WWE is one of the biggest wrestling promotions in the world. Founded in 1953 as Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC), it was operated as a Northeastern territory under the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). It split from the NWA in 1963 and rebranded as the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). The organization briefly rejoined the NWA in the 1970s before changing its name to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979. By 1983, it had cut ties with the NWA for good. Nearly two decades later, a legal dispute with the World Wildlife Fund led to another rebranding in 2002, when the company officially became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
The promotion runs two major touring brands - RAW and SmackDown. Its developmental system includes NXT and Evolve. Both systems run from the WWE Performance Centre situated in Orlando, Florida. Its global presence extends to a billion homes, with 30 global languages. The global corporate headquarters of WWE is located in Stamford, Connecticut. It also has several offices located throughout the world in cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, and Munich.
What is WWE ID SCHOOL?
WWE ID Schools are a select group of top-tier independent wrestling academies in the United States that have earned official recognition from WWE. As part of the WWE Independent Development™ (WWE ID) system, these schools provide high-level training and direct pathways for aspiring talent. They benefit from WWE’s developmental resources, mentorship, and support, helping students refine their skills and position themselves for a potential future in WWE.
List of WWE ID Schools
The initial schools and promotions under WWE ID included Reality of Wrestling, Black and Brave Academy, Nightmare Factory, Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center, and KnokX Pro Academy. Timothy Thatcher has been assigned as a trainer for WWE ID, as per Fightful.
| WWE ID Schools | Owners | Location |
| Black and Brave Wrestling Academy | Seth Rolins & Marek Brave | Davenport, Iowa, USA |
| Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center | Scott Reed & Mike Hollow | Concord, New Hampshire, USA |
| KnokX Pro Entertainment & Academy | Rikishi & Reno ‘Black Pearl’ Anoa’i | Van Nuys, California, USA |
| Nightmare Factory | Cody Rhodes & Q.T. Marshall | McDonough, Georgia, USA |
| Reality of Wrestling | Booker T & Sharmell Huffman | Texas City, Texas, USA |
WWE ID Prospects
Men's Division
Here are the rising talents from the Men's Division in WWE ID:
| Ring name | Real name | Promotions |
| Aaron Rourke | Aaron Rourke | Scouted from Create A Pro Wrestling Academy and Beyond Wrestling |
| Brad Baylor | Brad Baylor | Scouted from Wrestling Open |
| Bryce Donovan | Bryce Donovan | Scouted from Wrestling Open |
| Cappuccino Jone | Unknown | Scouted from This Is Wrestling |
| Ice Williams | DeJon Williams | Scouted from Reality of Wrestling and Future Stars of Wrestling |
| It's Gal | Gal Barkay | Scouted from Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center and Wrestling Open |
| Jack Cartwheel | Jack Summit | Scouted from Game Changer Wrestling |
| Jackson Drake | Jackson Drake | Scouted from Fire Star Pro Wrestling |
| Marcus Mathers | Marc Mattiacci | Scouted from Game Changer Wrestling |
| Ricky Smokes | Unknown | Scouted from Chaotic Wrestling |
| Sam Hardway Holloway | Samuel Hettich | Scouted from International Wrestling Cartel |
| Sean Legacy | Sean Rossini | Scouted from Pro Wrestling Revolution and Pro Wrestling Noah |
Women's Division
These superstars are prospects in the Women's Division of WWE ID:
| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
| Zara Zakher | Gabi Crump | Scouted from Millenium Pro Wrestling |
| Zayda Steel | Zayda Steel | Scouted from Combat Zone Wrestling |
FAQs WWE ID SCHOOLS
A. WWE launched the WWE ID program on October 29, 2024, to develop and support the training of independent wrestlers.
A. To be a WWE wrestler, you need to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma.
A. To join WWE wrestling school, apply through the WWE Recruit Portal, attend a tryout if invited, and train at the WWE Performance Center if selected.
