White, like his father (known in professional wrestling as Big Van Vader), first embarked on a football career before trying out at professional wrestling.[5] He joined the University of Oklahoma's football team in 2005. Hip and back injuries ended his career almost as soon as it began, but White stayed involved as a student coach for the team.[5]
White then moved on to training to become a professional wrestler under the tutelage of his father.[5] He wrestled matches in Japan while teaming with his father in 2010 and 2011.[6]
It was reported on April 30, 2011, that White had signed a developmental contract with WWE.[7] White made his televised debut for WWE's developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, on the March 18, 2012, episode of FCW TV, where he was paired with Corey Graves.[8] On the April 1 FCW TV originally taped on March 15, Carter won the Florida Tag Team Championship with Graves by defeating Bo Dallas and Husky Harris.[9] On the April 22 FCW TV, Carter and Graves retained their title against Mike Dalton and CJ Parker.[10] On the final FCW TV on July 15, Carter and Graves defeated Dalton and Parker again to retain their title.[11]
When WWE rebranded its FCW into NXT,[12] Carter's NXT television debut took place on the July 4 episode of the rebooted NXT taped at Full Sail University, where he and Graves defeated CJ Parker and Nick Rogers.[13] After a quiet dissociation from Graves, Carter would find himself winless in televised NXT matches, which even saw Graves himself defeating Carter on the January 23, 2013, episode of NXT.[14][15][16] Carter returned to NXT on May 30, 2013, where Carter and Brandon Traven faced Garrett Dylan and Scott Dawson in a losing effort. on the June 19 episode of NXT, Carter faced Xavier Woods in a losing effort. on September 12 episode of NXT, Carter faced Tensai in a losing effort, which turned out to be his final match with WWE.
