Given the circumstances surrounding his resignation from WWE, the controversy that preceded it and the legal issues that still exist, many were surprised to hear that former NXT head trainer Bill DeMott would be Chris Jericho's guest on his podcast this week.
DeMott had already defended his actions, but in a venue less likely to draw mainstream attention - a subcriber-only section of Vince Russo's website. Appearing on Talk is Jericho is not only a bigger audience, but also one more closely tied to WWE, since Y2J is currently hosting the new season of Tough Enough - a show that probably made his guest this week as famous as his wrestling career did.
That DeMott and Jericho had the conversation may raise eyebrows, but the conversation itself probably won't. While they don't shy away from the allegations or his exit from Vince McMahon's employ, they also don't sway from Bill's view that it was his job to toughen up trainees and Chris' acceptance of that approach.
DeMott explained his approach, and the reasoning behind it:
If you can make it in NXT, then you're so prepared for what the WWE is. From two hours of sleep and being at media calls at 4AM, to driving 500 miles. Some of them drive to Lakeland [Florida] and want the next day off. And you think to yourself, ‘we can't let that happen.' You're gonna go from Buffalo to Wilkes-Barre, make the drive, you're gonna have a meeting at 6AM, still make your RAW call-time, and then sit in front of Stephanie, Triple H, Vince, Paul Heyman - the guys that are up there on top that have that work ethic - and you're either gonna hang, or you're not. It's not to break you down, it's to prepare you.
His reputation as a "hard-nosed trainer" came largely from an act he turned on for the Tough Enough cameras, DeMott said. And incidents that read as hazing to many, such as the "jelly doughnut scandal" in Deep South Wrestling where Luke Gallows gave naked stinkfaces to Zack Ryder and female student Melissa Coates while DeMott held jelly-filled doughnuts over their faces are explained away as stunts to build morale.
The former Hugh Morrus said that the incident was part of his "Make-a-Deal Friday" where wrestlers could do things to get out of training. Everyone involved volunteered and the participants were cheered. DeMott said the story was presented out of context by a released trainee as an excuse for their not "making the cut".
Truly controversial, and potentially legally actionable, claims such as DeMott encouraging students to work injured or hitting them in injured body parts were not discussed by Jericho or his guest. The usual stories between friends approach makes up the bulk of the episode, as they discuss Ryder's career, the WCW Invasion angle and more.
Anything here change your thoughts on DeMott as a trainer, or Jericho as an interviewer?