WWE Tough Enough's ZZ Says He Isn't Retired From Pro Wrestling

The colourful and charismatic ZZ didn't win the 2015 season of WWE Tough Enough, but he did finish as a runner-up and subsequently signed a WWE developmental deal.

Though he only wrestled a handful of matches (including just one on an NXT house show) before being released in July 2016, ZZ doesn't consider himself retired from the business.

During a recent appearance on the Developmentally Speaking podcast, the swamp tour guide spoke about what he has been up to since leaving WWE and why he hasn't stepped back in the ring in the interim.

"When I got home, everybody wanted me to go wrestle on the independent circuit. 'Okay, alright'. I'm a people pleaser, so I'm going to do what the crowd wants. I went to find an organisation out of New Orleans called WildKat Sports. When I got there, I went through all the dues and did all the running. I was in there for a little while, but it slowly started to fade out for me. You are gonna eat powdered meat and Vienna sausage until you get to the top. That's just what it is. There is no middle comfortable crowd. You're either living from couch to couch on the independent circuit or you're at the top," ZZ said.

"I understand that some wrestlers have found a sweet spot and can make a decent living wrestling for different promoters and they charge different prices, but at the time, where I was and who I was, my age, for me, this swamp tour is what made me. This is my bread and butter. I couldn't give 100% to wrestling at the time and I couldn’t give 100% to [the swamp tour]. The more I worked here, the more tired I was at wrestling practice. The more tired I was at wrestling practice, the more I got hurt. The more I got hurt, the more I couldn't give 100% to [the swamp tour]. They were hindering each other, and eventually, I had to pick. 'What do I want to be known for? Where do I see my life in five years?'" he continued.

"I came back home and I settled in. I don't have any hard feelings towards WildKat Sports. Luke Hawx is a great guy. Whenever he has family come in, we'll do tours together. I came home and I leaned into my tour."

Continuing, the 27-year-old left the door open with regards to making a return to the squared circle, saying:

"By no means am I retired. I didn't leave WWE and go sit on a ranch somewhere in the middle of nowhere, but I did come back to my swamp tour and my swamp. Not full-blown retired, I'm still incredibly busy, but this is more or less where I believe I'm meant to be".

Eric Watts, a contestant on the 2011 edition of Tough Enough, returned to WWE in August as a member of the creative team.

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H/T Fightful