Damian Priest’s path to the top was by no means easy, as he had to come to terms with several self-imposed issues holding him back. During a revealing interview on WFAN with Sal Licata, the 42-year-old champion opened up about the pivotal moment that transformed his life forever.

“I used to run a club in Atlantic City and I was set up. I mean, I didn’t have anything. I had nothing saved, no nothing to my name. But because of the job, I had a free apartment on the boardwalk in AC. I had a company vehicle, so I had a car, you know, and I had a job.

“And they wanted to give me more responsibility. And they wanted me to stop, you know, doing that. And this is quoting the owner at the time. He said, ‘I want you to stop doing that wrestling thing you do sometimes on the weekends.'”

With a decent job to his name, one that wouldn’t require painful bumps, many would have accepted this request. Instead, Priest realized the importance of chasing a dream.

“For whatever reason that day, it hit me a different way. And I was like, ‘Uh, you have my two weeks notice.'”

That decision left Priest essentially homeless, but it also sparked a transformation that saw him lose over 200 pounds and completely reshape his mindset. The journey wasn’t just physical—it was deeply personal.

“At the time, I was so miserable with myself that I treated others horribly. I look back now and I think about how I treated people, how I talked to people. Um, man, you talk about having regrets. That’s my biggest regret was being a bad person to other people for no reason.”

The transformation required what Priest called radical honesty with himself. For the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, he realized that there was no easy solution to his dilemma, and he would only succeed through hard work.

“I had to start being honest. And the moment I did that, you realize how many times you don’t want to give that answer. So, you actually work hard.”

Now, as he prepares for SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium, Priest’s story serves as proof that it’s never too late to start over—no matter how far you’ve fallen.

In an industry obsessed with finding the new young prospect, Damian Priest didn’t capture his first WWE championship until age 42—and he’s the first to admit that makes him an anomaly. Speaking to WFAN with Sal Licata, Priest reflected on reaching his peak in WWE at a time many are eyeing retirement.

“Yes. Like there’s others, don’t get me wrong. But it’s not as common. So 100% it’s definitely on the rare side.”

Priest’s journey to the top defies conventional wrestling wisdom. After 20 years in the business, including stints in Ring of Honor and on the independent circuit, he’s achieved more in five WWE years than many wrestlers do in their entire careers.

“It’s crazy the amount that’s happened in five years, but it feels like I’ve been here way longer.”

The key to his breakthrough wasn’t physical ability or fresh storylines—it was learning to be authentic. Priest credits Triple H with giving him career-defining advice that echoes mentorship from The Undertaker.

“My boss Triple H came up to me one day and he was like, ‘The day you stop trying to pretend to be you and you’re just you, you’re going to make a lot of money in this business.’ He goes, ‘Undertaker told me the same advice.'”

Priest acknowledged that there is some irony to this rallying cry for authenticity, given how wrestlers are often instructered to play larger-than-life characters.

“And he [Triple H] goes, ‘I know it’s weird, right? Because how am I how’s somebody telling you how to be yourself that you’re not being yourself like you know you?’ And he goes, ‘But one day it will click.’ And sure enough, one day it just did.”

That authenticity breakthrough came during a match with Finn Balor in NXT, leading to his main roster call-up and eventual championship success. The lesson extends beyond wrestling—sometimes the best version of yourself emerges when you stop trying to be what others expect.

Priest is hardly the first WWE World Champion to win gold despite being past what many would consider ‘the prime.’ The very first WWE Champion, Buddy Rogers, was also 42 when he won the gold, as was Ric Flair when he first won the WWE Championship in 1992. Bobby Lashley’s second run with WWE saw him capture the WWE Title on Raw’s March 1, 2021 episode, winning the gold at 44 years old.

As Priest prepares for SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium, his story offers hope to performers across all industries who feel they’ve missed their window. In a business that often prioritizes youth over experience, the 42-year-old champion proves that sometimes the best things come to those who wait—and work—for their authentic moment.