Lance Storm, Adam Mercer and Latest WWE NXT Developmental News

The latest WWE NXT produced two definite outcomes: Lance Storm won't be sharing his expertise with prospects at the Performance Center, and Adam Mercer won't be getting any Christmas cards from the corporate office any time soon.

Storm revealed that WWE was interested in bringing him on as a trainer. Mercer sued the WWE, the lawsuit catching the eye of mainstream media.

In other news, the company dished out details on NXT's first visit to Ohio and a backstage report points to the Royal Rumble having an NXT flavor. We look at those stories and more, beginning with what Storm told fans on Twitter about a potential future with WWE developmental.

NXT Potentially Represented at the Royal Rumble

For the past two years, NXT stars have entered the Royal Rumble. Bo Dallas made his way into the match in 2013; Rusev stormed into the Rumble in 2014.

It appears that WWE plans to make a tradition out of welcoming prospects to the 30-man match.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported after Monday's Raw, "There was talk at last night's Raw taping that 1-2 spots in the Royal Rumble match this Sunday could end up being filled by current NXT talents."

That would be a smart move. It increases exposure for NXT and is an easy way to showcase the prospects. It also adds a bit of intrigue. 

In addition to wondering which names from the past will show up, fans will now be looking out for which NXT stars make their way into the Rumble fray.

Details About NXT Event in Ohio

Last week, word emerged that NXT will travel outside of Florida, putting on an event in Columbus, Ohio,  in March. WWE has since issued a press release (h/t PWInsider) detailing what to expect from that show.

The release lists Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville, Sasha Banks, Charlotte and others as NXT talent booked for the event. Ryback, Big Show and Ric Flair are also scheduled to appear.

It won't just be a house show, though. Finn Balor is among the many NXTers who will take part in an autograph signing session. There will also be a live tryout, with fans getting to see NXT hopefuls try to impress Bill DeMott and company.

Lance Storm on Why He Turned Down Trainer Position

Lance Storm is a wrestling trainer. His former students, Tyler Breeze and Emma, have both competed on both NXT and the main roster.

WWE apparently wanted him to lend a hand in the prospect-building process, but he declined the offer.

A fan asked him on Twitter if he would take an offer to be a trainer for NXT. Storm tweeted that WWE had indeed reached out to him but said he was "not currently interested in relocating."

This is a situation worth keeping an eye on. If Storm changes his mind, the Performance Center gets an excellent coach added to its staff. 

Former Development Prospects File Lawsuit

Adam Mercer and Big Vito are both taking a swing at WWE.

They wrestled for WWE in its pre-NXT days. Florida Championship Wrestling was the developmental branch when Mercer was around. Vito wrestled for WWE's Ohio Valley Wrestling offshoot. 

Both men now claim the company ignored their concussion symptoms. As a result, as reported by ABC News, Mercer and Vito "filed a potential class-action lawsuit in federal court in Philadelphia."

Per PWInsider, WWE has issued a response, stating the following:

"

WWE has never concealed any medical information related to concussions, or otherwise, from our talent. WWE was well ahead of sports organizations in implementing concussion management procedures and policies as a precautionary measure as the science and research on this issue emerged. We will vigorously contest this lawsuit.

"

This follows CM Punk heavily criticizing WWE's medical staff in a podcast interview, per Yahoo Sports.

The lawsuit has been compared to the one filed by former NFL players. That much larger-scale action ended with a settlement, per NFL.com.

Other News, Notes

It's going to be hard to get into NXT's first live special. Per PWInsider, "The 2/11 WWE NXT live special has already sold out."

Word is traveling fast how stellar these shows are. It's no surprise fans pounced on the tickets for the next one.

Before that event, NXT's regular weekly show will feature a tournament to crown a new No. 1 contender to Sami Zayn's title. That begins on Wednesday night. 

As listed by ProWrestling.net, Finn Balor will take on Curtis Axel and Tyler Breeze collides with Hideo Itami in two first-round matches. Baron Corbin, Bull Dempsey, Adrian Neville and Tyson Kidd are in the tourney as well.

Expect some standout showings from Neville and Balor. This is also a major chance for Corbin to show he belongs on the same tier as those guys.