WWE has added another young athlete to its developmental system, and this one has already been through the company’s tryout process twice. Former Michigan State track and field athlete Elly Finch has officially signed with WWE and is headed to the NXT Performance Center.
According to a report by PWInsider, WWE has signed the 23-year-old Finch to a developmental contract. She participated in WWE tryouts in both January and August 2026 before ultimately landing a deal.
“WWE has signed Elly Finch, 23, who took part in January and August 2026 tryouts to a WWE developmental deal, PWInsider.com has confirmed.”
Finch will now be part of the incoming class at the WWE Performance Center, where she’ll begin the next stage of her transition into professional wrestling. She comes in with an athletic background that goes well beyond her time competing in track and field.
Before getting WWE’s attention, Finch competed as a shot put thrower for Michigan State’s track and field team. She was also a multi-sport athlete long before reaching the college level, including making some history on the football field. Finch became the first girl to play varsity football for Royal Oak High School in Michigan. As part of the school’s graduating class of 2023, she played tackle, left guard and middle linebacker.
Her WWE journey actually started earlier this year when she participated in a Performance Center tryout in January. WWE brought her back for another look during its SummerSlam festivities in August, where she was part of a group featuring several independent wrestlers and athletes from outside professional wrestling.
That tryout included names such as Josh Bishop, J-Rod, Brooke Havok, Titus Alexander and Monica Monroe. Finch was one of the athletes coming from outside wrestling, and apparently WWE saw enough during her two opportunities to bring her into the system full-time.
Finch now gets to find out whether all that athletic experience can translate to the ring. Going from shot put and varsity football to WWE is quite the jump, but the company clearly liked what it saw enough across two separate tryouts to give the 23-year-old a developmental deal.
What do you think about WWE signing this former athlete after bringing her in for two tryouts this year? Let us know in the comments below.
