In a recent interview with The Metal Injection podcast, WWE RAW superstar Damian Priest discussed the origins of his ring name, as well as what Triple H told him about his character in his early NXT days.

“As far as the name goes, I gave Hunter a list of stuff, Damian goes back to when I was born, my Mom wanted to name Damian and my Dad was like, we’re not naming him after the son of the devil, that was that. I always liked Damian and I would use it in other stuff, I used it in the indies, Hunter liked the name.

For a last name, my first theme song was by Judas Priest, Hunter suggested Priest, it made sense, both names are for me and they are also opposites, it’s a rockstar name, he asked me, have you seen The Dirt. Only like seven times, I loved it and love the rockstar lifestyle idea.

When I was talking to Hunter about my direction, he was like, we can keep you as is, who you are and what you’ve done, but I see more in you. I told him, I don’t want to be who I’ve been, I’ve been doing that long enough and there’s a reason why I’m on a bigger stage to do it now.

I was willing to change, through conversation he was like, I see this, the person I’m talking to, you’re cool, you’re likeable and I get along with you, let’s do this on television, just be you.”

The interview is available in full at this link.