Current Champion Received 10-Year Ban From Pro Volleyball In Cyprus After Signing WWE Contract

A current champion has recalled receiving a 10-year ban from playing professional volleyball in Cyprus after signing their WWE contract in 2022.

After three years with WWE, Izzi Dame is now a champion in the company for the first time after dethroning Thea Hail for the NXT Women’s North American Championship at New Year’s Evil.

While this is her first major success in WWE, Dame previously found success in volleyball, pursuing the sport professionally after graduating from Eastern Michigan University.

Speaking with Bully Ray on Busted Open, Dame discussed her signing with WWE in 2022 and how her decision to switch from volleyball to WWE landed her a 10-year ban from playing the sport in Cyprus for breaking her contract:

“I don’t even know how they [WWE] found me, I was living in Cyprus overseas on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea. So I actually signed my second year contract to go back and play professional volleyball. Flew back for our three month break that we get, touch down, got a DM from the WWE crew page.

“My dad was my coach all my life he was like ‘No, no you need to stick to volleyball’, whatever. My mom was like do it, come back to the States I’m one of eight, be home, this is a cool opportunity.

“So, I go to the tryout, I have 4,000 followers on Instagram, how these people found me I don’t know. I end up making it, I had to call my agent and break my contract in Cyprus and now I’m banned from playing there for 10 years. 10 years can’t play there”.

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In the same interview, Izzi Dame expressed frustration at being compared to other members of the roster – click here for full details.

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