WWE News: Major TNA Star Spotted At WWE Performance Center, Could Be Heading To NXT
Last week, Wrestling Inc reported that former TNA World Champion James Storm was in attendance at an NXT house show in Nashville, Tennessee, and now, it’s being reported that Storm may be heading to NXT, and he could possibly make his debut during tonight’s NXT Takeover: Respect show.
Earlier today, Storm was spotted near the WWE Performance Center at Full Sail University with one of WWE’s head trainers Billy Gunn, which has led many to believe that Storm and WWE are trying to work out a deal, similar to the one that WWE has with Samoa Joe.
Storm, who has been in TNA for the last 13 years, has been a free agent since June. So, he’s free to sign with WWE whenever he wants, if they’re interested in bringing him in.
Rob McCarron of the Shake Them Ropes podcast posted a photo on Twitter of Storm heading into the WWE Performance Center with Billy Gunn. However, the photo is blurry and it’s unclear if the men in the photo are Storm and Gunn. But, with that said, it probably is Storm and Gunn, as multiple sources have said that the former TNA Champ is at Full Sail. You can check out the photo here.
James Storm is 38-years-old, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be signed to a long term deal if he’s brought in. Of course, he is extremely talented, and he would add a lot to the NXT roster.
When WWE signed Samoa Joe, who is two years younger than Storm, the deal was that he could keep his name and gimmick as long as he stayed in NXT, which why we haven’t seen Joe on the main roster yet. WWE’s belief is that they’ll have to create a new name for someone if they’re intending for that someone to be on the main roster. They want to be able to completely own the character and likeness.
If James Storm is brought in on the Samoa Joe deal, he’ll be able to keep his name and gimmick because WWE won’t be bringing him up to the main roster. But, if he’s interested in eventually making a move to the main roster, he’ll come in with a different name.
Over the summer, it was reported that Ring of Honor and Figure Toy Company would be releasing a Kevin Steen, AKA Kevin Owens action figure, which didn’t sit too well with WWE. When Owens was brought into NXT, WWE only changed his last name, and they didn’t change anything about his gimmick, which made it possible for Ring of Honor to market and make money off of the then NXT Champion.
The Owens situation is why WWE is now wanting to completely change someone’s character, no matter how popular they were before they signed with the company, so that other wrestling promotions can’t capitalize on WWE’s use of them by creating new merchandise.
WWE hasn’t been very willing to bring in ex-TNA stars over the last couple of years, but they seem to be warming up to the idea, especially now that it’s likely that TNA will be going out of business in the near future. Also, WWE is seeing the value of having veterans like Samoa Joe on the NXT roster, which could make them bring in James Storm either at tonight’s Takeover show, or at some point in the near future.
It’s unclear what James Storm’s role would be if he was brought into NXT, as there’s already plans for a Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe feud for the NXT Title. So, it’s unlikely that Storm will be added to the title picture. But, he could have a strong undercard feud with someone like Tyler Breeze or Apollo Crews.
[Images via Impact Wrestling, WWE]
