Possible change in WWE hiring protocol

[Steveweiser]

CHANGE IN WWE HIRING PROTOCOL?
by Mike Johnson @ 4:45 PM on 1/11/2011

In the last few weeks, PWInsider.com has heard of a number of older talents on the independent scene being told that World Wrestling Entertainment is now only seeking to hire talents under the age of 30, especially talents that would enter the promotion's developmental system.

While no one I've spoken to has noted it's been an official edict on record, I've heard of at least 3-4 different talents who have been told this in recent weeks when looking into potential work with the company.

If this is true, it could very well prove to be a mistake. A number of performers from the last big boom were well over 30 when they made their debut for the WWF. There are a number of talents who grow as they age and gain experience and if the company is putting an "age cap" on that growth, someone like Mick Foley wouldn't end up hired today - and Foley was a major reason names like Triple H and Randy Orton made it to the upper-tier of the company's roster.

[Psychoblue]

I'm sure there will be some exceptions.

[DiBiase is Good]

How old is Awesome Kong?

[foreveryoung]

Well it makes sense in a way. Afterall, the territories have been long gone and WWE pretty much has to begin to build these guys from the ground up. You can have guys in their mid 30s and 40s starting their wrestling careers and giving it 2-3 years and then wham they made enough money so they quit.

[Classy Lady]

Jan 11, 2011 17:39:07 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

How old is Awesome Kong?

33, according to wiki. So yeah, this report makes very little sense.

[________ has left the building]

So wanting to hire young wrestlers is bad?

[ben:friendship frog]

Jan 11, 2011 17:39:07 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

How old is Awesome Kong?

33...

[Jeremy]

Jan 11, 2011 17:40:56 GMT -5 ben:friendship frog said:

Jan 11, 2011 17:39:07 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

How old is Awesome Kong?

33...

But she looks good in a bikini


/Johnny Ace

[Greer]

Jan 11, 2011 17:40:16 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

So wanting to hire young wrestlers is bad?

Don't think the OP is saying its bad. He's just saying its good to mix experienced workers with younger guys as well.

[kleinnd]

They're thinking long term.
That's the smartest and really the only thing to do.

[________ has left the building]

Also maybe WWE told those 3-4 talents they were changing their hiring practices because they didn't want to tell them they weren't WWE material. The "it's not you, it's me" strategy.

[FUNK_US/BRODUS]

Get young guys in, famliarise them with the WWE style and create long term stars.

CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, John Morrison, I could go on. It's a logical option to go for, considering the lack of competition they have now compared to the olden days.

[Red Impact]

Jan 11, 2011 17:40:16 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

So wanting to hire young wrestlers is bad?

Not at all, but refusing to hire wrestlers, despite ability or experience, solely because their age is.

I'm also pretty sure that a stated policy for this would be illegal even if they were independent contractors, and that combined with Kong just being hired, yeah, I'm doubting this.

[________ has left the building]

Jan 11, 2011 17:41:58 GMT -5 Greer said:

Jan 11, 2011 17:40:16 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

So wanting to hire young wrestlers is bad?

Don't think the OP is saying its bad. He's just saying its good to mix experienced workers with younger guys as well.

Maybe WWE realize spending all the time and money building up someone in their mid to late 30's is not a smart long term strategy. I believe there will be exceptions to the rule.

[ben:friendship frog]

There will be exceptions, WWE might hire Sting or Kurt Angle for example but they wouldn't hire a rookie in his late 30s, like Rico.

[Red Impact]

Jan 11, 2011 17:41:42 GMT -5 Jeremy said:

Jan 11, 2011 17:40:56 GMT -5 ben:friendship frog said:

33...

But she looks good in a bikini


/Johnny Ace

Does Alberto Del Rio? He's 33 too.

[Tyfo]

I don't agree with that at all honestly.

What if someone started training at 28 or 29, then by the time they have a decent amount of experience, they are 31 or 32. That should be held against them?

If they don't have 10-15 years of wrestling on them, then there's no reason they can't wrestle into their mid to late forties, or beyond, with no problem.

Or what about someone who's worked their ass off for years to get there, oops sorry, your to old, goodbye.

Just seems counterproductive to me to just have some kind of cut off age for talent. Especially one that is pretty young.

[Alex Shelley]

Well, there goes any hope that Hoyt or Croft are gonna come back.

[Nic Nemeth]

This would be awesome...if they weren't canceling NXT.

[Azrael from Outerspace]

Jan 11, 2011 17:59:30 GMT -5 Tyfo said:

I don't agree with that at all honestly.

What if someone started training at 28 or 29, then by the time they have a decent amount of experience, they are 31 or 32. That should be held against them?

If they don't have 10-15 years of wrestling on them, then there's no reason they can't wrestle into their mid to late forties, or beyond, with no problem.

Or what about someone who's worked their ass off for years to get there, oops sorry, your to old, goodbye.

Just seems counterproductive to me to just have some kind of cut off age for talent. Especially one that is pretty young.

Do you really think the WWE would not hire Claudio or Hero (both over 30 barely) just because of age? It's just better to higher young wrestlers then older. But i don't think that they'd completely turn somebody away if they had the talent and drive no matter the age( within reason).