Backstage Note on WWE Hiring Niece of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

As previously noted, WWE revealed its latest class of recruits last night. The list includes Zoe Hines, a former college softball player and the niece of US Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio (WOR), Dave Meltzer claimed that WWE was “politically forced” to sign Zoe Hines.

Hines participated in WWE Tryouts during SummerSlam week last August. Meltzer cited backstage sources as claiming that Hines was not that impressive during the Tryout session. However, despite that, backstage personnel were resigned to the fact that she would ultimately be signed.

Here’s what Dave Meltzer said:

“I certainly heard a lot about Zoe Hines, I’d say six months ago, and it was very much like this is one that was politically forced on them. I mean, she’s a real athlete; she’s a softball player. When she had her tryout, it’s not like she knocked them dead or even knocked them even. It was very much said that it was a forced hiring because of who she was and because of Robert F. Kennedy and Linda McMahon both being in the cabinet, and it was just, she wanted to try. It was like Simone Johnson, the same thing. I had heard people very much dreading this. As far as the hiring of her, I would say it was probably known easily a year ago that it was inevitable that this would happen.” [H/T: Wrestling Observer]

Notably, last month, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that Zoe Hines has signed a deal with the wrestling promotion.

Meet the NEWEST Rookie Class! 👏👏👏

Alyssa Daniele
Garrett Beck
Nicholas Panicali
Zoe Hines#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Doa8clgDNM

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 29, 2026