Independent wrestler and social media personality “Big Trouble” Ben Bishop recently provided an in-depth look at his unconventional journey in professional wrestling, from his start in 2019 to his recent WWE tryout during SummerSlam week. In an exclusive interview with Emily Mae for WrestlingNews.co, the 6’10” former Division I basketball player explained how feeling burnt out led him to create the online content that ultimately earned him a second look from WWE.
Bishop confirmed he participated in the tryouts, noting it was a much different experience from his first one in 2021, for which he admits he “wasn’t ready.” For this opportunity, he undertook a rigorous two-and-a-half-month preparation period. “I really got myself in the best shape possible. Went to some training schools,” he said, citing Pete Dunne’s Fighting Spirit school, The Foundation, The Dungeon with Natalya and TJ Wilson, and Hatchet Pro Wrestling.
The preparation process took a mental toll as well. Bishop described experiencing “imposter syndrome” and a constant internal debate over whether he was ready or deserving of the opportunity. He credited his wife for being a crucial support system during that time. “Kudos to my wife, you know, just being a rock the whole time, and just kind of, you know, being a sound, sounding board to me… without her, it would have, I would have been a mess,” he said.
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He described the tryout itself as an “amazing experience,” noting that WWE’s new regime was very public about the event and “rolled out the red carpet for us.” He felt positive about his performance and is currently awaiting the results. “I was very happy. I have no regrets. I don’t have like, a woulda, coulda, shoulda,” Bishop stated. “If it’s a yes, amazing, you know, if it’s a no, of course, I’ll be bummed, but I’m not going to be devastated.”
Bishop was direct about why he believes he received this second chance, stating it had little to do with his size. In his introductory promo to the judges, he said, “I got the second tryout… because I made a few silly internet videos.”
That brand was born out of a period of professional frustration in 2023. At a crossroads only four years into his career, Bishop felt he had hit a wall. “I was so burnt out of wrestling… I was just, like, I don’t get this, like, I don’t understand,” he recalled. “I feel like I’m trying to do everything right, and like nothing’s really moving forward for me.”
He decided he had to do something different than just be a tall wrestler, and the idea for his comedic videos was formed. He viewed it as a significant gamble that could have ended his career. “It could all burn down,” he said of the risk. “If I get a bunch of heat for it and I don’t get booked anymore then I just got myself out of wrestling, and that’s what I was going to do anyway. Because I was like, I’m kind of sick of it.”
Bishop’s entry into the wrestling business was just as unplanned. A former basketball player for the University of Vermont, he was a casual fan who, on a whim, decided to attend a local independent show promoted by James Ellsworth in 2019. “I almost didn’t because I was sitting on my couch playing Madden, and I was doing really well,” he said.
At the show, he was noticed for his size and approached by fellow wrestler Gilberg (Duane Gill). “He just says, like, ‘Man, are you a worker?’ And I was like… ‘I have a job’,” Bishop recalled, not knowing the industry lingo. Gilberg then introduced him to Ellsworth, who became his trainer. Bishop began his training the very next day, starting with setting up the ring at a show in Pennsylvania.
His background as a high-level athlete proved beneficial. Bishop noted that playing Division I basketball made him “coachable” and helped him pick up the physical aspects of wrestling, like footwork and taking bumps, more easily than others might.
In developing his character, Bishop made a conscious choice to avoid the stereotypical “big monster” gimmick, citing his favorite wrestler, Kevin Nash, as an inspiration for being a big man with a personality. “I didn’t want everything just to be about like, ‘Oh, I’m just a big guy’… I wanted to be a little bit different,” he said. He believes his success comes from authenticity, describing his on-screen persona as “me turned up to 11.”
This approach has also informed how he handles the inevitable online negativity that comes with a public profile. Bishop stated that he has learned to focus his energy on the positive feedback rather than the negative. “People don’t punch down. They want to… punch up,” he said of his critics. “I tell everybody, every wrestler, no matter who you are… you should be proud of yourself, because it is. It’s a tough thing to get into, and it’s tough to be a part of it, especially these days.”
Click here for the full interview and click here to follow Ben Bishop on all of his social media accounts. Follow Emily Mae on her socials by clicking here.
This interview is exclusive to WrestlingNews.co. If you use these quotes, please include a link back to this page.
