Ahead of an appearance in the UK next month, ex-WWE star Donovan Dijak shared some advice for those Superstars released from the company last week.
NXT and Raw star Dijak, was himself released from WWE in June 2024 when the company decided not to renew his contract. Eight months on, there are few better placed to offer their experience and advice to others.
Donovan Dijak in NXT
“When those releases started happening, that was the first time in a very long time where I didn’t have to experience the other end of it, which is kind of a bittersweet sort of moment.” Said Dijak.
“Nothing sweet about it, but that’s the first time where I started seeing the thing where “so and so has been released” and then another name keeps coming out every so often.
Because usually when that happens, and I still have PTSD about it, all my friends start texting me and then we start staring at our phones and we’re looking at it and you’re just waiting for a phone call.”
Dijak, who is set to debut for Burning Heart Pro Wrestling in Liverpool next month for their inaugural Championship Tournament, offered up some sage words for those affected.
Duke Hudson, Sonya Deville, Cedric Alexander, Akam and Rezar (aka AOP), Blair Davenport, Paul Ellering, Giovanni Vinci, Isla Dawn and The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) were the unfortunate Superstars that did receive the phone call last week.
“A lot of these people are my friends and a lot of them I have reached out to. What do you say to someone in that position that can change how they feel? The answer is nothing. There’s nothing that anyone could say to me at that time that could change how I felt.” Said Dijak.
“It was a difficult time in my life because I cared a lot about that stuff. I still care a lot. But I’ve had time to experience outside (WWE). So ultimately the advice is the advice they’re going to hear from other people, which is you’ll feel better in six months.
In this moment there’s not much that helps. I can’t snap my fingers and take it away. I can’t.
If you do what you’ve been doing, you will have more of an opportunity to control your future and once you do that, you’ll feel a lot better about the situation that you’re in. I know that’s similar to what other people say and it’s not comforting in the moment
Keep focused on the things you can control, do your best not to worry about the things that you can’t. I know that’s easier said than done. I know nobody wants to hear that, but that’s the truth and that’s reality.”
Ahead of his Burning Heart Pro Wrestling quarter final match against British stalwart Robbie X, Dijak heaped praise on the British wrestling scene.
“It’s tremendous. My first opportunity in the UK scene was in 2015 or 2016. It was super hot back then and it’s continued to trend in an upward direction. I can’t remember the last time I wrestled a UK talent and it was a difficult situation.
They’re always at a point in their career where I feel like I can collaborate unfiltered with them and not have to worry about, ‘Are they going to do this right?’ ‘Are they going to do that right?’
Dijak will face off against Robbie X at Burning Heart Pro Wrestling
So from the in-ring aspect, it’s always a pleasure. The fans are always on the same page. They always bring it to the next level. It’s always a great opportunity and the payoff is always there as well in terms of emotional and vocal feedback.
I’m looking forward to it very much and I think it’s going to be an outstanding weekend.”
Burning Heart Pro Wrestling hosts a Championship Tournament weekender in Liverpool and Manchester on the 8th and 9th March! Various ticket tiers and packages are available for including weekend combo tickets here.
