Three WWE Performance Center coaches — Ace Steel, Serena Deeb, and Kendo Kashin — were all furloughed Wednesday as part of WWE’s mass layoffs and personnel changes.
The 47-year-old Steel (Chris Guy) signed on as a coach in 2019 after an extensive career working in Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling, and the indies. He was in WWE developmental from 2004 through 2007 and played the role of Donald Trump in a 2008 Raw skit with a Rosie O’Donnell impersonator. He also trained both CM Punk and Colt Cabana. Squared Circle Sirens first reported his furlough.
Deeb was signed as a coach in February 2018. She was in WWE for the better part of two years, best known for her role in CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society. A 2005 Ohio Valley Wrestling trainee, the 33-year-old has worked extensively in both OVW, Shimmer, and the indies. Squared Circle Sirens first reported her furlough.
The 51-year-old Kashin (Tokimitsu Ishizawa) is a former IWGP junior heavyweight champion and worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling for the majority of his career. He also fought six times profesionally in MMA, going 1-4-1. He was signed as a coach in August 2019.
By being furloughed, the employee is unpaid for an indefinite period of time, but is still associated with the company and could be brought back. For example, WWE furloughed nine producers that are not needed currently because the company can’t do house shows.
The company released several dozen wrestlers, referees, and backstage personnel on both the main roster and NXT as part of cost cutting measures associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
“This Wednesday night, NXT will air live as regularly scheduled and emanate from WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida with only essential personnel in attendance,” the statement said. “The event was originally scheduled at Full Sail Live. Refunds are available at point of purchase.”
Full Sail University announced last Friday that group events on campus are being suspended through the end of April.
Dave Meltzer reported last Friday that — while Full Sail is suspending events — he’s been told WWE is “going with the idea that the Performance Center will be the site of NXT every Wednesday with no fans allowed for at least the next month.”
Last Wednesday’s NXT was also held at the Performance Center, but that wasn’t due to the coronavirus outbreak and the show had fans in attendance. Full Sail Live was unavailable because of Full Sail’s annual Hall of Fame week.
Last Friday’s SmackDown and tonight’s Raw have also officially been moved to the Performance Center with only essential personnel allowed to attend.
WWE has announced that Adam Cole will celebrate becoming the longest-reigning NXT Champion in history on Wednesday’s show. Candice LeRae vs. Mercedes Martinez has also been announced, with the winner qualifying for the number one contender’s ladder match that’s scheduled for TakeOver: Tampa.
WWE has revealed where the March 11 episode of NXT will be taking place.
Two weeks from tonight, a fan appreciation edition of NXT will take place live at the WWE Performance Center. It was known that Full Sail Live wouldn’t be hosting NXT that night due to the venue having a conflict. Full Sail’s annual Hall of Fame Week is from March 8-13 this year.
The announcement of the episode taking place at the Performance Center was made by Triple H when he appeared in front of the crowd after tonight’s NXT went off the air. Free tickets were made available and went quickly.
WWE’s Halftime Heat match in February 2019 also took place at the Performance Center. Ricochet, Aleister Black & Velveteen Dream defeated Adam Cole, Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano in that match.
There haven’t been any matches announced for the March 11 episode of NXT yet, though qualifying matches for the women’s number one contender’s ladder match at TakeOver: Tampa will be held over the next several weeks.
A look at next year’s WrestleMania in Los Angeles is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer. We look at the back story, regarding why the city wanted it in 2021 and WWE wanted it in 2022 and how the compromise was made. We note deals of the new stadium, attendance, the legit all-time company attendance record, , notes from the press conference and a look back at the previous WrestleMania in Los Angeles.
Also covered in the new issue:
2019 WWE business rundown in every category, what was up, what was down, how much the new television deals added in this year’s fourth quarter, why there is uncertainty about stock analysts about the company, and TV deals late in renewing,. We look at how badly the value of the company has dropped of late, what analysts are saying right now and what they are has to be done to get the company value back up.
Roster expansion, why production costs are so much higher, the decline over the past year in both network and PPV revenue, the arena business, the NXT house show business, merchandise, licensing, as well as a look at the company’s revenue and profits annually dating back to 1994.
More on the firing of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios from WWE, return of John Cena, Three more new members of WWE Hall of Fame, Becky Lynch talks pay, what wrestler looks to be leaving, future of MVP in WWE, UK ratings, most-watched shows on WWE Network and details of the weekend main roster and NXT arena events with business notes, results and highlights.
New Japan’s next show in Madison Square Garden, who are the key players and more dates for this year’s G-1 tournament.
Full coverage of New Beginning in Osaka, with business and creative notes, notes on all the upcoming title matches around the world, the latest angles, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
XFL’s first week of television, the good, the bad, the TV deals and what it needs to stay at to be successful, plus live attendance and why the chances of survival are very different from the first time.
WWE Super Showdown, and Elimination Chamber shows.
Full coverage of UFC 247, with the background on the show, business notes, match-by-match coverage and poll results.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
We’re looking for reports from the WWE show last night in Eugene, OR, Warrior Wrestling last night in Chicago, WWE tonight in Kennewick, WA and the OTT show in Dublin yesterday to [email protected]. We’re also looking for your thoughts on the NXT Takeover show tonight, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Takeover and the latest wrestling news. You can send questions to the show to [email protected].
Our F4W/WON Convention will take place once again in Las Vegas this year during Double or Nothing weekend. More information can be found here.
Takeover tonight in Portland has:
Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa for NXT title
Johnny Gargano vs. Finn Balor
Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair for women’s title
Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne for tag titles
Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic for North American title
Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai street fight
On paper this show looks super. Lee vs. Dijakovic has the potential to be incredible and the tag title match, Gargano vs. Balor and Cole vs. Ciampa almost can’t help but be great. One would think they’d also try and shoot some angles for Wednesday and do a surprise intro or two.
Both Tito Ortiz and Simone Johnson have been training of late at the PC.
On the weekend Google searches, nothing from pro wrestling made the list. For today at this moment, Diego Sanchez was No. 4 with 50,000, largely due to Conor McGregor mentioning him, and Caleb Plant, a boxer, was No. 8 with 20,000. For yesterday, UFC was No. 12 at 50,000. For Friday, boxer Ryan Garcia was No.8 at 200,000 and Tyson Fury was No. 10 at 100,000.
WWE
Raw tomorrow night is from Everett, WA, has Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy, Bobby Lashley & Angel Garza vs. Rusev & Humberto Carrillo and Big Show is scheduled to be there (not advertised at this point).
Friday’s RevPro show in London will go up on their service tomorrow morning U.K. time. That’s where Will Ospreay beat Zack Sabre Jr. to win the British title.
PWA iPPV from last night in Australia: Big Fudge b Dazza, Mikey Broderick won over Carter Deems, Silvio and Tree Hugger Luchi, Madison Eagles b Matty Wahlberg, Jack Bonza & Kingley b Jimmy Townsend & William Preston, Sam Osborne b Adam Hoffman, Ricky South b Mat Diamond, Ricky South b Headhunter Rig, Ricky South b Caveman Ugg-COR, Paris De Silva b Michael Spencer, AJ & Rhys Angel b Concrete Davidson & Shazza McKenzie, Jessica Troy b Steph DeLander (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
NEW from last night in New Bethany, CT: Jake Manning b Brian Anthony, Keith Youngblood b NEW champ Dan Maff-DQ, Facebook champ Christian Casanova D Flip Gordon 15:00, Bear Country & Richard Holiday b Chris Battle & Mike Gamble & Dexter Loux, Traevon Jordan & Jaylen Brandyn b Aiden Aggro & Danger Kid, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Mike Verna, JT Dunn b Sledge, Brad Hollister b Brett Ryan Gosselin (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
SICW from last night in East Carondelet, IL: War Machine b Richard Shaw, Billy McNeil b Jake Prater, Frankie D b Kowalski-DQ, Steve Fender b Bobby D, Ax Allwardt b Damian Blade-DQ, Mauler McDarby b Chris Kade, Gary Jackson & Gil Rogers b Ken Kasa & Christopher Hargas, Ricky Cruz b CurtisWylde with Tito Santana as referee (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
EVE runs 3/7 at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London, UK. It will air live on FITE TV. Jazzy Gabert returns as Alpha Female to face Rhia O’Reilly. Gisele Shaw also faces Sammii Jayne, plus Holidead vs. Kasey. Session Moth Martina from ROH will also be there.
Stardom from today in Tokyo: Jamie Hayter b Hina, Momo Watanabe & AZM b Hana Kimura & Rina, Jungle Kyona & Itsuki Hoshino b Leo Onozaki (retirement match) & Saya Iida, Giulia & Maika b Konami & Leyla Hirsch, Natsuko Tora & Saki Kashima & Bea Priestley & Natsu Sumire & Zoey Skye b Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki & Riho & Tam Nakano & Starlight Kid, Utami Hayashishita b Saya Kamitani to keep the Future of Stardom title, although she then vacated the title.
Ultimate Championship Wrestling from last night in Bay City, MI: Nick Green b John E. Bravo, Adrian Chase & Alex Little & Brandon Marcinko b Nate Bock & Kyle Barrett in 3 on 2, Ingrid Isley b Kexy Blakk, Tommy Dreamer b Lawrence Jeter, Rohit Raju b Cousin Jake, Brooklyn Brawler & Bry Sullivan b Kurt Hendik & Kodiak K Fabio Morocco, El Ridiculoso b Billy Ray Daniels in a ladder match. Sgt. Slaughter was a special guest and the show sold out. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
A story on former wrestler Patric Tanaka, who is now training wrestlers in Fargo, ND.
Referee Aja Smith has signed with WWE and reported to the WWE Performance Center, becoming the first African-American full-time female referee signed to WWE.
Smith competed across the United States, Japan and Mexico under the name Aja Perera, and has held the SHINE Nova and Tag Team Championship. She will now don the stripes and join the crew of referees who enforce the rules for NXT every week on USA Network.
Killer Kross and Timothy Thatcher also reported to the Performance Center this week. Them signing with the company was officially announced on last night’s episode of WWE Backstage.
The WWE Performance Center’s YouTube channel uploaded an emotional video about Perera signing with WWE:
Three new recruits from India have joined the WWE Performance Center.
WWE announced today that Gurvinder Singh, Sukhwinder Grewal, and Laxmi Kant Rajpoot have signed with the company and reported to Orlando, Florida to join the Performance Center. Singh and Grewal are both 7-feet-tall and were trained by The Great Khali.
WWE.com wrote:
At 7 feet tall, 310-pound Gurvinder Singh of Jagadhri is an experienced cricketer and actor that trained for the squared circle under another giant of the ring, The Great Khali.
Sukhwinder Grewal is another titanic trainee of Khali, standing 7-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 340 lbs. The 24-year-old played basketball before setting his sights on the ring.
Twenty-five-year-old Laxmi Kant Rajpoot comes to Orlando from Banda and has athletic experience in javelin throwing and taekwondo.
Singh, Grewal, and Rajpoot aren’t the only new Performance Center signees that WWE has confirmed this month. It was announced on January 14 that indie stars Mercedes Martinez and Jake Atlas, “Titan Games” competitor Emily Andzulis, former NFL defensive lineman AJ Francis, acrobat Sidney Bateman, and former college basketball player Zechariah Smith had reported to the Performance Center.
Martinez was an entrant in Sunday’s women’s Royal Rumble match and also appeared in the number one contender’s battle royal on NXT two weeks ago.
While announcing their newest Performance Center signees, WWE has confirmed the addition of two independent wrestling standouts.
Mercedes Martinez and Jake Atlas have officially signed with WWE. Martinez joins the company after appearing in the Mae Young Classic in both 2017 and 2018. She made it to the semifinals in the first tournament before losing to Shayna Baszler. In 2018, she lost to Meiko Satomura in the second round.
Martinez tweeted today: “See that SMILE??!!! who says dreams cant become a reality?!! I worked for this moment for 19yrs!! I’m where I’m SUPPOSED to be at this moment in time. Sacrifice, determination, hardwork, motivation, & staying humble got me here. THANK YOU @WWEUniverse @WWENXT”
Martinez was the 21st entrant in the Casino Battle Royale at AEW All Out in August and also wrestled one match on AEW Dark that was taped in October.
Atlas broke out on the Southern California indie scene. Last year, he made it to the quarterfinals of PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles. He defeated Jungle Boy in the first round and then lost to Dragon Lee in the second.
Atlas wrote about signing with WWE: “First in my family to turn a dream into reality. ‘Superstar’ wasn’t just a moniker, it was a vision I set for myself. Proud of who I am & where it lead me because I’m right where I belong. @WWENXT – Let’s change the world. #WeAreNXT”
Atlas appeared on the WWE-themed “Celebrity Undercover Boss” episode that aired in 2018 and said that his goal is to become the first openly gay WWE World Champion.
“Titan Games” competitor Emily Andzulis, former NFL defensive lineman Anthony Francis, acrobat Sidney Bateman, and former college basketball player Zechariah Smith were also announced as signing with WWE:
Emily Andzulis of Powell, Tenn., brings a diverse athletic background with her to Orlando. The 27-year-old is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and trains in Taekwondo. She competed on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “Titan Games,” and was crowned the first female Titan.
Anthony Francis is a 6-foot-5, 330-pounder with five years of NFL experience under his belt. The former defensive tackle played for the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins.
Sidney Bateman is a 27-year-old acrobat from St. Louis, Mo. Bateman was a cast member for Cirque du Soleil’s “LUZIA” show, where he specialized in hoop diving.
Zechariah Smith towers over the new recruits at 7 feet tall and 310 pounds. The Oklahoma native played college basketball for Morgan State University before going pro internationally. He also played for the longtime rivals of the Harlem Globetrotters, the Washington Generals.
Dave Meltzer has confirmed that Martinez has been signed to a contract. SoCalUncensored reported the news yesterday evening. The report said that she would be starting at the WWE Performance Center this month.
Martinez has been a staple of the independent women’s wrestling scene for nearly 20 years, having started back in November of 2000. She has wrestled for Women’s Superstars Uncensored, World Xtreme Wrestling, Shine, and Shimmer, where she is two time former champion.
She had won the Shine championship back on December 13, but lost it the next day to Ivelisse. She was also a part of the Women’s Casino Battle Royal at All Out last August, and had competed in a match on AEW Dark back in November.
She has also competed under the WWE umbrella in the past, competing in both Mae Young Classic tournaments. She’s appeared on NXT television in the past, most notably losing a match to Ember Moon on the November 15, 2017 edition of the show.
WWE has officially confirmed the signing of Scarlett Bordeaux.
Bordeaux was among four names that were announced as joining the WWE Performance Center today. Shotzi Blackheart, Indi Hartwell, and EVOLVE referee Stephon Smith were also officially unveiled as new Performance Center signees.
After requesting her release from Impact Wrestling, Bordeaux had it granted and departed Impact this June. She signed with WWE after having a private tryout in September.
WWE.com wrote: “Chicago’s Elizabeth Chihaia — aka Scarlett Bordeaux — has made quite the name for herself in America and abroad. The self-proclaimed ‘smokeshow’ has been a standout for promotions like Mexico’s AAA, Ring of Honor, and Ohio Valley Wrestling.”
Blackheart signing with WWE was announced when William Regal appeared at EVOLVE 137 last month and presented her with a WWE contract. Blackheart faced Brandi Lauren in a no disqualification match at EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary event in July, with that show airing live on the WWE Network.
The build to Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury at Crown Jewel continued with an angle shot at the WWE Performance Center.
WWE posted a video tonight of Fury training inside of a ring at the Performance Center. The boxing star was practicing shoulder tackles. When he went for a second one, Strowman appeared out of nowhere and blindsided Fury with a shoulder tackle of his own.
In storyline, Fury was favoring his ankle after the tackle. NXT coach Robbie Brookside yelled at Strowman as he left the Performance Center, and Strowman and Fury both said they’d see each other at Crown Jewel.
Video of the angle is available to watch below:
Crown Jewel is taking place at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday, October 31. It will air live on the WWE Network, with the main card starting at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
This year’s Crown Jewel is the fourth event in WWE’s 10-year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority. It began with the Greatest Royal Rumble in April 2018.
Hijo del Fantasma is the latest to join the WWE Performance Center.
WWE announced today on their website that Jorge Bally, aka Fantasma, has signed with the company and will be reporting to the Performance Center. The son of lucha libre star Fantasma, Hijo del Fantasma started his career in 2000 and wrestled for CMLL until 2013, when he jumped to AAA. He lost his mask to LA Park at last year’s TripleMania.
He also was a part of Lucha Underground, wrestling under a different mask as King Cuerno.
WWE also announced the signing of Edgar Lopez, a 6’4, 250 pound former football player. The article mentioned that WWE talent scouts discovered Lopez during a tryout last year in Santiago, Chile.
WWE has continued to sign a number of talent across the world, signing nine people last month to the Performance Center including EVOLVE’s Austin Theory and former Mae Young Classic competitor Santana Garrett.
WWE has officially confirmed the signings of two of the most recent wrestlers to join the Performance Center.
WWE.com announced today that Hussain Aldagal and Faisal Kurdi have signed with the company. They reported to the Performance Center several weeks ago. Both Aldagal and Kurdi are from Saudi Arabia and attended WWE’s tryout in Jeddah last year.
At the Greatest Royal Rumble in April 2018, Aldagal and Kurdi were part of the segment where attendees from the Jeddah tryout fought off Ariya & Shawn Daivari. NXT’s Mansoor Al-Shehail, who won the battle royal at Super ShowDown last week, was also in that segment and signed with WWE after.
WWE notes that Aldagal has athletic experience in volleyball and bodybuilding and is also a civil engineer, while Kurdi has a background in amateur grappling, Muay Thai boxing, and mixed martial arts.
A Performance Center Combine special and a new episode of Untold will air on the WWE Network next weekend.
The updated WWE Network schedule for next week lists that a WWE Performance Center Combine special will begin at noon Eastern time on Sunday, May 26. No other programming is listed on the schedule until the new Untold episode starts at 8 p.m. Eastern, so it appears that the combine special, which was filmed in advance, will be eight hours long.
The brief description for the combine special is: “NXT Superstars put their strength, speed and athleticism to the test in a battery of competitive events.”
WWE has done Performance Center Combines in previous years, which are similar to combines in professional sports. The events test the athletic ability of wrestlers at the Performance Center.
The Untold episode that premieres at 8 p.m. Eastern on May 26 is focused on Eric Bischoff’s planned WCW relaunch from 2001 and their Big Bang pay-per-view that never came to be. The episode is listed as being 30 minutes long. Here’s the description of it: “Eric Bischoff, Booker T and more tell the true story of how WCW almost relaunched with a ‘big bang’ in 2001.”
DJZ is officially the latest wrestler to join the WWE Performance Center.
WWE.com confirmed today that DJZ (real name Michael Paris) has signed with the company, noting that he reported to the Performance Center this week. In March, it was reported by PWInsider and confirmed by Dave Meltzer that DJZ signed with WWE and was headed to NXT.
DJZ announced on December 31, 2018 that he was going to be a free agent for the first time in seven years starting at the beginning of 2019: “At midnight tonight, i will be a free agent for the first time in 7 years….and 2019 seems like the perfect time to be available for whatever new opportunities may come my way.”
In Impact Wrestling, DJZ was a two-time X-Division Champion and one-time Tag Team Champion. AIW and AAW were among the promotions he said farewell to before joining WWE. He also participated in PROGRESS Wrestling’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament earlier this month.
Forty athletes are at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida for a tryout this week.
WWE.com posted an article today revealing the list of names attending the tryout. Among those in attendance are Lucha Underground wrestler Ivelisse Velez and Lance Anoa’i, who is Samu’s son and a member of the Anoa’i dynasty.
Ivelisse was given her release from Lucha Underground last month as part of the settlement of a class action lawsuit that was filed against Baba-G Productions and the El Rey Network. She was formerly with WWE developmental from 2011-2012 after appearing on the 2011 edition of Tough Enough.
Anoa’i has made several appearances for MLW over the past 13 months.
Here’s WWE.com’s full list of tryout attendees:
Former NFL running back James Wilder currently plays in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder spent three years in the NFL.
Emily Andzulis, a martial artist and amateur MMA fighter from Tennessee. Nicknamed ‘The Pitbull,’ Andzulis was crowned the first female Titan on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s athletic competition TV series, ‘The Titan Games.’
Taiwan Markis Jones, a 25-year-old footballer from Michigan who played linebacker for Michigan State University and the New York Jets. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 235 pounds.
Pro football player Chris Martin, age 29. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder played for the UCF Knights before turning pro in 2014. He’s had stints in the NFL, the Canadian Football League and, most recently, the Alliance of American Football.
Third-generation wrestler Lance Anoa’i. The son of former WWE Tag Team Champion Samu and grandson of WWE Hall of Famer Afa the Wild Samoan, Anoa’i won last weekend’s 23rd annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament, the same event in which Superstars like Daniel Bryan, The Hardy Boyz and Tommaso Ciampa have competed. He attended a WWEPC tryout in February 2017.
Jana Angel, a 6-foot-3 volleyball player. After graduating college, Angel played professionally in France in the middle blocker position. She also received an invitation to try out for the U.S. Olympic team.
Maritza Ayala, a pink-haired 25-year old who wrestles under the alias Danika Della Rouge. Ayala learned the ropes under the late Buddy Wayne, a veteran of the Pacific Northwest wrestling scene, and has also trained in lucha libre.
22-year-old Nick Rodriguez, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter and former NCAA wrestler from New Jersey. Rodriguez took bronze at Abu Dhabi Combat Club’s North American East Coast Trials last October, after training in BJJ for only six months.
Former WWE Tough Enough competitor and NXT Superstar Ivelisse Velez. A 15-year ring veteran, Velez was known as Sofia Cortez during her tenure in Florida Championship Wrestling and NXT in 2011-2012. She brings international experience to the camp, having wrestled in China, the U.K., Australia and Ecuador.
25-year-old fitness model and former world bodybuilding champion Stephanie Ayala, from Texas.
Andrea Benoit, aka NOVA on the independent wrestling scene. The Canadian played volleyball in college and has competed in obstacle course races. Trained by WWE Cruiserweight Classic alumnus Tyson Dux, Benoit made her in-ring debut earlier this year.
Former Division I basketball player Jade Cargill of Atlanta. Standing 5-foot-10, Cargill played guard/forward at Jacksonville University. She led the team in rebounds (227) and steals (48) in her final season.
6-foot-7, 265-pound Kristopher Craig. A former college basketball player, the 29-year-old Craig began ring training under WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn at the Team 3D Academy in Florida within the past year.
Michael Delbrey, a 26-year-old from Florida who competed in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting events before making his wrestling debut in 2017.
Donovan and Leandro Dongo, a pair of hulking brothers from Paramaribo, Suriname. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Donovan is a former super-heavyweight powerlifting champion and national amateur wrestling champion, while Leandro is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound freestyle wrestler who currently works as a firefighter.
Joshua Dudley, aka Edgrin Stone, a three-year wrestling veteran from Louisiana. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Dudley played tight end at Nicholls State University before training for the ring at Wildkat Sports and Entertainment.
22-year-old Sierra Erny, who wrestles in Florida under the name Skyler Moore. The former cheerleader and competitive dancer trains at Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley’s Team 3D Academy in Kissimmee, Fla.
Independent wrestler ‘The Storm’ Tony Eveland. In 2018, Eveland received the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Active Men’s Wrestler award. He has eight years of ring experience.
25-year-old Australian high-flyer Joshua ‘JXT’ Fikret. Although he has spent most of his career in Australia, Fikret has also wrestled in the United States. He counts Rip Rogers and Orlando Jordan among his past coaches.
Former NFL defensive tackle AJ Francis. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 330 pounds., Francis played five years in the pro ranks, including stints with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins, before transitioning to sports-entertainment. Currently training at the Team 3D Academy, Francis wrestles under the name Suga Bear.
24-year-old Aaron Gillis, a 7-foot, 400-pounder from Ohio. Making his debut a little over a year ago, Gillis wrestles on the U.S. indies as Paxton Calloway. He also played Division II football at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania.
Alexandria Gracia, 26, of Texas. Gracia was originally trained at the Texas Wrestling Academy and currently wrestles for Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling. She has competed in women’s wrestling organizations SHIMMER, Shine Wrestling and Rise Wrestling and toured with Stardom, the Japanese promotion where Kairi Sane and Io Shirai came to prominence.
Greco-Roman wrestler Mahmoud Fawzy Sebie, who represented Egypt in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Wrestling since age 7, the 26-year-old has coached U.S. marines in combat training and self-defense and has also studied taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu.
Independent wrestler Randy Kaufman, aka Randall Floyd. Kaufman has trained under Rip Rogers and Al Snow, and he wrestled in the 197-pound weight class at the University of Indianapolis.
325-pound Makini Manu, a former football and rugby player at the University of Utah and Utah Valley University.
22-year-old wrestler Patrick McAlpine, a trainee of Steve Corino who has made appearances in NXT under the professional alias of Patrick Scott. He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 195 pounds.
Professional bodybuilder EJ Nduka. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder played pro football for four years and currently trains in mixed martial arts. He attended a tryout in December 2018.
Albanian-born former NFL lineman Kristjan Sokoli. The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder registered a 38-inch vertical leap and a 4.8-second 40-yard dash before the Seattle Seahawks drafted him in 2015.
Cirque du Soleil acrobat Sidney Bateman, 27. Bateman recently took his first steps in the squared circle as part of a joint workshop between the Performance Center and Cirque du Soleil.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion and former NCAA wrestler Nick Rodriguez loves nothing more than to throw people around in competition.
Australian-born wrestler Cadman Edward Turner, a former semi-pro cricket player who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 265 pounds. Currently residing in Canada, where he trains at the Battle Arts Academy, Turner has attended two previous WWE tryouts.
28-year-old multisport athlete Jeanette Horning. In high school, Horning was the only girl on her varsity wrestling team, and she played kicker for her school’s football squad.
Team 3D Academy trainee Ana Kundzicz, 27, from Florida. Kundzicz has experience in dance, acting and singing.
24-year-old Florence Lortie, an independent wrestler from Quebec better known as Flo Riley. Trained by ring veteran Dru Onyx at the Torture Chamber Pro Wrestling Dojo, Lortie has competed in Spain, Ireland and France.
Bikini competitor and bodybuilder Lauren Regno, of Modesto, Calif. Regno also competed on NBC’s ‘Titan Games’ competition series.
5-foot-9 Courtney Lynn Roselle, an obstacle course racer who played college basketball for the University of Scranton.
Indie wrestler Theresa Lee Schuessler. The 5-foot-7 Floridian has wrestled throughout the U.S., including in NXT, under the professional names of Tenilla and Tesha Price.
22-year-old Bryce Wollman, a 6-foot-7, 335-pound powerlifter and former college football player. He played Division II ball at Augustana University in South Dakota.
Orlando-based wrestler Rafik Youakeem, who competes as Alexander Zane. Youakeem has a background in parkour and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
6-foot-4, 250-pound Jonathan Young from Alabama. A former swimmer at the University of Alabama, Young broke the world record last February for the most pullups in a minute with a 100-pound pack on his back. He’s also a protégé of Lex Luger.
