Liv Morgan's path to WWE ran through a Hooters across the street from a GED testing center, and she walked Holly Madison through the full story on the latest episode of You Wish.
Morgan grew up in a household with little stability and made a decision about her future at five years old while watching WWE on television.
"I just told myself in my head: that's what you're going to do when you get older, and you're going to save your family, is quite literally what I said," Morgan said. "I didn't know that I'd really be able to follow through on that. Luckily I was able to. I just loved it and just knew right away."
The circumstances at home gave her plenty of reason to look for a way out. "We just kind of grew up in a very chaotic environment. We didn't have a lot of money, no connections. My mom was a single mom raising seven kids. My father had a heart attack at my dinner table before I was born."
Morgan left school during her sophomore year to help at home, eventually getting her GED. The location of the testing center set the rest in motion.
"I dropped out of high school my sophomore year. My mom was having some health issues, I missed a lot of days of school. They wanted me to repeat a grade and I did not want to repeat a grade," Morgan said. "So I dropped out and got my GED. Across from the GED center was a Hooters, so I went and applied, and that's where I met pretty much who recruited me to WWE."
The recruiter was Joe Franco, a strength and conditioning coach whose client list includes Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. A conversation during a routine shift turned into an opportunity.
"He was at Hooters with his family and we were just making small talk. I'd said something about wrestling and it sparked up this conversation. Before I knew it, I was talking his ear off with all my wrestling knowledge and he was just like, 'All right, no promises, but I think I can put in a good word for you. Come to my gym. We'll work out. We'll just see.' I went to his gym and he trained me for free every single day, five days a week."
Six months later, Morgan flew to Orlando for a WWE tryout. It was her first time on a plane, and she quickly discovered she had packed incorrectly. "I didn't know the difference between a check bag and a carry-on. I only brought a check bag. When I got to the gate, I saw everyone with their carry-on and I'm like, 'Oh, was I supposed to get my bag back?'"
The call came weeks later while she was getting ready for a Hooters shift. "I cried. It was the best moment of my life. I get a phone call from WWE and they're like, 'We just wanted to give you some good holiday news, we would love to offer you a contract.' My brother was at my house and he knew just by my reaction that I got signed. Going to that Hooters shift that day was so hard. I was like, 'I'm ready to go now.'"
She credits one ritual she kept every night for years with making it happen. "My 11:11 wish every single night was: grow up and be in the WWE. When it came true I was like, 'Wow, that shit works.'"
Morgan challenges Stephanie Vaquer for the Women's World Championship on Night One of WrestleMania 42 on Saturday, April 18, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
