Recently-released WWE wrestler Derrick Bateman (Michael Hutter) talked about how close he was to debuting "The USA Guy" character on WWE television in an exclusive interview with PWTorch this week.

"I was approved to do things like put the videos on the Internet. There were a couple times where it seemed like it was about to debut, kind of out-of-the-blue on Raw. But, that never happened," Bateman told PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill on the June 26 PWTorch Livecast.

Bateman, who returns to the independents for Absolute Intense Wrestling on Sunday night, noted that a knee injury he suffered in October 2012 was the end of the line for "The USA Guy" plans.

"I then blew out of my knee in a match with Antonio Cesaro on a Saturday Morning Slam. From there, that pretty much ruined my life because we never saw 'The USA Guy' after that," Bateman said humorously. "You know, I got hurt and things happen when you get hurt. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't get hurt."

Bateman revealed that WWE top star John Cena actually helped him come up with the idea, including the 1940s-style promotional videos. He said there was even a chance to bring back the vignettes when he recovered from the knee injury, but he was sent back to NXT Developmental, where he was eventually released in May.

"John Cena helped me come up with the idea and he helped me get it as far as it got," Bateman said. "But, it was an idea that I was running with, and it seemed like it was going to happen. There were a couple of times where I was almost to debut magically on Raw. Unfortunately, I got hurt, and once you're hurt, you're out-of-sight, out-of-mind; things change."

Bateman concluded, with humor: "Even coming back, there was still a way to work it in, but, alas, it didn't work out for me. Not a big deal; I'll just trademark the name and make a billion dollars off it in Japan."

[ AUDIO: Bateman's entire 60-minute interview can be heard HERE at PWTorchLivecast.com ]

[Graphic (c) WWE]

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