Ex-WWE Star Didn’t See His Release Coming

Former WWE star Nunzio recently reflected on the final months of his WWE run, revealing that, in hindsight, one of the clearest signs his release was approaching was being paid to stay home without appearing on television.

Speaking on a recent edition of the “Developmentally Speaking” podcast, Nunzio admitted that he never expected to be released when it happened in 2008. He said,

“I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t, I didn’t, I didn’t see it coming at that time. I’m going back to 2008. That was like 20 years ago. There was a point I was sitting home a lot, getting paid, you know, and whenever that happens. Yeah, that’s always great. Sitting home getting paid, but not in the wrestling business, you know. That’s not good.”

“So, they did sit me home for a bit, but sometimes they like to do that, and they have ideas but don’t tell you because they got 150 other things on their mind and forget that they’re sitting you home and not telling you. They’re not really worried about it, but they do have plans for you. But you, on the other end, are sitting home. Did I have it in my mind? I had the release, but I wasn’t sitting home for that long.”

“So, you know, what Johnny did too, I wasn’t ready at the time. In 2007, four or five months before my release, Johnny actually asked me if I would be interested. Johnny asked me if I would be interested in at that time, they had Kentucky as their developmental. Louisville. That’s what they had in Louisville. And, you know, he came to me and he’s like, ‘Hey, would you ever think about training the guys.’”

“Now, my son at that time was only… I don’t know, he was only like four at the time. My wife was working, school and stuff like that. We were living in New York, so and I was like, I still had a job with WWE. But I think that was a feeler to see. I think, looking at it afterwards, he probably was like, ‘I’m gonna cut this guy, but let me see. Maybe he wants to come.’”

“Now, if that was in my area because there was talk many years ago that they were going to do a school in Connecticut. Yeah. But the problem is it’s too expensive, and they can’t afford to live in Connecticut.”

“You know, they want to pay these guys like they could do developmental in Louisville and stuff, and you get an apartment for $500 and you put four guys in there, and they’re cool and happy to be there. And, you know, in Connecticut you’re looking at $3,000 a month. Yeah. You know, so it wasn’t feasible. But there was talk, and I would have loved to be part of that. I live 20 minutes from their office, right down the street. That would be perfect.”

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