10 Things You Didn't Know About Brodie Lee
3. A Botched Phone Call Saved His Career
Like so many before him and generations to come, Brodie Lee spent much of his formative time as a professional wrestler living something of a double life. At the weekends he was 'Big Rig' Brodie Lee, a warrior trucker fully committed to smashing fools and taking people's heads off, but throughout the week he was Jon Huber, city school librarian and expert on school textbooks.
Everything came to a head in 2011. Eight years into his career, Lee had seen many of his contemporaries pass him on the ladder despite not possessing his size, talent, charisma or ability. His wife was pregnant with their first child and the prospect of missing important moments while aimlessly going on tours just didn't appeal. Lee was ready to give it up.
That's when John Laurinaitis called.
It isn't that simple, of course, nothing ever is. Lee had been offered a WWE tryout six months earlier but was unable to take part due to a broken leg. Fast forward to the phonecall and Lee was in a hospital as his wife was giving birth to their first child. The call broke up but Lee didn't have Johnny Ace's number, so he frantically contacted old buddy Cesaro to see if he could get the number. The Swiss Superman came to the rescue, and Brodie Lee was on his way to becoming Luke Harper.