Formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) rebranded in 2002 and is now the largest wrestling outfit in the world. With the McMahon family—particularly Vince McMahon—taking the company to new heights, the pro wrestling company currently boasts two touring brands, Raw and SmackDown, as well as two developmental brands, NXT and Evolve. Netflix and Peacock both have active deals with the organization to stream WWE live events, making viewership more accessible to audiences and fans than ever before.
Of course, many are aware that the WWE’s appeal doesn’t rely just on the sport itself, but rather, a theatrical dramatization of what you see in a true wrestling ring. Not only do you have to have athletic ability, but you also have to be comfortable with the performance aspect to embody a given character, fulfill scripted storylines, and execute choreographed matches—like a TLC (tables, ladders, and chairs) match.
Think you have what it takes to get into the ring? In this guide, we’ll explore the recruitment process of the WWE and share the best advice from the organization’s most legendary performers, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena.
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Here are some of the biggest names from the franchise, many of whom went on to become successful actors, too:
- “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
- Hulk Hogan
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
- John Cena
- Ronda Rousey
- Chyna
- Becky “The Man” Lynch
- Mark William “The Undertaker” Calaway
- Paul Michael “Triple H” Levesque
- Charlotte “The Queen” Flair
- Dave Bautista
- Sasha “The Boss” Banks
- Shawn “Mr. WrestleMania” Michaels
- Bret “The Hitman” Hart
- “Macho Man” Randy Savage
- “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
- André René Roussimoff, aka André the Giant
- Christopher Keith Irvine, aka Chris Jericho
- Mick Foley
- Nikki Garcia, aka Nikki Bella
- Brie Garcia, aka Brie Bella
- Cody Rhodes, aka the American Nightmare
- Rhea Ripley, aka Mami
- Logan Paul
- Gunther, aka the Ring General
- Joshua Samuel Fatu, aka Jey Uso
- Bronson Rechsteiner, aka Bron Breakker
- Aoife Cusack, aka Lyra Valkyria
- Bianca Nicole Crawford, aka Bianca Belair
- Joe Anoai, aka Roman Reigns
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TKO Group Holdings currently owns World Wrestling Entertainment. Before becoming a publicly traded company in 1999, Vince McMahon purchased the company (then known as the WWF) from his father, Vincent J. McMahon, in 1982. The younger McMahon then went on to build the WWE by uniting small, independent regional promotions into one national company—forever changing the landscape of professional wrestling as we know it. However, due to legal issues, McMahon has since stepped down from the WWE. His son-in-law and former wrestler, Levesque (aka Triple H), is currently head of creative. Nick Khan serves as president of WWE.
Although the WWE team often recruits standout performers from wrestling and adjacent industries, such as indie wrestling promotions, the best way to get the creative team’s attention is to simply apply. Visit the tryouts page, where you’ll learn the step-by-step process for becoming part of the organization.
Before clicking “Apply,” however, you must meet two criteria: Are you over the age of 18, and do you have prior wrestling experience? If you answered yes to both, you may proceed with the application process. Once you have filled out the questionnaire and submitted your application, the team will assess your potential. If you make the cut, you will be invited to attend an in-person tryout. (You will be given four to six weeks’ notice, so come prepared!)
After the tryout, participants receive feedback and, as noted on the recruiting website, those who are selected will begin their “Superstar Journey” at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. ESPN notes that in recent years, the WWE has been casting a wider net as it searches for its next generation of talent, with the organization looking to everyone from MMA fighters and football players to gymnasts and weightlifters as a way to boost its entertainment potential.
Matt Riddle, for instance, was an accomplished independent wrestler who had also worked in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as an MMA fighter. “When I first started, I lived in Vegas, because I was fighting in the UFC and I was still fighting after the UFC,” Riddle told ESPN. “When I started training, there was only one [pro wrestling] gym [in Vegas], so I moved out to Pennsylvania. There were a lot of gyms, so I could get a lot of different looks…. I started training at the Monster Factory, started training at CZW’s dojo, and I started training at the Ring of Honor dojo.” This allowed Riddle to develop his personality in the ring, which ultimately won him the WWE’s attention and an offer to train at the Performance Center.
For its Raw and SmackDown programs, WWE instituted a draft—much like those held by athletic outfits, including the NFL and NBA—to refresh its rosters and foster new storylines (and rivalries). With the 2025 draft reportedly slated for September, NXT wrestlers, aka the next generation of WWE stars who train at the Performance Center, will become eligible to join one of the standard WWE brands, allowing them to transition from the developmental training ground to the franchise’s permanent roster.
Before the term “nepo baby” came to be, Dwayne Johnson embraced his family’s wrestling legacy, becoming the first third generation to step into the ring. With his father, Rocky, as his trainer, and former WWE executive and veteran wrestler Pat Patterson as his advocate, Johnson ultimately secured a tryout with the organization—and his talent and charisma won them over. Yet while Johnson began his WWE career under the name Rocky Maivia as a way of honoring both his father and maternal grandfather, his original good-guy persona wasn’t winning over any fans. He soon became known as a heel, changing his stage name to the Rock, which transformed his one-dimensional act into an exaggerated version of his true self. And it was his so-called feud with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin that catapulted him to superstardom soon after.
Unlike Johnson, Austin’s WWE career began with misfortune. He was released from World Championship Wrestling (WCW) due to an elbow injury, but that potentially career-ending blow paved the way for him to join Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and, ultimately, the WWE. Austin made his 1996 debut as the Ringmaster, but soon evolved into the Stone Cold persona that earned him a place in WWE history.
Dave Bautista’s WWE career also began with setbacks as he was turned down by WCW. The organization told him he’d never make it in the business, but after training at Florida’s Wild Samoan Training Center and a stint with World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW), he signed a developmental contract with the WWE and joined its main roster two years later as “Deacon Batista.” Hard work and determination clearly proved fruitful!
After a successful UFC career (and even an Olympic medal win), Ronda Rousey transitioned into the WWE, where she could leverage her MMA skills in the ring. She made her first appearance in 2015 at WrestleMania 31 with a cameo with the Rock, but didn’t officially join the franchise until 2018.
YouTube sensation and brother to influencer-turned–pro boxer Jake Paul, Logan Paul used his fandom and social media presence to secure a spot in the WWE. In 2022, he climbed into the ring at WrestleMania, cementing his place as a current heel in the organization.
Arguably the most famous former WWE professional wrestler, Johnson went on to become a successful actor, starring in films like “Black Adam” and “Moana.” Yet, no matter what he accomplishes outside the ring, Johnson will always be associated with the franchise. That’s probably why many turn to the Rock for advice. But as Johnson told Fortune, “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”
He continued: “From wrestling in flea markets—making $40 bucks a match—to used car dealerships to barns, to breaking attendance records in every major dome in the U.S., I learned that the most important relationship I will ever have in business is the relationship I have with my audience. Pay attention to who you do your business for.”
Johnson also shared, “The single most powerful thing I can be is to be myself.” And that’s precisely what he imparted on former WWE champion Kofi Kingston. “We had done some media together. I remember being backstage; I just asked him, ‘Hey, you have any advice or whatever?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, just don’t take yourself too seriously,’ ” Kingston told DraftKings. “He said, ‘Don’t worry about, like: Oh, you gotta go out there and look strong.’ ”
Kingston added, “I think a lot of people want to be the big tough guy all the time, to the point where you’re like, ‘Oh, well, I can’t have someone say something about me and look stupid out there because, Oh, I’m too tough’; versus, ‘Hey, let this person say something to me so that I can say something to them so that the crowd and the people can be entertained.’ We’re all trying to work together to tell a story.”
Similarly, Bautista (who has starred in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Dune” films) said his mentor Triple H told the rising star to focus on himself, not what other people think of him. “I had a mentor named Triple H, and there were a couple of things he said to me that always stuck with me,” he told the School of Hard Knocks. “When I first got there, I was so afraid. I didn’t want to piss people off. It was a hierarchy thing. I was so afraid of being disrespectful. One day he said, ‘Look, man, you want to make money or you want to make friends? This is a business. You gotta look at it like a business. You’re a business.’ And so I always thought about myself as my own commodity. I am my brand. Another thing he said: ‘Always imagine that everybody is pointing a gun at your head. It’s up to you how many bullets you give them.’ ”
Beyond that, John Cena (who has since started acting in films like “Trainwreck” and on the series “Peacemaker”) shared his best advice, reminding those who do find a place in the WWE to always remember their roots. “Remember how bad you wanted the job in the first place. You’re only as good as your next match,” he told the “Money in the Bank” post-show. “And at all costs, try to lead into humility, empathy, and kindness.”
In an interview with the Independent, Sasha Banks (who has also appeared on “The Mandalorian”) said, “The hours I put in at WWE’s developmental brand NXT were gruelling—constantly in and out of the gym, practicing in the ring to make sure you were at the top of your game.”
She also opened up about the impact of being a woman in a mostly male-dominated space. “At NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, I faced my friend Bayley in a match that people still bring up with us both today,” she told the outlet. “I’ve had dads come up to me and say that’s the match that convinced their little girls to get into wrestling. To know that you’re that kind of role model—that you can change their perception of an entire industry, and let them know there’s a place for them in it—is really special.”