WWE recently signed a unique deal with collegiate wrestler Gable Steveson, which is available to student athletes. Under the NCAA’s new rules on the use of NIL (name, image, and similarity), players can make money from their fame for the first time. Now WWE has begun an effort to attract these elite athletes to the company.
Published WWE.com, The Next In Line program “provides a clear path from collegial athletics to WWE.” WWE Executive Vice President for Global Talent Strategy and Development Paul “Triple H” Levesque highlighted the new talent pipeline.
“The WWE NIL program has the potential to change our business. By partnering with elite athletes at all levels across a wide range of college sports, we will dramatically expand our talent pool and create a system that prepares NCAA competitors for WWE once their college careers are over.
With the launch of NXT 2.0, there has been a clear shift in the company’s talent strategy. The company wants young, athletic people. Wrestling experience does not have to be applied. The new NIL program is exactly what WWE is looking to attract.
Unique deals allow college athletes to earn a salary from WWE and continue their careers and education while training. Signatories will have the opportunity to receive assistance from the WWE Performance Center as well as professional and career development. Any college athlete who is a WWE fan will probably be drawn to the Next In Line program.
Do you think WWE’s new NIL program will create amazing talent? Share your thoughts in the comments!