With all the buzz about some of the top indie stars heading to the WWE Performance Center for a start in NXT, such as Ricochet and War Machine, often times the “unknown” faces that sign or arrive get lost in the media shuffle. According to various reports, including Squared Circle Sirens’ owner Casey Michael, there are quite a few new recruits of the lesser known variety joining the Performance Center in the coming weeks that have the potential to be homegrown stars like Lars Sullivan, Biance BelAir or Mandy Rose.
https://twitter.com/badboicasey/status/943275928377061378
International Flavor with WWE Performance Center New Recruits
Here’s a quick look at the athletes that are arriving at the Performance Center soon (some have already started) to give you some backstory when they debut.
NASSER “JIMMY” AL RUWAYEH
Al Ruwayeh was a name that impressed WWE officials following the Dubai tryouts last year (that also provided two other names on this list, Shadia Bsieso and Kavita Devi). A former CrossFit performer with a background in boxing and MMA, Al Ruwayeh is the first Kuwait performer signed by the WWE.
SHADIA BSIESO
Another prospect signed out of WWE’s Dubai tryouts, Jordan’s Shadia Bseiso is the first Middle Eastern-born women’s wrestler signed to the WWE. She speaks multiple languages and was a television personality in Jordan, with a background in jiu-jitsu and CrossFit.
KACY CATANZARO
To North Americans, Kacy Catanzaro may be the most recognizable of the bunch, as the New Jersey native became a star on the television series, American Ninja, where she became the first women to make the athletic competition’s finals in Season 6. A collegiate gymnast, she signed with the WWE in August.
KAVITA DEVI
To those who watched this summer’s Mae Young Classic, then you’ve already seen India’s Kavita Devi in action. Another prospect scouted at the Dubai tryouts, this women’s powerhouse is a trainee from The Great Khali‘s Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE). She had a tryout in the Mae Young Classic, facing Dakota Kai in the first round, and was ultimately signed by the WWE to a developmental deal this past October.
LUKE MENZIES
English rugby fans may recognize 6’1″, 250 lb. Luke Menzies as a former prop for the Super League’s Hull Kingston Rovers, as well as stints with Dewsbury, Hunslet and Salford. He relocated to North America this year to join the Toronto Wolfpack. He had a WWE tryout last year, and has since become a pro wrestler working on various UK indies, such as Defiant Wrestling (former WCPW), New Generation Wrestling (NGW), 3 Count Wrestling (3CW) and True Grit Wrestling (TGW). He has since signed with the WWE to a developmental contract.
NICOLAI SALCHOW
Salchow is a 34-year old MMA fighter from Dusseldorf, Germany, who has a 6-1 professional record in the combat circle. Just over 6′ and 205 lbs, Salchow could be a striker in the same mold as current NXT Superstar Aleister Black. His last MMA fight was his only loss, a unanimous decision against Rex Harris at WSOF 32, back in July of 2016.
