Bull Dempsey James Smith ( January 16 , 1986 ) is an American professional wrestler . He is best known for his time in WWE , competing in their developmental territory WWE NXT under the ring name Bull Dempsey . After his release from WWE NXT , he currently wrestles under the ring name Bull James . Professional wrestling career . Early career / Independent circuit ( 2008 - 2013 ) . World Xtreme Wrestling ( 2008 - 2012 ) . Smith would make his debut on August 9 show as Donny Johnson to lose against against AC Sledge . He would change his name to Smith James and in last match would lose in a 4 way tag match to Four Way to Black Talent ' d Wrestlerz ( Bobby Ocean and Slyck Wagner Brown ) . Independent Superstars of Pro Wrestling ( 2009 - 2010 ) . Smith would debut on May 30 to lose against Flash Wheeler . He would challenge for vacant ISPW World Heavyweight Title in a 20 Man Summer Rumble but lost to Judas Young . In his last match he would defeat Nicholas Nice in a Street Fight . Showcase Championship Wrestling ( 2009 - 2012 ) . He would make his debut on May 16 to win against CK Kross . His last match would be against Doink the Clown in which match he would lose . Force One Wrestling ( 2009 ) . His first and only match was a tag team draw with tag partner Rockin ' Rebel against The Repeat Offenders ( Crazy Ivan and Pete Nixon ) . Fazoo Crew Wrestling ( 2010 - 2011 ) . Smith would debut on December 30 with a tag team victory against The NOW ( Hale Collins and Vik Dalishus ) . His last match would also be a victory in a tag match against Matt Borne and Pat Buck . Impact Championship Wrestling ( 2011 - 2013 ) . Smith would debut on March 13 in a win against Earl Cooter . His last match would be a loss against Maff . Pro Wrestling Syndicate ( 2011 - 2012 ) . Smith first match would be a win against Matt Tremont . His last match would be against One Warrior Nation . Total Nonstop Action ( 2011 ) . Smith would compete in a dark match against Mark Bravura to win . National Wrestling Superstars ( 2011 - 2012 ) . Smith would debut in a losing effort to Princess Niya and The Nigerian Nightmares ( Laifu and Raifu ) . He would compete in a Captain Lou Albano Memorial J - Cup Tag Team Tournament only to lose in the First Round against The 2 Rude Dudes ( Corey Havoc and Steve Rogers ) . His last match would be a tag win against LA Smooth and Manu . American Championship Entertainment ( 2011 - 2013 ) . Smith would debut on August 13 in a Lethal Lottery Tag Match in a win against Chris Cayden and Hush Holiday . He would also win a Battle Royal to crown # 1 Contendership for the ACE Dimond Division Title . He would go on to lose the match though . He would form The New Age Wrecking Crew with Vince Steele and enter in a tournament for ACE Tag Team Titles only to lose in the final round to The Movement ( FNB and Jamal Jackson ) . They would at ACE Destined For Greatness win the titles in a ladder match . They would hold the titles until they lost in a Three Way Tag Match to The Middle East Connection ( Abdul Fahad and Jafar Fahad ) . That would be Smith ' s last match . New York Wrestling Connection ( 2012 - 2013 ) . Smith would debut to lose a tag match against Style And Finesse ( Mike Donovan and Rob Vegas ) . Smith would team with Bill Carr and win a Three Way for # 1 Contendership match for NYWC Tag Team Title . Bill Carr and Smith James would defeat The Beaver Boys ( Alex Reynolds and John Silver ) for the titles . They would keep the titles until they would lose it to Mikey Whipwreck and Stockade in a Double Dog Collar match . That would be his last match with company . Women Superstars Uncensorsed ( 2012 ) . Smith would compete in one tag match against Austin Williams and JD Smoothie which he would win . Rampage Pro Wrestling ( 2012 ) . Smith would compete in one match in a losing effort against Chris Jacobs . Liberty States Wrestling ( 2013 ) . Smith would debut to lose against Afa Jr . and Shane Helms in a tag match . Smith in his last match would challenge for NWA LSW Heavyweight Title but lose . Right Coast Pro Wrestling ( 2013 ) . Smith in his very first match would compete in a RCP Heavyweight Title Tournament but would lose in first round . His last match was against King Mega in another loss . Premiere Wrestling Xperience ( 2013 ) . Smith first and last match would be against Guillotine LeGrande in a losing effort . World Wrestling Entertainment ( 2013 – 2016 ) . WWE NXT ( 2013 – 2016 ) . In June 2013 , James signed a contract with WWE . He was assigned to the WWE Performance Center . On August 28 , 2013 , his name was changed to Bull Dempsey . Dempsey made his debut in NXT on September 12 , 2013 , where he was defeated by Aiden English . Throughout late 2013 , he made sporadic appearances as an enhancement talent . In the late spring to summer , Dempsey returned to NXT as a tweener , squashing various low carders and local talents . In August , Dempsey and Mojo Rawley formed an uneasy tag team and participated in the NXT Tag Team Championship tournament , where they were defeated by The Vaudevillians ( Aiden English and Simon Gotch ) in the first round , prompting Dempsey to attack Rawley in the aftermath and establishing himself a heel . On September 11 at the event , Dempsey defeated Rawley in a squash with his new finisher The Diving Headbutt . On the September 25 episode of NXT Bull was victorious in the rematch . Following that , he embarked on a rivalry with Baron Corbin , another dominant wrestler who mostly squashed jobbers . The two competed to see how quickly they could defeat the " local talent " , sometimes back - to - back . This eventually led to a match between the two on January 14 , 2015 , in which Dempsey ' s undefeated streak was broken by Corbin . Dempsey competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Qualification Tournament at Wrestlemania Axxess 31 , but lost to Tyler Breeze in the first round . Soon after this , Dempsey ' s gimmick was tweaked to that of an overweight , out of shape wrestler who eats too much , which also saw him turn face in the process . After several vignettes aired to promote " Bull - Fit " , Dempsey debuted his new gimmick on the August 26 episode of " NXT " , where he defeated Elias Samson . On the February 24 episode of NXT , he was defeated by Tommaso Ciampa , Dempsey ' s final match for NXT . On February 5 , 2016 , Smith wrote on his Twitter account that he had left WWE . Choosing not to continue his " Bull - Fit " gimmick on the independent circuit , Dempsey sold his old ring gear from NXT on eBay . Return to Independent circuit ( 2016 - present ) . James began wrestling on the independent circuit following his release from WWE NXT , using the name Bull James , a combination of his NXT name and his birth name . James announced that he was set to debut in Combat Zone Wrestling , stating that he was coming after Sami Callihan , a former member of WWE NXT known as Solomon Crowe ; facing him on April 1 at CZW Welcome To The Combat Zone in a match won by Callihan . Since his release from WWE , James wrestled throughout the New York and New Jersey promotions including Tommy Dreamer ' s House Of Hardcore and Ricky O ' s Game Changer Wrestling , Pat Buck ' s WrestlePro and Five Borough Wrestling . He also wrestled for other promotions including Grand Slam Wrestling , Smash Wrestling . James returned once more to American Championship Entertainment on May 14 , 2016 , defeating WCW alumni Crowbar at ACE Aftermath .