Since WWE released Big Damo, formerly known as Killian Dain, on June 25, the man sometimes called “The Beast of Belfast” has made it clear that he’s “champing at the bit” to get back in action and show the world what he can do.
Following the news that he has cleared the legal hurdles that had been blocking his return to the ring, it might only be a matter of time before fans see the big man do just that. In a recent interview with WrestleZone, Damo emphasized his excitement to officially resume his role an active competitor and work with the new wave of talented performers who are currently generating buzz throughout the industry.
“I’m really excited for what’s next, when I am able to get out and start doing this professionally again,” said Damo. “I’m very excited to see who I’m going to meet and who’s the crop of talent coming through.
There’s so much talent right now, all across the board, [as seen at AEW All Out] alone, there’s just so much talent across the board, it’s very exciting to see all the combinations you can have now, all the forbidden doors are open.”
Because the interview was recorded after AEW All Out, the pay-per-view naturally came up, and Damo cited Adam Cole, among others, as wrestlers he worked with in WWE who are now thriving in AEW.
“I spent a lot of time with Adam, I wrestled Adam a lot, actually,” said Damo. “Adam’s one of those guys who, everybody wants to work with, he’s a wonderful fella, whether you’re playing video games with him, or whether you’re wrestling with him, or even if you’re just hanging out with him, he’s one of those lovely lads, and I know he’s gonna fit in great there.”
Damo also named Bryan Danielson, who he wrestled in WWE, and several other AEW stars as performers he’d like to work with. But he also made it clear that, given the current state of the wrestling industry, where people are popping up in promotions across the board, he doesn’t necessarily have to sign with AEW to work with some of the wrestlers on his list.
“The talent there, I’ve just ran off like a fifth, a tenth of the talent who I’d love to work,” said Damo. “Honestly, whether it’s there or whether it’s somewhere else, there’s definitely a lot of people I’d adore to work [with]. There’s gonna be a great couple of years, I think, for the wrestling industry, and as I said before about the open door, like the forbidden doors, no matter where you can go, you might end up running into a lot of these people so… [laughs].”
Like Cole, Damo also pointed to 2point0 as success stories; whereas Cole willingly left WWE, Matt Lee and Jeff Parker, then known as Chase Parker & Matt Martel, were released by the company in the same wave of cuts as Damo. By noting 2point0’s status as foreigners in America and their post-WWE prominence in AEW, Damo expressed his belief that Lee and Parker can be a shining example, not just for him, but for other performers who wind up in the same situation going forward.
“[I’m] over the moon for those two, like they’re in a very similar boat to me, being foreigners in America, and [I’m] just delighted that it’s worked out for them,” said Damo. “And they’ve fallen upwards and they’ve fallen upwards hard, and I’m so happy for Matt and Jeff, they’re great lads, I had so much fun working them, and I know they’re gonna do great, and they’re just two lads who are, no matter what, are gonna be so important to the show, to a card.
“2point0 are the best example for everybody, especially people who aren’t from America. Anything can happen and as long as you’re willing to be unique and showcase your talent as best you can [and] have a good attitude, and those boys, they’ll probably never win a match. But honestly, I kinda feel at this point, they shouldn’t because they’re more entertaining for their excuses than anything else [laughs]. I’ve enjoyed watching The Show and keeping up with them as they’re doing their thing, so good for them, and hopefully they can be the example for a lot of them.”
Likewise, Damo also noted Aleister Black’s success since he left WWE. Now known as Malakai Black, he hit the ground running with his cinematic vignette building up a lot of buzz ahead of his AEW debut. Damo praised Black’s creativity and stated that he should also be an example for those who get released from WWE.
“Even the likes of Aleister Black and stuff like that, or Malakai Black, he literally, within a couple days, he was ready to go,” said Damo. “He had everything prepared, he knew how he wanted to present himself. You know, Tommy’s one of those lads who’s always incredibly creative, and he’s gonna be an inspiration for a lot of the ones over the next few years who are going to be released.”
The full interview is available here:
