Before NXT airs the first match of the NXT Breakout Tournament tonight on NXT TV, here at Last Word on Pro Wrestling, we plan to let you know a little about the who’s who. Most are former independent wrestling darlings, while others found much of their fame on IMPACT Wrestling, and one individual who many may not know at all. Let us take a look at the eight stars looking to break out and earn a future NXT title shot.
Dexter Lumis
Dexter Lumis, better known as Samuel Shaw in TNA, is prepared to bring that creepy vibe to NXT television soon enough. Lumis found his inspiration for his insane character from the movie American Psycho and slowly began to make waves in TNA with his insane, serial killer vibe gimmick. He spent most of his time trying to gain the affections of Christy Hemme by going through anyone who even dared to speak to her. He wrestled the likes of Mr. Anderson and Gunner (aka Jaxson Ryker). Now, Lumis looks to make the fans of NXT uncomfortable on his way to winning the first ever NXT Breakout Tournament.
Bronson Reed
The former Jonah Rock, now rebranded as Bronson Reed, looks to make his statement in the NXT Breakout Tournament against his first-round opponent in Dexter Lumis. Reed signed with the WWE in February and has been on the live event circuit of NXT ever since. The Australian born powerhouse has brought his talents to companies like Pro Wrestling NOAH, Wrestle Rampage, and even New Japan Pro Wrestling as a part of their Fallout Down Under Tour in 2018. Reed was then a member of TMDK, a team that includes the likes of former NXT talent Nick Miller (now Mikey Nicholls) and current talent Shane Thorne, the team that one time made up The Mighty. Looked at as an athletic big man, Bronson Reed has a lot to offer following his NXT debut.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott is one of the more exciting prospects that has joined NXT in recent years. Scott rose to prominence under the name of Shane Strickland, traveling around the world becoming one of the best-kept secrets of the independent wrestling scene. Everywhere he went, it seemed he would eventually capture gold in the process. He spent time in CZW, EVOLVE, and MLW, winning the top prize in each company. In CZW, he defeated Davey Richards, Joe Gacy, and Lio Rush in a Four Way match to capture his one and only CZW World Heavyweight Championship. In both EVOLVE and MLW, he defeated Matt Riddle to become each promotion respective championship. He became MLW’s first world champion since 2004 by defeating Riddle in April of just last year. “Swerve” is going to become a favorite of the NXT brand very quickly, it is just a matter now of how far he will go in the Breakout Tournament.
Cameron Grimes
Cameron Grimes is going to be one of the favorites in this tournament. Formerly known around the world of pro wrestling as Trevor Lee, Grimes is looking to make the huge splash in NXT. His first-round matchup with Isaiah Scott is simply the most exciting of the first round as both men can be viewed as favorites. Grimes, 25, has made plenty of fans around the world and especially in the states with his time being in IMPACT, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and CWF Mid-Atlantic. CWF Mid-Atlantic was the company that gave him his first opportunity and he continued to give his time back to them every single year of his career while developing his craft. He participated in PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles multiple years, including 2016 where he made it all the way to finals before he lost to Marty Scurll. In IMPACT he became a three-time X Division Champion and was one of the brightest spots of the company during their many rough patches. The incredible Grimes now looks to put down “Swerve” in hopes of moving on to the semi-finals and hopefully the finals themselves.
Angel Garza
The 26-year-old Angel Garza has been wrestling since 2009 in Mexico. Best known as Garza Jr., he was signed by WWE along with KUSHIDA earlier this year. He is the cousin of current 205 Live star Humberto Carrillo. Much of his time before Carrillo signed was teaming up on the independent scene in Mexico. Garza spent three years of his career as a competitor in AAA. He teamed with Rey Mysterio and Psycho Clown in a losing effort to El Hijo del Fantasma, El Texano Jr, and Myzteziz, the former Sin Cara. Garza battled for multiple championships as a part of AAA but came up short. He spent time in IMPACT Wrestling in 2017, teaming with Laredo Kid. Other than AAA and IMPACT, Garza spent plenty of his time in The Crash as a part of La Rebelion. Garza now looks to take his career to another level as a part of NXT.
Joaquin Wilde
Many fans may know Joaquin Wilde as DJZ. Wilde began his wrestling career all the way back in 2004 as a part of Black Diamond Wrestling. He had traveled the world being a part of a number of different companies including IWC, EVOLVE, AAA, and MLW. Despite working in companies like that, much of his fame comes from his time as a part of IMPACT Wrestling. He spent a total of eight years in IMPACT, first wrestling as a part of the company in June 2011. In his time with IMPACT, he was a two-time X Division Champion and a IMPACT World Tag Team Champion with Andrew Everett. Now, at the age of 32, Wilde has finally made it to the WWE as a part of NXT at the age of 32. He is prepared to take on Angel Garza in the first match of the tournament.
BOA
BOA has been signed to WWE since 2017, becoming one of the first Chinese signings in the history of the company. He has been on the live event scene learning his craft before his big debut in the coming weeks. BOA has continued to give it his all as a part of the WWE Performance Center training through time in hopes of being a future superstar. He will take his biggest step yet in his NXT TV debut match in the weeks to come.
Jordan Myles
One of the most decorated and possibly most well-known competitors in the tournament. Jordan Myles, who fans of NJPW and ROH happily know as ACH, is here to make a statement. Myles is the only competitor in this tournament to have a recorded match as a member of the WWE already. Under his real name, Albert Hardie Jr., he competed in a Worlds Collide match over WrestleMania Weekend as a part of WrestleMania Axxess. Myles performed in Japan, competing in Pro Wrestling NOAH and New Japan Pro Wrestling. ACH broke in with Taiji Ishimori as a tag team, competing in the 2016 NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League in Pro Wrestling NOAH. They would then join the Super Jr. Tag Tournament that same year, defeating the Young Bucks in that tournament. Whether it is competing in a team or in one-on-one action, Jordan Myles is going to be one to watch as he is a serious threat to win the whole thing.
The NXT Breakout Tournament begins tonight, with Joaquin Wilde and Angel Garza kicking it all off. Every competitor has this unique opportunity to breakout without being on NXT and earn a championship opportunity. Plenty of these guys have a chance to make some new fans in their first televised matchups on NXT TV. Who is your favorite to win?
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Make sure to watch all of the tournament action on NXT using the WWE Network
