Former Champion Reveals Reaction To New WWE Legends Deal

Published: May 27, 2025 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: May 27, 2025 by Dave Adamson

Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.

Former Champion Reveals Reaction To New WWE Legends Deal

A former WWE Cruiserweight Champion has revealed his reaction to the Legends deal that they signed in October 2024.

Hornswoggle was the last WWE Cruiserweight Champion, with the title being retired in September 2007.

In October 2024, the former WWE star revealed that he had signed a Legends deal with the company and has now shared his reaction to the call.

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Hornswoggle revealed he ‘froze’ when he got the call from WWE, stating:

“Legitimately, Landon (his son) and I were on our way to see Blink-182. I get the call, I literally had to pull over, and I just froze.

“You know me, you know how I view me through these interviews, a lot of people know how I view me. I don’t view myself as very great in wrestling.

“So to have that recognition is the ultimate. This is pretty f**king awesome. It just makes me feel like I mattered in WWE with this now, that it wasn’t a got rid of me, released me, which is okay.

“No one deserves a job. That’s my thing. Whenever people get released, internet goes crazy about ‘How could they do this?’ No one in any workforce deserves a job. You’re lucky to have that, especially that kind of job.

“And so now to be back under a legends deal, it’s incredible. It’s just like the coolest thing ever.”

As for being called a ‘WWE Legend’, Hornswoggle as his own take on the moniker, saying:

“The legends deal, man, it’s nostalgia. It’s a WWE nostalgia deal. They don’t call me a legend anymore.”

Hornswoggle had his WWE debut in May 2006, initially appearing as ‘Little B*stard’, the leprechaun partner of Finlay.

His name would change in February 2007, with Hornswoggle going on to remain in WWE until his release in May 2016.

Hornswoggle returned in 2018 at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and would also appear at the 2019 Royal Rumble, albeit in a non-wrestling capacity.

Transcript from chrisvanvliet.com.