Former NXT star Joe Robinson, aka CJ Parker, recently spoke with Rolling Stone‘s Aaron Oster about his NXT departure, how the decision happened, being viewed as ‘enhancement talent’ by some, the possibility of a WWE return, and much more. You can read a few excerpts below:
CJ Parker talks NXT, that led to his WWE departure:
I think it just came down to personal growth as a performer. For a couple years now I watched guys come in, all these guys who are now very good friends of mine, who had experienced things and made themselves stars before they got to NXT. So just for my wrestling soul, I want to experience those things too. I want to earn my stripes the old-fashioned way. I want to wrestle in front of small crowds and go from the ground up. I’m 25, so if I was going to do that, if I was going to travel the world and live out of a suitcase, then now’s the time.
How long did he consider leaving?
It was a really, really hard decision. It wasn’t an overnight thing. It was something I had been playing with in my head for months and months. I had to do it. It was tough, but it needed to be done. I’m really excited and happy that I chose this direction for myself. It’s going to be fantastic.
Was he disappointed in being used as putting over stars over?
It wasn’t disappointing at all. To me, that’s a compliment. They have faith in you and they know you can go out there with anybody and make them look great. You can take the things that they’re really good at and amplify them. Everybody wants to be the guy who’s the star, the guy who everyone is looking at and the guy who the company is trying to get over. But sometimes you’re the other guy, and it’s your job to look as good as you can while making them look even better. It’s a compliment. When you’re a kid and you want to be a wrestler, you want to be a great wrestler. You want to be somebody who’s looked up to by his peers and the powers that be. At the very least, I did what was asked of me, and I did it to the best of my abilities. That wasn’t frustrating at all.
Could he see himself ever making a WWE return?
I don’t know, maybe? That’s years away. I’m only 25, so I have a while before a decision needs to be made. When I decided that I needed to leave, I knew that it might mean that I never come back. Even though we’re on good terms, business is business, and in five years who’s to say that they’ll want me to come back? Who’s to say that I’ll want to come back? You never know. As they say in wrestling, never say never.
