Liv Morgan recently opened up about her journey from Hooters waitress to the top of WWE, a path that has shown her resilienc and determination. The former Women’s World Champion shared her inspiring story on the Pod Meets World podcast, where she spoke with hosts Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, and Rider Strong about the moments that defined her career.
An Unlikely Start
Morgan’s WWE journey began in Hooters, where she’d meet renowned strength coach Joe DeFranco. After sharing her love of wrestling, Liv was invited to DeFranco’s gym where she “just kept up” with NFL athletes. Impressed by her grit, DeFranco, who trained Triple H, contacted WWE on her behalf, opening the door to her future.
Overcoming the WWE Tryout
Liv’s 2014 tryout was a gruelling three-day process that pushed her to the limit. On the podcast, Morgan recalled trying to stay focused when everyone around her seemed to be falling apart.
“People were vomiting, getting concussed, and I doubled up to keep things even in the ring.”
Despite being inexperienced, Morgan’s perserverance won out and she impressed WWE’s coaches. Not long after the tryout, she’d be offered a contract. Her on-screen debut would come not as a wrestler, but as a planted fan who jumped the barricade to get close to Tyler Breeze during his NXT TakeOver: Rival entrance in February 2015.
Living a Family Dream
Morgan had been a wrestling fan for years before reaching WWE, making her arrival a dream come true. On the podcast, Morgan recalled loving wrestling with her four older brothers, who remain her biggest supporters to this day.
“It wasn’t just my dream—it was our family dream. The fact that one of us made it feels surreal to them.”
A Story of Resilience
Since her in-ring debut as ‘Local Competitor’ against Eva Marie on the November 4, 2015, episode of NXT, Morgan has risen to become one of WWE’s leading women. A spell of injuries in 2023 could not keep Morgan down, and 2024 saw her win both the Women’s World Championship and the first ever Women’s Crown Jewel Championship.
Now, attention turns to Morgan’s performance in this weekend’s 30-Woman Royal Rumble match, a match she was the runner-up in last year. Keep following SEScoops for all the latest WWE updates as the Road to WrestleMania heats up.