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WWE Holding Two-Day Tryout This Week

WWE NXT Performance Center

The WWE roster is very talented and deep, but the company is always looking for more talent, including at a tryout this week.

Coming off an exciting Survivor Series that featured two WarGames matches, WWE is continuing to look for more superstars to fill out their roster.

It was reported by Sports Illustrated that “WWE’s next round of tryouts will be held this week in the form of a two-day event at top athletic prep school IMG Academy.” The IMG Academy is in Bradenton, Florida with 30 to 35 athletes expected to attend the tryout at the 600-acre facility that is well-known for training athletes.

WWE’s Chief Content Officer Triple H tweeted about how the IMG Academy is an ideal venue to try to find the next great WWE superstar.

James Kimball, who is WWE’s head of talent operations and strategy, told Sports Illustrated that they are looking for athletes that can become WWE superstars some day.

“There are countless examples of top talent that came into the business via college sports, but there hasn’t always been a system built out. That’s what we’re trying to create here, a true talent development pathway into WWE for college athletes.”

The report also noted that the recruitment and developmental team will be joined by NXT performers along with former WWE Champion “Big E” Ettore Ewen, who is currently out of action after suffering a broken neck, but Big E is hopeful to return to the ring in the future while continue to make appearances for WWE. Big E is also a former college athlete that played football at Iowa, so he knows all about the transition from college sports to WWE. Kimball spoke about Big E being there.

“E is such a critical part of what we’re doing. This recruitment strategy is really hitting home for him, and it’s something we should have had when he was a collegiate student-athlete at Iowa. He’s such a great ambassador, and he can relate to these athletes. He’s presenting with shared experience—that goes a long way.”

Kimball closed by saying it’s a long-term vision for WWE: “We’re building. This a long-term investment strategy, and we’re all really excited about the potential.”