AEW Star Wants To See Company Copy WWE ID Program

AEW star Dustin Rhodes would like his company to emulate the WWE ID program.

WWE launched it’s new global talent identification initiative on 29th October, focusing on identifying talented independent wrestlers from around the globe who they believe have Superstar potential.

As part of the program, WWE awarded several prominent independent wrestling schools with the WWE ID official designation, with those schools selected include Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling, Cody Rhodes’ Atlanta based Nightmare Factory and Seth Rollins’ Black and Brave Academy in Davenport, Iowa.

The company has already selected 17 potential future stars as part of the program including their most recent addition, former AEW star Kylie Rae.

One man who applauds the program is AEW star Dustin Rhodes. The 55 year-old star recently praised the new initiative during an interview with WFAA 8, but confirmed that his own school, Rhodes Wrestling Academy, was unlikely to feature due to his contractual arragement with AEW.

Rhodes, however, did share his hope that Tony Khan’s organisation could look to open their own talent search in the near future:

“I don’t think through WWE because I’m here and I think that’s probably the reason they haven’t reached out, right, because I’m contracted with All Elite Wrestling.

I would love for Tony to do that with us where we have a little type thing, that would be kind of cool for some of our schools, especially me since I’m like one of the originals here.”

AEW Boss Tony Khan Unconvinced By WWE ID

Whilst Rhodes has been openly positive about WWE’s new talent identification initiative, AEW President Tony Khan has spoken with less certainty about the program.

Khan recently shared his belief that independent scene could be negatively impacted by WWE’s plans.

H/T: Fightful for the above transcription.