The wrestler who couldn't legally get paid for his debut
In short: Before becoming a tag team champion and a mainstay on WWE's SmackDown, Benjamin Timms faced a bizarre legal hurdle. Despite performing in major promotions like AEW, he was initially unable to receive payment because he lacked a valid work visa in the United States.
Benjamin Timms, known professionally as Nathan Frazer, began his career in 2018 under the name Benjamin Carter. After training at the Black and Brave Wrestling Academy with stars like Seth Rollins and Marek Brave, he quickly moved through independent circuits to major promotions including Impact Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). However, his time in AEW was marked by a significant bureaucratic obstacle: in October 2020, it was revealed that Timms could not be legally paid for his matches due to the lack of a valid U.S. work visa.
Timms eventually transitioned to WWE, signing on December 17, 2020. He debuted first on the NXT UK brand in January 2021 as Ben Carter before being repackaged as Nathan Frazer in March 2021. His rise through the ranks was steady; he became a one-time NXT Heritage Cup Champion and eventually formed the tag team Fraxiom with Axiom. The pair saw major triumphs, securing two NXT Tag Team titles and creating a milestone as initial WWE competitors to protect a WWE belt within TNA (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) during 23 January 2025.
Notable moments in Frazer's professional path involve his 2023 PWI 500 placement. He attained a peak position of No. 165 among the 500 premier singles athletes listed by PWI. 2 among the top 100 tag team wrestlers in 2024 with Axiom. His journey from an unpaid independent worker to a main-roster champion illustrates the complex logistical and legal navigation required in the modern era of professional wrestling.
Beyond the ring, Timms shared a personal milestone on April 19, 2023, when he announced he had become a born-again Christian and was baptized.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Nathan Frazer
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