WWE is interested in bringing back former performance center talent

[Dale]

Triple H has brought back several former WWE stars to the company since taking over creative in July as the company’s Chief Content Officer.

“The Game” is reportedly interested in bringing back another name, and that’s EJ Nduka, a 6-foot-5 former college footballer and bodybuilder who previously wrestled for NXT as ‘Ezra Judge.’

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that WWE has expressed interest in signing him as his MLW deal is expiring soon.

Meltzer wrote, “EJ Nduka, who has gotten rave reviews from management here, has his contract coming due imminently, and there is interest in him from multiple promotions, including WWE having expressed some interest in bringing him back.”​

 

[Chris]

Thought he was about to be the next MLW champ but I guess that's pending now lmao

 

[Leon TrotSky]

We're posting this as if it means a damn thing what HHH thinks anymore

 

[Dale]

Multiple promotions are reportedly interested in signing MLW World Tag Team Champion EJ Nduka.

A new report from the Wrestling Observer notes that Nduka’s contract is set to expire imminently, and that there is interest in him from multiple promotions, including WWE. Nduka has also been discussed in AEW, and Japan.

Regarding Nduka’s MLW contract, Fightful Select adds that the deal actually expired a week ago, and Nduka has been a free agent since January 1. He’s honoring Saturday’s booking for MLW Blood & Thunder in Philadelphia, where a title change is possible, and there’s been no word on possible contract extension talks.

It was noted that MLW officials have had significant praise for the 34 year old Nduka.

Following a career in gridiron and arena football, and as a professional IFBB bodybuilder, Nduka was signed by WWE on August 15, 2019. His signing came after a tryout in December 2018, and another tryout in April 2019. He went on to briefly work WWE NXT as Ezra Judge, but was released on May 19, 2021 along with other budget cuts.

MLW signed Nduka in June 2021. He has since found success in the promotion, and is the current MLW World Tag Team Champion with Calvin Tankman.​

 

[Mitch Buchannon]

Still can’t believe a girl I went to HS with in Canada dated him while at university in Texas

 

[Roy Mustang]

Guy has been a ton of fun in MLW. Would actually like him in AEW paired with Swerve rather than someone like Parker Bordeaux. In WWE if HHH stays in power, I think he would do well

 

[Chris]

Guy has been a ton of fun in MLW. Would actually like him in AEW paired with Swerve rather than someone like Parker Bordeaux. In WWE if HHH stays in power, I think he would do well

I knew nothing of him since he was never on TV in WWE but the first time I saw him in MLW I was like how the FUCK did WWE release this man lol he checks literally all the boxes for both Vince or HHH even

 

[Roy Mustang]

I knew nothing of him since he was never on TV in WWE but the first time I saw him in MLW I was like how the FUCK did WWE release this man lol he checks literally all the boxes for both Vince or HHH even

Yeah he is still fairly new to wrestling but I really don't get how they cut him cause he is pretty damn good for someone with his experience

 

[Chris]

Yeah he is still fairly new to wrestling but I really don't get how they cut him cause he is pretty damn good for someone with his experience

Age was the only thing I remember thinking bc they seemed to have just been blindly cutting older people still in NXT at that time

 

[Dale]

Free agent and MLW World Tag Team Champion EJ Nduka is reportedly weighing his options with top pro wrestling companies.

As we’ve noted, Nduka’s MLW contract expired in January. He then debuted for the company at the January 28 tapings in Orlando, losing to Konosuke Takeshita in a bout that aired on the February 7 edition of AEW Dark. It was then reported that Nduka was offered a full-time AEW contract after the match. Nduka had interest from multiple companies when his MLW contract expired, including from WWE and those in Japan.

In an update, a new report from Fightful Select confirms that AEW offered the deal to Nduka, but he had not accepted it at last word. Instead, Nduka has been evaluating his options.

It was noted how part of that evaluation has involved some contact with WWE, but there’s no word yet on the extent of that contact.

Nduka also has “heavy interest” out of Mexico and Japan, with one Mexican company offering Nduka a contract.

Nduka’s MLW contract expired in January but he is technically still one-half of the MLW World Tag Team Champions with Calvin Tankman. Their taped match with Juicy Finau and Lance Anoa’i of The Samoan SWAT Team will air soon, and that looks to be Nduka’s final match with the company.

While with the company and at the end of his run, MLW officials had nothing but significant praise for Nduka, and he has talked about how MLW gave him opportunities and took a chance with him.

Following a career in gridiron and arena football, and as a professional IFBB bodybuilder, Nduka was signed by WWE on August 15, 2019. His signing came after a tryout in December 2018, and another tryout in April 2019. He went on to briefly work WWE NXT as Ezra Judge, but was released on May 19, 2021 along with other budget cuts. He signed with MLW in June 2021.​

 

[Wiseman]

Honestly, he should go to WWE. He's a good talent, but I think he'd get more time in WWE.