When veteran pro wrestlers get a second crack in WWE, it’s often a highlight of their career. For Eric Young, it was more of a reminder that he probably was where he belonged all along.
Young had a memorable first stint in WWE as part of the Sanity stable that made a big impression in NXT. He was released in April 2020 as part of a round of budget cuts and made his way back to Impact Wrestling, where he had enjoyed previous success.
Though Young signed with WWE again in November 2022, he left the company earlier this year without ever making an appearance. A Fightful Select (subscription required) report earlier this week suggested he departed because he didn’t want to work with Vince McMahon after the longtime WWE owner looked entrenched in his return to power with the impending Endeavor to merge WWE and UFC.
As a guest on Under the Ring, Young told host Phil Strum that he still couldn’t speak in detail about what went down in his brief second WWE life, but did confirm it was his choice to leave.
“There’s lots of stories out there,” the 43-year-old Ontario native said. “Obviously, by law, I’m not allowed to really talk about it. I will say I signed up for one thing and was given the option to do something else. And I made the right decision being back with Impact, there’s no doubt about that. Professionally, personally, morally.”
While he’s back in his “home” in Impact, Young has had a long and versatile career. Listen to the entire interview above to hear him talk more about:
- Whether Impact will address his character’s status quo after he was claimed by “the grip of death” last December
- How he first met Impact president Scott D’Amore and started a long-lasting friendship
- Why Impact stands out by being a professional wrestling show written for professional wrestling fans
- What his creative process is like and how he’s been able to wear so many hats
- Who he wants to work with now that he’s back
- What made Team Canada work so well
- The story behind signing his first pro wrestling contract
Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe, NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champion Madi Wrenkowski, and legendary wrestling journalist Bill Apter.
To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to Under the Ring on Apple Podcasts or your podcast provider of choice, or check out the Under the Ring YouTube channel to see all of the interviews in video form.