The former NWA World Television Champion talks about his failed Money in the Bank cash-in.
On October 28, 2013, Aron Stevens (who was Damien Sandow in WWE) officially cashed in his MITB briefcase following a vicious attack to an injured John Cena. While Sandow put up a good fight against the then World Heavyweight Champion, Cena ultimately walked out as the winner.
Sandow became the first man to lose his MITB cash-in. While Cena failed to win the World title on the RAW 1000 episode, the former multi-time world champion still won the match-up via disqualification. Many deemed Sandow’s cash-in as the beginning of the end for the 38-year-old and while Sandow managed to get insanely over by being The Miz’s stunt double, the former WWE star was never truly booked as a top guy following his loss to John Cena.
Speaking to Nick Hausman of Wrestling Inc., Stevens discussed his 2013 cash-in and the former WWE star was not keen on losing the match-up:
"Yeah, I wasn't wasn't happy about it, but I talked to a very high-ranking official, not Vince, but in the family," Stevens revealed. "And pretty much, 'look, we're going up against Monday Night Football and the World Series. We need this. You have three segments.' OK, so I knew what I had to do. In the long term, I was frustrated, but in the immediate, I had to worry about going on TV and get the ratings up, and we did.
What was more upsetting was the fact that officials didn’t have a plan for the former WWE Tag Team Champion following the big cash-in against Cena:
"Point-blank, we did, and to me, it was past that what they did because you come back, everyone's hugging you, saying what a great job you did and then two weeks later, there's nothing for you. That was just like, 'OK, whatever.' So yeah, I was a little bit upset about it, but then you're dressing up as someone new every week.
Despite being demoted to being a lackey for the Miz, Sandow wanted to continue giving his best to a gimmick that was clearly designated as a lower card act:
"I said, OK, you know what, if this is what I'm going to do, they usually give guys that and guys do it as a punishment. I'm like no, if I'm going to be Davy Crockett, you're going to give me Davy Crockett music, and if I'm going to be an interpretive dancer, go get me a onesie flesh-colored leotard. Let's do it right. So that is the way Damien Mizdow happened."
Check out the full interview where Stevens talks about being the head booker for Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, the backstage environment during his time in the WWE, and why he compares it to a high school with grown men.