Sadie Gibbs Talks Developing Imposter Syndrome After Signing AEW Contract, Details Her Recovery

Sadie Gibbs talks about developing imposter syndrome after signing a contract with AEW.

Gibbs is currently in the midst of training for her return to the wrestling scene after retiring back in April 2021. In March of 2019, it was reported that Gibbs had signed a deal with All Elite Wrestling, which was a brand new promotion at the time.

Gibbs would only go on to wrestle a total of three matches for AEW, as she was released from the promotion in August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a new interview with Ella Jay of WrestleZone, Gibbs explained that she developed imposter syndrome once she signed her contract with the company. Gibbs also noted that the pandemic, as well as her release, did make things worse in that sense until she eventually got back on her feet.

“I think the moment I got to All Elite Wrestling, I had this imposter syndrome all of the sudden. I was so confident up to that point with everything I was doing, I had so much self belief. I was like nothing was going to stand in my way, I love this too much, I’ve got so much drive and passion. But the moment I got signed, it was like this imposter [thing where I thought], what are you doing here, you don’t deserve this. Then obviously like I said, the lockdown kicked in the release and I think over time, that mentality just got a little worse through lockdown and then I just found myself getting back on my feet gradually. I went to [a place] a couple of times and managed to get there and do Helium retreats. I just really went within and focused on myself and healing and since that, I feel like a different person going back into it if that makes sense. [I feel] more self aware, more grounded, I don’t think I was very grounded before. They say you need to create your environment in order to thrive, and I feel like I’ve got my roots now.”

Later on in the interview, Gibbs was asked to explain her past comments about not being ready for the AEW contract at the time that she received it.

“In terms of being ready, I know I had worked hard for that position, but I think my experience, before going to TV, wasn’t ready. But then, when is anyone ready for anything when you get a step up? I work well under pressure, but I think maybe it was my mindset. I would say my mindset wasn’t ready at the time because of everything that I had gone through and was going through at the time. Grief and trauma is different for everybody and we all need our own time to heal. I would say, if I could have done a little bit more time out in Japan and finished that off, maybe I would have had that experience because you’re training a lot, I would have felt a lot more confident in going there. My confidence just went as soon as I got signed, so for me it was maybe a bit too soon. Hence why I was planning on moving because I felt I could train more, I could be in the Nightmare Factory. Yeah, that was my plan. That’s why I made that decision to move, because I needed the experience, I wanted the experience.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Gibbs provided an update on her return to the wrestling world. Fans can learn more by clicking here.

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