WWE Inks Deals with Multiple New Athletes for the NIL Program

WWE is back in action with an exciting announcement today! The sports entertainment juggernaut is hitting the collegiate scene with a bang as it unveils the latest additions to its renowned NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) initiative – the “Next In Line™” program. This program is your golden ticket from college sports to the WWE ring, and boy, it’s delivering a body slam of talent!

Marking the two-year anniversary of the inception of WWE’s groundbreaking NIL program, this fourth batch of recruits is nothing short of electrifying. We’re talking about two of the nation’s creme de la creme wrestlers – the two-time All-American powerhouse, Lucas Davison from the University of Michigan, and the former Big 12 Champion, Stephen Buchanan from the University of Oklahoma. But that’s not all, folks! This class is rewriting the playbook with WWE’s first-ever acrobatics athlete, Bayley Humphrey from Baylor University, and the program’s first baseball sensation, Adam Berghorst from Indiana State. And wait, there’s more! Give it up for WWE’s trailblazing male cheerleader, Slane Glover from Ohio State.

The “Next In Line” Class of 2023 hails from 14 different universities and represents a staggering ten NCAA conferences. These rising stars are ready to take the WWE universe by storm:

• Adam Berghorst (Indiana State) – Baseball (6′ 7″, 260 lbs.) – Zeeland, Mich.
• Bayley Humphrey (Baylor) – Acrobatics (5′ 10″) – Chandler, Ariz.
• Darci Khan (Howard) – Track & Field (5′ 7″) – Stockbridge, Ga.
• Desmond Coleman (Liberty) – Track & Field (6′ 4″, 250 lbs.) – Charlotte, N.C.
• Grace Stephens (Monmouth) – Track & Field (5′ 5″) – Monroe, Conn.
• Jeremy Cody (Miami, Florida) – Track & Field (6′ 7″, 220 lbs.) – Pueblo, Colo.
• Josh Pearcy (Rice) – Football (6′ 2″, 245 lbs.) – Moorestown, N.J.
• Kali Terza (Kennesaw State) – Track & Field (5′ 4″) – Woodstock, Ga.
• Lucas Davison (Michigan) – Wrestling (6′ 2″, 235 lbs.) – Chesterton, Ind.
• Momen Zahid (William & Mary) – Football (6′ 5″, 295 lbs.) – Ashburn, Va.
• Sirena Linton (Arkansas) – Gymnastics (5′ 2″) – Phoenix, Ariz.
• Skyla Schulte (Michigan State) – Gymnastics (5′ 2″) – Bolingbrook, Ill.
• Slane Glover (Ohio State) – Cheerleading (6′ 1″, 205 lbs.) – Delray, Fla.
• Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma) – Wrestling (6′ 0″, 200 lbs.) – Loyal, Wis.

Since its launch in December 2021, WWE’s “Next In Line” program has scouted and recruited a whopping 60 college athletes, with seven of them ascending to full-time developmental contracts and honing their skills year-round at the WWE Performance Center in sunny Orlando.

This initiative continues to be WWE’s ace in the hole for scouting and nurturing the next generation of Superstars. Collaborating with college athletes from diverse athletic backgrounds has only bolstered WWE’s talent development process. The program boasts athletes from 15 different sports, including 42 Power-Five conference members. These athletes have racked up an impressive tally of 18 NCAA Championships, 34 Conference Championships, and 55 All-American honors.

Being part of this elite crew comes with perks – access to the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando, along with invaluable resources across the organization. This includes brand building, media training, live event promotion, creative writing, and community relations. And the grand prize? A shot at an exclusive WWE contract upon completing the NIL program.

These athletes aren’t just powerhouse performers; they’re social media sensations too, with a combined following of over 12 million on TikTok and almost five million on Instagram. WWE itself is a TikTok titan with a fanbase of more than 25 million followers and a jaw-dropping 30 million on Instagram.

So, if you’re ready to witness the future of WWE, head over to wwerecruit.com and get ready to be blown away by the “Next In Line” program. It’s where the stars of tomorrow are born today!

What are your thoughts on WWE’s “Next In Line” program, which recruits college athletes for a chance to become WWE Superstars? Leave us a comment.