Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/03/27/brodie-lee-wwe-offered-ungodly-money-to-stay-explains-why-he-left/
Brodie Lee was a guest on Friday’s edition of Talk is Jericho with Chris Jericho. The 40-year old recently joined All Elite Wrestling and this was his first interview discussing his mounting frustration in WWE, the decision to leave the company, and WWE’s attempt to retain the performer.
POST Wrestling’s Andrew Thompson listened to the entire interview with Brodie Lee and has the following notes:
-During the period that he was sitting at home, Brodie Lee tried multiple times to pitch ideas/storylines to Vince McMahon and Vince would tell him that he would “read the ideas on his jet” and Chris Jericho said he’s heard that plenty of times so apparently that’s code for Vince isn’t gonna listen
-WWE was trying to renegotiate with Brodie all the way up until he was released in December. He said his conversations with Vince were very limited up until he decided to ask for his release. Once he did that, Vince called him twice and they had 20-minute convos where Vince was open to hearing him out — asked him if he wanted a push, more money, etc. At this point, Brodie was just ready to leave
-Lee for sure wants to go to New Japan
-Daniel Bryan was the one who called Brodie about returning at Clash Of Champions to work with him, Rowan and Roman Reigns
-Triple H told Brodie that he could possibly get him into New Japan. They also discussed a move to NXT. Lee just believes that WWE didn’t believe in him because if they did, what would be so difficult about moving him to NXT
-Mark Carrano called Brodie Lee and told him that he should take down his “release request” post and that would maybe change Vince McMahon’s mind about using him. Vince straight up told Lee that he had nothing for him. Brodie even asked to just do house shows and he was willing to put over anybody. He just wanted to wrestle
-WWE offered him “ungodly” money. Brodie said he almost resigned because of the amount. He said WWE is focused on just keeping everybody. One of the reasons he almost re-signed is because of the money he’d be bringing in for his family. His wife was the one that stepped in and told him to leave because she knew he’d be miserable
-Tony Khan told Lee that he didn’t have to debut on that empty arena Dynamite if he didn’t want to. Lee said he just went along with it because he doesn’t know the next time that AEW would be back in front of a crowd. Also, he, Evil Uno and Stu Grayson are actually good friends
-Someone in WWE showed Rowan and Brodie a picture of “Demolition” and told them that’s what Vince McMahon wanted them to be.
-Recalled a time where he sat outside Vince’s office for three hours waiting to pitch something and when he finally got in there, Vince said he didn’t want to see anybody. There is also a thing that Jericho spoke about as well — do not try to talk to Vince McMahon while he’s eating. Lee said he went to go talk to Vince while he was eating a salad and all Vince kept talking about was the dressing on the salad
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