WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro is featured in an interview with The Phoenix New Times to promote this Sunday’s WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view and commented on his character, independent talent becoming a success in the WWE and various other subjects.

On his character and if he is a modern day version of an evil foreigner as a villain: Uh, yes. I think I’m a modernized [version]. I’m very fond of tradition, very fond. I don’t like the term old school, but if I would use it then I would consider myself old school. I believe in old school values, for lack of a better term, because I think those are still very valid. Values that people just don’t have. You don’t see people holding open doors for elderly people for the ladies. That’s just stuff that got lost with time. And I don’t know why, because, I think, being a gentleman, like I am, that’s very important and that’s something that should be taught.

On independent talent becoming a success in the WWE, such as himself, Daniel Bryan and CM Punk: I think it’s great and it just proves that if you work hard and if you get better and better and get the best at your craft as you can be [then] you will have success. You know, all those guys — Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, myself, and many others — have put a lot of hard work into what they do and made a lot of sacrifices. [They] still do. It does not come overnight.

The interview is available in full at this link.