Andy Leavine interview

[AZUCAR!]

It has been nearly a year since Florida International University alum Andy Leavine was introduced to fans on the WWE reality show competition ‘Tough Enough’ on the USA Network.

Leavine won the rigorous elimination contest, capturing a WWE contract.

So he is continuing this journey at Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE’s developmental territory in Tampa under the guidance of Dusty Rhodes, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, Dr. Tom Prichard, Steve Keirn and Miami’s own Norman Smiley.

Leavine, who competes as Kevin Hackman in FCW, remains grateful for the opportunity.

“It was really unique,â€￾ Leavine said. “I got some really good exposure being on national television with people like Stone Cold [Steve Austin], Booker T., Bill DeMott, Trish Stratus and all of them.

“A lot of these guys [Tough Enough trainers, FCW trainers, FCW talent] came up the hard way. They didn’t have the same opportunity I got, so I have to come here to pay my dues and pay my respects to these guys and work hard every day. I have to earn my keep like everybody else.â€￾

With many respected legends serving as his trainers and others on the roster with years of experience lending their guidance, he received a wealth of knowledge. The consummate athlete is happy with his progress.

“It has been going good,â€￾ Leavine said.

“It’s a daily process. You have to get better every day. I try not to look too far ahead because if you do, you sort of lose track of where you are currently. I am just working hard and getting better. I have a heck of a lot of guys that I look up to and try to model myself, hard work wise, after. There are a lot of hard working guys down here.

“Leo Kruger, who is a former two-time FCW heavyweight champ, has helped me out a lot. Eli Cottonwood, Husky Harris, Big E Langston and others have helped me out a lot on my road.â€￾

Leavine believes he and his persona in the ring are very similar.

“I think as far as character goes, I’ve always tried to just be me,’ Leavine said. “I’ve always been that hard working family man. I want to relate to the average class, hard-working guy who works 9-to-5 and digs ditches. Sometimes you just can’t get ahead in life. My dad dug ditches for a living, and that is the type of people I want to relate to. I feel like that is me.â€￾

One thing ‘Silent Rage’ has worked on is his intensity. It’s something Leavine was struggling with on ‘Tough Enough.’

“In hindsight, Stone Cold was just trying to see something out of me,â€￾ Leavine said.

“I’m the type of guy who likes to be laidback and mellow, but you don’t want to tick me off. It takes a lot to tick me off, but just getting to that level; it’s about trying to reach that happy medium where you are intense but not overly intense all the time.â€￾

Leavine learned so much from the ‘Tough Enough’ experience. However, if Season II comes around, Leavine advises potential participants.

“There is a lot of stuff you don’t see behind the scenes,â€￾ Leavine said.

“It’s a lot of work. There is a lot of hard work that people put into the show from all the producers and everyone behind the scenes. It was a hard deal man. It will definitely challenge you as a man or woman. If it’s your dream or your passion, I would fully encourage anyone — if they do another season — to go after it.â€￾

Leavine participated in the recent FCW event at the Miami-Dade County Fair. It gave him a chance to visit his old stomping grounds, Florida International University, where he started on the offensive line for the Golden Panthers football team. The school is where he also met his wife Lauren, a 2010 graduate, and mother of his two children.

“I’ve seen a lot of friends,â€￾ Leavine said.

“A lot of her family lives in South Florida as well, so it’s a cool deal. I lived here for five years.â€￾

Honing his craft and spending time with his family may take most of his time, but he stays informed on how well the Golden Panthers are doing on the gridiron.

“I follow it all the time,â€￾ Leavine said.

“I’m always reading the blogs and following it on the Miami Herald website. They have been doing great with two bowl games in a row. They had an 8-4 season this past year, and I’m really proud of a lot of those cats. I remember when the weight room used to be a boiler room. The stadium was almost like a Lego set.

“It has come a heck of a long way, but I know they are going to get there with the type of talent they are recruiting and the guys before them who laid the foundation — the guys in my class and the class before me. I take a lot of pride in that. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they put together in the future.â€￾

Leavine is also looking forward to WrestleMania 28 in Miami.

“It’s going to be wild,â€￾ Leavine said.

“There are a lot of hardcore wrestling fans down here. This city is going to go absolutely nuts, especially their long lost son is finally coming back with The Rock against John Cena. It’s going to be crazy.

“I love being a part of this. I have a blast doing it. There are a lot of great people in this business, and I hope I can do this for a long time.â€￾

I still don't get why they changed his name to Kevin Hackman. He still needs a lot of improvement too, from what I last saw of him on FCW tv.

 

[Dale]

Because the guy is a hack, man.

 

[The Cork]

I don't get why they gave him all that exposure and got the crowd used to him, then sent him back down to training.

Even if he was shit, they could of got him over on Smackdown. Its taped, they use fake crowd heat and not as if they've never put a green wrestler on TV.

 

[SAIYANS]

If only Luke wasn't a dick or Rima fragile.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

I don't trust homeless wrestlers.

 

[TheGoldStandard]

I really think Luke shouldv'e won Tough Enough

 

[Defiant]

If only Luke wasn't a dick or Rima fragile.

Or Martin getting injured

(Or Marvin.. can't remember his name)

 

[The_King]

I really think Luke shouldv'e won Tough Enough

Couldn't agree more. The guy was better in the ring, better personality, and better look. Andy was a plain, boring every day man with a dumb gimmick (aka the perfect guy to win a reality show where producers have power to decide the winner).

 

[Black Sanchez]

I forgot all about "Silent Rage" for a while now. Surprise he still has a job.

 

[PHX]

Or Martin getting injured(Or Marvin.. can't remember his name)

Martin was his name but yeah was a lot better options than Andy. He did nothing for me in tough enough and don't really expect him to make it in the WWE thus making TE seem pointless as far as the winner goes like they kept doing before.

 

[Troy]

I think that eventually WWE will put him on the main roster even if it is just for a few weeks, I highly doubt that they will release him from FCW before giving him a shot on television. When he won TE he did look like he needed a lot of work so I don't mind him going back to training.

 

[TheGoldStandard]

Would anyone even remember him if they brought him up to WWE? It has been a year since Tough Enough. Andy wasn't really memorable.

 

[Chriss]

I have never seen a good reason why this guy won Tough Enough.

 

[Troy]

Would anyone even remember him if they brought him up to WWE? It has been a year since Tough Enough. Andy wasn't really memorable.

I assume that when he is brought up WWE will mention it again and again on the show. I doubt that many would remember him but WWE will make fans remember.

 

[chefboyardee]

plain and simple i dont see much of a future for this guy.he sucks and dosent have what it takes and never will.if hes ever on the main roster im guessing it will be right before tough enough season 2 and itll just be a token call up followed by future endeavors.