Fear of failure is a great thing. It pushes you past your comfort levels.

When you have an icon that wants you to succeed, it's awesome.

I have a brother; we had some good brawls.

Our dad was an iron worker, a really tough guy. He raised us to be strong and stand up for ourselves. Whatever we want, we go and get it. Sometimes, you have to take it.

Everybody always asked why I wanted to be an offensive lineman. I told them that I had 11 different people I can hit on every single play, while everyone else is chasing one person. I prided myself on being an extremely physical and dominant player.

One time, I was practicing against the Tennessee Titans, and one of their defensive linemen took a cheap shot at our running back, so I planted him.

I am going to be the best, make the most money, and just do whatever I want, when I want.

Football and boxing helped me immensely. Those sports helped me become dangerous.

Most people settle in life, and that's not me.

I have a lot of pride in myself and believe I am better than a lot of people.

It was great to get rid of the long hair. It's such a pain that, if you look at it, it's always wet when guys wrestle: you dump gallons of conditioner in it to keep it wet so you're not choking on it. You have all kinds of stuff in it, and just maintaining it is a lot of work.

I don't envy people with long hair. So, I'm glad mine is gone.

I'm the real deal.

The NFL, boxing, jiu-jitsu - I did that. I'm proven at what I can do.

If you're in my way, you're done.

That attitude, that persona I carry is something I've always had with me. I mean, that's what made me successful, especially in football, and is making me successful now.

In college, practice is draggin'. Coach goes, 'Oh, hey, go on over there and start a fight with one of the linebackers.' Okay. So I'll go and start a fight with one of the linebackers... It's just an attitude that really developed in me, and now we just amplify it times 100 and make sure everybody understands what I do and what I'm about.

I've always wanted to be in the ring with 'Taker.

I grew up watching 'Taker, and he used to scare me as a kid, so I think it would only add to the excitement to be in a casket match with a guy like that. There's definitely some jealousy.

I've always been a guy - I ran my mouth in NXT about the little guys who come through, and they are tough and feisty or whatever it is. To me, they're no more dangerous than a little chihuahua.

Braun Strowman - that guy's a monster. He's done some amazing things.

I'm 6'8'', 280 pounds, and I feel like I move like I'm 5'10'' and 200.

I really want to test my athletic ability, my toughness, and my skills against those guys who are in my ballpark size-wise.

I came from the NFL, so people didn't like that, or they just try to make assumptions, and I think when you assume, you look stupid.

Sometimes I just go, 'Is it me? Am I really just not that likeable?' The cool thing is, when you go out there and see a lady get mad or a guy get mad, or they hate you because you didn't come from the independents, or whatever, what I like to do is just pour kerosene on that fire.

I think everybody wants everybody to be successful. There is that competitive nature, in a sense that everybody wants to be the best, but if A.J. Styles is more successful, and Braun Strowman is more successful, that makes the company more successful.

It's the fun part of this business: you never know what your day is gonna hold. Some things could be very, very last-minute. It could be at that very last second. So, it's pretty wild, and it keeps you on your toes. That's for sure.

I was always that little kid that irritated people.

I think it's just in my nature to irritate people and push things as far as I can. It's really benefited me in WWE.

My Instagram, my Twitter, is a form of advertisement for my business and what I do. Yeah, my brand. It is, but it is crazy how negative it is to everything!

It's a competitive business, and everybody wants to be the best. And when there's a new guy coming in, and there's buzz about him, 'Oh, he was a pro football player,' you instantly have people that don't like you because they're afraid you're going to take their spot.

I'd like the chance to stand in the ring and punch the Undertaker in the face.

That's what Twitter is: a very negative place.

I would challenge anyone who thinks that what we do isn't taxing on your body. People see what we do and think it would be fun to try, but I would challenge anyone to do what we do and show them how physically demanding it is. It deserves a lot more respect.

Honestly, I was a little bit arrogant because I came in and thought it was going to be easy and that I'd be on television in a year, no problem. Then you realize how many different things it takes to become a successful superstar, and it really is a rude awakening.

I'm here to leave my mark in WWE history.

I'm pretty good with being calculated in what I do, when I'm going to make my mark on somebody.

I want to keep growing and keep getting better every day.

Just like when I was in the NFL, you've got to find those smaller dudes - and when you get your hands on them, it's bad news - all day.

I aim to bring a little pain, and a little roughness to what I do.

There's a great feeling when you look in someone's eyes and they have that 'look of defeat,' and that's what I'm looking for, and that's my game plan.

It's two guys in particular. Norman Smiley, he got his hands on me the day I walked in the door - started teaching me the fundamentals and teaching me things that I use - but Billy Gunn, that guy has helped me evolve more than anyone.

I think, ya know, he's called out a few WWE Superstars; I wouldn't mind taking a crack at Conor McGregor, and he's, like, 165 pounds, 185 pounds soaking wet. So, I would like to slam him on his head a few times.

I don't respect anyone who has a background on the independent circuit.

I was in the top 1 percent of football players. Indie guys are in the bottom 95 percent of wrestlers.

NXT is the professional level, and it's the best of the best.

I don't live for anyone other than myself, and I don't have a problem showing people or telling them.

Billy Gunn, Bill DeMott, and Dusty Rhodes all helped me find myself and how to express it to people so they understand.

End of Days is a lot of impact; it makes people open their eyes. It makes a statement.

I don't get paid by the hour; I go out there and get it done and get out. That's the way I want it to be.