D-Von Dudley is honored that The Usos have adopted the Dudley Death Drop as part of their arsenal.
Jimmy and Jey Uso have been WWE Superstars for 12 years. In that time, like most successful acts, adaptation and evolution have been a significant part of their ability to stay on top. So starting this year, at WWE Day 1 against The New Day's Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston, The Usos added a new finishing maneuver to their move-set, The 1D, 1 & Done. The move itself is the 3D, the finishing maneuver made famous by Bubba Ray and D-Von, The Dudley Boyz.
In a new interview with The A2theK podcast, D-Von Dudley recalls Jimmy and Jey Uso asking for his permission to use the move and explains why he has no problem with the finishing move going to a new team.
"They came to me during a live event," Dudley began. "I think I was producing it with Jamie Noble, and they had asked me — we would talk and shoot the stuff. When we worked with The Usos, they were talking about when we would hit the 3D on them, and they were like, 'Yeah, D-Von,' especially Jey because Jey is so energetic, he's like, 'Yeah! We get the 3D, BANG!' He was like, 'I was just talking to my brother the other day, and I was like, why don't we ask D-Von if we can use the 3D?'
"I said, 'Shit, it's an honor and a pleasure to do that for you guys. I wouldn't have it any other way,'" Dudley continued. "'If my boys wanted to wrestle, which they are wrestling, but the day they get on the main stage, they're going to want to use 3D, too,' I said, 'But, you can do it now. Nobody else is doing it. Plus, you're paying homage to me and Bubba.'"
D-Von also recalled watching them hit the move for the first time and defending their right to use it.
"I remember when The Usos used to play with my sons in catering at the events, throwing paper plates like frisbees around, and it's one of thos. Thengs, Then, I'm looking across the ring And it's The Dudleyz versus ,The Usos and I'm like, 'Wow, talk about the change. 'Good God, it blew my mind," he said. "So for them to come to me and ask me, 'Is it okay if we use The 3D?' I looked at them and said, F Yeah, but I didn't say 'F.' You know what I said. I said, 'I would love for you guys to do that.'
"I showed them and told them different things about how to do it. Keep the opponent's legs closed, and have them stand straight up. Even when he's coming backward, stay straight, don't fall backward with them. When they hit it the first time, I was home actually recuperating from back surgery when I saw it. I'm watching the pay-per-view, and suddenly, I looked and went, 'They just hit 3D! Did they just hit 3D?' I was like, 'Oh, shit; they did,' he continued. "Then, of course, the fans were like, Oh, 'I can't believe that 3D, that's disrespectful.' Then I went on Twitter and said, 'go f yourselves.' I go, 'They asked for permission to use it. They didn't need to ask, but they asked for permission. They were being nice about it, and they hit it perfectly. Leave these guys alone.' Let the new generation be what you want us to be back in the day. Because when me and Bubba, and The Hardy Boys, and Edge and Christian came on the scene, nobody believed in us."
The Usos, armed with their new finisher, is within striking distance of becoming the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions of all time. Currently, they sit at number three behind Demolition and The New Day.
Recently, D-von Dudley spoke about working underneath Triple H and his current role in NXT. Read more here.
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