Luke Harper posts a statement on his WWE status, questions whether he still has it.
Earlier this week it was announced that Luke Harper would be part of next week's WrestleMania Axxess events. Harper is currently scheduled to face Dominik Dijakovic on Apr. 4 at the NXT vs. NXT Alumni event. Harper hasn't been on WWE television since August 2018 when he and Rowan lost the SmackDown Tag Team Titles to The New Day. He was sidelined with a wrist injury from October 2018 through the end of the year, but returned at a live event on Mar. 9.
Today, Harper released a statement on his WWE status and the self-doubt going through his head.
"I've been cleared since February 6th. I haven't been brought to one television taping since I left to have double ligament reconstruction wrist surgery on October 2nd, 2018.
Next Thursday I will be wrestling Donovan Dijak at Axxess.
I read all the texts I got that said, "you're back on axxess???" I was kind to all the people at the gym asking if I'm retired. I swallowed my pride when agents and writers asked me if I was still hurt when completely healthy. And now here we are. April 4th, 2019 'When Worlds Collide' at Axxess. Luke Harper vs. Donovan Dijak. How will I respond? How will I change things? Well to all of you this may just be a throwaway axes match, but I can assure you to me it is much, much more. This is test. No one has to be happy with the results except for me. That's the true test. Do I still have it? Can I compete with a young, up and coming, incredibly talented not prospect? Am I too old? Has the game passed me by? Am I as good as I really think I am? It brings me near tears to write this because I truly believe I have so fucking much to offer this industry. I believe I will be a World Heavyweight Champion someday. I believe that, bust these are the doubts I live with daily. These are the doubts that creep in your head during rehab. These are the thoughts you think when you watch your left side atrophy. Being ignored and left home for months exasperated these thoughts and it sucked.
I promise you I will come prepared and you will get my very best that night Mr. Dijak Just know, be careful thinking of this as just an axes match because to me, this is Wrestlemania. I'm not throwing away my shot."
You can view Harper's full statement below.
— Luke Harper of WWE (@LukeHarperWWE) March 29, 2019
It is unknown when Harper will return to WWE television.
