Injuries are an unfortunate part of being a pro wrestler, but Vik Dalishus had an experience with them that was worse than most.
In 2017, Dalishus (whose real name is Rob Begley) tried a top rope move to the floor he didn’t normally perform, and paid the price for a bad landing: a broken right tibia, fibula and ankle, along with other bones in his foot, which later led to infection and doctors telling him he may lose his leg.
Rebounding from that setback was a long journey, but one that Dalishus feels has made him a better wrestler and person in 2022, as he explained to Phil Strum on this week’s episode of the Under the Ring podcast.
“It defines who you are as a person, in different ways, when you allow it to, when you view things that are struggles as opportunities to improve yourself,” Dalishus said. “I went through a lot of different circumstances where I could have played the victim and certainly looked at the negative side of the situation that I had created and the choices that I had made.
“And I’m really proud of myself for how I got through on the other side of it, and for the person that I’ve been able to become and prove who I really am.”
Listen to the full episode above for more of Dalishus’ thoughts on:
- Why he and Hale Collins complement each other as tag team partners so well
- How he got interested in pro wrestling in the first place
- His time in OVW in the early 2000s
You can catch a new episode of Under the Ring every Monday, as Strum has a straightforward, insightful conversation with a different personality from the world of professional wrestling. Recent guests have included WWE superstar Damian Priest, veteran grappler Davey Richards and former WCW President Eric Bischoff.
To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to Under the Ring on Apple Podcasts or your podcast provider of choice, or check out the Under the Ring YouTube channel to see all of the interviews in video form.