Dean Muhtadi, once known as Mojo Rawley, is revealing the frustrating reality of his decade-long tenure with WWE. During an episode of the Rule Breaker Podcast, the former WWE superstar shared that his 10 years under contract were marked by false hopes, brief matches, and missed chances. He admitted that leaving WWE was never his choice; instead, he remained hopeful that his big moment would eventually come.
Muhtadi reflected, “I didn’t want to leave at the time. Later I realized that it was a blessing and a perfect gift that all this happened.” Yet after a decade of waiting for a genuine breakthrough, the truth hit hard. He explained, “I was there for 10 years. I thought I could do more. Maybe everyone on the roster thinks that way, right? But then you realize, ‘Oh, well, I didn’t actually have a storyline.'”
Even when matches were planned in advance, they seldom led anywhere meaningful. He questioned, “How often did Mojo actually wrestle this guy next week, whether it was a 20-minute match or a 30-second match?” He recalled touring internationally with Apollo Crews, having some of his best matches, only to be reduced to a 30-second television appearance with little significance.
Despite this, Muhtadi held onto hope, saying, “I just wanted to get out there and be able to fail and try things.” He reminisced about advice from Fandango, who told him that success isn’t immediate but rather about sticking around. Unfortunately, Muhtadi never received his big chance, especially with COVID-19 disrupting everything. “I feel like I never reached that point,” he admitted.
His experience highlights a tough truth faced by many wrestlers—no storylines, little microphone time, and an unclear career path.
Fan Take: This candid revelation from Dean Muhtadi shines a light on the struggles many WWE talents face behind the scenes, reminding fans that not every wrestler’s journey is glamorous. It underscores the importance of storytelling and opportunity in wrestling, which are crucial for both performers’ growth and fans’ engagement with the sport.
