Hornswoggle On Reason For WWE Wellness Policy Violation, Thoughts On Policy, WWE Release, More
On episode 118 of The Ross Report, WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross spoke with Dylan 'Swoggle' Postl. The former Hornswoggle talked about how he saw his release coming, Brian Myers, the former Curt Hawkins, helping him get bookings, whether he thought about leaving WWE before his release, and how he failed WWE's Wellness Policy.
Postl claimed that he had nearly a year left on his WWE contract; however, he knew his days were numbered, given that he had not been traveling with WWE for over one year.
"I wish it was a matter of [WWE] not renewing [the contract], but I had about a year left on the current contract, so they let me go just like all the other guys and gal." Postl added, "I've been off the road for actually a little over a year, so I knew [the release] was coming. Knowing it's coming and it actually happening are two completely different things [though]."
Postl called Myers a "godsend" as he has been helping him get booked on the independent scene.
"Curt Hawkins [also known as] Brian Myers, he has been a godsend. He's my best friend in this business. Him and Kofi [Kingston] are my two best friends from this business and Brian has gotten me out there and he [has] really helped me. Like I said, he's a godsend. The minute [the release] happened, I texted him. I called him, actually. I was a bag of nerves for sure and emotions and all that. He assured me that [I'm] going to be fine and he took care of me. He set me up with about 10 or 12 dates within three hours, it seemed. I owe a lot to him at this point."
When asked whether Postl considered leaving WWE prior to his release, he indicated that he had, but decided against it because it would have been a bad business decision.
"I would like to say 'no', but you often think, especially when you're sitting in that just kind of floating around and not being used and that stuff, you always happen to think at times, 'am I happy? Am I truly happy?' And I was providing for my son and that's what matters. If the bills, as one Steve Austin said, 'those things that come in the mail called bills', if they're getting paid, that's what matters in the end and they were getting paid. It was very frustrating at times, things getting shot down or 'I don't think that's the way we want to go right now'. 'Okay, if not right now, when?' And it goes unanswered, kind of thing. But did I think about [leaving WWE]? Yeah, but it would have been a very dumb move on my part."
Although Postl acknowledged that he failed WWE's Wellness Policy, he claimed that he did so because he could not produce a urine sample within the allotted timeframe, not for using prohibited substances.
"I couldn't pee very simply. I couldn't pee for the test in the allotted time and that was against the Wellness Policy. I get that. I fully agree. My only gripe was the wording of it. When you say it's a failure of the Wellness Policy, it comes off as I'm a drug user and that is something I am not. I'm not a drug user. I don't do that. I have a son at home and that's what really upset me is that it got put off as though I'm a drug user. And I have a son and a future to look forward to, so I just think the wording could have been a lot better."
Despite being a casualty of WWE's Wellness Policy, 'Swoggle' indicated that he does see the program in a positive light.
"I am fully on board with the Wellness Policy. Even after being suspended by it, I'm fully on board with it. I think it's really keeping people healthy in general. Yeah, 100% I think it is [working]. I really do."
Click here to listen to the podcast. If you use any of the quotes that appear in this article, please credit The Ross Report with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Source: The Ross Report