WWE NXT star Myles Borne has opened up about the bullying he experienced growing up because of his hearing impairment, revealing how those experiences shaped his outlook on life and motivated him to prove his doubters wrong.
During a recent interview with KRON 4, Borne discussed the challenges of living with hearing aids and a speech impediment, explaining that he frequently encountered people who focused on his disabilities rather than treating him as an individual. “My whole life, I’ve dealt with bullies and people who just always wanted to look at the fact that I had hearing aids and a speech impediment. For so many years, I had to turn the other cheek, be the bigger person, and treat people the way I want to be treated. Yet not everyone’s going to reciprocate that.”
Borne admitted that dealing with repeated bullying was frustrating, particularly because he had been raised to avoid initiating physical confrontations. Although he sometimes felt angry enough to consider retaliating, he explained that he ultimately chose to follow the values he had been taught. “I remember there were so many times when I had these intrusive thoughts about wanting to do something to a bully or to a person, but I couldn’t because I was always taught that you only defend yourself when someone puts their hands on you. You never start something, but you finish it.
“These bullies would never start it. They’re all talk. I always just wanted to do something, but instead, I had to be the bigger person.”
The NXT star also spoke about how people with disabilities are often treated differently, particularly when others assume they need sympathy or are incapable of achieving the same things as everyone else. Borne emphasized that he does not want to be patronized or defined by his hearing impairment. “There are so many people who have other disabilities, hearing impairments, or whatever disability you want to call it, who feel the same way.
“The one thing we hate more than anything is people who patronize us and feel sorry for us. That’s not what you should do. Don’t feel sorry for me. Why do you feel sorry for me? Because you think I can’t do what you do?”
Borne concluded with a pointed response to those who once doubted his abilities, highlighting his success in reaching WWE television despite the obstacles he faced. “Well, guess what? I’m the one in the ring, and everyone else who felt sorry for me is watching me on TV from home.”
His comments offer insight into the personal experiences behind his wrestling career and the importance he places on being recognized for his accomplishments rather than judged by his disability. For Borne, competing in WWE NXT has provided an opportunity to demonstrate what he can achieve while challenging the assumptions he has encountered throughout his life.
