5 WWE Superstars you didn't know were with TNA

TNA has undergone a number of changes throughout its existence. First, known as Total Nonstop Action, they later renamed themselves after their weekly program, Impact Wrestling, and now have undergone a complete rebranding and are known as Global Force Wrestling. Something that has occurred lately is that a number of former TNA standouts have become current WWE talent.

It is commonly known that names such as Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, AJ Styles, Eric Young and Mickie James all worked with the promotion, and fans are aware that many performers who made their name in WWE spent time in TNA.

However, a number of names often fly under the radar in the discussion of WWE performers that changed promotions. Who were or are these WWE Superstars who joined the competition? Whose time in and impact upon TNA is forgotten? These stars often surprised the world, appearing in TNA after earning a name for themselves in WWE.

Here are five WWE superstars you didn't know were with TNA.

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#5 Tyson Tomko

Tomko's brief time in TNA came after leaving the WWE

He was brought into WWE as Christian's insurance policy, which essentially meant a bodyguard, after having worked in their developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling. His WWE debut involved in an interference in Christian's match against Chris Jericho.

He was the ‘problem solver' to aid Christian and his on-screen girlfriend Trish Stratus in their feud against Jericho. While he did receive a minor push on his own, both in singles and as part of a tag team with Snitsky, he didn't have much of a role and left the company in 2006.

In 2006, Tomko joined TNA and was part of Christian's Coalition, once again coming to the aid of Christian and acting as muscle for the, then NWA World Heavyweight champion.

He remained with the promotion for a couple of years, and even left and returned a year later, first aligning with(also winning the tag team championships) with AJ Styles and then turning on him. In 2016, Tomko retired from wrestling but had a deceptively notable run with TNA.

#4 Test

The late Andrew 'Test' Martin competed very briefly for TNA before he sadly passed away after departing the WWE

The late Andrew Martin spent several years with WWE. When he first arrived, he was a bodyguard, then had a relationship with Stephanie McMahon, but was subsequently pushed aside for Triple H, and cast away.

During his time with the promotion, Test was part of a number of different storylines besides the one with Stephanie McMahon. He was part of the tag team T and A with Matt Bloom (then known as Albert,) managed by Trish Stratus.

Test was also part of a faction with William Regal, Lance Storm and Christian known as TheUnAmericans. However, what isn't as well-known about his career is that he competed in the hotly contested TNA promotion.

In 2007, Martin was aligned with Sting and Abyss and competed in what was said to be his only match, for the promotion. He announced his retirement that same year, though he competed the one time a couple of years later.

#3 Christian

During his time in TNA, Christian competed as Christian Cage and captured the then NWA-TNA world championship

In a career that spanned nearly twenty years, Christian had a great deal of success during his time in WWE. He is a former Intercontinental, World and tag team champion. However, what is often forgotten is that for a span of three years, Christian joined TNA and competed as Christian Cage.

He eventually became a heel and formed Christian's Coalition during his time with the promotion. He faced the likes of Sting, Abyss, and AJ Styles during his time there.

Christian later returned to WWE, and he remained with the company until he retired in 2014 due to concussion related concerns.

It is incredible to think that for all Christian achieved in WWE, for about three years he not only made TNA his home but also competed in some significant matches and captured the company's most prized possession, their World Championship. His time is easily forgotten, despite the impact for the company and himself.

#2 Luke Gallows

While Gallows is one-half of the tag team alongside Karl Anderson, Gallows was part of the faction Aces & Eights in TNA

Gallows was with WWE a number of years ago, first known as Festus and then later renamed as Luke Gallows and installed as a member of CM Punk's Straight Edge Society. The Festus character had qualities that suggested that he had special needs, and would only tune into a match at the sound of a bell.

However, that bell would turn him into a wrestling machine. He once again completely tuned out when the bell would chime to end the match.

After departing WWE, Gallows toured the independents and eventually made his way to New Japan Pro Wrestling. However, before that, for a couple of years, Gallows competed for TNA as part of the Aces and Eights faction. He was renamed, the Director of Chaos, or D.O.C, and DOC Gallows became the name he used during his time with the promotion and later with NJPW.

He had so many stable mates with Aces and Eights that it would be easy to forget that he was one of them. Today Gallows is back in WWE, one-half of the Good Brother tag team alongside long-time partner Karl Anderson.

#1 CM Punk

Before joining the WWE, Punk competed very briefly for TNA.

Fans all recall Punk's time with Ring of Honor, and there is no forgetting his time in WWE. However, what tends to be forgotten was his time with TNA. While it may have been short-lived, Punk did compete for the promotion and was aligned with Alexis Laree, now known as Mickie James.

After initially feuding with Raven, those two, along with Laree and Julio Dinero aligned to form the faction The Gathering.

Punk left TNA after the Rob Feinstein controversy prompted TNA's offices to stop their contracted wrestlers from competing for ROH. Punk earned his greatest notoriety in Ring of Honor, due to matches against Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson.

However, his ever-so brief time with TNA flies under the radar and is often forgotten. If Punk had more of a singles run with the company it would have certainly stood out more.