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WWE star Damian Priest names wrestling Mount Rushmore including The Rock and Undertaker but NO Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWE star Damian Priest has named four superstars he would place on the Mount Rushmore of wrestling.
Speaking to SunSport, the former North American champ selected Undertaker, The Rock, Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
The Puerto Rican revealed the Undertaker made him fall in love with WWE[/caption]
The Mount Rushmore of wrestling is a hotly-debated topic – the four industry-defining superstars who should be immortalised as the greatest and most influential of all time.
It’s inspired by the iconic American National Memorial sculpture, which features the carved heads of US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Damian Priest, 38, has a background in martial arts and wrestled in US indie promotion Ring of Honor before joining NXT.
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He debuted on the main roster during the Royal Rumble match, lasting an impressive 15 minutes and eliminating four superstars – including the legendary Kane – a sign that WWE has big plans for the 6’5 Puerto Rican.
He’s now paired with WWE’s latest celebrity signing – the superstar rapper (and now 24/7 Champion) Bad Bunny.
Asked about the four wrestlers he’d pick for Mount Rushmore, Priest said: “Four sucks. I have so many. Undertaker’s definitely on there, The Rock is there, and I think it has to be Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
“Undertaker’s always going to be there. He’s the one that made me fall in love with the business when I was a kid.
“And The Rock – just the way he is, not just the wrestling. I came from a similar background. I came from nothing.”
Undertaker’s always going to be there. He’s the one that made me fall in love with the business when I was a kid
Damian Priest
The Rock’s childhood is now the subject of a new US comedy show, Young Rock, which charts his experiences growing up around the wrestling business. Priest sees a lot of himself in the story.
He said: “Watching his show and seeing how he is with his family, it’s like, ‘Woah, there are so many similarities.’ For me that’s inspiring – to see where he is today. Wow, what a life.”
Priest’s final two picks – DX pioneers and real-life best pals Triple H and Shawn Michael – were chosen for both their work in the ring and behind the scenes.
Triple H runs NXT, and Shawn Michaels works as a trainer and agent for NXT and the WWE Performance Center training facility.
Priest said: “When I was growing up, yes they were amazing and great in the ring. But getting to know them now and them helping me… I realised they’re wizards when it comes to this business.
“I’ve helped coach a few guys and girls and think I’ve come up with some good ideas. If people come to me for advice sometimes, I think I’ve got a decent mind for this business.
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“But talking to Shawn and Hunter, it’s like, ‘Oh you’re really good – I don’t know anything compared to you guys.’ That’s why they’re up there.”
Priest admits that he has other favourite superstars who he would consider for his Mount Rushmore, including Edge and Steve Austin.
He said: “There are just so many – people who I’ve watched since I was a kid and inspired me. But right now, those are the four.”
