Curt Hawkins was recently a guest on Sam Roberts’ Wrestling Podcast. During the show, Hawkins talked about his relationship with WWE CEO, Vince McMahon.

Hawkins said he has always had a good rapport with McMahon, and even said “The Chairman Of The Board” has called him a good hand several times:

“He’s obviously intimidating,” Hawkins said. “He’s the ruler of professional wrestling, but I’ve always had a good rapport with him. I am very comfortable talking to him and things like that.

“I think he has seen me wrestle all these years and knows that I am a very serviceable pro wrestler and knows that I work hard every night, and I think he appreciates that.

“I’m not Roman Reigns, but as far as where he sees me on a star level, but there is a value of Curt Hawkins for sure. He has called me a good hand several times in meetings and to my face.”

Hawkins’ first run with WWE lasted from 2006 to 2014. After being released he learned what it was like working in professional wrestling away from the company. Hawkins worked all over the indies, including stints with promotions such as IMPACT Wrestling.

In 2016 Hawkins inked a deal to return to WWE. When he comes across Superstars who want to leave the company and work the indies, Hawkins offers some advice:

“I try to give them my perspective. I had a great time on the indies. The experience was cool and I did some cool things, so, I love pro wrestling but it was a lot of hard work and a lot of hustle,” said Hawkins.

“A lot of lonely ‘Virgil’ moments where you have to suck it up. That autograph line is not never ending wherever you go. There are moments where you have to check your ego and I don’t think that a lot of guys who have not done it don’t understand what the experience is like.

“If you do a good job and consistently work somewhere, and not work a lazy match and just take someone’s money, because I was doing the opposite. I told them that they don’t have to pay me this much, but that I would like to be involved with storylines and feuds and earn rapport of the fans where people are coming to see ‘The Prince of Queens’ Brian Myers and not Curt Hawkins, so that was my business philosophy.”