Eric Young Reveals He’s Turned Down Big Money Offers from WWE

Veteran wrestler Eric Young recently opened up about his current career and why he continues to step inside the ring despite the grueling nature of the business.

The TNA Wrestling star, who has been part of the industry for over 26 years, joined Donnie DaSilva and Jimmy Korderas on their HUGE POP! podcast to talk about his love for wrestling and his future in the sport.

Young, who could easily walk away from the business, revealed that the only reason he continues wrestling is his sheer passion for it. He emphasized that the moment the job stops being fun, he will step away without hesitation.

He went on to share that he has turned down big money opportunities with WWE, indicating that he could return to the company if he wanted. However, for now, he remains focused on TNA Wrestling, where he is enjoying his work and the creative process.

“I even said this when I was 17: ‘I’m not gonna do this if it hurts me. I’m not gonna do it if I don’t like it.’ If I go to Spartanburg on Friday and I don’t have fun, I’ll quit and fly home on Saturday morning. 100 percent… And it’s not lost on me that I have that choice. I’ve walked away from a whole pile of money in the WWE. I could work there, I think, right now if I felt like it. But I am where I am and I’m enjoying what I’m doing.”

Young also echoed a sentiment often shared by veteran wrestlers about the business: that the hard part is not the in-ring work but the travel and time away from home.

“The only part that I fully really enjoy is the creative process and actually doing it. Unfortunately, that’s only 10-to-20 minutes of my day,” he said, citing the words of fellow wrestler Christian. They’re not paying me to wrestle. I’d do it for free. They’re paying me to live out of a suitcase, live in a hotel, crammed in a car for 300 miles, sitting in economy 24F beside the bathroom on overseas flights. That’s what they’re paying me for.”

As Young continues to perform at a high level, he remains content with his journey. But he also made it clear that he is ready to quit whenever the time feels right.

“As long as I can do it at a high-level and I don’t think, I know I can still do it at a high-level, I will continue to do it. That could end this weekend and I’d be fine with that.”

In the near future, Young is set to participate in TNA’s upcoming television tapings in Nashville, Tennessee. The proceeds from these tapings will go directly to the Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after the city had to cancel the original tapings due to severe weather.

Do you think Eric Young should return to WWE, or should he continue his journey in TNA? Share your thoughts in the comments below!