Alex Hammerstone is no longer signed with TNA, but he still had plenty of positive takeaways during his tenure there.
Hammerstone recently returned to MLW at the league’s Battle Riot tapings. He spent the previous year with TNA, signing with the Toronto-based promotion after leaving MLW in 2024 as a free agent. His TNA tenure didn’t go as he’d hoped. However, Hammerstone still has plenty of good memories about that run. That includes getting a chance to compete in a WWE ring.
Hammerstone still had some great opportunities while signed with TNA
“Like you said, that was very much a highlight of my whole time there. I was very privileged to get to do that. I hope nobody twists my words and thinks I’m just this sour puss and hate TNA. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted to, but I was presented with some great opportunities,” Hammerstone said. “I tried to capitalize on the situation, and that was definitely one of them. And it was so cool for me personally because a lot of people don’t realize that over the course of a decade, I had three tryouts with WWE.
“You show up to these tryouts and they are just running you through drills and you’re just like, you know, it’s almost like a boot camp type scenario where it’s, ‘Drop and give me 20. Hit the ropes. Do this, do that, and there’s torturing you, versus now [I go back as a TNA wrestler] and [I was at the WWE] facility and everyone’s just shaking my hand. ‘Oh, Hammer. So great to have you here.’ Everyone was being so welcoming, so professional, and such a cool experience.”
Alex Hammerstone was very well received in NXT
Hammerstone spoke very highly of Oba Femi, the current NXT Champion. He also believes the way he was treated by WWE shows just how far he has come in his career.
“Oba [Femi is] such a talented dude, but also, very mature and giving. At no point ever in my matches at NXT and both the days I spent there did I get an ounce of, ‘This guy’s not even with our company. What’s he doing here?’ All I got was respect. All I got was a [welcoming response],” Hammerstone said, noting the contrast between the last time he was there. “I remember when I was in this building, just scared to even talk. It just kind of just shows the evolution of my career and it sums it up in a very great way. A great experience top to bottom.”
Check out our full interview with Alex Hammerstone below:
