Did These TNA Superstars Ever Wrestle For WWE
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Sports
Fairly or not, Impact Wrestling, previously known as various iterations of Total Nonstop Action, has always had a reputation as being “WWE lite.” Sure, the company is loaded with talented homegrown stars who can occasionally rise up over the corporate nonsense and put on a good match now and again. However, the main event scene almost entirely consists of wrestlers who recently left Vince McMahon, or at least spent some time there in the past. In fact, WWE superstars have actually jumped to TNA and won the World Championship in less than a month on more than one occasion.
Even when it isn’t that blatant, WWE is such a massive conglomerate at this point that virtually every wrestler in the game has received at least one paycheck from the McMahons. Sometimes, WWE will pass on a wrestler after a single match, only for Impact Wrestling to swoop them up and realize there was something special about them all along. In these cases, Impact obviously deserves most of the credit, but the fact remains their talent was discarded by Vince McMahon prior to getting their current job. For an idea of just how prevalent this trend can be, keep reading to take our quiz on whether or not these TNA/Impact Wrestling superstars ever competed for the WWE Universe.
(Note: backstage employees, tryouts, WWE Network appearances, and other non-televised or non-wrestling roles do not count.)
Has Austin Aries ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
At the time this quiz is being published, Austin Aries is unquestionably the top star on Impact Wrestling. Though he just recently returned to the company, Aries has already managed to win both the Impact World and Grand Championships. Not that he’s exactly new to the company, as Aries has been part of Impact history since 2005. More than that, Aries has been part of the main event scene since he had the longest X Division Championship reign in history. On top of that, Aries has had plenty of success outside of Impact. Does that include a stint in WWE?
Is Moose a former WWE superstar?
There has always been a decent overlap between former football players and wrestling stars, and Impact Wrestling’s greatest contribution to the trend has arguably been Moose. A former two time Impact Grand Champion, Moose is one of the most dominant forces in wrestling today, with his massive size making it easy to tackle opponents to the ground in short order. Before he became a wrestler, Moose played for the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, and St. Louis Rams, but rarely earning acclaim when doing so. Did WWE take notice of him anyway, or did Moose go straight to Impact?
Did Abyss ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
A gigantic masked monster hell bent on destruction, Abyss looks like a wrestler tailor made for Vince McMahon’s WWE Universe. Surprisingly, though, the gimmick was all Impact Wrestling’s idea from the start, and it was also for Impact that Abyss let his lighthearted side shine as Joseph Park, Esquire. Either way, his career has been plated with gold, as a former Impact World, X Division, Television, and Tag Team Champion. He held the last belts four times, holding one reign each with AJ Styles, James Storm, and Crazzy Steve. Did Abyss use this success to start working for WWE?
Has Eli Drake ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Recognized as a rising star immediately upon arrival, Eli Drake was a big deal from the moment he debuted for Impact Wrestling. Initially a partner to Drew Galloway, it wasn’t long before the two were feuded over issues related to the Impact World Championship both men would eventually go on to hold. Starting with that battle, Drake also revealed he had a rather big mouth, getting him in trouble with his fellow coworkers and making the fans absolutely hate his guts.
Was Alberto El Patrón ever an employee of WWE?
Truly acting like a boss, Alberto El Patrón won the Impact World Championship the day he debuted in the company. Unfortunately for Patrón’s fans, his victory was so controversial the result was overturned and the title handed back to the former champ, Lashley. Not that it stopped Alberto’s momentum, as he soon won the GFW Championship and unified it with Lashley’s belt. Further controversial caused Patrón to lose that title, but he remains a big force in the company today. Was he an equally major player in the WWE Universe?
Is Sonjay Dutt a former WWE superstar?
Despite having won his first Impact Wrestling Championship in 2017, defeating Low Ki for the X Division title, Sonjay Dutt has actually been with the company pretty much from the beginning. In this respect, Dutt’s big win was the culmination of a 14 year long journey, considering his first shots at the gold came way back in 2004. While it took him a while to earn any titles, Dutt’s charisma always made him stand out as a performer, directly leading to his current position as Impact’s primary color commentator. Did he ever find the time to wrestle for WWE?
Did Homicide ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
Abrasive as the name would suggest, Homicide has been a dangerous and reckless force of nature in Impact Wrestling from the day he arrived. Not even the cool headed management of Mexican legend Konnan has been able to calm Homicide down, if anything simply proving to light a fire into his heart as a key member of the Latin American Xchange. It was with this group Homicide managed to win three Impact Wrestling Tag Team Championships, all with his partner Hernandez. Homicide also once held the Impact X Division Championship. Did any of this attract WWE’s attention?
Has Dixie Carter ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Early on in the existence of Impact Wrestling, it was clear the organization had some money problems. It takes a lot of capital to build any company from the ground up, and Impact’s founders simply didn’t have enough. This is where Dixie Carter came in, the daughter of billionaire power plant tycoons who would use family funds to keep Impact alive to this day. Recently, Carter’s role in the company has been dramatically reduced to a point where she may not have any power, but her name can never be forgotten by fans. Does Vince McMahon know it, too?
Was Bobby Lashley ever an employee of WWE?
Bouncing back and forth between Impact Wrestling and Bellator MMA, finding equal success in both, it could easily be argued Bobby Lashley is the most destructive force in either organization. During his most dominant period, Lashley proved this three times over, unifying the Impact World, X Division, and King of the Mountain Championships into one before letting that last title get deactivated. Lashley has three other World Championships to his name in addition to the one where he combined all the gold. Did he also find fame in WWE?
Is Eddie Edwards a former WWE superstar?
Already heralded as legends on the independent scene, Eddie Edwards and his partner Davey Richards, collectively known as The Wolves, were treated as huge stars in Impact Wrestling from the beginning. Anyone who didn’t know about them became fast acquainted with their skills as they won the Impact Tag Team Championships together less than a month into their stint in the company, a feat they soon repeated four times. Edwards’s success only grew stronger when he left Richards, also winning the Impact World and X Division Championships. Did he find time to work for WWE, as well?
Has Matt Sydal ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Believe it or not, Matt Sydal appeared on the very first Impact Wrestling monthly Pay-Per-View Victory Road. This may come as a surprise to the man’s fans, considering he wouldn’t make another appearance with the company for over a decade. Sydal finally returned in 2017, finding far more success this time around than he did initially. Previously no more than a minor player, Sydal won the Impact Grand Championship less than a year after his comeback, and currently reigns as the company’s X Division Champion. Did spending time in WWE have anything to do with his increased fortunes?
Did Crazzy Steve ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
Based on his name, some less informed wrestling fans may assume Crazzy Steve is a used car salesman with deals that are literally insane. Take away the used cars and that perception isn’t that far off, with his wild Joker-esque clown makeup suggesting a deeply disturbed individual prone to in-ring freak outs. On the plus side, Steve is at least Crazzy like a foxx, using his unique brand of unpredictable insanity to reign as half of the Impact Tag Team Championships with Abyss in a team known as Decay. Has the madness spread to the WWE Universe?
Is Low Ki a former WWE superstar?
Kicking opponents heads in wherever he went, Low Ki was already a rising star on the independent scene when Impact Wrestling first opened its doors. For this reason, the company hired him to wrestle on their very first show, teaming with AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn to wrestle The Flying Elvises. Low Ki then started challenging for the X Division Championship, a title he eventually went on to hold on five occasions. Three Tag Team title reigns with Triple X further cemented his path to glory. Did WWE have anything to do with it, as well?
Has Jessie Godderz ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Following in the unlikely footsteps of The Real World contestant turned WWE Champion The Miz, Jessie Godderz first entered the popular consciousness as a repeat House Guest on Big Brother. Although Godderz didn’t talk about it nearly as much as the Awesome One, he apparently wanted to wrestle all along, explaining why he signed with Impact Wrestling shortly after his final stint in the House came to an end. Godderz quickly became friends with likeminded party boy Robbie E and formed The BroMans, a duo that twice won the Tag Team Championships. Did they party all the way to WWE?
Was DJZ ever an employee of WWE?
No matter what he accomplishes, the career of DJZ, formerly known as Zema Ion, will always be marred by an early match that accidentally left his opponent Jesse Sorensen temporarily paralyzed. Given this shaky beginning, it’s truly impressive how far DJZ has come, completely removed from the damaged young performer he once appeared to be. Joining the BroMans and digging into his own Jersey Shore antics brought DJZ all new attention, and soon lead to two reigns as X Division Champion. Has he also elevated himself to become a WWE superstar?
Is Johnny Impact a former WWE superstar?
When a wrestler steals their name from the company their working for, they either need to do something huge in their first appearance or get turned into an immediate joke. Luckily for Johnny Impact, his legend preceded him in such a way that merely appearing and continuing to look like a movie star was all it took for fans to accept his bold namesake. As if his past wasn’t enough, future matches for the Impact World Championship further cemented his prowess. Was Impact’s earlier fame found in WWE?
Did James Storm ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
In any walk of life, a man carrying a rope around his neck for any reason is bound to turn heads. Luckily, the vicious “Cowboy” James Storm knew exactly what to do with the attention, turning into a massive star who defeated Kurt Angle for the World Championship. The downside is that Storm only held the title for little over a week, but his resume was nonetheless plated with gold. Most notably, Storm holds the record for most reigns as Impact Tag Team Champion, having won the gold with Bobby Roode, Chris Harris, and Abyss a total of seven times.
Has Taryn Terrell ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Introduced to Impact Wrestling as the Knockouts division special referee, Taryn Terrell quickly realized if she was going to be in a wrestling ring, she shouldn’t be wearing the stripes. Terrell’s naturally combative attitude made her far too contentious for the level headed role of a referee, but it made her perfect as an in-ring performer, and soon lead to her winning the Impact Knockouts Championship and holding the title for longer than any other wrestler. Did she have time to work for WWE before that happened?
Is Allie a former WWE superstar?
Originally treated like a second fiddle to the former and future WWE manager Maria Kanellis, the beautifully angry Allie has since exploded like a cherry bomb and turned into quite the performer in her own right. The first sign Allie was destined for greatness came when she won a five-woman match to become the Impact Knockouts Champion, only to lose that match in short order for unfair reasons. Nowadays, though, Allie’s back on top as the champ once more, and Maria’s meddling can’t take it away from her. Has WWE been paying attention to her growth?
Did Taiji Ishimori ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
With Japanese wrestlers winning the men and women’s Royal Rumbles, 2018 may well go down as sports entertainment’s year of the rising sun. Then again, athletes like Taiji Ishimori may have kick started the trend already. Prior to the mainstream success of Asuka and Shinsuke Nakamura, Ishimori was flying off the top rope and wowing fans in Impact wrestling, where he managed to win the X Division Championship in November of 2017. Ishimori has also earned a few shots at the Impact Tag Team titles, teaming with fellow Japanese athlete Naomichi Marufuji. Has he competed for any gold in WWE?
Has Trevor Lee ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Hulking, hairy, and hell bent on wanton destruction, few wrestler nicknames are more accurate on the surface than Trevor Lee’s distinction as the “Carolina Caveman.” On the other hand, this lumbering persona fails to let fans in on Lee’s secret weapon, which is that he can fly off the top rope with reckless abandon in the same style of his trainers, Matt and Jeff Hardy. Doing the extreme brothers proud, Lee has found several titles using what they taught him, including three reigns as the X Division Champion. Has Lee also done them proud as a WWE superstar?
Is Robbie E a former WWE superstar?
Straight off the Jersey Shore and proud of it, Robbie E has been woo woo’ing like he knew it well before Zack Ryder brought the phrase to WWE. Heck, both Robbie and Ryder had been supporting the GTL lifestyle their entire lives, albeit entirely separate from one another, with Robbie choosing to work for Impact Wrestling over WWE. Perhaps this was for the better, as it lead to a gold plated career, including two reigns as Impact Tag Team Champion with Jessie Godderz, plus one stint each as X Division and Television Champ. Was Vince McMahon paying attention?
Was Gail Kim ever an employee of WWE?
Fans can always feel free to debate about their favorites, but when it comes to wins and losses, Gail Kim is without a doubt the best female wrestler in Impact Wrestling history. She proved this in definitive fashion by getting inducted to the Hall of Fame while still an active performer, followed by two more reigns as Knockouts Champion, bringing her total number of turns with the belt up to seven. Kim is still regarded as a key figure in Impact Wrestling after her retirement, guiding younger stars as a producer. Was Vince McMahon involved in her path to history?
Has Brian Cage ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Equal parts man and machine, Brian Cage has rapidly risen as a star since asserting himself as a force to be reckoned with in Lucha Underground. Naturally, an ambitious and destructive talent like his can’t be contained, and when Impact Wrestling started showing an interest, he quickly signed a contract and made a dominant debut, squashing a jobber into oblivion. Cage hasn’t exactly had the time to make a name for himself in Impact just yet, but the future is definitely bright for the young superstar. Did he previously have time to shine in WWE?
Is Garza Jr. a former WWE superstar?
It’s always a bold choice for a second-generation superstar to keep their familial name, especially in a case like Garza Jr., where he wasn’t actually the legendary Héctor Garza’s son. Then again, this sort of family pride is very commonplace in the lucha libre world both Garza’s hail from, and Junior is indeed Héctor’s nephew, so it’s close enough that there’s no reason to question his choice. The point is that Garza Jr. is doing his relative proud each time he steps in the ring, especially as he competes for the Tag Team Championships with the Laredo Kid.
Did Josh Mathews ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
Sitting at ringside and calling the action since 2015, Josh Mathews has been the voice of Impact Wrestling for several years now. Despite his theoretical status as the number one Impact fan around, his character has paradoxically shown a strong hatred for virtually every wrestler on the roster, which naturally ticked quite a few of them off. This lead to Mathews finally stepping out of the booth and getting in the ring himself, albeit with little success. Did he ever experience anything similar working for Vince McMahon?
Has Sami Callihan ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Ultraviolent as they come, the dark and mysterious Sami Callihan only spends a small portion of his time in Impact Wrestling. For the most part, he’s far too busy as the creative director of Combat Zone Wrestling, an extreme ECW style independent known for bloody brawls that leave losers in the hospital. Callihan is at least good enough at what he does to find some spare time as a friend of Ohio Versus Everything, a duo that recently held the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Championships. Does Callihan also have friends he made in WWE?
Is Scott Steiner a former WWE superstar?
Impressing peaks with his massive peaks since the early 1990s, Scott Steiner is one of the biggest names working for Impact Wrestling today. Prior to signing with the company, Steiner was a tag team champion dozens of times over with his brother Rick in various promotions around the world. He also had great solo success as a former WCW Champion. The gold kept coming in Impact Wrestling, earning one last Tag Team Championship with his old WCW rival Booker T. Can Big Poppa Pump add any belts from WWE to his collection?
Did Tyrus ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
Big, bad, and dangerous, Tyrus has spent his entire stint with Impact Wrestling as a monster in every sense of the world. Like most monsters, though, much of Tyrus’s career has been painted by other wrestlers controlling his fate. If nothing else, Tyrus knows how to pick a leader, taking orders from the likes of Ethan Carter III and Matt Hardy. When those alignments ended, Tyrus accepted his fate as a hired gun, taking on the role as Impact’s “fixer,” taking care of problems for whoever had enough money to pay him. Was Tyrus ever hired by Vince McMahon?
Was Laurel van Ness ever an employee of WWE?
With a torn wedding dress, smeared lipstick, and eyes so crazy not even Jerry Lawler would risk taking her out on a date, Laurel van Ness is one of the most psychotic women in pro wrestling today. Of course, she happens to be working in the one industry where this can be a major asset, accordingly using her insanity to win the TNA Knockouts Championship. Ness has since ditched the wedding dress, but like most jilted would-be brides, that was just one piece to her madness, and she continues dominating to this day. Has she also gone wild in WWE?
Has Grado ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Big, goofy, and fun, Grado is an entirely new type of Scottish pro wrestler. Typically, men and women from the United Kingdom are the toughest, meanest superstars in any given promotion, yet Grado provides a lighter take on the sports entertainment experience. This isn’t all that surprising given he sights Scotty II Hotty as a professional hero, similarly dancing his way to the ring and bouncing around like a worm during some of his most important matches. Has Grado’s off-kilter behavior caught the attention of Vince McMahon?
Is Rosemary a former WWE superstar?
Unfortunately, the career of Rosemary will forever be marred by an unscripted incident where her arm was broken by opponent Sexy Star in a match for AAA. This is truly a shame, especially since the unhinged, painted Demon Assassin had been developing an impressive career for Impact Wrestling up to that point. Initially, she simply stood aside Crazzy Steve and Abyss as they won Tag Team gold in Decay, but in due time, Rosemary stood out on her own and added the Impact Knockouts Championship to their collection. Was there any WWE gold involved, as well?
Did Braxton Sutter ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
With all due respect, the first few years of Braxton Sutter’s relationship with Impact Wrestling were relatively forgettable. The self-proclaimed Patrick Swayze of wrestling competed admirably in a number of solid matches, challenging for the X Division Championship and wrestling top names, but he never came close to winning them. Sutter’s fortunes started to change when he linked up with his real life wife Allie on screen, standing by her side as she climbed her way the Knockouts division. Did he work for WWE at all before then?
Has Kongo Kong ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Virtually coming out of nowhere, Konga Kong was introduced to Global Force Wrestling by manager and executive Scott D’Amore and immediately made it clear he was a force to be reckoned with. By the time GFW gradually merged with Impact Wrestling, D’Amore had returned back behind the scenes, leading to Kong forming a short lived partnership with Sienna. He’s continued to terrify opponents with his size and strength since then, despite the fact there has yet to be any gold around his waist. Did the New Monster ever try winning some in WWE?
Was Sienna ever an employee of WWE?
Years of shining as an intense superstar of women’s wrestling paved Sienna’s path to Impact Wrestling, where she first appeared as a villain on the side of Maria Kanellis and Allie. This quickly transitioned into a longstanding feud against Impact’s number one female legend, Gail Kim, which quickly brought Sienna into the spotlight along with her new rival. Capitalizing on the attention, Sienna started challenging for the Knockouts Championship, a title she has since managed to twin twice by defeating Jade and Rosemary. Has this caught Vince McMahon’s attention?
Is Gama Singh a former WWE superstar?
Always happy to indulge in a throwback, Impact Wrestling recently announced the signing of legendary Indian-Canadian grappler Gama Singh, formerly the leader of Karachi Vice. Along with the announcement Singh was joining the company, it was insinuated the legend of Karachi Vice would continue in a new group called the Desi Hit Squad, which he would lead as the manager of Rohit Raju, Vikas Kumar, Gursinder Singh, and Bhupinder Singh. Critics may argue the whole affair is merely a reaction to Singh’s nephew, Jinder Mahal, becoming WWE Champion. Did uncle Gama also work for Vince McMahon at one point?
Has Petey Williams ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Defying space and gravity with the Canadian Destroyer instantly turned Petey Williams into a huge name on the independent wrestling scene. It was only a matter of time before a major company took attention to his unique finishing move, not to mention all the great action his matches were bound to feature before he brought them to an end. Given the move’s name, it was only natural that Impact Wrestling’s Team Canada would be the organization that made him mainstream, and repeat championship success has followed long since that group broke up. Did calls from WWE follow, as well?
Did Keira Hogan ever wrestle for Vince McMahon?
Few names in wrestling have more weight than “Hogan,” even when attached to someone who clearly has no connection to the leader of Hulkamania. The Hulkster might not have anything to do with the fire in Keira Hogan’s heart, but his fighting spirit can be seen in her efforts at using the ongoing women’s wrestling revolution to her advantage. Keira made this clear by defeating the Impact Knockouts Champion in her debut match, and while that was unfortunately a non-title affair, chances are a few more shots at the gold will be in her future. Is WWE in her past?
Is Father James Mitchell a former WWE superstar?
As sinister as a self-proclaimed minister can possibly be, Father James Mitchell is one of the most naturally evil managers in wrestling history. This hasn’t stopped him from getting hired all over, though, with stints in ECW and WWE preceding a long turn for Impact Wrestling. Initially, Mitchell lead the Disciples of the New Church, only to later find more success as a long term agent to the destructive monster Abyss. It was under Mitchell’s management that Abyss won the Impact Wrestling Championship. Did Mitchell have similar success guiding wrestlers through the WWE Universe?
Has Jeff Jarrett ever wrestled for the WWE Universe?
Technically speaking, Jeff Jarrett hasn’t been part of the Impact Wrestling scene for some time. That said, Jarrett will forever be perhaps the most important name in the company’s history, serving as its co-founder, primary booker for many years, most consistent main event talent, and a former six time NWA World Champion. All of this made Jarrett a lock for the Impact Hall of Fame, which inducted him in 2015. There’s no denying Jarrett was a true legend of the sport for his contributions to his own company, but did he also work for WWE at all?