Punishment Martinez signs with WWE

[mcmahonfan85]

spoiler due to upcoming ROH tv results:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Spoiler}

(SPOILER) TOP ROH STAR FINISHES WITH COMPANY - UPDATED
by Mike Johnson @ 10:50 PM on 9/29/2018

Former ROH TV Champion Punishment Martinez, who lost the title tonight during a TV taping in Las Vegas, is officially finished with Ring of Honor, PWInsider.com has confirmed. Martinez was saying his goodbyes to the locker room at tonight's taping, which was his final scheduled date with the company.

Martinez's contract expired last month, just prior to the "All In" PPV, multiple sources have confirmed. Martinez opted not to sign a new deal as he wanted to be contractually free going forward. Obviously, someone with his size and skill would make a smart, logical addition to pretty much any company out there.

Update 11:42 PM EST: PWInsider.com has confirmed with WWE sources there has been interest in Martinez for the NXT brand for some time, so that appears to be his most likely destination.

Martinez broke into the business training with the Monster Factory in New Jersey and became a regular with ROH after a strong performance in the 2016 Top Prospect Tournament, which was won by Lio Rush. He was signed to a contract in July 2016. During his run with the company, Martinez was aligned with Kevin Sullivan and BJ Whitmer, won the 2017 Survival of the Fittest and toured with New Japan via ROH's working relationship with that company.

The next move for Martinez should prove to be very interesting as he has a lot of potential and was someone ROH had obviously invested a lot into over the last several years.

NEW WWE SIGNING CONFIRMED
by Mike Johnson @ 11:06 AM on 10/12/2018

Former Ring of Honor TV Champion Punishment Martinez has signed with World Wrestling Entertainment and is slated to start shortly at the WWE Performance Center and the NXT brand this month, PWInsider.com has confirmed.

Martinez, who lost the TV title tonight during ROH's most recent TV taping in Las Vegas, opted to move on to WWE after turning down a new deal with ROH, letting his contract expire in August.

Martinez broke into the business training with the Monster Factory in New Jersey and became a regular with ROH after a strong performance in the 2016 Top Prospect Tournament, which was won by Lio Rush.  He was signed to a contract in July 2016.  During his run with the company, Martinez was aligned with Kevin Sullivan and BJ Whitmer, won the 2017 Survival of the Fittest and toured with New Japan via ROH's working relationship with that company.

[chazraps]

Since the Dalton Castle mini-feud earlier this year, his in-ring work has significantly stepped up this year. His character work has improved as well. Plus, he's done quite a bit of charity work for Ring of Honor this year as well, appearing at children's hospitals and such.

I was enjoying his work this year, but I am excited to see what NXT does with him.

[Jacy Derangement Syndrome]

I wish this was pre-Samoa Joe era so that I could be stoked for the debut of Reprimand Rodriguez

[This Player Hating Mothman]

I've admittedly been super tuned out of ROH lately but there is no single facet of Punishment Martinez in WWE that evokes a single emotion in me other than a desire to take a nap.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Martinez should at least stand out as a tall and big dude, but everything appealing about the guy comes down to his look. My guess is he'll have a meh NXT run since I don't see him putting on four star classics at Takeovers, but might do better once he hits the main roster.

[Deleted]

When I read the title I assumed this is who it would be, but I wish I was wrong. Martinez really doesn’t do anything for me right now, but with the NXT machine behind him, who knows?

[King Devitt]

Dude is like Baron Corbin meets Roman Reigns, but not nearly as talented as either. And that's saying a lot since Corbin still needs a lot of work, and Roman needs to stop doing the same move 34 times a match.

I was excited, clicked the link, and became less excited.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

He's big and hispanic? Aww man, Vince must be stoked

[Rave]

I've been calling this since WWE hired Dijak.

The Wrestling Gods also owed me a birthday present and they weren't listening to my requests for Rey Horus vs. Wheeler YUTA.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Since they're giving Managers a chance can they also sign Truth Martinez?

Please??

[Larryhausen]

What about his brother, Encouragement Martinez?[/Excalibur]

[BitterAF]

Thought he was boring until I saw him live last year against Ospray, where he impressed the hell out of me. Potential is there. I imagine the WWE is happy to get him while his career is young.

[Spider2024]

He couldn't have dropped the title to Chris Sabin tho? (I say that as a Chris Sabin superfan.)

[CMPunkyBrewster]

Really?

I've never even been able to figure out why ROH signed this dude, WWE having interest seems super puzzling. He sucks.

[BlackoutCreature]

::sigh:: Hunter, just because you can sign every indy wrestler around doesn't mean you should.

I've seen the guy stop up and have a really good match every now and then, but he's really inconsistent on that. Plus the guy is just boring out of the ring. He can do his pseudo-Undertaker gimmick all he wants but it's not hiding his bland personality.

[Deleted]

the new Big Cass

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

We have our fun with the NXT Name Generator but this dude really does need it because Punishment Martinez is an awful name.

[Allie Kitsune]

Meh.

[Alice Syndrome]

OK I think we finally found the "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" standard of NXT

[cabbageboy]

Doesn't this just put more onus on ROH to sign the various BC guys? Martinez isn't a huge loss either way but he was the TV champion. ROH needs to desperately sign some guys regardless.