UPDATED: More Details On WWE ID Program, How Long It’s Been In The Works

UPDATE: A new report has some more details on WWE’s new WWE ID program for independent schools. PWInsider reports that the program is something that WWE has been developing off and on for years, and that Gabe Sapolsky will be among those overseeing the program. Sapolsky is of course the former booker for ROH and EVOLVE.

According to the report, the notion behind the school is that WWE’s relationship with the accredited wrestling schools means that they can direct potential recruits to places where they can train “the right way” from the start of their entry into the wrestling industry. It will provide a place for talent to prep for eventual WWE tryouts or be brought into the Performance Center on developmental deals. WWE will also now have established places to send developmental talents in order to supplement what they’re doing in WWE, allowing them to improve their skills in the direction that the company looks for in potential talent.

Essentially, the WWE ID-accredited schools will be places where people entering the business can go and train for continued improvement, with the Performance Center being more of a “finishing school.” A major part of the program is ensuring that WWE is preparing for the future and has a different avenue for such beyond scouting independent talent and the WWE NIL program.

The report notes that the notion of WWE running combined shows involving the schools or additional live events through the program isn’t currently planned, but there have been talks on and off over the last several years about a potential return of EVOLVE. WWE bought the company in 2020. The official announcement of WWE ID was about getting things out there now, and there is more to come. As if now, there are no immediate plans for live events or touring.

Some independent promoters have expressed concern to the site today that this could be the American equivalent of what happened to the UK scene when WWE signed all the major British talent ahead of NXT UK’s launch, which led to the British indy scene suffering due to talent being pulled from dates and the like. It’s too early to tell if those fears will come to pass.

ORIGINAL: WWE announced the launch of a new indie wrestling development program designed to provide independent-based wrestlers a pathway to joining WWE. The new program is called WWE ID, which is short for WWE Independent Development.

The new program follows WWE’s 2021 launch of the Next In Line (NIL) program, which focuses on collegiate athletes. Here’s the full announcement from WWE.com on WWE ID:

WWE launches new indie wrestling development program

October 29, 2024 – WWE today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind developmental program designed to provide up-and-coming independent wrestlers a pathway to a potential career in WWE. The program will be called WWE ID, short for WWE Independent Development.

“WWE ID is the latest in our efforts to identify and support the journey of up-and-coming wrestlers, in turn raising the profile of and strengthening the independent wrestling ecosystem,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

Following the 2021 launch of WWE’s NIL program, WWE ID has been constructed to support independent wrestling prospects and wrestling schools with world-class training, development and mentorship.

Under the program, WWE will provide prominent independent wrestling schools with the WWE ID official designation, with the goal of providing new trainees and existing talent at these select institutions with enhanced developmental opportunities. Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling (Houston), Cody Rhodes’ Nightmare Factory (Atlanta), Seth Rollins’ Black and Brave Academy (Davenport, Iowa), Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center (Concord, N.H.) and KnokX Pro Academy (Los Angeles) are the first WWE ID independent wrestling schools to earn the official designation.

Additionally, WWE ID will identify top independent wrestling prospects with an official WWE ID “prospect” designation and support their developmental journey by providing financial opportunity and assisting with training, mentorship and development, including access to world-class facilities, best-in-class ring training, athletic trainers and more. WWE ID will give fans the opportunity to follow the paths of these standout prospects on the independent wrestling scene through curated, behind-the-scenes content, as well as highlights and matches showcased across WWE’s social platforms.

To learn more about WWE ID and WWE’s recruiting process, please visit recruit.wwe.com.