In 2022, Izzi Dame was competing as a professional volleyball player in Cyprus, an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Her journey took an unexpected turn when a message on social media opened the door to WWE, sparking a drastic career change in wrestling.
The Unexpected Instagram Message That Changed Everything
During an appearance on Going Ringside, Dame shared the surprising story behind her WWE breakthrough.
Long story short, I was living over in Cyprus playing professional volleyball,
she said.
We get a three-month break period. I signed a contract. I renewed it to go back and play a second year. I touched down for my summer break, and like a week after I got back into the States, I got an Instagram DM from the WWE recruit page. I thought it was a scam just like everyone thinks. Why would WWE want anything to do with me? What did they see in me? I was nobody. I was just a volleyball player literally playing volleyball on a small island in Europe. How random. Sure enough, they flew me out to Nashville [for a tryout]. It was real, and I ended up making it.
—Izzi Dame, as told on Going Ringside
Consequences of the Transition and Current WWE Role
Switching to WWE came with a steep price for Dame: a ten-year ban from professional volleyball in Cyprus. Despite this setback, she has embraced her new path, currently holding the WWE NXT Women’s North American Championship and supported by her Culling stablemates.
From Collegiate Volleyball to the WWE Spotlight
Before her overseas stint, Izzi Dame played volleyball collegiately at Eastern Michigan University. Now entrenched in the WWE NXT brand, her journey illustrates a massive transition from athlete on the volleyball court to prominent wrestler in the ring.
Izzi Dame’s WWE NXT Izzi Dame Transition highlights how unexpected opportunities can radically change an athlete’s career, showing perseverance amid uncertainty and significant professional risks. Her story may inspire others facing difficult career crossroads, while her championship status speaks to her dedication and successful adaptation within WWE.
