Brady Booker (Bodhi Hayward): Maybe I Got Too Comfortable And WWE Wants Me To Make My Own Following

Brady Booker, the former Bodhi Hayward, reflects on his time in Chase U and the real connection it fostered behind the camera.

Bodhi Hayward was one of a handful of names released by WWE NXT on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Previously portraying a student at Andre Chase University on TV, Bodhi explained that he was under the impression that decision-makers did not believe that he was maximizing his potential.

Now, in a new interview with Steve Fall of the Ten Count, Brady Booker, the man formerly known as Bodhi Hayward is reflecting on the relationships he formed behind the camera including his genuinely close connection to both Andre Chase and Thea Hail.

“Mr. Chase, I just want to go out and say just because he gave me that opportunity. Andre allowed me to be in on something that he kind of put together and made into something, and we were able to evolve it into something that I thought was more. I just can’t be more thankful for everything that he taught me because, although we played it on the screen, behind closed doors, he was number one to me. He was the last person I got approval from on everything. I ran all my questions by him, from the business,  how to do stuff, to the in-betweens and the gray areas which there’s plenty of those too, you know, cutting promos just everything in between.”

Regarding Thea, Booker said it was great to have the feeling of being an older brother and he very much enjoyed his time around her. 

“Thea was like the little sister I never had. I was the youngest brother of four, so it was cool to be able to finally do that. I always wanted to be a big brother, but it was cool to be able to do that for her. I was even changing her tires every now and then.”

Now, Brady is looking to take the relationships he made, such as the one with Trent Seven, who he says was the first to call him; and use what he learned to formulate his next steps. Regarding WWE feeling like he didn’t maximize his potential, Booker says he believes that he might have gotten too comfortable and that this is life’s way of saying it is time to be uncomfortable again.

“I feel that I got too comfortable maybe and that life said, ‘Screw that, let’s get uncomfortable again,’ because that’s where I perform best. Fight or flight, under that type of pressure, is where I perform best, and that’s where I’m going to be able to make the most out of myself,” Bodhi said. “I feel that maybe they want me to create my own following. Maybe they want me to become my own star and then they — you think many things. So if that’s what I have to do, I can show that I can do all those things from guys like Chase helping me out. I just want to say that I can’t thank him enough. I love him for letting me able to be able to do that, and unfortunately, out of left field, it was cut short. “

Currently, Duke Hudson appears to have taken Bodhi’s place in Chase U but it is very clear that Bodhi is genuinely grateful for what Andre Chase gave him and he now knows what he has to do moving forward.

To keep up with Andre Chase University in the absence of Bodhi, Hayward. Fightful has full coverage of WWE NXT 2.0 every week in our results section.

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