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Rob Strauss Unveiling New Layers to Mr. Stone in NXT

“If you asked people from my elementary, middle school, or high school, ‘What’s Rob Strauss going to be?’, they’d tell you that I was going to be a pro wrestler”

Justin Barrasso

Rob Strauss Unveiling New Layers to Mr. Stone in NXT
Rob Strauss Unveiling New Layers to Mr. Stone in NXT /

A day before Valentine’s Day, Rob Strauss is writing his love letter to pro wrestling.

Better known as Mr. Stone, or Robert Stone, or Robbie E for the TNA fandom, Strauss has finally found a home in NXT.

A popular route to WWE is now through college athletics. But Strauss, 40, is a throwback. He paid his dues, and then some, wrestling in places across the globe that even defy some maps.

There was a match on a beach in South Africa, a stadium tucked away in a distant part of India. Once, he was even given his own private locker room at an indie show in Alabama–where the locker room was inside a tree house.

“All of that makes me appreciate being in the WWE that much more,” said Strauss, who still laughs when recalling climbing down from the tree house in his wrestling boots. “My kids are involved, my wife was on TV a few months ago. It’s so much fun, I’m so grateful, and I’m not taking any of it for granted.”

Courtesy Rob Strauss
Courtesy Rob Strauss

Later tonight, Strauss wrestles in a tag team match with Von Wagner against Noam Dar and Oro Mensah. His twin seven-year-old boys will have the chance to see their father work his magic in the ring, too.

Strauss and Von Wagner have surprisingly evolved into babyfaces over the last six months–and unlike prior outings as a heel manager, where he was typically getting destroyed, this marks an altogether different opportunity. A 24-year wrestling veteran, Strauss is eager to show the NXT audience that he possesses layers to his craft.

“Most of my career highlights have been in tag team wrestling,” said Strauss. “This is my wheelhouse.”

A former two-time TNA tag champ, Strauss’ destiny is inside a wrestling ring. The New Jersey native’s affinity for pro wrestling is well known; growing up, he was frequently spotted in a wrestling t-shirt at JFK Memorial High School–and prior to that at Iselin Middle School–as well as back in the day at Robert Mascenik Elementary School.

“If you asked people from my elementary, middle school, or high school, ‘What’s Rob Strauss going to be?’, they’d tell you that I was going to be a pro wrestler,” said Strauss. “Finally, when I turned 16, there was a wrestling school that I could join with my parents’ permission.”

Courtesy Rob Strauss
Courtesy Rob Strauss

Strauss joined the wrestling school with three of his best friends, yet he was the only one to stick with it. Nearly a quarter of a century later, he is creating his most memorable work in NXT.

“I wasn’t able to do this for a living until I was a decade into it,” said Strauss, who worked an array of jobs–at a liquor store, a YMCA trainer, as a food delivery man, an employee at Nobody Beats The Wiz, and a physical education teacher–while pursuing his dream. “For the past 14 years, I have made a really good living off this.”

Courtesy Rob Strauss
Courtesy Rob Strauss

Strauss was already wrestling on the weekends by his senior year in high school. Some teachers would even show the tape of his match the following week on the classroom VCR.

“I’m very proud of my past,” said Strauss. “This is what I’ve always wanted, this is what I’ve always loved.

“I’ve learned a lot throughout my career. Longevity in wrestling is hard. You need to stay on top of your game, constantly reinvent yourself, swallow your ego, and you need to be willing to put in the work and hustle. Still, to this day, I’m the biggest hustler there is.

“There is still a lot left I can accomplish. Look at Paul Heyman and MVP. They kept evolving, and they’re still integral parts of what we do. That’s what I want to continue to be.”

Courtesy NXT
Courtesy NXT

Strauss possesses a work ethic that does not have an off-switch. That is visible in his devotion to the craft in WWE. He can manage, wrestle, and commentate; he also remains hopeful that he will one day be producing and coaching talent.

Experience has to be earned–it cannot be bought. That is also noticeable in the way Strauss takes a beating, going extra lengths to highlight his opponent, as well as in his presence and confidence on-screen.

“I’ve been in every situation,” said Strauss. “When they tell me to do something, they have confidence I’m going to get it done. I want to do everything and do it all well.”

Strauss is especially excited to be teamed with Von Wagner, who is second-generation rising star Calvin Bloom. A physical specimen at 6’5”, Bloom is finding his voice as Wagner. As his in-ring work continues to sharpen, Strauss sees an even greater strength in Bloom’s unrelenting desire to constantly improve.

“I’m there to help Von in and out of the ring,” said Strauss. “He’s been around wrestling his entire life, and you can see he loves it.

“We started at the PC together on the same day. The work he puts in is nonstop. He’s willing and wants to work, and he keeps getting better.”

Courtesy Rob Strauss
Courtesy Rob Strauss

An abundance of charisma has helped propel Strauss into his current position, yet that is only one piece of a multifaceted puzzle. He has made sure his look and work have remained at a high standard, and he is especially eager to enhance the work of his opponents.

And just when the audience thinks they know Mr. Stone, Strauss plans to introduce an entirely new dimension with what he can do in the ring.

“I’m coming into this match with all my heart,” said Strauss. “My wife and I didn’t show our twins the match against Bron Breakker when I got slaughtered, so this is the first time they can actually see me wrestle. It’s the first time a lot of WWE fans will see me wrestle, too.

“I’m going to put everything I have into this match to make it worth seeing.”

Published
Justin Barrasso
JUSTIN BARRASSO

Justin Barrasso has been writing for Sports Illustrated since 2014. While his primary focus is pro wrestling and MMA, he has also covered MLB, NBA, and the NFL. He can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

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