Viktor was signed by WWE in 2011 and spent over two years in the developmental system before linking up with Konnor as part of The Ascension.
The Ascension quickly rose up the NXT ranks, winning the NXT Tag Team Titles in 2013. After nearly a year with the belts, the duo lost the titles as they were being prepped to be moved to the main roster. Only Viktor didn't think a main roster move was coming.
"That very day, at that moment, I thought they might fire me. Nobody had said anything like that, I just always had that fear in my head like, 'Hey, you've been in development all this time, we tried, too bad, see you later.' It was odd that day because we had done live events (on the main roster) right before we lost the NXT Tag Team Titles. That was the first time I had gone on the road and I had been in developmental for almost five years. I had so much doubt that it would ever happen. We were just waiting and we were told, 'you guys are good, just stay healthy,' but there wasn't communication of what was happening. It was frustrating. That day it was like [Triple H said], 'You're coming up, finally talked the old man into it. He saw the pay-per-view and thought it was awesome. He gets it,'" recalled Viktor on the Lewis Nicholls Show.
Viktor noted that he was the only one in the room who didn't look happy upon hearing he and Konnor had been called up and that Triple H pointed out his sad look.
Elsewhere during the interview, Viktor discussed his WWE release, saying he was relieved when it happened. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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