The volume. Hey guys, it's the Sessions presented by fan Duel. It might be cold, but the sports calendar is heating up, baby, and there's no better place to get in on the action than with fan Duel. The app is safe, secure, and so so easy to use. FanDuel always has exclusive offers, boosts and more, and when you win, you're gonna get paid real fast. Vanduels lots of ways to play, like with the spread money line over under Team Tootal's player props, and so much more. You can jump into the action at any time during the game with live betting, and you can combine multiple bets from the same game in the same game parlay to try out the same game parlay plus get in on that and Vanduels now live in Maryland, y'all, So use the promo code rene r E and E and download the fan Duel app today to start making every moment more. Disclaimer twenty one plus intellects eight gambling problem called one eight hundred Gambler or visit FanDuel dot com slash r G for Colorado, Iowa, Minneapolis, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Virginia. Und Next Step or text next step to five three three four two seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org slash chat for Connecticut, nine with it for Indiana one eight seven seven seven seven oh stop for Louisiana. Visit m D gambling help dot org for Maryland. Tennessee redline one eight eight nine and nine seven eight nine for Tennessee. Visit KS gambling help dot com for Kansas, five to two four seven zero zero for Wyoming, or visit www dot one hundred gambler dot net for West Virginia. Hey, guys, welcome to the Sessions. How is everybody doing. Hopefully everybody had a great holiday, a little time spent with your family, stuff to your faces, did all of those good things. Um. I'm still in like kind of hunkered down family mode right now. I've got Nora sitting here with me. Is I'm recording the intro for this, So if you hear her rattle in the background or um, just maybe she'll start crying, maybe she'll start talking. Who knows what's going to happen. Um. Anyways, Stokely hath the Way is my guest on this episode of the Sessions. I'm so glad that this was an episode that we did in person. We had spoke about doing it in person, um, and I'm really glad that we decided to hold off from that because, um, yeah, we talked about stuff that Stokely had never spoken about before and some really really personal stuff, and I'm really happy that he trusted me with having that conversation with him. So, guys, let's just get into it here. It is. This is Stokely Hath the way. Listen. I know that we have some pretty serious stuff you want to talk about today on the podcast, and we'll certainly get into all of that, but I guess we can kind of go back to the beginning of you getting your start in pro wrestling and you was like a manager specifically in pro wrestling. What was sort of the switch for you on that to go I'm a manager. I mean to be complete, be honest. Uh. That's probably the first time someone will quote Jill Scott on your podcast. But you know, she has this line in one of her songs where she says everything isn't for everybody. So initially I tried, everything isn't everything Lauren Hill. Yes, well, Jeff Scott, I know, but I was saying everything is everything like Karen Hill. Okay, okay, I just want to make sure. Yeah, I don't know, we're on the same page. Um, I wanted to be a wrestler and five eight on a good day, and it just I didn't have the athletic ability to you know, pull it off, and so everyone thought that I was a good talker. So I just transitioned into that. And at the time, I initially started doing this because it was my thesis project in grad school. Oh wait what Yeah, I want to prove that I thought the wrestling was an art form. So all my professor said, yeah, sure. They thought I was going to flunk out, so they allowed me to go on this journey. So I moved to Philadelphia for a few months and uh I trained. Funny story, Claudio Castle was originally one of my trainers Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor. Yeah. Yeah, well that's a pretty good pedigree to be coming in from. Not bad at all. I mean, Claudio probably wouldn't claim me from the you know, or on the athletic front, but managerial duties maybe maybe. Wait, I feel like, did you you never worked with Claudio as like a manager though? Right? No, no, no, we've tried, like we tried times, but yeah, I just didn't quite happen. That's so interesting. Okay, so how did the thesis too? I graduated, so it went, well, they don't have my mastards, so that's uh, you know masters and what performing arts? Oh what does that whole like school process look like? Like? How what does what does that look like? To have a master's degree in performing arts? Well? I was taught everything because well, the program taught everything, because the idea is not everyone will be this famous actor on Broadway or Hollywood whatever. So I taught you directing, It taught you lighting, production, It tried to make you a well rounded entertainer. That's pretty fascinating. So where did the wrestling aspect of it come for you? As you're looking, I'm sure as you're going to school for that, it's like, did you want to get into acting? Did you wanted to get into theater stuff? Did you want to get into what? What? What to like? Oh? Well, wrestling and that's my bag. Well I was doing it all. So I was in like some independent films. I was like my friends thesis films, and I wanted to say, you know, legitimate actor, um and I you know, I still chase that. I still did some of that, but in the meantime I was kind of doing the marketing thing professionally, so that took over. So I had a full time job doing marketing, and then I just kept the wrestling on the side. It's like a hobby. And then it just took off. And that's that interesting, that's so cool. If you weren't wrestling, what do you think you'd be doing. I think I'd be doing marketing and probably just on the side. Yeah, okay. So the managerial side of it, I don't want to say like unsung hero, because the managers that are great managers have like those pivotal great roles. Whether it's a Paul Hayman, We've seen Vicky Guerrero will be such a successful manager. To ship William Regal does a great job as a manager. Well, I mean I wanta go that far. He's how do you good at being a manager? What are you looking at? Who are you studying? What is like what is the thought process that goes into like the psychology of being a great manager. I mean, I'll be honest with you. I watch a lot of comedy, so one of my biggest influences is I would say Robin Harris, Bernie Mack, because I look at being a manager as a character. So you're kind of just the like the dressing on the salad, right, and the salad is like you know, whoever you are are managing. So that's how I look at it. And obviously you have some some wrestling influences, you know, you name some of them. So but for me, it's like comedy. It's like a lot of improv. Wayne Brady is probably you know, like a but Wayne Brady doesn't get the respect that he deserves. He does not. He's a genius and he dropped a great R and B album which no one talks about. Yeah, whose lines it? Anyways, what a great show and he was just exceptional on that. Yeah. Interesting, that's yeah, that's really really cool. Okay, so you're wrestling or managing on on the indie scene. Had worked with m JF previously as well. What was it like to finally be reunited with him in a w It was interesting because we kept in touch throughout the years, but we hadn't seen each other in person since I would say probably like two thousand eighteen, So I guess that's how life is supposed to work. Um. We'll get more into like a W stuff, of course, but obviously prior to signing to a e W, you were working at w W E with then X t UM had a great thing going there. We don't really have to get into like too many of the specifics. I mean, I think we kind of know what happened there and saw some things that happened there. But I think the thing that really sticks out to me was you being offered a contract extension and then that just wasn't the thing that you wanted to do. What was what was kind of going on at that time. It's really interesting because I think I would say that a lot of people kind of looked at me as if I was the bad guy, right, and like I kind of get it, or I do get it, because you know, I'm sure there are plenty of people who would kill to be in the position that I was in, and at the time, like I just couldn't do it, you know, And you know, I never really said why. You know, I did a comedy show and like I alluded to it, but the wrong message came across from that show. So I mean, to be completely honest In like February, I woke up one day and like I just felt miserable, Like I just felt I guess the right way would be crazy, right, Like I like I didn't know where I was, I didn't know what was going on, and like it kind of went away and then it kept increasing to the point of where like it was just debilitating. So you know, I voluntarily just like committed myself. This was on a Friday, and I think I got out on Sunday. It was very interesting experience, mainly because I would say, in Florida it's like prison for the mentally ill. So when I went in, I had no idea what I was in for. Like I was in kind of like a cell, Like it was like no real sheets. It was just like a metal like frame that you laid on like obviously, like the sink was you know one of those thinks that was like rigged to where you know it was like motion detected, like they gave you like a little thing of soap, a little thing of toothpaste. It was literally like couldn't go into your room until eight nine pm and then you have to wake up at six am and then you just like walk the floors like that was it like you just like walked back and forth to like fill up the time. So that was like three days of that and then afterwards I was like, maybe I'm not as crazy as I thought. So okay, So what kind of like led to you being like this is what I need to do for myself right now? Like what were those days leading up to that moment? Like maybe maybe it wasn't the days, weeks, months, Maybe it's years leading up to that. I don't know, but like what we're sort of like the stage is to getting to that point. I think it's just trying to just manage everything I do. Regret leaning into the being funny thing because I think, you know when I yeah, well no, I think I think it's hard for people to take you seriously. So like who am I going to say, oh yeah, like I feel this way. I feel that way, Like I don't think there was anyone to really like listen right or too that I could vent or to, you know, talk to. And then especially with like social media like everything nowadays, like it's one it's hard to take people seriously and too, I feel like I don't want to say it's like a thing to use mental health. It's like a crutch. But I just felt like no one would like believe me if I said, hey, like I feel this way or feel that way. So I just felt like it was the right thing for you need to do. So when you woke up that day and we're just like, I something is, I do not feel right? Did you talk to anyone? Like did you what's like what's your support system look like? I mean at that time, I didn't tell anybody, Like I literally wasn't like on my phone because they take your your phone away, so like I had like minor communication, like at one point, like I had to to like fight to get my phone because you know, like I have a dog, So he was at the dog sitters because thankfully I was able to like you know, arrange it last minute, but you know, like I had to like check in, but like they allowed me like to look at my phone for like a few minutes. But afterwards, like I told people close to me that I could trust and obviously it worked because it didn't get out. Nobody knew anything about it. Oh gosh, Okay, So you're in there and like are you talking to Obviously you're talking to therapists and whatnot you're in. There were some of the things that were kind of delved into when you were having those conversations there about what was going on. Was there any kind of um diagnosis given to you? I mean to be honest with you, like like you didn't do much. Like there was like music therapy, which you know, as awful as the experience was, like it was somewhat entertaining because it wasn't really musical therapy. I'll never forget my last day because I just wanted to just go home at this point, and like, you know, they're passing out sheets with like topical music that you know you have to like go through and like analyze. And it was just this thing where it was like, oh, like you shouldn't listen to this music as negative you know, it calls negative thoughts, like the most generic thing. I'll never forget. They said, hey, like we're gonna go around the room and everyone pick a song that like resonates, and there's this one kid at the end of the table and so like he was just coloring and so it went around and I don't know what the song I named, and I'm not gonna say his name. But like they were like you know such and such, like you know your last like what's your song? Like he doesn't look up, he just goes pussiest mind by Miguel. And that's when I was, yeah, it's time for me to go like I So, so that's what that experience was, Like they went, you can't say that, and then that was it, you know, class ended. So it wasn't too beneficial for me aside from me going, oh, like they never want to go through this again. That was it what we're like kind of some of the other factors was like the work situation, the pressures from that, just like outside influences to just like I guess, yeah, like what really I think for me, there is a lot of pressure. I think there's always a lot of of pressure because I feel like as a black talent, I could judge more harshly than other people. Like I feel like everything I do is analyzed over analyzed, right. I don't obviously everyone gets like a critique, but I feel like mine is at like a different level. And I'm also incredibly hard on myself, so like it was one of those things where hard on myself, I like I had to realize that like it's wrestling. It's just wrestling, Like I can't. This isn't a live or die situation. So for me, it was just dealing with that. And it was also like you know again, I regret leaning into the funny thing because you know, like I'm very like very introverted, like very closed off, and I went, you know what, like I have this this small circle of people that I trust that should probably utilize them. Um, Okay, with all of the things that you have been through and have experience, what are like the takeaways and things that you do to set yourself up to have a clear state of mind and take care of yourself. Of course, I mean people may think it's crazy, but I pray every day. Even if you are I would say, and atheist, right, I think at the end of the day, it's something that that helps, right, Like whether there is a god, a lot, you know whatever, Like I think just being able to focus and and you know, having a again peace of mind that has helped me. I'd rather be safe, that's sorry. You know, I do not want to go to hell if if there is one. Um, but you know that that has been pretty important to me. Is that something that you feel like you had connected with more after going through this experience or this is I think I've had like really weird moments, like when I was in Philadelphia actually training. That's a hard word to say when you're not ready for it. I was on this weird like grassroots job to where like I think it was like the A c l U. Like we would just be outside and asking people to like donate whatever. And it was so funny because the roots, I think we're having a concert outside. It's in downtown Philadelphia. Like I'm just harassing with people. Hey, would you like to donate? You know, like a nerd. And this family walks past me, and at the time I was this was like the first time really reading the autobiography of my come x some like deep into it. Islamic family is like walking past and they're like hey, I'm like hi, and they just give me this flyer and the flyer was about Islam and they're like, oh, we think you need this, and then they disappear. You were okay, not at all. So this was like new to me. And so they gave me that flat and I'm like, oh, that's cool mentioned in your life before that. Sorry, this is I'm not not really, no, not really, but like, but funny story, I'm like packing unpacking and like I find that flyer and just mint condition, not a wrinkle, not like a fold, and I'm like, oh, well, this is clearly a sign. And so that kind of started the gears turning. But I would say this whole experience is what actually brought me into it. Where did you start? It was reading? It's also just like my heroes or my lens is you know, Um, it's obviously I'm I'm not in the Nation of Islam, you know. I think that's a completely different thing. But I do think there are some ideologies, you know, in that that I agree with. Um, and that just you know, it started everything. Wow, very interesting. So what about like the rest of your family, so like this is their first time hearing this this? Yeah, I mean that's really cool to like be so personal with it and like you're just on your own voyage in your own journey with this. Yeah. I just feel like, you know, it was like what do you really say? Right? Like, I feel like it's I mean, I guess I could have brought it up. What do you think like the reaction to that would be, like I can't imagine, Like I was not raised with a ton of religion myself either. Yeah, I couldn't really imagine if I was saying to my mom, like, hey, I've meanted this religion, Now, what do you think that conversation would be? Like I would make hare I think as long as I'm happy. So that's probably why it hasn't been this full conversation because it's I don't need to worry about acceptance because I know that, you know, it'd be different if I said, hey, I'm a part of like the cult of like House of Black, Like what's that? But like you know, like it's you know, it's fine. So on the other side of having been there and gone through those few days and being there once you got out, like how are you feeling and what we're sort of like the things you had to set in motion to just like take care of yourself mentally, it's miserable. Like I just had to go back to work, you know the next day. You know, it's like a pre tape that you were there for. So it was like okay, back into reality, and so I had to just jump back into it trying to just get my ship together. That's what you know, I try to do. Gosh, it's I feel like that's like the scary thing that I don't know if everyone goes through that, but I think there's like oftentimes like a moment where you're like I need to take care of myself. I'm not feeling well. I mean, I think we're all so much more aware of our our mental well being and the things we needed to do take care of ourselves. But to like actually find yourself in that situation of like, oh, ship, I need to go and do this and like I need some help. Was that a hard thing for you to kind of like realize in terms of I guess like of accepting that that's where you were at kind of sort of. I mean, I will say that one big thing is, you know, I think I felt it creeping in. I don't think I did anything because my biggest worry was, oh, like I don't want to take this. I don't want to do that because I may lose my like my creative And that's what happened. You were prescribed something and then didn't make you feel that way you have for like anxiety, and like I just stopped taking it like three weeks ago, just got to the point where I just couldn't. I couldn't focus, Like I would go out and do a promo and like, honestly, god, I could not tell you like what I said afterwards. It made it to where I was too comfortable or like laxa daisio. And it did affect that my creative blocker kind of thing where you're just like yeah, yeah, So like you know, I'm sure some people will say, oh, like that's a bad thing, and like I'm not trying to send the message to not take you know whatever, or not get helped. It's just for me, like I know what works, and like it's like, okay, we have full gear. I need to get through that and then figure out what works best for me. Taking yourself off of the medication, How how did that feel? Like right away? Because I know people do say that work, like whoa, what you're doing? What? Like you shouldn't do that? Like how how have you felt the days? Nothing? So a part of the reason that I was prescribed what I was prescribed because you know, I have like really bad insomnia, so like it was supposed to help. So like last week I didn't sleep really from like Monday until like Thursday. So Thursday I took Unison. It's like this like over the counter sleeping pale and I'm like I had like a night's worth of sleep, you know, so it's like a given a take, right, Like I feel like myself, but I'm like up until five am watching you know, the Waya's brothers on YouTube, you know, like that's the straight off. Yeah, yeah, gosh, that's yeah. I mean, what a lot to kind of go through, and like thank god you did have the close friends that you could talk to about that stuff. And like what about like your family with your family know about everything that kind of yeah. Yeah, but like I keep them out of, like you know, all this stuff because like I mean, I'll just be honest, like people are shitty, Like people are very shitty. So I would prefer to keep my friends and family and you know, anyone else like away from you know, I'm trying to think the public lashings or whatever, you know, the public you know, critiques, you know, they may occur. And also like you know, I hate to say it, but like it's my problem. And this may sound cold or callous to say, but like in this again, this era, this time, I feel like people just don't. I don't care really, So it's like I can say, oh, hey, like I feel this way, but like I don't think anybody cares, you know, And I'm I'm doing this one for my current coworkers so they could understand me better and to like, I feel like mental health isn't really talked about in the black community, and I know there are plenty of black males who feel the way I do or felt the way I do. So this is hey, like it's not the end of the world. Like if I can power through you know, Wednesdays and Fridays, you know, then you know you can do it too. It really is like that stigma that comes with like I think anyone's going through any kind of mental health stuff. It's like I'm very isolating. You feel like you're the only person going through something like that. Where do you turn? What's the answer for that? But you're right, I think being able to have these conversations, and I do think we're getting better about having these conversations. But you're right, there's some people are like, you're fine, shut up, like and like that's absurd, it's crazy. But to just be aware of what you need and how to take care of yourself and like do those things. Like yeah, ads off to you for like really taking care of yourself and doing what you need to do. How do you feel now, I mean I feel better. I think I think my brain and my body is still adjusting to like you know, not being filled with this you know, medication or whatever. So yeah, just with coffee and you know, gatorade. You know, that's how I power through, you know, some electualle, some caffee and baby, we're just making it through. Soccer fans tournament action is heating up and now it is a perfect time to give fan Duel a shot because new customers get a no sweat first bet up to one thousand dollars. 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So you mentioned before about your relationship with with your coworkers and you wanted them to kind of be aware of what you went through, and like, so what is that relationship because you can be pretty reserved, and I think that that is something like I didn't really know you prior to us meeting backstage at eight w before I even started there. But there, You're right, there is this like preconceived notion of like, oh this funny guys, got this personality in this entertainment, and then you meet you in your you are You're definitely like you internalize. I can see that. So does that catch people off guard a lot? I think so, Like I joke and I go everyone thinks I'm an asshole? I think I think some people think I'm an asshole. But you know, wow, Sting is in the rafters on the other side, reading, you know, raising in the sun. You know, think of like you know Kiki and ah ha, and you know, make a jokes when in reality I'm trying to just like figure out like what I'm doing, you know, that evening and just trying to get it into my head and just you know, talking to like you know, the rest of the group and production and everything else. Like that's just my focus. But yeah, again, I think leaning into the comedy thing in the earlier stages, it's just you know, I think it's said like a bad uh. I don't know, it's just well, it's just like that preconceived notion of like trying to like, yeah, when people have an expectation of what they're going to get and then it's not that and people take it personally for some reason. And yeah, it can be definitely hard to kind of battle that. I find like often like I can be such a like social butterfly. I talked to everybody, I'm kind of hanging out, but by the end of the day, I'm like, oh my god, I'm exhausted. I just put out so much energy, like engaging all day and somebody like you, like I always kind of look at John for this too, because John really shuts down sometimes he's very like he gets in his work and he's thinking about that. But blood, does you want to talk to me? What's going on. It's like, no, he's like saving something else. I don't wanna talk to anybody. That's just how it is. It's like it's not a personal thing. He's just in doing his own thing. Yeah, Kid's one of those things that like people, people somehow take that very personally. Yeah. I think a lot of people take it personally. The one thing that I have realized, like the past I would say a couple of months, like a year or whatever, like I've I've gotten increasingly more isolated, and I think a lot of people have taken that the wrong way. And it's not a personal thing. It's just like I need to keep my own peace. Same thing with like text messaging or like d m s. Like I'm sure some people go, oh, well, like I've I've like messaged the student, like he hasn't responded. And I think at this point the most important thing is like my piece. And you know, I know that may sound cliche, but like, no, it doesn't, it doesn't. And I would say, you know, one of the biggest things that has helped me is Islam, you know, and and that is about peace, you know, um internal peace, and you know, making sure that you give that same energy out to other people. So yeah, I feel like we are also like that generation that makes yourselves available all the time, whether it's through text message, whether it's through d MS, it's all those things. It's like, I don't think people really take a second to realize what that drain is to just constantly your phone is going off and these conversations you can be having. Like there's times that like, yeah, look, it's like friends of mine that I am messaging with and I'm like, oh my god, I just I don't want to look at my phone anymore. Like that alone is a drain when like I've got my husband there, I've got my baby there, I've got all these other things that I would honestly rather be focusing on. But yeah, it's like trying to maintain all those relationships and do a those things. It's just like, oh my god, it's brutal. It can be. I I keep my phone on do not disturb, and it drives I would say, everyone crazy because they think I'm not available, And I think, is you know I will see it, but I yes, yes, I will see it when I see it. Yeah, you know I have that. And then just in general, like just to be completely honest. I feel like unless you personally chip into my phone bill, I don't owe you an immediate response. So it's, oh, you didn't respond when I sent this texess like yeah, like I'm sorry, I was busy at this point. I may be bold enough like just to turn on read seats just let people know, oh yeah, I saw it. Yeah, and I will respond when I feel like it's actually very true. So for your coworkers that would be listening to this or watching this, what's something that like you want them to know or to take away from your story and like the things that you've been through to just kind of like give them that perspective. I mean, just everything that I've I've said because again, I think there was this expectation that I was going to come in and do Curt wheels and like do flips and like you know, be like this court Jester and it's just like no, like you know, I just want to come in, do my job and leave. And I feel like, um, everywhere I've worked, like just side of wrestling, I know that they can be taken the wrong way, especially again if you are I think a blackmail, it can be easily turned into oh this dude has an attitude. This person, you know, doesn't want to be bothered or they think that they're better than someone else when the harsh reality is no, Like I'm just trying to, like the nice way to say it is, you know, stay out of ship, Like you don't have my own issues and problems or you know, segments to like deal with, Like I can't any any of the other stuff, Like I don't want to know about it unless it pertains to me. Um, you've always been very good at what you do as a manager. I think you've always held you in very high regardless what you do. Has there ever been moments that you felt like you weren't connecting or that you were having any kind of like confidence issues with what you were doing, Like what were some of those like lulls and like moments of growth? Like, I mean, I think it's it's one now, you know, to be really really everything that was supposed to happen, like with the firm didn't happened. And I think if people look back at all out and you know what happened immediately after the pay per view, that's a huge part of it. You know, we were supposed to directly feud with you know, it's no longer in the company, and that was you know, one thing that I was looking forward to because I was hand chosen for that role. So you know, I'm just gonna say it. I don't know the specifics, like people are choosing sides whatever. I just know for me, the fact that see him Punk said, hey, I want to work with this guy like that, Like that holds a lot of weight. It means a lot, you know, regardless of what has happened, what will happen. So when that didn't happen anymore, it was literally rewriting everything on the fly. So you know, everyone is in the group is trying to do their best, but we are trying to figure out how to make this work because the original purpose isn't the purpose anymore. So it's like what do you do? You know, And like with Ethan Pennies, right now, I think he's doing great. I think the guns are doing great. Lee. You know, he's going to go into this this feud with Hook and so like things are slowly you know, uh, no pun intended gearing up. It's just it's it's just gonna take a few weeks. And I think the way wrestling is nowadays, is I get it. First impressions are everything, but it seems like it's a little bit difficult to like change people's minds or to get people into like, you know, obviously I get it. People most people do not want to see Picasso work on this painting. They just want to see the ship done right. Like so, I think that's the phase that we're in. We are working on it, but people don't want to see anyone working on it. They want to see the finished product, which I completely understand. At the same time, it's like we're all human. Like I wish I was a part of Harry Potter, you know, I wish I had like a wand that I could you know, move around and you know, change time and and do whatever. And if I could, the world would be much different. But you know, I don't have those powers, you know, just like girl just trying to make it work. Yeah, I mean that is. I mean sometimes that's just the way things go, and wrestling plans change and things change, whether it's somebody out with an injury or you know, whatever it may be. Like totally, it's like, oh my god. You think of the last couple of years of the stops in the starts and what are we doing when we common are we going? What's happening? And then to like personally be going through stuff, it's like it's it just feels like it's a road bump, rop bump, rop bump to try to figure things out. Um, what do you see the next Like you're looking like clue? Would you like it to look like if you had that Harry Potter one. I'll be honest with you. One thing I've learned in the past, like I would say five years of my life, is the fact that I can't predict anything. Like every time I've been like, you know what this is going to happen, like my year, my six months will look like that, it never ever happens. So like I have no clue. I honestly have no idea. All I can do is say, you know, I will put my best foot forward and try to just make it all work. Um. Okay, So when you actually debuted with a e W what all kind of went into that? What was that first moment like for you? I mean I feel like that was like as a fan was like, oh, ship, this is great. I mean, you're working with Jade. Was just exceptional that was booked. Well know, so I guess I was told what I was doing maybe like theft twenty minutes before it actually wasn't happening good, So I was like yeah, because it was just you know, could this happen? You know the time frame, you know the date. It was like, you know, we were suiting the Wibber room of is this actually possible? So once you know, we found out it was, you know, we talked about everything. It was like, okay, like this this is gonna happen. So I had to like open up the curtain and peak it, like, you know, make sure what's happening. Yeah, So it's like, oh, like this tonel, like is there like I trip? So like when you're thinking about because even like I mean, mine was much differently, even is walking on the ramp, You're like, where am I going? I've never walked through that tunnel before. Where is it lead? Like exactly? I had no idea. It was fun, it was it was quite the experience to debut and Vegas on a pay per view. You know, you couldn't ask for more. And what about the time when you were working with Jade It was fun. We years y'all. And the one thing that I mean, among many things I take pride in is the fact that it was an all black yeah factions, And I think that holds a lot of power because the dynamic was interesting. Jade had the power and she is a black woman, and then she had you know, two other black women Athenis who came out that night exactly in the program as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and that you have me like, you know, like this little guy you know on the side, you know, how to you know, all of them as queens. Like it was fun and I think it's something that, you know, looking back at, I hope that people saw that and and that will open up or possibilities for other people down the line. But for me, it was just a cool thing to do. Um. So then actually being I know we kind of like touched on it before of like reconnecting with with m JF working with the firm. I mean, there's so much going on there. Who within that group do you see as someone that you'd be comfortable and completely hitching your wagon too. That's the guy guy or a girl that you want to manage first of all, m JF. But um, you know what m J yeah, thank you, thank you. Yeah, he's a piece of ship. Um, Like it's hard to say just because Ethan Page, right, he beat Eddie Kingston, you know, he beat Mandido. You know, like he's slowly getting up there. And then you have you know Lee, Um, this feud of Hook is going to be fantastic. And then the Guns I think I think they're just the unsung heroes of like the tag team division. Like they're so knowledgeable, like there's super like I hate this raises very generic, but like they're super hungry, right, like if if people only knew, Like I walk in the locker room and these guys are yeah, yeah, these guys are on the floor like watching you know, like YouTube matches and everything else. Like they are legitimately students of the game. And you know obviously you know, look at who their dad is. Um, most of the guy in the company. You saw that coming from really gun Yeah, and Morrissey, Like we've gotten along very well, Like I had no idea just how how similar we are with just like you know, he's very um have you been able to connect on that level? Legit? So there was one time it was like hours before the show, I was in one of of like the sky Boxes, just like reading whatever, and then all of a sudden, like I hear this knock and I'm like what it like, it's Morrissey and like the other sky Box, He's like, hey, so you know, we have like a similar personality. So it's hard to say, but I will say that my project, if I could say, is is late um, just because I believe he has so much to offer. It's like he's definitely got that sort of like aura of specialness around him, and it's I feel like it's just only a matter of time. I was just about to say it's time, it's time, and it's just baby steps. You know, what is it about him that makes him special? I didn't know until we did the show in d C a few weeks ago. I don't believe that everything happens for a reason. But that week, like I wasn't like feeling like the best or whatever. So just on a whim, I was like, you know what, I'll get tickets to the African American History Museum, which obviously like I'm wearing the hoodie, and so I invited Lee to come with me because I thought it was important, and you know, sure enough, he said yes, and we went and like we spent hours there, hours and the fact that I could see the dress that Rosa Parks or the tape recorder that Malcolm X had m O cas I have a dream of speech. Like I I walked into that building just not feeling the best, and like I left like feeling in power because all over the building it's black history, black power and you know, like we bonded like during that because you know, it has two black talents who you know, we have a lot of thoughts, opinions on you know, everything, and um, I just he's one of those people that again he has a lot of talent and I feel like it's just it's a matter of time before people see that. And that's my goal, Like that's my mission. People know that. Like he is really good, right, Like he is that dude. You know, Like it's just it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when it happens. When's that going to happen? Yeah, I mean just from like me watching him to I'm like, oh, what is this guy's deal? What's going on here? I It's fun seeing someone at that part of their career and waiting for what is that thing that's going to really connect that like takes them into like that next level of their career. It's really really cool to see. Okay, so you have mentioned reading a few times. What does New Top Books wrap up with that? So? Oh god? Um, So right now, I'm rereading the autobiography of Malcolm X. I don't know when this is going to air, but one cool thing that I'm doing next week is um Spike Lee is actually hosting the thirtieth anniversary of the movie, which one of the greatest movies of all time, like one of my favorite. So I'm rereading the autobiography so that'll be fun. I'm also reading a book on, you know, the history of Islam, because I feel like it's important for me to you know, understand the beginning to um the current and Fences that I'm rereading. But I've only like thirty pages in, so not to be dumb, but the movie is from that is all right, it's the second one. Got it? Got it? Hell? Yeah? Awesome? Okay, great, Well, dude, I really appreciate you coming on here and just being so open and honest about all the things you went through. I mean, it's obviously incredibly relatable to anybody that's going through something like and being able to seek help for yourself and kind of take time for yourself and recognize all those things. And UM yeah, I just I appreciate you taking the time and giving your story to people. Thank you, and I'm sorry for jumping your and uh yeah what then taking the title? I mean, listen, it was a heat of the moment thing like He'll be okay. You know it's tough. A big thank you to Stokely for hanging out with me. Um again, thanks so much for talking to me about all that stuff that I know it's not easy to open up about and all that and I really hope that it gave fans a new perspective of him. I hope that he gave his co workers a new perspective of him all of that stuff. Um, And if anybody else's um struggling, you know that there's always help, there's always options. UM. So thank you guys so much for hanging out with me on this episode of the sessions Back to Work We Go by Guys has been the sessions it had at Han