Joe Coffey, the former NXT UK Tag Team Champion and leader of Gallus, has revealed that he is currently unable to wrestle anywhere in the world due to significant visa complications that arose immediately following his WWE release. Speaking on the “Muscle Memory” YouTube channel, the 16-year veteran detailed the frustrating “waiting game” that has him “landlocked” in the United States, unable to work or travel internationally, and reflected on the incredible highs and personal disappointments of his WWE tenure. Watch the interview below and scroll down to read more.
Coffey explained that as an international talent from Scotland, his legal ability to work in the U.S. was directly tied to his WWE contract. With the termination of that contract, his work visa became invalid, placing him in a state of professional limbo while he navigates the complex and costly process of securing a new one. “Just to cut a long story short, with the release and the contract, our visa goes with that,” Coffey said. “Unfortunately, just now, we have to be landlocked in the US, so it means we can’t work in the US or get back to Europe or Japan or anything.”
The situation has been particularly frustrating for the seasoned performer, who is eager to get back to his craft. “It’s a bit frustrating because I’ve been wrestling for a long, long time, coming up for 16 years now, is what I know,” he shared. “And I’m just itching to get my boots on, tie the laces up, and just get back to work and get back in the ring. So hopefully it won’t be too long.”
This current period of inactivity stands in stark contrast to the pinnacle of his recent WWE experience. Just months before his release, Coffey and his Gallus stablemates were hand-picked for the high-profile task of helping train Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for his in-ring return at WrestleMania 40. He recalled getting an unexpected text from NXT’s Matt Bloom: “‘Hey guys, pack your bags. You’re going to train The Rock for WrestleMania.'” The training took place at a secret warehouse location in Los Angeles, an experience Coffey described as surreal. “It felt like a Marvel Avengers meeting,” he said.
He spoke highly of the collaborative environment and The Rock’s immense generosity during the training sessions. “To be fair, it was Bobby Roode and even Rock… ‘So if you guys get any ideas, feel free to put them out there.’ And we did. And you know, parts of them got used in the match,” he recalled. Upon their return to Orlando, they were greeted with “three and a half grands worth of gear” from The Rock’s Project Rock apparel line and “boxes, boxes of Teremana” tequila. “He’s the man. He’s the absolute man,” Coffey stated.
Despite being trusted with such a significant role, Coffey expressed a sense of professional disappointment with his overall run in NXT. He feels he was never able to showcase his full range of abilities, particularly on the microphone. “Me, personally, I feel as if I didn’t even get to scratch the surface, really, of what I can do for the NXT,” he admitted. “If you give me a microphone, I’d get very sarcastic eyes and a tongue that will slash you like a long knife. And I can cut for almost with the best of them.”
His desire to prove himself on a big stage has been a long-standing motivator. Before ever signing with WWE, Coffey had a career-defining match against Kurt Angle for Scotland’s ICW promotion in front of nearly 7,000 fans. “He couldn’t have been any better to wrestle and work with, I cannot say enough about Kurt Angle,” Coffey said. “And he really helped… my career, take it to take it to another… level.”
Coffey also revealed that his path to WWE involved making a crucial choice between two major UK wrestling ventures. He was involved in the pilot for ITV’s “World of Sport” revival but felt it was too much like a “game show.” As ITV was preparing to film a full series, WWE announced a second UK tournament. After confirming with ITV that they believed he had already signed with WWE, Coffey received a last-minute text from WWE official Jim Smallman telling him to wait. “So I ended up taking the WWE route because that is what I was, you know, at the time, and want to work for that as well,” he explained.
Now, as he waits for his visa issues to be resolved, Coffey is looking forward to returning to the global wrestling scene that he was a part of before his WWE signing. “I just want to get back to working all around the world,” he affirmed.
“I just want to get back to working everywhere and like to any promoter out there, if you have me in your show, you’ll get everything. You’ll get every ounce of energy. You’ll get promos, you’ll get vlogs. You’ll get absolutely everything, because I prided myself on being a proper professional wrestler,” he concluded. “With me, you’ll get the full package.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Muscle Man Malcolm with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
