‘Get Over On Joe Hendry Levels’ – What WWE Is Looking For In New Signings Explained By Former NXT UK Star Jakk Sellstrom
Published: 11 hours ago by Liam | Last Updated: 11 hours ago by Liam
Liam has been reporting & analyzing wrestling news for over eight years, and is currently the Managing Editor at WrestleTalk.com. Immersed in wrestling for 18 years, he has over 11,000 published articles in addition to leading and overseeing WrestleTalk.com’s coverage.
WWE
Former NXT UK star Jakk Sellstrom explains what WWE is looking for in new signings, with the latest advice being to “get over on Joe Hendry levels.”
Sellstrom, formerly known as Jack Starz, is a pro-wrestling coach in the UK where the most recent WWE tryouts took place this past week.
On his YouTube channel, Sellstrom answered some questions about the tryouts and what WWE could be looking for in new recruits.
In response to that question, he said:
“I’m gonna start right off the bat by telling you that in no way, shape or form am I a WWE talent scout. But what I am gonna do for you is give you my perspective and my knowledge on the subject.
“The biggest question I’ve asked and many have asked over the years is, ‘What are they currently looking for?’ And to be short and sweet with you, I don’t even think they know until they see it. That is the God’s honest truth.
“Whenever I’ve asked – I’ve asked for years and years and years – all the way back to when I first started in 2013. No-one could give me that answer.
“They don’t know until they see it. I’ve seen people signed that are heavyweights that can move like cruiserweights. I’ve seen people signed that have got a really good promo. A certain look.
“Whatever it is, it’s different for everyone. There’s not one thing I can say to you, ‘You’re gonna get signed for that.’
“The latest thing that I got told that would grab their attention was to ‘get over’ – ‘get over on Joe Hendry levels.’ Take that for what you will.”
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Advice To Wrestlers Trying To Get Noticed By WWE
Jakk Sellstrom went on to give his advice on how hopeful wrestlers could potentially get the attention of WWE enough to be invited to a tryout or potentially even get signed.
He said:
“But things you can be working on with this – work on all areas. Work on presenting yourself like a star. Get good quality gear. Get good boots. Your overall presentation, your character, be as unique as possible.
“Work on your promos, work on yourself in the gym, work on all of these areas. Everything you have. Be the full package. Just because it’s happened in a certain way for someone else doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen the exact same way for you.
“It could happen at any given time for any given reason. So approaching this as a professional wrestler, if you are covering all of those bases, you are putting in the effort, you will eventually start working with these bigger platforms, and it’s very hard not to be seen.
“Other things you can be doing – you can go on their Recruit page, you can create yourself a profile, update it every few months.
“Take it a step further, get in contact with the regional talent scout. Internationally outside the US it’s Jim Smallman. Periodically update him. If you’re in the United States, get hold of Gabe Sapolsky. Update him periodically.
“Do the work. I’m not saying it’s guaranteed that it’s gonna come, but it’s very hard to be ignored if you are going above and beyond and you really do want it. You’ve got to start living that lifestyle now.”
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How WWE Tryouts Have Changed – More Focus On Promos
Jakk Sellstrom was also asked whether promos or athletic ability was more important at WWE tryouts nowadays. He replied:
“Over recent years, I think WWE has had promos under the microscope a lot more. It’s a bigger focal point.
“When I first started doing these in 2015, we had one shot, you got to do one promo. A static promo in front of a camera or a panel of coaches. You’d have 30 seconds to a minute to deliver it. It’d be either a promo of your choice or maybe they’d give you a subject.
“Now, it’s a little bit different, a little bit more in-depth. You’d maybe do a static promo to a camera or a panel of coaches. You’d also do a face-off promo with an opponent or an interview style promo, as well as potentially even a group promo.
“So there’s a lot more variety now.”
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