WWE's Seth Rollins talks 15 years of wrestling before Fandemic appearance

Seth Rollins enters to fight John Cena for the United States Championship at the WWE Night of Champions at the Toyota Center, Sunday, September 20, in Houston, Texas. Rollins lost the title to Cena. Seth Rollins enters to fight John Cena for the United States Championship at the WWE Night of Champions at the Toyota Center, Sunday, September 20, in Houston, Texas. Rollins lost the title to Cena. Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close WWE's Seth Rollins talks 15 years of wrestling before Fandemic appearance 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

KingSlayer, BeastSlayer and high-flying WWE wrestling champ Seth Rollins comes to Houston this week. Only this time his visit won't involve throwing people around the wrestling ring. One of the WWE's top entertainers, Rollins will appear at Fandemic, the fan convention taking place at the NRG Center this weekend. Rollins will be joined Sunday by fellow WWE wrestler (and fiance) Becky Lynch.

Rollins answered a few questions about conventions and his 15-year career.

Q: Is it safe to say these conventions are enjoyable work for you? I would imagine it beats getting thrown around the ring.

A: Yeah, they’re really good. And there’s a lot less falling down. It’s a cool experience for wrestling superstars to get some time to sit down with fans. A lot of times, it’s just a moment on the street or in a restaurant. It seems like we’re always on the go. So to have an opportunity to sit down and enjoy the process of interacting with the fans a little more is nice. It’s still brief. But you get conversations that last a little longer. And these are people who mean so much to my career.

Q: These events are when the weird fan art can surface. Have you received anything particularly odd?

A: I get all sorts of wacky stuff. And strange photo requests. Marriage proposals. Phone numbers. The WWE has a pretty passionate fan base. But I really look forward to it. I like seeing what people bring.

Q: I go through periods where I tune out with wrestling. And I’m impressed at how high flying it is these days. And with fewer sort of cartoon characters.

A: Yeah, it’s interesting seeing that evolution from the outside perspective. In the ring it’s a little different. The pace and energy and style aren’t different than what you’re accustomed to. But I agree, if you tune out for a decade and come back it doesn’t look the same. It’s a different audience. Attention spans are shorter, everybody has the internet on their cell phone. So wrestling is a different product and we’re catering to that audience. You have to try to stay ahead.

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Q: Do you think the storytelling part of it has changed? I’ve always loved Mick Foley and he had a few different stages in his career. But I wonder where he’d fit if he showed up today.

A: Yeah, wrestling is a wacky medium that allows you to tell stories different ways. Foley’s a great example. He’s an amazing storyteller who has done it different ways. He was great in the ring. He was great at making his injuries entertaining. And he was also athletic when he had to be. Our audience now asks for the storytelling, but they also enjoy a faster-paced style. A little more high-flying style. It’s more action packed.

Q: Once I had lunch with Foley and he ordered four plates of food. I thought he was ordering for the table. He was not.

A: Mick’s a big boy. There’s a lot of man to feed.

Q: So what do you do after being a kingslayer? What’s the next step?

A: You transition into different slayers. Beast Slayer. Hey, there’s always something out there to slay. There’s always something out there to slay. You find a way to make a new monster. The arc of my character over seven years has been all over the place. And there’s an infinite number of places to go from here.

Q: I think it’s been 15 years since you showed up on the independent circuit, which is a long run. What’s the secret?

A: What keeps me going is the fan base. Especially the younger fan base: A five-year-old kid begging his parents to take him to a show on a Saturday night. A kid who catches a T-shirt and goes home with a memory that won’t leave him. That’s No. 1 for me after 15 years …. Engaging people with stories.

Fandemic

When: 3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. Sunday

Where: NRG Center, 1 NRG Park

Tickets: $40-$50 for single day passes, $75 for a three-day pass; available here.

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