Jaxson Ryker On The Forgotten Sons, WWE Exit, Hulk Hogan, Purpose After Wrestling
Chad Lail spent 23 years chasing a dream that began when he was five years old, watching The Immortal Hulk Hogan on television. Wrestling first took him around the independent circuit as Phil Shatter, then to TNA as Gunner and finally to NXT and WWE as Jaxson Ryker.
Returning to Wrestling Life with Ben Veal for a second in-depth conversation, Chad reflected on serving in the United States Marine Corps while pursuing wrestling, sharing a ring with his childhood heroes and seeing promising runs end sooner than he expected. He also spoke openly about the fallout from his controversial 2020 tweet, his retirement and the purpose he has found beyond the ring.
From the Marine Corps to TNA’s Immortal
Chad began wrestling soon after leaving school in 2000. Following 9/11, he joined the United States Marine Corps but continued to take bookings when he could. He recalled travelling from his base in North Carolina to wrestle over the weekend, then getting back in the early hours of Monday morning before work.
When his four years of service ended, he had a choice: stay in the Marines or give wrestling everything he had. “Even if I fail, I have to at least attempt,” he remembered thinking.
His military experience later helped shape his Gunner character in TNA. The role took him into the Immortal faction alongside Hogan, whose larger-than-life persona had first inspired him to become a wrestler. Chad remembers being able to walk into Hogan’s dressing room to ask questions and learn from him.
Years later, at WrestleMania 2021, Hogan still recognised him. “He called me Gunner, which was funny, not Jaxson Ryker,” Chad said. Hogan told him he had always belonged in WWE, a moment Chad still treasures.
Pinning Sting and Chasing the TNA World Title
Another TNA memory stands out just as clearly: pinning Sting in a tag team match. Chad had expected the veteran to take charge of their work in the ring, but said Sting instead asked what he wanted to do.
As Sting made his entrance that night, Chad found himself thinking back to the child who had watched him on television. “Dude, you’re about to wrestle the Icon,” he recalled telling himself. Pinning one of his heroes became one of his favourite moments in wrestling.
Chad also challenged Magnus, now known as Nick Aldis, for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in Manchester. He said he knew he was not winning the title that night, but had heard there might be plans to build him towards a future reign.
A six-month feud with James Storm seemed to support that possibility. Chad praised the time they were given to develop the story, which culminated in an “I Quit” match. They also faced each other repeatedly on live events, putting considerable strain on Chad’s body.
When the feud ended, however, the hoped-for world title opportunity never came. His television role diminished, and TNA released him in 2015.
“I was up here one time moving up the ladder,” he said, “and all of a sudden I’m back down this first rung.”
Showing a Different Side Alongside Samuel Shaw
Chad also spoke fondly of his storyline with Samuel Shaw, who later became Dexter Lumis in WWE. The two had known each other for years and welcomed the chance to work together on television.
For Chad, it offered something he had wanted: room to talk and develop Gunner beyond the stern, often silent member of Immortal. The storyline led to intense matches, including one in Pittsburgh that he remembers for its chair shots and the freedom both men had to explore their characters.
“It helped me step outside of that always mad Gunner Immortal guy who just stood there and didn’t say anything,” Chad explained. He and Shaw remain friends and still laugh about moments from the story.
How the Forgotten Sons Came Together in NXT
WWE had always been Chad’s goal. When he arrived in NXT, the company asked him to suggest new ring names. He included Jaxson Ryker on his list and was pleased when WWE chose it: the change felt like the start of a fresh chapter.
His place in the Forgotten Sons came together gradually. Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler had begun working as a team, and Chad credits Steve Corino with suggesting that he join them as their enforcer. The three travelled together, developed ideas and shaped their act on NXT live events before reaching television.
Chad remembers that period warmly. He said Triple H gave performers room to contribute to their matches and characters, and even sought the group’s thoughts on their entrance music.
Being included in WWE 2K20 was another personal milestone. Chad had grown up playing wrestling games, so seeing Jaxson Ryker on screen felt surreal. His daughter’s reaction made it even better: “Dad, that’s you.”
The 2020 Tweet That Stopped Their SmackDown Run
The Forgotten Sons had moved to SmackDown when Chad posted a tweet expressing support for Donald Trump in 2020. He said the response from the WWE locker room came within minutes. Fellow wrestlers publicly criticised the timings of his tweet while he also received threats against his family and had personal information shared online.
WWE took the group off television. Chad maintained in the interview that he had not intended the post to be hateful, while acknowledging how profoundly its fallout affected Blake and Cutler too. He said there had been talk of a programme with The New Day that might lead to a WWE tag team title match.
“I feel bad about that because it put a halt on their careers as well, and that was never my intention,” he said.
Personally, Lail struggled during the months away from television. He had recently bought a house and worried about losing his job. Looking back, he said he withdrew from people close to him and wishes he had sought help from a therapist. His faith and the friends who kept checking on him helped him through that period.
Jaxson Ryker Appears At WWE WrestleMania 37
Chad eventually returned to WWE television alongside Elias. In 2021, he achieved the childhood goal that had driven him towards WWE: appearing at WrestleMania. The weather was wet and the event took place under highly unusual circumstances, but that didn't stop Chad from taking in the moment.
Standing in the stadium before the show, he looked around and thought, “Dang, man. This is it.”
He and Elias later worked together on Raw, though Chad recalled being surprised when WWE decided to split them. Their subsequent rivalry included a Symphony of Destruction match that remains one of his favourites from his time with the company.
Chad hoped the feud would lead to a singles run, but his appearances became less frequent. At the same time, years of wrestling were catching up with him. He described severe back pain and numbness and tingling in his arms. When WWE released him in November 2021, he was disappointed, but ready to consider what came next.
Why Chad Lail Retired from Wrestling
Chad wrestled his final match in North Carolina in August 2023 and left his boots in the ring. He misses entertaining a crowd and spending time with other wrestlers, but says he has no desire to return for another match. His body feels better, and he is happy to have made the decision on his own terms.
He now works in law enforcement, spends time raising his daughter and hosts the Walk Worthy podcast. Through it, he shares his Christian faith and speaks more openly about difficult parts of his life, hoping his experiences might help someone else.
Asked what makes him proudest of his wrestling career, Chad did not choose a title or a famous opponent. He chose the effort he gave, whether he was performing for 20 people at an independent show or thousands at a WWE event. “I lived a dream for 23 years,” he said. “What else have I got left to prove?”
About Wrestling Life Online
Wrestling Life Online is a digital platform dedicated to celebrating the personalities, history and human stories behind professional wrestling. Through in-depth interviews, editorial features and the annual Wrestling Life Hall of Fame, it honours performers whose impact extends far beyond championship reigns.
Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. The show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names and is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's bestselling autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman and author of Good Journeys: 25 Inspiring People & 75 Lessons Learned.
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