{"id":22355,"date":"2018-07-17T14:00:27","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T18:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=22355"},"modified":"2018-07-17T14:00:27","modified_gmt":"2018-07-17T18:00:27","slug":"nxt-announces-july-class-of-performance-center-recruits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/07\/17\/nxt-announces-july-class-of-performance-center-recruits\/","title":{"rendered":"NXT Announces July Class of Performance Center Recruits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wwenxt\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NXT&#8217;s instagram today<\/a>, they released videos on their stories of this month&#8217;s July class of WWE Performance Center recruits and it featured some long awaited indie stars and a few raw talents. Several include women who could potentially suit up for this year&#8217;s Mae Young Classic II, plus a few big indie stars that have been anticipated for months.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>IO SHIRAI<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22372\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/IO-1-e1531850233965.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"390\"><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/2018\/05\/28\/tokyo-sports-reports-io-shirai-heading-to-wwe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Originally revealed by <strong>Tokyo Sports<\/strong><\/a>, the former World of Stardom Champion made her <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/2018\/06\/30\/officially-official-io-shirai-joins-wwe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WWE debut at a WWE Live Event in Tokyo<\/a> a few weeks back, the day before WWE officially announced her signing. She&#8217;s now in Orlando and her WWE career has begun, most likely debuting with the <strong>Mae Young Classic II<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XD1J1u3UtLI<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/JJWilliamsWON\/status\/1019263265816436738<\/p>\n<h3><strong>KEITH LEE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22373\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/KL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/KL.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/KL-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of the indie&#8217;s biggest stars of the past few years, the former PWG World Champion and WWN Champion finally made his on-screen debut in the audience at NXT Takeover: Chicago II. He&#8217;s now reported to the WWE Performance Center, where now the WWE Universe can bask in his glory.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ricochet vs. Keith Lee (Pro Wrestling World Cup USA - 2nd Round)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-FSvrLTdCqo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/JJWilliamsWON\/status\/1019263459949797378<\/p>\n<h3><strong>DEONNA PURRAZZO<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22371\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Deonna_Purrazzo_-_072115.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"414\" height=\"511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Deonna_Purrazzo_-_072115.jpg 414w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Deonna_Purrazzo_-_072115-243x300.jpg 243w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Deonna_Purrazzo_-_072115-324x400.jpg 324w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Deonna_Purrazzo_-_072115-340x420.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 414px) 100vw, 414px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>She&#8217;s worked with NXT in the past before (as well as on <em><strong>Smackdown Live<\/strong><\/em>), but she&#8217;s remained independent for the most part, working for the likes of Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling, and many more. An alternate for last year&#8217;s Mae Young Classic, this year&#8217;s is the perfect reboot for her in the WWE Universe.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"[Free Match] Mia Yim (Jade) vs. Deonna Purrazzo | Women&#039;s Wrestling Revolution #AdiosAurora\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pSuOHG5jCvw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/JJWilliamsWON\/status\/1019262967530115079<\/p>\n<h3><strong>LACEY LANE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22374\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/LaceyLane-1-e1531850273618.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"390\"><\/p>\n<p>A graduate of the Team 3D Wrestling Academy, trained by the Dudley Boyz themselves, Lacey Lane made her mark in the world of lucha libre following her 2016 debut, working with <strong>The Crash Lucha<\/strong> in Mexico (where she just lost her Women&#8217;s Championship) and <strong>Aro Lucha<\/strong> in the US.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fy2eyuKUvjM<\/p>\n<h3><strong>MJ JENKINS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22375\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/MJJenkins-ImpactRelease-e1531850288910.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"390\"><\/p>\n<p>Trained by WWE Hall of Famer <strong>Johnny Rodz<\/strong>, she debuted in 2016 and worked for SHINE until signing with Impact Wrestling in 2017. She was only with Impact for a few months before being released when the management switch took place that fall, but she soon received a WWE tryout.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"[FULL MATCH] Deonna Purrazzo vs MJ Jenkins - Battle Club Pro\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-NF0LADHnSw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>LUKE MENZIES<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22366\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22366\" style=\"width: 402px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22366\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/LM-e1531849939486.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"600\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22366\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Tony Knox Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The former British rugby player has been wrestling on the UK scene for the past few years, trained by<strong> William Regal<\/strong>&#8216;s mentor <strong>Marty Jones<\/strong>. He&#8217;s been on WWE&#8217;s radar for a few years now, and now officially joins the company as part of the July class.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jurn Simmons vs. Luke Menzies (Defiant Wrestling #5)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wFcRqOBgky4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>TAISHAN DONG<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22364\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22364\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22364\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/TD-e1531849845547.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22364\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Standing 7&#8242; tall, Dong originally moved to the US from China with the hopes of being a professional boxer. Also a kickboxer, the giant ran up a 6-0 record in boxing before turning his attention elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Taishan Dong : The Yao Ming of Boxing | Knockouts\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Wchw64RjxkI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/JJWilliamsWON\/status\/1019266661097050113<\/p>\n<h3><strong>STACEY ERVIN JR.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22361\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/SE-e1531849786706.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"390\"><\/p>\n<p>The 24-year old from Taylor, Michigan is a former NCAA gymnast, most famous for his girlfriend, Olympic Gold medal gymnast\u00a0<strong>Simone Biles<\/strong>. He&#8217;s looking to translate his athleticism into a career in the WWE ring.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Gymnastics champion Stacey Ervin Jr. takes flight at the WWE Performance Center\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EoPC2CIJ9pw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>DENZEL DEJOURNETTE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22360\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/DD.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/DD.jpg 350w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/DD-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/DD-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>An All-American collegiate wrestler from Appalachian State, Dejournette continues WWE&#8217;s legacy of recruiting collegiate wrestlers to their ranks.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chris Johnson L Denzel Dejournette AS 10 0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EWxkc19JnU8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On NXT&#8217;s instagram today, they released videos on their stories of this month&#8217;s July class of WWE Performance Center recruits and it featured some long awaited indie stars and a few raw talents. Several include women who could potentially suit up for this year&#8217;s Mae Young Classic II, plus a few big indie stars that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":649,"featured_media":22376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,3],"tags":[1162,304,270,1785,1660,116,798],"class_list":["post-22355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-nxt","category-wwe-universe","tag-deonna-purrazzo","tag-io-shirai","tag-keith-lee","tag-lacey-lane","tag-mj-jenkins","tag-nxt","tag-wwe-performance-center"],"modified_by":"Jamie Greer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/649"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22355"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22355\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}