The WWE ID program- good or bad?

[sek69]

So WWE announced their WWE ID program where they partner with wrestling schools of WWE related folks (like Cody's, Seth's and Booker's) to develop and mentor prospects on the indy scene they see something in. In addition they will give them a stipend for their prospects to be able to live on so they can focus more time on development. According to them, they want to raise the profile of top indy names and strengthen the whole "independent wrestling ecosystem" as they call it. On paper this all sounds good, WWE gets a pipleline of talent and it will help at least some folks on the indies make ends meet while trying to better their craft.

In the Vince days, this 100% would be a plot to raid all the top indy groups and put them out of business. Hunter seems to be more aware that it's in the best interests of pro wrestling as a whole to have a relatively healthy independent scene so more people can have experience working live crowds (and even working for TV crowds if they are working for a group that has a Triller TV deal). Even for their own business needs, it's smart for WWE to have guys go through wrestling schools they can vouch for and just keep NXT a finishing school to give folks that last bit of polish before going to the big time.

Could it still end up being a plot to strip mine the indy scene? Sure. At least in this era I can at least see a possibility that it is actually meant to do what they say it will and be a net benefit all around.

[sek69]

So the newest prospect was announced as Kylie Rae. Happy for her to get the opportunity, but I still don't know if her mental health can handle being part of a major promotion

[Tenese Sarwieh]

I see this as yet another tactic by WWE to stockpile talent, especially given that the Performance Center has been a failure. What’s puzzling, though, is that none of these signings seem to come from the schools WWE is affiliated with.

[El-P]

On 11/23/2024 at 11:44 PM, Tenese Sarwieh said:

I see this as yet another tactic by WWE to stockpile talent

It's 100% this and drying up the access to indie talent to other promotions (as in : AEW). I mean, Kylie Ray ? She's not an upcoming young prospect. She's a 32 years old veteran who is already better than 90% of the NXT roster and probably quite a bit of the main roster division as well. If they don't trust her because of her past issue, why even bother ? But since she's been on MLP shows alongside some AEW people, she's back under everyone's radar (would she even go back to AEW though if she had a bad experience there ?), so there you go. If they want her, they could sign her tomorrow. Even as a coach, while letting her work indies, since they are so "indies-friendly" now. 

It's a brillant move though, just like the TNA partnership, which has totally mindfucked the TNA fanbase.

[Laz]

I'm very torn on the ID system.

On the one hand, it allows WWE to scout talent better while also allowing that talent to continue plying their trade in different settings. ID talent aren't stuck in front of one audience with one mindset of instructors, and having a variety of styles and talents on the radar can only mean good things for the future. The recent announcement that there will be ID titles that are to float around the indies feels reminiscent of the classic NWA territory system, which is exciting.

On the other hand, purely as a fan? I don't particularly care for it. This move means that even more indies and talents will adopt a WWE-inspired style, which is something that I've done my best to avoid for years now. We know the garbage promotions won't care about it, but this feels like it will just limit the talent pool willing to do something different than what you'd see on Monday and Friday nights out of necessity due to the expectation by fans all over of expecting the standard WWE flavor of in-ring action. I'm afraid, and justifiably so, that it's going to stifle creativity in that regard, just as any prior "feeder system" deal has.