Elijah Burke turned down an opportunity to join the Spirit Squad faction during his time in WWE.
Speaking on a recent edition of “The Ten Count” podcast, the former WWE Superstar commented on turning down an offer to be a part of the WWE stable featuring male cheerleaders.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On turning down the chance to join the group: “I always think long term, not just short term, ‘Hey look, I’m on TV and I’m with the chairman. ‘ Nah, I just didn’t feel it,” he said, “It was not me, and more importantly, I wasn’t going to go out there and be the token black guy. It’s always got to be one; I wasn’t going to be that in that group.”
On how he expects it might have gone: “I got natural hair. I probably would have been asked to put, you know, either wearing my afro all the time. Not saying they would have, but I could certainly have seen it. ‘I’m a cheerleader; hey, let’s put some afro puffs in your head,’ you know.”
On Dolph Ziggler managing to get past the group’s infamy and become a star: “Ziggler went, and he put in the work, and he was able to remove that stench of the Spirit Squad that ultimately became a joke.”
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Elijah Burke, a former WWE Superstar, recently revealed that he turned down an offer to join the Spirit Squad faction during his time in the company. The Spirit Squad was a stable consisting of male cheerleaders, and Burke explained his reasons for declining the opportunity.
During an episode of “The Ten Count” podcast, Burke expressed that he always thinks long term and considers the impact of his decisions beyond just the immediate benefits of being on TV and associated with the chairman. He stated, “It was not me, and more importantly, I wasn’t going to go out there and be the token black guy. It’s always got to be one; I wasn’t going to be that in that group.”
Burke also shared his concerns about how his appearance might have been portrayed if he had joined the Spirit Squad. He mentioned that he has natural hair and speculated that he might have been asked to wear his afro all the time or have afro puffs added to his head. While he acknowledged that this may not have happened, he expressed his reservations about potentially being subjected to such stereotypical portrayals.
Despite turning down the opportunity, Burke commended Dolph Ziggler for managing to overcome the infamy of being part of the Spirit Squad and becoming a successful WWE star. He credited Ziggler’s hard work and dedication for removing the stigma associated with the group, which eventually became a joke.
The podcast episode also included a video interview with Elijah Burke, where he discussed turning down WWE’s creative pitch, Hulk Hogan’s time in TNA, and WWE’s ECW. The interview provides further insights into Burke’s career and experiences in the wrestling industry.
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In conclusion, Elijah Burke’s decision to decline the offer to join the Spirit Squad showcases his commitment to his own identity and long-term goals. While he recognized the potential exposure that being part of the group could bring, he prioritized staying true to himself and avoiding being typecast. His comments shed light on the complexities and considerations that wrestlers face when making career decisions in the entertainment industry.