Trick Williams has built his WWE career around confidence, charisma and an ability to make major moments feel bigger whenever the spotlight lands on him. Even so, there are certain WWE experiences that can shake even the most self-assured performer. For Williams, standing across the ring from The Undertaker on WWE NXT was one of them.
Williams recently looked back on his confrontation with the WWE Hall of Famer, a segment that ended with him taking a chokeslam in the middle of the NXT ring. The physical outcome was not the important part of the night for Williams. Instead, he remembers the encounter as a surreal, full-circle moment involving a wrestler who had intimidated him since childhood.
Speaking with SHAK Wrestling, Williams recalled that the aftermath of the chokeslam was positive despite the unmistakable impact of being dropped by one of WWE's most iconic figures.
“When I saw him, of course, I took a chokeslam, but it was smiles after that,” Williams said. “I think I earned his respect that night ... He said, ‘Trick, I’m going to make you famous,’ and he gave me a chokeslam.”
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For Williams, the reveal of The Undertaker was as important as the move itself. The familiar gong that has announced Undertaker appearances for generations immediately changed the atmosphere, and Williams said he felt the nerves hit him as soon as the entrance began.
“I remember hearing that gong when his music drops and my heart dropped all the way to my calf,” Williams said. “I thought, ‘Oh shoot, this is really happening.’ This is your whole childhood.”
A Childhood Fear Meets The NXT Spotlight
The Undertaker's aura has long been one of WWE's most powerful storytelling tools. Across decades, his entrances, presentation and in-ring dominance made him a central figure for multiple generations of fans. Williams was one of the viewers who experienced that mystique from the other side of the television screen long before he became a WWE star himself.
He explained that The Undertaker was not simply a favorite wrestler during his youth. The character was intimidating enough that Williams avoided even selecting him while playing wrestling video games.
“True story, playing a video game as a little kid, he was the one character I would never select because I was terrified of The Undertaker,” Williams said. “So to be there in the ring with him 20 years later or whatever the case is, 25, that’s insane. Shout out to ‘Take. He’s one of my favorites.”
That is what gave the NXT encounter its lasting meaning. Williams was no longer the child avoiding The Undertaker in a video game. He was an established WWE personality, occupying the ring and sharing a featured moment with a Hall of Famer whose legacy had helped shape his experience as a fan.
The segment also demonstrated the unusual value of an Undertaker appearance. The Deadman does not need to wrestle a traditional match to alter the stakes of a program. His presence alone brings history and immediate attention, particularly when he interacts with a current star such as Williams. Taking the chokeslam became part of the moment rather than a setback, offering Williams an association with a WWE legend that few active performers can claim.
How The Confrontation Developed
The issue between Williams and The Undertaker began backstage on NXT, when Williams taunted members of the first season of WWE LFG who were associated with The Undertaker. That brought Williams into the Hall of Famer's orbit and helped establish the tension that would carry over into an on-screen confrontation.
Williams escalated matters further during an interview on WWE Raw. Looking ahead to the following night's NXT episode in Texas, Williams suggested that he would “knock [his] ass out.” The statement ensured that the possibility of a face-to-face exchange was no longer just a background element of the story.
When Williams and The Undertaker did trade words on NXT, Williams attempted to turn the verbal confrontation physical. The gamble did not pay off. Before he could gain control of the situation, The Undertaker drove him into the canvas with the chokeslam that Williams now remembers so vividly.
The sequence was true to the longstanding Undertaker formula: a younger star talks boldly, the arena reacts to the unmistakable sound of the gong, and the WWE legend makes a decisive statement when the confrontation turns physical. Yet it also gave Williams a showcase tailored to his character. His confidence created the conflict, while his reaction to the arrival of The Undertaker gave the segment a relatable human element beneath all the bravado.
Williams Was Carrying TNA Gold At The Time
The Undertaker confrontation came while Williams was in the middle of his reign as TNA World Champion, adding another notable layer to the appearance. Williams was already operating with the championship status and visibility that come with representing a major title, making the moment feel less like a prospect meeting a legend and more like a current champion being tested by a foundational WWE figure.
That context matters because Williams' rise has been closely connected to his ability to carry himself like a headline act. Whether he is speaking in the ring, working through a major rivalry or standing in front of a legendary name, Williams presents himself with the belief that he belongs in the biggest available moment. The Undertaker exchange was a dramatic example of that approach, even if it ended with Williams flat on his back.
Professional wrestling often measures a performer's ascent through championships, main events and rivalries. But there is another kind of milestone that comes from sharing the screen with a name whose presence represents an entire era. For Williams, his interaction with The Undertaker joined those categories. It gave him a memory rooted in his childhood while also supplying a high-profile chapter in his present-day career.
Respect Beyond The Chokeslam
Williams' recollection focuses less on embarrassment over the chokeslam and more on the respect he believes was established through the segment. That perspective reflects why such moments can matter so much for rising and established talent alike. A move from The Undertaker has traditionally been a final punctuation mark in a confrontation, but being chosen to receive that punctuation can also signify trust in a performer's ability to handle an unforgettable spotlight.
Williams did not present the situation as a victory over The Undertaker. There was no ambiguity about who controlled the physical exchange. Instead, he framed it as an honor that came with the thrill of surviving a moment he never could have envisioned as a kid.
The story also speaks to the enduring reach of The Undertaker's character. Even after generations of WWE fans have watched his career unfold, the gong and the sight of The Deadman remain capable of creating instant tension. Williams' admission that his heart sank upon hearing the entrance shows that the reaction was not merely performance. It was connected to years of memories and the lingering impact of a character he once found genuinely frightening.
For Williams, the result was an experience he can appreciate rather than regret: a confident challenge, a legendary entrance, a memorable chokeslam and, afterward, smiles. The full-circle nature of the moment is what remains strongest. A wrestler he once refused to choose in a video game became one of the defining figures in a major NXT segment, and Williams emerged from it with an even deeper appreciation for The Undertaker's place in WWE history.
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Darryl Polo
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.