WWE Performance Center

Last updated
WWE Performance Center
Predecessor Florida Championship Wrestling
FoundedJuly 11, 2021;3 years ago (2021-07-11)
Headquarters5055 Forsyth Commerce Road, Suite 100, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Key people
 Paul "Triple H" Levesque
(EVP of Talent Relations, Head of Creative and Chief Content Officer)
Shawn Michaels
(SVP of Talent Development Creative)
Matt Bloom
(VP of Talent Development, Head Coach)
Sara Amato
(Assistant Head Coach)
Robbie Brookside, Steve Corino, Lince Dorado, Fit Finlay, Johnny Moss, Norman Smiley, Terry Taylor
(Coach)
Owner TKO Group Holdings (Endeavor)
Parent WWE
Website recruit.wwe.com

WWE Performance Center is a group of professional wrestling schools owned by WWE. They serve as a training and tryout facility for WWE talent, and also contain sports science and medical facilities. WWE currently operates two Performance Center locations, with the first opened in Orlando, Florida on July 11, 2013, replacing the training facility of WWE's former developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). A second branch opened on January 11, 2019, in Enfield, London. [1]

Contents

The Performance Center in Orlando temporarily became the home arena for WWE's Raw and SmackDown brands in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with its television programs Monday Night Raw , Friday Night Smackdown , 205 Live , and Main Event , as well as WWE pay-per-view events (including WrestleMania 36) being recorded in a studio at the Performance Center with no audience. In August 2020, WWE moved Raw and SmackDown's closed productions to an arena setting dubbed the "ThunderDome"—which used a larger-scale production more in line with its touring shows, but with a virtual audience.

NXT and 205 Live subsequently moved to the Performance Center in October 2020, with NXT moving from its former home at Full Sail University, and its main studio being reconfigured as the "Capitol Wrestling Center" (CWC) to suit the look and feel of NXT programming. Unlike Raw and SmackDown's tenure at the Performance Center, NXT's move was permanent, and most of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in June 2021. The CWC naming was dropped in September 2021 as part of a larger relaunch of NXT, which saw a second reconfiguration of the arena.

History

Training facilities

The Orlando facility covers 26,000 square feet (2,400 m2) and includes seven training rings (including a special padded ring for high-flying moves), a strength and conditioning program, edit and production facilities including an ultra-slow camera, and a voice-over room that performers and on-air announcers can use to practice. [2] [3] The facility was opened in 2013 and replaced the training center at WWE's former developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was based in Tampa and had been serving as WWE's developmental headquarters since 2008. [3] [4] [5]

The Performance Center trains around 65 to 70 wrestlers at any one time. Trainees have a variety of experience levels, from beginners from non-wrestling backgrounds to experienced wrestlers from the independent circuit. Wrestlers train to improve their in-ring performance, strength and conditioning, as well as working on their characters and personality. Upcoming referees, ring announcers, commentators, and backstage interviewers also train at the Performance Center. The trainees train full-time, while also performing at weekly NXT house shows and appearing on NXT television. In addition, established WWE performers often use the facility for training and injury rehab while mentoring new trainees.

The Performance Center uses former wrestlers as trainers. The inaugural head trainer was Bill DeMott, who departed the company in 2015 and was replaced by Matt Bloom. [6] Other trainers include Sara Amato, Robbie Brookside, Norman Smiley, Adam Pearce, Mike Quackenbush, Ace Steel, Scotty 2 Hotty [7] and Sarah Stock. [8] Dusty Rhodes was responsible for developing the trainees' microphone skills and wrestling personas until his death in 2015. [9] The Performance Center includes some guest trainers, including Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. [10] [11] [12]

In addition to training contracted performers, the Performance Center is also regularly used for tryouts which operate on an invite-only basis and include athletes from a wide variety of backgrounds, including established domestic and international professional wrestlers, amateur wrestlers, NFL and NCAA American football players, and individuals from a range of other sporting and non-sporting backgrounds. [13] [14] [15]

A second Britain-based Performance Center opened in Enfield, London on January 11, 2019. [16] In April 2019, WWE announced plans to open additional Performance Centers in India and China. [17]

Use as a home arena

On March 12, 2020, WWE announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic (which resulted in the suspension of many professional sports leagues), live episodes of Raw and SmackDown would air from the Performance Center without an audience until further notice, beginning with the following day's episode of SmackDown. The company had begun filming episodes of NXT without an audience at Full Sail University the previous day, although the March 11 episode was filmed at the Performance Center and was the last show produced with a live paying audience. [18] On March 16, it was announced that WrestleMania 36, set to take place on April 5 and previously scheduled for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, would instead be moved to the Performance Center, again without an audience and would expand to two nights taking place on Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5. [19]

The Performance Center continued to host episodes of Raw, SmackDown, 205 Live , and Main Event , as well as the pay-per-views Money in the Bank, Backlash, and The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, before the shows and pay-per-views moved to the new, larger-scale "ThunderDome" staging (under similar restrictions, but with a virtual audience on ribbon displays) at Orlando's Amway Center, beginning with the August 21 SmackDown and that weekend's SummerSlam. In December, the ThunderDome relocated to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida before moving to Yuengling Center in Tampa in April 2021, and being discontinued entirely in July 2021 with the resumption of touring shows. [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

NXT moves to the Performance Center

In October 2020, beginning with NXT TakeOver 31, NXT and 205 Live moved to the Performance Center (from Full Sail University and the ThunderDome at Amway Center, respectively, as 205 Live was being subsumed by NXT), using a reconfigured version of the facility's main arena branded as the "Capitol Wrestling Center"—an homage to WWE's precursor, the Capitol Wrestling Corporation. It was designed to reflect the look and feel of NXT programming, with a virtual audience similar to the ThunderDome on an LED screen in the studio, and areas for limited outside spectators divided by plexiglass walls decorated with chain-link fencing. [25] [26] [27] [28]

For TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April 2021, the plexiglass wall dividers were removed and live audience capacity was increased. [29] TakeOver: In Your House in June lifted almost all COVID-19 protocols, expanding its seating capacity to around 300, and removing mask requirements and the virtual audience. [30] While Raw and SmackDown resumed a live touring schedule in mid-July, [24] NXT's move to the Performance Center was permanent. On September 14, 2021, the arena received a new set design as part of the "NXT 2.0" relaunch; the Capitol Wrestling Center name was dropped at this time. [31]

Events hosted

The following are the events that have been held at the Performance Center while being used as a home arena:

Weekly television shows
ShowDates
SmackDown March 13, 2020 – August 14, 2020
205 Live March 13, 2020 – August 14, 2020;
October 9, 2020 – February 11, 2022
Raw March 16, 2020 – August 17, 2020
Main Event March 16, 2020 – August 17, 2020
(aired March 19, 2020 – August 20, 2020)
NXT
(NXT 2.0 from September 2021 to September 2022)		October 7, 2020 – September 24, 2024, October 15, 2024 — present
NXT Level Up February 18, 2022 – present
Television specials
ShowDate
NXT: Halloween Havoc October 28, 2020
NXT: A Very Gargano Christmas Special December 23, 2020
2020 NXT Year-End Awards December 30, 2020
NXT: New Year's Evil January 6, 2021
NXT's move to Tuesday April 13, 2021
NXT: The Great American Bash July 6, 2021
NXT 2.0: Halloween Havoc October 26, 2021
NXT 2.0: New Year's Evil January 4, 2022
NXT 2.0: Vengeance Day February 15, 2022
NXT 2.0: Roadblock March 8, 2022
NXT 2.0: Spring Breakin' May 3, 2022
NXT 2.0: The Great American Bash July 5, 2022
NXT 2.0: Heatwave August 16, 2022
NXT: New Year's Evil January 10, 2023
NXT: Roadblock March 7, 2023
NXT: Spring Breakin' April 25, 2023
NXT: Gold Rush June 20 and 27, 2023
NXT: Heatwave August 22, 2023
NXT: Halloween Havoc October 24 and 31, 2023
NXT: New Year's Evil January 2, 2024
NXT: Roadblock March 5, 2024
NXT: Spring Breakin' April 23 and 30, 2024
NXT: The Great American Bash July 30 and August 6, 2024
Pay-per-view and WWE Network events
EventDates
WrestleMania 36 March 25–26, 2020
(aired April 4–5, 2020)
Money in the Bank May 10, 2020
Backlash June 14, 2020
The Horror Show at Extreme Rules July 19, 2020
NXT TakeOver 31 October 4, 2020
NXT TakeOver: WarGames December 6, 2020
NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day February 14, 2021
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver April 7–8, 2021
NXT TakeOver: In Your House June 13, 2021
NXT TakeOver 36 August 22, 2021
NXT WarGames December 5, 2021
NXT In Your House June 4, 2022
Worlds Collide September 4, 2022
NXT Halloween Havoc October 22, 2022
NXT Deadline December 10, 2022

Locations

United States

The first WWE Performance Center facility was opened on July 11, 2013. The Performance Center replaced the training center at WWE's former developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was based in Tampa and had been serving as WWE's developmental headquarters since 2008. [4]

Wrestlers trained

2013
NamesNotes
Adam Scherr Currently competes as Braun Strowman on the Raw brand.
Alexis Kaufman Currently competes as Alexa Bliss on the Raw and SmackDown brands.
Ashley Sebera Competed as Dana Brooke on Raw, SmackDown and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
CJ Perry Competed as Lana on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Charles Betts Currently competes as Chad Gable on the Raw brand.
David Harwood Competed as Scott Dawson on Raw, SmackDown and NXT. Released from WWE in 2020.
Dean Muhtadi Competed as Mojo Rawley on Raw, SmackDown and NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Eric Arndt Competed as Enzo Amore on Raw and NXT. Released from WWE in 2018.
Gary Gordon Currently competes as Angelo Dawkins on the SmackDown brand.
James Smith Competed as Bull Dempsey on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2016.
Joseann Offerman Competed as Jojo on the NXT before becoming a ring announcer for Raw and SmackDown. Left WWE in 2021.
Leah Van Dale Currently competes as Carmella on the Raw and SmackDown brands.
Levi Cooper Competed as Tucker and Tucker Knight on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Mikael Vierge Competed as Marcus Louis on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2016.
Matthew Adams Competed as Buddy Murphy and Murphy on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Natalie Coyle Competed as Eva Marie on the Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2017 and again in 2021.
Pamela Martinez Currently competes as Bayley on the SmackDown brand.
Stuart Tomlinson Competed as Hugo Knox on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2016.
2014
NamesNotes
Daniel Wheeler Competed as Dash Wilder on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2020.
Gionna Daddio Currently competes as Liv Morgan on the Raw brand.
Michael Rallis Competed as Riddick Moss and Madcap Moss on Raw, SmackDown and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
Sabatino Piscitelli Competed as Tino Sabbatelli on NXT. Released from WWE in 2020 and again in 2021.
Savelina Fanene Currently competes as Nia Jax on the SmackDown brand.
Sunny Dhinsa Currently competes as Akam on the Raw brand.
Stephen Kupryk Competed as Steve Cutler on SmackDown and NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
2015
NamesNotes
Adrian Jaoude Competed as Arturo Ruas on NXT.Released from WWE in 2021.
Amanda Saccomanno Competed as Mandy Rose on NXT.Released from WWE in 2022.
Cezar Bononi Competed on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2020.
Chelsea Green Currently competes on the SmackDown brand.
Christopher Girard Competed as Oney Lorcan on the NXT brand. Currently works as a trainer on the Performance Center since 2022.
Daria Berenato Currently competes as Sonya Deville on the Raw brand.
Dylan Miley Competed as Lars Sullivan on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Gabriela Castrovinci Competed as Gabi Castrovinci on the sixth season of WWE Tough Enough . Released from WWE in late 2015.
Gzim Selmani Currently competes as Rezar on the Raw brand.
Joshua Bredl Competed as Bronson Matthews on the sixth season of WWE Tough Enough and on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2017.
Joshua Woods Competed as Preston Cunnigham Jr on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2016.
Kenneth Crawford Currently competes as Montez Ford on the SmackDown brand.
Nhooph Al-Areebi Competed as Aliyah on SmackDown and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
Patrick Clark Competed as Velveteen Dream on the NXT.Released from WWE in 2021.
Radomir Petkovic Competed as King Konstantine on the NXT.Released from WWE in 2016.
Satender Dagar Competed as Jeet Rama on NXT house shows. Released from WWE in 2021.
2016
NamesNotes
Babatunde Aiyegbusi competed as Dabba-Kato, Babatunde and Commander Azeez on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
Bianca Blair Currently competes as Bianca Belair on the SmackDown brand.
Cheree Crowley Currently competes as Dakota Kai on the Raw brand.
Danielle Kamela Competed as Vanessa Borne on NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Demitrius Bronson Competed on NXT house shows. Released from WWE in 2018.
Macey Estrella-Kadlec Competed as Lacey Evans on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
Nikola Bogojevic Currently competes as Otis on the Raw brand.
Sarah Rowe Currently competes as Valhalla on the Raw brand.
Taynara Melo Competed as Taynara Conti on the NXT.Released from WWE in 2020.
Victoria Gonzalez Currently competes as Raquel Rodriguez on the Raw brands.
2017
NamesNotes
Eric Bugenhagen Competed as Rick Boogs on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
Candice LeRae Dawson Competed as Candice LeRae on SmackDown brand.
Demi Bennett Competes as Rhea Ripley on the Raw brand.
Kacy Catanzaro Currently competes as Katana Chance on the Raw brand.
Kavita Dalal Competed as Kavita Devi on NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Shayna Baszler Currently competes on the Raw brand.
Thea Trinidad Currently competes as Zelina Vega on the Raw brand.
Yanbo Wang Competed as Boa on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2024.
Zhao Xia Competed as Xia Li on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2024.
2018
NamesNotes
Allyssa Lane Currently competes as Kayden Carter on the Raw brand.
Daniel Vidot Competed as Xyon Quinn on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2024.
Deonna Purrazzo Competed on NXT. Released from WWE in 2020.
Jessamyn Duke Competed on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Mansoor Al-Shehail Competed as Mansoor and mån.sôör on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
Marina Shafir Competed on the NXT. Released from WWE in 2021.
Rinku Singh Competed as Veer Mahaan on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2024.
Ronda Rousey Competed on the Raw and SmackDown. Left WWE in October 2023.
Tehuti Miles Currently competes as Ashante "Thee" Adonis on the NXT brand.
2019
NamesNotes
Briana Brandy Currently competes as B-Fab on the SmackDown brand.
EJ Nduka Competed as Ezra Judge on NXT house shows. Released from WWE in 2020.
Catalina García Currently competes as Katrina Cortez on the NXT Released from WWE in 2021.
Karen Yu Currently competes as Wendy Choo on the NXT brand.
Ashley Louise Urbanski Currently competes as Shotzi on the NXT brand.
2020
NamesNotes
Anriel Howard Currently competes as Lash Legend on the NXT brand.
Emily Andzulis Currently competes as Ivy Nile on the Raw brand.
Gurvinder Malhotra Competed as Shanky on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Released from WWE in 2023.
Jacob Kasper Currently competes as Julius Creed on the Raw brand.
Sidney Bateman Competed as Scrypts on the NXT. Left WWE in 2024 after his contract expired.
Simone Johnson Currently appears as Ava on the NXT brand as general manager.
Taylor Grado Currently competes as Jacy Jayne on the NXT brand.
2021
NamesNotes
Sean Tan Li Hao Currently competes as Dante Chen on the NXT brand.
Jessica Woynilko Currently competes as Tiffany Stratton on the SmackDown brand.
Bronson Rechsteiner Currently competes as Bron Breakker on the Raw brand.
Drew Kasper Currently competes as Brutus Creed on the Raw brand.
Joseph Ariola Currently competes as Tony D’Angelo on the NXT brand.
Karissa Rivera Currently competes as Elektra Lopez on the SmackDown brand.
Jamara Garrett Currently competes as Jakara Jackson on the NXT brand.
Natalie Holland Competes as Tatum Paxley on the NXT brand.
2022
NamesNotes
Tiana Lillian Marie Caffey Currently competes as Jaida Parker on the NXT brand.
Jade Gentile Currently competes as Jazmyn Nyx on the NXT brand.
Madison Knisley Currently competes as Thea Hail on the NXT brand.
Breanna Ruggiero Currently competes as Brinley Reece on the NXT brand.
Sydney Jeannine Zmrzel Currently competes as Maxxine Dupri on the Raw brand.
Tracy Hancock Currently training as Tavion Heights for the NXT brand.
Franki Carissa Strefling Currently competes as Izzi Dame on the NXT brand.
Calyx Harmony Hampton Currently competes as Sol Ruca on the NXT brand.
Carla Gonzalez Currently competes as Roxanne Perez on the NXT brand.
Monika Klisara Currently competes as Karmen Petrovic on the NXT brand.
Kennedy Cummins Currently competes as Carlee Bright on the NXT brand.
2023
NamesNotes
Anna Keefer Currently competes as Adriana Rizzo on the NXT brand.
Issac Odugbesan Currently competes as Oba Femi on the NXT brand.
Jade Cargill Currently competes on the SmackDown brand.
Peyton Prussin Currently competes as Kendal Grey on the NXT brand.
Lea Mitchell Currently competes as Kelani Jordan on the NXT brand.
Roman Macek Currently competes as Luca Crusifino on the NXT brand.
Valerie Loureda Currently competes as Lola Vice on the NXT brand.
2024
NamesNotes
Thunder Keck Currently training as Shiloh Hill for the NXT brand.

United Kingdom

The British branch was located at the Great Cambridge Industrial Estate in Enfield, London [32] and was opened on January 11, 2019. [16] The center was 17,000 square feet and included 2 rings. [33] [34]

Wrestlers trained

2019
NamesNotes
Marie Gabert Competed as Jazzy Gabert on NXT UK. Released from WWE in 2020.
2020
NamesNotes
Amy Samardzija Competed as Candy Floss on the NXT UK brand. Released from WWE in 2021.

2015 shooting incident

In August 2015, Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies shot 29-year-old Armando Montalvo outside the Performance Center after he threatened them and ignored commands. Montalvo was "obsessed" with female wrestler AJ Lee and made numerous attempts to trespass through the facility, despite an injunction against him by WWE. [35] [36] Days after the shooting, Montalvo claimed he was bipolar when he was questioned by detectives. He faced trial in February 2016 on charges of aggravated assault, resisting an officer with violence, and trespassing. A public defender representing Montalvo has entered a written plea of not guilty on his behalf. [37]

On April 19, 2018, WWE filed an emergency restraining order against Montalvo after he returned to the Performance Center the previous month and harassed the employees. In addition, Montalvo posted a threatening message to WWE wrestlers and staff on his Instagram account. [38] On May 7, 2018, Montalvo was arrested for missing his court date with WWE. [39]

See also

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The 2021 Fastlane was the sixth Fastlane professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event took place on March 21, 2021, from the WWE ThunderDome, hosted at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was WWE's final pay-per-view presented from Tropicana Field during the COVID-19 pandemic as the ThunderDome was relocated to the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida due to the start of the 2021 Tampa Bay Rays season. It was the first Fastlane event held since 2019 and the last until 2023. It was also WWE's first pay-per-view event to air on Peacock in the United States, and the last to be available on the standalone version of the American WWE Network before its shutdown on April 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on combat sports</span>

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant disruption to different combat sports, particularly during the years of 2020 into 2021.

A virtual audience is the use of videoconferencing as a substitute for an in-person studio audience or spectators during a television program or sporting event. A virtual audience allows users to attend a television taping or other event virtually by viewing it via livestreaming, and having audio and video of themselves streamed via webcam to screens at the studio or event site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NXT WarGames</span> WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming event series

NXT WarGames was a professional wrestling event produced annually by WWE, a Connecticut-based professional wrestling promotion. Held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's developmental territory NXT, it was broadcast live and available only through pay-per-view (PPV) and the livestreaming services Peacock and the WWE Network. The event was originally established in 2017 and held under the NXT TakeOver series. In September 2021, WWE discontinued the TakeOver series with the 2021 WarGames being NXT's first major event held following TakeOver's discontinuation.

References

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  7. ↑ "Through adversity came Bliss for WrestleMania 35 host".
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  10. ↑ "Former Wwe Diva Returns As Guest Trainer". PWInsider.com. 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
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  12. ↑ "Exclusive: How an indie icon ended up at the WWE PC". www.wwe.com. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
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  14. ↑ "Wwe Looks Back At Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Zbyszko Talks, Performance Center And More". PWInsider.com. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
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  21. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2020-08-17). "WWE to Establish 'ThunderDome' Residency in Orlando's Amway Center". Variety. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
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  23. ↑ "WWE ThunderDome takes over Yuengling Center". WWE . March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
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  30. ↑ Dias, Luke (June 13, 2021). "WWE Achieves Record High CWC Attendance for NXT TakeOver: In Your House". EssentiallySports. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
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  32. ↑ "Intelligent Insight — Glenny Databook Q3 2018" (PDF). Glenny. 1 March 2019. p. 8.
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  35. ↑ "Man shot by deputies at WWE Performance Center had previous problems, friend says". WFTV. August 31, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
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  38. ↑ "WWE Gets Restraining Order Against Poop-Smearing Fan". TMZ. April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  39. ↑ Carrier, Steve (May 7, 2018). "WWE Performance Center Stalker Arrested Again!". Ringside News. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
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