Royal Rumble Post-Show Press Conference: Jan. 27, 2024

Hear from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque and several prominent Superstars following all of the action at #RoyalRumble!

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>> NOW. >> ACKNOWLEDGE ME. >> FOREVER. TOGETHER. >> THE ROYAL PRESS CONFERENCE. >> THE PICTURE OF WRESTLEMANIA HAS BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE DEFINED IN THE WAKE OF THE 37TH ANNUAL ROYAL RUMBLE. WELCOME. MY NAME IS BYRON SAXTON, WELCOMING ALL OF YOU TO OUR OFFICIAL ROYAL RUMBLE PRESS CONFERENCE.

TONIGHT WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WINNERS AS WELL AS THE CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER OF WWE, PAUL LEVESQUE. A REMINDER FOR ALL OF OUR MEDIA MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR GUEST, RAISE YOUR HAND, STATE YOUR NAME, AND THE ED OUTLET YOU ARE AFFILIATED WITH.

OUR FIRST GUEST MADE HISTORY TONIGHT NOT ONLY LASTING OVER ONE HOUR AND THREE MINUTES, BUT ALSO WINNING THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER. PLEASE WELCOME THE WINNER OF THE WOMEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCHUP, BAYLEY. [APPLAUSE] ♪ BAYLEY: THANK YOU. THANKS, BYRON. ♪ HOLA. BYRON: WELCOME.

WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO OUR MEDIA WITH THE FIRST QUESTION RIGHT HERE IN THE FRONT ROW. >> CONGRATULATIONS. WE TALKED JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW STANDING UP ON THE TURNBUCKLE, POINTING AT THE SIGN, GETTING THE PYRO GOING OFF WAS THE STUFF YOU HAD DREAMED OF.

YOU ARE EXCITED TO FEEL THAT. WHEN IT FINALLY HAPPENED, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE SOAKING IN EVERY MOMENT YOU COULD. DID IT FEEL LIKE YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WOULD? BAYLEY: YEAH, BUT A LITTLE BIT CRAZIER. I WAS EXCITED TO POINT TO THE SIGN, BUT FROM WHAT I REMEMBERED, I THOUGHT ONLY THE

SIGN HAD THE FIREWORKS, BUT AS IT KEPT HAPPENING, IT KEPT GOING MORE AND MORE THROUGHOUT THE STADIUM, AND IN MY HEAD I WAS LIKE, DO THEY ALWAYS DO THIS, OR IS IT JUST FOR ME, OR ARE THEY SUPER PROUD OF ME? IT WAS MORE THAN I WAS EXPECTING.

IT WAS COOL TO STAND UP AND TAKE IT ALL IN. IT WILL PROBABLY HIT ME A BIT LATER, BUT I WAS TRYING TO BE PROFESSIONAL. BYRON: RIGHT SIDE, THIRD ROW. REPORTER: CONGRATS ON THE WIN, BAYLEY. LEAK REPORT. JUST TALKING ABOUT THE WIN ITSELF AND BEING ON THE MAIN ROSTER FOR SEVEN YEARS, ALMOST

EIGHT YEARS, WHERE DOES THIS RING FOR YOU AS FAR AS CAREER TREATMENTS AND FINALLY HAVING THE CROWD BEHIND YOU DESPITE BEING A DESPISE FIGURE? YOUR THOUGHTS AND THE REACTION YOU GOT TONIGHT? BAYLEY: IT’S CRAZY. I GOT TO TELL A LOT OF GIRLS THAT THEIR FIRST TWO RUMBLES OR

SO, OR THEIR SECOND OR THIRD ONE THAT DID NOT LAST AS LONG, I’M LIKE, TRUST ME, I’VE BEEN THERE. MY FIRST RUMBLE, I THINK I WAS NUMBER 26 AND WAS OUT IN THREE MINUTES OR SOMETHING. I HAVE BEEN NUMBER ONE AND HAVE NOT WON, I’VE BEEN NUMBER 17 AND HAVE NOT WON.

IT IS SUCH A RIDE. I DON’T WANT TO SOUND TOO CHEESY, JUST HANG IN THERE, BUT FROM THE FIRST RUMBLE THAT WE HAD TO ONE OF MY FIRST ONE OR TWO YEARS ON THE MAIN ROSTER TO NOW, WHERE WE ARE, IT IS ALL ABOUT JUST CONSISTENCY AND SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE.

IF YOU GET STUCK IN ALL THE DIPS AND SWERVES AND EVERYTHING THAT THIS BUSINESS THROWS AT YOU, I COULD HAVE NEVER DONE WHEN I DID TONIGHT. THAT’S WHAT I DID TONIGHT. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP SUCH LONG AGO. WE HAVE SUCH A DIFFERENT CREW. THERE’S NO LEGENDS COMING IN

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO SHOWCASE. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. REPORTER: KEITH ELLIOTT WITH INSIDE THE ROPES MAGAZINE. THE BAYLEY WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IN RECENT YEARS IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE HUGGER OF TIMES PAST. YET TONIGHT, TOWARDS THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATCH, WE

HEARD A LARGE “DAILY” CHANT GO UP. HOW DOES THE DAMAGE CONTROL BAYLEY INDUCE THAT TYPE OF REACTION? BAYLEY: I DON’T TELL YOU GUYS WHAT TO DO, YOU CHEER WHEN YOU WANT. THIS IS THE TRUTH. I HAVE BEEN MYSELF THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE TIME, AND I SAID IT IN AN INTERVIEW, I DON’T KNOW IF

IT WAS WITH YOU THE OTHER WEEK, BUT MY WHOLE CAREER AND CHARACTER AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REAL. WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I WAS EXCITED TO BE HERE. THIS WAS THE COOLEST THING EVER. AS THINGS WERE NOT GOING MY WAY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND NOBODY WAS LATCHING ON, I HAD TO DO

SOMETHING TO SAVE MY CAREER. EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN DOING HAS BEEN REAL, GENUINE, AND NATURAL, AND THIS IS WHO I AM NOW. IF YOU GUYS ARE LIKING IT AND WANT TO SEE ME WIN, HELL YEAH, I’VE BEEN TELLING YOU GUYS I’M SUPPOSED TO WIN THE MATCHES LET’S CELEBRATE TOGETHER.

THIS HAS ALL BEEN A PART OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN KNOWING ALL ALONG. REPORTER: HEY, BAYLEY. INSTANT CULTURE. IN THE WOMEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE, WE SAW A LOT OF SURPRISES, INCLUDING NAOMI, JORDAN, AND JADE CARGILL. I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON SEEING THEM IN THE RUMBLE. BAYLEY: GOING OUT THERE AND

BEING IN THE RING WITH NAOMI AND NATALIA, THE FIRST THREE OF US, LEGENDS. MY FIRST TIME DOING ANYTHING ON THE MAIN ROSTER WAS THE UK TOUR, AND IT WAS ME AND NATALIA. THEY WERE THE GIRLS THAT GOT ME COMFORTABLE AND TOOK ME IN. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH EVERYTHING, GENERATIONS OF THIS

DIVISION AND ARE STILL HERE HELPING EVERYONE OUT. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. HAPPY TO HAVE NAOMI BACK. JORDAN GRACE, BIG SURPRISE, JUST COOL TO SEE SOMEONE COMING FROM A DIFFERENT WORLD. WE LIKE THROWING SURPRISES OUT THERE. STAY AWAY FROM HER. HAVING JADE FINALLY COME OUT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THERE IS SO

MUCH POTENTIAL AND EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO SEE WHAT SHE DID, AND SHE PROVED HER PRESENCE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT MOMENTS SHE HAD. I WAS CLOSE TO ELIMINATING HER, SO SHE SHOULD BE SCARED OF ME. REPORTER: BAYLEY, LAST TIME WE HAD A CONVERSATION, YOU MENTIONED YOU REALLY WANTED TO

MAKE IT TO WRESTLEMANIA, AND YOU ARE JUST ONE STEP AWAY FROM IT. BAYLEY: I WOULD NOT SAY ONE STEP AWAY. IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET THERE. WHO DOES NOT WANT WRESTLEMANIA? IF YOU LIKE IT IS SUCH A GENERIC DREAM FOR EVERYBODY — I FEEL

LIKE IT IS SUCH A GENERIC DREAM FOR EVERYBODY WATCHING WWE AS A KID TO HAVE, BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD MATCHES MIX IT EVEN MORE POSSIBLE. NOW I AM AT THIS POINT WHERE WWE IS AT THE BIGGEST IT HAS EVER BEEN. IT IS A CRAZY TIME RIGHT NOW,

AND THE FACT THAT I WON THE ROYAL RUMBLE IN THE TIME THAT IT IS, WHY CAN’T I WRESTLE — WHY CAN’T I MAIN EVENT IT? WE ARE IN THE CRAZIEST TIME OF ALL, AND I’M ON TOP. REPORTER: HEY, BAYLEY. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN. IT IS KIND OF NEAT THAT CODY WON

THE MEN’S BATTLE ROYAL, BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON DUSTY RHODES. IT IS KIND OF A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? BAYLEY: I HAVE SAID IT FOR YEARS, BUT DUSTY JUST HAD HIS PROJECTS IN EVERYBODY. HE SAW THE ONE THING IN EVERYBODY THAT WE COULD NOT SEE

IN OURSELVES. BYRON HELPED ME IN PROMO CLASSES ALL THE TIME. THE FACT THAT I HAD MY OWN TV SHOW, DINGDONG HELLO, BLOWS MY MIND, AND I WISH DUSTY COULD SEE THAT. THEY HAD TO PULL ME IN FOR EXTRA PROMO CLASSES AND MAKE ME DO INTERVIEWS AND ALL THIS STUFF

BECAUSE I WAS SO SHY, BUT DUSTY SAW SOMETHING IN. WHATEVER I WAS TRYING TO SHARE, HE WANTED ME TO EMBRACE, BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO CONNECT ME WITH PEOPLE, AND THAT SAFE ME. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP, LIKE, IN MY FIRST MONTH I WANTED TO BE DONE, SO THANK YOU.

BYRON: NEXT QUESTION. THAT’S IT, I GUESS. BAYLEY: CUTTING ME OFF? [LAUGHTER] BYRON: BAYLEY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA. [APPLAUSE] BAYLEY: I DID IT, GUYS. BYRON: OUR NEXT GUEST MADE HISTORY TONIGHT BY BECOMING THE FIRST SUPERSTAR TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK ROYAL RUMBLE’S FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 26 YEARS.

THE MAN WHO WILL NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH HIS STORY AT WRESTLEMANIA, THE WINNER OF THE MEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH, THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, CODY RHODES! ♪ [APPLAUSE] CODY: OH MY GOSH. OK. I KNOW BYRON, THEY ARE GOING TO DO QUESTIONS, BUT BEFORE WE DO QUESTIONS, I’VE GOT A FEW BONES

TO PICK WITH YOU, ALL OF YOU OUT HERE. THE LAST MONTH, I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF MEMES. [LAUGHTER] I’VE SEEN A LOT OF GIFS THAT EVEN MY BUDDY, WHO I’M NOT GOING TO SAY HIS NAME, DECIDED TO SEND ME ONE AS IF I THINK IT’S HILARIOUS.

WELL, LET ME PUT THIS ALL KIND OF IN PERSPECTIVE. THIS IS GOING TO SOUND LIKE A BIG OLD PAD ON THE BACK, BUT IT IS NOT FOR ME, IT IS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOLLOWED ME. I HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED EXIT FROM WWE. I WAS ABLE TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS.

HOPEFULLY THEY WERE HELPFUL TO OUR INDUSTRY. I HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED RETURN TO WWE WHERE I GOT TO COMPETE WITH PROBABLY THE BEST BELT WRESTLER IN MY GENERATION, SETH ROLLINS. HE’S A FUTURE HALL OF FAMER. I BEAT HIM THREE TIMES. I WENT ON TO WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE IN 2023.

I HAD NUMBER 30, BUT I WENT TO WRESTLEMANIA 39, WHICH BROKE EVERY RECORD PREVIOUSLY SET BY WRESTLEMANIA. AFTER THAT, I NOT ONLY SURVIVED BROCK LESNAR, BUT BEAT HIM TWICE. AND I MOVED FORWARD TO THIS POINT IN TIME WHERE I HAVE GONE BACK TO BACK ON THE ROYAL

RUMBLE, THE FIRST GUY TO DO IT SINCE STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN. I WAS ABLE TO ELIMINATE PROBABLY THE MOST POPULAR WRESTLER IN MY ENTIRE ERA, A GUY THAT I WOULD NOT TELL HIM TO HIS FACE, OR MAYBE I WOULD, THAT I REALLY ADMIRE, THAT BEING CM PUNK. THE REASON I WALK EVERYBODY

THROUGH THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BE A CODY RHODES FAN. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO PROBABLY TRAVELED FROM ABROAD WHO KNOW THAT MUSTACHE CODY DID NOT HAVE THAT MANY FANS. DASHING CODY. STARDUST DID NOT HAVE THAT MANY FANS. IT WAS A TOUGH TIME.

THE REASON I WANTED TO SAY ALL THIS WAS BECAUSE THOSE FANS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING AND THOSE FANS WHO JUST JUMPED ON ARE COMPLETELY VINDICATED BY WHAT JUST HAPPENED TONIGHT. THEY ARE COMPLETELY VINDICATED AND VALIDATED, BECAUSE THEY KNOW SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO TELL ALL OF YOU.

HERE’S THE NEWS, HERE’S THE HEADLINE. I AM THE GUY AND I HAVE BEEN THE GUY, AND I AM A THREE COUNT OR SUBMISSION AWAY FROM BEING THE QUARTERBACK OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS ERA IN THE HISTORY OF SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT. FOR ALL THE MEMES AND GIFS, LET’S REMEMBER THAT, BECAUSE TONIGHT WAS AN ABSOLUTELY

THRILLING, EXCITING, BEAUTIFUL MOMENT, AND TO DO IT IN TAMPA, IN SAINT PETE, RIGHT HERE MEANS THE WORLD. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. SORRY IF IT SOUNDED LIKE A LECTURE. LET’S ASK SOME QUESTIONS. [APPLAUSE] BYRON: YOU MENTIONED BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS. OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS YOU VERY WELL

AND VICE VERSA, DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE. [APPLAUSE] >> I WAS SO DAMN PROUD OF HIM. I CLIMBED THROUGH ALL THE PEOPLE AND OVER THE RAILING TO HUG HIM. I HAVE BEEN A CODY RHODES FAN SINCE HIS FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. HIS SECOND STRAIGHT. I BELIEVED IN HIM WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN’T.

BUT I KNOW HE BELIEVED IN HIM. HE’S A GUY WHO BELIEVED IN BOTH OF US CALLED THE AMERICAN DREAM DUSTY RHODES, AND TO DO THIS HERE IN THE ST. PETER-TAMPA AREA , DUSTY RHODES COUNTRY, WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE? HAVE YOU ABSORBED IT YET? CODY: EARLIER TODAY, I SAW STEVE

KERN AND GERALD BRISCO. I SAID HELLO. I WANTED TO HIDE. IT SOUNDS SILLY. I CAN’T THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE FIGHT REALLY ISN’T FOR HIM. HE HAD HIS FIGHT. IF YOU ASKED HIM, HE WAS AS HAPPY AS HE COULD BE WITH WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED. BUT THE FIGHT NOW IS FOR MY

WIFE, MY DAUGHTER, MY MOM. SO I DON’T THINK ABOUT DUSTY, EVEN THOUGH I CAN’T NOT THINK ABOUT HIM. I THINK ABOUT THEM, AND TO SEE THEM IN THE FRONT ROW, AND I NEVER TELL THEM ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING, SO THEY ARE ALL JUST THE BEST POSSIBLE THING EVER, TO

SEE MY MOM AND LET HER KNOW I’M DOING ALL RIGHT. SORRY, GUYS. YEAH, IT IS VERY EXCITING TO BE HERE AND DO IT. WHEN I GO TO SLEEP TONIGHT, HOPEFULLY DREAM OF THE MAN HIMSELF. I CAN TELL HIM I DREW A BIG HOUSE IN SAINT PETE, WAS ON LAST, HIT MY FINISH.

THANK YOU, D. >> YOU’RE WELCOME, BROTHER. BYRON: NEXT QUESTION. YOU IN THE FRONT ROW. REPORTER: HI, NICK, HOUSE OF WRESTLING. CODY: YOU ALWAYS INTRODUCE YOURSELF LIKE I DON’T KNOW YOU. NICK HAUSMAN, EVERYBODY. REPORTER: THANK YOU. THAT WAS A REAL DARK CLOUD OVER THE WEEKEND FOLLOWING THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST VINCE MCMAHON.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW VINCE MET WITH YOU PERSONALLY TO BRING YOU INTO THE COMPANY. I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THE REPORT, AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED AS AN EXECUTIVE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, WHAT CHANGES DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE MADE ACROSS THE BOARD TO PREVENT SITUATIONS LIKE THIS

FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? CODY: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. I KNOW AS FAR AS THE NEWS IS CONCERNED, WE WERE FINDING IT OUT AND READING THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU GUYS WERE READING. YOU SAID A DARK CLOUD, CERTAINLY. AS FAR AS T.K.O., NICK KHAN AND THE BOARD CLEARLY TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY, ACTED IMMEDIATELY.

LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, I DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, AND I THINK SOMEWHERE IS PROBABLY A BASIC TENET OF JUST, THIS CREW, MORE THAN EVER, FROM A ROSTER STANDPOINT, IS VERY FAMILY. I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MOST OF THE TIME, WRESTLING LOCKER ROOMS HAVE FIGHTING, TALKING TRASH, MAKING FUN OF

EACH OTHER, SANDBAGGING EACH OTHER IN THE RING, ALL THAT NONSENSE. THIS CREW IS VERY TEAM-BASED, AND PERHAPS THAT IS THE INGREDIENT, EVERYONE LOOKING OUT FOR EVERYONE, BEING ACCOUNTABLE. I KNOW FOR ME AS A PERFORMER AND COMPETITOR, I HAVE BEEN THREE DARK PERIODS IN OUR INDUSTRY BEFORE. IT MIGHT SOUND CHEESY, BUT IT IS

VERY REINFORCING IF YOU ARE IN MY POSITION THAT IT IS A TIME WHERE WE’VE GOT 50,000 PEOPLE OUT HERE, I WANT TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING ELSE FROM THIS WEEKEND THAT IS NOT A TERRIBLE SITUATION. I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT. AS MORE NEWS COMES OUT, WE WILL

BE SEEING IT JUST LIKE YOU DO. THANK YOU. REPORTER: ALL RIGHT, LET’S GO TO A NICER QUESTION. THE LINE, FINISH THE STORY. YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO CHALLENGE ROMAN REIGNS AT WRESTLEMANIA 40 IN PHILADELPHIA. CODY: I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE KNEW THAT. REPORTER: I DON’T KNOW, YOU DID NOT SAY THE LINE.

CODY: I AM VERY GLAD YOU DECIDED TO TAKE THE SKYBOX SEAT, BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE IT CLEAR WHERE WE ARE AT. BUT THE TITLE GAINS MORE PRESTIGE EVERY DAY, BUT WRESTLEMANIA 39 DID HAPPEN. IF YOU ARE ME, YOU CANNOT LOOK AT THAT AND YOU CANNOT RUN FROM IT. I DON’T KNOW, WRESTLEMANIA 40,

MONDAY NIGHT RAW, SUMMERSLAM, ELIMINATION CHAMBER. I WANT TO BE BACK IN THE RING WITH ROMAN REIGNS AND I WANT TO FINISH THE STORY. I DETEST THE STATEMENT NOW BECAUSE APPARENTLY EVERYBODY’S GOT A STORY. EVERYONE’S GOT A STORY, BUT A BIG PART FOR ME, IF ANYONE KNOWS ME IN THIS RING, I AM BIG

ON KEEPING MY WORD. IF I SAY SOMETHING SILLY ON TV BUT IT IS A PROMISE, I INTEND TO KEEP THE PROMISE. I DON’T KNOW IF TWO TIMES IS THE CHARM WITH ROMAN, WE WILL SEE, BUT FINISH THE STORY HOPEFULLY BY 2K 25. JUST BECAUSE I DON’T THINK THEY

ARE GOING TO PUT ME ON THE COVER OR EVEN CLOSE IF I DON’T GET IT DONE. BYRON: THAT WRAPS UP OUR QUESTIONING FOR CODY. CODY: ONE MORE. BYRON: I FIGURED THAT WAS COMING. CODY: SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER ASKED A QUESTION. BYRON: THE FIRST TIME EVER QUESTION ASKER WILL GO TO THE

SECOND ROOM ON THE RIGHT. REPORTER: CODY, MY COMMENTER, ESPN. CONGRATULATIONS ON BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES. IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, YOU AND CM PUNK WERE IN A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION. HOW SURREAL IS IT TO BE BACK IN WWE WHERE BOTH OF YOU GUYS NEW IN YOUR HEARTS YOU WERE GOOD

ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS SPOT ON THE CARD AND REALLY ACHIEVE THIS? CODY: IT IS FUNNY THAT WE MEET BACK HERE, REALLY. WHEN WE WERE AT AEW, I THOUGHT WE WOULD ENCOUNTER ONE ANOTHER THERE. IT DID NOT HAPPEN. FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT DID NOT HAPPEN. BUT I THINK BOTH HIM AND I HAD

DIFFERENT PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. DON’T BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT WADE KELLER PUT OUT ABOUT WHY I LEFT. NOBODY KNOWS. THAT MAN DOES, BUT NOBODY KNOWS. PERSONAL THING. PROBABLY A PERSONAL THING FOR PUNK. THAT HAPPENS. PEOPLE COME, PEOPLE GO. THAT’S NOT A HUGE THING. TO SEE HIM TONIGHT AND TO SEE

MS. AND KOFI, THOSE ARE MY GUYS. I WENT TO AN EVENT WHERE PUNK WAS RUNNING THE WHOLE SHOW. HE MADE ME SET UP THE RING. TO SEE THAT, SOMETIMES YOU WANT ANOTHER PERSON YOU ADMIRE AND RESPECT TO STOP LOOKING AT YOU AS THE KID AND LOOK AT YOU AND

SEE WHO YOU ARE NOW. I THINK TONIGHT HE GOT TO SEE WHO I AM NOW. THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT HE DOES IN WWE. THANK YOU. BYRON: SOLID BONUS QUESTION? CODY: WHY NOT ONE MORE. I FEEL LIKE I’M DOING OK, RIGHT?

BYRON: ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK. REPORTER: CODY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN TONIGHT. YOU ARE NOW ONE OF FOUR MEN TO WIN BACK TO BACK ROYAL RUMBLE’S. HULK HOGAN, SHAWN MICHAELS, STONE COLD, AND YOURSELF. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? WHAT DOES THIS WIN MEAN FOR YOU? WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS TO

FINISH THIS STORY? CODY: YOU KIND OF STUMPED ME BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A GOOD STAT. I DON’T HAVE A LOT OF GOOD STATS. I LEFT TONIGHT. I LOOKED AT RANDY WHEN HE CAME OUT, IT SAID 20 TIME CHAMPION. I’M JUST TRYING TO BE A ONE TIME CHAMPION. 20 TIMES, RANDY?

TO BE LISTED WITH GUYS LIKE THAT, HULK HOGAN, WHO HELPED PUT WWF AND WWE ON THE MAP, SHAWN MICHAELS, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE AS A KID. BEING A CODY FAN WAS UNEASY WHEN I WAS A KID. BEING A SHAWN FAN WAS NOT EASY. CHAPS, FINGERLESS GLOVES, IT’S A CHOICE IN SIXTH GRADE, BUT

WHATEVER, I WAS INTO SHAWN MICHAELS. AND STONE COLD IS THE MOST PROFITABLE SPORTS ENTERTAINER THERE EVER WAS. TO BE ABLE TO SAY I AM IN THAT MIX, I, UH, IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY, AND I’M VERY BLESSED, VERY LUCKY TO BE IN THIS SPOT. I KNOW THE SPOT I AM IN.

I KNOW HAVE BEEN TREATED BY THIS TEAM AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM. IF IT INS TOMORROW, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCES IN MY LIFE, BUT IT IS NOT COMING TO END TOMORROW BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO FINISH THE STORY. THANK YOU, GUYS. BYRON: THE WINNER OF THE MEN’S

ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH, CODY RHODES! [APPLAUSE] ♪ >> ♪ ADRENALINE IN MY SOUL ♪ BYRON: OUR FINAL GUESS IS THE CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER OF WWE, PAUL TRIPLE H LEVESQUE. [APPLAUSE] PAUL: HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING? SO, I THOUGHT WE HAD AN AMAZING NIGHT. I WANT TO START OUT BY, WELL,

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR COMING OUT HERE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE SAINT PETE, CLEARWATER , AND TAMPA BAY SPORTS COMMISSION FOR INVITING US BACK HERE THIS WEEK. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME HERE DURING A REALLY DIFFICULT PERIOD , WHEN THERE WERE NO FANS.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS BUILDING WHICH, IF YOU IMAGINE IT WITHOUT ALL THE PEOPLE IN IT, IT IS A BIG GIANT SORT OF CAVE WHERE YOU CAN HEAR EVERY ECHO. TO BE IN HERE TONIGHT AFTER ALL OF THAT, AFTER EVERYTHING WE WENT THROUGH, AND IT SEEMED LIKE

IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY, BUT TO COME BACK HERE AND KIND OF — THIS WILL SOUND NEGATIVE, BUT I KIND OF PUT THIS PLACE OUT OF MY MIND BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SUCH A CRAZY PERIOD OF TIME AND NOBODY HERE AND VIDEO BOARDS EVERYWHERE, WHATEVER IT WAS, JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH THAT,

AND TO WALK IN HERE TODAY, THROUGH THE BACKSTAGE AREA AS WE WERE PULLING UP DOWN THE ROAD, IT FELT SO FAMILIAR. AND IT WAS SO BUSY DURING THE DAY THAT IT JUST FELT ALIVE IN HERE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM HOW IT HAS FELT EVERY OTHER TIME I HAVE BEEN HERE.

AND THEN TO SEE IT FILLED WITH 48,000 PLUS FANS HERE, SETTING A RECORD FOR THE BUILDING TO GO FROM ZERO TO 48,000 SORT OF SEEMED LIKE IT WAS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. I DON’T KNOW, I STUCK MY HEAD OUT NEAR THE ENTRANCE WAY AND LOOKED TO SEE THE PEOPLE TONIGHT

AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE AND AS HIGH AS YOU COULD GO, AND IT WAS EMOTIONAL FOR ME. IT WAS JUST A VERY UNIQUE FEELING TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY THAT PERFORM. IN A TIME — YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF THE ROYAL CRAFT,

BUT WHEN THERE IS NOBODY HERE AND YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IT NONETHELESS, THE SAME ENERGY, THE POUNDING YOU TAKE, THE EFFORT EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH, I DON’T KNOW. IT WAS JUST A MAGICAL NIGHT FOR EVERYBODY, AND IT FELT REALLY GOOD TO BE HERE. FOR SOME REASON TO ME, BECAUSE I

FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN ON THIS INCREDIBLE ROLL FOR A WHILE, BUT TONIGHT, FOR SOME REASON, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE 48,000 PEOPLE, IT FELT LIKE THE START OF THIS NEW BEGINNING AND OF SOMETHING MASSIVE AND JUST EXPLOSIVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. I JUST FEEL LIKE WE ARE ON THE

BRINK OF BECOMING SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE. THIS IS THE SAME FEELING I HAD IN THE ATTITUDE ERA WHEN IT WAS EXPLODING. FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING, TONIGHT FELT LIKE THE LAUNCH OF THAT. CAN’T EXPLAIN WHY, BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THAT, BECAUSE IT

WAS A UNIQUE FEELING, AND I THINK IT SPEAKS TO WHERE WE ARE HEADED. SO, LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE — AND THIS WAS A RECORD FOR THE TROP. THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN HERE FOR 34 YEARS, AND THIS WAS A RECORD. I AM TRYING TO THINK, SOMEWHERE

IN HERE, I THINK IT WAS NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. [LAUGHTER] PAUL: BUT WHEN YOU BEAT THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK — [LAUGHTER] THAT’S A BOLD STATEMENT. GO AHEAD, GOLF CLAP. [APPLAUSE] PAUL: THIS WAS ALSO GENERATED, AND I FEEL LIKE I SAY THIS A

LOT, BUT TONIGHT GENERATED THE LONGEST GATE OF ANY EVENT OUTSIDE WRESTLEMANIA IN WWE HISTORY. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY HERE IN THE TAMPA AREA. AND TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS WATCHING AT HOME. IT WAS A SPECTACULAR NIGHT. WE WILL BE BACK HERE MONDAY NIGHT AND THEN BACK INTO A STADIUM IN FOUR WEEKS ON THE

OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA, TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE ELIMINATION CHAMBER AND SORT OF TAKE THAT NEXT LEVEL DRIVE INTO THE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA. EXCITING TIME. FROM A TALENT STANDPOINT, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I THOUGHT TALENT HAD A SPECTACULAR NIGHT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WOMEN’S RUMBLE, BAYLEY TAKING A PLACE. BAYLEY IS A VERY UNIQUE AND VERY SORT OF GIVING PERFORMER THAT IS ALWAYS A CONSTANT. I THINK IT IS EASY TO OVERLOOK HOW GOOD SHE IS, BECAUSE SHE IS ALWAYS THE CONSTANT IN GETTING SOMETHING ELSE LAUNCHED. AND I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT

THAT, HOW MUCH THAT ROLE OR HOW BIG THAT ROLE IS. SOMETIMES IT IS OVERLOOKED BECAUSE OF THAT, AND TONIGHT SHE WAS ABLE TO PUT HERSELF IN THAT SPOTLIGHT CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED. SHE EARNED HER SPOT TO GO TO WRESTLEMANIA AND BE IN THE MAIN EVENT ROLE. I AM VERY EXCITED FOR HER FOR

THAT, BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN SOMETIMES LOST IN THE SHUFFLE OF JUST HOW GREAT OF A PERFORMER SHE IS. SHE IS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST. THE RETURN OF NAOMI, I JUST WANT TO TELL HER WELCOME HOME. IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK. LIV MORGAN COMING BACK OFF INJURY.

GREAT TO HAVE HER ENERGY BACK IN THE LOCKER ROOM. NIA JAX H A SPECTACULAR NIGHT. AS A PERFORMER THAT TAKES A LOT OF FLAK SOMETIMES, THIS RUN IS DIFFERENT AND SHE IS REALLY BEGINNING TO PROVE HERSELF AND, I THINK, WIN A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER, WHICH I LOVE TO SEE.

JORDAN GRACE COMING HERE FROM TNA, THEIR CHAMPION, I WANT TO THANK HER FOR BEING HERE AND PARTICIPATING IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE. SHE’S AN AMAZING TALENT. IT IS EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO BRANCH OUT. I AM NOT GOING TO USE ALL THE CLICHED TERMS ABOUT WHAT DOOR PEOPLE GO THROUGH BECAUSE IT IS

STUPID AND SILLY, BUT PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS COME ALONG FOR SOME PEOPLE ONCE IN A LIFETIME, BUT I AM GLAD SHE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY. SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE TALENT. THE LAST ONE I WANTED TO MENTION FOR THE WOMEN’S SIDE IS THE DEBUT OF JADE CARGILL. WHAT IS THE PHRASE YOU KIDS USE

NOW? AURA? THAT IS THE NEW TERM OF THE WEEK. LABVIEW INVENTED THAT. -=- — GLAD YOU INVENTED THAT. WHATEVER IT IS, X-FACTOR, AURA, SHE’S GOT IT AND THEN SOME. SHE IS A DIFFERENT PERFORMER. I AM GLAD SHE HAS HAD THE TIME TO GET HER FEET ON THE GROUND

AND WAS ABLE TO COME IN TONIGHT AND MAKE A HUGE IMPACT. THE FUTURE IS INCREDIBLY BRIGHT FOR HER AND FOR ALL OF US. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT. ON THE MEN’S SIDE, I THOUGHT BOTH PUNK AND CODY HAD AN INCREDIBLE SHOW AND, AS DID EVERYBODY, BUT JUST AN INCREDIBLE SHOWING FOR TWO GUYS

WHO BOTH, IF YOU COULD SAY THEY ENDED UP IN THAT SPOT, HOW COULD YOU ARGUE? MY HATS OFF TO BOTH OF THEM. BRON BREAKKER HAD A SPECTACULAR DEBUT IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE. EXPLOSIVE I GUESS IS THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN BRAUN, BUT HE HAD A GREAT NIGHT. AND THEN ANDRADE, THE RETURN,

JUST A PHENOMENAL TALENT. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE CAN DO NOW IN THIS TIME. IT IS THE RIGHT TIME. BEFORE, MAYBE NOT, BUT NOW IT IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND SHOWCASE WHAT HE COULD DO. I AM EXCITED. ONE THING ON THE TALENT SIDE

BEFORE WE MOVE ON IS JUST, CODY WAS OUT HERE, I HEARD HIM TALKING ABOUT THE AREA, ABOUT WHY HE IS DOING THIS. AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE IS NOBODY MORE DEDICATED TO THIS CRAFT. THE RESPECT THAT HE HAS FOR IT IS SECOND TO NONE. EVEN I AM WAITING FOR HIM TO

COME BACK AT CARRILLO WHILE HE SPENDS 45 MINUTES OUT. MEETING PEOPLE AND SHAKING HANDS. SOMEBODY’S GOT TO GO GET HIM. WE HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE HAPPENING AND IT’S ALREADY STARTED AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR US. I LOVE THAT. I LOVE HIS DEDICATION TO OUR UNIVERSE, TO FANS, TO ANYBODY.

HE IS THE RIGHT HUMAN BEING, THE RIGHT PERSON. HIS PASSION FOR THIS, HIS DEDICATION FOR THIS IS SECOND TO NONE. HE ABSOLUTELY IS THE FUTURE OF THIS FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. I DON’T WANT IT TO SOUND CONDESCENDING TO HIM, AND I TRY WHEN I LOOK AT HIM NOT TO SEE

HIS DAD, BUT I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF HIM, AND I KNOW HIS DAD WOULD BE. HE HAD AN AWESOME NIGHT. WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS. BYRON: OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL GO TO OUR FIRST ROW. REPORTER: IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT WWE WILL BE MOVING TO

NETFLIX, PART OF THE PROGRAMMING IN 2025. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT DEAL, AND HOW WILL THIS CHANGE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT? PAUL: MY REACTION TO THAT DEAL IS HOLY — [LAUGHTER] IT IS AMAZING. HOW WILL HE CHANGE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT? HOW WILL IT CHANGE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IS ACTUALLY THE BETTER PHRASING OF THE QUESTION.

I THINK THE WHOLE WORLD SEES A SHIFTING ECOSYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE PEOPLE CONSUME AND VIEW THINGS. IN A MOMENT WHEN YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIPPING THEIR TOE IN THE WATER OF STREAMING SERVICES AND TRYING NEW THINGS, SINCE THE BEGINNING, WWE HAS BEEN SORT OF GROUNDBREAKER’S AND FIRST MOVERS.

YOU SAW IT BACK IN THE BEGINNING WITH CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV. YOU SAW THE WWE AT THE FOREFRONT AND ALMOST SORT OF MAKING THE PAY-PER-VIEW INDUSTRY. YOU SAW IT WHEN WE STARTED THE WWE NETWORK WHEN STREAMING WAS SORT OF A LITTLE BIT OF A THING AND PEOPLE WERE NOT EVEN SURE IF

IT WAS GOING TO WORK. WE JUMPED IN AND IT WORKED AND PEOPLE SAW IT AND FOLLOWED WHAT WE DID, AND THEY FOLLOWED IT IN THEIR OWN WAY. WHEN WE JUMPED OUT OF ARUN STREAMING SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE BUNDLING AND TICKET TO A LARGER CARRIER, TO GO WITH PEACOCK, AND

I’M YOU SEE THIS MOVE INTO STREAMING WHERE, AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, THE NFL, SOCCER, EVERYBODY ARE DIPPING THEIR TOES INTO THAT. EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING THIS, EVERYBODY. HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING THE SHOWS. BUT THEY WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT TAKES PLACE HERE. WE ARE ONCE AGAIN IN FRONT OF THAT.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A DEAL THAT IS 10 YEARS, $5 BILLION, IT IS HARD TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS — TO NOT BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE WEEK. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SCREAMING SERVICES, SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THE ROCK JOINING THE BOARD FOR T.K.O..

AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THE BIGGEST CELEBRITY, THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE WORLD, THE BIGGEST BOX OFFICE ATTRACTION IN THE WORLD TO BE A PART OF THAT BOARD AND HELP US WITH — HE’S AN EXPERT ON BRANDING, ON MARKETING, ON ALL THOSE THINGS. SO, TO HELP WITH THAT.

BUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS HE IS ALSO A GUY THAT, WHILE ON A BOARD AT EXTREMELY HIGH LEVELS AND COMMUTE GETTING WITH THEM — COMMUNICATING WITH THEM, I CAN SPEAK TO HIM IN SHORTHAND ABOUT WHAT WWE NEEDS. THAT IS SUCH A BLESSING, TO BE

ABLE TO CALL HIM AND SAY, IN OUR LANGUAGE, HERE IS WHAT I’M FEELING, HERE’S THE WAY I WANT TO GO, AND CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THAT? THAT IS REALLY WHAT THEY ARE THEREFORE, TO HELP US WITH THAT IN BUSINESS. IT IS AMAZING TO HAVE HIM DO THAT.

IT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US. REPORTER: SPEAKING OF THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS, IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY OPPOSED VINCE’S RETURN TO THE COMPANY HAS EXECUTIVE CHAIR, DUE TO THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS AT THE TIME BEFORE ULTIMATELY GOADING HIM BACK INTO POWER. YOU, STEPHANIE, NICK CON WERE

PART OF THAT. WHAT PART OF THE CURRENT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM DID YOU HAVE AT THE TIME, AND HOW DOES THE SITUATION AFFECT WWE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH PARTNERS GOING FORWARD? PAUL: I AM GOING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT ME TO DO HERE. WE JUST HAD AN AMAZING WEEK.

JUST HAD A 10 YEAR, $5 BILLION NETFLIX DEAL, THE ROCK JOINING OUR BOARD. WE JUST SOLD OUT THE ROYAL RUMBLE PUT 48,000 PEOPLE INTO TROPICANA FIELD. I CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. YES, THERE IS A NEGATIVE, BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT AND JUST KEEP IT TO THAT.

BYRON: ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK. REPORTER: KEVIN HAWKINS FROM “THE RINGER.” JUST A QUESTION ASKED EARLIER TO CODY, I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT, WHAT IS BEING PUT IN PLACE TO BE SURE THAT EMPLOYEES FEEL SAFE, DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER CAN’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EMPLOYEES UNDER THEM? PAUL: I WILL GIVE YOU THE MOST GENERALIZED ANSWER THAT I CAN. EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. YEAH. AND THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO US, A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC TO US.

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. BYRON: OUR FINAL QUESTION, TO THE RIGHT HAND CORNER. REPORTER: BRANDON FROM WRESTLENOMICS. PAUL: I KNOW YOU HAVE A MICROPHONE, BUT THEY ARE MOVING A BUNCH OF STUFF. A LITTLE BIT LOUDER, PLEASE. REPORTER: DID YOU READ THE LAWSUIT THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK,

AND IF YOU DID, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO IT? PAUL: I DID NOT. I THINK CODY MENTIONED IT, THAT WE ALL FOUND OUT IN REAL TIME WHEN YOU DID, AND THAT’S THE TRUTH. I WILL GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID BEFORE. THIS IS AN AMAZING WEEK FOR US.

I JUST, AT THIS POINT, I DON’T EVEN WANT TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE NEGATIVES OF IT. I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES AND WHERE WE ARE GOING. HERE AT THE MOST EXCITING TIME OF THE YEAR FOR US, THE MOST EXCITING POINT TO ME, BUSINESSWISE, I THINK, THAT WE

HAVE EVER HAD. I THINK CODY MIGHT HAVE SAID — I DON’T REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW HE SAID IT, BUT THE BEST POSITIONING OF THIS COMPANY SINCE THE ATTITUDE ERA. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT ERA. I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING THAT, WHILE WE

MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PUT OUR FINGER ON IT RIGHT NOW, FIVE TO 10 YEARS FROM NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE SAYING, WOW, WHAT A TIME THAT WAS. I WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT. BYRON: I WAS TOLD WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION AND WE

WILL END HERE IN THE FRONT ROW. REPORTER: HI. I WANT TO ASK ABOUT, BUT I WAS LOOKING AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCHES TODAY, THE WOMEN’S AND MEN’S, THE ROSTER IS STACKED RIGHT NOW. THERE IS SO MUCH MAIN EVENT TALENT. DOES THAT MAKE YOUR JOB FUN, OR IS IT CHALLENGING TO KEEP ALL

THESE PEOPLE AT MAIN EVENT LEVEL, KEEPING STORYLINES THAT KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING? PAUL: IT IS CHALLENGING, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT FUN. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH. I AGREE WITH YOU. I CAN’T RECALL A TIME THAT I WOULD LOOK AT ROSTERS THIS STICK AND STACKED — THIS THICK AND

STACKED, WHICH IS NICE TO HAVE. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A PLACE, BUT CAN’T ALWAYS HAPPEN. YOU CAN’T MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS FEATURED THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE AT ALL TIMES. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE UPS AND DOWNS. IT ALSO MEANS, AS HE SAW TONIGHT, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT

TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE, BUT THERE WERE FOUR THINGS ON THE CARD TONIGHT AND IT WAS STILL SUCH A LONG SHOW. TRYING TO KEEP THESE SHOWS MANAGEABLE TIMEWISE, YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO FEATURE SO MANY THINGS PER SHOW, SO IT DOES GET CHALLENGING, BUT THAT

IS THE FUN PART. WHEN YOU HAVE A STACKED ROSTER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO PROVE THEMSELVES, TO GET TO ANOTHER LEVEL, IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THE TOP SPOTS AND EVEN FOR THE SPOTS BELOW THOSE AND THEY SPOTS IN THE MIDDLE, LIKE THAT COMPETITION IS INTENSE.

AS PEOPLE REALIZE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE FEWER AND FURTHER, THEY ARE GOING TO WORK HARDER AND HARDER, WHICH IS THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY. IT IS A WONDERFUL TIME. ONE MORE? BYRON: ALL RIGHT, LET’S DO ONE MORE. SEE WHAT WE’VE GOT HERE. LET’S GO IN THE BACK. REPORTER: KEVIN MACK, ODYSSEY SPORTS.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? PAUL: I’M GREAT, YOU? REPORTER: I AM WELL, SIR. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WATCH THE ATTITUDE ERA, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE SCREAMING AND THE DEALS AND THE ROSTER THAT IS STACKED AS IT IS, IN YOUR OPINION, IS THIS THE BEST ERA OF WRESTLING?

PAUL: I THINK YOU’VE GOT TO LET IT PLAY OUT. IT IS EASY TO SAY IN THE MOMENT, MY GOD, NOTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, IT IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. I ALSO THINK THAT THERE IS THE THINGS THAT YOU WATCHED WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG, SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE

GOING TO BE — THEY TALK ABOUT THE ATTITUDE ERA WITH SUCH REVERENCE OR WHATEVER. I LIVED THROUGH THAT ERA. SOME OF THAT STUFF IS DONE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT WAS BAD. THERE’S A LOT OF IT THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. YOU LOOK BACK ON IT DIFFERENTLY.

I’M A BIG BELIEVER IN THE MOMENT IS THE MOMENT, BUT IT IS WHAT LASTS TEST OF TIME. I USED TO SAY THAT ABOUT NXT, WHEN IT FIRST STARTED AND EVERYBODY WAS GOING CRAZY. I SAID TALK TO ME ABOUT IT IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS AND WE WILL SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, BECAUSE

RIGHT IS A MOMENT. — RIGHT NOW IS A MOMENT. YOU HAVE TO GIVE THINGS TIME TO SEE HOW THEY PERCOLATE. SOME OF THE GREATEST THINGS IN THE WORLD COULD BE NOTHING A FEW YEARS LATER AND VICE VERSA. TIME WILL TELL. IT CERTAINLY FEELS GOOD, I WILL TELL YOU THAT.

IT FEELS GOOD WATCHING ALL THESE YOUNG ATHLETES COME OUT HERE WEEK AFTER WEEK AND KILL IT. IT FEELS GOOD WHEN I TALKED TO SHAWN MICHAELS AND I SEE THE COLLEGE ATHLETES COMING INTO THAT PERFORMANCE CENTER, DOING THINGS I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND PICKING THIS UP FASTER THAN

I HAVE EVER SEEN ANYBODY PICKING IT UP. ON SO MANY LEVELS, THIS MOMENT IS HUGE. THE MOMENTS THAT ARE WAITING BEHIND IT ARE HUGE. THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD STUFF ALL STACKED THERE, BUT IT SEEMS SO FOR CANDIDE AND LIKE IT IS GOING TO LAST FOR A LONG TIME.

IF YOU ARE ASKING ME MY GUT ON IT, YES, IT IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST, BRIGHTEST ERA THERE HAS EVER BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS, BUT THAT IS, AS YOU SAID, THE CHALLENGE AND FUN OF MAKING IT LAST FOR THE DURATION AND NOT BE JUST A FLASH IN THE PAN.

WHAT THE HELL, DO ONE MORE. TWO ANSWERS WITH NO ANSWER, RIGHT? I FEEL LIKE IOU A COUPLE ANSWERS. BYRON: LET’S SEE WHAT WE’VE GOT. TOUGH CHOICE, A LOT OF HANDS. LET’S GO TO THE SECOND ROPE. — SECOND ROW. REPORTER: WHEN YOU COMPARE THE WWE IN THE PAST AND THE WWE NOW,

AND WITH ALL THE CHANGES WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH THE ROCK AND T.K.O., NETFLIX, AND EVERYTHING WE SAW TODAY AT THE RUMBLE, WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS A NEW WWE FOR A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE WWE? — OR A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE WWE? PAUL: I DON’T LIKE TO SAY IT IS

A NEW WWE, BECAUSE IN SOME WAY THAT NEGATES THE PAST. IT IS A RICH HISTORY HERE. IT IS WHY PEOPLE COMPARE ROMAN REIGNS AND THE LENGTH OF THIS TITLE RUN TO BRUNO OR HOGAN. PEOPLE LOVE THE HISTORY OF WHAT WE DO. I LOVE THAT HISTORY. I HAVE A HUGE HISTORY BUFF ON

THAT STUFF AND LOVE THAT. CODY MENTIONED IT. WE HAVE A LOT OF LEGENDS HERE TONIGHT, AND IT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THEM MORE AND HAVE THEM BE A PART OF WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS WERE MASSIVE. AND JUST HAVE THEM FEEL CONNECTED TO US.

I WANT TO SAY IT IS A BRAND-NEW WWE, BUT IT IS A NEW CHAPTER FOR SURE. I THINK MAYBE THAT IS WHAT I WAS FEELING TONIGHT WHEN I LOOKED OUT IN THE CROWD. COMING OFF OF EVERYTHING TO GET TO WHERE WE WERE, THE PANDEMIC, ALL OF IT, AND THEN SORT OF

RESTART AND JUST IN THIS MOMENT OF, IT IS SITTING UNDER T.K.O. AND NEW OWNERSHIP. IT IS NEW AND IT IS A FRESH START. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SEEING THE PAST AS IT WAS BEHIND YOU, ALL THE NEW THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP AND

ALL THE NOT SO WONDERFUL THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCARD AND MOVE AWAY FROM. IT IS SORT OF CLARITY THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT STARTING POINT BUT YET HAVE ALL THAT HISTORY BEHIND YOU. IT JUST MAKES YOU SEE VERY CLEARLY WHERE YOU WANT TO GO AND WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.

AND THE REASON I AM HERE AND SITTING AT THIS TABLE IS BECAUSE I LOVE THIS AND WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN, FROM A CONTENT STANDPOINT, FROM A PERFORMANCE STANDPOINT, FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO WITH IT, FROM OUR EMPLOYEES TO EVERYTHING

ELSE, I WANT THIS TO BE THE BEST WWE THAT THERE HAS EVER BEEN, UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT HAS EVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. I’M CONFIDENT OF THAT. SO WE HAVE THAT BEHIND US AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I AM PRETTY SURE OF A LOT MOST OF YOU ON PERTH, JUST GOING TO GO OUT ON A LAMP, BUT I WILL SEE YOU SOON AND HOPEFULLY SEE YOU ALL AT WRESTLEMANIA. THANK. [APPLAUSE] BYRON: THANK YOU, PAUL, BAYLEY, CODY ROSE, ALL OF OUR GUESTS,

AND MAKE YOU TOOK OFF — THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE ROYAL RUMBLE PRESS CONFERENCE. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR RAW IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. ♪