Chris Masters Claims WWE Treated Him Like A Veteran At 21 Despite Being “Just A Kid”

Chris Masters is looking back at his early WWE run and admitting that things may have moved a little too fast for him at the time.

During his appearance on Chris Van Vliet’s show, Masters opened up about how young he really was when he debuted in WWE and how his physique created a completely different perception backstage. While fans saw a polished powerhouse, Masters says the reality behind the scenes was very different.

“I was 21. Yeah, ’cause I was — I know that because I was turning 22 when I worked the Elimination Chamber. Yeah, like that’s how that always stands out to me.”

Masters explained that his size and conditioning made it easy for others to assume he was older and more experienced than he actually was. That perception followed him into a locker room filled with veterans, many of whom treated him like he was already fully developed as a performer.

“I definitely didn’t look my age. And I think most of the guys didn’t even treat me like I was my age because of that, you know? Like I was a kid.”

He pointed out that he was surrounded by established names he had grown up watching, which only made the situation more surreal. Despite being placed in that environment, Masters admitted he didn’t yet have the maturity or experience people expected from him.

“It was like me, Muhammad Hassan, and like, you know, René Dupree, just a few young guys amongst a locker room of men that most of us kind of grew up watching.”

Looking back now, Masters recognizes that while he may have looked the part, he was still figuring things out just like any other young talent trying to find their footing in the business.

“Most of them just kind of treated me like I was a grown man when really, you know, I was a kid… I just looked older. It doesn’t mean I was necessarily more mature or, you know, had any kind of wisdom or anything like that at that point.”

Masters’ comments give a clearer picture of how quickly WWE can elevate talent—and how appearances can sometimes create expectations that don’t match reality. Even with all the physical tools, experience is something that only comes with time.

Do you think Chris Masters was pushed too quickly in WWE, or did he benefit from being thrown into that environment early? Let us know your thoughts and drop your feedback below.

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