WWE releases list of latest NIL class

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Originally published at WWE releases list of latest NIL class

WWE has listed its latest NIL class of athletes that have been signed to its program.

WWE’s fourth NIL class was revealed on Wednesday with athletes from amateur wrestling, acrobatics, baseball, track and field, and cheerleading.

Below is the list of athletes in the class from WWE’s press release:

Adam Berghorst (Indiana State, Baseball)

Bayley Humphrey (Baylor, Acrobatics)

Darci Khan (Howard, Track & Field)

Desmond Coleman (Liberty, Track & Field)

Grace Stephens (Monmouth, Track & Field)

Jeremy Cody (Miami (Florida), Track & Field)

Josh Pearcy (Rice, Football)

Kali Terza (Kennesaw State, Track & Field)

Lucas Davison (Michigan, Wrestling)

Momen Zahid (William & Mary, Football)

Sirena Linton (Arkansas, Gymnastics)

Skyla Schulte (Michigan State, Gymnastics)

Slane Glover (Ohio State, Cheerleading)

Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma, Wrestling)

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I’m still not sure I get the point of this. WWE’s own press release says they have signed seven of 60 thus far to full-time developmental contracts.

If there’s one thing that I never doubt about WWE, it’s that they know how to make money. But are they really going to miss out on Grace Stephens from Monmouth track and field if they don’t lock her up now? Or is the NIL investment such a small drop in the bucket that it’s worth the social media engagement and positive publicity, even if it doesn’t pan out?

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I don’t see how it hurts. Its a smart move. This is the best way to develop homegrown talent. Young college athletes that may or may not have a future in pro wrestling. Always best to get them while they’re young, teach them the WWE style. Imagine being some college brat and wwe gives you a nil deal. I would have started profiling and styling like ric flair right there

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These are young college grads or soon-to-be grads so presumably there is an element of, “either we sign her now or she’s going to work for her Dad’s accounting firm in July.” People aren’t going to want to put their professional lives on hold for years waiting for a WWE call. Other sports don’t wait until prospects are two years out of college (read: out of game shape) to scout and draft them; players are generally drafted right out of college and progress from there. So I can’t blame WWE for taking a similar approach.