WWE’s Hawaii tryout announcement just got a pretty strange makeover.
WWE originally announced that it would hold a talent tryout at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu around its October 16 and 17 live events, but the company later deleted the post. Then, one day later, WWE put the tryout announcement right back up — only this time the promotional artwork looked very different.
The original promotion featured Seth Rollins, Liv Morgan, Sol Ruca, Oba Femi, Jacob Fatu, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso. The replacement went in a completely different direction.
The Rock is now planted right in the middle of the tryout graphic, with Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso surrounding him. WWE’s new post once again called on prospective talent in Hawaii to apply.
“Do you have what it takes? We are searching for our next Superstar in Hawaii!”
That’s a pretty noticeable change considering The Rock wasn’t part of the first batch of talent being used to advertise WWE’s trip to Hawaii. There’s also an obvious theme to the replacement artwork. The Rock, Roman Reigns and The Usos all come from prominent Samoan wrestling families, and WWE is now using those names to promote a talent search taking place in Hawaii.
It certainly looks like WWE may have decided that presentation made more sense for marketing the Hawaii tryout, especially given the state’s strong Polynesian population and the deep connection between Samoan families and professional wrestling. WWE has not explained why the original post was deleted or why the artwork was changed, so that part remains speculation.
The actual tryout plans appear unchanged. WWE is still searching for prospective talent in Hawaii, with applications due by September 15, 2026, and the tryout scheduled around the company’s October 16 and 17 stop at Blaisdell Arena. Still, deleting an announcement and bringing it back the next day with The Rock suddenly front and center is the kind of switch that’s hard not to notice.
WWE may simply have decided it found a much stronger way to sell a Hawaii talent search. Whatever the reason, The Rock, Roman Reigns and The Usos are now the faces being used to find WWE’s next Superstar in Hawaii.
What do you make of WWE deleting the original Hawaii tryout post and replacing the artwork with The Rock, Roman Reigns and The Usos? Do you think it was simply a marketing decision for Hawaii? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback in the comments.
