Ever since he quit the WWE in August this year, Ryback has been quite vocal about the circumstances that led to him parting ways with the company. On a recent episode of his podcast, Conversation With The Big Guy, the former WWE superstar revealed how he was about to get fired in 2011 and a comment made by Triple H which changed his perception of him.
Also Read: WWE News: Ryback reveals the combined reasons behind his WWE departure
Ryback had suffered an ankle injury back in 2011 for which he had to undergo three surgeries. ‘The Big Guy’ claimed that then Vice President of Talent Operations John Laurinaitis called him just a little while after his third surgery to possible fire him. This is what he was quoted as saying:
“I was maybe awake for like an hour after surgery. Who do you think calls me at the time who was in charge? Yep, John Laurinaitis who was in charge at the time. And the phone call was being recorded. I could hear the echo on the phone. Yeah, to this day. And he was like, 'well, we did everything we could to get you better, right? Right?' and was asking me questions and I wouldn't answer because I knew. I was like, 'they're going to f**king fire me.”
According to Ryback, Laurinaitis made another attempt to put him out of the WWE while he was still recovering post his surgeries but the superstar managed to talk his way out of the situation at that point. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion stated:
“A couple of months went by and it was when Chris Masters, Johnny Prime, and I forget, there were a couple of other people released. They had all been released during the day. I was the last one, I guess, because I was keeping up with all of it at the time. I was in Gold's Gym in St. Petersburg, Florida.
I get a call from John Laurinaitis and he tries to fire me while I'm still f**ked up with my ankle injury and I have to stop and cut a 20-minute promo on him on how he's not firing me and telling him everything that I've been through.”
The 35-year old wrestler spoke about how Triple H once told him about the WWE having to ‘pull a plug’ on him and how that comment hurt him while changing his complete outlook about ‘The Game’ and the entire pro-wrestling business.
Here’s what ‘The Big Guy’ said about the incident and his reaction to it:
“Hunter, who was starting to gain more control over developmental at that time period, was coming to FCW a little bit. That's when I think the wheels were kind of turning as far as him getting more and more involved in developmental. He comes up to me. He goes, 'oh, how are you doing?' I go, 'I'm feeling good - I've finally got the metal taken out of my leg.' He goes, 'ah, eventually, we have to pull the plug on you.
I've never felt more let down in my life than that moment right there when he said those words. 'Eventually, we have to pull the plug on you' in a high pitched voice. And 'eh, eventually, we have to pull the plug on you'. I just sat and stared at him in complete confusion and like and just 'what the f**k? That's what changed my whole outlook on the wrestling business forever.”
Ryback is currently working on the independent circuit and has been making occasional appearances for different promotions.
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