Eric Young Opens Up About Scrapped Bray Wyatt Faction Plans: A Candid Reflection on Choices and Opportunities
In a latest candid interview with Chris Van Vliet, Eric Young, the previous WWE megastar, opened up about an intriguing opportunity that slipped via his fingers—a proposed faction led with the aid of the overdue Bray Wyatt. Young’s revelations paint a vibrant image of what might have been within the wrestling international, underscoring the complexities of personal values and professional objectives.
Young’s adventure with WWE started in 2016, marking a massive bankruptcy in his wrestling profession. He spent four years with the organisation earlier than being released in April 2020, amidst a wave of layoffs brought on by using the COVID-19 pandemic. After two years again in TNA, Young made a return to WWE in November 2022, only to discover himself sidelined another time as Vince McMahon again to strength. This tumultuous backdrop set the degree for Young’s selection to request his release just months later, in April 2023.
During his conversation with Van Vliet, Young revealed the circumstances surrounding the scrapped faction. “So I was employed by them for I think eight or nine months. [People don’t know this because you weren’t on TV.] Yeah, some people know, but I think the majority of the world does not understand, because I would never show up at TV. The truth is, I never left my house,” he shared. Young’s excitement was palpable as he described the proposed gimmick that would have seen him team up with Wyatt and another wrestler, Bo Dallas. Tragically, after Wyatt’s untimely passing, the dreams of this faction were dashed, leaving Young with a profound sense of loss.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Young lamented, “Then that didn’t happen, and one of them was Bray, and then Bray passed away, which sucked, and is unfair in every way possible.” The emotional weight of this revelation resonated, emphasizing the personal connections that exist behind the scenes in professional wrestling.
When plans for the faction fell through, Young initially contemplated pitching new ideas. However, the return of McMahon—a figure he had previously expressed discomfort working with—cast a shadow over his enthusiasm. He remarked, “So then it’s like, well pitch some new ideas, and then the person I worked for before forced his way back in. I just kind of said, there’s a lot of reasons why I didn’t want to work there at that point, but the number one reason was I just don’t want to work for a person like that.” This sentiment highlights Young’s commitment to his personal and moral values, even in the face of lucrative opportunities.
The idea of joining a faction with Wyatt and Dallas had ignited Young’s creative spark. “Yeah, I think the original idea was me, Bray, and Bo as a trio. That’s what was told to me from Hunter, basically. So obviously I’m gonna jump at that,” he explained. Young’s excitement was evident as he envisioned the potential of working alongside two close friends on a major platform. He noted, “It would have been creatively just an unbelievable opportunity working there, working on the main roster, wrestling all over the world with two guys that I get along with well.”
Yet, with the shifting landscape of WWE and the challenges that arose, Young made a pivotal choice. “I don’t regret it, not at all. I think it’s the coolest. It’s not lost on me that I was able to walk away from money like that, stability like that because of what I believe, beliefs of the kind of human being that I am,” he stated. This moment of reflection underscores the emotional intensity of his journey, emphasizing his resolve to remain true to himself amid industry turmoil.
Young’s story resonates deeply inside the wrestling community, reminding fanatics and peers alike of the personal sacrifices regularly made in pursuit of authenticity. Following his release from WWE, he reiterated his refusal to compromise his identification for expert gain, pronouncing, “I just knew I wasn’t going to work for the WWE anymore.”
In a global in which the glitz and glamour of wrestling can occasionally overshadow private values, Young’s narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of integrity. His journey—marked via each loss and newfound clarity—will undoubtedly go away a lasting impact on wrestling fanatics and aspiring abilities alike.
H/T to Inside The Ropes for the above transcription.
