Exact Moment Brodie Lee Wanted To Leave WWE Revealed

This was the tipping point for the former Luke Harper...

by Andy H Murray
Brodie Lee
AEW

Brodie Lee made an incendiary appearance on Chris Jericho's Talk is Jericho podcast earlier today. The whole thing is worth listening to, with the exact situation spawning his desire to quit WWE one of the most interesting points.

Lee claims that there were plans for him to return as Sami Zayn's bodyguard after WrestleMania 35. It was supposed to go down on the SmackDown after 'Mania but got cancelled, and when it did, Lee said "okay, that's it." He went home, talked it through with his wife, and decided to ask for his release.

Two 20-minute phone conversations with Vince McMahon followed, as the two "just talked like humans." "Do you want more money, do you want a push?", the WWE Chairman asked, with Lee replying that he didn't want either. He wanted out. Brodie noted that he hadn't realised that other wrestlers had asked to be let go at the same time, with Triple H allegedly telling him "we can't release you, it's gonna make it look like people are jumping off a sinking ship."

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Zayn ended up returning on the Raw after WrestleMania, moving to SmackDown to align with Shinsuke Nakamura soon after.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.