NEIDHART: Shining the spotlight behind the scenes on TJ Wilson - WWE champ turned star producer
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Behind every great match, there is a story waiting to be told.
And behind every story in WWE, there’s a team of people coming together to help tell it.
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NEIDHART: Shining the spotlight behind the scenes on TJ Wilson - WWE champ turned star producer Back to video
That is why I wanted to put a spotlight this week on someone near and dear to my heart, TJ Wilson, known to scores of wrestling fans as Tyson Kidd.
From WWE superstar to WWE backstage television producer, TJ’s very special journey through professional wrestling highlights the importance of perseverance and being an expert at adapting to change.
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Since TJ had his first match at 15 years old, everything in his life had been geared toward his love for competing in the ring. From a young age, he trained with the Hart family in the legendary Calgary Dungeon and with world-class wrestling coach, Joe Daigo.
Before being hired by WWE in 2007, TJ competed in independent wrestling promotions around the world, cultivating a hybrid style for the ring. This month marked 18 years for TJ in WWE.
After a very serious neck injury ended TJ’s wrestling career, he transitioned to being a WWE producer, which was not just a career change, but a chance to continue his love for wrestling in a different way.
Working behind the scenes in WWE has allowed TJ to use his experience to help shape the next generation of wrestlers competing on the grandest stage.
Rather than dwelling on lost dreams, TJ found new ways to bring his passion for professional wrestling to life.
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“What’s funny is that I didn’t expect to spend more of my years in this industry as a producer than an actual talent competing in the ring,” TJ said in an exclusive interview for this column. “The last eight years as a producer have turned out to be the most rewarding and fulfilling of my career. I work very closely with the women in matches that help bring a story to life and then we watch it unfold in the ring and on the big screen.
“To see that lightbulb moment go off for each talent that I work with, it’s such an awesome feeling. It’s truly the best. I loved watching Bayley win the Rumble last year and Tiffany Stratton cash in and the women main event WrestleMania twice. I had the privilege to be a part of all of that and it was the most incredible honor for me.”
TJ said having worked himself as a professional wrestler gives him the distinct advantage of knowing what the talent experience once they enter the arena.
“I know what it was like to be in the ring and that feeling when you come backstage, and when you nail a performance and everybody is clapping and so proud of you,” he said. “I want to make sure that every woman that I work with has a chance to feel that same level of excitement and passion that I had when I was competing. That’s what makes all this so worthwhile for me.”
I asked TJ what the hardest part of being a producer is.
“That’s tough,” he answered. “But it’s making sure that every talent feels seen and heard and included. Inclusion is very important to me. I always want to find a way to highlight every wrestler’s strength, but also do what’s best for the story of the match and the bigger picture. But I love this challenge and I love the support system we have together as a team in WWE.
“This aspect also reminds me of what my favorite parts of being a producer are. I love working together with each person and hearing their ideas and helping their visions come to life and then putting my own spin on it to make it stand out even more. I love that the talent trust me enough to help them with this. It means the world. It’s always such an honour especially as WWE grows exponentially.”
TJ also added that the one question he gets asked more than anything is if he still thinks about competing in the ring.
“I think about the wrestling business and matches I love all the time,” he said. “It’s a huge part of what makes me tick. I watch it every day and it’s influenced my life in such a special way since I was a young boy and now into my 40s.
“When I watch someone like Chad Gable wrestle, I do think he’s the best wrestler in the world and in a perfect world, I dream of wrestling him and what our matches could look like. After my injury, I really wanted to prove everyone wrong and wrestle again.
“Many years ago, I actually wanted to come back and compete in a Royal Rumble, but it was something that just wasn’t physically possible or safe for me. So I had to let that go and mentally move on from it and I really have. And now that I found something else that I love even more than performing, I don’t go down that road any more of wanting to get in the ring one last time. I just can’t because it’s a very slippery slope.”
As WWE continues to evolve and reach new heights every week, stories like TJ’s remind everyone that dreams can transform and, with dedication, greatness can be achieved in unexpected ways.
TJ has proven that his real strength comes with being an expert at rolling with the punches, literally and figuratively. With Royal Rumble 2025 next weekend, which fans in Canada can watch live on Netflix, there’s a lot for TJ, the men and women of WWE and our fans to be excited about.
Nattie Neidhart is a Calgary native and third-generation Hart family professional wrestler who works for World Wrestling Entertainment and appears on its flagship Monday Night Raw.
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