Former WWE star Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins) is the guest this week on David Penzer’s “Sitting Ringside” podcast.
Myers was on to talk about how his wrestling career began, his relationship with Matt Cardona (Zack Ryder), teaming up with Edge during his early WWE run, winning the WWE World Tag Team Championship with Cardona, being blindsided by his WWE release, joining Impact Wrestling and more.
Here are some highlights:
Brian Myers talked about the creative process of getting an idea approved: “It’s next to impossible. There are so many cooks in the kitchen and it is so hard to get something done. You need to establish a relationship with Vince where you can go in there and ask him yourself because it’s going to take 12 other people to facilitate and get the message to him. It’s such a waste of everyone’s time. I saw an interview with Eric Young where he said it’s a flawed system and I think that’s the best way to describe it.”
Myers told us the story of how he became a producer in WWE: “I got a hernia in late 2018. I had hernia surgery and I thought I was going to be out for like 2 months and I was looking forward to some time off. Mark Carano called me back and said Vince saw my name on the injury report and he would like me to be a producer while I’m out and learn that side of the business. It’s not an opportunity you can’t say no to. I wound up working more hurt than I would have as an active talent. I went to every single TV, RAW, SmackDown and PPVs in a suit and all the production meetings. What that did was I was finally able to establish a relationship with Vince. I was very comfortable speaking to him. He was just Vince to me who I deal with on a regular basis now instead of a quarterly or yearly pitch to him like people do with him.”
Myers discussed the situation of WWE offering their talent large amounts of money not to go to AEW: “Yea, it was astronomical. Once someone said no, then it went up for everybody. It kept happening. It wound up being what it was, which was too good to be true. It was more money than I ever imagined making in this business. The big thing for them was the years. Everybody’s contract was 5 years. The boys were calling it the “Please don’t go to AEW contract.” I was thinking I’m very comfortable here. I enjoy it. I’m set up for post in ring stuff. I’m more than fine with signing this.”
Myers was asked if he was surprised he was let go during the pandemic: “I was shocked. I think one of the things that messed my head up was literally the day before in one of my group chats we were talking about it. One of my friends, and I don’t need to say his name, but he’s very involved, said that will never happen. They will never let anyone go during a pandemic because that would look so bad. Fast forward to now, 90+ days later, and they are the only wrestling company letting people go during this pandemic. It’s still baffling to me. I’ve moved on. I don’t care anymore and I’m excited to be with Impact.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Sitting Ringside with David Penzer with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription
