Austin Aries Quotes

At 13, I knew where I wanted to be. I wanted to be in WWE.

When I started wrestling, I never wanted to go to WWE. It was the Japanese life for me.

I was on 'SmackDown' TV when I was 24. I was released when I was 27 and came back at 29.

I was in TNA for over a dozen years. I had a great run there - I had a great career - but obviously, WWE has always been the be-all, end-all of sports entertainment. Until you get there and experience it on a personal level, you just don't know.

I'm not looking to be a superstar. That's why I'm positioned as the face of TNA.

I was in the independent scene for two years before I got the call from the WWE.

Getting to work with The Undertaker right off the bat was a tremendous opportunity. It was an opportunity to be a career-maker, and fortunately, I was able to take advantage of that.

I was 21 years old when I first signed with WWE. I finished my university degree and came straight to America.

I went to my tryout in WWE, and I think within like six weeks, it was really fast for me, I was like down there, moved to Tampa, and the rest was history.

To me, OVW was one of my favorite periods in my career. I felt like I was on the greatest adventure of all time. I was there five months before WWE developmental moved down to Florida.

I think the reason that I've been able to succeed is that I was a fan of sports entertainment when I was a kid - that's what I wanted to do.

Back in 2004, Vince McMahon basically told me to consider WWE to be my playground, and that I could come and play any time I wanted to.

I want to be World Heavyweight Champion, but unfortunately, that didn't happen.

I've always dreamt of somewhere down the line getting one match out of Hogan, just because that was always a dream.

I truly love professional wrestling. I don't want to do anything else.

But while Taya is so good, she is still no diamond. She is still no Tessa Blanchard. I am one of the best in the world!

I obviously wanted to keep wrestling and stay in the business. The opportunity came up with WWE, and it's been an incredible experience.

I am super happy and super proud that Candice LeRae is in the WWE Performance Center.

Eventually, I would love to hold the RAW title at some point before I retire or make that transition.

I'll tell you right now, man, if WWE was to call me and say, 'Hey, Book, we want you to do a match with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin,' I'd do it!

Just the extent of the reach that the WWE Universe has around the world is incredible.

Pretty much my entire life has been played out in front of wrestling fans, even the stuff - I guess you could say the legend and lore - which has grown.

How does Vince McMahon feel about Rusev Day? He's supportive; he's trying to teach me a lot.

But when it comes down to it, I'm a guy who feels like I should be a champion in NXT.

Aleister Black - we've battled in the past, across the world. I've enjoyed his build, to watch his evolution as well.