Mike Verna Recalls Dropping Weight To Potentially Join WWE, Deciding To Wait For AEW
Mike Verna has found a home for himself in AEW, becoming a regular in 2021.
Before wrestling the likes of Ricky Starks and Proud-N-Powerful on AEW Dark, Verna did consistent extra work in WWE when the company would come to the northeast.
Speaking on Monday Night Gore, Verna explained how WWE may have been a possibility, but AEW int
“I used to train with Triple H’s personal trainer [Joe DeFranco]. He told me if I got down to 205, WWE would want me. I was hesitant because I was like 230, but I was like, ‘screw it.’ During that time, I did shows with Northeast Wrestling. After a match, Cody and Hangman ran in and fucked us up. After the show, we spoke with Cody and he spoke highly of us. He told us about AEW. I started thinking, ‘This sounds cool. This sounds better.’ At that time in 2019, I was doing movie work and coaching college baseball. I was like, ‘I don’t want to give all this up for the WWE life yet.’ I held off from telling Joe to reach out to the powers that be, even though I was in the shape I needed to be and ready to go. Something in my gut was telling me to wait,” said Verna.
Verna noted he was invited to the first AEW shows as a guest and his goal in 2021 is to be a full-time AEW wrestler.
Verna competed on the February 2 episode of AEW Dark, teaming with Aaron Solow, Baron Black, and Shawn Dean.
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