WWE is keeping a close watch on the entire world of athletics because they never know where the next breakout Superstar will emerge. Currently, NIL signees are likely to shape the future of the company, and Mark Henry plays a significant role in bringing in talent with immense potential. This has led WWE to make a considerable investment.
The company’s Next In Line program gives them a chance to ink deals with standout college athletes. In more recent memory, one of their original NIL signees just won Gold Medal at the 2024 Olympics. Obviously, there is a lot of talent out there, and Mark Henry is good at finding it.
During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, Henry offered insight into his role as WWE’s unofficial talent scout. His list of proteges includes current and future stars like Bron Breakker, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair, Baron Corbin, and Apollo Crews. As Henry reflected on his contributions, he provided a startling financial perspective of how much money WWE has invested in Superstars he helped bring into the company.
“I did the math one time. And the company has about 8 point something million dollars in salary of people that I’ve helped get here. If they’re able to pay $8 million to people, how much are they making for those guys … I feel like if I died tomorrow, I did my part.”
Henry isn’t on any high horse, because he’s still focused on scouting the next generation of wrestling stars. He shared some of his scouting techniques, revealing an exciting new prospect.
“There’s a former football player for the University of Texas. He looks like Thor but 300 pounds, about 6’6″. And he’s gonna be going to Dustin Rhodes’ academy when football is over with. I said, listen I’m not a dream smasher, but you’re not gonna play on Sundays. You can wrestle for 15 years and make a million dollars a year for at least six or seven of those years. What do you think? He was like, ‘Hell, yeah.’ And I’m gonna mentor him for free because that’s my contribution to the business, because I love it.”
In more recent news, Mark Henry’s son, Jacob Henry, has recently signed an NIL deal with WWE, potentially paving the way for new generation of Henry-influenced superstars. He announced this during the Rumble Remix event, where the crowd greeted the son of the World’s Strongest Man with a massive “NXT” chant.
What’s your take on Mark Henry’s role as a talent scout for WWE? Do you think he has an incredible eye for talent? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!