WWE launches new indie wrestling development program

[Sky]

Maybe you'd understand if you saw what UK wrestling looks like post-NXT UK

 

[Bobby Barrows]

WWE colonising the indie schools, unsurprising. Teach everyone in the same boring style so no one stands out unless WWE lets them.

A strong WWE is and always has been bad for wrestling around the world

Colonization you say?

 

[Canadian Dragon]

Whatever happened to those nxt Europe plans? Did they decide to kill the US indies instead while the UK is still trying to recover the damage done?

 

[Canadian Dragon]

MORE ON THE NEW WWE ID PROGRAM | PWInsider.com

pwinsider.com

MORE ON THE NEW WWE ID PROGRAM​

By Mike Johnson on 2024-10-29 10:51:00

WWE announced the official launch of their "WWE ID" program today, which will put the company's official stamp on a number of accredited professional wrestling schools with the idea that these schools will be part of the path for talents to eventually make it to WWE contracted deals.

PWInsider.com is told that this has been something the company has been working on developing for years off and on.

We are also told that former ROH and EVOLVE booker Gabe Sapolsky, who now works for WWE, will be part of those overseeing the ID program. In recent years, he's done a lot of scouting at different schools and independent events.

The idea here is that by having the official relationship with these locations, WWE can point potential recruits to places they can train and learn "the right way" as soon as they seek to get into the business, a place to prepare for eventual WWE tryouts or a place to be hired from to be brought in to the Performance Center via a developmental deal.

WWE would also have places to send existing developmental talents to go and learn from others and get different perspectives and reps that they might not get outside the PC and the NXT system.

The idea would also be to have WWE reps visit the schools to help uplift what they are doing to bring them advice and partnerships in terms of improving everything across the board so that they can be in alignment with what WWE is seeking in potential talents.

If the PC is the "finishing school", the idea is to have the WWE ID accredited schools be places where beginners can go and where independent talents who have potential can be pointed to train at for continued improvement.

We are told a big part of this is making sure that they are continuously enriching and preparing for the future, as a different stream beyond just scouting indy talents and the WWE NIL program. It's about focusing and directing potential talents from day one into environments where they can potentially do their best.

We've had a few readers ask if any of this is going to lead to combined shows involving the schools or WWE running additional live events in association with the schools. We are told that isn't currently in the plans but there certainly has been talks off and on over the years about the potential return of the EVOLVE brand, which they purchased back in 2020. However, today's announcement was more about getting everything officially into alignment and there is a lot more to come. There are no imminent plans for live events or touring or anything of that nature. This is more a nuts and bolts deal to try and add to the overall WWE recruitment and training process.

Where there may be some ripple effect on the independent scene could be talents that want to get in or stay in WWE's good graces focusing on doing only what would be best for them to get funneled through WWE's system. That could lead to a change in course in how some talents direct their path in the business, the same way the opening of OVW and FCW led to talents rushing to move to Kentucky or Florida, hoping that by being geographically close to those then-WWE developmental systems they would have an "in." If talents are primarily concerned about getting "in", they are going to do whatever they believe would be best in WWE's eyes and that will change how they pursue pro wrestling.

A few independent promoters we spoke with this AM have already worried this could be the American equivalent of WWE signing all the British talents ahead of the launch of NXT UK a few years back, where talents will have issues doing jobs or even end up pulled from dates at WWE's behest, but whether those fears are correctly founded remains to be seen. It's too early to tell, but there's no doubt that this could tip the scales in what indy wrestlers will want to achieve and aim for right out of the gate in their careers and how and where they decide to work. That could also be a downside, because if all these talents are being taught to achieve what WWE wants, that could certainly break down the uniqueness and zest that pervades the independent scene - but again, too soon to know for sure. It will be very interesting to track how this evolves.

 

[Canadian Dragon]

We are also told that former ROH and EVOLVE booker Gabe Sapolsky, who now works for WWE, will be part of those overseeing the ID program

ah now it makes sense why he was shit talking new roh lmao

 

[Canadian Dragon]

better said than me:

 

[Chris]

Brandon Thurston is reporting that he's confirmed with multiple sources that some indie talent are already under ID contracts but they're waiting to announce them as a reveal like an NIL class (last part is my guess not what he said)

 

[Dale]

A day after a potentially game-changing program for the industry was announced by WWE, a new report has revealed that several indie wrestlers are already under WWE ID deals.

During Wednesday’s edition of Pollock & Thurston, Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston reported the news, confirmed by multiple sources. No names were revealed, but he opined that an announcement will be made at some point to make those names public.

The intent of the WWE ID program is for the to company partner with both select training schools and indie wrestlers to establish a potential pathway to joining WWE. It’s designed to run in parallel with their Next In Line (NIL) program that evaluates and recruits college athletes for potential WWE careers.

As of now, those under WWE ID contracts can work wherever they want with no restrictions on match finishes, according to Thurston.

In talking to people who are aware of how the WWE ID program works, Thurston said that WWE is only working with schools and not promotions as of now, and that no financial support is currently going to those affiliated schools.​

Bit more in writing from PWInsider via Brandon

 

[Canadian Dragon]

Wait so they don't even pay anything to these school? Lmao what a racket

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Classic, "We'll pay you in exposure" energy.