For Sami Callihan, 2019 has been a big year for the former NXT superstar.
The oVe leader has had fantastic bouts against talents such as Rich Swann, Tessa Blanchard, and Brian Cage throughout his 2019 run; however, his biggest accomplishment came when he defeated “The Machine” in a Steel Cage match for the Impact World Championship.
The 32-year-old’s run in Impact Wrestling showcased why he’s one of the top wrestlers in the world; however, fans didn't see Callihan's main event potential during his lackluster run in NXT.
Callihan – who was Solomon Crowe in the black and yellow brand – reveals to Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT why he decided to leave the company back in 2015, stating that he was not happy with just collecting a paycheck and being a toy on the shelf:
“I quit NXT because I wasn’t complacent. I wasn’t happy just collecting a paycheck and just being a toy on the shelf. I saw myself as a top guy, I had to go out and prove it and I’ve done just that. As soon as I got there, they wanted to change everything about me and I knew it wouldn’t work. I could have sucked it up probably been on RAW or SmackDown right now, but I’m not complacent to be the third or fourth guy, I want to be the top guy and I’ve been able to do that, I’ve proven that a normal white kid from Ohio can be the face of a company when that’s not the norm, because I connect with people,"
Callihan also discussed why he enjoys working with Impact Wrestling, citing creative freedom as the key factor:
"Impact Wrestling is probably the only company where our bosses are right there backstage at all times. If we have a grievance, we can talk to them right there and then. They aren’t afraid to try anything right now and I really believe that’s what has helped us stand out," Callihan said.
Check out the
full interview where Callihan talks about wrestling Tessa Blanchard, Impact being a true alternative, and so much more.
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