Mark Henry Reflects on Humble Beginnings: Washing a WWE Hall of Famer’s Clothes
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry lately opened up approximately the extra humble beginnings of his wrestling profession, sharing intimate and funny memories of his time on the street with the overdue, excellent Yokozuna. In a heartfelt interview with Denise Salcedo, Henry painted a vibrant image of the grueling but unforgettable reviews that fashioned his early years in the wrestling industry.
Henry, regarded nowadays because the “World’s Strongest Man,” took a nostalgic trip down reminiscence lane, reminiscing about his days as a younger wrestler. He specific how WWE’s CEO, Vince McMahon, in particular paired him with Yokozuna, a two-time WWE Champion, to help the legendary wrestler together with his every day needs and permit him to consciousness on his foremost event obligations.
“I rode with Yoko, but I really didn’t ride with Yoko, I drove Yoko,” Henry began, setting the scene of his role as Yokozuna’s personal assistant. “I was his young boy, I was his driver, I was the Gopher. He would say, ‘Go get this for me.’ We’d be on the road for like two weeks sometimes, and I would go do my laundry, and Yoko would say, ‘Hey, man, when you go to laundry, you do mine too?’ I said, ‘Alright.’ I did laundry, I did whatever he told me to do because that’s what Vince put me in the car with him for—to make sure he didn’t have to do nothing but show up and do main events.”
Despite the traumatic nature of these duties, Henry’s tone was packed with affection and admire as he stated the camaraderie that evolved between him and Yokozuna. Their bond grew more potent over shared interests, mainly their mutual love for basketball and food. Henry humorously recalled their penchant for playing basketball at diverse gyms they determined on the street and their participation in what he lovingly termed the “Eating Olympics.”
“I mean, we both had real similar interests. We both liked basketball a lot, and we would go places that had gyms so we could hoop. And, of course, the Eating Olympics—if there was ever such a thing as the Eating Olympics, me and Yoko put some food back, boy,” Henry laughed, adding a touch of humor to the otherwise laborious account.
One mainly memorable anecdote highlighted their extravagant dining behavior. Henry defined a lavish time out at a steakhouse where the duo controlled to rack up an magnificent $360 invoice in basic terms on food. This story not simplest underscored their deep bond however also showcased the lighter, extra non-public aspect of their dating.
As Henry’s tales of the past painted a picture of the hardships and joys of his early career, he also touched upon contemporary wrestling events. When asked about AJ Styles’ recent retirement tease on an episode of SmackDown, Henry couldn’t help but draw parallels to his own career. He praised Styles for his emotional and powerful promo, which echoed Henry’s own retirement tease from a 2013 episode of Raw where he dramatically feigned retirement only to attack John Cena.
Reflecting on Styles’ performance, Henry said, “AJ did a phenomenal job with that promo. It reminded me so much of what I did back in 2013. The emotions, the delivery—it was all spot on. It’s moments like these that make wrestling so captivating, and I’m glad to see Styles carrying that torch forward.”
Henry’s reflections offered a rare glimpse into the life and times of a wrestling icon, highlighting not just the challenges but also the camaraderie and humor that punctuated his journey. His stories serve as a testament to the dedication and resilience required to succeed in the wrestling world, and the unforgettable bonds formed along the way.
h/t to TJR Wrestling.
