Straight Outta Dudleyville – The Legacy Of The Dudley Boyz DVD Review: 20 Interesting Observations

Bubba Ray was bouncing at a bar on Jamaica St. in New Orleans when he saw a wrestling show on TV at 2 o'clock in the morning. He saw The Sandman drinking and smoking his way to the ring, as well as hitting numerous people with a kendo stick. 

Bubba recalls how he thought this was the worst thing he had ever seen. 

Nevertheless, his friends were going to an ECW show in New York and dragged him along with them. Bubba took his gear, like you always should, plus some pictures and a resume. He saw old pal Tommy Dreamer and asked if they had a spot for him. 

It turns out that 911 needed somebody to chokeslam, so Bubba - who was 400 pounds and known as Mongo Vyle at the time - was named Bill Alfonso's bodyguard, and ended up taking the bump so high he could have been mistaken for a cruiserweight. 

He blew everyone away, his foot was in the door. 

When he got to the back, Paul Heyman said "good job, kid, how do you feel about shaving your head? We're going to make you a Dudley." Bubba, complete with a staggeringly bushy mullet, had no qualms in doing so. 

D-Von's break came after Paul Heyman told Tazz he was looking for a rugged African American. Tazz called his old trainer Johnny Rodz, and Rodz recommended D-Von, who was incidentally known as A-Train back them - although his back was anything but hairy. 

D-Von was drafted in for a try out and blew notorious cardio king Perry Saturn up. D-Von recalls how during the latter stages of the match, Perry leaned over to him and under his breath said "the kid can go." 

He could mix it with the best of them from very early on. He was in too! 

Paul Heyman asked D-Von what his favourite movie was on their first meeting to which he replied Rocky III. Heyman asked who his favourite character was, and that was Mr T. 

Heyman instructed the future Dudley to watch Pulp Fiction and study Samuel L Jackson's performance, he wanted a hybrid of Mr T and Jules Winnfield.