Robert Stone Reflects On His “Cringe” TNA Debut, Apologizes For Past Prank, And Reacts To SoCal Val’s Black Hole Slam Moment
WWE NXT Star Opens Up About His Early TNA Days During Interview With SoCal Val
During a recent appearance on The Velvet Ropes with SoCal Val, WWE NXT star Robert Stone took a candid look back at his early years in professional wrestling — including his infamous debut as “Robbie E” in TNA, a controversial “dine and dash” prank from his time there, and his stunned reaction to watching SoCal Val take a Blackhole Slam from Abyss nearly two decades ago.
Now a key figure in WWE’s NXT brand, Stone has carved out a reputation as both a performer and on-screen manager, helping develop the next generation of WWE talent. But in his recent sit-down with Val, the veteran didn’t hold back when reflecting on his early days — admitting that some of his past moments haven’t aged gracefully.
“I saw a video today on X of something I never knew about you.. Of you taking a Black Hole Slam from Abyss, and just looking at it, even though it was 17, 18 years ago, my heart dropped seeing it. You’re not a wrestler, Val… I did not feel comfortable seeing that.”
Stone went on to revisit his own TNA debut as Robbie E — a Jersey Shore-inspired character that debuted alongside Cookie in 2010. While the persona brought him television time and recognition, he admitted that rewatching his early promos makes him cringe today.
“I watched Robbie E and Cookie deliver this in-ring interview for five minutes, and every word that came out of my mouth was so cringe.. Hamster and grenades, believe me, it was hilarious to watch… If I showed my kids that they would be mortified.”
Stone also addressed an infamous “dine and dash” prank from his TNA days — using the interview as an opportunity to publicly apologize and make amends for his actions.
“The younger version of myself… that was a different guy. I would never do anything like that now… I’m going to call them, and I’m going to mail them five bucks, six bucks, whatever it is for that soup. And I apologize. I’m making a public apology. That was wrong of me to do.”
Today, Robert Stone continues to make his mark in NXT, both on-screen and behind the scenes, working with talent like Von Wagner prior to his release, and managing high-profile matches.
You can watch Robert Stone’s full appearance on The Velvet Ropes with SoCal Val below:
(h/t Wrestlingnewsco for the transcriptions.)
For more updates on Robert Stone and all things WWE NXT, stay tuned to Bodyslam.net.
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