User:Acooper2023/sandbox

Professional wrestling career

WWE

NXT (2020-2023)

After finishing his training, he would sign a contract with WWE, reporting to the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. He would make his debut on August 26, 2020, defeating an enhancement talent on NXT. He would continue to rack up victories over the proceeding weeks and months. On October 4th at TakeOver 31, he would defeat Timothy Thatcher. At Vengeance Day on February 14, 2021, he would take part in a triple threat match featuring Kushida and Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship, being unsuccessful. On April 7th during night one of Stand and Deliver, he would take part in a battle royal to determine Johnny Gargano's challenger for night two, being unsuccessful. At In Your House on June 13, he would defeat Johnny Gargano to finally capture the championship. He would hold onto the championship until Halloween Havoc on October 26, being defeated by Carmelo Hayes, ending his reign at 136 days.

On February 15, 2022, he would be defeated by Bronson Steiner in a match for the NXT Championship. Following the match, he would brutally assault the champion with a steel chair before putting him through the announce table at ringside, becoming a villain in the process. At Stand and Deliver on April 2, he would defeat Bronson Steiner in an Extreme Rules Match to capture the championship. He would hold onto the championship for a full year, dropping it to Charlie Dempsey at Stand and Deliver on April 1, 2023, ending his reign at 365 days in what would ultimately be his last match in NXT.

SmackDown

Championship reigns, main event status (2023-2027)

Following WrestleMania 39, he would make his SmackDown debut on the April 7th episode as a face, defeating Drew Gulak. He would then take part in the 2023 King of the Ring Tournament, making it to the second round before being eliminated by Ricochet. He would then begin pursuing the Intercontinental Championship held by Santos Escobar, being unsuccessful at the King of the Ring event on June 10th. At SummerSlam on August 5, he would defeat Santos Escobar to finally capture the Intercontinental Championship. He would hold onto the title until the December 1st episode of SmackDown, dropping it to Pete Dunne, ending his reign at 119 days.