WWE Recruit is a developmental system created by American professional wrestling promotionWWE. It includes the WWE Independent Development (WWE ID) and WWE Next in Line (WWE NIL) programs.[1] The system supports the training and development of athletes at certain wrestling schools, wrestling promotions, and colleges.
On December 2, 2021, WWE established the WWE NIL program, which exclusively supports college athletes who decide to train as wrestlers. After the launch of WWE NIL, the WWE ID program was launched on October 29, 2024 to develop and support the training of independent professional wrestlers.[2] The wrestling schools and promotions initially designated with WWE ID were Reality of Wrestling, Black and Brave Academy, Nightmare Factory, Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center, and KnokX Pro Academy.[3][4] KnokX Pro Academy was later removed from the WWE ID program in August 2025.[5]
History
Prior to the 2020s, WWE had used several methods to train its future on-screen talent. This included partnering with other promotions to act as developmental territories, including Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), Deep South Wrestling (DSW), and Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) among others. In 2010, WWE established NXT as an in-house televised developmental brand, which became the major pathway to the promotion's main roster.
In 2021, WWE established the WWE Next in Line (WWE NIL) program, which exclusively supports American-based college athletes who decide to train as wrestlers. The program was launched as an extension of NCAA-approved name, image, and likeness policies.
In June 2024, WWE trademarked WWE ID and WWE Independent Development with the purpose of organizing and conducting a program to help develop wrestlers. That October, WWE ID was officially announced, which would support the development of independent wrestlers at specified schools or promotions and provide them a pathway to the promotion. The first schools and promotions designated under WWE ID were Reality of Wrestling (run by Booker T), Black and Brave Academy (run by Seth Rollins and Marek Brave), Nightmare Factory (run by Cody Rhodes), Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center, and KnokX Pro Academy (run by Rikishi). On November 9, Fightful reported that Timothy Thatcher had been signed as the WWE ID trainer.[6]
On August 23, 2025, an incident occurred at a WWE ID-affiliated KnokX Pro event, where Raja Jackson, son of former UFC Light Heavyweight ChampionRampage Jackson, legitimately beat independent wrestler Syko Stu unconscious.[10] The attack was livestreamed by Raja on Kick.[11] After the incident, KnokX Pro removed mentions of WWE ID from their branding, with Mike Johnson of Pro Wrestling Insider writing that it "would appear WWE has severed ties with the promotion and academy as part of the fallout of the Raja Jackson incident".[12] On August 25, the KnokX Pro Academy was removed from the list of WWE ID-affiliated schools featured on the WWE Recruit site.[5]
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