Backstage News on the Signing of Kevin Steen

The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided some backstage news on the signing of Kevin Steen to WWE. As previously reported, the company announced its acquisition of independent wrestling “darling” Kevin Steen on Aug. 12, but recent reports say he signed his contract months before the announcement.

Dave Meltzer writes,

“The fact they made a specific announcement for Steen (and this was actually planned for last week, but the decision was made to hold it for the network launch, Steen actually signed months ago) tells you they are high on him.”

He then goes on to say that WWE officials are so high on Steen and his addition to the WWE locker room, that they have asked Dean Ambrose to stop doing the “running cannonball” spot into the corner any more, as this is a move that Steen has been doing for years and is associated with. WWE officials want it to be one of his signature moves in the ring.

As far as plans for Steen as of yet, rumors have been going around that a stable may be formed with the three latest signees being Kenta, Prince Devitt, and Steen. While this is merely a rumor at this time, many men in NXT and on the WWE roster have had intense independent scene rivalries that will now be able to play out in front of the WWE Universe with big money production behind them.

One of these rivalries that rocked the independent wrestling world, as well as the Internet Wrestling Community, was Steen vs. El Generico, who’s now known as Sami Zayn in NXT. Steen starts training and working in NXT on Oct. 25.

Editor’s Note:
I can’t wait to see Steen go nuts in a WWE ring. Really glad they’re going to let him have the cannonball as well. Now if only Kenta can do the GTS without Michael Cole annoying everyone by saying, “Kenta actually was the inventor of this move that was made popular by a former WWE Champion.”