One is this so on. Hey, this is Almighty Bobby. Lastly, when you're we're listening to the baby Face podcast, Hey, this is Brittle and you're listen to the bro This is the baby Faces Podcast. We are back for another episode of the baby Faces Podcast, and I gotta say right off the bat, I am twenty four hours removed from a terrible ballot with food poisoning, so I might struggle through this a bit, but I could not miss out on our guest that's joining us tonights. You might know him
from his Days and W e as Damian Sandow. He's now known as Aaron the Idol Stevens. Aaron, thanks so much for taking the time to night man. Thank you. Hyeah, it's I dropped the idol moniker. Um the idol was an ov W, but shout out to the ov W Days, which we just briefly talked about. Um. Yes, we're going by Aaron Stevens right now. I'm actually using my real name Aaron to dad in certain circles, like that's my official screen name with SAG now. So yes,
I still have multiple names, but I answered all of them. Yeah, good deal, and that's a big reason why we got you on the podcast tonight. We talked to your buddy Daniel Hill a few months back or a couple of weeks ago, and you know, the ties with OBW and the ties to where we live here in Louisville. Will definitely get into that
tonight. But first, you know, you just updated us on a couple of things you're you're doing currently, you know, before we dig into all your past and you're wrestling and whatnot, what let our listeners know what's been going on with you lately. So currently the TV show Heels that airs on the Stars Network. I will be in season two. I'm in a few episodes of that. They made me a cast member, which was kind of as funny as like the Big break and it happened when I left La.
Of all things, I was saying, you know what, I'm gonna kind of get out and maybe move to Atlanta because there's just more going on there in terms of projects and things like that. But then like the second I said I'm leaving La, the opportunity for Heels came about, Um, you know, and to work with you know, like guys like Micha O'Malley has
been really really a pleasure. Um, and it's just been such a you know, a learning experience there too, So UM, you know that's uh, that's one thing of course, NWA is UH is going strong and uh, it's a lot of fun. You know. I thought I was, Um, I thought I was out of it for a while and uh, you know, and I say it, I mean the wrestling business as a whole. And then I was filming an episode of Magnum Pi in Hawaii. Um. And then as I'm sitting on the beach, I remember it was
labor Day weekend. UM, so like I had five days off is because of like my shooting schedule and the extended weekend and stuff. So like I was there for three weeks, but I had like five days in the middle of it where I didn't have anything to do in why I could key So that was great. But then you know, the phone rang. It was it was Billy Corgan and it was just like, hey, come back to work. Nope, well you're a good plane ticket. So more or less
I ended up going to uh to Georgia. Um and uh. And again you know I often say this where I was fully prepared to be like now I'm good with everything, but I mean it was just like that first set up with the It was a Georgia Public Broadcasting studios right like right next to where they used to film the original Georgia Championship Wrestling, and then to see the set from like the ring to the interview desks to the announced and just I kind of went like, Okay, I can do this because I knew
exactly what it was, and um, yeah, so that was it. That was just a really again a positive experience. And then to kind of go through everything like since kind of the inception of the modern era and wah, it truly has been a great experience. And to reak neck with some of my old friends like Tyrus and um. But then to um, you know, Trevor Murdoch and I, like we always knew each other, we
were cool. But then like Trevor Murdoch is one of my closest friends in the world right now, Um where I you know, once a year I go to his house in Missouri and um, you know, his kids call me Uncle Aaron and and we um, we just have a good old time. So it's it's it's been very very good and very healing and cathartic in a lot of ways for a lot of us. So that's um again always a plus. So all these roles are too played. Basically, Uncle Aaron's
probably probably the most you take pride in right now. Um, well I try. You know. It's funny because I've I don't have any kids, which has been by choice. Um, because I just I mean frankly like, and people say, oh, it does you feel bad? You you ever regretting? No? Um, you know, my lifestyle is my lifestyle, and I I don't think again, right, And this is not a judge been towards anybody, because hey, do what you do. UM. To me, it was never worth wanting to have children because the amount of
time you spend away from home, ultimately the children will suffer. So that was and again like I've had to walk away from a relationship because of it and everything and um, which actually was probably the best thing to happen. But uh at the time I didn't think so. But I thought I was kind of acting um out of some kind of like you know, moral correctness. Uh. And I think I was um and to this day I still do. But um, you know, again there's other things going on there.
We're not going to get involved, but um, you know, and um having to walk away from that because ultimately I didn't want children to suffer, right, That's I's that's that's that that's affected other people in the business. You think about other stories that's also been out there with John Cena, you know, with him being so close and one to dedicate you know, just himself to the business sets, that's that's that's caused his direction and other
people's just as well and choosing what they want to do. And if you, I know, you just mentioned that your show that you're on heels, I know I've dove into it a little bit. I've gotten to watch it, and it's interesting, Aaron, because we talked about OVW started there. That's like a place that you know, when it started, it was of course under the guys under WWE, and it was there to help superstars and developing talent learn how to perform in front of a camera, learn how to
perform in front of a crowd, know how to hit camera points. And then of course you move up to the big stages with WWE, and even you'd even move around to other circuits just as well, and then you kind of enda end up back on a set playing a character and wrestling. So you've kind of done it all. Do you find it easy? Uh?
You know when you're training to perform in front of a crowd or or just kind of perform in front of the camera where you could do multiple takes or you're just the kind of guy that you could just go off of it, and that's like the character of wrestling that you've been able to develop. Well, No, because like to me, right, it's I will always at my core be a live performer only because like from the time I was sixteen, that is what I am trained to do, right I am you know,
Okay, I've trained as a wrestler. What does that mean? Yes, I can do a hip toss and an arm drag and jump off the top rope if necessary. But more importantly than that, I can read a crowd and then based upon the specs I'm getting, you know, all the information I'm getting like what are they liking, what are they not liking? All that, I can then in the ring decide we need to do this, do that, add this, omit this, and adjust my and my
opponent's performance accordingly. That's what ring psychology is, right, So like that's that that's kind of what I'm known for. I guess if that makes sense, But like you know what you're doing, you know, you're Yeah, it's like the immediate reaction. It's it's very gratifying, right, Like if I do something all right, like thousands of people are going to react to
it, great, awesome, and then we can go from there. We're in front of a camera, you know, even if you do something great, you have to do it two or three times because of different camera shots. Right, So like that was an adjustment. And then with wrestling, how it is very Shakespearean, Um, you know where where I mean, Look, I have eyes the size of grapefruits, right, this is this is not a secret, um, you know. And I tend to be very expressive. So with acting to me, and this is where Daniel Hill.
And by the way, if anyone needs an acting coach, I cannot stress Daniel Hill enough. Like in my acting career, I attribute any success in my act career, which which is the last really kind of year and a half, I've enjoyed a lot of it. Um, that is because of Daniel Hill. And as a teacher, I mean, and then again we know him. He taught the Master's program at ul he's just the Shakespeare company he was in russ Cree. I mean, he's just he's a he's
a gee, you know, Yeah, he gets it done. Daniel has a hard working man, oh absolutely, and uh and a good man at that, like the man has integrity, which again in LA that's um, that's a very rare fine. Oh. I love everything that that you just talked about there and getting a character over, right, Like wrestling is wrestling at the end of the day, Like that's part of the show. And then that's always gonna be, you know, a part of pushing storylines and
whatnot. But at the end of the day, it's all about getting your character over. And that's something me and Austin are a big proponent of here is character and storylines you know, leading to the ultimate payoff of a wrestling match. And that's something that you know, marks on Twitter get up in arms over when we talk about it sometimes. And you know, it's good to hear people from the actual business talk about that aspect of it because I
think that's the most important aspect of wrestling truly. So you started in OBW and you're learning the ropes of doing all this how much did OBW help you with that? Overall, you know, development of the character process what OBW did, Like I was trained originally in Massachusetts by a guy named Killer Kowalski, who I mean a very very well known wrestling school. It had an impeccable reputation and I am forever grateful to that. When I got to OVW,
rip Rogers ought me how to work. We've heard his name at yes and I say this how what Killer would always say. And when I was with Killer, I was learning the moves. I was learning the very basics of psychology, like like a very basic skeleton of it, right to where it's almost like I equate it to um. Killer taught me how to hold a paintbrush right and like paint a picture with with like you know, black
paint on white paper. Right. But he taught me how to do it extremely well, right, like make everything you do snap when you bump, make sure you bump like this when you know what I mean, Like there's little things right. But he would always say, make the people notice you, make the people notice you. When I got to OVW, the finer points of psychology, like like I know one, I'll say that he taught
me how to sketch with a pencil versus painting with black paint. In OVW, I was handed a color palette and saying, okay, this is how
you paint the picture. Does that make sense? Yeah? So Rip taught me pretty much like and I still use this to this day, where not only did he teach me, but but gave me and really everybody that came through at the time, the confidence to walk into any arena in the world, wherever it is, and by the end of the match, have the people loving you or hating you, bottom line, and however you do that. If it's moves, if it's selling, if it's promos, whatever it
is, that's how you do it. And that really is a skill set that I don't see being taught today. And a lot of people right like obviously Al snow Um. You know, Al gets it. Al is phenomenal. I have so much respect for l and and and Al taught me a lot because after Rip we Um, we went through a couple of traders and
uh and and Al was the guy that kind of ended up sticking. So I just I cannot sing Al's praises enough truly, And and you know L also has a grasp of reality, which is very nice and refreshing in the wrestling business at times. Um but um, you know that that that and again we say working it's just the art of making the people care about you. And I said this recently an interview where like, you know, my thing is, you know, I'm not in WWE because I had some words
with Vince right and I told him my opinion of him right now. I was upset at the time and whatever, and I have not contacted them at all. I don't want to go back like it's it's not an issue. But anytime I wanted a job in pro wrestling, I can get one. And that is because of what I've learned at OVW. But I wouldn't have been who I was in OVW have it not been for you know, my training at Killers. So that's it really is kind of a you know,
I'm a multi uh people. I guess you call it, right. I think I think that's interesting and we could we could totally get into I would love to hear the conversation pal uh. You know, just just things that you've just things that you've said. But you know, I guess we can kind of start off a little bit with that, Aaron, Like, you're in the hotbed of of OBW here in Louisville. When it's it's it's it's the training ground for for WWE at the time. That's where the top stars
are coming from. When when a guy like you gets called up, and or just when anybody that gets called up, you're a pretty big deal in OBW when you get called up. And when a guy gets called up in OBW at this time, who are you having conversations with? Are they telling you their plans immediately? Like you're going to be a star pal? Are you talking Evince right away? Are you talking to Is this like Paul Hammond deal or or is Jim Cornette in here? I know Jim Cornett's still a
part of OBEW at the time. I know he's still trying to protect a lot of his talent because Jim still always has different opinions of what they did with the main roster. I know he didn't like what they did with a couple of guys that left. So were you told anything specific? Who did you first talk to when you got up there? And like what what made
you excited? Did you get told any good news of no um. I was in a tag team with the guy named Casey James who we were not doing anything here, and I went from like the OVW heavyweight champion to being in a tag team with absolutely no fanfare. Nothing. I mean, my my first goal round in WWE was was really lackluster because you know, look, I was a product of doctor Tom. He's the guy that signed me.
I was signed under Jim Ross. When Laura Nitis took over. You know, he had to to put his guys in play, and look that that's politics, right, and I had just kind of become forgotten about. And there was also a disconnect between the office and developmental to where like I was killing it on every house show and I was main event and TV and
they were just like hum and again for whatever reason. But but I also and and this is true to this day, I not one to go kind of like like, look, if I I don't want to hang out with you after hours, that doesn't mean I'm not a great employee. That doesn't mean I don't fail drug tests, I don't show up on time, I don't help other people, and my work doesn't speak for itself. Some people like to be schmoozed and they like their ego stroked. That is not who
I am. I don't do that again. I'm all about having a good time, laughing with people whatever, But I am not going to stand outside Vince's door in a line of ten people. Oh what are we gonna do to get a push? No? Do you not hear the people when you hit my music? Like? Do you not read the house show reports? You know, Sandow got a bigger reaction than so and so. Right, I'm not gonna name names, but I know for a fact that was written
in a report because I saw it again on TV. You know my my live reaction when I when I walked through the curtain and they hit my music. That speaks for itself during my matches? Are they invested like that's that's what it's about? And um, it just it is what it is, right Like it's one of those things. Um, you know, I've dealt
with it. I'd let it go in now an NW way. It's funny because I'm I'm kind of given a lot more room to play, uh, And it's it's creatively really really cool that I can kind of explore these different avenues and things like that. And um, and I'm very very grateful to Billy and everybody there. So you you eventually get called up to the main roster a second time, right under this Damian sandal rebranding characters, and you
get that over. I mean, you were one of the you know, rising stars in all of we and that leads to money in the bank, of course. So I'd love to get into that situation a little bit, like how how far back did you know that you were going to win money in the bank? Was the plan always for you to eventually lose the John Cena nothing really come of it, or no one not to put the strap
on you. At one point that was what it was told to me um, where they said, yeah, we're gonna put the briefcase in your hands about a week before I think um. And then ultimately, I mean, look, things happen. You know, it didn't work out for whatever reason they told me x and then they went with why and why is not something I can continue to ask myself like it was what it was, and I was just like, whatever I'll recover from it, I'll do it. Fast
forward to misdow, fast forward to the Battle Royal Uh. Then I gave myself like a final year where I'm like, all right, maybe they'll give me something, maybe they won't. And then I by that time, I was just like you know what, like this is like the money's good, but it's not everything, and I want to do more with my life.
So that's that's why I left. So how much different do you think your career year goes if the if it they go with the X plan and said the Y plan, right, and they put this strap on you at that point, and you know what, who knows the potential that comes from there? What do you think would have would have came of your career in WW from that? So ultimately, you know, to varying degrees, when dealing with the same people, you'll get the same result. Would it have been
nice to be the world champion? Yes? Um, But ultimately I think that I would have experienced the same frustrations and the same whatever because I wasn't going to change my personality, you know. And it's not like like this brazen kind of you know, um, I'm not really smart. Forgive me. I know I'm the intellectual savior, but the word I'm looking for, I guess this this brazen opposition to anyone. Um, it's just like,
hey, I'm not going to get in line to kiss anyone's backside. You know, I will look you in the eye, I will tell you what's on my mind. I will work my tail off for you if nothing else, because I have enough pride in myself as a performer to where like when I was with Impact, UM right after WWE, I just remember, like it got to a point I wasn't feeling it and I'm like, you know, some this ain't this ain't working out. Um, I am not the performer. I like, I'm my heart's not into this and I'm not gonna
do a disservice, right. So that's kind of how I am. I've been, you know, like aware now I guess in the last couple of years that I'm very much more the like artist type than I am like the you know, the typical like meathead wrestler. Like where I'm this is very much a performance for me, sure, um and uh And I've accepted that. So do you still have Are you still close with anybody that's um probably in the business, maybe that you came up with an OVW, or that
you that you tied with an OVW. Maybe like Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Uh, do you even pay attention to kind of anything that's going over there, because I kind of want to really liked Cody. Cody Rhodes is you know, he's obviously in a major in a major spot right now. Other OVW alum, and I kind of want to get your thoughts on on on on what they're doing with him and obviously Roman Reigns as some of uh, you know what's obviously what some of the wrestling world has been buzzing about.
And didn't know if you still were close with anyone over there or if you've had any thoughts of what's going on with some former OVW people. No, you know, Cody and I we we text occasionally. UM. You know, Cody is very dedicated. He definitely has, you know, a lot to prove to himself, I think UM and I've always admired his dedication, UM and his um, his his attitude really to to to always kind of do his own thing and in stand up and fight for what he believes
in that being said, I really don't watch UM. I know the Finnish to Mania that was really it was disappointing and although it wasn't surprising, like like to the fans, it might have been surprising, but you know, I was like, oh, maybe they'll give it to him. I hope so, and I was really rooting for him. They didn't, and you know what it is, what it is, and the story goes on, the show goes on. I think WWE made a very big mistake, extremely
big mistake. But that's just me and I don't work there, so it might call Now, I know you just said you don't watch the product, don't keep up with that that much. But around this time last year, there was the Ezekiel character in w E, which was Elias's twin brother, and there are a lot of rumors online and a lot of like speculation shrinding things of oh they should bring Damian Sando back for to be the the twin brother to ali Is. So then it right, Yes, did you see
any of that or did any of that come across? Ye? I caught wint to some of it, and I wasn't really feeling any of that. That's like, yeah, that's not me. Well, another kind of you know, goofy character in that sense that you ended up getting over. And Daniel Hill was very complimentary of you for this stage of your career was was the misdou character, And that's that's something you briefly touched on. But so you say Goofy and I say satirical. Yeah, if it was Goofy,
it would have been one off, right. Yeah, Yes, I was wrestling the invisible man. But had had just been like ha ha look at him. No, like there was there was an art to that where every week, yeah, every week, once we got rolling. As a viewer, I could not just simply fall down and take a back bump when miss did it right, I had to literally gauge it to where okay, uh, I'm gonna go this far this week, and then I had to top it slowly. But it was the New York crowd that actually turned me and
then they went nuts. It was the crowd in New York and the New York fans are extremely hip to the game, as we say, and they gut why I was doing it. I was actually doing it as kind of a a hand gesture that I will remain nameless to the office and creative team to where you you know, I did the money and the bank stuff. There's nothing more I can do. Well, guess what if we're gonna put
me in this position, this is how I'm going to do it. No, exactly so like and the reason Misdow got over was simply because I was given consistent TV time. Like with anything, right, you have me dressed up as someone new every week, that's different. If you give me consistent TV time as a character, I'll be fine with that. That's what I'm trained to do. Um, That's that's what I have the utmost confidence, and that's what being a pro is. And you know that's reason, frankly
that that worked. Would you say that that was probably your most the most fun that you had in wrestling when you were doing that, because that was I mean, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was easily the most entertaining thing on the brand at the time. It was something that I've even heard from either podcasts, not people that's come on this show, but I've been you know, I've kept my ear close to the IWC and I've
kept my ear close to what other people have said. The people in the office up there can do something as a joke just because they can and laugh at it, and then it really kind of bites them in the ass when when it seems to get over and that's something that you did and they ran
with it for a while. Would you say that that was the most fun that you had in WWE, or even like your whole wrestling career was at run or no, No, Sandow was the sand Out character, because again, I always felt I'm a far better heal than I am a baby face, and I really like, I think it would have been cool to give the sand Out characters some more longevity because there were so many sides to that that was never really explored. So the in my opinion, like I'll always
you know, Blue Robe, hallelujah. That's kind of what I'm you know, in my own mind, I guess well, I remember you specifically, like I said before we jumped on here, I remember you specifically as the main guy, the heel, the guy wanted to see get his ass kicked at OVW. When I used to go to the Davis Arena when I was eleven, you know, I used to see you against John Cena at six Flags. Uh you know what, and that was that was when you were
main event and you were you know that you ran OVW. What kind of memories do you do you have there and like maybe some of like your best feuds or maybe best matches that you'd say you'd had in OVW. Man. Um, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling every time I think about OVW and at that era, it was like and all of us that were there, we have this weird kind of kinship where it was literally like being in college and it was just fun. Man, it was just awesome, so
cool. Um. You know, and Nova and I were a really good tag team, and some of our matches we had with Disciples of Sin with Tank and Cage were really good. Actually, Nova and I never had a bad match. Um. I really enjoyed working Chris Cage. Paul Burchell, Um, you know, he was someone that was awesome. Um. God, there was just so many good people. Um, but but those are
the ones that kind of come to mind. I love when we go to Davis Arena for ABW and you, Um, you walk through the hall that opening hallway there and they have all the pictures of yuys that have gone through, right, and it really opens your eyes, like you're saying, when you're trying to think back, all the guys have gone through there. You see the John Morrison, you see this punk you see just on and on of all these you know what broom. Yeah, you're you're right, You're
you're up there too. Yeah, I believe there's should I shouldn't be jeus. Yeah, I love it so obviously you spend a lot of time here in our great city that me and Austin love, Louisville, Kentucky. Do you have any fond memories of the city overall, maybe some favorite spots that used to hit up, will you? Yeah? Um, one of my fondest memories is going to the Kroger and Saint Matthew's about ten minutes before I get on the podcast, I'm here right now. Oh yeah, I'm actually
right now, um, because I'm waiting on Atlanta and stuff. So yeah, I'm in Louisville right now. So this is like I've always been strangely attracted to the city for one reason or another. You're gonna be here for Derby, aren't you, Yes, sir, I'll be going to the Unbridled Eve. Um. That's uh yeah, the Unbridled Eve Party. That's my friend, uh Tanya Herner, sister Tammy. They they put it on and
it's just a great charity event. It's an amazing party and you know, gotta gotta do Derby right as they say, Yeah, I'm going to Therby this year before. Yeah, yeah, awesome. I went to Derby a couple of years ago, and I always say it was it was like the COVID year And it was honestly the best experience ever because it was fifty percent capacity, which is like still enough people for it to be exciting, but not too many people to where it's like overwhelming. Right, yeah it was.
Um, I got there with a media pass, so I didn't have to pay for a ticket, but people that did pay for a ticket because of COVID, they didn't want people exchanging like cash and credit cards and whatnot. It was like an all inclusive ticket, so so you paid one price for drinks and food. I didn't have to pay a price out of media pass, so I got free drinks and food and a free ticket. It was incredible. Yeah, yeah, no kidding, but obviously exciting times here
in Louisville with with Derby right around the corner. But um, yeah, so you're you stopped by the Saint Matthews Kroger. That's awesome. Any other like restaurants or whatnot that that you're fond of around here? Oh my god, Jack Fries move mesh of course, all about it, man, all about yeah. Just the food there. Uh Ramsey's Cafe of course on Bardstown. Like that's we used to go there after TV on Wednesdays. Uh no, I mean I got my spots man that this is uh yeah like that.
This is really the only city I feel like at home home in Like I spend a fair amount of time in Tampa, but um like when I'm in Louisville, I'm just like okay, cool, good, like I can breathe now. Yeah, yeah, we love it. Louisville is a little bit smarter when you're here. Oh thank you. I do appreciate it. Bring the IQ up a little bit. I try, I try right well.
Appreciate you taking time tonight again, man, this was awesome. Um one more time before before we let you go, just you know, let our listeners that one more time, kind of like with your your TV show where they can find you and then all all that good stuff nowadays. Um yeah, So you can find me on Instagram at the air and Files t h E A r O N Files Heels on Stars Network. It's supposed to
be out the summer season two. Definitely check that out. And there's a couple things coming up Moviewise that I cannot say yet because I signed a non disclosure, but uh, just just check the social media forum for all that, and uh, you know, I'll be uh I think a little busier coming up here in the next few months, which I'm not going to complain. Okay, there you go. I'm little tease for it for the listeners
out there. He's there and Stevens and we are the baby faces and we'll talk to you guys next week.