WWE News: Former WWE superstar Gangrel talks about training Rusev and The Brood

What’s the story?

Earlier this week, former WWE superstar Gangrel spoke with WSVN-TV Entertainment Reporter Chris Van Vliet and discussed a host of wrestling related topics, including training current WWE Superstar and former two-time United States Champion Rusev. In addition, Gangrel also opened up about his former faction The Brood, which was considered as one of the unique groups during the Attitude Era.

In case you didn’t know…

Initially consisting of Edge, Christian, and Gangrel, The Brood made their WWE (then WWF) debut in 1998 and the faction’s gimmick was based on a clan of vampires, even though they were often regarded as living a “gothic lifestyle”.

During their time together, The Brood was most notably part of a storyline with The Undertaker’s stable called The Ministry of Darkness. The two factions initially started a feud in 1999, but by the end of their rivalry the two groups subsequently merged along. Later that same year, Gangrel eventually turned his back on Edge and Christian and formed The New Brood along with Matt and Jeff Hardy, The Hardy Boyz.

The heart of the matter

While speaking with WSVN-TV Entertainment, Gangrel spoke about a host of topics and here are a few highlights from the interview:

Gangrel on training Rusev:

According to Gangrel, current Smackdown Live superstar Rusev has always been a good guy with a funny personality and is the type of superstar who has always put in the hard work in order to become a successful pro wrestler. However, Gangrel believes that it is Rusev’s wife Lana, who has turned out to be a good asset for the “Bulgarian Brute”.

“He deserves everything he's got, he's like the American dream. He moved from Bulgaria to become a pro wrestler so he came to that wrestling school, he trained and he worked three jobs. We had classes back then in the morning and in the afternoon, so he would literally sleep in the car in between the classes. He wouldn't go home so he wouldn't miss the classes or miss a shift at work. He really, really put the time and the work in and was totally dedicated. I couldn't be prouder of him."

The secret message behind The Brood’s entrance:

According to Gangrel, the actual message behind The Brood’s iconic gothic theme says 'I buried Paul, walk with me.’”

"If you have the right skills and technology to play it backwards, the guy who did the music, Jim Johnston was a big Beatles fan, so it says 'I buried Paul, walk with me.'"

What’s next?

Gangrel is currently running a wrestling school named Gangrel’s Wrestling Asylum which is located in Dania Beach, FL. The former leader of The Brood is also currently wrestling on the Independent circuit for promotions such as West Coast Wrestling Connection and many more.

Author’s Take

The Brood, in my opinion, will definitely go down as one of the most iconic stables of all time and their association with The Ministry of Darkness certainly remains as one of my all-time favorite childhood memories.