Former WWE Nexus member Darren Young who made history by becoming the first openly gay WWE Superstar to be signed with the promotion. Young is no longer with the WWE, and he recently said in an interview with The Two Man Power Trip Wrestling Podcast that he had a feeling that nothing last forever, and he is currently working on independent scene.
Darren Young said:
“I had just done media with them. I was at a basketball game and the next day on a Sunday I had got called up by (Mark) Carrano and he gave me my release. I thought it was surprising but I had already made the move from Tampa to L.A. in August and I had got released at the end of October so I kind of knew and I had a feeling in my gut that I know nothing lasts forever. My fight is much bigger than in the ring and that is why I continue out here in California and all over the world to do my advocacy work.”
Darren Young on life after WWE:
“My story is very different. You can’t forget about me when it comes to Darren Young and WWE because I was the first openly gay WWE Superstar to be signed with the company.
So you can’t take away that story and you can’t take away the difference that I have made in a lot of people’s lives since coming out. But the Independents is where I started.
When I started in 2002 (and a lot of people don’t know I started in 2002) I grinded on the Independents.
I was scooping ice cream during the week and wrestling on the weekends and I did this because when the try-outs would come up I needed to make the try-outs.
When the WWE was in the Northeast and they needed an extra, I had to be there. But I did the Independents from 2002 to 2009 consistently and in 2009 I did a paid try-out with WWE and nowadays you don’t have to do a paid try-out you get invited to the Performance Center in Orlando and you try-out.
In 2009 I spent $2,000 of my scholarship money and it was like my last resort and out of 75 guys and girls from all over the world I beat them all out. I was like a maniac in the four day try-out we had and I earned my contract with WWE on May 4th, 2009.
I’m not that type of guy that went from the football field to the ring. Again, I grinded on the Independents and ultimately I got signed in 2009.”
Darren Young on Vince McMahon not putting Intercontinental Championship on him:
“I’d be lying to you if I said it doesn’t bother me because it was a storyline that I created and I knew it would work.
The fans did get behind it and I’d look at Vince and be like this has really taken off and I am so happy and I’m so energetic about it.
But again, I’d be lying to you if I said it didn’t bother me because it did bother me.
To win a singles title and be by myself on my own terms would have been amazing. It is what it is and you’ve got to just keep moving forward.”
You can listen to the entire interview embedded in the audio below.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter @BodySlamDotNet and on Instagram @BodySlamDotNet
Also check us out on Facebook and give us a like and share by clicking HERE.
