JD Drake On Why His WWE NXT Try-Out Did Not Work Out
During his recent appearance on The Wrestling Inc. Daily, JD Drake looked back on why his tryout with WWE NXT in Feb. 2020 didn't lead to a full-time roster spot.
"I went down to the WWE PC for a week, and trained over there," Drake recalled. "I wrestled Dio Maddin [MACE] on a house show, and even defeated him. I was supposed to wrestle Ridge Holland but I hurt my lower back sacroiliac joint during the match with Maddin. And I couldn't stand up straight, it was the worse [feeling].
"There were talks, and they were into it [signing me]. However, that opportunity obviously fell through, and everything happens for a reason. I'm starting to really believe that, now more than ever. Because I've been blessed with opportunities that I wouldn't have received otherwise – like the match with Daniel Garcia [for the Limitless World Championship].
A month after his NXT tryout, the global pandemic hit and Drake – like scores of other independent pro wrestlers – was severely impacted.
"It's tough to talk about," Drake admitted. "I was starting to hit my stride, and EVOLVE was about to do big things. I had 8 or 9 bookings during the Mania weekend itself, right before the shutdown. And then everything just went poof.
"At the time I had put in 18 or 19 years into the business. I poured my blood, sweat, tears and heart, everything into it, and then for this [pandemic] to just take it all way... I really thought I was done. I thought maybe its time to sell all my stuff and call it a career. Little did I know that my career would be reborn during the pandemic."
Trying to stay afloat during the pandemic, Drake received positive news when several promotions contacted him for the role of a trainer. He started training at Highspots and his career was up-and-running again.
"By having my hand in the development of young talent, I really started to turn the volume dial up," Drake said. "I was once again in love with professional wrestling. And I was suddenly moving around better [in the ring] because my mind and body had time to heal [during the shutdown]. I had so much wear and tear on my body for so many years, and I could finally do some soul searching and find myself again. The fact that I went down to Orlando for an opportunity, and it didn't work out, spite is a helluva motivator."
Drake, a former WWN and EVOLVE Tag Team Champion, was asked by Wrestling Inc. Managing Editor Nick Hausman to highlight the importance of the Limitless Wrestling Championship.
"It's a title I've pursued ever since I started my actual singles run. Everyone knows I've been on the indy circuit for a long time as a partner of Anthony [Henry, presently signed with NXT] and had to branch out as a singles competitor. I immediately set my eyes on the Limitless title. I'm already the longest reigning WWN Champion, and held singles titles all over America. But this, to me, is a way to solidify a career that is taking off."
Since making his AEW debut on the Feb. 17 episode of AEW Dark, Drake has been a constant fixture on AEW programming. He is presently in a stable with Peter Avalon, Ryan Nemeth and Cezar Bononi.
You can follow JD on Twitter @RealJDDrake. Drake takes on Daniel Garcia at Limitless Wrestling's The Games We Play on Friday May 7 on IWTV. You can find the full video and audio from Drake's The Wrestling Inc. Daily episode below: