WWE Performance Centre

[Troy]

*WARNING* Long quote to follow

WWE today opened its world-class training facility that is the new foundation for WWE’s guaranteed success. As the new home to WWE’s talent developmental system, NXT®, the new facility in Orlando, Florida was officially unveiled at a press conference hosted by Paul “Triple H®†Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent and Live Events, WWE, Stephanie McMahon, Executive Vice President, Creative, WWE, Florida Governor Rick Scott, Mayor of Orange County Teresa Jacobs and Ken Goldstone, Chief Operating Officer, Full Sail University.
With 26,000 square-feet, seven training rings, a world-class strength and conditioning program and cutting-edge edit and production facilities, the new state-of-the-art Performance Center will give WWE the ability to train more potential performers than ever before through a comprehensive program including in-ring training, physical preparedness and character development.

“The WWE Performance Center represents the guaranteed future success of our company, providing the next generation of WWE Superstars with a world-class facility to call their own,†said Paul “Triple H®†Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent and Live Events, WWE. “The venue offers our developmental talent a full training experience with real time feedback from WWE coaches, trainers and doctors, giving them the resources they need to develop their talent both athletically and creatively.â€

"We are happy to be back here at WWE's Global Performance Center, officially opening this state-of-the-art training facility,†said Governor Rick Scott. “WWE is a big name in sports entertainment so it's fitting that they have chosen to take a one-way ticket to Florida to grow their business. In only two and a half years, Florida has created 330,000 private-sector jobs and our unemployment rate has dropped well below the national average to 7.1 percent. It's working in Florida."

“Creating new, high-value jobs has been a top priority for my administration since day one. The grand opening of the amazing WWE Performance Center is
terrific news for our local economy,†said Teresa Jacobs, Orange County Mayor. “Not only are these great jobs, the presence of the WWE Performance Center adds to Central Florida’s reputation as a television, film and entertainment production hub.â€

"Throughout our evolving partnership with WWE, our students have had the unique educational opportunity to take part in the live production process for
WWE NXT tapings within the Full Sail Live venue," said Ken Goldstone, Chief Operating Officer for Full Sail University. "We are delighted to have the WWE
Performance Center in such close proximity to our campus, and we are proud to participate in welcoming this facility to Central Florida."

The new center will be the training ground for approximately 75 talent who include former professional and collegiate athletes, Olympians and entertainers,
offering a best-in-class sports medicine program and a central location for all current WWE Superstars to receive the best care both in and out of the
ring.


WWE Performance Center Key Highlights:

In-Ring Training Room
• 12,000 square-foot world-class training room with seven training rings
• Including one "show ring†with theatrical lighting and broadcast capability to provide developmental talent with a full training experience
• Connectivity between the Performance Center and WWE’s headquarters in Stamford, Conn., via closed circuit cameras will allow for real
time feedback from WWE executives

Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation
• Best-in-class sports medicine facility with on-site medical care creating a central location for all WWE talent to receive the best care both in and out of the ring
• Dr. Michael Sampson, Medical Director, holds regular office hours
• Access to a full-time athletic trainer and full-time physical therapist whenever talent are training as well as a network of local specialists

Strength and Conditioning
• 5,500 square-foot state-of-the-art strength and conditioning room that will allow for daily training sessions for all developmental trainees
• Featuring cutting edge strength and conditioning equipment, cardio machines, medical rehab equipment and floor space for stretching and plyometric movement
• World-renowned strength coach Joe DeFranco will serve as a consultant

Promo Room
• A small, private studio that allows talent to practice on-camera techniques and work individually on character development and performance skills
• Capable of being operated by the talent themselves, this one-of-a-kind studio functions without technical personnel and is controlled using a simple iPad interface

Edit and Production Suites
• Cutting-edge edit and production facilities dedicated to creating improved TV performances for in-ring talent
• Flash
(Pre-tape) Studio – a full-function, green-screen capable studio designed to allow talent to practice their TV presentation skills or to create content for
NXT or WWE programming. The room features a Sony ENG style camera, studio lighting and high-resolution recording using AJA Digital recording hardware
operated by production staff
• VO Booth – a practice room designed for announcers-in-training to work with WWE seasoned professionals to hone their live action announcing and play-by-play skills. The room allows for up to three announcers to work directly with an audio engineer to provide quick and easy record and playback functionality

Quoted their entire press release as I thought that it was all worth quoting.

Impressive facility for WWE, they have really gone all out with this new performance centre and it is a huge step up from FCW/OVW/DSW etc. 7 rings including one set up where they can tape matches from plus there is one just for wrestlers to practice high flying moves and it has a softer mat to prevent as much damage to the wrestlers body. The ability for the talents to create, film and edit their own promos is a great addition, hopefully all those that struggle on the mic lock themselves in that room whenever it is free and start practicising. The production studio is also impressive, they could realistically film promos at this centre a couple of hours before RAW and have it used on RAW that night.

Nice to see WWE looking after the more serious issues as well with a doctor, trainer and therapist onsite to work with the wrestlers when required.

Immense undertaking but it should pay off for WWE in the long run. This has reported to be Triple H's idea since he wanted to completely rework developmental and I like the changes that he has made so far.

 

[Nate]

I love the little promo room that they've included in the facility. God knows that having next to no promo skills will get you nowhere in the company. Also the show ring looks to be very impressive as well, good to know that Triple H has gone all out on this facility. I hope to see some photos of the place soon.

 

[Killz]

Biggest things for me after I got over the awe of looking that facility were:

1) thank god for Hunter then because why hasn't this existed for at least the past 10 years? Territories died and they didn't think of just ploughing money into a centre like this before now?

2) How disappointing that guys IN those 10 years who either had the gimmick and promo skills but botched left and right or who could really work but couldn't deliver a promo to save their life never had this opportunity.

Going forward this can only mean good things. Longer, healthier carerrs. Rookies who will hopefully come in as good workers AND good promo men which leads to more engaging TV. All signs are positive, I think this type of thing was always the next best option aside from heavy investment in a smaller company or investment in indy's to create a territory system again.

 

[Troy]

It is a massive step forward from what they previously had. As you said with the indy wrestling scene as it is this is a much better option than selecting a couple of companies and throwing money at them to become developmental territories. Will be beneficial to have it all under the same roof and the technology in there is amazing, apparently there is live feed from the centre that can be watched at any time by Vince or HHH or Steph so they can evaluate a guy immediately and check in on them whenever they want. It is about time they made a big investment into developing talent because they have struggled in recent years, OVW produced a ton of stars for them but since then it has been a lot more miss than hit.

 

[AZUCAR!]

It looks impressive from some of the pics that i've seen. Here's a HHH interview he did with Mike Johnson from PWInsider:

[youtube]wL9nhXzSx1E[/youtube]

Also, here's the official press conference of the opening of the new Performance Center:

[youtube]bQgCaNSdJjc[/youtube]

 

[Troy]

!!! Triple H doing an interview with Pwinsider. Wow things really have changed in WWE, would never have seen Vince do something like that. Could we also see WWE being more open to the wrestling news websites rather than completely ignoring them as they have done in the past?

With the HHH interview when he mentioned Nike, I wonder why they don't try to get a shoe deal for Cena. Would be a win win situation for all involved.

 

[The Cork]

Sounds like WCW Power Plant IMO.

 

[John McHenry]

Sounds like WCW Power Plant IMO.

I agree even made a crack about it on twitter. All the post sound as if their so impressed why? As Cork said it's just the power plant and what did that do for WCW? Pouring money into it doesn't mean shit. OVW and FCW turned out quite impressive talent so I don't see where the facility is at fault for the failures.

 

[Keith]

I think it shows the plus side of having a wrestler like Triple H having that sort of power, this looks like a smart wrestling decision. The only thing which worries me slightly is the idea that HHH, Vince and Stephanie will be checking in on their process this may lead to too much interference or talent being rushed to the main roster too soon.

Of course the success still depends on the quality of the training and the wrestlers picked.

 

[Andrew]

Hope it all goes well.
[MENTION=2]Troy[/MENTION] there's an Australian who's in the Performance Development right now (Known as Matt Silva)

 

[Troy]

I agree even made a crack about it on twitter. All the post sound as if their so impressed why? As Cork said it's just the power plant and what did that do for WCW? Pouring money into it doesn't mean shit. OVW and FCW turned out quite impressive talent so I don't see where the facility is at fault for the failures.

This facility offers a lot more than what they could offer in OVW and FCW. OVW turned out a huge number of quality wrestlers but FCW hasn't had the same success rate especially with top stars, arguably only Sheamus. I like all the extras that they have in this facility compared to what they had elsewhere, the promo rooms, announcing rooms, doctor working full time there, all rehab will occur there now so they have all wrestlers in a central location etc. A hell of a step forward and a step towards modernising the way developmental works. The WCW Power Plant had completely different motives and goals.

Hope it all goes well.
@Troy there's an Australian who's in the Performance Development right now (Known as Matt Silva)

Have they given him a new name yet? I remember him signing but I don't recall him debuting in NXT yet.

 

[The Cork]

I agree even made a crack about it on twitter. All the post sound as if their so impressed why? As Cork said it's just the power plant and what did that do for WCW? Pouring money into it doesn't mean shit. OVW and FCW turned out quite impressive talent so I don't see where the facility is at fault for the failures.

Funniest thing was Power Plant put so much stock into fitness and conditioning over wrestling talent, yet most their big guys gassed 2 mins into a match.

Get Hugh Morrus to run it like Buddy Lee Parker did and they are virtually identical.

 

[Andrew]

[MENTION=2]Troy[/MENTION] not yet

If you've seen the video where they talk about the Performance Center you can see him in the last few minutes, he's the one jumping up onto some box.