Since I started writing on GFW/IMPACT/TNA nearly 8 years ago, I have had three “pillars.” Three wrestlers who have always been there, kind to me, and supportive of my work. The Demon Assassin Rosemary, Eddie Edwards, and Moose (I can also add Sami Callihan, who arrived later in 2017 but is also very important to me).
I’ve followed them all my wrestling writing career, talked to them many times, and, obviously, have watched all their matches to the point of saying I know who they are.
I’m sure after WWE NXT last Tuesday, hundreds of people “Googled” or checked on any social media platform about Moose. As an “Authority” on TNA wrestling, I definitely can share with you who Moose is. So, before his match against Lexis King on WWE NXT, everything you need to know about Moose, the man, his wrestler, and his style is just here.
Not Just “Any” Wrestler
As far as I can remember, I’ve never found any wrestler Moose could be compared to. Some would say D’Lo Brown or Ron Simmons, but that would be untrue. Moose, who stands at 6’5″ and weighs 290 pounds, is not a powerhouse; he is a freak of nature, mixing power, speed, and agility like very few wrestlers in the business.
Moose, 40, is a true TNA guy. After an NFL career, he made his wrestling debut in Dragon Gate in 2014. He then moved to ROH. But since 2016, he has been a TNA/GFW/IMPACT/TNA Wrestling. He has held every singles title of the company but, quite strangely, not any Tag Team titles.
Don’t think the man is not a team guy; he is the masterpiece of The System, a faction that has been reigning supreme in TNA wrestling for more than a year now. Alongside Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, JDC, and Alisha Edwards, they not only made the rules but also broke them. The rules in TNA Wrestling.
Became TNA World Champion… Before TNA Wrestling Returned
Before the company took the name TNA back in early 2024, Moose was a TNA World Champion. During COVID times, in April 2020, at Rebellion, Moose brought back the old TNA World Heavyweight Championship title (in its 2011–2017 design) and declared himself the new TNA World Champion. And he defended it until February 2021.
At the time, Impact Wrestling did not officially recognize Moose’s TNA World Heavyweight Championship reign as an official title reign on either its website or during the weekly broadcasts of Impact. Quite strangely, when the company became TNA again, Moose became the first World Champion of that new era.
What happened in 2024 is what was supposed to happen in 2020. The company had always wanted to come back to its original name. But things didn’t happen exactly as they wanted it to. One thing is sure: in 2020 or 2024, Moose was meant to be the first World Champion of the new TNA history.
Some will say, why him? He’s remained loyal to TNA. He signed the longest contract extension in TNA history in early 2023. He explained, “I have a five-year contract with TNA, and I’m expected to perform and live out all five years of that deal and continue my goal to build TNA to bigger and better things.”
Stole the Spotlight From Kenny Omega On Multiple Occasions
Moose has always been a great wrestler; don’t make me say something different. But in 2021, someone challenged him to a point where a new Moose was born in front of our eyes. This person is Kenny Omega. AEW was “welcomed” to TNA Wrestling at a moment when no one could attend a show.
The then-” “Belt Collector” decided to take the IMPACT World Championship away from any TNA wrestler (for the record, it was Christian Cage who defeated him later to bring the belt back to the Impact Zone).
At Hard to Kill 2021, Omega teamed up with fellow former Bullet Club stablemates Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows against IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann, Chris Sabin, and Moose.
It was Omega’s first-ever match in the Impact Zone (available to watch here), but Moose decided not to let him rain on his parade. Right when he made his way to the ring, Moose’s eyes were on Omega. And if eyes could kill, Omega would have been dead way before the bell was rung.
EC3 said, at that time, “Only Moose can stand for himself. Fight for himself. Become who he is supposed to be.” The wrestler we saw compete on PPV didn’t shine; he exploded in front of our eyes.
The standing Moonsault, the Spanish Fly from the top rope, we have never seen him doing that before. He set the tone for the match and brought it to a higher level.
A struggling Kenny Omega allowed us that night to find out about a Moose like no other. Moose absolutely proved himself to be a main-event talent, hanging with a performer many consider the best wrestler in the world.
TOP ROPE SPANISH FLY BY @TheMooseNation! #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/Vh9Mty4Pbx
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 17, 2021
Current Reigning and Defending TNA X-Division Champion
Since the creation of TNA, the X-Division title has always been an opening door to the heights of the company. The very first man to win the title was AJ Styles. We all know the wrestler he has become and he is still.
Chris Sabin of the Motor City Machine Guns is the record titleholder as the 10-time X-Division Champions. In the long list of the 54 wrestlers who won that title, you can find a slew of future TNA World Champions. When it comes to Moose, his first X-Division title run started on November 7, 2024. Which means 8 years after his debut.
Moose’s first title in TNA was the Grand Championship, formerly known as the King of the Mountain Championship. The rules of that title’s matches are like the WWE NXT Heritage Cup ones, the big difference being the team of 3 judges determines the outcome based on points.
That might be a reason why his first match in WWE NXT will be against the current NXT Heritage Cup Champion, Lexis King. A remembrance of things past? A show of respect to Moose’s path? As I said earlier, Moose is not any wrestler, so his path has not followed the same rules as many of the TNA stars.
Ultimate Opportunist
The WWE-TNA partnership is the perfect chance to see a star like Moose shine on a bigger platform. When he was given an opportunity, not only did he take it, but he also turned it into gold. Since the WWE/TNA partnership announcement, I have been looking forward to him crossing the lines because he earned it.
At Bound For Glory 2021, Moose won the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Cup, a kind of 20-person rumble match for a chance at any TNA Championship. A few moments later, as Josh Alexander was celebrating his first TNA Championship with his family after defeating Christian Cage, Moose appeared, cashed in the Cup, and took the belt away from Alexander. Some said it was heartbreaking for Alexander, but I say it was brilliant from Moose.
.@TheMooseNation CALLED HIS SHOT to take the IMPACT World Championship from new champion @Walking_Weapon. #BTIonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/EUlvGyxolU
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) October 28, 2021
With all this in mind, you now know the man who will face Lexis King is not a wrestler like any other. Moose, a name coming from his football playing days, is powerful and harmful. His Spear can cut a man in two. His mind is focused. He can jump on the ropes and fly in the air. Don’t blink if you watch one of his matches; you will miss something.
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