The last time Rob Conway traveled to Miami, he did not enjoy himself.
Conway hopes to make amends by placing well during the NPC National Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini and Men’s and Women’s Physique Championships on Nov. 18-19 at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach.
His previous visit to Miami was when WWE Chairman Vincent Kennedy McMahon fired the WWE superstar during WWE Monday Night Raw at the American Airlines Arena.
“I’m happy to be here in Miami because it’s a great city, but my last memories of Miami were me getting fired in the ring by Vince,” he said. “So I have to make a better memory here, winning this contest and getting my pro [bodybuilding] card and getting a contract with one of the major sponsors.”
• After months of losing matches, Conway appeared on the Jan. 1, 2007 edition of Raw with a New Year’s resolution. He vowed to not lose another match, or he would quit. WWE Intercontinental champ Jeff Hardy proceeded to pin him in 21 seconds. McMahon then entered the ring and yelled those famous two words, “You’re fired.”
Members of the world champion Miami Heat, Raw guest host Kevin Federline, about 15,000-plus in attendance and millions more around the world witnessed the embarrassment.
“Miami owes me, but even if I don’t win, I’m winning already,” he said. “Back home [New Albany, Ind.], it’s 50 degrees and raining. Here, it’s 85 degrees and sunny.”
In just his first physique competition, Conway placed second of 16 entrants during the NPC Kentucky Muscle Strength and Fitness Extravaganza on Nov. 5. By placing second in the physique tall class, he qualified for the NPC National Men’s Physique Competition in Miami Beach. The top two earn their IFBB pro cards.
• Conway, most noted for his time in WWE as a member of La Résistance, has a history of starting big.
“My first passion was bodybuilding, after high school and college basketball,” Conway said. “I started lifting weights and really enjoyed bodybuilding to the point where I actually competed as a teenager. I did pretty good. I won a couple of local shows and ended up getting a short clip on ESPN, my first encounter with fame and television.
“With having some success in bodybuilding, that led to me training more to get a little bit bigger and go to the next level in bodybuilding. What happened was during that training, as I was getting bigger, I really started getting into watching wrestling more.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/17/2506268/former-wwe-superstar-rob-conway.html
