Bobby Lashley comments on CM Punk, why Tribute to the Troops is important to him

In an exclusive for WrestlingNews.co, Steve Fall interviewed former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. Lashley talked about how he takes care of his health to stay ageless, the strangest place he's wrestled, not wrestling at WrestleMania 39 and how he felt about that, CM Punk, Tribute to the Troops and more. Some of the highlights are below. Scroll down to watch the entire interview.

Lashley on how he is able to stay ageless:

"I think I fell in a time warp because there was some time in there that something happened and then I was back in WWE. So between those 10 years or 15 years, I really don't know what happened (laughs). Now look, to be honest, one thing I will say is since wrestling what I try to do is I take care of myself...I try to do more good than bad. I'm not a heavy drinker, I'm not this or that. I worked out religiously for the past 30+ years. I don't think there was a time I've taken an extensive break. In the morning, I do some cardio. It's just part of my routine, it's like brushing my teeth. I enjoy doing it. It's a stress relief for me, it's getting my day going, it's motivation, it's everything for me. I've always done that so I take care of myself pretty well. I don't want to actually endorse a cream because if I do, I want to get paid for it (laughs)."

Lashley on the strangest place he's wrestled:

"Well, I did the Juggalos [show]...It's their big deal out in the middle of nowhere. I mean, they brought us in, we sat in a hotel room until about midnight, and then we got picked up and taken out to a field out in the middle of nowhere. And it was a crazy little site. But I mean, great show. Great show, awesome fans, but um, it was a little bit out there. It was crazy."

On being a veteran and how important Tribute to the Troops is for him:

"I think for some guys is more important than others. I think some guys understand the importance of doing stuff for the troops. But then some people that have been in the trenches that know the military, like I grew up in a military household. My dad was 26 years, and my sisters, myself, we all went through the military. So it has a little bit of special meaning to me, as well as a few other people that have been there. Like Montez [Ford], one of my partners. He was in the Marines for a while. So just having the opportunity to tell the boys and girls, look we remember you guys, we look out for you guys. And we still have heart for you guys and we do anything for you guys. So it's a really cool event and a good opportunity for us to pack the stadium and just put on a good show for for the troops."

WWE Tribute to the Troops airs this Friday night at 8 pm Eastern on FOX as a special SmackDown episode.

Lashley was asked his thoughts on CM Punk's WWE return:

"I really don't know, to be honest with you. I was actually leaving [WWE in 2008) around the time when Punk was really starting to pick up a little steam. I mean, he was there, but he really didn't do anything at that time. And I know he had a big impact in WWE in his time there. I spoke with some of the guys that know him. I got mixed feelings. Some people were very against it, some people were, you know, whatever. But you know, it's a land of opportunity. So, if he comes back and he helps out the show, and that's the business side of it. I don't really know Punk too personally. When I was fighting, he went to UFC. I put my money on him. So he does owe me a little bit of money (Laughs). Twice. I was like, Oh, you could do it. Come on."

Lashley continued, "For integrity purposes, I understand he has a big name, he's coming back. And he's gonna do some big numbers, but I hope they make him kind of work for some of the stuff. I hope he's not one of the people that 'oh okay, he comes back, gonna win the Rumble, we're gonna do this, we're gonna do that.' I hope they give him an opportunity to kind of prove his loyalty to the business and some of the people in there just to let everybody know, some of the naysayers, some of the people that aren't too happy about him being there. I hope he has his opportunity to work his way back up to the top and not just [be] given everything, because maybe he negotiated a good contract that allowed him to do that."

This interview is exclusive to WrestlingNews.co. If you use these quotes, please include a link back to this page.