WWE Tryouts

Question
QUESTION: Hey,

I've been scouring the web for information but not much of it comes up thus decided to ask you, expert!

I'm 16 years old at the moment and living in London - I'm very keen on training to become a pro wrestler once I turn 18 and which I will have completed my college courses.

I've got a reasonable amount done on my ideas about pro wrestling however, WWE Tryouts is something i'm quite concerned about.

How do you actually earn a WWE Tryout? Apparently they contact you  but how would they get your info? Do they get your info from a tape I send them?

Also, the WWE talent scouts. Do they Check out UK Specifically English Wrestling schools/promotions?

Whats the best way to go about earning a contract with WWE whilst living in London/uk?

Thank You in advance, Please reply as soon as possible

ANSWER: Well Lewis, it's a bit of a tougher process for people overseas. Since WWE is an American company, it's offices and most of it's shows are done on the North American continent. So, they usually don't have much time in the UK. They do a few tours a year in that area, like recently when they were in London for RAW. They've been in the UK all this week, and I believe they will go back later in the year. They actually just signed 20 year old Britini Knight. You know of the Knight Dynasty?

This usually is when WWE tryouts are done for UK wrestlers. They do get contacted by a number of people from all over the world, so, yes, that is usually how you do these things. They ask for tapes, then if they like you, they check with promotions in the area, your wrestling school, etc.

Drew McIntrye, Sheamus, and Wade Barrett all were signed a few years back on a European tour. McIntrye and Sheamus wrestled with IWW, and Barrett had been with many school/promotions in the UK area. Sheamus and Drew actually wrestled each other in a dark match before a SmackDown show and both attained a WWE developmental deal that night. Barrett actually wrestled in the US too, and that's where WWE got a hold of him. However, he was in England at the time the WWE did their European tour, and he was signed there. Plus he was trained by Al Snow, and Snow had a lot of connections to WWE of course.

Getting a WWE try out takes a few things for a UK person. They have to show great mic skill and especially wrestling ability. They usually want you to have Indy experience, as well as training in. Then that's when they start to listen.

Basically get about 2 years of training, then mix in Indy work for at least a year throughout the UK and Europe. Also, try and get in Japan, WWE loves people who have abilities from that area. You couple all that in, WWE will most likely take you in.

Contact WWE like you'd contact anyone else, through their website. Go to their corporate one. Also, look on FCWWrestling.com, contact them too. That's WWE's developmental area.

Hope this helped, if you have any other questions, come back and ask any of us.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Joe, also are you From Bleacher Report?

I heard about Knight being signed and it's great knowing a brit has signed with WWE. I went to the London show of RAW just passed and it finalized my ideas of becoming a Wrestler.

Let me quickly run through my ideas and voice your opinion on it.

I plan to study until 18, once 18 I will begin training.
Once I complete Training, hopefully build a reputation at the school/promotion and tour the uk.

Then perhaps go over to Mexico, Japan or puerto Rico (WWC) as many WWE/TNA stars have been their prior to joining.

Whats your views on that?

Do You think once I finished my training/ touring UK, should i Give FCW or WWE a try or go to japan/Puerto Rico first?

Also Do you think I should relocate to the USA once i finish training or just stay in the UK and hope for WWE to ask me to tryout on either of their 2 stops here in the year?

As for Mic skills, i'm quite comfortable with that as at school i'm quite good in my drama classes at getting reactions.

Thanks

Answer
I am on there, you've heard of me?


It's good, your plan. I would advise also going to college and getting a degree, possibly in communications or performance while getting training. You never know what could happen, and having a fall back plan is great. I would get training and do some Indy touring, then try getting on with WWE. If you don't hear from them, then just go to Japan or something. It couldn't hurt to get all the training you can.

Now, going to America is really up to you. You'll get training all over where you are, so, it's not really a necessity. You will end up here eventually, so, it's a thought to get in touch with an American audience and see how they operate in comparison to a UK or Japanese one.

With WWE it's def all performance, so, keep up doing those things in theater. Try even doing some in a college or local place. The more performance you get in, the better. Treat it as you would your wrestling, both are an important part to your craft. Also, be sure to take improvisational courses because that is a highly important thing