WWE No Longer Scouting Indie Wrestlers?
A new report suggests WWE are now content to leave the independent talent pool to AEW.
WWE is no longer scouting independent wrestling talent, reports Dave Meltzer in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
This is the word from the top of the company, and reflects WWE's recent policy change with regards to developmental, as WWE shifts its focus back to younger, bigger wrestlers over those who've spent years working on their craft elsewhere.
Meltzer notes, however, that "no more" rarely means "no more" in wrestling. This policy could reasonably change at any time.
As far as scouting goes, the report states that WWE is now back to being focused more on aesthetics than anything else. Rather than prioritising people who have gotten over in other companies, they are going by appearance, opting to teach people with the right look how to wrestle.
Though the policy change is yet to have a noticeable impact on television, it is well-documented behind the scenes. WWE President and Chief Revenue Officer recently confirmed that a major revamp is coming to NXT in the next few weeks. On top of this, the promotion has released more than 50 wrestlers in 2021, many of whom fit the old developmental policy (but perhaps not the new one). Most, however, were attributed to budget cuts.