WWE Changing Recruitment Strategy for This Week’s Tryout in Orlando

WWE isn’t just hosting another tryout this week—they’re hitting the reset button on how they recruit for the men’s division.

According to Self Made Pro during a recent Self Made Session, the company is taking a radically different approach to this week’s tryout in Orlando— especially when it comes to recruiting male talent. This comes as WWE prepares to host its latest tryout featuring an impressive slate of athletes, including a Marine veteran, a Canadian basketball standout, and an undefeated Mexican MMA fighter.

But behind the scenes, this tryout is reportedly less about physical metrics and more about plugging a hole in the developmental system.

“They know the men’s developmental is lacking. It’s been a big point of emphasis,” Self Made revealed. “When they have conversations about the PC and the process, the one thing everybody has taken note of—and Paul Levesque says this from the very top down—is that they aren’t really producing guys the way they’re producing the women in terms of hit rate. That’s been clearly noted.”

This gap in male superstar development has forced WWE to pivot away from its traditional pipeline and look toward proven talent from the independent wrestling circuit. The goal now? Sign indie standouts, give them quick on-camera training and push them straight to NXT TV.

“That’s why they’ve had to rely more on independent signings for NXT, and that’s exactly what they’re going to do again with this tryout,” Self Made continued. “If you noticed, a lot of the big, trendy independent names were in the tryout.”

In a move that surprised some fans, WWE didn’t even brand these indie wrestlers with the usual WWE ID graphics or promotional materials. Instead, they’re being treated as low-key prospects with fast-tracked plans.

“What I find interesting is that they didn’t WWE ID these guys,” Self Made said. “They just put them straight into the tryout, because the intention is to sign a number of them and send them directly to television within a month or two. That’s the intention.”

And these aren’t just random indie wrestlers — they’re coming from top-tier promotions like XDPW, West Coast Pro, and Prestige Wrestling. WWE appears to be specifically targeting names who’ve already built a name in smaller circuits.

“You bring in some of these XDPW, West Coast Pro, and Prestige guys—the ones working those indies,” Self Made explained. “The plan is to have them try out, sign a handful of them, teach them the hard cam for a couple of weeks, and then just throw them on NXT television.”

This new approach is WWE’s attempt to infuse its developmental brand with battle-tested performers who can deliver on Day One — while skipping the months or even years of PC grind that past recruits endured. By accelerating seasoned talent into the NXT system, WWE is clearly looking to level the playing field—fast.

What do you think about WWE’s plan to fast-track indie wrestlers straight to NXT? Is this the right fix for their developmental gap, or is it skipping vital steps? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!