“Aw man, it’s a huge honor to be able to help someone. Because you know, back before I got dropped on my head (by Owen Hart) I was a Ric Flair clone. You know, Ric Flair is the G.O.A.T in my opinion and I was trying to emulate his style. I wasn’t trying to copy him, I was trying to use his style as it pertained to my athletic ability. And getting dropped on my head was, I dare say – I didn’t enjoy that, but it was probably one of the best things that happened to me. Because I had to change my style to be more of a brawler, and then combine the ‘Stone Cold’ character with it, that made me turn into the superstar that I ended up being. But it was Ric Flair who I looked up to.”
source: State of Combat podcast