Working with someone you don’t like has upsides and downsides. The downside is that it’s just not fun: it’s not fun to put together a match with someone you don’t get along with. It can be really frustrating, actually. But, on the other hand, the upside is when you get down to your match and you put it together, you lock up with this person with more aggression because they piss you off. I’ve worked with a lot of people that I don’t like. Some of the opponents that I don’t like working with bring out the best in me. Back to the downside element, some are just so bland; I wonder if they even like wrestling. They don’t make suggestions. They don’t like to bump. It’s aggravating to put together a match with an opponent like that. I enjoy the intense interaction when you get into the ring with someone you don’t like to work with. No matter what, at the end of the day, as a professional, you must put on the best performance you can for our paid audience and for our fans at home.
Even if there is animosity, there must be respect. Wrestling is dangerous. Even if you have a little animosity or dislike someone, you must still respect them and what they do in the ring. Protecting each other when we perform and put on a match is essential. You never want to hurt anyone. Everyone catches flights the next day and goes home to their families. We do this every single day. So, at the end of each one, you must have respect for what you do with your opponent, whether you like them or not.
