EXCLUSIVE: Shawn Spears Talks His Relationship w/ Tully Blanchard, WWE’s Glass Ceiling, Wrestling Cody at ALL OUT

ProWrestling.com’s very own dougEwrestling was able to sit down with AEW’s Shawn Spears to talk to him about his upcoming match at ALL OUT on August 31st with Cody, in addition to his relationship with Tully Blanchard and much more. Check out the transcription to a portion below, and listen to the full interview on STF Underground in the player below.

On what the new Shawn Spears represents…

“I think now what I represent more than ever is authenticity. I might have been known by a few different names in my past in my previous employer…but when someone asks what is the difference between a Tye Dillinger and a Shawn Spears? To be honest…there was always really a Shawn Spears, there was never really a Tye Dillinger. So I think it was just a matter of getting the platform to be myself, be authentic, and be able to show the world what I am capable of…and AEW has provided that platform, so you can rest assured that I’m going to take full advantage of that.

On his relationship with Tully Blanchard…

“It’s no secret that Tully has a deep history with the Rhodes’ family, and that is one of the main reasons that I reached out to him to begin with. He said it best, to put it plainly, he[Tully] knows how to make the Rhodes family tick. He has been in numerous contract signings with Dusty, he has had numerous matches with what was one of his greatest adversaries. 

It was kind of a no brainer to bring him into this fold as well, and his guidance, the things he brings to the table, are big picture. Where I’m thinking micro, he thinks macro. He thinks much bigger, much broader, and sees things that I don’t, and that can only come with experience. What we are doing going into ALL OUT on August 31st, is covering every single angle that Cody could POSSIBLY come up with.”

On getting over in AEW…

“Well, I think it’s a matter of taking opportunity that comes your way…making a statement. I’ve done a very good job of doing that on any “platform” that AEW has given me. I think in my previous places of employment, there was a glass ceiling that I was constantly trying to break through, but it was just too thick or wasn’t possible, or out of reach.

Here, AEW being so new, it’s kind of open terrain. It’s the ‘wild west’. There are rules, but there aren’t rules. If you are able to get to the top, the lane is quite clear, you just have to go take it…AEW is putting the consumer first, and they’re doing that by giving their athletes credibility…and that goes SO far. I think i’ve done a very good job doing that. I’ve done more in 3 months than I have in the past 3 and a half years.

On Cody’s match with Sammy Guevara on October 2nd on TNT…

“Cody’s obviously looking a little past ALL OUT, and if he says otherwise, then he’s a liar. I’m not looking past August 31st, that’s all I’ve been focusing on. I understand that October 2nd is a massive day, it’s a HUGE day. But I can’t look that far ahead. This is a must win match for BOTH of us, whether he wants to admit that or not. He can look as far past me as he wants, which apparently he’s been doing for a while. Come August 31st, all bullseyes are on him.

H/T Transcriptions to ProWrestling.com & STF Underground