Brian Damage
The WWF/WWE has had some type of developmental system for years now. Whether it was the USWA, Ohio Valley, Power Pro, Heartland, Deep South, Florida Championship Wrestling or NXT…many of the company’s top superstars got their start in at least one of them. While some developmental names like John Cena, Kurt Angle, Randy Orton, The Miz, Brock Lesnar and Charlotte Flair all made big stars of themselves by first training in developmental, others never got to see the light of day. This series will focus on those wrestlers…the ones that at some point were a lock to get called up to the main roster and never quite made it. What once was hot, suddenly became a “not” as a WWE superstar.
Brandon Groom
Brandon Groom started his wrestling career in 1999, being trained by the great Dory Funk Jr. After several years wrestling on the independent circuit, Groom got a tryout with WWE and was signed to a developmental contract in 2008. Groom was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) based in Tampa, Florida.
Groom wrestled other developmental wrestlers such as Sheamus, Nic Nemeth and Joe Hennig. He was also used as enhancement talent jobbing to Brodus Clay on WWE Superstars. Groom would eventually be released from his developmental contract later in 2008 and returned to the independents.
Brandon Groom still wrestles to this day, however, is more focused owning and operating a gym and training center. He and his wife reside in Oklahoma.
Ring the Damn Bell 