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This Friday night at TNA Against All Odds, Trick Williams will make history once again, becoming the first active WWE NXT star to defend the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on a TNA-branded event. Williams will square off with Elijah in a clash of charisma, musical culture, and championship gold, streaming live on TNA+.
"Nah, I ain't taking too much in, man," Williams said when asked if he’s had a chance to reflect on how far he’s come since his NXT debut several years back. "Got too much to do. Too many diss tracks to write. Too much gold to retain. I can't sit down yet."
Since first emerging on the scene during the launch of NXT 2.0, Trick Williams has quickly become one of the most dynamic and talked-about stars in WWE’s developmental system. His blend of athleticism, bravado, and authenticity has connected with audiences. But his recent leap into TNA territory — and winning its most coveted championship — took that momentum to another level.
"That's right, man. It was two gladiators who met in that ring last night. He brought his best and I brought mine and we saw what happened," Williams said of his physical altercation with Mike Santana on WWE NXT on the CW Network. "And a lot of people keep talking about, oh, Trick Williams only won because AJ Francis and KC Navarro came out and helped equalize the situation for Trick Williams. Elijah jumped over that barricade too. The difference is Trick Williams is smart enough to get out of the way when he sees danger. Mike Santana is not, and that's what happens when you're not an athlete."
Asked about the lingering issues with Mike Santana, who confronted him recently at the WWE Performance Center and again on NXT TV, Williams deflected the notion that anything needs to be revisited.
"How you figure that we gonna run it back? I'm pretty sure I get to choose when I get to defend this title. If I'm gonna be done with Mike Santana."
The TNA-NXT relationship, which was formally announced earlier this year, has created new opportunities across both brands and surprised longtime wrestling fans with its collaboration. Trick Williams, however, is focused less on the politics and more on the moments.
"Nah, it's been dope. I can't say too much about the business side of things, but I know when Joe Hendry — Average Joe — decided to put his title on the line against me, that lit me up. I said, you mean you gonna put this title on the line against me? The hottest thing in NXT? You must be crazy. Let's make some history."
Reflecting on the early NXT 2.0 era, where he debuted on-screen alongside Carmelo Hayes, Williams was candid about the lessons learned.
"Man, what a time. As far as lessons to be learned from that, it's hard to say. Because every situation is so case by case. But I guess the biggest thing is take a chance on yourself, man. It was operation: go out there and make the people know that you're there. During that 2.0 era, make something stick. Show 'em that you a big dog. They threw us into the deep water and we had to learn how to swim. And some people swam. I think most people swam. Only a few people aren't here with us at NXT any longer. Maybe they got moved up or maybe they got moved somewhere else. But yeah, man, it's operation sink or swim. So learn how to swim."
Coming from a football background, Williams says the internal pressure he places on himself often outweighs any expectations from management.
"I've always held myself to a very high standard. So I know when I feel like something isn't good, then it's going to eat me up alive. You don't really have to coach me too hard," Williams explained. "Of course, as far as the fundamentals, getting good at the craft — yes, we all need coaching — but as far as motivating me to be the best I need to be, I don't need motivation for that. I'm gonna wake up and I'm gonna get better, at least 1% every single day. But I think both are demanding, and that's why we get paid like we do, because a lot of pressure comes with the situation. Like you said, pressure from the brand and pressure that you put on yourself. Everybody isn't built to handle that. But Trick Williams is."
As for Elijah, Williams was respectful — but not without his usual swagger.
"A lot of respect for Elijah, man. I've known him for a while. I think he's put on some weight, some muscle. He looks good," he said. "But you know something about those guys with guitars, man, they just don't seem to treat Trick Williams too much and I'm okay with that."
Williams smashed Elijah's guitar last night on NXT.
"I wasn't gonna wait for him to hit me with it. I saw what happened with Average Joe. I said let me get rid of this guitar first. First name, first."
The cross-promotional nature of WWE’s current direction has also extended to WWE Worlds Collide, which airs this weekend. With talents from TNA, AAA, and more appearing on NXT regularly, there’s no shortage of surprises.
"I think the tide rises all ships. Competition is good for life. That's how you elevate your game," Williams said. "And yeah, I'm sure they look at us as competition, just like we look at them as competition. But may the best man win. Bring your A-game, I'll bring mine. Let's see what happens."
Looking ahead to Slammiversary, scheduled to take place in New York’s UBS Arena, Williams teased potential challengers.
"When I defend my title at Slammiversary, I'm sure it'll be in between Joe Hendry, the Average Joe, Mike Santana, or the guitar-strumming Elijah. Those are the three guys I've been rocking with lately. Who knows, man? You never know who else wants to step up. Who could be signed in the near future from TNA? Ryan Nemeth is talking trash on podcasts. R-Truth is a free agent now. You never know what could happen. I'm open to all opportunities."
For those entering the WWE Performance Center with hopes of reaching the spotlight, Williams offered clear advice.
"Man, I think it's exactly what you said — be an attraction. Be a star. Look good. Get your hair cut. Make sure you on the stairmaster. Make your abs pop. Do something that's different than what everybody else has going on. Be yourself. Be the man or the woman that you always wanted to be, or the man or the woman that you hated. Whichever way it is, go out there and make people know your name."
Williams continued, "I love what I do now. So if there's a way for me to do my job by the book but also find a way to enjoy it, I think that's the most important thing you can do."
He admitted that even now, he hasn’t rewatched his debut promo.
"It's crazy, Mike. I still haven't gone back to watch that first promo, because I just remember being out there, feeling the jitters like, dang man. And I love to talk. I've been doing public speaking, speaking in churches, motivational speaking — I've been doing that for a long time. Talking is one of the things that I love to do. But somehow when I got in front of that NXT universe for the very first time, I remember my heart sinking all the way down to the bottom of my stomach and just thinking, 'All right, now it's my time to speak and say something.' That was a crazy moment for me. And that was the motivation to say, 'Okay, I need to show them how good I am because that's not my best work.'"
Striving for perfection remains the core of his mission.
"We talking about the way I look — I'm 6'4", 245, eight abs, two chains, look good, muscles everywhere. So as far as I look — like perfection," Williams quipped. "But looks is almost the most important part. You gotta look like the guy that you out here saying that you are. And I definitely look like that guy. We can nitpick all these little things that don't matter at the end of the day. I got that gold sitting right there. I worked hard for that."
When asked the final question — why fans should tune into Against All Odds — Trick Williams delivered his sales pitch.
"Man, why wouldn't you order Against All Odds? Have you seen the card?" Williams exclaimed. "We got Santino Marella with his daughter, NXT’s Arianna Grace versus Robert Stone with Tessa Blanchard. The winner is officially the TNA Director of Authority. We got Nick and Ryan — the one who's talking trash on podcasts, versus Rascalz, Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz, for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. We got Steve Maclin versus Mance Warner with Steph De Lander for the TNA International Championship. And most importantly, we got Trick Williams versus Elijah. You know what I mean? The battle of culture, the battle of diss tracks versus the guitar strumming. Let's talk about it. It's gonna be fun."
Against All Odds streams live this Friday on TNA+.
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