On Thursday afternoon, prior to the NXT tapings at Full Sail, pictures and rumors began flying on social media that TNA grand slam champion Eric Young was backstage at the event. WWE wasted no time in letting these rumors stew, as the tapings opened with Young making his NXT debut.
Eric Young debut #NXTFSLive @WONF4W pic.twitter.com/6avgUmhzsq
— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) April 28, 2016
Welcome to NXT Eric Young #NXTFSLive pic.twitter.com/TlMtTNZ4gi
— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) April 28, 2016
NXT main event program now building. Mind blown. #nxtfslive pic.twitter.com/sbwnfJE193
— Formerly DⒶve (@FormerlyDave) April 28, 2016
Young interrupted Samoa Joe and challenged him. Later in the tapings, they announced a match between the two men.
The new era of @WWENXT... @TheEricYoung @SamoaJoe #WeAreNXT pic.twitter.com/BA3KM7kvAA
— Triple H (@TripleH) April 28, 2016
Young's only prior WWE experience consisted of two Velocity appearances and a match on Sunday Night Heat. He had been with TNA full time from 2004 until just this past week of Impact Wrestling television (although he left the company along with Bobby Roode a couple of months ago).
Young has held every major men's title that TNA has and is even a one-time co-holder of the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship.