Olympic Gold Medalist Explains Why He Turned Down WWE Contract

Delicious Orie had a chance to jump from the boxing ring to the squared circle, but he’s not ready to leave his gloves behind just yet. The 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2023 European Games gold medalist revealed that he turned down a WWE contract offer after visiting the Performance Center and getting a taste of life in pro wrestling.

Orie fueled speculation about a move to WWE back in September 2024 when he was invited to NXT and trained at the Performance Center. A month later, he confirmed he had received an official contract offer. However, after some serious consideration, he ultimately decided to stick with boxing.

Speaking with TalkSport, Orie admitted the decision wasn’t easy. “I went out to Florida for a week, I got to experience their shows, the training, the acting, it was beautiful and amazing,” he said. “I got to meet a lot of the superstars and I got the whole immersive experience, so it was a hard decision.”

The super-heavyweight boxer made it clear that money wasn’t the deciding factor—it was about his long-term happiness. “It’s one thing earning money, but it’s another thing fulfilling myself in life. If I’m 60 or 70 years old, thinking will I be happy if I go down the WWE route?” he explained. “I thought when I’m older looking back, as long as I give everything to boxing, I will be a happy man.”

Orie competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris but fell short in the round of 16 against Davit Chaloyan via split decision. Despite that setback, his focus remains on boxing, and for now, WWE will have to wait.

Would you have liked to see Delicious Orie in WWE, or did he make the right call by staying in boxing? Drop your thoughts in the comments!