For a few weeks now, vignettes have been appearing on NXT television advertising the coming of SAnitY. Rumours were rampant that it was to debut a new character or faction featuring one of the many big names rumoured to be heading to NXT. Was it Eric Young? Tommy End? Crazy Mary Dobson?
On tonight’s episode of NXT on the WWE Network, it was finally revealed as team SAnitY, as revealed on WWE.com last week before the start of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, came to the ring for their tournament match-up versus Bobby Roode and Tye Dillinger.
#SAnitY. IS. HERE!!!! #DustyClassic #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/zVh3XBv7MR
— WWE (@WWE) October 13, 2016
The four masked anarchists came to the ring and the tournament duo was revealed to be Alexander Wolfe and Sawyer Fulton, two guys who have seen a lot of time on NXT Live Events the past year or so, but minimal enhancement time on television. In glorious fashion, Bobby Roode turned his back on “The Perfect Ten” and left him to be beaten down by the two. The third member unmasked to reveal herself as Nikki Cross, while the leader unveiled last, revealing himself to be none other than Eric Young.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/786359436340101120
So who are these four people?
Eric Young is easily the biggest name of the group and his character is strong enough to carry the early stages. A former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and 4-time Tag Team Champion (twice with Bobby Roode as part of Team Canada in TNA), Young left TNA earlier this year alongside Roode. He even debuted in NXT prior to Roode, confronting then NXT Champion Samoa Joe which resulted in a match. But then he disappeared. Rumours persisted that he was being passed on, or maybe returning to TNA or heading to Ring of Honor. Then the reports changed and insisted he had indeed signed with NXT. Then it became a waiting game. Well tonight, he’s made his triumphant re-debut, with a gang to back him up in his inSAnitY.
Nikki Cross is the next face that many will recognize. Although perhaps not the name. As Nikki Storm, this Scottish firecracker has been tearing up the European indies for nearly eight years. Early training from Finn Balor (like Becky Lynch), she made a name for herself with her work in Scotland’s infamous ICW, as well as England’s Revolution Pro, where she was a 3-time EVE Champion. She had some North American exposure with work in Shimmer and Shine, before signing with WWE late last year. She’s being working NXT Live Events and recently debuted on NXT under the name Nikki Glencross. She disappeared after her first appearance, much like Young, and re-debuted tonight with a new name.
Sawyer Fulton may look familiar to longtime NXT watchers. Another Ohio collegiate wrestler in the WWE, Fulton was a 2-time All-American NCAA collegiate wrestler for Ashland University. He spent two years in the Ohio indie circuit before signing with NXT in 2012. Primarily an enhancement talent on NXT television, he had a short uneventful run in a tag team with Angelo Dawkins. He was repackaged and paired with Alexander Wolfe in March of this year and have now joined Young’s new faction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVhpTUpM5vY
Alexander Wolfe is the new blood that many may not know about unless they watched Germany’s top promotion, wXw. There, he is a former wXw World Champion, where he competed under the name Axel Tischer. He’s a 12-year veteran of professional wrestling in Europe where he’s been wrestling since he was 13. Fun fact, he lost his wXw World title to another European indie star rumoured to be heading to NXT, Netherland’s Tommy End (the man he beat for it in 2012, was WWE Superstar Sami Zayn)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onTZhgwkagw
The team of Fulton and Wolfe will be moving on to the second round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, where they will face the winner of the Itami/Ibushi vs. Lince Dorado and Mustafa Ali match.
Main Photo: WWE.com
