Big Damo Says AEW’s Backstage Atmosphere Is Like WWE ‘Without Walking On Eggshells’

Big Damo, previously known as Killian Dain, made his AEW debut as a “giant” opponent for Shawn Spears on the May 20 episode of AEW Rampage. Damo was released by WWE in June 2021. Since his release, he had been wrestling on the Independent scene on the United States and Europe, including appearances on NJPW STRONG.

Big Damo recently appeared on the Two Man Power Trip podcast. He discussed the story behind his AEW appearance. He revealed that AEW felt like WWE without the walking on the eggshells and difficulty with everything else.

AEW had all the production and pomp and circumstance of WWE. All of the crew and everything they’ve done backstage. It felt very like WWE without the walking on the eggshells and difficulty with everything else. Without the anxiety, which was very unusual and different. It was full of familiar faces. I had a very bizarre…almost every 10 to 20 minutes, I’d run into somebody else who I absolutely adored who I’d met through the Indies before WWE, at WWE itself, or even on the Indies after WWE. It was a very unusual experience, but it was awesome.

It was about a month before, they got in touch and were like, ‘are you going to be free this day?’ ‘Sure, absolutely.’ It almost changed to the week before and then it got changed back to the original date. The joys of live television, things change here and there with what happens with so many moving parts. I knew a few weeks before and I kept it kayfabe from even my own friends, some of the guys I have many group chats with, I kept it very quiet from them. In this industry, everything changes so much, you’re really not sure one day to the next. You’re kind of guarded in a way and you want to make sure people see you when it’s out as opposed to ‘this might be happening’ and it doesn’t. In my younger days, that would happen a lot. Over the last ten years, things have gotten more professional. You still have that guarded nature.

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Damo joked that Spears’ rapid victory, which came in under two minutes, was retaliation for all of the teams Damo had defeated at NXT Orlando live events. Damo’s comeback to AEW television is uncertain at this time.

He wrestled for Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling most recently. Spears was not competing at AEW Double or Nothing, but his best friend MJF was, as he faced Wardlow in the first round. This has been Damo’s career for so long that he was ready to seize any chance that came his way. That’s the exciting aspect about wrestling right now; people aren’t scared to take risks and try new things.

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h/t to Fightful.