The team of James Storm and Bobby Roode, famously known as Beer Money, is regarded as one of the most memorable tag teams in modern wrestling, with an intriguing backstory as two original members of TNA came together.
In a recent interview with Chris Van Vriette, James Storm reflected on his wrestling beginnings, career highlights, and the decision not to sign with WWE during TNA’s world title run. He also shared the origin story of the Beer Money tag team, revealing that it was the company’s Dutch executive who paired them up as their contracts were nearing expiration. The plan was that if their partnership didn’t succeed, both would be released from their contracts.
Storm said, "We were nearing the end of the contract, but I don’t think they really knew what to do with us. In Dutch, he said, ‘Just put them together.’ That’s how I saw the Dutch.”
James Storm and Bobby Roode, both TNA originals, had teamed up occasionally before forming a solid tag team. Their official partnership started in 2008, and together, they captured the TNA tag team titles five times. Beer Money holds the record for both the longest single title reign and overall combined days as TNA tag champions. Earlier in his career with TNA, Storm was part of another tag team called America’s Most Wanted alongside Chris Harris. He noted that Beer Money was different because both he and Roode were already established stars.
Storm added, “They put us together, and Bob and I decided to make the most of it. We had to rely on each other, so being already established, we could just go out there, have fun, and play the fool.”
He also mentioned that he came up with the name "Beer Money" during a casual chat with Eric Young. The name was initially meant to mock the audience but quickly turned into a fan-favorite phrase.
Fan Take: For TNA Wrestling fans, understanding the formation and legacy of Beer Money is a thrilling reminder of the creative risks that pay off in wrestling history. This story highlights the importance of chemistry and resilience, which continue to inspire tag team wrestling and elevate the sport’s storytelling.
