Darren Young had wrestling fans thinking he was officially back with WWE as an NXT coach, but there’s one pretty important detail he needed to clear up. Just one day after celebrating his return to the Performance Center, Young clarified exactly where things currently stand with the company.
Young took to Twitter and explained that he spent the week at the WWE Performance Center as a guest coach, not as a new full-time member of the NXT coaching staff. He used the opportunity to observe how things are currently done while also getting some hands-on experience with WWE’s younger talent.
“This week, I made my rounds as a GUEST COACH, observing, learning, and seeing how things are done. But I also had the opportunity to work closely with some young hopefuls, brainwashing them into believing in themselves and exploiting the gifts they already possess! 💯”
And Young apparently already found a few prospects he’d happily take under his wing if this guest spot ever turned into something permanent. He singled out Hidetora Hanada, Amy and Austin as three wrestlers he particularly enjoyed working with.
“There were several others I enjoyed working with, but these three would definitely be my wrestling kids if I were there full-time!”
Young had plenty to say about Hanada, whose background includes sumo wrestling and football at Colorado State. More than anything, Young said it was Hanada’s willingness to actually listen and be coached that quickly won him over.
“Hidetora Hanada — I’ve already fallen in love with his willingness to be coached. Coming from sumo wrestling and playing football at Colorado State, he brings a unique background and a willingness to learn that I admire.”
He was also impressed by Amy, a dancer who apparently wasted no time showing what she could do when handed a microphone. According to Young, her performance in class helped earn her an opportunity on NXT television.
“Amy — A dancer with natural presence! She absolutely killed it on the mic during class, and that confidence helped earn her an opportunity on NXT television.”
Austin earned some praise as well. Young pointed to his background in bobsled and American football before revealing that his microphone work also earned him an NXT television opportunity alongside Amy — and apparently Young sees a little bit of Wade Barrett in him.
“Austin — With a background in bobsled and American football, he also showed what he could do on the mic in class, earning that NXT television opportunity alongside Amy. He reminds me of a young Wade Barrett!”
Young then explained the philosophy he brought with him during his guest coaching stint. Instead of trying to mold everybody into the same kind of WWE performer, he wants to figure out what somebody already does well and build around it.
“My philosophy has always been simple: don’t try to turn everyone into the same performer. Identify their gifts, build their confidence, and help them become the best version of themselves. 💯”
The clarification comes after Young’s emotional October 31 post celebrating his return to WWE exactly nine years after his release. At the time, he said he was back at NXT and grateful for the opportunity to help the next generation, which naturally gave the impression that he had joined the company as a coach. Young even talked about getting emotional whenever he pulled into the Performance Center after everything that had happened since his WWE departure.
“Nine years ago today, I was released from @WWE. Today, I’m back at @wwenxt, fighting back tears of joy every time I pull up to the Performance Center and grateful for the opportunity to give back to the next generation.”
So Young is back inside WWE’s Performance Center and getting a taste of life on the other side of the training ring, but he hasn’t landed a permanent coaching gig just yet. The interesting part is that he’s already openly talking about what things could look like “if” he were there full-time, so this guest stint certainly gave him a chance to see whether that’s a door worth walking through.
Would you like to see Darren Young become a full-time WWE NXT coach after his guest stint at the Performance Center? Let us know what you think in the comments.
