Scotty 2 Hotty Discusses Advice For Son Keegan And Other Second-Generation Wrestlers

Former WWE star Scotty 2 Hotty has advised second-generation wrestlers to build their own identities and focus on their connection with fans. Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, he also discussed his son Keegan Garland’s developing wrestling career.

Keegan works under his real name and has occasionally used ‘The Worm,’ the move his father made famous in WWE. Keegan has trained and wrestled on the independent circuit while occasionally appearing alongside and against his father in matches.

Scotty believes The Worm can work when they appear together. However, he does not want his son trying to recreate his career, noting that his main advice applies beyond second-generation wrestlers: “outwork everybody else.”

“I think he’s got to do his own thing. As you mentioned, he’s doing the worm. When we’re together, I think it works. I think he’s got to be careful of trying to recreate what I did. He’s using his real name. He’s used Keegan Garland, and my advice always, and not only to him or not even just second-generation wrestlers, outwork everybody else. Outwork everybody else. Don’t worry about what everybody else is doing. Just worry about outworking. That’s how I am, and I’ll tell it when I do a seminar before a show, I’ll say I’m going to outwork every one of you guys tonight, and I challenge you to outwork me. I don’t mean outbump you or do more moves. Outwork me, work that audience. So as long as you do that, you’ll stand out.”

He also addressed the criticism wrestlers with famous parents face:

“There’s another thing I would tell second-generation people, AJ’s son, all the stuff that he’s had to go through recently. Don’t listen to the noise. Don’t listen to the noise. There’s always been such all this nepo stuff.”

The veteran has experience in helping wrestlers through his training. Scotty 2 Hotty spent several years at the WWE Performance Center before becoming an AEW producer and coach in 2023.