In 2003 Colby, as Gixx debuted in Scott Country Wrestling (SCW). Also working for Ian Rotten's IWA mid south at the time. A little while after, he joined NWA midwest in 2006. He breifly joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in October 2006. Colby also attended Full Impact Pro (FIP) on May 25, 2007 in a tag team macth. Only for his tag team partner to get a back injury & be forced to retire. As Tyler Black he attended FIP. While in that business he won the PWG tag team championships with Jimmy Jacobs & the FIP World Heavyweight championship by defeating Go Shiozaki. In September 2007 at Ring Of Honor's (ROH) pay-per-veiw "Man Up" Black debuted. The angle was extremely controversial so ROH decided not to air the footage. But the fans were eager to see the footge so ROH aired it on the ROH Videowire for the week of September 15. In September 2008 Colby had surgery on a building disc in his neck. But was back in action on October 10! In early 2009 Black beat Aries to win the ROH World Championship! He retained his championship in a three way elimination match on April 3, 2009. Black turned heel on August 20 after news broke that he had signed a developmental contract with world Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). As a heel Black would be rude to fans for calling him names, refuse to put his Championship on the line, etc. On September 11, 2009 he lost the ROH World Championship to Rodrick Strong in a No DQ match. This was his last ROH appearance. Colby was offered a contract for TNA & ROH but Evan Bourne convinced him to join WWE's developmental system FCW. Colby debuted in FCW on September 30, as Seth Rollins (a name that he said is an ode to Henry Rollins). On January 30, 2011 he defeated Hunico in the finals for the FCW 15 Jack Brisco Championship to become the FCW 15 Jack Brisco Champion!