The WWE has said it thinks the next generation of Superstars will come from the likes of Saudi Arabia.
It has announced an open talent tryout in Riyadh and hopes to recruit more than 50 athletes from Saudi Arabia. It will give them the opportunity to showcase their abilities with the goal of earning a contract for Talent Development with the WWE.
Sign ups are officially beginning today, with the WWE’s recruitment website Performance Center now available in Arabic.
The website gives athletes step-by-step instructions as to how to apply for the tryout, as well as access to the official application form. There are also resources available to would-be superstars, including tips from Raw and Smackdown Superstars.
“I have a message for every athlete and performer in Saudi Arabia who has a dream of becoming a WWE Superstar: WWE is coming to Riyadh to help you make that happen. This is your chance to take an opportunity and one day you could be walking down the ramp as a WWE Superstar while thousands of fans chant your name,” said Paul Levesque (Triple H), WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative.
“We are excited to return to Saudi Arabia following the success of our first tryout in 2018 where we recruited a variety of elite athletes from the Middle East, including standout talent Mansoor, who has already played a meaningful role in various WWE events in Saudi Arabia,” he continued.
Mansoor is The Kingdom’s first athlete to score a contract with the WWE
The try-out in Riyadh is just the latest example of the WWE’s new global talent recruitment drive. Previously, the WWE has signed rugby and football players from Europe, and kabaddi and kushti athletes from India.
Saudi Arabia’s Super ShowDown will take place on February 27. So far the lineup is as followed:
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Ricochet
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. Goldberg
Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin in a Steel Cage Match
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. The Miz & John Morrison
AJ Styles vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Rusev vs. R-Truth vs. Erick Rowan vs. United States Champion Andrade in the Tuwaiq Trophy Gauntlet Match
Women’s SmackDown Champion Bayley vs. either Carmella or Naomi
