10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Aug 12)

9. Magnus Was Initially Viewed As A 'Dixie Project' In TNA

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ImpactWrestling.com

Entering TNA in late-2008, Nick Aldis was cast as Brutus Magnus. Playing off his history with the TV show Gladiators, the Roman-style gimmick fell by the wayside relatively quickly. From there, Magnus went on to form a tag-team with Doug Williams known as The British Invasion, but found his humble beginnings in the company hard to shake off.

Speaking to Eric Bischoff for the former WCW head's new podcast, Aldis said that he was viewed as a pet project of Dixie Carter. Whilst flicking through some wrestling magazines, Carter was immediately taken by a story about Magnus, and wanted to make him her next big signing for TNA.

Word got around about this in the TNA locker room, and Magnus was viewed as little more than someone Dixie had eyes for. It took years for the Brit to shift that perception, eventually becoming an important member of the TNA roster and later a World Champion in the promotion.

Listening to the man talk about that time makes it clear that he found respect hard to come by.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.