By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE issued the following press release on Tuesday to announce the launch of an independent wrestling development program.
October 29, 2024 – WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind developmental program designed to provide up-and-coming independent wrestlers a pathway to a potential career in WWE. The program will be called WWE ID, short for WWE Independent Development™.
“WWE ID is the latest in our efforts to identify and support the journey of up-and-coming wrestlers, in turn raising the profile of and strengthening the independent wrestling ecosystem,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
Following the 2021 launch of WWE’s NIL program, WWE ID has been constructed to support independent wrestling prospects and wrestling schools with world-class training, development and mentorship.
Under the program, WWE will provide prominent independent wrestling schools with the WWE ID official designation, with the goal of providing new trainees and existing talent at these select institutions with enhanced developmental opportunities. Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling (Houston), Cody Rhodes’ Nightmare Factory (Atlanta), Seth Rollins’ Black and Brave Academy (Davenport, Iowa), Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center (Concord, N.H.) and KnokX Pro Academy (Los Angeles) are the first WWE ID independent wrestling schools to earn the official designation.
Additionally, WWE ID will identify top independent wrestling prospects with an official WWE ID “prospect” designation and support their developmental journey by providing financial opportunity and assisting with training, mentorship and development, including access to world-class facilities, best-in-class ring training, athletic trainers and more. WWE ID will give fans the opportunity to follow the paths of these standout prospects on the independent wrestling scene through curated, behind-the-scenes content, as well as highlights and matches showcased across WWE’s social platforms.
To learn more about WWE ID and WWE’s recruiting process, please visit recruit.wwe.com.
Powell’s POV: Although there are obviously a lot of questions about how this will work and what type of deals the independent wrestlers will be given, it is encouraging to see WWE invest in independent wrestling after the focus seemed to shift more toward recruiting college athletes and then training them to wrestle.
The college athlete approach has produced more potential stars in the last 2-3 years than signing a bunch of indy midgets ever did. WWE needs way more Bron Breakker and Tiffany Stratton types than Johnny Gargano and Candace LeRae types.
There’s no reason to limit themselves to one or the other. It’s common sense. They’ve had plenty of success with independent wrestlers over the years.
Who? Who has been plucked from the indies, gone to NXT, and then actually become a draw on the main roster? Gunther, Ripley, and maybe Bronson Reed are the only ones I can think of and they were all signed 4-5 years ago. Jacob Fatu could be one if things work out.
All the Black & Gold HHH guys have failed miserably, many of them in both WWE and AEW. If this indie deal brings in a bunch of Cole and Gargano types, it’s going to be a huge waste of time. If HHH has learned and actually focuses on people who can actually be draws to a mainstream crowd, then it should be fine.
I agree,but it really looks like Bron and Tiff will be bigger stars than Johnny and Candice.
Would you feel better if I cherrypicked some NIL talent who haven’t worked out and then compared them to the most successful WWE wrestlers who came up through the indies? Good lord.
That would be interesting.
Off the top of my head, Jacob Fatu and Gunther have been more successful than Gable Steveson and his brother Damon Kemp. It goes both ways. They should be doing indies and NIL. Any argument against not doing both is nonsense.