Which AEW Star Turned Down A WWE Coaching Position THREE Times?
He took it as a "back-handed stab" at his in-ring abilities...
Current AEW wrestler Shawn Spears told Instinct Culture that WWE offered him a coaching position no less than three times before he left the company.
He took each pitch as a slap in the face.
Spears thought WWE were dissing his viability as a full-time worker by suggesting that he start training newbies down at the Performance Center. The then-37 year old (he's now 39) didn't want to give up his chances of a sustained main event run just yet, and decided to leave for AEW.
The former Tye Dillinger pointed out that he's never worked "for 20 or 30 minutes every night" because nobody has ever given him a shot at the top of the card. He'd love to tick off that box in AEW before hanging up his boots.
WWE obviously didn't see that in Spears. They knew he was a solid hand, but viewed him as someone who could help others achieve their goals in the promotion and put himself second.
Spears believes he has another "five, six or seven" good years ahead of him as a full-timer. He also said he'd knock back a coaching role in AEW right now too.