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What's the story?
After ESPN broke the news, WWE has confirmed that former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rinku Singh will officially arrive at the WWE Performance Center this Tuesday, where he will train with the hope of becoming a full time WWE Superstar.
In case you didn't know...
Rinku Singh won the Million Dollar Arm competition, a reality TV show in India, and became the first ever Indian MLB player.
Singh is 6-foot-3 and 256-pounds and his strong left arm isn't just limited to baseball, as he is also a junior national javelin throw medallist.
It was Singh's baseball achievement, though, which saw him even become the subject of a Disney movie, also titled Million Dollar Arm.
The heart of the matter
In April 2017, Singh joined 40 male and female athletes from India and the Middle East in an invitation-only tryout at the Dubai Opera House. After impressing WWE Performance Center coaches and trainers there, he earned himself a WWE developmental contract and will begin formal training in Florida this week.
Singh realises the tough tests he faces, but he remains confident in his abilities.
“Take a look at where I came from, when I started [playing baseball], there was nothing. Now we have 23 states (in India) playing baseball and softball. As I go through my journey at the Performance Center and WWE, it will continue to make things easier, and I’ll have millions of people in my corner. It’s going to be a fun journey.”
What's next?
Singh doesn't arrive alone. Several other recruits of varying levels will also arrive at the PC, including some as yet unnamed already established professional wrestlers.
What happens next is anyone's guess. We'll no doubt receive updates from WWE on Rinku's progress as this is huge news - both in India and in the world of baseball.
Author's take
After WWE's recent ventures into the Indian market, the WWE Network launching in India and Jinder Mahal's WWE Championship reign, you can bet this won't be the last Indian recruit we see at the WWE Performance Center.
There's no doubt Rinku Singh looks the part and arrives in WWE with a truly incredible story behind him. Here's hoping he can make strides at the PC and we see him in the ring soon!
