WWE Strengthens Its 'NIL' Program with Exos Partnership

M&F has discovered of a brand new partnership that may bolster WWE’s efforts in discovering the following bigger than life performer from the fields of soccer, monitor and subject, basketball, cheerleading, and past. Now tag-teaming with Exos, a world beating chief for honing human efficiency, future WWE “NIL” program signees can have the very best likelihood of rising to their athletic potential and making it huge within the ring with an unmatched set of sources.

Five potential WWE wrestlers training under the the WWE NIL Program and holding the championship belt — Courtesy of WWE

What’s WWE ‘NIL’?

WWE’s NIL program, now in its second 12 months, is a forward-thinking initiative designed to scout and develop future WWE Superstars from the world of school sports activities and athletics, made potential because of a 2021 coverage by the NCAA which now permits for faculty athletes to monetize their very own identify, picture, and likeness. Identified merely as “Subsequent In Line,” WWE’s mission is to offer a transparent pathway from school athletics to the brilliant lights of WWE, providing a useful alternative for athletes from various sporting backgrounds to comply with within the footsteps of icons equivalent to Drew McIntyre or Becky Lynch.

Scouring the world of aggressive sports activities for the following huge factor in WWE is a no brainer when you think about that the likes of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and John Cena have been all school soccer stars earlier than they turned legends between the ropes. When athletes are in a position to harness their elite abilities and mix these abilities with scorching charisma, professional wrestling megastars are born. The present WWE Uncooked Girls’s Champion, Bianca Belair is a former school monitor and subject athlete, and the primary official signing to NIL was the 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler, Gable Stevenson. There are actually 25 lively athletes collaborating in this system and lacing up boots within the WWE’s Efficiency Middle in Orlando, FL. Athletes have made the journey to Orlando from 24 totally different universities. One other notable signee was the current addition of Gabi Butler, who cheerleading followers will know from the hit Netflix docuseries, “Cheer.” Every expertise hopes to graduate the “Subsequent In Line” course of and be chosen for a WWE developmental contract.

WWE will announce its subsequent class of 15 NIL college students in early 2023.

Potential WWE wrestler training at the EXOS training facitility under the WWE NIL Program — Courtesy of WWE

Why is WWE Tag Teaming with Exos?

M&F understands that Exos will present WWE “Subsequent In Line” athletes with a wealth of sources equivalent to the flexibility to study and exercise within the many Exos coaching services throughout the US. Exos, which has been a longtime pressure in athletics for greater than 20 years, operates in 26 international locations and already helps greater than 12,000 recreation altering athletes. The crop consists of greater than 1,000 NFL draft picks together with 215 plus Olympians and elite navy athletes.

“An business chief in sports activities efficiency, Exos will assist improve our NIL athletes’ expertise as they transition from school athletics to WWE,” mentioned James Kimball, WWE Head of Expertise Operations and Technique, talking completely with M&F.

Whereas working with Exos professionals, WWE NIL athletes may even be launched to the Exos Athlete Expertise Program and its many sports activities science and information companions. The athlete consumption course of will see individuals undergo rigorous efficiency, physique composition, vitamin, and bodily remedy testing. The baseline developed for the athletes will then allow custom-made and absolutely built-in plans to make sure a basis for optimized coaching.

“Exos is thrilled to group up with the WWE in an effort to fulfill its subsequent era of athletes on their journey to be able to guarantee success—bodily and mentally—and continuity of care,” added Exos CEO Sarah Robb O’Hagan.

How do school athletes be a part of the WWE NIL Program?

Three athletes from the inaugural 2021 NIL class have already joined WWE following their commencement from faculty, and have began coaching full-time on the WWE Efficiency Middle in Orlando, Fla. In simply 4 months,

Northwestern College soccer star Joe Spivak has appeared on WWE’s TV present, “NXT Degree Up” on Peacock, underneath the ring identify Tank Ledger. That is pillar to WWE’s renewed recruiting technique which is now absolutely targeted on elite former school athletes. In case you are a university athlete dreaming of turning into the following huge WWE Celebrity, you may go to recruit.wwe.com for data on the applying course of. The following class can be introduced in early 2023.