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It's always incredibly exciting for the WWE Universe when WWE announces new signings - and the Performance Center has welcomed three more of them over the past 24 hours!
The previous two intakes saw stars such as Matt Riddle, Mia Yim, Karen Q, Rachael Ellering, ACH and Punishment Martinez, as well as a seven-foot-three basketball player, two football players and "The Samoan Ghost" - so the newest intake has a lot to live up to!
The three stars on this list will all begin life as WWE Superstars by training at the incredibly impressive WWE Performance Center in preparation for life in the squared circle as a touring WWE Superstar. All three will debut on NXT initially, with a former Impact Wrestling fan favourite, a world-renowned manager and a second-generation wrestler all joining the ranks.
So, who are they? Sportskeeda has you covered. Here's some need-to-know info on WWE's three newest recruits.
#3 Robert Strauss
While the name may not be familiar, many wrestling fans will recognise Strauss as Impact Wrestling's Robbie E!
As well as Impact, though, Strauss is a world-renowned ring veteran with 18 years of experience in his pocket. Also known as Rob Eckos, Strauss has won more than two dozen championships throughout his career - and can boast to be a bit of a globetrotter, wrestling in 46 states and more than 20 countries.
The name Rob Eckos may ring a bell with the WWE Universe, particularly any Matt Morgan fans - with Strauss using that ring name when he lost to Morgan on an episode of SmackDown over 13 years ago. Strauss also took a beatdown from the Rated-R Superstar in WWE in a segment where Edge was mocking Ric Flair.
New Jersey native Strauss has been compared to WWE's very own Zack Ryder, and even competed in tag teams called The Shore and The BroMans during his seven-year stint in Impact Wrestling, and is a former Television Champion, X Division Champion and two-time Tag Team Champion.
The 35-year-old is also no stranger to television, making it to the finals of the 25th season of CBS’ Amazing Race and participating in the trials on WWE Legend The Rock's very own The Titan Games. Strauss' major big-screen role came, though, when he appeared in The Wrestler!
#2 Stokely Hathaway
While Stokely Hathaway has made his name as a manager on the independent scene, he's also an accomplished wrestler.
Hathaway's greatest skill, though, would have to be his chops - as he's known as a wheeler and dealer in the business, being "notoriously outspoken" and representing his "clients" in several promotions throughout the United States.
Hathaway is “a hard-working hustler” and a broker of deals, often making his way to the ring in a suit and cutting an obnoxious promo, the potential for a man of his calibre in WWE is endless.
The New York City native arrives at the Performance Center after a successful tenure working with the likes of ROH, EVOLVE Wrestling and New England-based Beyond Wrestling.
Stokely, though, was quick to rule out one match that was suggested after his WWE signing - and who can blame him?
#1 Cal Bloom
And finally, one man stands head and shoulders above the other two - because he is a literal giant.
Standing at six-foot-five, second-generation star Cal Bloom is the son of Warne Bloom, who '90s WWE, then known as WWF, viewers may know as Beau Beverly.
Cal, though, played tight end at the University of Central Florida, making four Bowl Game appearances - including UCF’s Fiesta Bowl win against Baylor University.
The 255-pounder also received the team’s Iron Knight Award for strongest player after bench-pressing 500 pounds, a record for UCF tight ends and something that will definitely serve him well when he comes up against WWE's heavyweights!
Bloom is the least experienced of the three when it comes to time in the squared circle, having never actually competed in a match - but the 25-year-old has time on his side, as well as a vast degree of potential, particularly having been trained by his father Wayne, WWE alumnus Ken Kennedy and famed wrestling coach Brad Rheingans.
What do you think of WWE's latest signings? Let us know in the comments.
