WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has addressed the announcement that Ivy Nile will soon compete for his indie promotion Reality of Wrestling.
Following the announcement that the NXT star will be in action for ROW on February 11, Bryan Alvarez reported that NXT is going to allow talent to work select indies going forward.
Shawn Michaels later denied this, stating on the post-Vengeance Day media call that the Ivy Nile deal was a one-off.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T, who also serves as a commentator for NXT, thanked Shawn Michaels and WWE for allowing Nile to wrestle for ROW:
“For me, to work with the next generation and future talent at WWE as well in Ivy Nile, that’s my passion. That’s when I do my best work, working with young people and trying to guide them on this journey that I love so much.
“I’m still living my best life right now, totally content where I am. For me, to see something like this come together, it’s so awesome.
“I appreciate Shawn Michaels and WWE for giving me this opportunity to let one of my young talent in Reality of Wrestling shine.
“I hope to see her in WWE one day. Reality of Wrestling, we’re not like a lot of independent companies.
“Our goal is to get these guys to the next level, and that’s to a point where they’re making some money in their pocket, they’re getting a plane ticket and traveling around the world and seeing it all.”
Addressing reports about the situation, Booker T said:
“Immediately, we posted that Ivy Nile would be coming to Reality of Wrestling and we were going to give the independent wrestling world a match they can’t see anywhere else.
“Immediately after we post that, quotes popped up on the internet, ‘Reality of Wrestling is partnering with WWE.’
“If you get those from someone in WWE, fine, but if you see an advertisement of someone being at a show and you formulate your own thought and create your own story, that’s when embellishment becomes something totally different.
“That’s when embellishment becomes blatant lying. No one called me and got that from me. I want to put it on record, I asked a favor for a NXT talent, someone who is one of my favorites, Ivy Nile, to be able to come to Reality of Wrestling and get in the ring with someone who I think may have next-level potential.
“I was granted that wish, and I appreciate that.”
For further clarification on other NXT stars potentially working indie dates, click here.
Transcription via Fightful.
Think you’re a wrestling mastermind? Well you can prove it by taking quizzes in our brand new quiz section! Don’t forget to tweet us your results!
Trending
- Released WWE Star Breaks Silence Following Release
- WWE Star’s Contract Expiring In Nine Months
- WWE Star’s Hilarious Rebuttal To Michael Cole
- AEW Star Not Cleared To Compete, Match Against Real-Life Brother Cancelled
- Released AEW Star Returning To The Company Soon
- AEW Star Breaks Silence Following Recent ‘Significant’ Injury
- Two WWE Stars Forming New Partnership Ahead Of Big Match?
- Released Star’s First Post-WWE Appearance Announced, Ring Name Confirmed
- New WWE NXT Lead Producer Revealed
- AEW Star Files For New Trademark