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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Mason Rook, NXT’s Big, Bad Newcomer

ByGaurav Sharma

May 13, 2026
Mason Rook 10 things you didn't know about the rising WWE NXT star.
Pic Credit-WWE

Every wrestler has one moment that defines their career before they even get the chance to have a proper match—and that moment is usually their debut, For Mason Rook, it happened on a Tuesday night in April. A massive newcomer appeared in NXT, and most fans had no idea who he was. But the moment he climbed to the top rope and delivered an incredible moonsault to the reigning NXT Champion, the entire arena was left stunned. It was the kind of move no one expected from a man of his size. Within minutes, fans who had never even heard the name Will Kroos were searching for him online.

Today, most fans know Mason Rook because of that unforgettable debut. But the character didn’t come out of nowhere. Behind that moment is nearly a decade of hard work, spent building a reputation on the independent wrestling scene across two different continents. Long before WWE came calling, William Walker had already earned respect through years of dedication. So, let’s take a look at 10 interesting facts about Mason Rook that go far beyond his viral highlight reel.

1. He’s Not From America — and It Shows in His Style

Mason Rook’s real name is William Walker. He was born on October 28, 1996, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, a historic market town. His British independent wrestling background has played a major role in shaping the performer fans see today. Wrestlers who come through the UK independent scene often develop a very different in-ring style compared to those trained exclusively in the American system. British wrestling places less emphasis on flashy moves and more on hard-hitting strikes, realistic offense, and making every match feel like a genuine fight rather than just a spectacle. That influence is easy to spot in Mason Rook’s performances. Whether it’s his thunderous chops or his physical style inside the ring, his British wrestling roots are clearly reflected, making him stand out from many of his peers.

2. His Training Started at a Gym in Lincolnshire, Not a WWE Facility

mason rook wwe try out
Pic Credit-Mason Rook’s Instagram

Long before arriving at the WWE Performance Center, William Walker began his wrestling training at Fight Factory Wrestling (FFW) in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. There, he was trained by experienced coach Hayden “Dutch” Loeve. While FFW may not be a familiar name to many American fans, it has built a strong reputation on the British independent wrestling scene and has helped develop several talented wrestlers who later reached bigger promotions. Before becoming a professional wrestler, Walker spent years as part of FFW’s academy system, where he learned everything from the fundamentals of wrestling to advanced in-ring techniques. That solid foundation is one of the biggest reasons his transition to WWE felt so natural. His confidence and polished performances inside the ring weren’t the result of overnight success—they were built through years of hard work, discipline, and demanding training.

3. His Ring Name on the Indies Was Will Kroos, and He Wrestled Under It for Years

Before he became known as Mason Rook, William Walker competed under the ring name Will Kroos. He made his official professional wrestling debut on May 26, 2017, at Hope Wrestling’s Evolution 47 event. On that night, he faced Shogun J in a singles match and picked up the victory, marking the perfect start to his professional career. That match was the beginning of William Walker’s journey in professional wrestling. Over the following years, he competed in smaller promotions, performed in front of modest crowds, and continued to refine his craft. Despite the different stages, his hard-hitting and physical wrestling style remained the same. The aggressive approach he developed on the independent circuit eventually made its way to WWE and continues to be one of the defining traits that sets Mason Rook apart from many of today’s superstars.

4. He Won Titles Before WWE Ever Noticed Him

Will Kroos didn’t spend his years on the independent wrestling circuit simply filling out match cards. From the early stages of his career, he established himself as a legitimate championship contender. In January 2017, he earned an opportunity to challenge Magic Myers for the FFW Academy Championship. Although he was still in the early phase of his career, the title shot showed that promoters already had confidence in his potential. As his career progressed, Kroos captured several accomplishments on the UK independent wrestling scene, with the biggest being the PROGRESS Atlas Championship. The title was specifically created to showcase larger, powerhouse-style wrestlers who could combine size with athleticism. His reign proved that big men weren’t just attractions or novelty acts—they could also be credible, main-event level champions. Will Kroos’ Atlas Championship run became one of the strongest examples of that.

5. He Wrestled in Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH

One of the biggest things that sets Mason Rook apart from a typical independent wrestling call-up is his international experience. Competing as Will Kroos, he also wrestled for Pro Wrestling NOAH, one of Japan’s most respected promotions. NOAH has long been known for its hard-hitting, powerhouse wrestling and world-class in-ring competition.

Performing in NOAH is a completely different challenge from wrestling on the British independent circuit. The promotion’s style emphasizes physicality, realism, and carefully built matches where every near-fall feels earned rather than scripted. That experience has helped shape Mason Rook into the performer he is today. It’s one of the reasons he looks so comfortable and confident against bigger, more experienced opponents in WWE, making his in-ring style feel more complete and polished.

6. His Nickname Existed Years Before WWE Ever Signed Him

If you’ve ever heard the crowd chant, “He’s big, he’s bad, he’ll bodyslam your dad!”, it’s easy to assume that WWE’s creative team came up with it for Mason Rook. In reality, that’s not the case. The chant originated on the independent wrestling scene and is widely credited to Maffew, the creator of the popular wrestling comedy series Botchamania.

What’s even more impressive is that independent wrestling fans had been chanting it for Will Kroos years before he ever signed with WWE or appeared in NXT. Most wrestlers arrive in WWE needing to build a connection with the audience from scratch, but Mason Rook was different. By the time he debuted in NXT, he already had an iconic crowd chant that fans knew by heart—a rare achievement for any wrestler making the jump from the independent circuit.

7. John Cena Publicly Co-Signed Him Before His Official Debut

Even before Mason Rook made his WWE debut, there was already significant buzz surrounding his name, and one of the biggest reasons was the public support he received from one of the greatest names in wrestling history. John Cena took notice of Will Kroos during his time on the independent circuit and openly praised him, mentioning him as a talent that wrestling fans should keep an eye on.

For an independent wrestler with little mainstream exposure, receiving a public endorsement from a 17-time World Champion at such an early stage of his career is incredibly rare. That kind of recognition doesn’t just boost a wrestler’s credibility—it also raises fans’ expectations. As a result, Mason Rook entered WWE with the reputation of a future star, long before he competed in his first official match for the company.

8. His Debut Was an Attack, Not a Match

Mason Rook’s first WWE appearance didn’t begin with a traditional wrestling match—it began with a shocking attack. On the April 28 episode of NXT, he blindsided reigning NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo before officially introducing himself under the name Mason Rook shortly afterward. That single segment made it clear that he wasn’t arriving as just another newcomer looking to climb the ranks. Instead, WWE presented him as a dangerous force ready to make an immediate impact. Rook’s official in-ring WWE debut came a few weeks later, on May 19, when he teamed with Kam Hendrix to face Tony D’Angelo and Myles Borne. The duo picked up the victory, further reinforcing Rook’s dominant first impression. The win showed that WWE intended to establish him as a serious threat from the very beginning of his run.

9. His Contract Signing Turned Into a Brawl

When Mason Rook officially signed his NXT contract, everyone expected a routine signing segment featuring the General Manager, a handshake, and the introduction of a new superstar. Instead, WWE turned the moment into complete chaos. During the segment, Tony D’Angelo interrupted from the stage and warned Rook not to build his career at D’Angelo’s expense.

Before the confrontation could end peacefully, Kam Hendrix attacked Tony D’Angelo from behind, sparking a wild brawl. In the middle of the chaos, Mason Rook climbed the ropes and, despite his massive size, delivered an incredible moonsault that wiped out Tony D’Angelo, Kam Hendrix, and several members of the ringside security team. The most memorable part came afterward—Rook calmly walked back into the ring and signed his contract as if nothing had happened. That small but powerful moment told fans everything they needed to know about his character: fearless, confident, and completely unfazed by the chaos around him.

10. His Size-to-Agility Ratio Draws Comparisons to Some of the Best Big Men in Modern Wrestling

Standing at approximately 6-foot-4 and weighing around 297 pounds, Mason Rook doesn’t look like the kind of wrestler who would perform high-flying moves. Yet that’s exactly what makes him so unique. His size gives him the appearance of a traditional powerhouse, but inside the ring he regularly showcases athletic maneuvers that are usually associated with much smaller and more agile wrestlers. Because of this rare combination of size and athleticism, wrestling commentators and analysts have often compared Rook to other modern big men who built their reputations by defying expectations. When a heavyweight like Mason Rook pulls off moonsaults, springboard attacks, and other explosive moves, it’s impossible not to take notice. That’s one of the biggest reasons NXT fans embraced him from day one—he didn’t need months to win over the audience because his unique in-ring style made an instant impression.

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