As was reported here on eWn earlier this month, former Kentucky Wildcats defensive lineman Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald was a part of WWE’s recent tryouts.
In a further update on that story, Abadi-Fitzgerald has revealed that he has received a call-back to take part in a two-week WWE training camp over the summer.
Speaking to the KSR Football Podcast, Abadi-Fitzgerald had this to say:
On his experience at the WWE tryout, including promo classes: “I went into the ring and it felt great. It was awesome. The ropes are bouncy,” Abadi-Fitzgerald said of his tryout experience. “We did a lot of conditioning, you know test our athletic ability, a couple of conditioning things just to see if you’re in shape and a couple of ring drills. I kid you not, those ring drills were some pretty good cardio.
“I’m a quiet kid. I don’t talk much. I really only speak when I’m spoken too, when I’m talking and trying to introduce myself to someone. I’m trying to get out of that behavior habit and personality of not being talkative, because one thing I want to do is be a salesman… If I want to be a salesperson and if I want to tryout for the WWE, I have to let my personality come out a little bit.”
On idolizing WWE superstars when growing up in Nigeria: “They [WWE] say ‘Don’t try this at home.’ Yeah, right. We tried everything at home that we possibly could. We loved it, it was fun. It was the realest thing to me and that was fun for us, watching stuff on TV and trying to imitate it.
“A lot of people won’t understand this, but Triple H, John Cena, The Rock, Batista, Kane, Booker T, Rey Mysterio — all of those guys in Nigeria were superstars in our world, role models. I never knew, I — a Nigerian kid — would come to America, play basketball, meet some NBA players, get to see Kevin Hart, play college football, tryout for the WWE and end up seeing the guy I used to watch flip dudes and wrestle.
“When I was a kid in Nigeria I never thought in my life I would come to America, then here I am. The whole thing is crazy. It’s insane.
“Before I leave here I gotta make sure I get a picture with him because my brothers in Nigeria will freak out. They will lose their minds if they see me with Triple H in a picture,” he said. “That’s a gift they will cherish forever.”
On being excited for what’s next. Grateful for what he has already achieved: “God’s given me a chance to be successful. I want good things to happen and it’s happened. When you trust in God he does crazy things for you unexpectedly. It’s almost always in the midst when you feel like things aren’t going your way or you’re very confused on what you’re going to do or where you’re going to end up. That’s where I am right now. I was like where am I going to be? What am I going to do? You have a little anxiety, worrying, worrying, worrying, then the other day, I chose God and he leads the way. He always surprises me and brings out something good in the worst situations. Thank God for that.
“It’s a great opportunity. I will cherish all of these moments, from playing football at UK to this. Regardless if I make it or not in WWE, this will be one for the books for me, definitely.”
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