r/IAmA • u/[deleted] • Feb 14 '17
Other Last night I was on WWE Raw with Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens. I am, Friendship the Magician! AMaA
[deleted]
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Feb 14 '17
You got to do two tricks which I get were supposed to be below par ... but if you had been able to do two tricks that really showcased your ability, your best two tricks, what would they be and why?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
For this event if I wanted to impress I would have done an escape trick as it fits the venue. I do a great comedy zip tie escape. I also do a multiple phase card trick that is face paced and involves a card traveling from one place to another over and over again ending with a vanish of the deck from their hands. I did it for the writers backstage, they flipped out!!! Always a crowd favorite.
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u/WatchOwl Feb 15 '17
I'm not even a Wrestling fan, but it would be cool as hell to see a magician themed wrestler.
A guy that's not strong or imposing but wins by daringly escaping from chokeholds and by using different magical props and making them disappear when the ref looks.
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u/kirisatha96 Feb 14 '17
How did WWE come to contact you? Who reached out? What was the conversation?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
WWE went through an agent that I work with from time to time. A little while before the event I talked with a producer and we went over some ideas for what I would do and how things would run.
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u/krankkinder12 Feb 14 '17
Lies. We all heard that he found you on The List of Craig
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u/G_Dubb Feb 14 '17
Did you know exactly what was going to happen beforehand? i.e - did you rehearse the segment with them or anything of the sort?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Chris and I talked quite a bit, went through my blocking, etc. He's the one who came up with the green scarf idea. We didn't rehearse the whole thing, I just had a vague outline.
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u/brenobah Feb 14 '17
Why was the scarf green?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Those were the only kind I had, they go with my color scheme! And they stood out better for the camera.
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u/Anonim97 Feb 14 '17
Aside from Chris and Kevin (it still hurts :( ) did You meet anyone else backstage?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
I saw pretty much everyone and said hi. Everyone (including myself) was very focused on doing a good show so there wasn't much time for anything besides a hello.
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Feb 15 '17
Don't lie to these people... As someone who worked backstage for your exact event. What you aren't telling them is how big these guys actually are, or how rehearsed this show actually is. It has a stage manager that sits and calls the show, the moves, everything is on a script, I have a script of the show this guy is in, was on the floor when they left.
No mention of the gorgeous girls backstage, holy fuck, they walk by and you best believe they look exactly like they do on TV, just stunning.
Offstage, their goal is to get back to their truck which generally is quite far away from their vom exits, so they walk around half naked and local crew doesn't speak to them, nor does running crew, most all the workers are screaming profanities at each other, everyone is a cock sucker.
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u/Vr37 Feb 14 '17
Are you a wrestling fan? How was the experience of performing for thousands of people?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
I'm not a regular watcher but do enjoy it. It was a very fun experience. It was a great audience, their reaction at my making the list made the whole show that much more fun for me.
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u/advice543210 Feb 14 '17
How could you not help The G.O.A.T in his greatest moment of need!?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Dude! I weigh like 140 pounds. That could've been my spouse and I would've sat and watched.
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u/d13films Feb 14 '17
Any man with two hands and the ability to distract Kevin Owens with balloon animals has a fighting chance!
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u/ElmerJ Feb 14 '17
Here comes No Chin Ellsworth......and OH MY GOD IT'S JBL WITH A CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL OUTTA NOWHERE....HE JUST TORE ELLSWORTH IN HALF!!!!
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u/jd026 Feb 15 '17
I could get behind this being JBL's new gimmick. Just every time Ellsworth shows up BAM! clothesline from hell.
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u/Rick-powerfu Feb 15 '17
Yes he is like the worms from men in black.
Can tear into two halves, still have no chin between the two halves.
And drink lots of java
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u/danjr321 Feb 15 '17
Now I want a wrestler with a magician gimmick that wins all his matches with misdirection and then a roll up.
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u/Uhavefailedthiscity1 Feb 14 '17
How does it feel knowing you were part in one of the best wrestling segments of the last 10 years?
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u/neilson241 Feb 14 '17 edited Feb 14 '17
You mentioned that you were kind of a casual fan of the WWE--did you have an understanding going into the show how important that segment would be for their overall storyline? The betrayal was probably one of the biggest moments on a Raw in the past few years.
Also, did the WWE make you keep quiet about anything until the show?
(thanks for entertaining us and doing the AMA!)
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
I knew it was big, but not how big. I was also not made aware of every detail unless it concerned me. They didn't ask too much of me but I know how to handle TV situations.
You're Welcome!
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u/AntiAbleism Feb 14 '17
How's the WWE backstage area? Any secrets?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Great catering! They went all out. Other than that, pretty typical. Hard working crew, press team, and performers getting ready to do their best for you.
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u/JayCFree324 Feb 14 '17
What food was being served at the catering line that evening?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Everything. Chicken, ribs, fish & chips, sandwiches, desserts. Not like a high quality all you can eat buffet. But one you could pay 15 or 20 bucks for and feel really satisfied.
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u/gibbonfrost Feb 14 '17
This morning i was thinking "i wonder how wwe catering is like." This is great thanks.
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u/shinelamont Feb 14 '17
How were you able to pull off taking out all that green string from your mouth? And how do you pull off that trick with the flaming rose?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Years of practice!
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u/fazzle1 Feb 14 '17
Years of practice? I hear a nine year old can do that rose trick!
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Feb 15 '17
The flaming rose is visible in the video because the cameraman was shooting from the side. He palms the top of the rose in his hand from inside a jacket pocket. He then grabs the flammable paper and lighter, the paper incinerates almost instantly and he pulls the rose out of his jacket nigh simultaneously.
It was really good execution, but unlucky camera placement to break the illusion.
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u/mttdesignz Feb 15 '17
You can see him pulling the rose off of his jacket and keeping the hand with the piece of paper close to the jacket and then sliding the rose out while launching the paper.
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u/1MoreMatch Feb 14 '17
How does it feel to be the LAST person on the infamous List of Jericho?
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u/HoneyboyWilson Feb 14 '17
I JUST now realized the double entendre of "Friendship" being last on the list before KO went apeshit. Nice writing.
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u/YoungCubSaysWoof Feb 15 '17
That is brilliant and makes me also incredibly sad. =/
As they say, "When wrestling is good, it's fucking GREAT."
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
That hasn't occluded to me until right now. All I have to say is Whoa!
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u/TheTrueFlexKavana Feb 14 '17
That's assuming that Kevin Owens is now not the last name on the list.
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u/Ror1997 Feb 14 '17
Do you know what happens to people who take up the last spot on the list before I get a chance to make the list? Hmm? Hmmmmmm?
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u/jheri Feb 14 '17
There's nothing that indicates Jericho won't continue the list tho
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u/MC_Carty Feb 14 '17
I think I know at least 1 more name to go on there. Probably 2.
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u/jrr6415sun Feb 14 '17
Unless Jericho is taking a break there's no way he will kill the list.
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u/F4vreF4n Feb 14 '17
He's taking a break to tour with his band after Wrestlemania; however, he did sign a contract extension so he will be back at some point.
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u/Vinnyboiler Feb 14 '17
Is Friendship really your name or did WWE just wanted to sneakily put friendship on the list of Jericho?
Or you wasn't, will you go around as Friendship now?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
It was Chris's idea. We both really liked it. I perform mostly for adults so "Friendship the Magician" would be a hard sell for corporate gigs and Weddings.
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u/SmaMan788 Feb 14 '17
I perform mostly for adults
So just call yourself "Friendship the Magician... with Benefits." ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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u/TheTrueFlexKavana Feb 14 '17
Now that Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens have divorced, who gets custody of Friendship the Magician?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Definitely Chris. I could make him scarves for days!
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u/copilot0910 Feb 14 '17
Will you be Chris's new best friend? It hurts to see him so betrayed. Maybe even a small show to get him out of his depression
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Feb 14 '17
DID YOU KNOW??????
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
About what in particular? I definitely didn't know how things would end. In regards to the list, I was really hoping!
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u/jrr6415sun Feb 14 '17
You didn't even know you would be on this list? What did they tell you to do? Just a magic trick and roll with it?
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u/signa91 Feb 15 '17
It's a joke. He was referencing how Jericho asks people if they know what happens when they do/are something he doesn't like.
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u/swathquack Feb 14 '17
How does it feel to have taken part in one of the most, no, THE most heartbreaking moment in professional wrestling?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
It's a tough burden to bear.
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u/swathquack Feb 14 '17
A reply from the last man on the List of Jericho. Hell a reply from someone I saw lived on a well-known wrestling program less than 24 hours ago. Pretty trippy, but you did phenomenally man, great job.
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u/stonecoldbobsaget Feb 14 '17
Were you worried that you were going to get a boner in front of so many people?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
No, but now I'm going to be next time.
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u/iTackleFatKids Feb 14 '17
Friendship the magician confirmed for wrestlemania appearance
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Feb 14 '17
On a personal level, what are some of your favorite films?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
I'm a comedy buff. My Cousin Vinny remains the only movie I can watch as many times as I have and still be laugh out loud funny. I also really love Ferris Beuller's day off. As for modern comedies, Paul with Seth Rogen and Simon Pegg is high up there. I also really love comic book movies as well as comic books in general.
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u/RadTadSimpson Feb 15 '17
I still call children "yoots" because of My Cousin Vinnie.
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u/jeremyollar Feb 14 '17
How does it feel to be on the list?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Very Scary, luckily it's a long list. I'm also really honored.
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u/123John3 Feb 14 '17
Are you able to make Roman Reigns disappear?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
I've heard of a guy. You meet him in the back alley with $1000 cash in a paper bag. They say he can make anyone disappear!
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u/Damadawf Feb 15 '17
In the same way that WWE makes him wear that vest in order to make his Samoan gut 'disappear'? :P
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u/LemonStains Feb 14 '17
Do have any actual experience in the magic department or were you just hired as an actor?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
I am a professional magician, have been all my life.
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u/an0nemusThrowMe Feb 14 '17
Really? I shouldn't be surprised..you did make a beautiful friendship disappear.
bastard :(
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u/KingKongCoronado Feb 14 '17
What's a better magician movie, The Prestige or Now You See Me? And why?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
The Prestige. There's a message in it that I like about the importance of taking character seriously. My character is not serious but I do take it seriously. It's also just got way better actors and a better story. I do really love Now you See Me though. I had a gig once for the premiere of the first film with three other magicians in which we played "The real Four Horsemen" and I played the Jesse Eisenberg Character. We did magic for the theater before the film. It was a lot of fun.
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u/JohnnyLuchador Feb 14 '17
The Prestige is great...but the Illusionist in my opinion was better.
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u/Capncorky Feb 14 '17
The crowd boo'ed your first trick(although they cheered another part of your act). Considering that you're in Las Vegas, were you expecting to get boo'ed for what Las Vegas probably considers a standard trick? What was it like to get boo'ed, and then cheered for?
I'm sorry that you made the list, and that Friendship is the last name on the list. I hope Jericho didn't cancel the check he wrote you. :(
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
It was an interesting response. Part of the whole bit was that it was underwhelming, I think the whole environment supported that and I loved it actually. The crowd gave me lots of cheers and high fives on my way out. I really liked them.
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u/Capncorky Feb 14 '17
I had the feeling that they knew a Las Vegas crowd would boo an underwhelming trick, so thanks for confirming that! I like that the crowd actually appreciated your role, I know I did!
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u/cookswagchef Feb 14 '17
If it makes you feel any better WWE edited the clip and added in a pretty good pop of cheers for your trick.
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Feb 14 '17
Would you like to do a skit with Kurt Angle once he returns to WWE?
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u/jameskelsey Feb 14 '17
Sure, WWE as a whole was great to work with. I'd love to work with anyone they wanted me to work with.
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u/Marth5454 Feb 14 '17
Do you have any favorite wrestlers in particular?
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u/SkatzFanOff Feb 14 '17
Do you think Kevin Owens' 9 year old son could do the flash paper to flower trick, even though it involves fire, and kids shouldn't play with fire?
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u/DailyMash Feb 14 '17
I heard Jericho say something like 'what kinda magician doesn't make an elephant disappears in Las Vegas!' Can you make an elephant disappear? & If so do you think performing it would have kept the friendship together?
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u/JustASweetGirl Feb 14 '17
Did Jericho hold his "it" pose throughout the entire commercial break?
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u/who1sJosh Feb 14 '17
Did you cry when Jericho realized that his name was on the List of KO?
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Feb 14 '17
Are you a wrestling fan? What did you think about the segment as a whole?
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u/HeelJericho Feb 14 '17
Why didn't you stop him from attacking jericho!? You could have saved him damnit!!
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u/sternlook Feb 14 '17
Who are your magic/illusionist influences? What got you into magic?
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u/TwinBlady Feb 14 '17
Did you interact with Chris or Kevin or any other wrestlers backstage? If you did, how was your experience of interacting with them?