Talha Asad Iqbal on January 26, 2023
WWE has had a lot of initiatives that granted people the chance to become a WWE Superstar. Tough Enough, NXT all come to mind. WWE launched its award-winning NIL program in 2021. The program recruits collegiate athletes and provides them a pathway to the WWE. Today, WWE revealed the third class of 15 college athletes who will join the program
The class is highlighted by two-time NCAA All American wrestler Greg Kerkvliet from Penn State University, four-time NCAA National Champion thrower Turner Washington from Arizona State University and NCAA Champion hurdler Alia Armstrong from Louisiana State University.
Athletes from 14 colleges, nine NCAA conferences, and seven different sports have been granted the opportunity to be a part of WWE’s third “Next In Line” class. The program is going to onboard athletes from various sports including women’s wrestling, soccer, tennis, and softball.
| Name | College | Sport | Height/Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abby Jacobs | South Alabama | Soccer | 5’7 | Gulf Breeze, Fla. |
| Alexandra Jaksec | Mary Washington | Tennis | 5’4 | Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Alia Armstrong | LSU | Track & Field | 5’4 | Baton Rouge, La. |
| Cameron Jones | Cincinnati | Football | 6’8, 320 lbs. | Hindman, Ky. |
| Dee Beckwith | Kentucky | Football | 6’5, 235 lbs. | Florence, Ala. |
| Greg Kerkvliet | Penn State | Wrestling | 6’3, 250 lbs. | Inver Grove Heights, Minn. |
| Isaiah Iton | Rutgers | Football | 6’2, 290 lbs. | Houston, Texas |
| Jaiden Fields | Georgia | Softball | 5’9 | Kennesaw, Ga. |
| Landon Jackson | Arkansas | Football | 6’7, 275 lbs. | Texarkana, Texas |
| Mady Aulbach | Youngstown State | Basketball | 5’3 | Slippery Rock, Pa. |
| Nick Dawkins | Penn State | Football | 6’4, 315 lbs. | Allentown, Pa. |
| Otoniel Badjana | Pittsburgh | Track & Field | 5’11, 245 lbs. | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Peyton Prussin | Life University | Wrestling | 5’4 | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Tori Ortiz | Oklahoma State | Track & Field | 5’9 | Batavia, Ill. |
| Turner Washington | Arizona State | Track & Field | 6’5, 290 lbs. | Tuscon, Ariz. |
Ever since the launch in December 2021, the “Next In Line” program has signed 46 college athletes, including the organization’s inaugural signee, Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson. The initiative aims to attract and nurture prospective future Superstars while also improving WWE’s talent development process through collaborative collaborations with collegiate athletes from a variety of sports backgrounds. WWE has signed athletes from 13 different sports, including 35 Power-Five conference members who have won 40 NCAA All-American honors and 12 NCAA National Championships.
Participants in the program will have access to the Orlando WWE Performance Center. Additionally, they will get guidance with brand development, media and communications training, live event and community relations training, and more. Even if an athlete completes the program successfully, WWE does not promise them a long-term position.
While these athletes have been accepted into the program, they are not guaranteed a bona fide opportunity into the WWE. They will have to prove themselves and stand out from the rest. We wish them the best of luck in their road to become a WWE superstar. For more updates, stay tuned to Ringside News.
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January 26, 2023 10:50 am
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