Posts Tagged ‘Drew Gulak’

Drew Gulak Says He’s Not Allowed To Reveal If He Has Signed With WWE

Independent wrestling star Drew Gulak recently appeared as a guest on The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast and remained very vague about anything to do with WWE business. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On if he has signed a developmental deal with WWE:

“I am not allowed to speak on that issue. If I was allowed to I would be in great detail. But I can’t really elaborate on any business with WWE or if there has been any business with WWE.”

On his take on the WWE Performance Center:

“Based on everything I’ve seen it’s really amazing. It’s like they are pulling all their resources and talent and utilizing it to provide an environment for people to train in and become better and it’s already where the top professional wrestlers and people with minds for the wrestling business have gravitated towards at least traditionally. For the most part that’s where they hover around. It’s an amazing amount of resources that they pulled there and it’s nice to see them broadcasting that.”

On growing up as a wrestling fan and seeing the product live for the first time:

“I was a huge fan my whole life, I grew up watching it since I was young. When it really started clicking was when I started attending Combat Zone Wrestling shows live around 2001. I was super young probably about fourteen at the time and my brother was around eleven and we started watching the shows live and actually didn’t even know Independent wrestling existed because this was before YouTube was around and the internet wasn’t really privy to video sharing and wasn’t as common. For an Independent Wrestling fan you were getting your stuff through VHS tapes that were traded and I didn’t have access to any of that. I barely watched ECW because I didn’t know it was on TV half the time or I wasn’t around to check it out or up at that time to watch it. As ECW folded Combat Zone Wrestling was my first live experience where I was within feet of a wrestling ring and having watched it my whole life this was something that seemed larger than life.”

On training with Chris Hero and Mike Quackenbush:

“I’d go to Allentown and train with Chikara and at that time they were around three years in and sort of a fledgling promotion and Mike Quackenbush was the head trainer there along with Chris Hero. I’d pull up and have a couple seminars with them and when you see guys like that in the ring they do standout and there is a reason for it. They are innovators and ground breakers and having seen them a few times at Combat Zone Wrestling and then at Chikara shows it was really important for me to go and make the most out of that opportunity to train with them. He (Quackenbush) teaches to his students to go out and to learn from as many people as you can and he is very giving in that nature and is so knowledgeable and he loves wrestling and talking to you about it.”

Backstage Update On WWE Signing Multiple Top Independent Wrestlers

While there was talk recently that Biff Busick and Rich Swann were waiting to pass physicals before signing with WWE, however that is apparently not the case as it is being reported that the two have signed with WWE and are expected to start with the promotion in October.

In addition to Busick and Swann, four-to-six additional talents are expected to start at the WWE Performance Center in the next month or two.

WWE is also looking for Latino referees. New Jersey independent talent Bandido Jr. has either signed with WWE already or is very close to doing so. He will be working with WWE as a referee.

Other independent stars expected to start with WWE soon are Johnny Gargano, Drew Gulak and Chuck Taylor. It’s possible that Tommaso Ciampa, who teamed with Gargano at a recent NXT taping, could be part of the group as well.

Update On Big Show’s WWE Return, WWE Tryout Camp, Recent WWE & NXT Attendance

– It was previously reported that Big Show was scheduled to return to WWE television this week, however that obviously didn’t happen. As things stand right now, Big Show is still scheduled to return imminently, but if he’s not back by the May 31st Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, his return might be pushed back.

– In addition to former MMA fighter Matthew Riddle and Biff Busick, independent wrestlers Drew Gulak and Chuck Taylor are also scheduled to take part in the WWE tryout camp at the WWE Performance Center in June.

– Below are some recent WWE attendance figures:

May 14th in Philadelphia for NXT drew around 2,000 fans
May 15th in Philadelphia for NXT drew around 1,500
May 16th in Albany for NXT drew 2,200 fans
May 18th in Richmond for RAW drew 6,300 fans

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)