10 Things We Learned From Something Else To Wrestle With: CM Punk
7. WWE Had Scouts Watching Ring Of Honor And TNA
Considering WWE's obnoxious attitude towards their 'rival' organisations throughout the 2000s (and ostensibly the talent working for them), it was something of a surprise to hear Bruce Prichard mention the scouting that went on during that time.
He named William Regal as a conscientious observer for the organisation, whilst going as far to say they always had people watching TNA and Ring Of Honor even if top brass in Titan Tower weren't particularly interested until they absolutely had to be. Only when presented with actual evidence of the talent's ability or a good word from developmental doyen Regal would they consider bringing a talent in, no matter highly touted they'd been elsewhere.
It's at this point Conrad notes how both Punk and Samoa Joe were both offered WWE deals at the same time, but that the 'Samoan Submission Machine' elected to ply his trade in TNA instead. Joe leaving it late may have ultimately worked in his favour - the NXT he stormed through in 2015 was unrecognisable from the OVW Punk had toiled in a decade earlier.