When Trey Miguel, Dezmond Xavier, and Zachary Wentz, collectively known as The Rascalz, departed Impact Wrestling last year, it was expected the trio would sign with WWE. All three were offered contracts to join NXT, and while Xavier and Wentz did indeed sign, and have since debuted as Wes Lee and Nash Carter, respectively, Miguel remained a free agent. However, at the last set of Impact’s television tapings, he’d return to the promotion and joined Rich Swann, Willie Mack, and Tommy Dreamer in defeating Sami Callihan, Chris Bey, Ken Shamrock, and Moose.
With Miguel now working a program with Callihan, it’s self-evident he is again an Impact regular, raising the question of why he turned down WWE’s offer. Now speaking to the Wilde On podcast, he revealed he stated Impact is a better fit for him due to being the head trainer of the Skull & Bones wrestling school in Toledo, Ohio, and he needs to be there daily. Plus, stay close to his family.
Miguel rejoining the promotion is quote a coup of Impact, as they seemingly perceived him as having the most upside of all three Rascalz. Last year he received a singles push and defeated more established stars like Michael Elgin, Moose, and TJP, and even got to compete in the main event of Slammiversary for the vacant Impact World Title.
While it is unusual for someone to choose Impact over WWE, there have been countless stories over the years of wrestlers not enjoying their time with the world’s biggest promotion. Plus, unless someone is an established name like Finn Bálor and Shinsuke Nakamura, NXT pays less than $120,000 a year for first-time contracts. So conceivably, with his school, Impact, and Independent dates, he could earn more money outside of the WWE system. Additionally, Impact’s new relationship with AEW could have played a factor because it potentially makes him available for occasional Dynamite and/or Dark appearances.
