Chris Mordetzky isn’t your typical college-aged male. The 23-year-old has achieved fame and fortune as World Wrestling Entertainment superstar “The Masterpiece” Chris Masters and is a major star on the company’s flagship USA network TV show, “WWE RAW.”

The 6’4,” 275-pound powerhouse is set to team up with his friend Carlito Caribbean Cool to take on the monstrous duo of The Big Show and Kane for the World Tag Team Title at WrestleMania April 2 in Chicago.

The week after WrestleMania, Masters and the entire RAW roster will be in Des Moines on April 7 as a part of the “WrestleMania Revenge” tour. The event marks WWE’s debut at Wells Fargo Arena.

“The Masterpiece” recently spoke to Pulse about his career, being on the road and submitting opponents to his “Master Lock” finishing move.

Cody Saveraid: You and Carlito are facing the Big Show and Kane at WrestleMania for the World Tag Team Titles.

Chris Masters: It’s my first time at WrestleMania, brother, and we’re going to rock it!

CS: I know you and Carlito have had your issues the past couple months. Are you going to be able to co-exist and win the title?

CM: If you remember back a few weeks ago on RAW, I slapped Carlito in the face because he screwed me over a couple times. When it comes to me and Carlito, we have kind of a love/hate relationship, trust me. But if he screws me over again, he’s going to regret it.

CS: I think you guys have as good a shot as any team has over the last few months at winning the gold.

CM: Oh, are you kidding me? The guys are freaks, but we’ll be able use our strengths and cheat our way to victory.

CS: The Big Show is seven feet tall and weighs 500 pounds. Will you be able to bodyslam him?

CM: Geez, of course I can bodyslam The Big Show. Have you seen the size of my pecs? I have 24-inch pythons, brother!

CS: The week after WrestleMania you guys are coming to Des Moines. Have you ever been to Des Moines before?

CM: Umm. let’s see. we travel so much I have trouble remembering. I’ve been with the company for over a year now, so I’m 90 percent sure I have been.

CS: So you don’t have any big memories of Des Moines?

CM: No, no particular memories. Not that I have anything against Des Moines, it’s just that we travel so much. Sometimes you can ask me where I’ve gone the past few weeks, and we go to four different arenas a week, so its hard to remember every city.

CS: With your “Masterpiece” gimmick, you portray a narcissistic bad guy. How did your character come about?

CM: One thing I want to clear up is everyone has the perception that I was a bodybuilder before wrestling, which I actually never was, and I hate that. I originally started working out because I wanted to become a wrestler.

They gave me the “Masterpiece” gimmick when I started with Ohio Valley Wrestling [WWE’s developmental training promotion]. They changed my name, which is actually Chris Mordetzky, to Chris Masters. Masters seems to have a better ring to it.

CS: When did you begin using the “Master Lock” full nelson finishing move? Did you come up with that or did someone else come up with the idea for you?

CM: I started using it when I was brought up to WWE. It’s a very effective submission, even though it’s a basic hold. It’s a great hold for a guy my size to use and they decided I was the right guy because of my size and the length of my arms. It led me to doing the “Master Lock Challenges” and inviting guys out of the crowd to try and break the Master Lock. The challenges showed people “Hey, this guy can mess somebody up.”

CS: Like you said, it is a very basic move. How does it feel to make it a credible finisher in 2006?

CM: The thing is, it is the most basic thing in the world. But the thing is, think about all the stupid moves in wrestling. Any move you can think of, if built the right way, can be a finishing move.

I mean, The Rock had the “People’s Elbow” or even Hulk Hogan dropping a leg. People don’t really think about these things because of how they are presented and have been built up as credible over the years.

Every time I sink in the “Master Lock” now, there is a huge reaction to it and that’s because we built it up by doing the “Master Lock Challenges” on TV.

CS: Do you think anyone will ever be able to break the “Master Lock?”

CM: Well, I hope not. Shoot, it’s all I’ve got!

CS: You’re a college-aged guy. Being on the road wrestling, do you feel that you miss out on the aspects of a normal college-aged guy’s life?

CM: I wouldn’t say that. This job, depending on how you embrace it, it can be pretty wild or you can keep things on the straight. It can rival any kind of college life if you want to do that. I definitely have no regrets.

CS: How often do you get to work out on the road?

CM: It feels like I haven’t been able to work out in forever. With all the traveling that we do, I’ve taken a couple week hiatus from the gym. I was eating Cap’n Crunch for supper last night.

CS: Oh, that’s not a bad thing.

CM: Oh, no, that’s not a bad thing at all. Well, society-wise it’s bad, but Cap’n Crunch is great! My point is that it does get pretty hectic on the road.

CS: WWE has instituted a new drug policy. What are your thoughts on it?

CM: I think there are a lot of guys that are dreading it, but I think it’s a blessing in disguise for our roster. If you look at our roster, I don’t think there is anybody that has a drug problem or anything like that, but then again, you don’t want the company going back in that direction. In the past, it has been about drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll and I’m talking about way in the past, like when we were watching as kids. You want to monitor everybody and keep everybody in control and I think it’s definitely a good step for the company and good for the athletes.