NXT spoiler - former Tna star shows up

Apparently James Storm debuted at last nights taping.

Chances of him forming a tag team with Braden Walker?

WWE released it themselves.

ORLANDO, Fla. — One night after the critically acclaimed TakeOver: Respect special on WWE Network, NXT has again made waves.

James Storm, an 18-year veteran and former heavyweight champion, made his unannounced debut at tonight’s NXT TV tapings. He competed in a match that will air on NXT on Wednesday, Oct. 21, only on WWE Network.

The official NXT Twitter account broke the news of Storm’s presence in the NXT Arena at Full Sail University, and Triple H also tweeted about the appearance.

Storm’s arrival just underscores what the WWE Universe already realizes: You just never know who will show up in NXT.

Obviously they knew word would get out if they didn't reveal it themselves, plus it was mentioned on this site by Nando that he was at Takeover the other night.

Similar to NXT signing Samoa Joe, it could become a masterstroke with minimal risk. How many more former TNA stars end up in NXT?

As no one else has made the joke yet....

Whats James Inclement-weather doing in the NxT Zone?

Except James Storm owns his own trademark so he stays as James Storm.

But I'd have gone for Jim Hurricane

BAH GAWD ITS JIMMY 'THE HURRICANE' HURRICANE GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY
MRS HURRICANE'S BABY BOY

Is that from your Twitter page?

Its certainly very interesting and if nothing else it helps the youngsters to learn from a solid pro, and also have meaningful feuds.

I'll truly believe NXT has been Dixie-fied if Storm and Joe end up main eventing together.

Interesting to see what they'll do with him. I think he'll just be there to help with the younger guys, maybe get a mini push like Joe. Dont think we'll see him on the main roster.

Nice! Looks like he's going down a...er...storm with the audience.

Wonder if they'll let him drink beer and smash the bottles in the ring? I'm guessing not...

I have loved the TNA tweets I've seen with people claiming the reaction to this just shows that TNA was popular and that hating TNA was fashionable.

You don't have to have liked TNA to know who James Storm is. You don't have to have liked TNA in the past 5 years to have a good opinion of James Storm. In fact, not watching him for the past 3-5 years is probably beneficial. It's often been said that the performers on the roster were not the problem.

Personally, not a big Storm fan, but I missed his work from when he was good. It's still interesting to see how NXT operates with picking up Storm. You've got to think if they'll pick up Storm as a free agent then they'd pick up Aries or Roode if the opportunity was right for both parties. Which should be worrying for TNA because now anyone performing in TNA has a WWE alternative, whereas before it seemed they wouldn't be picked up by the main shows.

I think that Storm has been good the last 12 months but prior to his Gunner feud, he had stagnated from his career high point of feuding with Roode.

Are there any train tracks near Full Sail, if so Bayley better watch her back

I'm happy for Storm. He has consistently been one of the best things about TNA for the past 5 years or so. His feud with Roode is probably the best arc TNA have ever written, and his heel with the Revolution was great in the beginning. He definitely deserves to be in the WWE at this point in his career, rather than doing the indie circuit.

I think it's significant that WWE acknowledged he is a former world champion, even if they refuse to acknowledge TNA as a company. That sends out the message to WWE fans that they want them to take him seriously. It shows respect for Storm too, especially as many people doubted he'd even make it to the NXT roster.

But if I were TNA, I'd be worried. If Joe and Storm can make it onto NXT what's to stop their other top stars? And even if Storm never makes it onto the main roster, being in NXT is still better than the alternative of staying in TNA with the current state of TNA. That's the harsh reality. The NXT title probably means more at this time than the TNA title.

It's also a positive move by WWE that they've proved they're not against signing former TNA talent when the talent is good enough like Storm. This is a massive blow to TNA.

I think Kudos to NXT. There was a time there after Wrestlemania where it was starting to look like it might have run its course and be in trouble. The promotion of most of its leading talents to the main roster, or out with long term injuries, seemed to leave big holes and the whole brand became less relevant.

But, I think the tag tournament has been a great opportunity to get new talent over. They've promoted Bayley well and this is again a promotion that I look forward to.

I can still criticize it. I really don't understand the difference between NXT and WWE. There seems to be no development of their own talent, just brining in talent from other organizations. And I feel therefore I could change half the roster from the two organizations without it affecting the product too much.

But, how and why WWE promotes their talent and how and why they split their brands is a secondary concern to me after the question of do I look forward to watching the shows and enjoy the matches. As I do, that is enough for me.

Why must they? I'm not sure there's a criticism there. Young talent, yes, but this isn't the same as football, they aren't paying transfer fees, there is no need to promote from their own 'academy', is there?

As I've said, it doesn't matter to me. But given how much it cost WWE to develop that Performance Centre and how much it must cost to run it, it is hard to say that it can be any form of success, given the low amount of talent it seems to produce.

Wyatt and Reigns?

The Performance Center as a whole is relatively new in its biggest form. And it doesnt really need to produce vast amounts of talent as wrestling as an industry holds it talents longer and works on more of a cycle.

Even so: Big E, Bo Dallas, Wyatt, Reigns, Axel, Adam Rose, Darren Young, Ryback, Rusev, Fandango, The Ascension and Zack Ryder could possibly be considered PC babies, whilst a lot of the roster is what you'd consider WWE made. And that is without the likes of Neville, Rollins etc who went through the NXT process.

WWE would probably claim credit on Neville, Rollins, Ambrose, Kalisto and some more as part of their PC program. They take them there to teach them how to do it for TV and WWE standards.

And thats before listing the female wrestlers, who I forgot as I'm hugely sexist.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:

WWE would probably claim credit on Neville, Rollins, Ambrose, Kalisto

Well, they could probably claim it....

The performance centre as an entity has only exist for about 2 years, so most people listed cannot be credited as PC born and bred, even if you want to say it's been a good finishing school for the guys they've brought in, I wouldn't say teaching Prince Devitt how to hit his camera cues was worth the multi million investment in the PC

In defense of the centre though 2 years is hardly any time to train a wrestler, we're probably 3-4 years away from seeing the first real fruits of those born and bred there

For now I do like the look of Chad Gable, he has star potential for me

I find it interesting that Juice Robinson (CJ Parker) left NXT to enter New Japan at the lowest rung, working as a young boy, just so he could get that recognition by the WWE that he didn't think he'd get within their own system as he watched wrestlers being brought in and pass him by.

Now, we can argue about how good a wrestler he is and how his eco-warrior gimmick was never going to get over, but the mindset for someone who obviously wants to make it and what he is doing to achieve that is interesting.

It will be interesting to see where he is in 2-3 years time.

I didnt know that about him. Well played to the guy, and best of luck. Its refreshing to see someone take a chance and drop down the ladder to better himself. Alot of the current greats started down there.

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:even if you want to say it's been a good finishing school for the guys they've brought in, I wouldn't say teaching Prince Devitt how to hit his camera cues was worth the multi million investment in the PC

But it obviously wasnt built as just a Balor finishing school, higher talents like The Ascension were crafted there too...

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:even if you want to say it's been a good finishing school for the guys they've brought in, I wouldn't say teaching Prince Devitt how to hit his camera cues was worth the multi million investment in the PC

But it obviously wasnt built as just a Balor finishing school, higher talents like The Ascension were crafted there too...

Funking Konnor started wrestling in Deep South, that was like 4 developmental brands ago

Just the finishing touches that have made him the star he is today

Imagine what he'd be like without 7+ years of WWE training

Probably still gold.

It just occurred to me as well that signing Storm shows that WWE must have either been following his career in TNA, or they've done their homework and watched his work extensively.

Do you think Storm just sent his CV off to WWE and said "hey I'm an 18 year vet and a former world champion, any chance there's a spot open on your roster?" And WWE just read his CV and responded "What, an 18 year vet and former world champion? Quick get him on NXT!".

I don't know who reached out to who, but I'm 99% positive WWE took a hard look at his work in TNA before signing him. This encourages me, because unlike Joe who was known for his time in ROH before TNA and who probably has a good reputation among the other indie alumni now on the WWE main roster; Storm is a TNA original. Storm has spent the last 13 years in TNA, which many people thought would taint him in WWE's eyes. But Storm's signing shows that they see his talent and that his own talent has earned him his place on the NXT roster despite being a TNA original.

As I said before, it doesn't even matter if he never makes it to the main roster. As pointed out earlier, having a veteran performer in NXT to help out the young guys is a smart move by the WWE. Storm will help them polish their craft. He'll serve an important role on the NXT roster. Storm could go another 10 years easily and so could prove very valuable to WWE. Besides, again as I said at this point the NXT title probably means more than the TNA world title. TNA have backwards not forwards. NXT has effectively become WWE's third brand.

I'd love to see Storm eventually break into the main roster and win a midcard title like the IC or US title. I think he's talented enough in the ring and on the mic to earn him a place in the upper midcard. But either way having the WWE on your CV has to be better than going to GFW or ROH at this point in Storm's career.

Kay Lee Ray was on too

talkingpoint wrote:It just occurred to me as well that signing Storm shows that WWE must have either been following his career in TNA, or they've done their homework and watched his work extensively.

You've got wrestling aficionados back there. I couldnt tell you how many of their talent spotters and backstage staff are ex-wrestlers. They watch a lot of stuff, i'd imagine.

I think it'd be naive to think the WWE wouldn't be following highly rated Wrestlers careers, while they'd never publicly champion anyone from a perceived rival they would be well aware of the top talents all over America whether it's Vince or HHH or well thought of agents backstage or even the current talent having a word with those who run the Place, everyone will be aware of who's highly regarded.

That being said I've never been the biggest James Storm fan as a singles Wrestler, as part of a Tag Team, America's Most Wanted or Beer Money he was top of his field but as a singles Wrestler I always felt he was just lacking something, maybe it was just direction but I felt it was something a little more basic, something that couldn't be explained away as being tainted by TNA's continual failures.

I think a move like this is brilliant though, it adds a genuine level of high quality experience to NXT, gives the younger guys in there someone to learn and play off and also gives any non WWE big names someone to possibly identify with if they're mulling over signing for WWE via NXT in future.

There's a very black and white method to how NXT is run ano it's captured the imagination of fans who have become disillusioned by the nonsensical way RAW has been booked since WrestleMania 31, the NXT Title is probably the 3rd most prestigious Title in WWE at the moment behind the World Title and the US Title which will probably feel a lot less prestigious when Cena drops it.

Storm is one of those 'what ifs' of TNA. From what I understood the Revolution we got on TV that was completely wasted after an initially promising start, was not the same concept that Storm pitched to creative. That or the germ of the idea was pitched to Storm who then agreed to it, but major changes were made. We'll never know how this other Revolution would have worked on TV and if it would have been better, but from the sounds of it the stable would have been much more bad a$$.

Then there is his ill-fated world title win. Not that I blame Roode, whose own heel run as world champion was brilliant, but we never got to see Storm as the face of the company.

Hopefully he'll be booked better in NXT.

Do you mean the original plans for the revolution as discussed on my exclusive interview?

I never enjoyed the revolution angle, Storm, Sanada and Manik were much better suited as faces and Abyss and Shera are just crap

I don't even know what this revolution angle is/was

Kay Fabe wrote:I don't even know what this revolution angle is/was

Remember when people were talking about how Bray Wyatt should brainwash members of the roster to become his followers?

It was essentially that with James Storm as Bray Wyatt complete with vignettes of there cabin in the woods where Storm may or may not have murdered a child....and Abyss

ncfc_Tooze wrote:Kay Lee Ray was on too

As far as I can tell though she was only in as a jobber, Evie and a couple of other indie girls were in to lose as well

Hopefully it will lead to a full time deal though.

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:

Kay Fabe wrote:I don't even know what this revolution angle is/was

Remember when people were talking about how Bray Wyatt should brainwash members of the roster to become his followers?

It was essentially that with James Storm as Bray Wyatt complete with vignettes of there cabin in the woods where Storm may or may not have murdered a child....and Abyss

...and ending with Storm feuding with Magnus and pushing his missus under a train (or something). More bizarre than an Scandinavian horror film.

I don't think the point / purpose of the Revolution was ever explained. Storm never elaborated on what exactly he hoped to achieve. Maybe it was just mean to be one of those weird cult groups.

Storm's first interview in NXT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8y1jxvpLf8

Storm's debut in NXT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsYHMhUSY6Q

Got to say, judging from his debut WWE definitely want to put Storm over. The fan reaction was great.

Well he has got a great character. As well as being loud, he does have a very distinctive image and personality. Just the sort of things WWE audiences go for I imagine.

The commentators helped put him over too; they weren't like "who's this guy?" They actually spoke about him as if he's already a big name, which considering he came from TNA says a lot. WWE see something in Storm. I hope he has a long and successful career in the WWE.

Can't see it being that long being that he's 38 now.

Just watched his debut on the Network, I couldn't help but laugh at the announcers referencing his "15 years on the independent circuit"

Isn't that another word for minor leagues?