On what turned out to be his remaining episode of the Gentleman Villain podcast, William Regal talked over his regrets surrounding not putting his spouse and children 1st all through his WCW operate, and the state of affairs that shifted his way of thinking to normally placing family initial.
These comments are certainly fascinating in hindsight, given the modern information of Regal exiting AEW to go again to WWE in part to function with his son in NXT. Go through on for the highlights:
On remaining with his wife for 37 decades: “She’s put up with me and I love her to death.”
On his wife being expecting at the time he was away in 1996: “I’d obtained into [NJPW World Tag League]. Wanting back, I was a little bit egocentric. Due to the fact I always put the task initial, and which is absolutely nothing to be very pleased of. It was just the way I was taught “the occupation arrives to start with.” I shouldn’t have remaining her. For a couple of months, I went to England. I shouldn’t’ve remaining her to go to Japan, or to England, or Germany. I shoulda stayed at property.”
On his pregnant spouse falling ill when he was in Japan: “When I was in the Tag League in New Japan, in the Autumn of ’96. I started off that with Dave [Taylor]. We did alright at the starting of it, and then I get a call that my spouse isn’t nicely. And for the 1st time, it definitely strike me. Family members arrives 1st. I’m not happy of that. I’d often place me occupation initially. So I came home to glance immediately after my wife. To make sure she’s alright.”
On asking for time off for the 1st time: “I lower quick the tour. New Japan wasn’t joyful with that, but they comprehended. Which is not a very pleased moment for me. I would not talk to for time off for my family members. Think me, it’s like sticking a knife in my belly, me acquiring to go to the men and women in New Japan and indicating “My spouse is not well. I’m apprehensive about her. I want to go dwelling.
On the mentality that the “job will come first”: “This is 1996. I’m 27, 28. I’m however of that state of mind that the occupation comes 1st. From working day 1 in this career, which is how I was taught. It is not a good way to be, definitely. Your household is the most crucial point. You constantly imagined that if you didn’t do your occupation, you wouldn’t have a task. That was just the way it was bred into you. Regardless of whether it be AEW, no matter whether it be WWE, whoever. Today, they recognize and they give you time off for your family members which is a excellent factor.”
On So quite a few wrestlers lacking out on their families’ life: “There’s a good deal of us, from my age group and more mature, that have skipped out on so several birthdays, and so a lot of anniversaries, and so numerous unique important historic components of our life simply because of the wrestling. Wrestling will go on with no you.”
If you use any of the previously mentioned quotations, remember to credit score Gentleman Villain h/t 411mania for the transcription.