Report: WWE's Pre-SummerSlam 2022 Tryouts Were Disastrous

Problems reportedly piled up at WWE's pre-SummerSlam tryouts.

by Andy H Murray
WWE tryout disaster
WWE

WWE held its latest series of talent tryouts ahead of SummerSlam 2022 last week - and it doesn't sound like much went right in Nashville, Tennessee.

The company's signing policy has shifted immensely over the past year or so. Paul 'Triple H' Levesque's developmental demotion preceded Vince McMahon moving away from established, experienced independent wrestlers and towards younger athletes. The hope was reportedly to sculpt Superstars and develop skillsets from scratch.

Part of this involved the Next In Line program's launch. Although talent signed through this scheme weren't necessarily under contract, they'd have a clearer pathway towards sports entertainment success.

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Bryan Alvarez has stated that several NIL athletes were at the Nashville tryouts hoping to score wrestling contracts. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, he added that indie wrestlers were banned, though Triple H's ascent to WWE's creative lead means it was likely the last time this will happen.

A lot went wrong at the tryouts. Per Alvarez, multiple people suffered concussions and other injuries, with the situation described as "the blind leading the blind." In addition to this, a lot of the attendees "quite frankly sucked" outright.

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8-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard was amongst those vying for WWE's attention ahead of SummerSlam.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.