WWE unveils latest recruiting class for Performance Center in Orlando
In a scene that resembled National Signing Day in college athletics, the WWE unveiled its latest recruiting class for the WWE Performance Center Monday, and it is chalked of international talent.
The 11-member group consists of former collegiate athletes, bodybuilders and independent wrestlers and boast members from seven different countries.
On this day, Paul "Triple H" Levesque looked more like Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher than a 13-time world champion.
"The global reach of WWE is reflected in the diversity of this class of NXT recruits," Levesque said in a story on WWE.com. "Talent is the most important natural resource we have, and these individuals will have every opportunity to hone their skills and fulfill their dream of becoming a WWE superstar or diva at the WWE Performance Center."
There is homegrown talent among the class, which is headed by Sesugha Uhaa, better known to independent wrestling fans as Uhaa Nation. Uhaa has made a name for himself in a number of independent wrestling promotions, including Dragon Gate USA. WWE also touted the fact that Uhaa played soccer, football and track and field in high school.
Joining him in the American contingent is Kenneth Crawford, Thomas Kingdon and Levis Valenzuela Jr.
Crawford is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps out of Chicago. He served in the Marines for four years where he managed to gain a perfect 300 in the United States Marine Corps Physcial Fitness Test. According to WWE, he also holds a number of track and field records in at South Piedmont and Anson High Schools in North Carolina.
Kingdon is a former bodybuilder out of Traverse City, Mich. that won the 2013 NPC Central States Competition in the super-heavyweight class.
Valenzuela comes out of Durham, N.C., where he began his wrestling career at CWF Mid-Atlantic in 2013. Valenzuela earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in criminal justice.
There is member of the class from nearby Mexico and that is Oscar Vasquez. Like Valenzuela, Vasquez began his wrestling career with CWF Mid-Atlantic.
From our neighbors north of the border comes Nhooph Al-Areebi out of Toronto, who began professional wrestling training in 2011. Before that, she was member of the Toronto Circus School and is trained in rhythmic gymnastics. She also speaks English and Arabic.
From Germany comes Axel Tischer, who has been working for GWF Wrestling since 2006. From 2005-07, he served as a member of Germany's army and worked his way up to Private First Class.
Fellow European Radomir Petkovic comes out of Serbia as a former European Vice Champion at the 2010 European Wrestling Championships. He was also a two-time bronze medalist in the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Greco-Roman and Freestyle. Petkovic is also bilingual, as he speaks English and Russian.
And finally, the WWE brought two women from the other side of the world in Australia. First is Cassie McIntosh, who has been working with the Pro Wrestling Alliance in Sydney since 2011 and was trained in by former WWE star Lance storm.
Joining her will be Jessica McKay, who also worked for Pro Wrestling Alliance and has even worked for Ring of Honor among other independent wrestling promotions.
The new recruits will join 55 other men and women at the WWE Performance Center to begin training.