Uhaa Nation’s surprise debut at TNA Slammiversary got wrestling fans talking again, but it almost went very differently. As it turns out, there was a point where the former Apollo Crews wasn’t even sure he wanted to wrestle, and one conversation completely changed how his TNA debut ended up being booked.
Speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Uhaa revealed TNA actually started reaching out while he was still inside his 90-day WWE non-compete. Because of that, the company first had to get in touch with WWE before anything could move forward. Even when Moose called to tell him TNA wanted him for Slammiversary, Uhaa figured it wasn’t going to happen.
“TNA had reached out to WWE ’cause I was still within that like 90-day… non-compete where I technically couldn’t wrestle for anybody else. TNA got in contact with WWE and I think Moose may have been the first one to call me and told me that TNA was looking to bring me in for Slammiversary. My first thought was like, man, I’m in my 90 days. No way that’s gonna happen. Yeah, okay, whatever. So I kind of brushed it off.”
Once the idea became real, another question came up that changed everything. Uhaa said he was asked whether he’d be willing to lose, but after the way his WWE run ended, he wasn’t interested in starting over with another defeat. Rather than argue with him, Uhaa said the response was understanding.
“At the time I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to wrestle because this was not even a month after the release. I was still trying to figure things out. I spent my whole career losing at WWE. The first thing outside of WWE that I don’t wanna do is lose. He respected my answer. He was like, ‘I completely respect that. I would’ve said the same thing.'”
Somewhere along the way, though, the message got twisted. Moose called him back after hearing Uhaa didn’t want to do the match at all, which wasn’t true.
“I didn’t say I don’t wanna do the match. I just said, I don’t think that I want to come in there and lose after literally losing every single match… The last time I won, I think, was the night I tore my pec against Gargano.”
Instead of scrapping the idea, TNA found another solution. The match became a Triple Threat with Rich Swann and Mustafa Ali, which allowed Ali to retain the title without Uhaa taking the fall.
“Eventually what they ended up doing was like, ‘Okay, we can do a three-way with you, Rich Swann and Mustafa Ali where you end up not taking the pin. We just want you to come out here and have a good match.'”
Looking back, Uhaa admitted the match became about more than just getting back in the ring. After talking things over with his wife, he realized what he’d really been missing was having the spotlight on him again.
“Talking to my wife, I was like, this would be something good. I think I need that opportunity where the spotlight will be on me again. I always enjoyed performing. I love going out there and being the center of focus… I felt like it’d be a great opportunity to be in that spotlight again and have one of those matches that I never really had a chance to have inside of WWE.”
The match itself ended up being exactly what he needed. Uhaa got to work with two wrestlers he has a ton of respect for, including Rich Swann, someone he’d known since their Dragon Gate days long before either man signed with WWE.
“We went out there and had… I got to work with two studs, two amazing human beings. Rich Swann, somebody I used to work with in Dragon Gate before either one of us got signed to WWE.”
Perhaps the most honest part of the interview came at the very end. Uhaa admitted it simply felt good to have fans talking about him again after months away from the spotlight.
“It was nice to get that internet pop again too, and just to be talked about again. That was very nice. I don’t think that gets old for anybody.”
Looking back, Slammiversary wasn’t just a surprise debut—it was Uhaa Nation betting on himself. He made sure his first match after WWE helped rebuild his momentum instead of taking another step backwards, and judging by the reaction he got that night, it worked.
Would you like to see Uhaa Nation back in TNA, or do you think another promotion is a better fit? Let us know in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
