Bobby Steveson is preparing to add a music release to his post-WWE body of work. The former NXT wrestler, who performed as Damon Kemp, has teased an upcoming song with country artist Jimmie Allen through a short video posted to Instagram.

The teaser centers on Steveson receiving a phone call from Allen, establishing that the two are working together on new music. Steveson accompanied the clip with a brief but pointed message: “We’re ready, are you?” While the preview does not reveal a release date, song title, genre direction, or the size of each artist’s role on the track, it makes clear that a collaboration is on the way.

For Steveson, the announcement marks another step outside the wrestling ring following the end of his WWE tenure. His name remains familiar to NXT viewers as Damon Kemp, but he has continued competing at independent wrestling events since departing the company in 2024. A musical project with an established recording artist now gives Steveson a different platform through which to connect with fans.

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Jimmie Allen Brings Major Music Credentials to the Project

Allen enters the collaboration with a notable resume in country music. He was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2022 Grammy Awards, an honor ultimately won by Olivia Rodrigo. One year earlier, Allen received the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year.

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His most recent album, Tulip Drive, arrived in 2022. The record followed a period in which Allen became one of the more visible newer names in mainstream country music, supported by award recognition and high-profile exposure across the industry.

That background gives the teased release an interesting dimension. Steveson has built his public profile largely through amateur athletics and professional wrestling, while Allen comes from an entirely different entertainment field with a proven recording history. The Instagram preview offers only a small glimpse of their plans, so it remains unknown whether the finished song will lean fully into country, cross into another style, or pursue a broader crossover sound.

What is confirmed is that both men are attached to the project, and Steveson’s wording suggests they are close to sharing more. Until further details are announced, the teaser serves as the first public indication of the collaboration.

From Damon Kemp to Independent Wrestling

Steveson wrestled in WWE NXT under the Damon Kemp name. During his time in the developmental brand, he became associated with the technically grounded presentation expected of an athlete with his background. His run placed him in the WWE system while his family name also carried substantial recognition in combat sports and wrestling circles.

His WWE contract expired in July 2024 and was not renewed. Since then, Steveson has remained active through appearances on the independent scene. Those bookings have kept him connected to professional wrestling even as he explores opportunities beyond the industry.

The music tease does not indicate that Steveson is stepping away from wrestling. Rather, it reflects a willingness to pursue a creative project alongside his in-ring activity. Wrestlers have long sought outlets in music, acting, broadcasting, business, and other fields, particularly as social media gives talent a direct way to introduce work that exists outside weekly television programming.

In Steveson’s case, the Allen collaboration stands out because it is being promoted as a joint effort with a recognized recording artist rather than simply a personal social-media experiment. The involvement of a Grammy-nominated performer and CMA New Artist of the Year winner immediately gives the project added visibility.

An Unexpected Pairing

On paper, Steveson and Allen make for an unexpected partnership. One is best known to wrestling audiences through NXT and subsequent independent appearances. The other has spent years working within the country music business. The phone-call setup used in Steveson’s teaser plays into that contrast, presenting the project as an event worth watching rather than offering extensive explanation upfront.

There is also no indication yet of whether Steveson will be singing, rapping, appearing in a visual component, or contributing in another capacity. Likewise, no details have been shared regarding other musicians, producers, distribution plans, or a music video. The available preview leaves those questions open, likely by design.

That limited rollout can be effective when the collaboration itself is the initial hook. Wrestling fans who know Steveson as Damon Kemp may be curious about what his artistic involvement sounds like, while Allen’s listeners may discover a performer whose career has primarily unfolded in athletics and wrestling. The project has the potential to bring two audiences together, even if only briefly, around a release neither may have expected.

For independent wrestlers, maintaining visibility between appearances can be particularly valuable. A music announcement involving a well-known singer offers Steveson a way to broaden that visibility without making unsupported claims about his future in wrestling. It also gives him a chance to present a different side of himself than fans saw during his WWE run.

Steveson’s Unusual Journey Continues

Steveson’s path has already included experiences well beyond a conventional wrestling career. In addition to his time in WWE NXT and later independent appearances, he survived being struck by lightning. That extraordinary event is part of a personal story that has made him a distinctive figure among wrestlers working outside major weekly television platforms.

Now, the forthcoming Allen collaboration adds another unusual chapter. It is too early to determine whether this will become the beginning of a larger music pursuit for Steveson or a one-time creative release. Nothing in the teaser confirms plans for an album, additional songs, live performances, or continued work in the recording space.

Still, the decision to publicly build anticipation indicates that the pair believe there is an audience for the track. Steveson’s caption is concise, but its message is clear: more information is expected soon. For now, fans have confirmation that new music involving Steveson and Allen is in the works.

What Fans Know So Far

  • Bobby Steveson has teased a new song with country singer Jimmie Allen.
  • The announcement came through an Instagram video featuring a phone call from Allen.
  • Steveson captioned the teaser, “We’re ready, are you?”
  • Allen was a Best New Artist nominee at the 2022 Grammy Awards and won the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year in 2021.
  • Allen released his latest album, Tulip Drive, in 2022.
  • Steveson previously wrestled as Damon Kemp in WWE NXT.
  • His WWE contract expired in July 2024 and was not renewed.
  • He has competed at independent wrestling events since leaving WWE.

Further announcements will determine the scope of the release and how Steveson will be featured. Until then, the teaser has successfully established an unexpected crossover between the wrestling world and country music, with an established award-recognized artist joining a former NXT talent for a project that has yet to reveal its full sound.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.