Bully Ray is happy with his current role in pro wrestling.
The Busted Open host appeared on Outkick’s Maintaining with Tyrus to discuss his career in the ring and on the airwaves. Tyrus praised Bully’s work and asked if he would ever consider being a general manager or head of talent in a major pro wrestling company.
“If a real, fun, lucrative opportunity presented itself where I could truly help younger talent mature, get over, get better, evolve, I would listen,” Bully said.
Bully Ray does not want to be a booker
Tyrus said he sees a good booker in Bully Ray, comparing him to John Madden’s transition to the commentary booth. He also added that a traditional “booker” doesn’t exist anymore, but Bully could fill that role nicely.
“It’s an incredible compliment and I thank you, but I don’t want to be a booker. Here’s the thing — I don’t make things, I make things better,” Bully Ray explained. “And I’m not saying that with ego. I’m saying that because I’ve learned my strengths and my weaknesses in this 30-year career now. You put a blank piece of paper in front of me, you come back an hour later, that piece of paper is still blank. You put a piece of paper in front of me and you put two names on that piece of paper, I will give you one year’s worth of storyline and an end result that would generate you money.”
Tyrus said that’s how it used to be, citing Bill Watts as an example. He reiterated that what Bully is describing doesn’t exist anymore. Bully agreed, with an exception.
Bully Ray believes no one can match his honest perspective
“Old-school bookers do not exist anymore, no. I mean, the closest you’re going to get to that now is Hunter and Shawn Michaels down in NXT, who still have that old-school mentality. I throughly enjoy what I am doing right now because — and I appreciate the compliment [of Tyrus comparing him to John Madden]. I feel like I am the most honest voice in professional wrestling right now,” Bully declared. “I go on Busted Open four days a week; I watch WWE, I watch AEW, TNA, everything that’s out there, and I give an honest and fair assessment. Because in a business that habitually lies to the fan base, I don’t want to lie to the fan base.”
Bully clarified that as an in-ring performer, he’ll lie because talent needs the fans to “believe in my fairy tale.” However, he doesn’t want to do that on the radio.
“I want to educate fans. I’m not trying to create ‘smart fans’ that look through wrestling and look for every little thing. ‘Oh, they should have done that different.’ I just want to educate you on how to enjoy the product a lot more. And that’s what I try to do on Busted Open. I’m not afraid to call out bad stuff when I see it, but I always give constructive criticism. You’ll never hear me say, ‘That sucked. He sucked. She sucked.’ You’ll hear me say, ‘This could have been better and here’s what I would have done to make it better.’ Because otherwise, you’re a part of the problem. You’re just sitting back and you’re an old, grizzled vet who just wants to bitch, moan and complain for the sake of it.”
