Adelaide local and WWE star Bronson Reed wins NXT North American title

Adelaide local and WWE star Bronson Reed is ‘overwhelmed’ as he beats Johnny Gargano in a steel cage match to win the NXT North American title


Weighing in at 150kg, WWE superstar Bronson Reed is a force to be reckoned with.

The Adelaide local, whose real name is Jermaine Haley, has become the WWE NXT North American champion, beating Johnny Gargano in a steel cage match on Wednesday. 

Having been knocked back several times from World Wrestling Entertainment before signing with the company in 2019, the win is understandably ‘overwhelming’.

Titleholder: Adelaide local and WWE star Bronson Reed beat Johnny Gargano in a steel cage match to win the NXT North American title on Wednesday. Pictured with his wife Paige Haley 

‘It’s been a long journey but I’m finally a champion in WWE. It’s overwhelming. I didn’t think in these sorts of moments that I’d cry, but I did,’ Bronson, 32, told The Advertiser.

Bronson, who had his first professional independent wrestling match 14 years ago and now regularly features on WWE’s NXT show, has also made history.

He is now the third Australian and (second South Australian) to hold a WWE championship belt.      

Emotional: Having been knocked back several times from World Wrestling Entertainment before signing on with the company in 2019, the win is understandably 'overwhelming'. Bronson, 32, told The Advertiser: 'I didn't think in these sorts of moments that I'd cry, but I did'

Emotional: Having been knocked back several times from World Wrestling Entertainment before signing on with the company in 2019, the win is understandably ‘overwhelming’. Bronson, 32, told The Advertiser: ‘I didn’t think in these sorts of moments that I’d cry, but I did’ 

Making history: Bronson, who had his first professional independent wrestling match 14 years ago and now regularly features on WWE's NXT show, has also made history. He is now the third Australian and (second South Australian) to hold a WWE championship belt

Making history: Bronson, who had his first professional independent wrestling match 14 years ago and now regularly features on WWE’s NXT show, has also made history. He is now the third Australian and (second South Australian) to hold a WWE championship belt 

Adelaide local Rhea Rhipley won the WWE Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania this year, while Indi Hartwell from Melbourne is the current holder of the WWE Raw Women’s Championship belt. 

Bronson, who has earned the nickname ‘The Colossal’, also told The Advertiser that Australian wrestlers are finally getting recognised on a global scale. 

‘We have so much untapped potential and talent in Australia. We’re starting to put the world on notice that Australia is a big wrestling company,’ he said. 

Fellow Aussies: Adelaide local Rhea Rhipley (centre) won the WWE Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania this year, while Indi Hartwell (left) from Melbourne is the current holder of the WWE Raw Women's Championship belt

Fellow Aussies: Adelaide local Rhea Rhipley (centre) won the WWE Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania this year, while Indi Hartwell (left) from Melbourne is the current holder of the WWE Raw Women’s Championship belt 

While he may be considered a new talent to some, Bronson has been working hard behind-the-scenes with some of the best in the business.

His mentor at the WWE’s performance centre in Florida is none other than retired wrestling legend and four-time WWE world champion, Shawn Michaels. 

‘He’s Mr WrestleMania. I grew up watching him. Now he becomes my coach and I learn things from him that are invaluable and that have really helped me,’ Bronson told nine.com.au last month.

‘He can pick what’s best for you. He knows how Bronson Reed should work and how to work in this environment. He sees wrestling completely different to everyone else.’

WWE legend: Bronson has been working hard behind-the-scenes with some of the best in the business. His mentor at the WWE's performance centre in Florida is none other than retired wrestling legend and four-time WWE world champion, Shawn Michaels (pictured in 2018)

WWE legend: Bronson has been working hard behind-the-scenes with some of the best in the business. His mentor at the WWE’s performance centre in Florida is none other than retired wrestling legend and four-time WWE world champion, Shawn Michaels (pictured in 2018)