From PROWRESTLING.NET

MVP talks Japanese vs. American culture, the possibility of returning to WWE and what it was like working with Matt Hardy

Posted in: Interview Highlights
By
May 11, 2011 - 01:18 PM

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MVP on returning to the WWE: "Never say never. Some people leave and have bad feelings - and rightfully so, because some 'break-ups' aren't so friendly - but never say never. I'm still on good terms with the WWE. There's no hostility between us. They graciously granted my release. I had an awesome time at WWE. Did Vince & I see eye-to-eye on things...no. But it was like the relationship where you start to grow apart."

MVP on differences between the Japanese and American cultures: "There aren't that many difference. Obviously, the Japan culture is based on respect. So when you come in, you greet everyone. You respect your peers. The major thing I can think of is - in Japan you call them 'young-boys' and in the U.S. you call them 'rookies' - but in Japan, when the rookies come back into the locker room after their match, they bow to the veterans.

"Then the Japanese training - the Dojo system. To become a wrestler in Japan, you have to go through a lot to get there. And even if you get a push, you're still at the bottom of the barrel. You still have to hold open doors. In the past, it was an old tradition to lace/unlace the boots of the veterans or scrub their backs. It's part of the old Samurai practice - where Samurai had others dress them for battle."

MVP on working with Matt Hardy in the WWE: "I remember our first match in Baltimore. Matt has an incredible mind for the business. We would take our ideas to the office and Vince began to embrace us. I remember once, there was a line outside of Vince's office and we were at the back. And Vince came out and saw us and said - Matt/MVP come over here - and totally skipped us past the line to hear our ideas. And it was actually Matt's ideas for the competitions - for us to always be at competition. And to be an odd-couple tag-team. But it was amazing. And if you go to Vince with an idea, a beginning and an end, Vince will listen to you."

Other Interview Topics

-His thoughts on CM Punk and other wrestlers who earned their spot.

-His rising music career and other outside ventures.

-How the art of professional wrestling - and the respect for the craft - is lost now...especially in the WWE?

-If he is hoping to be a main part of New Japan's American expansion?

-And much more.

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