If Saturday evening’s Royal Rumble is the official place to begin for the street to WrestleMania, then WWE United States Champion Austin Principle is seeking to make a history-making end.
Muscle & Health sat down with the 25-year-old to seek out out why he started his path to professional wrestling as a aggressive bodybuilder, his ideas on a dream match with John Cena, and why victory within the Royal Rumble might set a precedent in WWE.
As a childhood fan of WWE, Principle understood that his heroes of the squared circle had nice physiques, and so he set about constructing his personal.
“One of many largest issues with a WWE Famous person is that you simply see any individual who you don’t see every single day,” says Principle. “So, that’s a man that works out lots and for me, at 12-years-old, I used to be on the lookout for what might get me prepared for WWE ‘proper now,’ and it’s a loopy mindset to have as a child however I used to be like: ‘man I might begin figuring out to prepare for this.’ So, it’s been a continuing development from 12, all the best way to now, at 25. I simply labored out nearly each single day, and it was all about getting ready myself for WWE. Alongside the best way there was a bodybuilding present, however the bodybuilding present was simply in hopes of attempting to get a tryout with WWE.”
Principle didn’t simply enter his first bodybuilding present at age 17, he got here first in addition, taking house the prize within the NPC Mr. Teenage Georgia competitors. Principle can chortle, now, that when he received that present, his telephone didn’t ring off the hook from WWE like he anticipated, so as a substitute, he acquired himself on the corporate’s radar by wrestling on the impartial scene till they lastly took discover.
Austin Principle trains nearly each single day
Principle could not compete for gracing the bodybuilding stage, however he nonetheless seems to be stage prepared and wows followers along with his outlined abs and bulging biceps each week on WWE tv. His love of the gymnasium actually is stronger than ever. “I truthfully take a relaxation day once I actually really feel like I want it, as a result of to me, figuring out just about every single day retains my physique feeling alive, and awake, and feeling good,” he says.
Many WWE followers have additionally noticed that Principle has lots in frequent with the legendary John Cena. Not solely did they each compete in bodybuilding earlier than professional wrestling, however their in-ring expertise and boyish beauty make these guys seem like minimize from the identical fabric. It’s no shock to study then, that Principle grew up being influenced by “Tremendous Cena.”
“That’s who captured my consideration, and that’s sort of what set all the pieces off for me,” says Principle. When questioned about the potential of in the future going through his hero, a match that hundreds of thousands of professional wrestling followers hope might in the future occur, Principle understands how epic that might be. “That will be a hell of a match,” he says. “How would it not go? I imply, we’re within the now, ? And John Cena’s prior to now, man. It’s what it’s. I’ve acquired lots of respect for that man, however we’re within the ‘now’ so I feel everyone knows how that might go.”
By no means one to be missing in self-confidence, Principle appreciates that to carve out his personal establish, he’ll have to separate himself from icons like Cena, and as america champion, he’s doing simply that. He’s additionally entered himself into Saturday evening’s Royal Rumble the place, ought to he win, he’ll earn a World title match at WrestleMania 39. Nonetheless, successful this marathon, over-the-top battle royal, requires greater than muscle. “Take a look at me final yr, I used to be in there for over 20 minutes. I got here in at quantity three. It’s important to ensure that your lungs are prepared to soak up lots of air, and particularly; you’ve acquired to outlast 29 different WWE Superstars,” says the voice of expertise.
However ought to Principle pull it off and outlast the opposite 29 rivals with a purpose to win this thirty sixth annual Royal Rumble, earlier than 1000’s of followers within the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX, (broadcast stay on Peacock in america, and WWE Community internationally), then he might, in “concept” make historical past. By successful the Rumble, and hanging on to the U.S. Championship, Principle might discover himself concerned in World, and U.S. Championship matches at WrestleMania in April. This is able to be an unprecedented state of affairs. “I feel that might be wonderful,” says Principle. “Particularly if you could be any individual that does one thing for the primary time. Who is aware of? I might win the Royal Rumble, stroll into WrestleMania and stroll out with the championships. That will be fairly candy.”
