Timothy Thatcher Only Joined WWE Because NJPW Wasn’t Interested

WWE confirmed on Tuesday night that along with Killer Kross, Timothy Thatcher had a signed long-term deal with the company and will be reporting to the Performance Center in the next few weeks.

Thatcher has reportedly been approached by WWE numerous times over the years but has rejected any approach the company has made. However, the reason that Thatcher changed his mind might have just been revealed.

Unlike many professional wrestlers, it is believed that Timothy Thatcher never had the desire to join WWE and was holding out for a move to Japan.

However, with NJPW and other smaller Japanese promotions seemingly not interested in bringing him in, the former EVOLVE Champion decided to sign with Vince McMahon’s company.

Speaking on the matter on the Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer had the following to say:

“The deal with Thatcher is he’s 36 years old and he’s been trying to get a deal in Japan and has been unsuccessful in getting the deal in Japan. That was his goal and at some point you go in there and just go ‘It’s not happening’…The year they had WrestleMania in San Jose and Chris Hero wrestled Thatcher in San Jose, I think it was on an EVOLVE show, ever since then Thatcher’s been on their radar, so its been like almost five years and he’s had an open offer to come.”

For those of you who aren’t aware, Timothy Thatcher has worked with WALTER, Alexander Wolfe and Marcel Barthel as part of Ringkampf on the independent scene.

It remains to be seen if WWE is going to move Thatcher to NXT UK and have him be part of Imperium. For the latest on WWE’s plans for their newest signing, stay tuned to WrestleTalk.com.

Thanks to Cultaholic for the transcription.

• Timothy Thatcher
• Evolve
• NJPW
• wwe

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