Brian Tannen Brian Reid ( October 2 , 1991 ) is an American professional wrestler previously signed to WWE NXT under the name Tony Briggs from 2014 - 2015 . Since his release in 2015 , Reid wrestles by the name Brian Tannen . Debuting in 2012 , Reid continues to improve his performance in the ring . As a 6 - foot - 2 , 275 - pound wrestler , Reid is noted for his incredible physical strength as he squat - lifts over 700 pounds and can bench press 600 pounds . Career . Pro Wrestling Bushido ( 2012 ) . Reid first made his professional debut on February 26 , for the California - based promotion , Pro Wrestling Busido , at PWB Lucha Rulez 4 . He wrestled in a four - way Cjay Kurz , Joe DeSoul and J . R . Kratos . On June 24 , Reid appeared for his last PWB match at PWB Lucha Rulez 5 teaming with Cjay Kurz & Kurai Hime against Drake Frost , JR Kratos & Savanah Riley . All Pro Wrestling ( 2012 - 2013 ) . Reid teamed with Joe DeSoul in a losing match on May 5 , against Damien Grundy & J . R . Kratos at APW Gym Wars - Young Lions Cup 2012 . Reid returned to the APW Gym Wars in a match against Mustafa Saed June 16 . His next match was on September 1 , in a losing effort against A . J . Kirsch . On October 13 , Reid lost against JR Kratos at APW Halloween Hell XV . In a joint - promotional match for Vendetta Pro Wrestling and APW , Reid teamed with Sir Samurai against Kadin Anthony & Sunami for APW / Vendetta Pro Tag Titles , on October 20 at Vendetta Pro / APW Terror Dome 2012 . Reid wrestled up until 2013 for APW , in a match against Ryan McQueen at APW Gym Wars Halloween Hell XVI , on October 26 . His last APW match was on November 2 , at APW Young Lions Cup Tournament in a match defeating John Redito . KnokX Pro Academy ( 2012 ) . On July 28 , at KPA KnokXperience , Reid teamed with Maverick & Zander Jones in a losing tag team match against Black Pearl , Parker Greaves & Rikishi . Supreme Pro Wrestling ( 2012 , 2015 ) . On September 16 , Reid joined forces with Drake Frost in a losing three - way tag team match for a No . 1 Contender spot for the SPW Tag Team Championship . On December 17 , Reid wrestled and lost to Timothy Thatcher . Tannen returned to SPW on July 19 , 2015 , in a # 1 Contendership Four Way for the SPW Heavyweight Championship against Dylan Drake , JD Bishop and Paul Isadora , ending in a time - limit draw . At the August 16 edition of SPW , Tannen SPW Heavyweight Champion JR Kratos , Dylan Drake , JD Bishop and Paul Isadora in a five - man elimination title match won by Kratos . On September 20 at SPW , Tannen faced Kratos , JD Bishop and Mustapha Saed in a four - way match for the title , again won by Kratos . On that same date , Tannen also wrestled and defeated Paul Isadora in singles competition . Sacramento Wrestling Federation ( 2012 - 2013 ) . On October 6 , Reid made his SWF debut , defeating Levi Shapiro at SWF Ring Warriors Revenge . On March 30 , Reid teamed with Jeff Cobb defeat Mustafa Saed & Will Rood , at " SWF Soldier Slam " . Vendetta Pro Wrestling ( 2012 ) . Reid made his VPW debut on October 19 , defeating Julian Cash at Vendetta Pro @ Desert Empire Fair 2012 . Lucha Xtreme Wrestling ( 2013 ) . During the February 17 , LXW TV Tapings , Reid teamed with JR Kratos to defeat Alexis Darevko & Sasha Darevko . Later on during that taping , Reid defeated LJ Summers . During the March 16 LXW TV Tapings , Reid teamed with JR Kratos to wrestle The Suburban Commandos ( D - Unit & T - Rent ) vs . The Texas Hitmen ( Big Dogg & Skitzo ) in a three - way tag match , ending in a no contest . Later during that taping , Reid lost to LXW United States Champion The Wise Guy . His last LXW match was during the April 6 LXW TV Tapings , first teaming with JR Kratos , losing against The Suburban Commandos . They lost again to the team of Al Lazar & Super Tiger . PREMIER Wrestling ( 2013 ) . On March 24 , at PREMIER Debut Show , Reid defeated PJ Rahl . At PREMIER Cobb Vs . Dutra , on June 9 , Reid defeated Nick Ruiz for a title match for the PREMIER Heavyweight Championship . On September 29 , at PREMIER Cobb Vs . Tannen , Reid was defeated by the Premier Heavyweight Champion Jeff Cobb . He wrestled his last Premier Wrestling match , losing to his tag partner JR Kratos at PREMIER Mr . Athletic Vs . Old School , on December 15 . World Wrestling Entertainment ( 2014 - 2015 ) . NXT ( 2014 - 2015 ) . Reid joined World Wrestling Entertainment as a developmental talent on January 31 , 2014 . He wrestled 11 matches over the span of 2014 to 2015 , with his last match was on February 27 in a losing singles match against Solomon Crowe . Reid was released from WWE in early 2015 . Return to independent circuit ( 2015 - present ) . After WWE NXT , Reid returned to the California wrestling promotions under his previous name of Brian Tannen . Three months after his release , Tannen returned to Supreme Pro Wrestling on July 19 in a Four Way match against Dylan Drake vs . JD Bishop vs . Paul Isadora for the No . 1 Contender for the SPW Heavyweight Championship . The match ended in a time - limit draw . On July 26 at PWB Warrior ' s Way Tournament 2015 , Tannen lost to Brian Cage in the first round of the Warrior ' s Way Tournament . Return to Supreme Pro Wrestling ( 2015 - present ) . After his return debut in SPW during July , Tannen continued his title hunt . He competed in a Five Man Elimination match for the SPW Heavyweight title held by JR Kratos , also facing opponents Dylan Drake and JD Bishop and Paul Isadora . After Kratos ' successful defense in this match held on the August 16 edition of SPW , Tannen met Kratos again on September 20 at SPW , in a four way match including challengers Dylan Drake and Mustafa Saed . Kratos once more retained the title against these odds . On October 18 at SPW Halloween , Tannen finally met Kratos in a one - on - one match for the championship and successfully defeated Kratos to win the Heavyweight title . The following month on November 15 at SPW , Tannen retained the title in the championship rematch against Kratos . Tannen went on to retain the title on December 20 at SPW against challenger Scoot Robertson . On January 17 , 2016 , Tannen successfully retained the Heavyweight Championship in two consecutive title matches , beginning with Ryan McQueen and the second match was against James Von Eerie . On February 21 of SPW , Tannen teamed with Mike Miller in a losing tag team match against El Flaco Loco & JR Kratos .