Johnny Mundo: “I don’t miss WWE at all” – Sports Illustrated Extra Mustard Wed. January 27, plus an IGN Exclusive

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Johnny Mundo, formerly John Morrison in WWE, was featured in the Five Questions section of today’s edition of Sports Illustrated‘s Extra Mustard blog.  You’ll also find some WWE Rankings and highlights for this week, plus an interview with Jonathan Coachman, who brought WWE to ESPN.

Here’s some cool stuff from Johnny’s interview:

When asked what made Lucha Underground Season 1 so successful, and if Season 2 would be just as “compelling,” Mundo said: “Lucha had the balls to be different.  [It’s] got some of the best talent in the industry, and the creative is set up so the storylines are followed to fruition–they are completed and don’t just change every week.  Lucha Underground also put a lot of power in the hands of the talent.  When you’re dealing with the top talent in the wrestling business, that’s often how you get the best results.

“The fatal flaw of most promotions is trying to be WWE, but there is no way you can be WWE.  Lucha Underground is a TV show in the way that it’s produced far more so than any other wrestling promotion out there.  Lucha was also really smart about the wrestlers.  A lot of the guys from Mexico have so much raw talent and creative energy, and a different set of moves and psychology that you wouldn’t see outside of Mexico.  Giving Pentagon, Fenix, [King] Cuerno and Mil Muertes the keys to the Corvette and letting them drive is one of the reasons this is so cool and so different.”

Mundo was also asked about what it’s like working with Rey Mysterio, to which he responded: “Yes, frequently.  Rey is one of the best people in the business I’ve had the honor of meeting, hanging out with, and working with.  He can still go, he’s humble and treats everyone with respect, and he’s ridiculously talented.  I think he’ll go down in history as the most famous Luchador ever.”

Regarding how his own wrestling style has changed over the years: “I have a singular focus, I’m a perfectionist, and I always want to prove I am the best and the best version of myself. The opportunity to work with AAA arose from working with Lucha Underground.  Lucha is faster paced, harder hitting, and more acrobatic than any other style of wrestling. … My favorite part of working with Lucha Underground is learning more Lucha, combining that with my WWE psychology, and taking wrestling to a place we’ve never seen before in the evolution of wrestling.”

Since the 2016 Royal Rumble was this past Sunday, Mundo was asked if he was offended about his 2011 Royal Rumble moves not making it into the highlight packages, particularly when he jumped onto the barricade.  Mundo said: “I always try to be careful not to take things too seriously.  WWE is a business and looking out for their own best interests.  It wouldn’t make sense for them to talk about how great my Rumble spot was when I’m not with their company anymore.”

This lead to some questions about his leaving WWE.  His responses: “I wouldn’t be the man I am today if I stayed in WWE, so I don’t regret leaving at all.  When you leave, you trade security and money for freedom and sanity.  I was injured and I wasn’t very happy when I left.  Working with Lucha and Mexico and all the independent wrestling I’ve done has made me an exponentially better performer.  Had I stayed, I would have been stagnant. … I’m still close with Tyson Kidd, Miz, Zack Ryder.  I saw all the guys at Miz’s New Year’s party.  We caught up … It was kind of cool–after hearing it, I did not miss WWE at all.”

You can check out the rest of the interview and his ultimate goals as a wrestler in the link above.  Mundo was also featured in an IGN Exclusive Interview.

Stay tuned for live coverage and a recap of tonight’s Season 2 premiere of Lucha Underground at 8 P.M. EST on El Rey Network.

Kate witnessed the Litasault and has been hooked on wrestling ever since. She covers lucha libre and the independent circuit. She holds a B.A. from University of Maine at Machias in English, Art, and Communications, and assists at an indie publishing house in Maine.