WWE News: Former TNA Champion Attends NXT Live Event– Is He WWE Bound?
Former TNA World Heavyweight and Tag Team champion James Storm was reportedly in attendance for NXT’s live event in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, according to Daily Wrestling News.
Storm, 38, a resident of Nashville, was reportedly first seen in the audience as a spectator for the live event. But that initial report is being reported to be false.”The Cowboy” was seen watching the show “from a makeshift production area, off to the side of a production case and speaker,” according to the Daily Wrestling News report.
Earlier in the week, Storm teased that he would be in attendance at the live event.
So @WWENXT is in #Nashville this Friday…….
— James Storm (@JamesStormBrand) October 1, 2015
At this point, Storm is not contractually obligated to TNA or any other company, meaning he is free to sign with WWE or any other promotion that he’s interested in. After enjoying a successful 13-year stint on the TNA roster, Storm parted ways with TNA a few months ago, teasing bigger things are in his future.
Finished up my duties with Impact Wrestling yesterday. Today begins a new chapter in my life. I’m excited for what the future holds. #Thanks
— James Storm (@JamesStormBrand) July 31, 2015
Oh… I’m not done wrestling. Just working on a new saddle for a fresh horse. #CowboyWay #WeWantTheCowboy
— James Storm (@JamesStormBrand) July 31, 2015
Viewed as one of the “TNA Originals,” Storm appeared on the first NWA-TNA pay-per-view event in mid-2002. He formed a tag team with “Wildcat” Chris Harris, known as America’s Most Wanted. That team that would be a mainstay in the company for many years to come — capturing the NWA Tag Team championships on six different occasions.
Storm also held the NWA Tag Team championship with Chris Daniels on one occasion.
But Storm’s success as a tag team wrestler would not be limited to his partnership with Harris. In 2008, Storm and Bobby Roode formed arguably the most popular tag team in TNA history, Beer Money. The duo would go on to win four TNA Tag Team championships, feuding with popular tag teams, such as The Motor City Machine Guns.
Roode and Storm split in 2011 as both men began ascending the ranks in TNA. After Storm captured the TNA World Heavyweight championship for the first and only time, Roode turned on Storm, beginning a feud that would be prevalent until Storm’s departure.
When Storm’s feud with Roode ended, he bounced around on TNA television for the rest of his tenure. He captured two more Tag Team championships, once with Gunner and once with Abyss. That brought Storm’s total amount of reigns as a Tag Team champion in TNA to 13.
Before announcing his departure, Storm was the last remaining wrestler on the TNA roster who wrestled on the aforementioned initial NWA-TNA show in 2002.
Considering his age, Storm would likely not be viewed by WWE as a long term fixture on their roster. However, with nearly two decades of experience, Storm could still be a useful pickup for WWE if both he and and company choose to go that way.
WWE has shown willingness to bring in former top TNA superstars, as evidenced by their hiring of Samoa Joe earlier this year. The company has also expressed interest in AJ Styles, the man who was viewed as the face of TNA for over a decade. NXT has also featured Rhyno and Jushin “Thunder” Liger at various points, all men who have appeared for TNA in the past.
Coincidentally, independent wrestling standout Tommaso Ciampa appeared on both NXT and IMPACT Wrestling this week, due to both shows being taped beforehand.
Thus, a wrestler being associated with TNA does not seem to be a roadblock to bring talent into NXT.
[Images via ImpactWrestling.com]
