Trick Williams, who joined WWE‘s main roster in 2026, acknowledges that his time in WWE NXT and his experience competing in TNA played key roles in his development and current standing on WWE SmackDown. His journey involved balancing the structured environment of NXT with the more open creative freedom found in TNA, helping him grow as a performer.
Williams Discusses the Contrast Between NXT and TNA Experiences
Williams explained the differences between working in TNA and NXT, describing TNA’s locker room atmosphere as more relaxed and autonomous compared to the intense oversight in NXT.
“It is crazy because you know how the TNA locker room is,”
Williams said on Busted Open Radio.
“It’s kind of I don’t want to say the wild, wild west, but there’s a lot of freedom there where you have to trust yourself as a performer to go with your gut and do what you feel is right. NXT, it is a quote unquote developmental brand where there’s a whole lot of other pressures. As a young aspiring talent, you feel the pressure from Shawn Michaels every single day you’re walking through gorilla. Now, if you can look Shawn Michaels in the face every single Tuesday, then you can do a one-on-one promo with Randy Orton.”
This statement highlights the daily demands placed on emerging talent within NXT, a brand overseen creatively by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, who serves as Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative. Meanwhile, WWE’s main roster creative direction is led by Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, known in-ring as Triple H.
How TNA’s Creative Freedom Helped Williams Mature
Williams’ tenure in TNA was marked by increased independence in the ring, as part of WWE’s strategic partnership with the promotion. At NXT Battleground, Williams captured the TNA World Championship by defeating Joe Hendry, which secured him a regular spot on TNA’s television programming during his reign. Reflecting on this period, Williams said,
“When you make it to TNA, it’s more like you’re considered to be a grown man,”
adding,
“They’re not going to tell you every single detail. They’re not going to tell you, look this way, make sure you talk to the people that way. They’re going to tell you what the assignment is and you do that to the best of your ability. But they’re trusting you as a performer to go out there and get the job done. The reason I think that’s a beautiful thing is because it’s not so tight on direction. You have an opportunity to see what works for you. Nobody’s going to tell you what to do. You can go see what works for yourself.”
Williams valued the flexibility offered by TNA, as it allowed him to experiment and build confidence in his own abilities. He learned to recognize moves that generated positive audience reactions and incorporated them consistently in his matches. This self-trust cultivated in TNA contributed significantly to his growth before returning to the more disciplined WWE environment.
Current Performance and Future Prospects on WWE SmackDown
Williams underlined the importance of combining self-confidence with professionalism on the WWE main roster, stating,
“Once you get to the [WWE] main roster, you have to be able to put yourself in positions to look good. They’re going to help you, it’s not about that, but you’re a grown man.”
His early appearances on SmackDown were marked by a memorable confrontation with veteran Randy Orton, culminating in Williams receiving a hanging DDT during their exchange.
Most recently, Williams participated in a four-way match on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, with the winner earning a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship held by Drew McIntyre at the 2026 Royal Rumble. This opportunity places Williams in a pivotal position for future title contention and signals the company’s faith in his abilities cultivated across NXT and TNA.
Williams’ path demonstrates how blending structured mentorship under Shawn Michaels with the creative latitude found in TNA has prepared him for the demands and visibility of WWE’s top tier. His journey provides insight into how diverse environments can enhance a wrestler’s skill set and readiness for WWE’s main roster challenges.
If quoted, please credit Busted Open Radio with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
