ImpactWrestling.com
Breaking down 5 superstars the WWE should retain if they buy TNA.
The rumor sounds like a three-year-old broken record. Ever since the middle of 2013 when Total Non-Stop Action began to lose their top core of wrestlers the likes of AJ Styles, Sting, Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, and Chris Sabin, it seemed only like a matter of time that the once-prosperous promotion would go under. Now after airing their flagship show, TNA Impact, on three different channels in the past three years, the company is now being rumored to be up for sale once again.
Much like the other times in the past that TNA is on the market, the WWE is interested. According to a New York Times article, the WWE is not only interested but is a serious bidder. The article also goes on to say that if the WWE was to make the purchase that they’d be most interested in TNA’s tape library but also would consider keeping a few of TNA’s superstars.
No names have been discussed yet but it’s always fun to speculate. Granted, if this was five years ago the talent pool would be massive. But with the WWE already purging many of TNA’s top stars in the past couple of years the options have been somewhat depleted. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some very interesting possibilities.
Ahead we take a look at five stars that WWE should keep, should they happen to purchase TNA.
ImpactWrestling.com
5. Ethan Carter III
The WWE already had a shot Carter back in 2009 when they signed him to their former developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling. Under the gimmick of Derrick Bateman, he had some success in FCW by winning the brand’s tag team championship with Johnny Curtis and running with the belts for about three months. After dropping the belts, Carter would spend the next three years toiling in the minors, now branded as NXT.
In 2013, Carter was released from the WWE but was only a free agent for about 4 months after TNA picked him up. And in a rare turn of events for the fledgling company, TNA was actually a place that Carter would flourish. He would win 2 TNA World Championships and the 2016 Bound for Glory playoffs which places him in the main event title match against now Champion, Lashley, at this Sunday’s Bound For Glory pay per view. If he wins back the belt at BFG, that will only help improve his chances of being signed to the WWE.
Carter has all the goods. He’s good looking, has a great physique, and is a solid in ring worker. But the thing that now sets EC3 apart from the field is his promo work. He has become one of the best talkers in the entire wrestling world and he has committed to his arrogant character about as well as anyone has in the past.
The 33-year-old is in his prime as a worker and he’s making the most of it. In signing him, the WWE would be getting a solid, entertaining professional with a ton left in the tank. EC3 is about as over with the TNA fans as anyone and with two years of main event caliber matches now under his belt, could make a very smooth transition to the WWE roster.
4. Jade
TNA’s Jade is definitely one of the more under the radar superstars on their roster. After having signed with the company in 2013 after spending 4 years cutting her teeth on the indy circuit, Jade has proven herself to quite possibly be the toughest female wrestler on the planet. Her feud with Greg Excellent in Combat Zone Wrestling in 2012 proved that fact. Wrestling under the name Mia Yim, she battled the 300-pound behemoth in a TLC match for the ages and squarely put herself on the wrestling map.
In 2015 she was signed to TNA and within less than a year won the Knockouts title. Although her title reign was relatively short at 83 days, she would go on to win the 2016 Queen of the Knockouts tournament, firmly entrenching her as one of the best in TNA. Her move set is a hybrid of aerial assault and vicious strikes. She brings a level of violence to the ring not seen often enough in today’s wrestling world.
Jade could bring a ton to a WWE’s talent-rich Women’s division and could step right up to the main roster and compete immediately. She may be a buy low type talent but has a big of an upside as any wrestler in the world, male or female.
3. Trevor Lee
Simply put, Trevor Lee is one of the fastest rising stars in all of wrestling. After turning pro only 6 years ago at the ripe old age of 16, the 22-year-old from North Carolina has had a freight train run seldom seen before. In a year span between 2014-2015, while wrestling under Pro Wrestling Guerrilla banner, Lee defeated Kevin Steen (Owens), Chris Hero, Michael Elgin, Adam Cole, Tommaso Ciampa, Will Ospreay, Matt Sydal, and Drew Galloway. That’s pretty impressive stuff from a 20/21-year-old kid. So impressive that TNA signed him to contract in August of 2015. Less than 6 months later, he was X-Division champion.
The WWE signing Lee would be an investment for the future, one that could pay off in spades. Trained by the Hardy’s, he has a tad bit of growing to do but make no mistake, this kid could be the future. His in-ring ability is just off the charts and he seems to get better every time he’s inside the squared circle.
Lee may take a little time before he would be main roster ready, but he would make an outstanding new addition to NXT and just based on his skill, he’d be at or near the NXT title very quickly. Remember this guy’s name. He’s the next big ting.
WWE.com
2. Gail Kim
Without question the most accomplished wrestler still currently on the TNA roster, 5-time TNA Knockout’s Champion, and former WWE Divas Champion, Kim, at 40, is still going strong. A 16 year veteran of the sport, Kim is a living legend, so much so that in June TNA inducted her as the first female into their hall of fame. She’s been the model of consistency over the course of her career and is always in shape and ready to compete.
Kim has already had two previous runs in the WWE, one from 2002-2004 and the other from 2008-2011 and neither one was anywhere close to successful as her TNA career. Now as one of the most well decorated female wrestler’s in the world, Kim would be a perfect fit in either RAW or SmackDown’s Women’s brand. And although she’s more than a decade older than either brand’s champion, she can still perform at their level.
The clock might be running out on Kim making a 3rd run in the WWE but it still seems like she has something left in the tank. Coming into the WWE and potentially winning another championship would unquestionably make Kim one of all time greats. And that would be extremely fitting for the woman who carried women’s wrestling through the beginning of the 21st century.
Credit: TNA Impact Wrestling on YouTube
1. Drew Galloway
When Drew Galloway entered the WWE in 2009 as Drew McIntyre, there was a massive amount of hype around him. 24 years-old at the time, the young Scot seemed to have it all. He was big, good looking, could talk, and was solid inside the ring. Heck, his first gimmick was Vince McMahon’s “The Chosen One” and he was seen as a sure-fire future world champion.
But for some crazy reason, call it his lack of connection with the fans, call it bad booking, call it whatever you’d like, Galloway’s once bright future fizzled out as fast as it started. After 3 years in the company and an Intercontinental title reign under his belt, Galloway was saddled in the overly unsuccessful 3 Man Band clique with Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal. That was the beginning of the end and in June of 2014, he was released from the company.
Instead of giving up after his failed WWE venture, Galloway went on a tear on the independent circuit. Over the course of 9 months, he would win world championships in the Scottish Wrestling Alliance, Insane Championship Wrestling, Dragon Gate, and Evolve while compiling a 26-9-3 (cagematch.net) record, defeating the likes of Roderick Strong, Ricochet, Tommaso Ciampa, Matt Hardy, and Rich Swann. He parlayed this success into a contract with TNA in January of 2015 and in March of 2016 won the TNA World Championship.
Galloway will now head into this Sunday’s Bound For Glory, potentially TNA’s last pay per view, to take on Aron Rex (formerly WWE’s Damien Sandow and a guy who very narrowly missed this list) for the inaugural Grand Championship. A win for either guy could tell a lot about their future.
The WWE could have a chance to right the ship with the now 31-year-old Galloway and make good on the potential they saw in him 7 years ago. Now would be a perfect time to get back on his hype train and ride the hot streak he is currently on.
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