The A-Show with Gabe “Tyler Reks” Tuft, Part One: No Desire for a WWE Return, Who Helped Him, So-Called Beefs, Current Focus, More

12:04 pm December 11, 2014

In my first solo interview I had the pleasure of sitting down with Gabe Tuft (aka Tyler Reks). What I had hoped was going to be a small decent first interview turned into this great conversation with some amazing stories that have never been told. These stories give an incredible view into a fascinating world that isn’t oft revealed. In fact, the white people in charge have decided to split this interview into two parts due to the depth of our conversation. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it and I will be back with Part Two of my conversation with Gabe Tuft, as well as more interviews, very soon.

1. You've been discussing Body Spartan quite extensively for the past few months, it seems that your passion in the ring has also made the transition to your new endeavors. How easy was the transition from Professional Wrestler to Entrepreneur/Author?

It was instinctual for me. I'm one of those guys that knows what needs to be done to put food on the table for my family and I go out and do it. Was it tough to start a new business? Absolutely. Nothing worth attaining ever came easy. However, something your readers probably don't know is that I found the drive and motivation to write that book from my younger brother. Tragically, he passed away last year, the day after Christmas. My brother had a passion for life and worked harder than anyone else I've ever met. He started his own successful business from scratch and was a dedicated family man. I think in my own way, I honored his life and his memory by mimicking his work ethic and his drive to succeed. That made authoring my fitness book, Body Spartan: Genesis , a natural instinct.

2. Having worked on the road for weeks at a time, is there a piece, or pieces, of advice that you wished had been given to you?

Looking back at the experience, yes. I would say that this to any of the new guys – There is NO blueprint to get noticed in this business. What one guy does backstage or in the ring may or may not be what you were taught or told to do at the training center. Following what that guy does just to because he's getting a push is a bad idea. Don't be a sheep and follow the heard. Stand out, be different, KNOW YOUR VALUE. If your value isn't what you think it should be, find a way to make yourself valuable. That part usually comes with hard work, dedication to your skills and business, and taking chances and risks. Break the rules if you have to but do it confidently.

3. Trying to work your way to the top in any profession is nearly impossible, we all need support and friends to help us along the way. Those people are often unknown by the general public, but mean so much, is there one such person or certain people that you couldn't have done it without?

There's a handful. Hawkins was really my best friend on the road and passed on a wealth of knowledge to me. He wasn't afraid to tell me when I screwed up in the ring or with something I said. For that, I thank him. Other people that helped me significantly were (in no particular order) Fit Finely, Arn Anderson, Edge, Kane, Chavo, MVP, Christian, Jericho, Paul Burchill, Tyson Kidd, Harry Smith, Lance Hoyt, Doctor Tom, Steve Keirn, Billy Kidman, and Norman Smiley.

I know it seems like a lot of people, but a good worker listens to the best and crafts his own skills from the advice given.

4. As someone who has stated that there is a lot of flair and less "meat" to some Professional Wrestlers (no insinuations). Would you ever consider writing a storyline/creating a character, or do you feel that active involvement in Professional Wrestling is currently outside of your professional interests?

I think that's beyond what I want to do right now. My focus is currently on helping people change their lives through fitness. We're running monthly fitness support groups with 5-15 people in them and coaching them through Body Spartan online. The results are amazing. I'm watching people's lives change as a direct result. They are more confident, healthier, happier, have more energy, and they are now chasing other dreams they never thought they could attain. It's incredibly rewarding and I feel like that is my current calling.

5. You've been asked many questions about behind the scenes (outside of character and storyline) "beefs", do you feel that these types of questions and answers could honestly inform the public on your experience/opinion of Professional Wrestling?

I think I should clarify this. I don't have "beefs" with any of the guys on the roster. Now, there are guys I don't get along with due to certain events that happened backstage, in the ring, or elsewhere but I honestly don't have any ill will towards them. I've been asked several times about these events and have told people how they went down and what my opinion is of that particular roster guy or girl based on those events. So yes, I think it does inform the public on my personal experience of professional wrestling at WWE.

6. What about those situations do you wish to be truly understood?

One thing that is important to remember here is that I'm not going back to WWE. I have no desire to do so. It's not because I didn't get what I wanted out of it but rather because the time away from my family simply isn't worth it. Hawkins and I were getting a push when I quit, which says a lot in itself about my mindset when I left, and I honestly believe that we would have been tag champs within a few months based on this. So all that being said, I really have nothing to gain by telling my personal experiences and telling the truth when people ask me about my experiences.

Am I bitter towards guys for the things they did to me? No. This is a dog-eat-dog business and I understand that. Do I wish that those events had unfolded differently? Of course I do. As silly as this sounds I had always dreamed of working with certain top guys and when certain things happened, I honestly had no desire to work with them. All of the fun in what we do just got sucked out.

One other thing I should mention is in regards to my Twitter posting the day my 90 days was up. Many people have stated I "ranted" and was "bitter". What NO ONE knew except me, was that the office and I were squabbling over a medical bill that involved an emergency visit to the ER for crippling, low back pain that I experienced not even 30 days after I quit The trainers and doctors on the road all knew about my lower back issues but the office simply ignored my requests to have the company insurance cover my medical expenses. So I played hardball and dropped some tidbits on the internet as a tactic. The strategy worked and I received an email from the head of Talent Relations the very next day asking me to stop and that they would cover my medical bills. Admittedly, it was a lower blow than I usually tend to throw but I feel it was justified given it was obviously due to my time in the ring and I was still technically under contract when it happened.

I'm a guy that stands up for what I believe is right and am not silent when others are being taken advantage of. On the day I left, after I told Jane Geddes why I was leaving, I also spent a good half an hour professionally explaining to her all of the things that were wrong with the business and why several of her low and mid-card talents were ready to walk out the door as well. I think the information I gave her was extremely helpful and led to some changes in the way things operate with the talent. That's another interview in itself though.

Please check back for Part Two when Gabe and I speak about, among other things, his first Royal Rumble experience, “After the Rumble, Steve Austin pulled me aside and talked to me. It was probably one of the most vivid and real moments of my WWE career. Austin said…”