Curt Hawkins photo courtesy WWE

Curt Hawkins and Trent Barreta have been relatively successful as World Wrestling Entertainment tag team competitors, even co-holding the Florida Tag Team Championship in WWE developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling a couple of years ago. More recently, however, the two SmackDown superstars have been battling each other in singles competition on WWE’s Thursday night show Superstars. Just a few days after Barreta picked up a victory over Hawkins on last week’s edition of Superstars (and only a few hours before the two would take part in a pre-WrestleMania lumberjack match between Sheamus and Daniel Bryan that eventually turned into a battle royal won by the Great Khali), Hawkins and Barreta put their differences aside long enough to sign autographs at WrestleMania Axxess. They also took a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about their post-WrestleMania future.

Curt Hawkins, you got your start with WWE in the Atlanta area at Deep South Wrestling. What’s it like being back in Atlanta for WrestleMania?

Hawkins: It’s kind of bizarre. It’s like full circle. I’ve come through before and I used to live here, but to be here for a week is cool. It’s even more bizarre that Bill DeMott, who was the trainer and head coach for Deep South, just recently came back on board for Tough Enough. So it’s really cool.

Barreta takes down Hawkins. (Photo courtesy WWE)

You were in Deep South Wrestling with a lot of people, including current WWE Champion the Miz, who are now on the WWE roster. How does it feel to be part of that group of people who have all gone on to bigger things with WWE?

Hawkins: It’s a shame that Deep South folded. I don’t think it gets the credit it deserves. A lot of stars were produced out of there. Luke Gallows was a big part of that and there’s tons of other guys. I think just because it was only around for two years that it doesn’t get the credit it deserves, because it produced a lot of stars and began a lot of careers.

At the WrestleMania Art Auction, we saw a piece of art that you did of Shawn Michaels flying through the air. He’s obviously had a big influence on you. What are your thoughts on him going into the Hall of Fame?

Hawkins: The reason Trent and I both are here is because we grew up watching him and he absolutely captivated us. He’s the reason we both became wrestlers, he was the inspiration. He’s my favorite wrestler of all time and it meant a lot for me to be there to see him get inducted. I made sure I was going to be there and I had goosebumps.

Barreta: I think he’s the best of all time. Nobody even comes close to him. Pretty much everything Curt said I agree with and to be there was unreal.

Hawkins: We used to live together in Tampa when were training in FCW and we pretty much watched his matches all day long.

Barreta: Even now, when I watch matches I pretty much only watch old Shawn stuff. He’s always good.

Trent Barreta photo courtesy WWE

Neither of you is officially involved in WrestleMania. What are you plans post-WrestleMania?

Hawkins: We’ve been busting our butts on Superstars trying to get noticed. So we’re just trying to get things moving and maybe not just do them on Superstars anymore. I think people are starting to notice and see how hard we’re working.

Interview by Jonathan Williams and Jason Von Stein