Eric Young: "I Signed Up For One Thing [In WWE]... It Turned Into Something Completely Different"

Eric Young has lifted the lid on his recent WWE departure, claiming that he "signed up for one thing" in the promotion and it "turned into something completely different."

The IMPACT Wrestling star alluded to Vince McMahon's return as WWE Executive Chairman being connected to his situation, without saying so outright. Young, 43, re-signed with WWE in November 2022, requesting his release the following April, while McMahon was appointed the company's Executive Chairman in January. Previously, the 77-year-old had resigned in disgrace amidst myriad sexual misconduct allegations.

Speaking with PWInsider, Young stated that he "just couldn't work [for WWE] anymore":-

"I signed up for one thing and it turned into something completely different, and personally, professionally, and more importantly for me, morally, I just couldn’t work there anymore. If you’re a wrestling fan, you know what’s going on, and I know that you’re a smart guy, Mike (Johnson), and you’re well aware of what I’m saying and what’s going on."

Young served a standard WWE non-compete period after requesting his release in April. Fightful Select reported earlier in the week that he was originally due to be part of a "new" Wyatt Family stable prior to Bray Wyatt's illness-enforced absence from television pre-WrestleMania 39.

Continuing, EY said that leaving WWE wasn't a hard choice. Although returning was a "dream come true," Eric would've had to "answer to somebody that I'm just not willing to" had he stayed, so he didn't:-

"It was not a super difficult choice for me to be honest. I know it was a dream come true, going back, for sure. The contract was fantastic and all this other stuff and what I was poised to do on the TV show was excellent, but in the end, I would’ve had to answer to somebody that I’m just not willing to. That’s where we ended up now. Like I said earlier, I’m a believer in fate and everything happens for a reason, and I’m not mad about it. I’m not bitter about it, just like I wasn’t last time. Obviously, it’s a massive mistake on one person’s part, but a huge gain for wrestling."

Young returned to IMPACT Wrestling at last weekend's Slammiversary pay-per-view.