Eric Young shocked many wrestling fans when he decided to walk away from WWE in 2023, despite having signed a deal with the company in late 2022.
After being written off TNA TV that year, speculation was high that Young would be returning to WWE, but he never made it to TV. Instead, he requested his release following Vince McMahon’s controversial return to the promotion, leading Young to make his comeback to TNA in July 2023.
In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Young opened up about the reasons behind his decision to leave WWE, making it clear that his personal values played a pivotal role in that choice. Young explained that although he was excited about a proposed storyline involving Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas, his desire not to work for someone like McMahon outweighed the opportunity.
“I don’t work to want for a person like that,” Young said, adding that while he had an idea of who McMahon was even before more recent allegations came to light, he couldn’t reconcile working under him.
Young expressed how his decision was based on both professional and moral grounds. “Professionally, yes, but more importantly for me, morally, I just can’t work for a human being like that.”
Young’s stand wasn’t without its challenges. Walking away from the financial stability WWE offered wasn’t easy, but Young stated that he is proud of himself for sticking to his beliefs. “Ten years ago, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to make that choice financially, personally, and certainly not professionally,” Young said. However, now, he feels content with his decision and the example he’s set for his career.
“For me and my career, it’s one of the proudest things I’ve ever done, to be honest.” Young’s integrity and conviction led him to leave behind a lucrative contract, confident in the knowledge that he could figure things out and remain true to himself.
Young’s story highlights the sacrifices some wrestlers make for their personal values, and it’s clear that for him, staying aligned with his beliefs meant more than anything else.
