New Names Emerge for WWE Performance Center Tryout Next Week in Orlando

WWE’s next round of Performance Center tryouts is going down next week in Orlando — and the early list of participants is already an impressive one.

According to PWInsider on January 9, 2026, WWE will be hosting a new tryout session at the Performance Center, featuring athletes from elite backgrounds—ranging from combat sports to college hoops to record-breaking strength competitions. Here’s who’s confirmed so far:

• Joshua Hillen, a Marine Corps veteran from Ohio who recently won America’s Strongest Veteran in a Las Vegas strongman competition last October.
• James Karnik, a 27-year-old former basketball player from Canada who’s looking to take his size and athleticism into the squared circle.
• Regina Tarin, a 21-year-old undefeated MMA fighter from Mexico, who brings legit combat experience into WWE’s scouting radar.

This tryout lineup continues WWE’s trend of pulling talent from across the sports and entertainment world. During SummerSlam 2025 weekend, WWE held a massive tryout in New Jersey with names like Vert Vixen, Rayne Leverkusen, Daga, and LJ Cleary—all mixing it up alongside models, stunt actors, and Olympic-level athletes.

The inclusion of big personalities like Tarin and Hillen shows that WWE is doubling down on recruiting from all sorts of physical disciplines — and shaping the next generation of superstars both inside and outside the traditional wrestling pipeline.

Which of these new prospects are you most excited to see in WWE? Should more combat athletes or sports stars get fast-tracked to the ring? Drop your thoughts in the comments!