King Xavier Woods understands how personalized gear can help strengthen his connection with the fans.
Over the past several years, Xavier Woods' star has reached new heights as his in-ring career and UpUpDownDown YouTube channel have blown up. The New Day member wears his heart on his sleeve and displays his passions with pride, often donning new attire that shows off his true self and love for everything from Power Rangers to Dragon Ball Z.
Appearing on a recent episode of Out of Character with Ryan Satin, the 2021 King of the Ring winner spoke about his use of gear and how he uses it to express himself and show off the things he likes. The added bonus is that no matter how long you're on TV, people can see what you're wearing and might make a connection with you that might otherwise not have happened. Here are his full remarks:
"Gear is another way you speak to people through wrestling. I used to wear regular tights and had some leg showing. Then I realized I wanted to wear pants instead of underwear because I then have more real estate to put things on it that I enjoy. If I don't get the chance to have a promo or have a full-blown match, but I get to go out there people see my gear and they go, 'Ohhhhh, I understand that reference' or 'I'm messing with how clean that it.' Now, we're a little bit more aligned. It's all about getting that right alignment. When mercury is in retrograde and the planets align, that's what we're always trying to do as wrestlers, get a little bit closer to where when we go out and the music hits, everyone loses their mind because we're aligned through all these seemingly inconsequential things, it's not just how you talk or wrestle, but how you present yourself and how you look in your gear and how it all matches with your music. It's always been interesting to me because of all of the creative juices you can put towards something, something as 'meaningless' as the boots you wear. I wore those curly boots for a couple of years and I did it because in the wrestling games back in the day, you would unlock new gear and outfits and masks and you would always unlock those K boots. We were playing some old wrestling game and I was making my character and I was like, 'where is the boots?' I was playing and was like, 'Why don't I wear these in real life? I can do what I want, I'm grown.' A month later, I had these boots and people ask me, 'why do you wear them?' It's funny to me. It's hilarious. Why would I have these boots on? For no reason."
Woods and Kofi Kingston are currently feuding with The Bloodline on WWE SmackDown. After winning a 'Bend the Knee Match' last week versus Jimmy Uso, Woods was attacked by Roman Reigns and made to watch as The Usos targeted Kofi's knee. He will have a shot at revenge this Friday, November 12, when he goes one-on-one with the Universal Champion Roman Reigns on SmackDown.
Fightful Select recently reported that Xavier Woods is said to be making "little to nothing" from UpUpDownDown and that creators are holding out due to feelings that Woods is being taken advantage of.
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