Real1 Discusses a Potential WWE Return: ‘I Don’t Know If It Will Ever Happen’

Former WWE Superstar Real1, aka Enzo Amore, appeared on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast this week, discussing a potential WWE return and people asking him about going back to WWE. Real1 stated that he doesn’t “know if it will ever happen” regarding a WWE return.

The wrestler also later stated, “It takes two to tango in this business. So, you can’t work with anybody if they don’t want to work with you.” Below are some highlights:

Real1 on people asking him about going back to WWE

“You know, people ask me all the time, ‘Bro, when are you going back to the WWE?’ I mean, it’s the most common question I get everywhere I go. And to be honest with you, I’ve never called them. I’ve reached out via text message. I’ve gotten responses, which is cool, but I’ve never actually picked up the phone. And they never called me, that’s for damn sure. So, I don’t answer that question with a it’s definitely going to happen or it’s definitely not going to happen. I just don’t know if it will ever happen. And I have to look at it and say, you know, why wouldn’t it happen? Well, ****. For one, people are scared ****less of me. I’m the ****ing best in the world by far. By far. Like, second place couldn’t see my ass with a pair of binoculars. Humble telescope, dude. I mean, I’m a star, and you knew it the first time you saw me. And that’s confidence. And I bring that same confidence because I don’t have a nervous bone in my body.”

On showing his confidence to Shane McMahon backstage

“I said it to Shane McMahon the day I debuted. Shane pulled me aside. He said, ‘Hey, man, are you nervous?’ And I said to Shane McMahon the night I was going to debut, before I went out there. I said, ‘Brother, I don’t have a nervous bone in my body. I’m going to grab that microphone, turn it into a brass ring, and start beating everybody over the ****ing head with it around here.’ Before you go through the curtain and actually do what you were saying. You know, that was a different Eric. That was a different Enzo. And that was not who I am today. You know, you got to grow in this business. I got to — I don’t put on a suit and tie. I still wear my Jordan swag, but you know, when I’m there at Fourth Rope, I’m there for the other talent.”

On how he used to look down upon the indie wrestling feds

“You know, the WWE showing me the world to the indies showing me bingo halls and armories where guys can’t remember a spot, and you got to know who you’re in the ring with and realize you once were in the ring with the best in the world. So now you’ve got to know that’s not this. And indies have been a learning experience that was invaluable for me, which all of my peers got. So they got to do that before they got to WWE. And I was spoiled. I was a spoiled brat. I used to tell people, ‘Oh, you work for New Japan, TNA? I don’t even know what the **** that is. Been in the WWE since day one, and that’s the only place I’m ever gonna wrestle. Welcome to the show, buddy.’ You know, saying that to a Fergal Devitt [Finn Balor] walking through the door or a Kevin Owens, you know, saying it with, you know, sincerity, but also with the knowledge and the rationale that I don’t know a lot, and I need to learn, and I can learn a lot from Finn Balor. I can learn a lot from Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn, and riding in the car with El Generico, and hearing Neville’s reasoning for why he did this or that. So, I got an education in this business, driving in cars with Windham [Rotunda, aka Bray Wyatt] and guys that you can never — they’re not even here anymore. My education can’t even be replicated, and timing is everything in life. And I had the benefit of good timing. I’ve been a blessed man with timing. Timing being my debut, Hunter [Triple H], and the people in the brass holding me and Big Cass back, at least we thought at the time.”

Real1 stating that WWE likely doesn’t want to work with him again

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder and and people wanting to eagerly see us on Raw and them holding us back to the moment where we debuted on the night after Raw. We could have debuted in Mississippi on a random RAW, and you would have never heard everybody say our **** with us when we came out. So timing is everything. Being FCW for a year before it became NXT, before they built a performance center. I was there building every single ring in NXT. And I had to set up the ring and learn how to set up the ring. And God bless my homie who’s dead, too. Got shot in the stomach. Ivan Warsaw, just a few months back. I lost one of my best friends in this business. And I would have never met him if it wasn’t for WWE. I got introduced to people, places, and things that I would have never seen. So, I am grateful for my time there, and I’m at such a place of peace right now that I’m not bitter about any of it. But, you know, I also am all knowing in the fact that, you know, you got to it takes two to tango in this business. So, you can’t work with anybody if they don’t want to work with you.”

As previously noted, Real1 (real name Eric Arndt) was released by WWE in January 2018, after it was revealed that a police investigation was being conducted regarding a rape allegation against him.

The case against Arndt was later closed after the Phoenix Police Department determined that they did not have sufficient evidence to carry on with an investigation.

Real1 later attempted to crash WWE Survivor Series 2018, where he appeared in the crowd and attempted to disrupt the show before being dragged off his chair by security officials and ejected from the arena.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit No-Contest Wrestling, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.