Back in June 2018, Wardlow, with another 40 hopefuls, received a tryout with WWE. Chelsea Green and Robert Stone would get signed, but also trying out was two-time All-American heavyweight wrestling champion Jacob Kasper, the twin sons of D-Von Dudley, the younger brother of Drew Gulak, and multiple former footballer players. Despite his look and intensity, Wardlow, who had only been wrestling for four years, would get passed over. He has now discussed this experience on the AEW Unrestricted podcast and revealed he sold all his possessions in anticipation of being signed as he was that confident.
So I smoked that tryout. I’m like, “I have this in the bag,” so much so I literally sold my motorcycle, sold my house, literally got rid of everything because I’m like, “I’m going to put everything into moving into Florida.” So when the email came in that I was not, I remember I actually had to pull over on the side of the road because I just couldn’t believe it.Wardlow
Wardlow didn’t let this put him off following his chosen career path and would actually train with Kurt Angle ahead of his WWE comeback. During this time, Angle told him he had spoken to someone at WWE about him and was told it wasn’t if, but when WWE would sign him.
Lord knows I am not the most patient person at all. That’s always been a battle. So when the opportunity came with AEW, and I heard what the plans were, and I heard the vision and the passion behind it, I knew there was nothing for me to wait for it. This is what it is, and I’m very happy I didn’t say no and wait and wait and wait.Wardlow
WWE’s loss was AEW’s gain because Wardlow would debut for them on the November 13 episode of Dynamite and immediately make an impact by attacking Cody Rhodes. He is currently aligned with MJF as his bodyguard, and the pair recently became part of the Inner Circle. Being part of Chris Jericho’s faction guarantees Wardlow plenty of television time, and with an inevitable feud with MJF down the line, it’s likely WWE regrets their decision to pass on him.
