NXT Days
Belton signed a developmental contract with WWE in February 2021, immediately starting work at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. He spent the next seven months there, preparing for the call to finally make his NXT start.
He made his NXT debut in September 2021 as the hype man for Carmelo Hayes, officially introducing his in-ring name Trick Williams. Despite their two-year run as “Trick Melo Gang,” one of the brand’s most captivating duos, the pair eventually went their separate ways to establish themselves as solo acts.
Following the split, Williams was no longer viewed as a “sidekick.” Instead, he quickly developed an organic connection with the crowd, fueled largely by the rising popularity of his “Whoop That Trick” chant. While the phrase is famously associated with the 2005 movie Hustle & Flow, its transition to Williams’ “anthem” happened almost by accident. During a match in Memphis, the crowd broke into the chant, and it stuck instantly. WWE quickly embraced the momentum, turning it into a massive babyface rallying cry.
This deep connection with the crowd propelled him into the NXT main event scene, where he achieved major success as a North American Champion and a two-time NXT Champion. Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment came at NXT Battleground on May 25, 2025, when he defeated Joe Hendry to become the first WWE wrestler to capture the TNA Championship during the WWE/TNA partnership.
