Arizona proudly adds another name to its roster of sports achievements, this time in the realm of professional wrestling with the emergence of Alex Hammerstone. At 33, an age widely regarded as the prime for professional wrestlers, Hammerstone is reaping the rewards of years of relentless dedication. His journey was not easy, and he was met with many setbacks and disappointments.
Making his professional debut in 2013 with Championship Wrestling from Arizona, Hammerstone’s commanding presence and aura immediately captured the attention of wrestling enthusiasts and earned him the respect of his peers. His commitment to his craft, coupled with a background in bodybuilding, further enhanced his image as a professional wrestler. Within just two years of turning pro, he caught the eye of WWE scouts, earning a tryout despite his admitted inexperience. Although he didn’t secure a contract at the time, the positive feedback he received fueled his determination.
By 2016, Hammerstone had transitioned from a “local Arizona wrestler” to a legitimate indie superstar, gaining prominence in FSW (Future Stars of Wrestling) and feuding with current WWE superstar LA Knight, known as Eli Drake at the time. Despite initial setbacks with previous WWE tryouts, Hammerstone persevered and entered his third tryout with the company.
They say the third time’s a charm, and Hammerstone truly felt that way as he aced the rigorous WWE tryouts. The multi-day process included intense drills, strength training, promo sessions in front of WWE officials, and in-ring matches with other aspiring independent superstars. Catching the discerning eye of William Regal, who pulled him aside to express how impressed he was, Alex knew this was his moment – and he was absolutely right.
Receiving verbal confirmation via phone just a week later, he learned he would be signed to the NXT brand. With the exciting news, he shared the announcement with all his loved ones, family, friends, peers, etc. After two failed tryouts and many years of hard work, he would finally fulfill his dream of hitting the big stage after chasing it for so long. Although the WWE officials said it would take a few more months for the official signing, they told him to be ready when the call came. With that in mind, he moved out of his home and made himself ready to move down to Florida at a moment’s notice, moving in with his family temporarily.
But just as quickly as the opportunity arose, it vanished. With numerous independent talents joining the company in the years prior, WWE found themselves with an overstaffed roster, leaving many superstars without TV time or anything creative for them to do. Across three brands, there simply wasn’t enough room, leading to the unfortunate news for Hammerstone that he wouldn’t be joining the company after all.
This news hit hard as he had uprooted his life, relocating in anticipation of the WWE contract and now having to deliver the news to his loved ones that he would, in fact, not be signing with the company. Mentally, it was a low point in his career. He felt like he was on autopilot for the next couple of years, no longer standing out as he once had. Many doubted whether he had what it takes to break through, including himself.
This setback took a toll on Hammerstone’s morale, leading to a long period of stagnation. However, in 2019, he found a revitalizing opportunity with Major League Wrestling (MLW), working alongside current AEW superstar MJF (Maxwell Jacob Friedman). However, their momentum was abruptly halted by the pandemic.
With all forward momentum abruptly halted, it wasn’t just Alex’s career on pause; the entire world was on hold. Despite the series of setbacks preventing him from taking the next big step, Alex Hammerstone remained focused on honing his craft during the global shutdown. When the time was right, he hit the ground running, diving into a feud with Jacob Fatu, the real-life cousin of Roman Reigns, Jimmy and Jey Uso, and Solo Sikoa.
Over the next couple of years, their off-and-on feud gained immense popularity, drawing attention to both of them like a boiling tea kettle. Despite their success and growing fan base, contract disputes with MLW became a hindrance. Stuck in a contract until 2025, Alex sought release, but it wasn’t granted immediately, and they kept him off television for a few months. In 2024, MLW finally granted the release for both Jacob Fatu and Alex Hammerstone from their contracts.
Seizing the opportunity, Hammerstone entered TNA Wrestling, often regarded as the second-largest wrestling company. The recent signings of former WWE stars like Nic Nemeth(formerly known as Dolph Ziggler) and Mustafa Ali, alongside mainstays like Moose and Eddie Edwards, placed Hammerstone in the mix with some of the industry’s biggest stars. Making his debut in January, he swiftly entered a feud with Josh Alexander, trading victories against one another in their two matches, including the most recent one at TNA Sacrifice.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive since his debut and the announcement of his signing with TNA Wrestling. For wrestling fans in this day and age, you know how challenging that is to achieve. Anticipating a rubber match with Josh Alexander, it’s only a matter of time before Hammerstone climbs the ranks to challenge for a championship. A potential colossal showdown with the current world champion, Moose, looms large, possibly set for October at TNA Bound for Glory.
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