2016 was a big year for former TNA stars such as Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles. Roode joined NXT, Joe won the NXT Championship twice, and AJ Styles won the WWE Championship. A few years ago WWE didn’t seem to have much interest in wrestlers that have been involved with TNA in the past, but luckily that’s changed.
Now the company has their eyes on another TNA star according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and that star is Eli Drake. In the past Drake, real name Shaun Ricker, has worked with WWE, as he worked dark matches in 2006 and 2008, and he was eventually brought into developmental in 2013, then released in 2014. At this point in time his contract status with TNA is unknown, but there is reportedly interest from WWE.
Eli Drake has had a fairly successful run in TNA as he’s a former TNA King of the Mountain Champion, and he earned a World Title shot when he won the Bound For Gold match at this year’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view. Drake cashed in his World Title opportunity back in November but failed to win the championship.
On another TNA related note, John Pollock of The Fight Network is reporting that Anthem Sports and Entertainment has had recent conversations with Jeff Jarrett about TNA. Anthem confirmed that Jeff Jarrett does not have a role in the company at this point in time, and the two parties apparently met so that Jeff Jarrett could share background information about the TNA operation.
It was recently reported that WWE is also interested in bringing Chris Hero back to the company, and the WON reports thatHis WWE return is said to not be a done deal, but Hero has already gone through the required medical testing.
