Simply put, the best way to describe Bobby Roode since joining NXT: glorious.

His catchy and now infamous "Glorious Domination" theme music that he was given earlier this year when he joined the WWE brand — along with the "Glorious Bomb" videos playing off the song that have gone viral — have taken the former TNA Wrestling star to a whole new level.

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Roode had been synonymous with TNA for more than a decade, winning multiple championships and becoming one of its biggest stars. But the 39-year-old desperately needed a change of scenery and earlier this year decided it was time to move on. Then on the night before WrestleMania 32, Roode was shown standing in the front row at the NXT:TakeOver event in Dallas, sparking talk that he was joining the brand. Just a few months later, he made his debut and things felt new — and right.

Sporting News caught up with Roode to talk his newfound fame, changing companies and the chance of being "glorious" on the WWE main roster.

SPORTING NEWS: Could you imagine how much one word has changed your life?

BOBBY ROODE: No but it's glorious. (laughs)

SN: Yes it is. What was your reaction the first time you heard that song and how did the "Glorious" part come about? Was that something you helped with or was that something the artist did?

BR: Well, neither really. It was funny ... I got five demo songs sent to me from Neil Lawi who's in charge of the music in WWE. I chose a song, it was the same song actually that Neil liked the most and we shot it up the ladder and it got to Triple H. Before this, I had a conversation with Triple H about what I was looking to do character-wise and stuff and I wanted to go back to the robes and the character I've portrayed in the past and who I felt most comfortable with. He liked it. I got to TV the next time after I picked the music and I was around ringside and Triple H said that he had another song that he wanted me to hear. The song that we chose, he didn't really feel like it fit.

I was around ringside and I had a chance to listen to the song and it was obviously totally different than the original song that I picked. I listened to it, I liked it. I remember Michael Hayes being there, he listened to it. Obviously, he has a very creative side to him and he loved it. Triple H loved it so I thought hey, why not? Let's do this. So, we did it and it just kind of happened that way and the song has caught on fire. It's one of those things that just kind of evolved.

SN: It's crazy how much that music can become something so essential into what you're doing. We've seen how much this has grown on social media and how it's gone viral. Are you surprised by the impact it's had and how far it has gone?

BR: Yes. Totally. And pleasantly surprised. When your entrance song that you're a part of goes No. 1 on the iTunes soundtrack charts it kind of surreal. Obviously, the song fits the character, the character fits the song. It all has come together and, in a way, made my job a little easier.

SN: How much credit do you give Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Chiampa for the "Glorious Bomb" and helping the song and you really mushroom?

BR: (laughs) I do owe them a lot of gratitude. It's funny, it was one of those things that just kind of happened. Again. We're in a gym on the road doing live events one Saturday and they said we want to do this thing where we play your song, because they love the song. So they played the song and I was working out and they said just kind of acknowledge the song or whatever. It just kind of happened. We never really planned it. They just did it in a gym full of people. We posted it on social media; the thing blew up. We did like seven or eight more. To this day, I continuously get social media people tweeting doing "Glorious Bombs" from all over the world. You have little kids doing them. You have moms doing them who have no idea what they're doing but they're doing it. It's become one of those entertaining things.

SN: What's the one that has stood out the most that you've done and the one that a fan has done?

BR: I'll compare the two because they're very similar and I'm going to give Tommy Dreamer credit for it even though I don't want to. The one that we did in the bathroom. Of course, Tommy Dreamer has to be a part of the "Glorious Bombs" and he has to do it by him actually sitting on the commode and then having Ron Simmons come in and do "damn". I think that was one of the most entertaining ones I've seen. Obviously the ones I see with the small kids, the little girls and little boys that are doing it, are honestly surreal and it's a lot of fun.

SN: I think this puts you in elite company with Ron Simmons and Daniel Bryan as guys who have one word that can encapsulate your entire character.

BR: Yeah. I haven't really thought of it that way but obviously those guys have had great success with that one word. I'm just trying to get my feet wet here. I've only had a couple of televised matches. At (NXT: TakeOver) Brooklyn, it was very surreal to that have entrance and for my song to hit and almost 16,000 people singing it word for word was pretty incredible.

SN: Yeah that was a huge moment at NXT: TakeOver in Brooklyn, you're on the riser. All of the choreography that was involved in the entrance. What was going through your head as you made that entrance?

BR: Well, I'm petrified of heights to begin with and I didn't really tell anybody that. Obviously being up there and coming down was a little scary but when you're in that moment and you have the adrenaline going it was pretty incredible with everyone singing the song. Just the entire entrance of the music, the lighting, everything. It just evolved and came together that night and it was pretty special.

SN: Did you realize the scope of things, even with social media, and how many people have picked up on you at this point in your career once you got under the WWE umbrella? Did you think it would change this much?

BR: Not really but I knew that the WWE was such a huge deal. Obviously, it's the biggest company in the world for what we do in this industry. I knew that there was an opportunity here for me. I knew that there was a chance for me to get bigger and get better and be more of a household name. That's one of the reasons why I came here. And so far, so good.

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SN: What it tough to leave a place you had been with for so long? You were with TNA for 12 years. Did that make it difficult to make the decision to leave there?

BR: At the time, not really. I don't really have a negative thing to say about that company. I was treated extremely well there for 12 years and financially I was taken care of. Honestly, it was just time for me to go. I never really got into this industry for the money although it's nice. I've been able to make a career and support my family for the last 12 years doing what I love to do. But that was just it. The last two years of that company, I didn't love it any more. I started to lose my passion which was concerning to me. I didn't like being away. I didn't like performing. TNA became a place where it was just a television product and I got into this business to perform and be on the road. There was a time in that company where you could do that. You could go on the road and do live events. I've always been about learning. No matter how long I've been in the business or where I've been in a company, I've always wanted to continue to learn. During those times in TNA when we were on the road doing live events, I would always ride with guys like Bully Ray or Kurt Angle, Christian at the time. Guys like that and sit under the learning tree and learn from these guys.

It got to a point those last two years there in TNA that we literally just went and did television and it wasn't fun for me anymore. I had 12 great years and I just felt like at my age and at my stage in my career I wanted a different opportunity and that's all I wanted. My first conversation with WWE was just that. I want opportunity and they've given me the opportunity and here I am today.

SN: You had so much success with that company and then you get the opportunity to go to WWE. Looking back, do you regret not trying to make the move to WWE sooner and did you even explore that opportunity previously?

BR: I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. My contract came up a couple of times in TNA but they were always there to answer the bell. I never disliked the place. Obviously, the last two years, like I said, were challenging for me mentally but I think that this was the right time. I guess, looking back, who knows if I should have came earlier, if I had the opportunity to come earlier. I think that everything happens for a reason and I think WWE and myself felt like this was the time and so far, so good.

SN: I think many times you work at a place and you get comfortable and things are going well but there comes a certain point where you feel like it's time for a change. You felt like it was time for a change. What's it been like for you to go to NXT and you're surrounded by different guys, you're in a new place and it's probably reinvigorating for you.

BR: It definitely is. From the moment I walked in those doors, the passion came back right away. Obviously, I was fortunate enough in my first WWE experience was to be at WrestleMania in Dallas. That itself was pretty incredible, just to meet everybody and to get familiar with the NXT guys. I can honestly say I was welcomed with open arms. It's such a great locker room, the great comradery, the talent itself there. I'm chomping at the bit to get in the ring with all these guys. Of course, knowing some of the guys there when I got there made the transition a little better too, guys like Samoa Joe and Austin Aries were there. It's been such a great experience so far and I'm just grateful for the opportunity.

SN: Now you're with NXT and Samoa Joe is there, Austin Aries is there, Eric Young is there, AJ Styles is on the WWE roster doing great things as the WWE Champion. Did their move to the WWE and the way they did it, did that change the landscape of the business to you? Guys that were in TNA, they go to WWE and a lot of the fanbase there knew who they were and they've had great success in the company already.

BR: Yeah, for sure. The first guy that comes to mind is Samoa Joe. Joe and I, we have a long history together before he came to WWE and seeing him excel and succeed with NXT for the last year before I got here kind of opened my eyes to different things and go me thinking a little bit when my contract was coming up with TNA. I think it's been great for the industry. I think it's been great for sports entertainment, getting to see guys like Samoa Joe who, back in the day, let's be honest, Samoa Joe isn't the kind of guy you would see on top in the WWE. It just goes to show that this business is evolving and the fans have such a great input now. Samoa Joe had a huge fanbase coming there so I think it opened up the WWE's eyes as well.

SN: Was there ever a concern that you would not use the Bobby Roode name and did you already start thinking of other names?

BR: Obviously, the WWE had a history of changing guys names and personas and stuff. Joe got to keep his name, Austin got to keep his name, AJ got to keep his name so I got to thinking, I'm hoping that if I get there I'll be able to keep what I have. Honestly, Triple H said that all of us, even guys like Shinsuke Nakamura, we all have a fanbase. He have a following and in this day and age it would be kind of silly to change that. I wasn't thinking of names that's for sure. I thought it they wanted to change my name they would probably have a name in mind. I'm just fortunate enough to be Bobby Roode and be comfortable out there doing what I love to do.

SN: For you, do you think you will be content to remain with NXT or is the goal to make it to the WWE roster?

BR: The way that I look at it, NXT is such a hot brand. It's probably the hottest brand under the WWE umbrella right now. It's not viewed any more, in my opinion, as a developmental territory. It is but it's a touring brand now and we have our own television show. If TakeOver is any sign, selling out the Barclays with over 15,000-plus people for an NXT event, it's a brand and I'm happy to be a part of that brand. I'm happy to be a big part of that brand right now. Wherever my career takes me, whether it be "moving up to the main roster" or staying in NXT doing what I'm doing now, I'm quite content having my passion back for this business and doing what I love to do.

Brian Fritz can be reached at btrfritz@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianFritz and listen to his Between The Ropes podcast on Blog Talk Radio.