He was a first team all-Northwest Nine Conference pick on both the offensive and defensive lines for two-straight years.

[2] After graduating from high school, Macek went on to study at Duquesne University, majoring in sociology.

[8] Crusifino participated in the NXT men's breakout tournament,[9] but was defeated by Tavion Heights in the first round.

After the match, Crusifino would hit Dijak with his own crowbar, setting up Joe Gacy to attack him, turning face in the process for the first time in his WWE career.

Impressed by Crusifino’s match, Tony D’Angelo would tell Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo to “remember that” and “go get ‘em.”[10] At NXT: Roadblock on March 5, D'Angelo welcomed Crusifino as the new "consigliere" of The D'Angelo Family stable, cementing his face turn.

[14] On the May 7 episode of NXT, Dempsey and Borne faced Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe in a tag team match.