--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came into this game a wrestler and that…" description: "\"I came into this game a wrestler and that was pretty much it. I was tough, I could take a guy down and beat him up. I threw a good overhand right.\" — R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/ryan-bader-6598_game_i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-tha_2738684.jpg" --- # I came into this game a wrestler and that was pretty much… ![“I came into this game a wrestler and that was pretty much it. I was tough, I could take a guy down and beat him up. I threw a good overhand right.” quote by Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/ryan-bader-6598_game_i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-tha_2738684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/ryan-bader-6598_game_i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-tha_2738684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/ryan-bader-6598_game_i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-tha_2738684.jpg) > “I came into this game a wrestler and that was pretty much it. I was tough, I could take a guy down and beat him up. I threw a good overhand right.” [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An athlete’s background defines their fighting style and confidence. **In simple terms:** Background shapes fighting approach. Key Takeaway Leverage your roots in competition. Themes sports confidence identity Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - combat sports - training camps - team building - mental preparation Key Concepts martial arts self‑belief Questions to Reflect On - What other skills complement your wrestling base? - How can you adapt to new fighting styles? A Different Perspective Relying solely on background may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Wrestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestler/) ## Related quotes > [“from what we know of Paul, he’s a pretty tough guy. A man’s man, perhaps. But he is moved”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/from-what-we-know-of-paul-he-s-a-pretty-tough-guy-a-man-s-man-perhaps/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [I'm a pretty tough guy, you know. I'm a pretty hard man. I've got a lot of compassion, but I don't waste time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-m-a-pretty-tough-guy-you-know-i-m-a-pretty-hard-man-i-ve-got-a-lot/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I am a pretty tough guy. I'm an old hockey player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-flaherty/i-am-a-pretty-tough-guy-i-m-an-old-hockey-player/) [Jim Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-flaherty/) > [I mean, nobody's ever thrown a big rock at me or my friends, but we're all pretty tough guys and could probably handle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-mean-nobody-s-ever-thrown-a-big-rock-at-me-or-my-friends-but-we-re/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Chris Weidman is a tough guy; he's well rounded. He's known for being a wrestler. He's very good on the ground. He can knock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyoto-machida/chris-weidman-is-a-tough-guy-he-s-well-rounded-he-s-known-for-being-a/) [Lyoto Machida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyoto-machida/) > [I just stopped liking basketball. And then you dribbling down the court and having the owner like cuss at you and call you an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/i-just-stopped-liking-basketball-and-then-you-dribbling-down-the/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [I came into the game under the guys,' she recalled. 'There was Trick Daddy and Rick Ross. I came in thinking like a guy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina/i-came-into-the-game-under-the-guys-she-recalled-there-was-trick/) [Trina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina/) > [When I came in the game, it was just me making beats in Inglewood at YG's house; it wasn't nobody to help me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustard/when-i-came-in-the-game-it-was-just-me-making-beats-in-inglewood-at/) Mustard > [I never came out of a game unless I was truly hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/i-never-came-out-of-a-game-unless-i-was-truly-hurt/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [Shout out to my boy Guwop. We came in the game, and we learned from the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quavo/shout-out-to-my-boy-guwop-we-came-in-the-game-and-we-learned-from-the/) [Quavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quavo/) > [I feel like when I came in the game, I was more focused on like, 'yo how many times can I get on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-will-made-it/i-feel-like-when-i-came-in-the-game-i-was-more-focused-on-like-yo-how/) [Mike Will Made It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-will-made-it/) > [I came into the game showing you that I'm no angel. I'm not perfect and this is why I tell people off the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-alsina/i-came-into-the-game-showing-you-that-i-m-no-angel-i-m-not-perfect/) [August Alsina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-alsina/) > [I came in the game in the era when Eve came in the game. We kind of came in together. I think she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina/i-came-in-the-game-in-the-era-when-eve-came-in-the-game-we-kind-of/) [Trina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina/) > [And wouldn't change by the change, or the game, or the fame, when he came, in the game, he made his own name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/and-wouldn-t-change-by-the-change-or-the-game-or-the-fame-when-he/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [A lot of people think I just came to this game to make the money and go home. I love this game. I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-cano/a-lot-of-people-think-i-just-came-to-this-game-to-make-the-money-and/) [Robinson Cano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-cano/) ## More by Ryan Bader > [I felt like I deserved a title shot a few times in the UFC and was kind of passed over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-felt-like-i-deserved-a-title-shot-a-few-times-in-the-ufc-and-was/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [Coming over to Bellator, it was a great decision. I came over and had the opportunity to fight for the light heavyweight title right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/coming-over-to-bellator-it-was-a-great-decision-i-came-over-and-had/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [We get stereotyped as MMA fighters as being barbarian and trying to hurt people. A lot of us are college-educated, like myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/we-get-stereotyped-as-mma-fighters-as-being-barbarian-and-trying-to/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [The men and women in the United States Military allow me to live my dream, and I want to continue to do everything I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/the-men-and-women-in-the-united-states-military-allow-me-to-live-my/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I got to a point I was so focused on getting a title shot all the thought in my head was to go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-got-to-a-point-i-was-so-focused-on-getting-a-title-shot-all-the/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [Winning is everything to us, but at the same time you've gotta have exciting fights and keep pushing it in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/winning-is-everything-to-us-but-at-the-same-time-you-ve-gotta-have/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [The lowest I've ever made - and this was on the prelims - was 35 grand on a fight. I've made upwards of 80…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/the-lowest-i-ve-ever-made-and-this-was-on-the-prelims-was-35-grand-on/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I treat it just like a workday. When I'm training, I'm training. When I'm not, I'm not. And when I'm not in fight prep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-treat-it-just-like-a-workday-when-i-m-training-i-m-training-when-i/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I've got to work on my defense and my movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-ve-got-to-work-on-my-defense-and-my-movement/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I'm not in the UFC to be mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-m-not-in-the-ufc-to-be-mediocre/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [My whole style of wrestling is I like to use the truck double. It's basically a tackle for MMA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/my-whole-style-of-wrestling-is-i-like-to-use-the-truck-double-it-s/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [Some people say I miss a lot of shots, but I'm not missing them, that's how I set them up. I'm not in danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/some-people-say-i-miss-a-lot-of-shots-but-i-m-not-missing-them-that-s/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I had a great contract coming out of the UFC into Bellator, but it was that second contract that made me really, really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-had-a-great-contract-coming-out-of-the-ufc-into-bellator-but-it-was/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I believe I'm one fight away at all times from getting a title shot and being up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-believe-i-m-one-fight-away-at-all-times-from-getting-a-title-shot/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I don't put Jardine on a pedestal or worry about any kind of step-up. He's just another fighter standing in the way of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-don-t-put-jardine-on-a-pedestal-or-worry-about-any-kind-of-step-up/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) [Explore all 98 Ryan Bader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) ## More Game quotes > [Raised by game where niggas ain't phased by fame. Come to the crib, get banged, they take your chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/raised-by-game-where-niggas-ain-t-phased-by-fame-come-to-the-crib-get/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Often in my game as an actor, someone else pays for your travel and there's nothing like being able to lie flat on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/often-in-my-game-as-an-actor-someone-else-pays-for-your-travel-and/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [With the Capital One Bowl, the average fan might think whoopty do. But if you are a team member, you win that game and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/with-the-capital-one-bowl-the-average-fan-might-think-whoopty-do-but/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [I remember throughout middle school and high school how excited my mom, sister and I would be when a UNC game was on TV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-remember-throughout-middle-school-and-high-school-how-excited-my/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Obviously, I want to win, but at the same time, at the end of the day, it's a game and that's what I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/obviously-i-want-to-win-but-at-the-same-time-at-the-end-of-the-day-it/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) > [It's more than a game. It's an institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hughes/it-s-more-than-a-game-it-s-an-institution/) [Thomas Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hughes/) > [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) [Browse all 13,309 Game quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came into this game a wrestler and that was pretty much it. I was tough, I could take a guy down and beat him up. I threw a good overhand right.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Bader" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-that-was-pretty-much-it-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Game" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-that-was-pretty-much-it-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/ryan-bader-6598_game_i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-tha_2738684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/ryan-bader-6598_game_i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-tha_2738684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/ryan-bader-6598_game_i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-tha_2738684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I came into this game a wrestler and that was pretty much it. I was tough, I could take a guy down and beat…” — Ryan Bader", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ryan Bader", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I came into this game a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-that-was-pretty-much-it-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-came-into-this-game-a-wrestler-and-that-was-pretty-much-it-i-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```