William Regal No Longer Leading WWE’s International Talent Recruitment

William Regal might no longer be the man behind WWE’s international talent pipeline.

According to a report from Self Made Pro during a recent Self Made Session on YouTube, Regal was previously responsible for identifying top global prospects for both WWE’s main roster and developmental system. He pushed hard for major international names like Jay White, Dragon Lee, Kairi Sane, and even made an effort to bring in Kazuchika Okada.

“Whether it was NXT for developmental or the main roster, the guy who scouted Japan and Mexico and said, ‘I want Dragon Lee. I want this guy. I want that guy. This is who we have to sign,’ was William Regal.

Regal was pushing hard for Dragon Lee, bringing back Kairi Sane, going after Jay White, trying to bring in Kazuchika Okada—which obviously didn’t work—plus names like Tama Tonga and Jeff Cobb. Even for developmental talent, Regal was heavily involved in identifying and pushing these guys.”

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But that may no longer be the case. The report reveals that Matt Bloom—who wrestled in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as Giant Bernard—is now the one handling those scouting duties.

“Right now, and I don’t know if he’s officially replaced Regal or not, but on the developmental side the person doing that job is Matt Bloom. He’s the one locked in on what’s happening in New Japan Pro-Wrestling right now.”

And there’s a clear reason why Bloom’s boots are on the ground. It was previously reported that WWE has made contract offers to the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions—Yuto-Ice and Oskar. WWE scouts have been blown away by the duo’s performance in 2025 and see them as a prime fit to bolster their tag team division.

“A source close to the situation claims that WWE has offered a contract to both Yuto-Ice and OSKAR, NJPW’s current IWGP Tag Team Champions. The Knock Out Brothers have turned heads and grabbed the attention of WWE scouts as the promotion is said to be looking to bolster their tag ranks.

Multiple sources have separately confirmed to @SelfMadePW that WWE is still very much looking ‘everywhere’ for talent recruitment, including international markets.”

This aggressive push for global talent—especially from Japan—makes Bloom’s new role all the more logical, given his NJPW background and connections. Meanwhile, Regal, who returned to WWE in January 2023 as Vice President of Global Talent Development, may be changing focus to other areas of the company.

With Bloom’s history in New Japan and deep ties to the region, WWE may be leaning on his network and experience to guide its future international signings—possibly bringing in a new era of talent development.

What do you think—should William Regal still be handling international talent recruitment? Or is Matt Bloom the right man to lead WWE’s charge in international talent recruitment? Drop your take in the comments.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.