Recent reports suggest that Samoa Joe, who is currently working with Ring of Honor is about to sign a contract with the WWE. Joe was in attendance at last week’s NXT tapings to meet Triple H, and if the sources are to be believed, he can sign with the company as soon as next month. For those who do not know who Samoa Joe is, he is arguably the best heavyweight in the wrestling circuit today. Joe signed up with TNA nearly a decade ago, and was with the Nashville based organization till the beginning of this year, when he chose to leave TNA.Joe is a former TNA World Heavyweight champion, as well as a multiple time X – Division champion, and epitomized everything good about the X – Division during its heyday nearly a decade ago. Joe has also expressed his interest in getting into a program with the former WWE World Heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar after he signs with the organization, as reports suggest that Triple H has been a fan of Joe for some time now. However, Joe will not be the first TNA original to sign with the company, as in the past, a few other TNA originals decided to jump ships to the WWE.In this article, we take a look at what happened with the five other TNA originals, and if their decision to come to the WWE paid off in the end.
#1 Chris Harris aka Braden Walker
“Wildcat” Chris Harris’ career in TNA was a successful one, during which he was a part of one of TNA’s greatest tag teams, America’s Most Wanted, along with “Cowboy” James Storm and Gail Kim. Harris was also a seven time TNA world tag team champion, and he along with Storm were a part of some of the most memorable tag team matches in TNA’s history.
Harris was released from his contract in 2008, and a couple of weeks later, Harris revealed that he had signed a contract with the WWE. Harris was renamed as Braden Walker, and Walker wrestled just two matches on ECW, before he was released by the WWE. Harris then worked for several independent promotions before going back to TNA in 2011, but didn’t stick around for more than a week, as TNA opted not to use Harris again.
From being a part of one of the best tag teams in the world to being reduced to an afterthought, it is fair to say that Chris’ decision to go to the WWE didn’t go as planned.
#2 Monty Brown aka Marcus Cor Von
Much like Chris Harris, Monty Brown was one of the main event talents in TNA nearly a decade ago. With an impressive physique and a good personality, Brown unsuccessfully challenged for the TNA world title on a couple of occasions. Brown too left TNA and signed with the WWE in hopes of making it big in the biggest global entertainment organization.
After signing with the company, Brown’s name was changed to Marcus Cor Von, as he debuted on the ECW brand. He was then placed in the New Breed versus ECW originals storyline, but wasn’t given many opportunities to showcase his talents. His final match in the WWE was for the number one contender’s spot for the ECW title against CM Punk, which he lost. Brown then took a sabbatical due to “family issues”, and was later released by the WWE.
#3 Low Ki aka Kaval
After Wade Barrett’s rise to fame, leading the Nexus faction against the WWE superstars, everyone thought that the winner of the second season of NXT would be given a similar mega push. Similar to Daniel Bryan in the first season, WWE chose another veteran from the independent circuit, and a former TNA wrestler in Low Ki for the second season. WWE had repackaged him as Kaval, and signed him to a contract back in 2008.
Kaval was the inaugural Ring of Honor champion, a multiple time TNA X – Division champion, and had won many other titles and tournaments on the independent scene. Kaval made his debut on NXT in 2010 with Michelle McCool and Layla as his mentors. Kaval ultimately won the second season of NXT, beating McGillicutty (Curtis Axel) and Alex Riley in the process. Kaval was then brought down to the SmackDown brand, and he exercised his right to face a champion by challenging Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental championship at the Survivor Series PPV.
Kaval was unsuccessful in winning the strap, and was released from the organization by the end of the year. Low Ki later confirmed that it was his decision to leave the company, as the creative team had nothing for him, and he said that he didn’t want to sit on the sidelines in the WWE.
#4 Awesome Kong aka Kharma
If there ever was a destructive force in the world of women’s professional wrestling greater than the legendary Aja Kong, it undoubtedly was Awesome Kong. Kong made her debut in TNA and immediately stamped her authority in the organization. After years of plying her trade on the independent circuit and organizations such as SHIMMER, Ring of Honor and in Japan, Kong won the TNA Knockouts title in 2008, and became a two time TNA Knockouts champion during her first run with the organization.
Kong then signed a contract with the WWE in late 2010, and made her first appearance in 2011 by attacking the divas. Repacked as Kharma, Kong dismantled and bullied the petrified divas, but with her getting pregnant, she had to take an indefinite leave from the company.
Kharma returned during the 2012 Royal Rumble PPV, participating in the Royal Rumble match, and in the process became only the third woman to do so, after Chyna and Beth Phoenix. She was then released from her contract, and Kong later stated that the WWE released her as she could not return in the timeframe that was given to her.
#5 CM Punk
The only superstar who managed to create an impact in the WWE from the entire list is the Second City Saint, CM Punk. Although Punk has verbally bashed TNA on many occasions, very few know that Punk worked for the organization during 2003- 2004 period, while also working for Ring of Honor. Punk joined The Gathering – a faction headed by Raven in TNA. Punk later turned heel, and then stopped working TNA’s shows.
In March 2004, Punk officially quit TNA, as TNA wanted the wrestlers contracted to them to stop working for Ring of Honor or any other promotion. Punk has since verbally bashed TNA for their poor management, while also mentioning that the TNA officials told him that he could not connect with the fans.
Perhaps, Punk is the only exception on this list, as he went on to have an incredible career in the WWE. It remains to be seen however if Samoa Joe will be just as successful, or if his career would go down the road similar to the likes of Low Ki or the others mentioned in the list.
