WWE has undoubtedly been keen on utilizing social media stardom in recent years, and last night was the most recent example. Although they are not officially under contract, TikTok stars The Cavinder Twins debuted on WWE NXT. The 22-year-old sisters got two separate appearances on the June 6th edition of the white and gold brand.
The first was just a generic segment meant to familiarize wrestling fans uninitiated with TikTok or college athletics. The second, though, saw the recent college hoop stars implicitly align with Thea Hail and Chase U, perhaps playing on their real-life association with college sports. It can be difficult to judge how important WWE sees their new acquisition just yet, but early signs point to WWE pushing the Hanna and Hayley Cavinder straight up the card.
you may see your new fav tag team in the ring tonight 🤭 @CavinderHaley @WWE pic.twitter.com/WYeTs3f3Gr
— Hanna Cavinder (@CavinderHanna) June 6, 2023
Who are the Cavinder Twins?
Hayley and Hanna Cavinder have amassed an impressive 4.5 million followers on TikTok. The content is typically related to their lives and fitness. That is fitting, too, because they are elite basketball players in addition to being top-flight influencers. The Cavinders were both an instrumental part of Miami’s basketball success after a solid stint at Fresno State before that.
When the duo announced they would not play their final year of eligibility, it was an important news story in college basketball. Social media prowess likely is what net the twins their lucrative sponsorships and a pretty solid deal with WWE. The twins’ NIL deals actually got the twins into some trouble which only elevated their stock. That they took on the NCAA shows how seriously they take those deals and presumably a future WWE contract.
The Cavinder Twins in WWE
Currently, Hayley and Hanna only have a Name, Image, and License (NIL) deal with the company. However, that deal and their recent NXT appearances are probably indicative of a bright future with the company going forward. With two of them and NXT being without a tag team division, they probably have some time before they officially appear in WWE.
However, after the Cavinder Twins debuted on NXT, WWE has set the twins’ future status on the developmental brand in stone. As of right now, early reports indicate that the two will get their first WWE tryout this summer. While celebrities are often overlooked by a segment of the wrestling fanbase, as serious collegiate athletes, they are a step ahead and more in line with the promotion’s typical recruits.
Still, as of right now, the sisters have no significant training in a wrestling ring.
What We Can Expect
It is wild to think about an act without any training being a major WWE signing. Fans have every reason to be skeptical as well. Collegiate wrestler Gable Steveson signed a NIL deal, got drafted to WWE Raw, and eventually appeared at WrestleMania. That has not gone anywhere since, and if he ever does re-debut, it will likely be apathy from the WWE Universe.
No, these college athletes are getting so much attention because of their social media clout. That group, social media creators with an athletics background, have been far more successful. Logan Paul has been an objectively good addition to WWE, and he was an athlete second.
It is impossible to tell what comes next now that the Cavinder Twins debuted on NXT. A pairing with Chase U could make a ton of sense for the team. They are well known for being college athletes, and any fans they bring in will be fairly young. Showcasing a team of young talents with a university gimmick just makes perfect sense.
However, Chase U is not for everyone. If the Cavinders can’t wrestle very well, rolling up with Chase U could lead to a hard flop. There would be shame in that fact. Most people going for a job in WWE do fail. But, if they can get through the performance center quickly, they will likely utilize this momentum and launch a massive career in women’s wrestling.
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