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WWE is constantly looking to grow its business worldwide, and recently, they introduced a new program called WWE ID (WWE Independent Development™). However, Eric Bischoff has shared his concerns about some potential drawbacks of this program.
The WWE ID program is designed to support aspiring wrestlers aiming to eventually join WWE. The first schools to be part of WWE ID include Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling, Cody Rhodes’ Nightmare Factory, and Seth Rollins’ Black and Brave Academy. With these respected schools as partners, the program is starting with a strong foundation for training future talent.
While speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff revealed the potential drawbacks that could come from WWE’s new program for independent wrestlers. He says that many wrestlers on the indie scene might feel they can’t afford to lose matches because they think WWE is watching them. This belief makes them careful about how they perform, as they want to protect their chances of getting noticed by WWE.
Even if this worry isn’t true, it can become a reality for them. Wrestlers might think that if they train at a school with the WWE ID and their trainer knows someone important in WWE, like Terry Taylor, they have a better chance of being signed. This can lead them to avoid losing matches, choosing to do things like run-ins instead.
This mindset can harm the teamwork aspect of wrestling. While some self-interest is normal in the business, this added pressure could make things harder for independent promoters. In the end, it could create challenges for promoters trying to work with these wrestlers.
“Here’s the downside—and you’ve already touched on it; you’ve experienced it already. You’re going to get talent, you’re going to get wrestlers who are working the indie scene, but they can’t take a loss because, ‘WWE’s looking at me. I’m kind of connected here a little bit, so I’ve got to be a little careful about my finishes.’
Whether that’s true or not, guys will say it. Of course, it’s true in their minds, so out it will come—and they make themselves believe it. Like, if they go to a school that’s got the WWE ID, and their trainer knows Terry Taylor and talks to him twice a week, they’ll start thinking, ‘Maybe I’ve got a shot here, so I can’t go out there and do a job for that guy. Maybe a run-in or whatever, but not that.’
That’s going to be rough because that kind of stuff ruins it. It quits being collaborative and starts being selfish. Not that it doesn’t exist anyway—that’s natural to a degree. But when you add this layer of work into it, because that’s what it’s going to be—work—it’s going to make it a lot harder on independent producers.”
An independent promotion has already criticized WWE’s new development program, stating that there is no fast track to the big leagues. WWE also has numerous long-term plans for their indie developmental program which will see lots of indie talent eventually make their way to the company. Nonetheless, only time will tell whether this program will end up becoming a success in the future.
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Do you feel WWE's indie development program will benefit the industry as a whole or is it bad for business? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
