Izzi Dame has offered strong praise for Shawn Spears, saying the veteran WWE NXT performer and coach had a major impact on the direction of her professional wrestling career.
Dame discussed her experience working with Spears during an appearance on Busted Open. Although their on-screen alliance in The Culling came to an end in June 2026, Dame made clear that the time she spent alongside Spears remains one of the most valuable stretches of her development.
“I will give credit where credit is due. I think Shawn Spears single-handedly changed the course of my career,” Dame said. “I will forever give him credit for — I just feel like he spoke to me in a way that made wrestling make sense. So being able to go under his wing for the short period of time till we had to, you know, end him a couple months ago, was probably some of the most beneficial — one of the most beneficial times in my career. He really did teach me so much about the ins and the outs and the psychology of everything so, I will give him credit for that.”
A Short Run With a Lasting Effect
The Culling had given Dame an important setting in which to further establish herself on NXT television. The group’s presentation placed personalities with differing roles together under an intimidating banner, and Spears’ presence brought a veteran voice into the act. Dame and Niko Vance ultimately removed Spears from the faction in June, ending the association on screen, but Dame’s comments indicate that the professional lessons from that run have endured.
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There is a meaningful distinction in Dame’s remarks between a storyline separation and the work that happens around a performer’s growth. She referred to Spears as someone who could explain wrestling in a way that clicked for her. For a developing talent, that type of communication can be as important as any individual instruction. Wrestling requires an athlete to absorb timing, positioning, character motivation, match structure, crowd response and the rhythm of television production at once. A mentor who can organize those ideas into a clear approach can help accelerate that process.
Dame specifically highlighted Spears’ understanding of “the ins and outs” and “the psychology of everything.” That emphasis points to the elements of wrestling that go beyond executing moves. Psychology encompasses why a wrestler makes a particular choice, when a moment should be slowed down, how an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses are used in a match, and how a performer guides the audience through the story being told in the ring.
It is also the kind of learning that can have an impact long after a formal pairing has ended. Dame did not frame Spears’ influence as limited to their Culling material. Instead, she said he changed the course of her career, a substantial endorsement of the role he played during their time working together.
The Culling’s June Split
The on-screen relationship between Dame, Vance and Spears changed decisively in June 2026, when Dame and Niko Vance kicked Spears out of The Culling. The move closed one chapter for the group and pushed its remaining members into a new direction without the veteran at its center.
Professional wrestling regularly uses faction changes to redefine characters, create new rivalries and provide performers with an opportunity to show a different side of themselves. In this case, the split also created a notable contrast between Dame’s television actions and her real-world assessment of Spears. Within the story, Dame was part of the group’s break from Spears. Away from the ring, she has been unequivocal about the positive effect he had on her.
That contrast is not unusual in WWE, where performers often work closely with people they may later oppose on television. Alliances, betrayals and departures are part of the presentation, while the collaboration needed to make those stories work can still be productive for everyone involved. Dame’s comments underline that an angle’s conclusion does not erase the learning that occurred while the act was together.
Spears’ Reputation as a Resource for Developing Talent
Spears has received praise from other NXT talent for his willingness to share his experience. Former NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey is among those who have spoken positively about learning from him. Dame’s comments add another perspective to that reputation, particularly because she described the impact in terms of how she understands the craft itself.
Veteran guidance can take many forms in a developmental environment. It may involve feedback on a match, a conversation about character work, advice on pacing a segment or a broader discussion about the purpose behind a sequence. The value often depends on whether the teacher can meet a performer at the right point in their own development. Dame’s description of Spears speaking to her in a way that made wrestling “make sense” suggests that his approach resonated on that level.
There is no suggestion in Dame’s comments that the process was only about physical training. Her focus on psychology is especially notable because it speaks to a wrestler’s decision-making. Strong fundamentals matter, but performers also need to understand how to make audiences invest in a conflict, recognize turning points in a match and build emotional stakes around their character. Those areas are central to becoming a more complete television wrestler.
For Dame, the period under Spears’ wing may have been brief, but she described it as among the most beneficial periods of her career. That is a significant statement from a performer continuing to build her identity in NXT.
What Dame’s Comments Say About Her Next Steps
Dame’s willingness to openly acknowledge Spears’ influence also reflects a confidence in her own ongoing growth. Rather than presenting herself as a finished product, she credited a specific mentor and identified the aspects of wrestling where his guidance mattered. That kind of perspective can be important for a performer whose role continues to evolve after a faction shake-up.
The end of Spears’ tenure in The Culling put Dame and Vance in a position to move forward without the figure who had previously served as a major presence in the group. On television, that allows the remaining members to define what The Culling is without him. From Dame’s standpoint, however, the lessons she took from Spears can remain part of how she approaches the ring, regardless of where the group’s stories go next.
Her comments should not be read as a sign that the faction’s June split has been undone. Dame plainly referenced the fact that Spears had been removed from the group. Instead, her remarks provide context for the working relationship behind that storyline. She recognized Spears as an influential figure in her development while still acknowledging the path The Culling took after his exit.
Respect Beyond the Storyline
In wrestling, the clearest public measure of a veteran’s influence is often found in the comments of the performers who worked with them. Dame’s assessment was direct: she believes Spears changed the course of her career. Her praise centered on clarity, mentorship and a deeper understanding of wrestling psychology rather than on a single match or isolated moment.
That makes her reflection especially telling. The Culling’s association with Spears may have ended after Dame and Vance expelled him in June 2026, but Dame has made it clear that the experience was not something she is dismissing. She views it as a formative chapter that helped her better understand the craft.
As Dame continues her NXT journey, the lessons she credited to Spears will remain part of the larger story of her development. The group may have moved beyond its former leader on screen, yet Dame’s words show that his influence on her work has left a lasting impression.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.