Chad Lail Talks About Switching From The Marines To WWE, His Connection With Other Military WWE Stars

The man formerly known as Gunner is talking about his experience in the Marines.

Gunner, now known as Chad Lail, one of the newer signees by WWE recently, talked to their website about his experiences in the military and how it helped him transition to a career in wrestling. Serving in the Marine corps from 2002 to 2006 as a transport operator, Lail said that the transition to sports entertainment to a military career wasn’t a cake walk.

Sports-entertainment is not a walk in the park like some people think — it’s very physical. Getting through 13 weeks of boot camp taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to and that I can push through some pain. My dad always told me to chase my dreams and always give 110 percent. And in the Marine Corps, if you wanted to be a good Marine, that’s what you did. Then, transitioning into sports-entertainment and being with the WWE, there’s days when you’re like, “Aww man, I really don’t wanna step into the ring today,” but I do, because my goal is to work my way up from the Performance Center onto the bigger rosters. That’s what my time in the Marine Corps taught me, to give my all and be the best I can be.

When asked if he’s bonded with other military members training at the Performance Center, such at Steve Cutler, Lacey Evans and Montez Ford, Lail replied in the affirmative, saying that there is a camaraderie there:

Oh yeah, definitely. When I first got down here, I saw Lacey Evans wearing the Marine Corps green physical training pants, and we sparked up a conversation about that. Steve Cutler and I are really close, even from when I did my tryout years ago. The comradery is totally different with us; we’re always talking about war things — there’s definitely a different bond, because you do have four people here who have been through Marine Corps boot camp and earned their Eagle Golden Anchor. It’s a bond you can’t break, and we’re always there for each other.

Lail had a five year run with TNA from 2010 – 2015. Before leaving, he was feuding with James Storm, who had been teaming with him before Storm turned on him. He also had a run with the short-lived TNA TV champion. He joined the WWE earlier this summer.