In the current day, Kendal Grey (real name Peyton Prussin) reigns because the WWE Evolve Champion, with the NXT Women’s Championship also in potential reach following her recent Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge win. Long before she stepped into knowledgeable wrestling ring, though, Grey wowed spectators as an amateur wrestler at Life University. During an interview with Denise Salcedo, Grey explained how she eventually arrived at the most important leagues of WWE.
In keeping with Grey, “WWE Raw” star and fellow former amateur wrestler Julius Creed first put WWE on her radar as a post-college destination. “Once I type of got involved with WWE, it was through the NIL program. NIL, not only with WWE, nevertheless it’s more common for them to have a look at the most effective top athletes at NCAA level. So NAIA is just not really checked out an excessive amount of,” she said. “I actually have to offer credit to Julius Creed because with wrestling community, he wrestled in college, the wrestling community is type of small. So after I won my second or third national title, he was like, ‘Oh, whenever you’re done, WWE next.’
“I believed he was joking,” Grey continued. “I didn’t know this might be a chance, so I used to be like, ‘Yeah, totally.’ He’s like, ‘No, I’m being so like for real. When you’re interested, I’ll get you involved with them.’ It type of took off through there.”
WWE announced Grey’s signing through the NIL program in January 2023. Her respective class consisted of 15 collegiate athletes from across america. Sometime in late 2023, Grey then inked a full-time deal, paving the best way for her WWE television debut the next 12 months.
Grey Pursued WWE On A Full-Time Basis After Careful Consideration
Prior to signing a full-time contract with WWE, Grey said she seriously considered its pros and cons, with one con being that it might take away the chance for her to check out for the Olympics. Still, she ultimately opted to pursue WWE.
“I got here and tried out, and ever since then, I loved it,” Grey said. “I’m so grateful to be here. I’m so grateful for the chance. Wrestling is a weight cut sport; I used to be wrestling at 109 kilos, very small. I’m still small. I’m still trying to achieve weight and still get greater, but I used to be super small. So after I got here to my tryout, I do know there was concerns like she’s really small, possibly her wrist can break. I’m like, ‘No, I swear. I promise.'”
For the reason that age of 11, Grey had cut weight out of necessity for her various athletic ventures, including amateur wrestling. Armed with a desire to affix WWE on a everlasting basis, nonetheless, she vowed to bulk up at that time.
“I need to get greater. I need to do that,'” Grey said, “so I believe I needed to bet on myself they usually type of needed to take a risk on me to see like can she handle it? Can she handle getting into the ring? I feel like they took a risk. But I hope I’m showing that I’m taking this serious, I really like this, and I’m so enthusiastic about it.”
Two years faraway from her WWE tryout, Grey has made major strides within the skilled wrestling world. Come time for “WWE NXT” Latest 12 months’s Evil, she could now possibly reach the best peak in “NXT.”
When you use any of the quotes in this text, please credit Denise Salcedo with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.