Q&A with WWE Superstar – Seth Rollins

WWE Live is finally back in Malaysia after 12 long years, what can fans expect from the show?
They can expect the absolute best in sports entertainment and WWE brings a product unlike any other in the world.

As this is your first visit to Malaysia, are you excited about it? What are your looking forward to the most?
I’m stoked about it. Never been to Malaysia and I look forward to experiencing the culture. I really enjoy trying local food whenever I’m outside the US.

You will be going head-to-head with former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, John Cena, at the live show here in Malaysia, how are you preparing for that?
John Cena is widely recognized as the top star in the company and preparing for him is like preparing to fight a lion; he’s strong, fast and clever. But I have all the confidence in the world that I am on the same level as Cena and the WWE Universe in Malaysia will soon experience that in person.

How did you rivalry with Cena begin?
Well it all started a few days at Night of Champions when I interfered in Cena’s championship match with Brock Lesnar. I saw an opportunity with the champion (Lesnar) down and I tried to cash in my briefcase for a shot at the title. John Cena took is personally that I interfered in the match and now we have a problem.

Your fans from Malaysia can’t wait to see you in action this October; do you have any special message for them?
Don’t sell out, buy in…

What inspired you to be a WWE Superstar?
I guess my main inspiration has to do with the way it felt when I was a kid and saw a WWE live event. It was so exciting and I never experienced something like that before and I wanted to be in that ring and give that same feeling back.

How did your family and friends react to your decision of being a professional wrestler?
Most of them thought I was crazy. My family was very cautious about it and thought it was something I would try for a little bit but then get back to the real world. My friends were very supportive as we all loved WWE, but I was the only one with the drive. But whether family or friends didn’t agree with my career path, everyone was very supportive of me.

Who were your favourite wrestlers growing up, how did they influence you to be a WWE Superstar?
Some of my favorites were Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect, Eddie Guerrero and Rob Van Dam.

Hogan was the pinnacle of entertainment when I was young. He was the closest thing to a real life superhero. The other guys made me think that I could be a wrestler; they weren’t the biggest guys but they had charisma, they moved well around in the ring and were great technical wrestlers.

What was your ‘plan B’ if you were not a professional wrestler?
What “Plan B”….there was never a “Plan B” in my mind.

Your WWE debut came at Survivor Series 2012 alongside Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, talk us through that experience.
It was very nerve racking but also a major relief to finally make our big debut and have an immediate impact. This was the opportunity I was waiting for after years of training.

Why did you ‘turn your back’ on The Shield to join The Authority? What was going through your mind moments before you attacked Reigns and Ambrose?
I knew that I wanted to be “the” top guy in WWE, not “one of the” top guys. I didn’t want to share the spotlight with Reigns & Ambrose either. The Shield was a great starting point but I was the only one with the guts to branch out. It’s time to sink or swim and see who really has it as a singles competitor.

There has been a lot of negative feedback from the fans since you left The Shield, how do you deal with that?
You just let that stuff go in one ear and out the other. That’s my motivation to get better, move forward and prove that I’m a top guy in the WWE.

What is your routine before a match?
No specific routine. I just try to get as loose and as warmed up as possible.

What is your favourite type of match and why?
I like the chaos of a TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs) match. Anything can happen and there’s a lot of creatively goes into a match like that.

Your signature move is the Curb Stomp, what is the story behind that?
Not much of a story really. I saw it first by a Japanese wrestler and I really liked it so I adapted it as my own. 

How do you find the balance between your WWE and you free time?
For me, I try to separate those two worlds as much as possible. When I’m on the road with WWE nothing else matters and when I’m home I try to relax and keep my mind clear.

What is your best and worst moment so far in WWE?
Best: First WrestleMania (WM 29 in Miami) because you only get one first WrestleMania and that’s something no one can ever take away from you.

Worst: Losing to Heather Slater a few weeks ago; that was embarrassing.

You are the current ‘Money in the Bank’ winner, when do you plan to cash-in for a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship?
Well, I tried at Night of Champions but that didn’t work out too well. But whenever I see an opportunity, I won’t hesitate to take advantage; and that could be any place, any time.

What are the perks of being ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’?
Most obvious one is that I can cash in for a title shot any time I want. I’ll keep that briefcase in my back pocket and I have until July to take advantage of it.

What does the future hold for Seth Rollins?
The future holds a championship title cash in and title reign. After that, the sky is the limit.


Twitter Profile: @WWERollins

WWE Seth Rollins

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 217 lbs.

From: Davenport, Iowa

Signature Move: Curb Stomp
Career Highlights: WWE Tag Team Champion, NXT Champion, 2014 Money in the Bank Ladder Match winner

Seth Rollins began his career as an independent wrestler who wasted no time making an impact in the world of sports-entertainment. After becoming the first NXT Champion in August 2012, Rollins quickly moved on to join forces with fellow NXT standouts Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns to wreak havoc on WWE.

The trio debuted in WWE at Survivor Series 2012, smashing Ryback through the announce table and costing him a title match against WWE Champion CM Punk. The group returned the following night on Raw during Punk’s 365-day championship celebration, sending Ryback through the announce table once more.

When Rollins, Ambrose and Reigns finally spoke a week later for the first time in WWE, the trio denied any involvement with Punk. Rollins said they “saw things heading in the wrong direction,” so the group “stepped in and righted those wrongs.” Rollins referred to himself and his cohorts as “a shield from injustice in WWE,” and Ambrose aptly named the group “The Shield.”

Although they occasionally stumbled in singles action, The Shield was unstoppable as a collective unit, besting any and all Superstars who dared to cross their path. At Extreme Rules, The Shield established themselves as WWE's most dominant trio with Ambrose capturing the United States Title, Rollins & Reigns defeating Team Hell No in a Tornado Tag Team Match to capture the WWE Tag Team Titles. Following SummerSlam, The Shield allied themselves with WWE COO Triple H to become the muscle of the corporate Authority; despite losing the WWE Tag Team Titles to Cody Rhodes & Goldust, they remained a force to be reckoned with for The King of Kings’ most persistent enemies, particularly Daniel Bryan.

The Shield’s first true test came in the form of CM Punk, who used mind games to drive a wedge between the three of them. The group’s frustrations continued to mount all the way into 2014, when Rollins entered the 2014 Royal Rumble Match at No. 2 and lasted deep into the contest. However, he and Ambrose were eliminated by Reigns, who came in second to Batista. The next night, The Shield were prevented from earning their way into the Elimination Chamber Match and challenging for the WWE World Heavyweight Title when The Wyatt Family interfered in their qualifying bout, handing the DQ victory to Daniel Bryan, John Cena & Sheamus. As a result, The Shield demanded, and were granted, a showdown with The Wyatts at Elimination Chamber. After a couple weeks of circling each other, the two factions finally came to blows at the end of the Feb. 17 Raw.

But at Elimination Chamber, The Hounds of Justice fell in a hard-fought battle to The Wyatt Family, and fell again in a rematch eight days later when Rollins – fed up with his teammates’ infighting – abandoned them to make a statement. His point taken, The Shield rallied and eventually turned on The Authority altogether, decimating WWE Director of Operations Kane and The New Age Outlaws in one of the most dominant WrestleMania showings ever.

So persistent was The Shield’s resistance that The Game re-formed Evolution with Randy Orton & Batista to combat them, but at Extreme Rules, The Shield emerged victorious, thanks in no small part to a gravity-defying effort by Rollins. But The Hounds weren't done with Evoluton, as Rollins, Ambrose & Reigns shut out all three members of legendary faction in a brutal No Holds Barred Elimination Match at WWE Payback. Even though Batista quit WWE the next night, the evening still threw the future of The Shield into question, however, when Rollins attacked Reigns and Ambrose with a steel chair and seemingly allied himself with Evolution.

The next week, Rollins explained his actions as a business decision and dared his former allies to attack him; despite a timely escape by The Aerialist, Ambrose & Reigns allied with John Cena to defeat The Wyatt Family later in the evening. Rollins not only continued to antagonize Ambrose, but Triple H entered him into a traditional Money in the Bank Ladder Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship contract ... without having to qualify first. The next week, he successfully convinced Triple H to allow Ambrose into the match along with The Game's other handpicked competitors so Rollins could better thwart his former teammate's plans against The Authority.

Seth Rollins’ plan came to fruition at WWE Money in the Bank 2014 when, with the aid of the Demon Kane, took out his fellow Shield cohort and earned the right to be called “Mr. Money in the Bank.” Ambrose vowed to keep Rollins from cashing in at every turn and has kept his promise thus far. The two former teammates were scheduled to go head-to-head at WWE Battleground, but never had an actual match as Ambrose attacked Rollins backstage, again in the ring after being ejected from the building, and once more in the arena's parking lot by hiding in the trunk of Rollins' car.

In the midst of all-out bedlam in a Lumberjack Match at SummerSlam, Seth Rollins hit his former "business associate" Dean Ambrose with the Money in the Bank briefcase to overcome his unstable opponent. During their rematch the next night, Kane helped Rollins Curb Stomp Ambrose through a pile of cinder blocks in an attack that would have sent Ambrose to a local medical center, had he not thrown off his restraints, refused treatment and escaped from WWE officials altogether.

In the aftermath, it quickly became apparent that Roman Reigns would take up Ambrose's crusade on Rollins in his place, but Reigns suffered a severe hernia one day prior to his match with The Architect. Rollins arrived at Night of Champions 2014 smug as ever, claiming victory over Reigns and calling surgery "no excuse" to miss their contest. Continuing his arrogance that night, Rollins issued an open challenge, which was answered to his shock by a returning Dean Ambrose. The unstable Ambrose assaulted Rollins until Triple H had WWE Security restrain and eject Ambrose.

With both Ambrose and Reigns out of the picture, Rollins attempted to finally cash in his Money in the Bank contract by getting a seemingly beaten Brock Lesnar disqualified and trying to pick the bones of The Beast. Before the bell could ring, however, Cena got back to his feet and beat Rollins into a retreat. Mr. Money in the Bank will have to wait another day to get his title match.

Win ONE DIRECTION: WHERE WE ARE

The Concert Film Special Screening Passes through

hitz fm Sabah & Sarawak

Kuching & Kota Kinabalu, 24 September 2014 – One Incredible Night and One Unmissable Weekend! The biggest band in the world and global pop superstars, One Direction, bring their epic ‘Where We Are’ world tour to cinemas all around the world.

Grab your opportunity to win four passes through hitz fm Sabah & Sarawak from the 29 September – 3 October 2014. Be the ultimate fan to know it all of the One Direction tracks and be the first caller through when you hear the sonic trigger to name the song title play on the airwaves.

The Where We Are Tour is the third concert tour by an English-Irish boy band One Direction. The concert tour is set to visit arenas and stadiums from April through October 2014. It promotes the band's third studio album, Midnight Memories, also announced along with the tour. This is the ultimate musical cinematic experience for all One Direction fans, one-off opportunity for fans that missed the live ‘Where We Are’  tour, or those that simply want to re-live the moment, to see it all on the big screen! The concert film will only be in cinemas for one weekend throughout the globe.

Besides via the airwaves, fans can also scout for the hits fm cruiser around the city to win 2 passes to the special screening. Don’t miss this opportunity as the ONE DIRECTION: WHERE WE ARE – The Concert Film Special Passes from hitz fm are limited and GSC will be screening this EXCLUSIVE TWO DAY ONLY concert film at 15 selected cinemas throughout Malaysia.

Tune in to hitz fm Sabah & Sarawak or log on to fbsarawak.hitz.fm and fbsabah.hitz.fm to find more information on how to win the special screening passes.

MUSIC VIDEO AND BEHIND THE SCENE PREMIERING ON ASTRO RIA

MUSIC VIDEO AND BEHIND THE SCENE PREMIERING ON ASTRO RIA THIS

SUNDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER AT 11.30PM

12 September 2014 – Hafiz Suip, Sarawakian born multi-award singer has chosen to film his latest single “Matahari” back home in Kuching recently featuring Puteri Balqis Azizi as his little sister, Chopie as his best friend and Afick as a bully from ERA fm Sarawak. According to Hafiz in the recent interview, he hopes to bring the messages of love between family and friends through “Matahari” music video. 

Catch the premier of “Matahari” MV and the behind the scene this Sunday, 21 September at 11.30pm on Astro Ria.

AFGAN L1VE To LOVE Showcase in Kuching

Afgansyah Reza, a 25 year-old famous Indonesia soloist or better known as Afgan has recently been to Kuching to promote his latest album 'L1VE TO LOVE, LOVE TO L1VE' and a single Katakan Tidak as well as meeting his fans at the Hills Shopping Mall on the 14th of September. The showcase was presented by ERA fm Kuching 96.1fm (ASTRO Radio Sarawak). Three members from Sarawak Bloggers Society were given the opportunity to cover not only the showcase, but also the press conference and Meet & Greet session with Afganisme or Afgan's fans. This event was supported by Leema Drink the Music, Hills Shopping Mall, SRC, Station One Cafe and Orang Kampong. 

I have been his fan since I first listened to the song Bukan Cinta Biasa. Afgan is widely known as an Indonesian pop singer and actor. He has won various awards for his work in music, among them are MTV Indonesia Awards and Anugerah Planet Muzik. He is recently shortlisted as final nominee of MTV EMA 2014 for Best Southeast Asia Act. Afgan was born into a musical family of Minangkabau origin and he is the second of four children. Fate took a turn when he and a few friends were making their own karaoke songs at an instant recording-studio-turned-record-label. The studio personal noticed his talent and they offered him a deal a few months later. That is how his singing career began and the rest is history. 

Afgan is currently famous for his song Jodoh Pasti Bertemu. His third album which entitled 'L1VE TO LOVE, LOVE TO L1VE' was released on 14 February 2013 by Trinity Optima Production. His first single from this album is Pesan Cinta which was released back in 2012. The album contains ten tracks which can be generalised as having romantic feel to them. Afgan usually would sing songs that cover genres of pop, jazz, soul and R&B. However, in the latest album he explored further into other genres. It took a long time to complete and release his third album as he was busy pursuing his tertiary education at Malaysia, Monash University Malaysia Campus to be exact. In a nutshell, the journey of the latest album revolves around his life and which also derives from the experience of being in a relationship. Just like other artists, Afgan preferred to tell his own stories through his artwork. For those who wish to listen to his songs, the CD will only cost you RM19.90. You will not regret buying it as all ten songs are superb. I have personally bought the songs via iTunes back in 2013. 

At the press conference, Afgan confessed he was still S-I-N-G-L-E. It was no denying that this young man has become a lot more good looking as he noticeably shed some weight. It made his dimples even more obvious than when he used to have slightly chubby cheeks. Besides the interview session, the press had the chance to take photos with him and get their CDs signed personally by Afgan. The real excitement only began the next day on 14 September when he was set to meet and greet his fans at Station One Cafe. These lucky fans also had the privilege to watch him performed up close from the Rockzone besides getting their posters and CDs signed by their favourite Indonesian singer.  

The showcase was the highlight of Afgan's promotional tour. It was estimated 4000 fans came to watch him perform live at the Hills Shopping Mall. His appearance on stage sent the fans shrieking in frenzy, even Afgan thought his Afganisme in Kuching were 'crazy'. He repeatedly using the same word to describe his fans' craze not only during the performance, but on his social media too - Instagram (http://instagram.com/p/s60AXLSoAi/?modal=true). That was enough to send our beloved Afgan a message that he indeed has rock solid fan base here in Sarawak. Afgan did mention he would love to come back and hopefully next time it will be for a concert, even bigger concert he said. Yes, let's hope he will! Fingers crossed. Bisa diatur ya Afgan. 

The Afganisme were absolutely fanatic to the extent they would follow him everywhere he went from the moment of his arrival in Kuching. Fans followed him from the airport to the hotel where he stayed just to catch a glimpse of Afgan in real life and take a selfie with the handsome lad who owned a sweet mellow voice. So, Afgan, if you want to see more of Afganisme madness here, do come back to Kuching and I am sure your die hard fans will welcome your return with open arms. Probably with a lot more surprises! Last but not least, I would like to thank ERA fm Kuching (https://www.facebook.com/ERASarawak?fref=ts) for the invitation and a lifetime opportunity to meet my favourite singer from Indonesia. I also would like to extend my gratitude to Sarawak Bloggers Society for this opportunity to cover the showcase. To watch the whole event, click play on my Youtube video down below (http://youtu.be/feQkKNxVSJs). 

For more information about Afgan, you may want to follow him on:

Afgan's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfganOfficial1?fref=ts

Afgan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/afgansyah_reza

Afgan's Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr28oTTkfzqv3-v6XLhEDJA

To have a look at photos of Afgan in Kuching, click on these links:

Press Conference: https://www.facebook.com/hybridayak/media_set?set=a.10203846118246197.1073741860.1017558774&type=3

Meet & Greet: https://www.facebook.com/hybridayak/media_set?set=a.10203846579217721.1073741861.1017558774&type=3

Showcase: https://www.facebook.com/hybridayak/media_set?set=a.10203846617658682.1073741863.1017558774&type=3

Album cover

#kitasama Blood Donation Drive Comes to Kuching!

Kuching, 12 September 2014 – In conjunction with Malaysia’s 57th Merdeka Day, Astro has launched a nationwide blood donation drive to reinforce the message of ‘Unity Runs in Our Blood’. The #kitasama blood donation drive will be headed to its final stop at Plaza Merdeka, Kuching this 16 September starting 10am – 7pm and the public is invited to donate their blood for those in need. Both #kitasama blood donation drive and Negaraku campaigns will be taking place from 15 August 2014 till 16 September 2014.

Henry Tan, Chief Operating Officer of Astro said, “Our 2014 Negaraku campaign focuses on the uniqueness about being Malaysian which is expressed through the theme, “Unity Runs in Our Blood.’ A key event for for this Negaraku campaign is the #kitasama blood donation drive which emphasis that Malaysians are bonded to each other regardless of our multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic composition. On air, Astro will celebrate the unity and diversity of Malaysia through more than 140 programmes of which 48 are Premiere titles. At the same time, we would like to invite all Malaysians to share their Merdeka moments by using the hashtag #kitasama on social media”.

Dato' Dr Faraizah Bt Dato' Abd Karim, Deputy Director of National Blood Bank said, “We would like to thank Astro for inviting us to be part of the #kitasama blood donation drive which is also supported by a great line up of artists that will serve to heighten people’s awareness regarding this campaign. We would also like to take the opportunity during this Merdeka celebration to encourage more Malaysians to pledge themselves to be blood donors.”

Astro talent and personalities took time off their busy schedules to participate in the first #kitasama blood donation drive that took place at the Astro headquarters in Bukit Jalil on 12 August 2014. Asmawi Bakiri from Astro Arena mentioned, “I hope that we can touch more lives and rally together to help our fellow Malaysians who are in need of blood”.

Besides Kuching, the blood donation drive was also held in 6 other states including East Malaysia to encourage all Malaysians to donate their blood to the National Blood Bank Malaysia.

Viewers can log on to www.astro.com.my/Negaraku for the Negaraku content schedule starting as well as information on the #kitasama blood donation drive locations.