Trick Williams spent five years in NXT before he ever got a main roster call. He says the detour through TNA in the middle of it is the reason he was ready when it came.
Speaking on WWE Now at Fanatics Fest, the United States Champion said the run was the missing piece.
“Being the TNA champion was everything, man. That was the experience that I needed to really become that more polished, well-rounded, more competent superstar that I could be,” Williams said.
The difference, he said, is how much you are left to figure out for yourself.
“TNA isn’t quite like WWE. Not as many producers, not as much help around. Some may call TNA the Wild Wild West,” Williams said. “So if you’re able to survive in the Wild Wild West, then you can become a superstar anywhere.”
He was quick to credit the people there.
“Look, man, I had a lot of help, a lot of great guys there. Moose, the Hardys, everybody was there,” Williams said. “But main evented the two largest shows in TNA history as a part-timer, as a TNA World Champion. That’s one of my proudest moments in being in the business, being there, being part of that system, getting them a TV deal at AMC and everything like that. So I’m just grateful for that whole experience with TNA.”
Williams admitted the wait was not easy while it was happening.
“Yeah, for sure. That’s the competitor in all of us. Everybody wants to get to the main roster. Everybody wants to get to their WrestleMania moments. Everybody wants to lock up with some of the best, like Randy Orton,” Williams said. “I’d been at NXT for four years, at that point five years, thinking I did everything I could do.”
The way he sees it now, the timing was the point.
“TNA was the perfect segue, the perfect bridge to keep me busy. And like, nah, Trick, there’s still a lot for you to learn. Stay right here and get better at your craft. Work different people. Learn from somebody else who’s been doing this way longer than you,” Williams said. “That way, when I got to the main roster, and that first segment was Sami Zayn, I’m ready for Sami Zayn. Then it’s Randy Orton, I’m ready for Randy Orton. TNA was very necessary.”
He also pointed to a match further back, against Ilja Dragunov in NXT, as the night he felt himself change levels.
“My first moment that I had that was with the match that a lot of people know of, some may not, because it was at NXT with Ilja Dragunov, the Mad Dragon. I got to give my kudos to Ilja Dragunov. He’s my friend to this day. He was actually in the wedding, all the way to Jamaica,” Williams said. “It was a fight. Nothing more, nothing less. We fought 25 minutes, bleeding, everything like that. It was either sink or swim right now. Is Ilja Dragunov going to beat you, or are you going to make your name right now? Put your fork in the ground and let everybody know that you’re here to stay. And Mad Dragon, Ilja Dragunov, was the one who could take me to that level, who propelled me to everything that you see.”
