Woods: It’s pretty amazing because when you’re a kid and you want to be a pro wrestler, you think about WrestleMania. It’s like the pinnacle of everything. So you think, that’s the stage I want to be on, I want to have matches there. I want to have fans cheering for me or booing for me or whatever. But it’s not something you can really prepare for mentally because it’s such a large thing. It’s a spectacle. It’s a rock show. There’s lights. There’s fireworks. There’s action. And you’re wrestling in front of 100,000 people. So it’s essentially the gauge telling me that I haven’t wasted 29 years of my life on something that I wasn’t good at. [laughs]
IGN: This year at WrestleMania you and the rest of the New Day members came out dressed as Dragon Ball Z characters. Whose idea was that? Was that your idea or was that a group decision?
Woods: That was my idea. I don’t have have a problem taking credit for that one! But Kofi does like Dragon Ball Z. [Big] E wasn’t really an anime guy...he’s more of a old-school hip-hop head. But we showed him a picture of the stuff that what we wanted to wear, and he was all in. And it’s nice because there are people that caught the attention to detail. So like, their suits didn’t have tails and mine did. So you could tell that if there was a full moon, then we wouldn’t have had a problem winning the match. Or if I turned into a great ape it would have been all good. Essentially, mixing my love for cosplay into my love of wrestling and have it not be outlandish...it’s cool that people appreciate it. IGN: How did people backstage react to your costumes?
Woods: The ones who knew what it was, they were pretty into it.The other people that didn’t were still pretty into it because it just looks different and kind of cool, you know?
IGN: Were there any people backstage and looked at you like, what are you supposed to be?
Woods: Oh, definitely! Definitely!
IGN: Did Vince McMahon stare at you like you were crazy?
Woods: Oh, we didn’t see him until right before we went out. It’s funny, because we’ll always have some kind of harebrained idea, and then he sees it right before we go through the curtain, and just kind of gives a little grin and thumbs up.
IGN: Do you have to ask the WWE’s permission to dress up, or do they let you do whatever you want?
mixing my love for cosplay into my love of wrestling...it’s cool that people appreciate it.
“
Woods: It’s to a point now where we kind of have a little bit more trust than we did when we started. And they know we’re not going to go out there and do something that’s going to mess up a sponsorship or anything like that. Things we do are going to do are going to be in-bounds for our PG parameters. Still be fine for kids, but then have something that’s a little bit for adults. We liken it to Shrek: we’re in PG parameters but there’s jokes in there for adults if you’re paying attention. But they’ve kind of given us leeway in the sense that we have gone out there and are just having a good time and getting people--luckily--into what we’re doing, because you know it’s always hit or miss with the entertainment industry. But we’ve been lucky enough to kind of hit a pretty good stride right now, and so the company’s been pretty good to us for that.
IGN: How long did it take to make those DBZ costumes?
Woods: Two months, I think? I do a bunch of cosplay stuff with a guy by the name of Michael Mosley. He’s fantastic. We always go to an event called DragonCon together every September. And so, I was talking with him about it, and he’s got a business called Heroes for Hire where he makes costumes for people who do kid’s parties and stuff, and he was stacked with stuff so he couldn’t make it. So I went to my buddy Adam Roberts at Main Event Gear. He makes wrestling gear for me, Kofi and E. And I showed him the pictures [of DBZ characters] and was like “hey, you think you can make this?” And he goes “I can definitely try!” And that was the finished product. And I think he knocked it out of the park. It was awesome. IGN: So what other anime characters do you want to cosplay as? Who’s next on your bucket list?
Woods: I’m really into this anime called Food Wars. I don’t remember the name of the one that rocks the apron... Isshiki? I think it’s Isshiki. So, if I could somehow rock a PG Isshiki, then I’d be real happy!
IGN: If you could pick any anime theme as your entrance music, what would it be?
Woods: Oooh. That is difficult...because there’s some good ones. I immediately go to….Inuyasha. I think it’s like the third ending theme. But it’s not intense at all. It’s like this sad and romantic love songs, but it’s one of my favorite anime songs. That, or this song from Cowboy Bebop called “Call Me.” Again, not an intense song, but for some reason--oh! Kuroko’s Basketball! I think one of the second or third themes--those are pretty hype. I don’t know. There are so many good anime songs. IGN: Do you listen to anime music when you’re on the road?
Woods: Lord, yes! I listen to this mix of smooth jazz, independent hip-hop, chiptunes and anime music.
IGN: What’s on your anime playlist right now?
Woods: OK, so it half counts as anime but then half video game: the soundtrack for Danganronpa 2. It’s like a lawyer game, but it’s all super anime. That, and then things from DJMAX Technika Tune. One of my favorite rhythm games. [That’s] also in my arsenal. And that’s lots of anime stuff, too.
IGN: When you’re riding around with other people, does it drive them crazy when you listen to anime or game music?
Woods: They’re usually down with it because I always ride with Big E and Kofi. Once in awhile we’ll add in Tyler Breeze, because that’s our other buddy. But uh, everybody’s down for listening to anything because they’re into video games and so they’re fine with a little high-pitched Japanese girl singing some sweet music. Hopefully. We have a good rotation so it sort of works out.
IGN: Tyler Breeze is kind of an anime character, huh?
Woods: Pretty much.
IGN: What is your favorite anime, and why?
Woods: Hmm. OK. Well, how long do you have? [laughs] Continue to Page 2 as Xavier Woods talks about more of his favorite anime.
IGN: For you, I would just sit here all day as you list off every anime you ever loved.
I don’t think that any type of anime, movie, or anything has ever made me cry as much as Yu Yu Hakusho
“
Woods: My favorite anime of all time is Yu Yu Hakusho. And this is because when I was living with my parents before I moved to Florida for NXT--which was FCW at the time, I just had a ton of anime that I was watching, and one of them was Yu Yu Hakusho. So, I had seen it as a kid but I never watched it all the way through. And I think it’s like a hundred and sixty-something episodes. So I’d wake up at like one o’clock, I’d go to the gym, and by the time I was done with the gym, my friends would be off of work, so then I’d hang out with them. And then when I wasn’t hanging out with them I would just watch Yu Yu Hakusho until like six in the morning..that was my life. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday I was working. I was wrestling. So the other days, I was just watching Yu Yu. And like the whole ending episode, I don’t think that any type of anime, movie, or anything has ever made me cry as much as Yu Yu Hakusho. It’s like the end of your show, so you’re sad.The way they wrapped everything together was like, amazing! I loved the way the artwork was drawn, the way things were animated, the way the characters were developed...it’s amazing. And so that’s definitely the top of the list for me. But then right beneath it is Case Closed. ‘Cause it’s just amazing. The whole deal with that you can’t get the serum to turn back into a teenager is ridiculous to me. And then he’s been a child for like, what? Seventeen years now?
IGN: Yeah, it’s been a lifetime now.
Woods: At this point, he would have become old enough to be as old as he used to be! [laughs] IGN: Who’s your favorite anime character?
Woods: That’s a hard question! Probably...I think right now Kuroko. Because I very much like the whole Japanese culture--it’s different from American culture. I feel like there wouldn’t be an American cartoon where the main character is essentially in the background. Where he’s an auxiliary player. If the cartoon was an American cartoon, then the guy with the red hair would have been the main character. It’s more about working with the team. It’s not about the individual, and the fact that he’s very useful and he’s not the one scoring points. He’s helping his team excel at something [and they] could never be without him...to me that’s amazing because it teaches kids a different mentality. It’s saying you don’t have to put all the load on your shoulders in whatever situation it is. You can ask for help and you have teammates there. Whether that’s in sports or whether it’s in life, or anything else. You have people around you that are there to help you. And they love you and care about you, and they all want everyone to do well. And so, the fact that he’s able to pull that message out of a cartoon about high school basketball is unreal to me. And so he’s probably my favorite characters-he’s probably the most inspirational character I’ve seen in a long time.
IGN: Are you watching any of the current shows?
Woods: I’m trying to finish up One-Punch Man. Actually, no. I did finish up One-Punch Man two weeks ago! So I’m waiting for season 2 of that. I’m really waiting for season two of Food Wars ‘cause that’s my jam. Can’t go wrong with that one...and then, any Dragon Ball Z movie that comes out. I’m still hooked on that stuff.
IGN: Have you seen the newest Dragon Ball movie?
Woods: No, I haven’t seen that yet. I was trying to go to the premiere because there was an opening, but I had to go and punch people in the face.
IGN: Saitama from One-Punch Man, or Goku from Dragon Ball?
Woods: Mmm...I’m gonna go with Saitama.
IGN: Why?
Woods: Because he’s more of a human--obviously, because Goku’s a Saiyan. You’ve got to have a wider range of emotions. You can tell when [Saitama] gets excited and you can tell when he’s upset. As where Goku is like I’m fighting, and I will protect the earth and at all costs. And that’s his only drive. I’m a huge fan of Goku, but I’m a bigger fan of Vegeta, you know what I mean? So, I’m going to choose Saitama over Goku. Especially because of the way they draw [Saitama’s] face sometimes. He’s got that “I’m a complete dunce” look on his face..it’s so weird! And then they’re trying to figure out his training regimen and he’s all, I do sit ups, and I ran a lot, and I trained so much my hair fell out...it’s hilarious! I feel like Goku doesn’t have that comedy element. So, Saitama wins.
IGN: If you could create your own anime harem, which characters would you choose?
Woods: Well, luckily I already know the answer to this question! First runner-up is Tina from Dead of Alive. Just sayin’. And then Tifa from Final Fantasy VII. She’s absolutely fantastic. And then...oh! Sailor Mars. Sailor Mars, definitely. I feel like I’m missing a real easy one...Mikasa from Attack on Titan. Oh. And Kagome from Inuyasha.
IGN: Do you read manga?
Woods: I tried to read manga as a child, and it actually started making me dyslexic.
IGN: Just because there’s too much going on, or…?
Woods: Yeah. I started reading it so much I got to the point where I would get lost while trying to read my text books to study I’d start reading them backwards. It was weird, so I had to stop!
IGN: What does anime mean to you?
Woods: Anime means that there is a market, a want and a need for cartoons, not just on a childish level. Because, there are adults who watch these--sometimes very mature, sometimes violent, sometimes very intense cartoons and in the latter sense of the word these cartoons are quote unquote meant for children. But I like that anime gives adults who still have that imagination, still have that drive, and still have that-- I guess childish need for animated storylines to play out in front of their eyes. It gives them an outlet. And so I think it’s very cool because anime has the ability to take us into these other worlds...we can go to Namek, [or] we can see all these kids in Prince of Tennis with these intense powers to play tennis. And that makes you feel like you can go out and do these things. So I feel like it’s a very good base for children and for adults to become inspired to get up and go do things. And I think that’s really cool that people are able to do that with animation.
IGN: Are you going to any upcoming anime conventions?
Woods: I’m trying to go to Momocon in Atlanta.I’ve never gotten the chance to go to it. But if I’m off that day I’m going to hit the first day of that three day event. Other than that DragonCon is my main Con unless something else comes up and I’m lucky enough to be able to go to it then I’ll hit that too, but it’s hard to plan to go to conventions and everything because our schedule is so intense. We’re all around the world all year.