The NXT Interview: Husky Harris
Since his in-ring time hadn't been plentiful in the first three weeks of WWE NXT competition, Husky Harris resorted to more extreme measures to make a statement and get noticed. The NXT Rookie, a third-generation competitor with familial blood lines that nearly carve his destiny on the path to Superstardom, stunned the WWE Universe when he attacked NXT host Matt Striker at the close of last week's episode, less than a week before the first NXT Poll.
WWE.com: You made quite an impact at the end of WWE NXT. Why did you attack Matt Striker? (PHOTOS | WATCH)
HARRIS: That's exactly what it was -- an impact. I haven't had enough time, I believe, so far, to showcase what I have and who I am. So that was me showing everyone that they're never going to know what is going on with me. I am the wild card. I am unpredictable. I think I shocked everyone, including the WWE Universe and the other NXT Rookies.
WWE.com: Do you think Striker will find a way to retaliate this time?
HARRIS: I hope so! (laughs)
WWE.com: That sounds like a challenge.
HARRIS: That would just be entertaining for me. If he wants to, he can. Whatever. I'd rather take on that giant and show everyone that I can beat up a giant.
WWE.com: The giant, as in Eli Cottonwood?
HARRIS: Yeah, I'd like to beat up the giant. (laughs)
WWE.com: OK. So, what do you think about the actions of your season one predecessors, first attacking John Cena, and then attacking Mr. McMahon, on Raw?
HARRIS: I've been asked that before, and like I've said before, I don't really care what they're doing. They can do whatever they want. I don't think it's fair that we are grouped in with them because they're doing their own thing.
I am here because I know I am going to win WWE NXT and I am going to get a title opportunity at the end of this. As long as they don't get in my way, I don't have any problem with them. But if they do anything to us and try to take away my chances of getting a title opportunity, that's when I'll have a problem with them. As long as they stay away from me, I don't care.
WWE.com: Do you have a favorite NXT Rookie from season one?
HARRIS: I'd have to say Wade Barrett. He was the winner and that's where I want to be.
WWE.com: The first NXT Poll is Tuesday. Where do you think you'll rank?
HARRIS: I should be ranked No. 1, honestly. I haven't had a chance to completely showcase everything I have to offer WWE. There's nothing like me in WWE. There never has been. I am an Army tank with a Ferrari engine. I don't think anyone can hold me down, physically. And I am just as quick as anyone else out there. So I think I definitely should be No. 1 in the NXT Poll.
WWE.com: How has your relationship been with your WWE Pro, Cody Rhodes?
HARRIS: I kind of have mixed emotions. I don't know if I like Cody or not. He kind of embarrassed me on SmackDown a little bit. (WATCH) I am learning a lot from him. Having Cody Rhodes as my WWE Pro, obviously we have a lot in common, in retrospect, but we also differ. We have a weird, love/hate relationship.
WWE.com: Who is your biggest competition on WWE NXT?
HARRIS: My biggest competition is myself. As long as I can go out there, and show everyone what I have, every week, then I should win. I'm not afraid of anyone at all. I have zero fear. And like I said, I'd like to beat up that giant.
WWE.com: Is that who you'd like to face next -- Eli Cottonwood?
HARRIS: I don't know. I'd also like to face Kaval. I'd like to see what I can do against him. And yes, I'd like to beat up that giant. That's just something I want to do. (laughs)
WWE.com: Cottonwood is 2-0 already, you know.
HARRIS: Records don't mean anything. I don't really care. I'm a stud, and I'm going to show everyone why.
WWE.com: So if you won the competition tomorrow, which championship would you go after?
HARRIS: Very interesting. I think if Cody and I could get along, I think we'd be a real tough team to beat in the tag team division. I think we could take down The Hart Dynasty.
Although I do like to follow my own path, and it's always been a personal dream of mine, for my whole life, to be Intercontinental Champion. When I was growing up, Curt Henning and Bret Hart, in my opinion, were the greatest at the time and were Intercontinental Champions. So I'd like to make a run at that, as well.
WWE.com: Let's talk about your family. You're a third-generation competitor on WWE NXT. How do you plan to live up to your family's legacy in WWE?
HARRIS: I'm much different than them. I am my own person, unlike a lot of third- and second-generation guys who completely follow in their predecessors' footsteps. I am my own man. I'm making a name for myself.
Everything I do that's amazing that's put in the newspaper about me, the first two paragraphs will say, "He's the grandson of Blackjack Mulligan, the nephew of Barry and Kendall Windham, the son of Mike Rotunda," and they go on about them for two paragraphs and then they start on me. I'm trying to flip that around. I am tired of it being all about them and a little bit about me. I want it to be all about me.
WWE.com: So have you learned from your father and grandfather, or do you take more of your athletic skills to the ring, such as tapping into your experience with football?
HARRIS: It's a mix of both. My father was a great amateur athlete. He was on the Olympic ladder to compete in the Olympics. My brother and I both took to amateur wrestling really quickly. We're just naturals at it, with grappling, and stuff like that. We got that from my father. On my mother's side, the Texan wild men, Barry and Blackjack, I think I kind of got my mean streak from them. That's how I got the wild man in me.
WWE.com: Your grandfather and Dusty Rhodes were tag team champions. Did you know Cody growing up?
HARRIS: I did not know Cody very well, but I grew up with his half-brother, Dustin. He was one of Barry's best friends. We used to go to a hunting camp in Georgia where Barry used to live and Dustin would always be up there. I kind of looked at Dustin as like another uncle to me. So I am very close to that family.
WWE.com: Do you have any final messages for the WWE Universe?
HARRIS: I'm going to win WWE NXT. There's not even a doubt in my mind. Even if I'm not No. 1 in the NXT Poll, I am going to win it anyway. It's only a matter of time.
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