Trick Williams looks to etch his first WrestleMania moment at WrestleMania 42. However, his journey to WWE nearly stalled before it even started. As it turns out, the opportunity that changed his career didn’t exactly look legit at first glance.
Speaking on First Take via ESPN, Williams reflected on his path into wrestling, which began far from the squared circle.
His focus remained firmly on football, including a stint at the University of South Carolina and a shot with the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp before being released.
Wrestling, at that stage, wasn’t even on his playbook.
How WWE’s ‘Random’ Email Led Trick Williams to WrestleMania 42
Williams explained that his entry into WWE came through an unexpected — and initially suspicious — email.
While working with an agent to secure a spot in the XFL, his details were placed into a shared database because of the league’s connection with WWE at the time. That link led to a sudden tryout invitation landing in his inbox.
“I thought it was fake,” Williams admitted, noting how unfamiliar the entire process felt.
Growing up in South Carolina without ties to wrestling, the message came across more like spam than a shot at stardom. He even joked about questioning whether he wanted to trade cleats for “tights,” a decision that clearly wasn’t an easy sell at first.
“And it was a random email, you know, ‘Are you interested in coming to this tryout?’ I thought it was fake, you know what I mean? I was like, man, I gotta wear these tights, man? I don’t know if I gotta wear these tights. You know, do something with your life, son, and here we are. Uh, it all worked out.”
Despite the hesitation, Williams attended the 2018 tryout. The feedback he received emphasized that he had the charisma but needed in-ring experience. That feedback pushed him to train at Combat Zone Wrestling before signing with WWE in February 2020. This pivot proved to be more than just a gimmick change.
Interestingly, Williams faced similar doubt years later when he received a message about his main roster call-up in early 2026. He only started to believe the possibility after official travel details appeared.
Now, with a United States Championship match against Sami Zayn on deck, Williams’ story has come full circle — from questioning emails to cashing in on the grandest stage.
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