of the German homepage spielekritik.tv met Antonio Cesaro for an interview. They talked about Kassius Ohno and other indie stars in the WWE, the gaming habits of Cesaro and other superstars, and of course about the new video game WWE 2K14!
And since the interview is in German, I thought I could roughly translate it into English for you guys. Enjoy! And for everyone capable of German, you can find the interview here.
How was your way to WWE?
Cesaro: The short version: I began wrestling exactly on December 24th 2000 in Essen (Germany). It was the day of my first match. Back then, it had been nothing more than a hobby. I wrestled more and more, everywhere in Germany, and after some years I decided to go to the USA. I participated in a lottery for a Green Card, because only if you have a Green Card you are allowed to full time wrestle there.
Luckily, I got such an employment permit and emigrated. From 2007 til 2011 I fought in several in independent leagues in the USA, but I also returned to Germany from time to time to wrestled for wXw and other leagues. 2011 I finally signed a contract with the WWE and since 2012 I am an active part of the WWE roster.
You have been trained by Chris Hero (today Kassius Ohno) in the past. Today, you're with the main roster and he is still on the rookie level of NXT. Is that some kind of gratification for you?
Cesaro: I know Chris Hero since 2002. He had been my trainer for a very long time, and later on my Tag Team partner. Both of us signing a contract with the WWE was the next logical step. For me, the fact that I am part of the WWE roster while Chris is with NXT has nothing to do with "The student overcome his master" or anything like that.
You haven't been part of the main roster for such a long time, but do you have any favorite match?
Cesaro: Usually, I live after the axiom of my last match being my best match, but I'd say that my match against Daniel Bryan at Raw in early August. We know each other from our times in the Indys and we've been in the ring together a couple of times. The 2 out of 3 Falls Match against Sami Zayn at NXT was very good as well. I hope that I will be able to have such matches more often in the future, also some that will be a bit longer then.
You address people like Sami Zayn (El Generico) and Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson). Is the WWE some kind of Indie-Family-Gathering?
Cesaro: At WWE the focus is on their own talents, but the independent scene underwent a big boom around 2004/20005. And even from this time, only a handful of people can be seen at the WWE. So those really are the best of the best. That shows me that you have to give everything to reach the top. For me, it has nothing to do with wrestling in the Indys or, like The Rock said, if you wrestled in Memphis for five dollars. You have to love what you are doing. But it's cool that I met those people again at WWE which who I traveled the world with.
A few months ago, Darren Young had his coming out. Did you know anything about that?
Cesaro: I had no idea, but I really don't care either. I am happy for him that the feedback was that positive, because it apparently bothered him a lot. For me, the WWE is like a big family. I see those people over 200 days a year, but everyone needs his private sphere as well, and should be able to live the way they feel good with. And about the topic of wrestling and homosexuality: If you're a good athlete it doesn't matter if you're gay or straight.
Let's talk about WWE 2K14: The Ultimate Warrior is part of the game now. Would that have been a dream for you, competing against him?
Cesaro: That's what video games are here for! Fans can actively recreate their dream matches. That's better than playing with action figures. Finding a dream opponent is extremely difficult for me. Eddie Guerrero and Owen Hart would surely suit me fighting style wise. They would've been my dream opponents.
Do you have any linkage to video games?
Cesaro: I played a lot in the past; with my brother and with friends. I was a big fan of Goldeneye, of WWE No Mercy. I had a NES, Super Nintendo, and a Nintendo 64. Then, wrestling took over my life and I didn't have as much time for playing games anymore. Until Guitar Hero came out and I played a day and a half non-stop. Then I told myself: "You can't do that! You have to go to the gym!"
What is it like to play yourself? Did they depict you in a good way?
Cesaro: Last year, I've been among the DLC, this time I am there right from the start. I think they produced a good likeness of myself. It's almost shocking how similar it is; seeing yourself in the game, the moves, the motions. It is almost surreal.
Do some wrestlers bring their console along when they are on tour?
Cesaro: With the WWE we travel an awful lot. Every day another hotel. It would be a bit laborious to unpack a game console, set it up, pack it again, every day. Most wrestlers rather carry a tablet or smartphone to play with. But, for example, when we were in Japan, some carried their Playstation with them. We played Madden NFL til 5am.
In the WWE, there are a lot gamer. At the moment, Kofi Kingston might be the biggest game nerd we have, but CM Punk sure is a candidate for that as well. Especially when Street Fighter is involved.
What's more fun: being heel or being face?
Cesaro: Good question. I've been both, and both has it's advantages, hence why it is challenging and fun. I enjoy being a bad guy more, but it's more difficult as well.
Are you surprised when the fans tune in with the “We the people” chants?
Cesaro: Absolutely. I take it as a compliment, because it proves that we are entertaining. Especially Zeb Colter is someone you want to see and hate. "We the people" is pretty catchy and chanted along often.
Do you think the WWE fans see themselves as part of the Show by now?
Cesaro: Many criticized the orientation towards PG, but by now, the fans - the WWE universe - understand that they can have fun with that as well. May it be with the Fandango theme or the "Yes!" chants of Daniel Bryan who also delivers great matches. We achieved a great mixture.
Did the fans change?
Cesaro: Of course. Many experienced wrestling as a child and stayed with it. Wrestling grows up with you. The wrestlers grow older and wrestling itself changes. Today, there had been an extreme rejuvenating cure going on, and both fans and wrestlers are younger now. But the orientation changed as well. In the past, you went to the marquee, drank a beer, and watches wrestling. Today, it's entertainment for a much broader audience.
A game like WWE 2K14, is it pure fan service or is there more to it?
Cesaro: I think that the fans want to take over their heroes of the past and present. For me, as a wrestler, it's something entirely different. Me and my colleagues look at the game and then there are comments like "I'm slightly stronger in the game" or "I'm not that fat". Fans that complain about taunts, outfits, and actions not being up to date are perfectionists. Especially with a wrestling game it's difficult to catch the balance. 2K did a lot work in that respect and they did a great job.
