Dean Muhtadi, formerly known as Mojo Rawley, says Fandango taught him a lot about the wrestling business.
Rawley debuted on NXT in 2013 and later moved to the main roster in 2016. He won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33, and he later won the WWE 24/7 Championship seven times. Rawley didn't wrestle for nearly a year before he was released in 2021. Fandango had an even longer run with the company; he signed a developmental deal in 2006, and after he spent several years in NXT, he arrived on the main roster in 2013. He memorably defeated Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 29. Fandango remained with the company, primarily as part of a tag team with Tyler Breeze, until he was released in 2021.
Speaking on The Undisputed Podcast with Bobby Fish, Rawley credited Fandango for giving him the best advice he has ever received in the business. He stated that Fandango the industry is about lasting a long time, not winning titles or thriving from an on-screen perspective. Rawley recalled how fans eventually come to respect wrestlers, even jobbers who get embarrassed, for surviving, and the office can come to appreciate this dynamic as well. He also stated that, even for a jobber, being a wrestler is a great gig.
"Fandango actually gave me some of the best advice I have ever gotten in the business. He was just saying, ‘it’s not about who wins the most titles and who has the best runs, it’s about who can last the longest. How long can you survive?’ You might be a jobber in the most embarrassing way for two, three, five, six years, but eventually fans are going to notice that, respect the fact that you hung in. The office is going to see that, they’re going to appreciate it and know they have a soldier on their hands, and you will eventually get your run. if you look at all the guys that were fired and came back, and their first run was a joke, for lack of a better term, and their second run was everything that you could have possibly dreamed of. It’s a testament to that of just rolling with it. We’re getting paid to travel the world with our buddies and joke around and pretend to fight in our underwear. Even if you’re a job guy, this is still a great gig," Muhtadi said.
On the same podcast, Muhtadi stated that he wishes he did more "mental work" in WWE. Check out his comments here.
Muhtadi previously noted that he has unfinished business in as a wrestler. Click here to see what he had to say.
Fandango previously discussed his time with WWE. More information is available here.
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