10 Things We Learned From Speaking To Eli Drake

8. Does He Still Have WWE Ambitions?

Shaun Ricker
WWE

When asked on whether he still has that WWE itch to scratch, it's an unsure response from Eli Drake - as he can clearly see both the potential pros and the potential cons of any such move.

In the subsequent years since Eli departed NXT in 2014, and since Bill DeMott was fired in 2015, there have clearly been some big changes to how the entire NXT training system is operated.

On this topic, Drake said, "The idea of just going to the PC and making whatever money, it would've been a big lifestyle change, for one. But at the same time, I also recognise the system's so different to when I was there before. When I was there before, I had no advocates, I had nobody on my side. Now, I've got so many people on the inside, working there, who would probably vouch for me, push for me to move forward. Whereas before, I just had that big roadblock of Bill DeMott."

Another concern in previous years, would be that experienced hands would spend months or years before they'd even be featured on NXT TV, let alone main roster WWE TV. Again though, Eli recognises that is something else now different about NXT - citing Trevor Lee/Cameron Grimes as an example of someone who was quickly put on NXT television.

After reiterating that right now he's happy with the NWA, Eli did add, "Would I like to be on that huge stage of WrestleMania? Yeah, probably. But I just also talk to some of the guys who are there, I look at the way the climate is, and I just don't know."

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer and Presenter, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund and Eli Roth to Kevin Smith and the Russo Brothers, to Kevin Conroy and Frank Miller, to Bret Hart and Sting, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, and Brian Flynn, to many, many more. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is a long-standing season ticket holder and an FSA Award-winner for his time co-hosting the Fearless in Devotion podcast.