When Britt Baker first started wrestling in 2015, she quickly got a tryout with WWE thanks to a little advice from Rhino.
Speaking on Talk is Jericho, Baker discussed her WWE tryout in 2015 and why it wasn't the right time for her to join the company.
"One of the first seminars I ever did, IWC, had a Rhino seminar. I was debating on whether or not to do it. I was early in training, I couldn't have a match, I barely knew how to hit the ropes. I finally decided to do it. From that point on, Rhino was a huge mentor throughout my Independent career. He said, 'Have you submitted your stuff to WWE?' I said, 'No, I haven't even had a match yet. There's no way.' He looked at me and said, 'Let me ask you a question. WWVD? What would Vince do?' At the time, 'Who is this crazy man talking to me?' But I sent in all my stuff and very early on I had communications with WWE and had my first tryout right after I had my first match. I had no business being there. I was not any sort of name on the Independent scene, it was just catching someone's eye at a seminar," she said.
Baker revealed that she told lies to get out of dental school to attend the tryout. Bianca Belair, Lacey Evans, Velveteen Dream, and Sonya Deville were part of the tryout with Baker and all made it to the "final round" of cuts.
And that's when Baker got the news.
"[Senior Director of Talent Development for WWE] Canyon Ceman pulled me aside and he told me, 'You really impressed a lot of people at this tryout. But as a father, I have a really hard time pulling someone from a professional degree for this business.' My heart just sank."
Baker was brought back for a handful of enhancement matches on WWE Raw and NXT while she also pursued a career in dentistry. Before the launch of AEW, she was told by Cody & Brandi Rhodes to not sign with WWE, or anywhere, as they were hoping to land her for AEW. Baker listened to them and was the first female signed by AEW.
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