WWE Sign WALTER
PROGRESS World Champion to head up European expansion...
A couple of months after saying "being a part of the Raw or SmackDown roster is nothing I am interested in,” European wrestling star WALTER has signed with WWE, PWInsider are reporting.
However, the Austrian's move isn't to a spot on the main roster, somewhere his talents certainly warrant him being; it's reportedly to front up the company's European expansion plans. PWInsider believes that includes the NXT UK brand, while other online sources are speculating the heavily rumoured NXT Germany brand could become WALTER's home territory.
WALTER will now finish the rest of his scheduled independent dates before starting with WWE. It's currently understood that he will still be able to work for certain indy companies after he becomes a part of WWE, but PWInsder admits any restrictions placed on WALTER are a little up in the air at the moment.
Several months ago, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE were interested in signing the PROGRESS World Champion, only for him to resist their advances and publically state that he wasn't interested. WWE have now been able to put together a deal that is suitable for all parties.
In an interview with The Mirror in September, the 31-year-old did admit that while a move to the USA wouldn't interest him, NXT certainly does: “I don’t want to live in the US," he said. "I really like NXT though, I think it’s a great product, filled with the best talent in the world and is focused on competition in the ring, which is something I enjoy. I don’t want to say it will never happen because in wrestling things change so quick.”
However, the Austrian's move isn't to a spot on the main roster, somewhere his talents certainly warrant him being; it's reportedly to front up the company's European expansion plans. PWInsider believes that includes the NXT UK brand, while other online sources are speculating the heavily rumoured NXT Germany brand could become WALTER's home territory.
WALTER will now finish the rest of his scheduled independent dates before starting with WWE. It's currently understood that he will still be able to work for certain indy companies after he becomes a part of WWE, but PWInsder admits any restrictions placed on WALTER are a little up in the air at the moment.
Several months ago, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE were interested in signing the PROGRESS World Champion, only for him to resist their advances and publically state that he wasn't interested. WWE have now been able to put together a deal that is suitable for all parties.
In an interview with The Mirror in September, the 31-year-old did admit that while a move to the USA wouldn't interest him, NXT certainly does: “I don’t want to live in the US," he said. "I really like NXT though, I think it’s a great product, filled with the best talent in the world and is focused on competition in the ring, which is something I enjoy. I don’t want to say it will never happen because in wrestling things change so quick.”
Written by Ross Tweddell
Written and video journalist for Cultaholic Wrestling | twitter: @rossonrasslin | instagram: @rossonrasslin