WWE Sign EVOLVE Champion Austin Theory

The 22-year-old leads WWE's latest Performance Center intake.

Austin Theory
WWE.com

Attentive NXT TakeOver viewers will have caught current EVOLVE Champion Austin Theory in the front row at last week’s event in Toronto, and WWE have now confirmed the hot indie prospect’s signing.

The 22-year-old leads an impressive class of Performance Center recruits that also includes former Mae Young Classic competitor Santana Garrett, Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Rita Reis, two 6’5”/6’6” hosses in Aleksandar Jaksic and EJ Nduka, and former AAA star El Hijo del Fantasma, who has been introduced internally but not publically.

Theory has become one of the rocks on which Gabe Sapolsky’s WWN syndicate relies the most. He has demonstrated remarkable improvement throughout his three years in the business, going from green rookie to loathsome heel in a relatively short period of time, and now sits atop the group’s mountain after taking (and deactivating) the WWN Championship in July.

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Austin has been EVOLVE Champion for over 240 days, defending it against the likes of Kyle O’Reilly and Darby Allin.

An atypical indie wrestler stylistically, Theory should prove a great fit in WWE, where his charisma, size, look, and relatively low-impact work will see him flourish. Best of luck to him.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.