Update on Change In WWE Recruitment, Company Reportedly Not Opposed to Indie Talent

A new report has a slight correction on the reports that WWE will not be seeking independent talent for NXT going forward. PWInsider reports that the stories of WWE no longer recruiting or signing indy talent are “not 100% accurate.”

According to the outlet, there is a renewed push toward the company seeking larger athletes outside of the industry that can be, in the words of one source, “mold[ed] like raw clay to become WWE stars.” However, the company is not opposed to hiring independent talent.

Nick Khan sparked a lot of speculation this month when he implied the company would be moving away from indy signings, saying:

“We believe because a lot of the ‘indie wrestlers,’ if you will, have come through our system and are in our system with SmackDown and Raw now, we don’t want to just keep doing that same thing. We want to look elsewhere for great young talent.”

According to the site, the feeling is more that the company moved too far into only recruiting indy talent and is now swinging in the other direction. If an independent talent is brought to the company’s attention, they will evaluate them as has been the case. It is simply that there’s a push for younger and more raw talent who can go through the company’s training process.