Former IC Champion joined WWE after accidental text message to Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon played an important role behind the scenes in WWE before his first exit from the company in 2009. In a recent interview, former Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel (real name Joe Hennig) recalled how Vince McMahon's son helped him land a WWE tryout earlier in his career.
As a rookie, Axel trained at a wrestling school owned by WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race. The 45-year-old once messaged someone to buy a set of $5 wrestling DVDs. However, he accidentally sent the text to Shane McMahon.
Axel said on Monte and The Pharaoh he was surprised to receive a reply from Shane, who asked what he wanted to talk about.
"I asked the dude like, 'Hey, do you have those DVDs for sale still?' And I text it, on accident, to Shane McMahon. I was like, 'Oh, c**p,' and I sat in my truck, waiting, no reply, and then I go in the gym, workout, come out, and I got two texts from Shane McMahon going, 'Yeah, bro, I'll be up for a while. What do you wanna talk about?'" he said. [21:08 – 21:39]
Shane McMahon was close friends with Axel's father, 'Mr. Perfect' Curt Hennig, before the WWE Hall of Famer passed away in 2003. He had no problem with Axel's text and wanted to help him find his way in the wrestling business.
"I just call him," Axel continued. "I'm like, 'Hey, Mr. McMahon, I'm so sorry. I was texting this other brother trying to get DVDs from him because he's moving out.' He said, 'First of all, don't call me Mr. McMahon. Your dad is one of my brothers. I'm looking out for you.'" he added. [21:43 – 22:03]
Axel previously appeared on WWE television at his late father's 2007 Hall of Fame induction. However, he had not yet signed with WWE when he accidentally contacted McMahon.
Curtis Axel's Shane McMahon text led to a WWE tryout
Two weeks after the interaction, Curtis Axel received a tryout at WWE's former Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) developmental territory in Tampa.
Axel said then-FCW coach Dusty Rhodes liked his practice match with Jack Swagger and agreed to sign him:
"Dusty [said], 'Do 10 minutes, son. Let's see what you got.' I said, 'Okay.' We went 12 [minutes] and Swagger's like, 'Holy c**p, this guy knows what he's doing,' and Dusty's like, 'Okay, we'll sign you up, boy.'" [23:36 – 23:52]
Axel wrestled for WWE between 2007 and 2020. In 2022, he returned as a producer on a part-time basis for three months.
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Please credit Monte and The Pharaoh and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.