Report: WWE Focusing On "Looks" For New Female Signings
An update on what WWE is currently prioritising in new Performance Center recruits.
WWE's constantly-evolving recruitment policy has been a constant source of conversation in 2021, with the promotion revamping its developmental philosophy to move away from experienced, established independent stars, and back towards younger, bigger performers with athletic pedigree, but not necessarily a wrestling background.
This has manifested in the form of NXT's transformation to NXT 2.0, the NIL - Next In Line program, and more. Now, Dave Meltzer has come through with new details on what, exactly, WWE is looking for, doing so while discussing the company's latest set of Las Vegas, Nevada tryouts last week.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer stated that while WWE will still look at exceptional indie candidates, it is now adopting different approaches for men and women. When it comes to the latter, "looks" are a priority once more:-
“The idea for women and guys is different. For guys, they’re wanting bigger athletes. For women, it’s looks, or if you have something unique to offer. Even on the indie thing, if someone’s like, really super on the indies, it’s not like WWE won’t hire them, but they’re not looking at the 5’9” guys or the 5’7” guys anymore. But if you come from the Indies but you’re 6’3”, yeah, they’ll look at you, and if you’re a woman and you’re ‘good looking’, you know, whatever."
Meltzer added the following on ROH Women's World Champion Rok-C, who was photographed at the tryouts, revealing that several wrestlers previously used on AEW's YouTube shows were also there:-
"Rok-C, who was the ROH Women’s Champion, was at the tryouts, and a couple of women who worked for AEW - a lot of them on Dark, not necessarily the main roster - they are at the tryouts right now.”
8 December saw WWE bring 15 new athletes into the company as part of the aforementioned NIL scheme. The promotion is yet to announce any new signings following the Las Vegas tryouts.
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