AEW star and leader of the Dark Order Brodie Lee spoke to TV Insider ahead of tonight’s Double or Nothing pay per view. Highlights from the interview can be found below.
On the positive demeanor of everyone in AEW:
The positivity from everyone was something I wasn’t used to within professional wrestling over the last eight years. It was strange to me, but it also rubs off on you. From watching shows on TV to being in the crowd, I think that positivity and energy almost comes from the people sitting in the stands, the production crew, the people on commentary and people in the ring. We’re in this together to give the industry a special product. I’m very proud to be part of that.
Performing well in tonight’s main event match against Jon Moxley:
I think more for myself because this is what I’ve asked for, and now what I’ve been given. Now it’s up to me to perform at a level that is apropos with that slot on the card,” Lee said. “I think I’m more than capable of doing that. There is nobody left to blame though. If I don’t perform well, I’m the one who has to look at myself in the mirror.
His breaking point in WWE:
I think it’s a blessing and a curse of my brain that I’m never really content or happy. I think after the Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton angle where I was not figured into the WrestleMania 33 main event [in 2017]. I think it came after that. We broke it down. I talked to my wife about it. She looked me in the eye and said, “Look, whatever you decide to do we’re going to be fine.” That’s what gave me the confidence to ultimately make the move. Then after being off the last eight months, everything solidified itself with me. Change of scenery seemed like the best case scenario. Different options arose. AEW became a blessing in disguise for me.
If he ever thought about not pursuing wrestling anymore:
I think it may have crossed my mind, but I’m of the belief where I was put on this earth to be a professional wrestler, as weird as it might sound to people. I’m almost bred for it. It’s in my brain. I love professional wrestling. I describe it as a beautiful, yet cruel mistress of mine. As much as it takes away, it gives you so many things in life. I think there was slight doubt, but I never had a foot out the door by any imagination.
Reveals he could have delayed his AEW debut:
I was supposed to debut in my hometown of Rochester, New York [March 18]. Then the next week was going to be the Blood and Guts show [March 25]. Two gigantic, insane AEW crowds my first two weeks working for the promotion. It was almost too good to be true. Of course, it didn’t turn out that way. I remember sitting down on March 11 after the NBA games were cancelled and dominoes started tipping.
I was contacted by Tony Khan personally. He said, “Look, if you don’t want to do it in this environment, we totally understand and can hold it off.” I looked at it as I was a caged animal for so long that I needed to get out and be a professional wrestler again. There was really no hesitation in me to move forward with the debut. Matt Hardy debuted the same night, so that night was pretty great but in a surreal situation. Looking back, we’ll never forget it. We’re performing for a television audience, an internet audience and for our peers. It was still very important to me. I can’t wait for it to be normal out there and have a crowd out there.
