Robert Roode says he learned a lot from working dark matches for WWE. "It was a real eye-opener," Roode tells Wednesday's Baltimore Sun. "Really, my first match was in June 1998, and I did my first dark match in probably the fall of ’98. So, I didn’t have very many matches under my belt at the time. I was just in the right place at the right time and it was a real eye-opener, but it was a great experience."

"It made me learn different things about the business and see the stars that you see on TV, how they handle themselves professionally backstage and how they prepare for matches and so on. I had probably – between ’98 and the time I came to TNA in 2004 – close to a dozen dark matches or TV matches with WWE."

Roode also comments on his desire to be a pure heel. "I don’t want to be a cool heel. I want the Robert Roode character to be hated, and I think that’s what makes the Robert Roode character unique right now in professional wrestling. All over the business, whether it’s here, WWE or wherever it is, you’re always going to have the heels that get cheered.

"If I had it my way, and the majority of the time it is the case, I don’t have any cheers and people really do hate me. So that makes me feel like I’m doing my job." To read the full interview, visit BaltimoreSun.com.

Powell's POV: I was always surprised that Roode never caught in with WWE. I know there were people in the company who were high on his ability at the time and I seem to remember him being a standout at one of their invite camps. WWE's loss has been TNA's gain. Roode has progressed nicely. Now if only they would give up on his silly rich gimmick that feels forced and doesn't ring true.

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