Several AEW wrestlers have openly reflected on their WWE careers, acknowledging that their time there came too early in their professional journeys. Cole Karter, who previously wrestled under the name Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan on WWE NXT, shared his experience. Karter debuted on NXT as a henchman for Tony D’Angelo alongside Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo but was released shortly after, curbing his WWE tenure.
In an interview on Fightful Overbooked’s The Spotlight, Karter revealed that he started wrestling for NXT in August 2020 and, with only three weeks of experience, was thrown into a televised match against Anthony Ogogo, which forced him to learn on the fly. He emphasized that wrestling on TV is vastly different from indie shows and admitted to being nervous at 19-20 years old, learning how to navigate televised wrestling.
Karter expressed feeling that his WWE stint occurred prematurely, saying he needed more experience before being thrust into such a high-pressure environment. Despite the challenges, he learned a lot and now genuinely enjoys his wrestling career. After his departure, Tony D’Angelo’s faction continued for a while but disbanded in April 2024. Currently, Karter mainly competes in Ring of Honor as part of the Flat House group, alongside Preston Vance, Glyph Garrison, and Jacked Jameson.
Fan Take: This insight into wrestlers like Cole Karter highlights the demanding nature of WWE’s developmental system and how AEW offers a space for growth at a more fitting pace. For AEW fans, it reinforces the company’s role in nurturing talent in a way that benefits both the wrestler’s career trajectory and the evolution of the sport itself.
