NXT Battleground 2025 featured a bit of history when Trick Williams captured the TNA Championship. It was a move that wasn’t shocking or surprising, but one that was necessary. It is a step in the right direction to continue building Williams, while keeping him off the main roster.
Trick Williams still needs some growth in his career
Trick Williams is showing solid growth just four years into his professional career. The minute he was introduced as Carmelo Hayes’s backup, fans were ready to get behind him. As he captured the NXT North American Championship and two runs with the NXT Championship, fans witnessed his evolution as a character and his improvement in the ring. Still, a move to the main roster isn’t the best next step for his development, which is why this run as TNA Champion makes perfect sense.
There are a few reasons why Trick Williams holding the TNA Championship is the right call. First, Williams needs time to develop this new character he’s building. “Hollywood” Trick as he’s been calling himself, isn’t a new turn in professional wrestling, but it gives Williams the opportunity to do something different, early in his career.
Fans were initially concerned about Roxanne Perez and whether she could deliver as playing as a heel. Nearly a year later, and she’s thriving with this new character, showing a new wrinkle to what she can do. Williams can hopefully do the same thing, even if he doesn’t have nearly the amount of experience as his colleague on the main roster.
The booking trends for Trick Williams on the main roster do not look good
Speaking of the main roster, there’s the second point to why Trick Williams with the TNA Championship is the right call. Black male performers are not getting quality opportunities as singles acts on either SmackDown or Monday Night Raw. It’s not a controversial take. Just look at the factual data available. They are typically left off PLEs and tucked away in tag teams. While he’s talented and over with the fans, there’s little reason to hope that Williams’s move to the main roster would change this trend. Keeping him away from those booking issues would be best for his career and this run as TNA Champion does just that.
Trick Williams is a fun, young act in the WWE. Fans are hoping he can grow into a main event performer on the biggest of stages. He still needs a bit of development before he gets there, and putting the TNA Championship around his waist gives him more time to achieve just that.