At Sunday night’s WWE WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) pay-per-view event, Damian Priest successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre just moments after the latter had defeated Seth Rollins.
Speaking on the post-WWE WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) media call, Priest commented on where he fits in the new era of WWE going forward, being the first Puerto Rican champion in 50 years, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the media scrum below:
On being the first Puerto Rican champion in 50 years: “I think everybody by now knows how proud I am and how how adamant I am about cultural representation. I didn’t do this alone. I think I had not just an island behind me, I had a whole culture. And it’s one of the most proud things I’ve accomplishes is just being able to represent and getting people to represent their cultures no matter where they are from. Being a representative of WWE, I could not be prouder of my people.”
On where he fits in the new era of WWE going forward: “Where we’re going, where we’re headed? I have no idea. This is a new era in the company. Everybody can feel it, everybody can sense it. We’re on a roller coaster, we don’t know where this is headed. But this ride? It’s gonna take a minute. We are cooking right now. Obviously, all our sellouts, the business we are doing, the amount of eyeballs, this is the hottest the business has ever been.
“Everybody likes to compare us to the Attitude Era? Man, we’re doing some things the Attitude era would have dreamed of. And I’m proud to be one of the figureheads right now. And with this, I solidify myself as one of the people that we’re gonna be looking at as to lead. And that’s something that I’m humbled and proud of. “How do I keep myself here? You know, [laughs] the same thing I’ve been doing. Just be better tomorrow than I was yesterday.”
On living up to the title’s reputation as the workhorse title: “Last year, I believe I was #3 in most overall matches. If not mistaken, I believe I was #1 in TV matches. I’d double the amount of TV matches if I could. The idea of this being the workhorse championship? Bring it. That’s what I wanna do, I want it all. Obviously, we know our champions’ schedules change. When you’re the guy or one of the guys, or one of the girls, a lot is asked of you. Give me the questions; I’d love to give the answers.
“Seth set a precedent with this title. And it’d be disrespectful not to honor what he’s done. And I’m one of the first guys to say thank you to what he did when he brought another championship to a level that was important to the entire roster. And I plan to do it justice.”
On his advice to newcomers looking to him: “About 10 years ago, I was homeless. I’m sitting in front of you as the World Heavyweight Champion in WWE. Nobody thought I would be on this stage. And I even doubted myself. Then I decided one day to the next, just, ‘What am I doing with my life? If this is my dream, you should be the hardest worker for your own dream.’ Because it’s yours, not anyone else’s. I’m the example for people who don’t know or aren’t sure if they can achieve something. if I did it, literally anybody could achieve their stuff. Because like I said, there were points that I had no business being here. You bust your ass and you do everything in a positive way, I truly, truly believe that there’s nothing you can’t achieve. So for anybody that’s not sure of something? Look what I just did at WrestleMania.”
Damian Priest Makes History as the First Puerto Rican Champion in 50 Years at WWE WrestleMania 40
At WWE WrestleMania 40 (Night Two), Damian Priest made a significant impact by successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre. This momentous occasion marked Priest as the first Puerto Rican champion in 50 years, a feat that he is incredibly proud of.
During a post-WrestleMania media call, Priest expressed his enthusiasm for cultural representation and acknowledged the support he received from his fellow Puerto Ricans. He emphasized the importance of people representing their cultures, regardless of where they come from. As a representative of WWE, Priest couldn’t be prouder of his people and the opportunity to showcase their heritage on such a grand stage.
When asked about his role in the new era of WWE, Priest admitted that he is unsure of where the company is headed. However, he believes that they are currently experiencing a surge of success and popularity. Comparing the current era to the iconic Attitude Era, Priest confidently stated that they are accomplishing things that the Attitude Era could only dream of. He sees himself as one of the figureheads leading this new era and is humbled and proud to be in such a position. To maintain his success, Priest plans to continue improving and being better each day.
As the new champion, Priest is determined to live up to the title’s reputation as the workhorse championship. He expressed his desire to have as many matches as possible and embrace the responsibility that comes with being a top champion. Priest acknowledged Seth Rollins’ contribution to elevating the championship’s prestige and aims to honor his legacy by continuing to raise its importance within the roster.
Reflecting on his journey from homelessness to becoming the World Heavyweight Champion in WWE, Priest offered advice to newcomers who look up to him. He shared his personal experience of doubting himself and realizing that he needed to be the hardest worker for his own dreams. Priest believes that anyone can achieve their goals if they work hard, remain positive, and stay dedicated to their aspirations. He serves as an example for those who may be uncertain about their abilities, emphasizing that with determination and effort, anything is possible.
Damian Priest’s historic win at WWE WrestleMania 40 not only solidified his place in WWE but also broke barriers for Puerto Rican representation in professional wrestling. As the first Puerto Rican champion in 50 years, Priest’s achievement serves as an inspiration to aspiring wrestlers and individuals who may doubt their own potential. With his passion for cultural representation and determination to excel, Damian Priest is poised to make a lasting impact on the future of WWE.