Original subtitles

- It was a time, like, after foster care

- It was a time, like, after foster care

when Mom got me back, probably like two years after

my mom got me back with her, I was about, like, six, seven.

my mom got me back with her, I was about, like, six, seven.

I can see myself sitting on the ground

eating some cereal, like, watching TV,

watching WWE, and I'm like, I wish I could do that.

watching WWE, and I'm like, I wish I could do that.

Like, in my head, it's never gonna happen,

where we are in life, like, in this horrible house

where we are in life, like, in this horrible house

we shouldn't evenbe living in.

This--this is probably the extent of where we'll be.

And I couldn't, like, fathom any type of dream.

And I couldn't, like, fathom any type of dream.

[soft music]

[soft music]

I couldn't think of it being real.

And to now, like, getting a tryout with WWE,

And to now, like, getting a tryout with WWE,

and--wow.

Sorry, I just, like, freaked myself out.

Sorry, I just, like, freaked myself out.

[crowd cheering]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[cheering]

- Talent in WWE is everything.

- Talent in WWE is everything.

- Let me talk to you!

- If you becomea Roman Reigns...

- Acknowledge me!

- Becky Lynch...- I am the man!

- Becky Lynch...- I am the man!

- Seth Rollins...- I am a visionary!

- Bianca Belair...- The B-E-S-T!

- Bianca Belair...- The B-E-S-T!

- Or a Cody Rhodes...

- I have waited my whole life!

I will wait no more!

- You area global household name.

There's no place that you can go on this planet

where people do not know who you are.

And that is life-changing.

[dramatic music]

[soft music]

- My whole life, I've dreamedof being in the WWE.

- Look at you. [laughs]

- Look at you. [laughs]

[bell rings]- It's over.

- 6'10", 315 pounds.

I'm not just a superfan.

I'm not just a superfan.

This is my destiny.

- Coming from Ukraine, I have a different mindset.

- Coming from Ukraine, I have a different mindset.

I'm not doingall of this for myself.

It's to give backto my country.

There's people in Ukraine

who wish that they were in my place.

- [speaking Spanish]

- [speaking Spanish]

- My dad risked his life coming here from Cuba.

He tells me if you're scared,

people can seethat you're scared.

people can seethat you're scared.

And if you're scared,

you're not gonna achieve greatness.

- I have three jobs.

I work seven days a week just to provide for myself.

I was a college athlete.

I was a college athlete.

Going pro in track and fieldwas never an option.

- Sit down and count up the cost to see

if the trip is worth the journey.

if the trip is worth the journey.

Why wrestling? Why are you doing it?

- Um...[sighs]

- I was a quarterback, and then everything changed.

- I was a quarterback, and then everything changed.

- Ah!

- The WWE could be my last opportunity

- The WWE could be my last opportunity

as an athleteto support my family.

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

- Duke did a lot for me.

But my whole point of being there

But my whole point of being there

was because I wanted to make something of myself.

I put in the work.I do deserve it.

And I just wantto be a superstar.

- There can't be a good guywithout a bad guy,

and there can't be a bad guy without a good guy.

I'm justa greater supervillain.

I think the WWE fans are thirsty for a guy like me.

Pretty badass.

Two Blue Devils, two Duke wrestlers.

- Everything is on the line.

- Everything is on the line.

This is a last chance to beable to fulfill their dreams.

And it might betheir only opportunity

to try to make it as a WWE superstar.

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[birds chirping]

[birds chirping]

[tense music]

[indistinct chatter]

[sprinklers clicking]

[sprinklers clicking]

[indistinct chatter]

- The first step to becominga WWE superstar is a tryout.

We have about 50 athletes that we are inviting to LA.

We have about 50 athletes that we are inviting to LA.

We're looking at a lot of different components

of who they are as an athlete,for sure,

of who they are as an athlete,for sure,

but also do they have that X factor?

These tryouts are everythingfor our future.

These tryouts are everythingfor our future.

For these athletes, it's an opportunity

to be larger than life in every single way.

to be larger than life in every single way.

- I'm pumped for it man, you know.

- Well, I'm looking forward to getting in the ring.

That's all I'm looking forward to.

That's all I'm looking forward to.

- Same. - I feel real good about it.

You got Olympians,NFL players,

You got Olympians,NFL players,

all the greatest athletes from around the entire world,

and they're all coming to meet at one place

and they're all coming to meet at one place

to compete for the same thing.

For me, I find it exciting.I feel at home.

I feel like I'm surrounded by my people.

I feel like I'm surrounded by my people.

[dramatic music]

- Everyone here looks amazing.We all have nice bodies.

We're all athletes.

So it's definitely intimidating.

And then I'm like, oh, man, how do I match up here?

- For wrestling?

- For wrestling?

- Yeah, we can go over some technique.

I'm excitedto meet these people

and maybe make some friends or some enemies.

and maybe make some friends or some enemies.

- We here, baby.

You have to know within yourself,

man, I'm different than these people.

That competition builds inside me automatically,

and it's time for me to go.

I gotta be the one to stand out.

Caleb. - Nice meet you.

- Nice to meet you, man. Caleb. - Nice to meet you.

- These guys are definitelysizing everyone up.

You know,in a group of alphas,

You know,in a group of alphas,

somebody has to display dominance,

and you know, I'm the one to do that.

How you guys doing? I'm Nick.

- What's up? I'm Jonah. - Nice to meet you.

- Just go right in here? - Yeah.

- The check-in process was really easy.

Met with a recruiting exec.

Met with a recruiting exec.

They put us through all the physical stuff,

tested our strength.

They told me I might have

the strongest neck they've ever seen.

I probably broke the machine.

- Oh. - Ah.

- All right, quarter turn.

- Getting in frontof that camera

and having to pose is something that I suck at.

Where do I look? What do I do? What do I say?

So I literally feel sick to my stomach.

So I literally feel sick to my stomach.

- [laughs]

- Yeah, it's really kicking in That I'm actually here,

- Yeah, it's really kicking in That I'm actually here,

like, wearing this shirt.

- [laughs]

Oh, wait, wait, wait. [laughs] Time out.

Oh, wait, wait, wait. [laughs] Time out.

- You know, the cameras areout, the lights are out.

Sometimes you gotta let the personality fly

a little bit.

[shouts]

I'm Brayden Ray, AKA Sexy BJ Ray.

Ooh!

I am 23 years old.

I am from Corona, California.

And I wrestle at Duke University, Division I.

And I wrestle at Duke University, Division I.

Going into this whole tryout, I plan to turn on the persona.

I like to get a little cockyfrom time to time

and kind of playthat rock star mentality,

take the Sexy BJ Ray and crank it to a ten.

To me, a rock star personality

To me, a rock star personality

is somebody who just has that "it" factor, right?

And nobody knows quite what that "it" is.

And nobody knows quite what that "it" is.

But it's just "it."

And I have that "it" factor.

You have to establish dominance.

You also gotta get people'sattention right away.

You also gotta get people'sattention right away.

They need to knowthat Sexy BJ Ray is here.

I think that I would be a very good villain.

And I think that I could get a lot of haters.

And guess what. Haters sell tickets.

- Boo!

- Keep your mouth shut!

- Keep your mouth shut!

I'm gonna come over there and slap your face!

- Wicked and unpredictable.

Judgment Day has refused to be deterred.

- Shut up, OK?

- Shut up, OK?

- USA! [spits]

- Ronnie Ronnie witha big smile on his face.

- Whoo!

- So y'all can suck it.

[laughing]

[laughing]

- You got the swag. What's going on, bro?

- What's up, man? - What's your name?

- Keyshawn. - I'm Brayden.

Nice to meet you, Keyshawn. - Nice to meet you.

- Heck yeah. - What's your name, man?

- What's up, man? I'm Jonah. - Keyshawn. Nice to meet you.

- What sport are you, bud? - Cheer.

- Heck, yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

- You're a high flyer? - I want to be more powerhouse.

My name is Keyshawn.

I am from Florida, and I'm a college cheerleader.

[dramatic music]

Competitive cheerleading is a lot of endurance.

Competitive cheerleading is a lot of endurance.

It's so precise.

Gymnastics mixedwith stunning.

Gymnastics mixedwith stunning.

Stunning meaning, like, you're throwing a girl

crazy high above your head,

crazy high above your head,

flipping and tumbling around the entire floor.

It doesn't really matter to me

if people know that I'm a cheerleader.

I'm focused.

I got one thing in my mind, and it's that contract.

[birds chirping]

[birds chirping]

- Do you like bodybuilding?

- Yes, I'm actually a figure bodybuilder.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Thank you. - That's so good.

- You look like a bodybuilder too.

Do you do it? - Yeah, thanks. Yeah.

- I feel like that's gonna translate well

to, like, wrestling over here, you know?

- Yeah, honestly, I hope so. - Yeah.

Did you see, like, the videos of the roles they sent us?

- Did you do them? - A little bit.

- Did you do them? - A little bit.

- Yeah. - Not really.

- I know.

- I'm excited to get in the ring, though.

- Hi. - Hello, girls.

- Kennedy. - Kennedy?

- Yeah. - Olena.

- Nice to meet you. - Yeah. Nice to meet you.

- As soon as I looked you up,

I knew exactly who you were because I was like,

that is the bitch that did that [bleep] StairMaster.

I was literally watching. I was like, oh, my God.

I was like, there's no way.[laughter]

I was like, there's no way.[laughter]

- That's all that matters.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- There are insanely talentedathletes in the lobby.

Everyone is nervous, and you can feel it.

Everyone is nervous, and you can feel it.

And the vibe, I just find insane.

I can't believe I have this opportunity.

- I know you ran track. - Nice to meet you.

- There's a couple of guyswith cauliflower ear.

and there's some, like, 6'6" guy.

and there's some, like, 6'6" guy.

Like, these guys, you can tellthat they were made for this.

And I'm over here like, I don't know what I'm doing.

And I'm over here like, I don't know what I'm doing.

It's definitelyvery intimidating seeing

these people that, like,

are so obviously designed for this.

Mm.

Had to bring all of the glittery stilettos

Had to bring all of the glittery stilettos

'cause, you know, that's just a staple Kennedy Smith, OK?

'cause, you know, that's just a staple Kennedy Smith, OK?

I only brought a main makeup bag,

35 different color glitters,

35 different color glitters,

and I really narrowed it down to three eyeshadow palettes

and then 35 lipsticks.

So, like, I condensed,

but I got every color of the rainbow.

Don't worry.

Don't worry.

I'm Kennedy Smith.

I ran track at Texas A&M,

where I was a 100-meter hurdler.

[starting gun fires]

[crowd cheering]

I've just never wanted to settle for average.

I always went into track meets

I always went into track meets

knowing thatI don't look intimidating.

I mean, I know that I can give, like, a little--

I mean, I know that I can give, like, a little--

little RBF, if you will.

But I wasn't the tallest

or the, like,most muscular or anything.

or the, like,most muscular or anything.

[hurdle clattering] - Oh, man.

- I kind of looked like an easy kill.

- I kind of looked like an easy kill.

So the makeup brought in another element

of someone to question, like, oh, what is she doing here?

of someone to question, like, oh, what is she doing here?

What's going on?

But when it cameto that particular video

of me going viral after my race,

that was a ginormous race for me.

[dramatic orchestral music]

It was my first race after tearing my ACL.

It was my first race after tearing my ACL.

The fact that I finished it and I won

was just, like,such a sigh of relief.

So I crossed the finish line, I'm so happy,

and then I look upto the camera.

It's probably got millionsof views now.

[crowd cheering]

Now that I havehung up the cleats,

Now that I havehung up the cleats,

I haven't gone too far from athletics.

I am now a sports reporter.

I miss being an athlete

and feeling likeI'm pursuing something.

And this world does sound perfect for me.

And this world does sound perfect for me.

- The "Raw"women's championship!

- A mixture of athleticism,a mixture of performing--

- A mixture of athleticism,a mixture of performing--

it sounds like it was designed for me.

- Champion!

- Lights and cameras are on.

I want to go out there and kill it.

I'm going to useevery excuse I can

to bring out the glitz, bring out the glam.

And this seems likea perfect opportunity.

And this seems likea perfect opportunity.

But I'm kind of nervous that everyone's

gonna be walking in, like, in cute streetwear,

and I'm gonna be dressed like a stripper.

and I'm gonna be dressed like a stripper.

- Oh, heck, yeah.

It's like I'm living in a little dream right now.

It's like I'm living in a little dream right now.

I mean, I grew up, like, watching WWE,

seeing, you know, this logo on my TV.

seeing, you know, this logo on my TV.

Oh, and there's sweats too?

Yeah, I'm amped.

I want to throw this stuff on.

I'm gonna go wrestle.

That's one thing about me is I love just rolling around.

- Hey. - Hello. How are you?

- Where are you from? - Fresno, California, so yeah.

Where are you from? - Hi. My name is Kasey.

I don't know where I'm from. - [laughs] Hi, I'm Bree.

- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

Hi, Bree. Nice to meet you.

[soft music]

I have no clue what I'm getting myself into.

I have no clue what I'm getting myself into.

I just know that I'm extremely nervous.

My stomach hurts.

And I'm trying not to scream,

And I'm trying not to scream,

but I'm screaming on the inside.

Seeing everyone here alreadyis definitely intimidating.

Seeing everyone here alreadyis definitely intimidating.

Everyone's a great athlete here, you know.

We all have our accomplishments.

I am not social.

I struggled making friends for a long time.

I'm naturally introverted,so it's hard to kind of

get out of that and break out of it,

but this is the biggest hurdle that I have in life.

but this is the biggest hurdle that I have in life.

This is it.I don't know if I can do this.

I'm super scared and anxious

and I already wantto walk out.

- Hold on. I win again!

- This is so much fun. - [laughs] I know.

- Oh, [bleep].

I feel like we walking out the tunnel.

- [laughs] - Wait.

So you were on a stair-stepper for 24 hours?

So you were on a stair-stepper for 24 hours?

- Yes. - Wow.

[laughter]

- Now it just, like, made-- - I know.

- Now it just, like, made-- - I know.

- Oh, this is sick. - Wow.

- So, like, are we about to fight?

- Yeah, I don't know.

- I don't know what's happening.

- I don't know what's happening.

- Whoa. This is the fun part right here.

- Yeah, what's good? - [laughs]

- That [bleep] hard. - Yeah, it is.

- Wow, that's so cool.

[dramatic music]

- Going into this dinner,

I feel like it's a little nerve-racking.

Just I don't even know who's gonna be here.

Let's start this thing.

This is step one.

This is step one.

Oh, God.

- We're gonna be there tomorrow.

- Let the games begin.

- Let's do this.

- Let's do this.

[tense music]

[tense music]

- I don't know. You can sit right here.

- Our first event of the day

- Our first event of the day

was our welcome dinner WWE put together.

The first time as a group we're all together.

The first time as a group we're all together.

- Oh, what's your name? - Breanna.

- Carl. - My name is Kid.

- What's up, man?

- There's a buzz in the air,

and the dinner was, like, beautiful

and all the people were beautiful.

And I just, like, am used to seeing

like, other jacked people.

like, other jacked people.

- Oh, that food gonna be good.

- There's a lot of big dudes.

There's a lotof football guys.

There's a lotof football guys.

Dang, like,this is the real deal.

I'm probably not gonna stand out as much as I normally do.

- OK, just saying.

- OK, just saying.

- Have you guys ever been to, like, a live show?

- I've been to seven "WrestleManias" in a row.

- In a row?

- In a row?

- Yeah, I went from "25" to "31."

- That's awesome.

- I grew up watching WWE,

- I grew up watching WWE,

and I've been a superfan my whole life.

And now I'm getting to not just be a fan anymore,

And now I'm getting to not just be a fan anymore,

but be a competitor.

- You've been ready for this job.

- Yes. - I just love it.

- You've been ready for this job.

- I just love this, man.

- Like, the moment I watched professional wrestling,

I immediately went and elbowed my sister,

just gave her, like, a one, two, three,

you know what I'm saying? - [claps]

- HBK. - [laughs]

I fell in love, for sure. It's--it's been something

I fell in love, for sure. It's--it's been something

that I've dreamed of my entire life.

I've never seen myself working anything else

but being a professional wrestler,

so it's kind of crazy that I'm here now

and make the most of this opportunity.

[chuckles]

- I want to see a picture of your son.

- He's a little demon.

- He's a little demon.

He's, like, in the 99th percentile

in height and weight.

And his head size is, like, 103rd.

He has a massive head. [laughter]

My name is Aaron Jenkins. I'm 26 years old.

I was a quarterbackat Alfred State,

I was a quarterbackat Alfred State,

started my fifth year at Adrian College in Michigan.

I lived every single day just to play football.

I lived every single day just to play football.

I had this plan to try to get to the next level

after college,and then everything changed.

[tape rewinding]

[baby crying] - What is the matter?

- You a little--you grumpy.

- You a little--you grumpy.

- No way.

- You. - [laughs]

- You grumpy. [baby babbles]

- You grumpy. [baby babbles]

[soft music]

Being a dad in general is difficult.

There's no time. There's no time for anything.

There's no time. There's no time for anything.

You know, it's expensive.

You have to provide for your family.

I've tried out for the XFL,CFL, the Arena League,

I've tried out for the XFL,CFL, the Arena League,

but they didn't work out.

WWE could bemy last opportunity

WWE could bemy last opportunity

as an athleteto support my family

at literally the highest level possible.

I got one thingon my mind right now,

and it's to get a contract.

This is probably the cutest video there is.

It's gonna make me cry.

- So you started grappling at 22 or so or 21?

- Yeah, like 21, grappling.

But I wrestled for quite a while,

dropped out of college, and then just kind of made...

- Transitioned into-- - Grappling a career, yeah.

[suspenseful music]

- We got somebody over there. That's cooling off right there.

- Yeah, this is crazy. - Really?

- Shawn Michaels is my favorite wrestler of all time.

- Shawn Michaels is my favorite wrestler of all time.

HBK, the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels.

- Mr. WrestleMania!

- Two-time Hall-of-Famer,

one of the greatestof all time.

- Sweet chin music!

- He runs WWE's developmentaldivision, NXT, now.

- He runs WWE's developmentaldivision, NXT, now.

I won't say I almost passed out.

- It's like a dream come true. - [softly] Ah! What? What?

- It's like a dream come true. - [softly] Ah! What? What?

Wow.

- My brother's gonna freak out.

He's the biggest Shawn Michaels fan.

- Really? - Yes, he's obsessed.

- HBK, Shawn Michaels, the Heartbreak Kid.

Oh, my God. - How are you doing, man?

- I'm good. How are you?

- Doing all right? - Yes, sir.

- What's your name? - Keyshawn.

- Keyshawn? Very nice. - Yes, sir.

- Where are you from?

- New York, Florida, Utah-- all over the place, man.

- New York, Florida, Utah-- all over the place, man.

- Very nice.

- This is crazy, and you're my favorite wrestler,

so I'm just so--

- I was raised by a colonelin the Air Force

to shake somebody's hand,

to say, "Yes, sir," "Yes, ma'am."

Have a great time out here. - Yes, sir.

- All right?

Like, if you dig this as much as I do,

Like, if you dig this as much as I do,

that, just, you know, go with the heart, man.

He's professional, respectful.

And in this line of work, it's something that bodes well

And in this line of work, it's something that bodes well

for the locker room etiquette, shall we say.

- So Shawn Michaels, Heartbreak Kid--

- That's the GOAT, man.

- Could be Mount Rushmore for a lot of people.

Matt Bloom went by A-Train and Lord Tensai.

Matt Bloom went by A-Train and Lord Tensai.

- He's head coach at the WWE Performance Center,

where they train athletes to be NXT and WWE superstars.

where they train athletes to be NXT and WWE superstars.

- Big E, also a legend in the industry.

He's a member of the New Day

He's a member of the New Day

and has more titles than you can count.

He was part ofthe recruitment process.

So it's cool to see him at the tryout.

- Face to face with childhood heroes.

- How are you doing, man?

- Man, this is awesome.

- Be coachable, but also come with great energy.

And it's not just during the drills.

And it's not just during the drills.

But remember, any time we're in front of you,

you're being evaluated.

- Hi, I'm Z. Nice to meet you.

- For these athletes, you're mingling.

You're meeting people.

- Nice to meet you too. What sport?

- Swimming. - What's your Instagram?

What's all of your guys's Instagrams?

- But for us, as coaches, we are evaluating.

I just wanted to spy on people.

I just wanted to spy on people.

- Yeah.

- Morgan doesn't come from this world at all.

She was a gymnast at the University of Florida,

She was a gymnast at the University of Florida,

a national champion.

She really is the person

bridging that gap for us with the college athletes

in a way that we just can't.

She's a key, essential part.

- They know we're sizing up everybody.

I'm looking forwho's commanding the table.

I'm looking forwho's commanding the table.

Who are all the other athletes looking at?

- I got so much school this week.

This is midterms week for me.

This is midterms week for me.

- I need to make sure I'm, like, eating properly.

- But also, who's not saying a word?

- Oh, you would be a villain?

You need to just be like Mr. America or something.

[laughter]

- Olena, 19 years old.

- I was gonna say, she's the 19-year-old.

- She completed a marathon with no training

because she just wanted to see

how far she could push her body.

- My first, like, year and a half, I was

able to take second in, like, the Olympics of it.

- Nicky Rodriguez, he tried out before.

- Nicky Rodriguez, he tried out before.

- Yeah, he's a beast in the jiu-jitsu world.

You got the scouting reports down pat.

Are you-- I might be leaning on you to--

- I--lean on me.

- I--lean on me.

I have been studying up on all of them.

- I'll say this, they all have unique looks,

amazing clay to work with.

amazing clay to work with.

When they don't think I'm watching, I'm always watching.

- Pretty people. - Hi.

- I'm Jonah. - Nice to meet you.

- I'm Jonah. - Nice to meet you.

- They're all attractive young men and women.

But after a while, a bunch of handsome men and women

get to be a dime a dozen.

get to be a dime a dozen.

- Awesome.

- I look for what kind of human beings they are.

If there's some dipshits among them,

If there's some dipshits among them,

you gotta find that out as well.

- Ha-ha! Hell yeah.

Where's your boyfriend from?

Where's your boyfriend from?

- New Zealand.

- Oh, really? OK, cool, so he just--

- It's a typical love story of, like, you know,

a Canadian goes over there, works over there.

a Canadian goes over there, works over there.

- Yeah. Gotcha.

You ever been to Italy?

I'm just like 007, sharp, sexy.

I'm just like 007, sharp, sexy.

BJ Ray. - Mm. Subjective.

- Yeah? You have to see.

Brayden,I believe his name was,

or "Sexy BJ" is what he called himself,

had his arm on my chair.

had his arm on my chair.

And I was thinking, like, who do you think you are?

- No, those are one.

- So from the second I met Sexy--

- So from the second I met Sexy--

"Sexy BJ," he is douchey.

I don't know, he's got--

he's got this, like, frat boy aura about him.

he's got this, like, frat boy aura about him.

And I think if that's gonna be his character,

he's definitely doing a good job of selling it.

he's definitely doing a good job of selling it.

- It's hard to look this good, you know?

It's hard to look this good.

We're doing it, so we can run it back.

- Who's the big idiot?

- Who's the big idiot?

What's he doing?

[laughter]

"Sexy BJ," right?

If you have a name like that,

you better be frickin' fantastic at everything you do.

- Yeah, anyway, you guys got to-go boxes or what?

- I recognize that you can be a dipshit,

but what is it that makes you special?

- We run the show. - We run the show.

- We run the show. both: We run the show.

- That's how it is.

- Dude, we dangerous.

- Dude, we dangerous.

- The most dangerous people here, bro.

Come on. You kidding me? Look around.

There ain't no comp. There ain't no comp.

- Dude, believe me, I-- - All these girls come in here

thinking they're competition-- I mean, listen.

Listen here, sweetheart, the champ's here.

I'm probably gonna finish this steak up,

I'm probably gonna finish this steak up,

grab a cup of Joe.

- A cup of what? - Coffee.

- Oh. - Yeah.

- What's up? - Where are you heading?

- I was gonna go ahead and introduce myself to you.

- Let me grab you here real quick.

- Yeah, for sure. - All right, good.

- Yeah, for sure. - All right, good.

- Wow, I didn't even get to see this yet.

I'm sorry. - Have you seen this yet?

- No, this is beautiful. - It's pretty cool.

[solemn music]

[solemn music]

Just got some bummer news that you weren't--

weren't able to compete physically with us.

weren't able to compete physically with us.

Every athlete goes through a physical

with a WWE medical team.

Unfortunately, Aaron is not greenlit

Unfortunately, Aaron is not greenlit

to perform in the tryout.

You know, I don't know what the situation is.

I just heard that you couldn't compete

I just heard that you couldn't compete

in the rank physically, and I was like, ugh.

- If you don't know, it's just--

- I don't know. - It's a bicuspid aortic valve.

I was born with it my entire life.

Every time that there's a lot of pressure

that is on my heart, it leaks.

As a collegiate athlete,

I've never not been cleared,

so this is kind of like a first kind of thing for me.

so this is kind of like a first kind of thing for me.

- But that stinks, but I'll say this.

There's still a lot to be done at this tryout.

Once you get to that promo tape, I want you to nail it.

He's not gettinga full tryout.

He does have an opportunity for us to judge

He does have an opportunity for us to judge

his creative side, his personality.

But it's gonna be tough.

I'm only getting to see

half of what you can bring to the table.

And just because you can't compete in the ring

physically, you still get an opportunity to put

a microphone in your hand and connect to our coaches

a microphone in your hand and connect to our coaches

and connect to the judges, and...

- I mean, it sucks, but--

- Absolutely, it sucks.

It sucks.

- It sucks.

- I'm still gonna keep an eye on you.

I'll tell you that right now, man.

I'll tell you that right now, man.

And when you get an opportunity, crush it.

- Yes, sir. - All right?

I'm a big sweat equity guy.

You work your ass off, I got time for you.

- Yes, sir. - All right?

- Yes, sir. - All right?

So I appreciate you, man. - Thank you so much.

- Let's crush it, all right? - I appreciate it.

- Have a good one. - All right, man. Thank you.

- All right, thank you.

Make sure everyone gets some rest tonight.

I'll see you all tomorrow.

- Tomorrow isabout to be insane.

- [chuckles] - Yo, bro.

- [snores]

- Bro, we could totally be a tag team.

- Bro, we could totally be a tag team.

Bro, football player and a wrestler,

like, you feel me? - Bro, yeah.

- Like, that's--[laughs]

- For sure, bro. That's great.

We're good.

We're rocking and rolling.

- Me and Brayden, like, after the first day,

- Me and Brayden, like, after the first day,

I can really tell.

Like, there is a big potential there to become a tag team.

So that's really exciting.

That would be the dream.

- How you feel about tomorrow?

- I'm excited. I'm excited.

It's good. It's gonna be fun.

It's gonna be good.

- They couldn't stop just one of us.

Now imagine two of us. - [laughs]

Oh, we're gonna make it shake.

- He's gonna get there. He's gonna get there.

- Julian gives methat bad boy mentality.

So who knows?

Maybe we'll end up doing

some tag team stuffin the future.

- We gotta figure out a name.

I'm telling you, dog, like, there's something here.

- Inches away.

- Tag team champion!

- Right up over the top of their profits!

- Uh, or we could just be, like,

- Uh, or we could just be, like,

something like the Rowdy Boys.

- Ooh. - The Rowdy Boys.

- Rowdy Boys, damn.

I kind of like that. - Rowdy Boys.

- [laughing]

- I--I did that.

The Rowdy Boys are out to play.

The Rowdy Boys are out to play.

- Cheerleaders,we get [bleep] on a lot

because we're cheerleaders.

You know, it's "cheerleading," right?

And people don't understand how athletic we actually are

with all these, you know, seven-footers

and college-level football players and wrestlers

and college-level football players and wrestlers

and all this, right, because I feel like

I'm the one that's kind of, like, oh, he's a cheerleader.

He's whatever, blah, blah, blah.

You know, it's fine.

You know, it's fine.

But no, tomorrow, I'm about to show everyone,

oh, man, we gotta--we gotta watch this guy right here.

oh, man, we gotta--we gotta watch this guy right here.

I've seen all the recruits,

but now it's time to get focused.

Biggest day of my life is tomorrow.

Biggest day of my life is tomorrow.

Since coming out the womb,I've wanted to be

a professional wrestler, a WWE superstar.

And it kind of seemed impossible.

Right here we have my sister and myself

Right here we have my sister and myself

back when I was younger.

She just keeps me going.

Right here is a book my mom gave me the Christmas of 2020.

Right here is a book my mom gave me the Christmas of 2020.

It's just a book about just her love for me.

It's just a book about just her love for me.

My mom, she always calls me her shining star.

My mom, she always calls me her shining star.

And we just had a--a rough childhood.

My mom had me when she was 15.

My mom had me when she was 15.

And then not too long afterthat, I was about three,

and things gota little bit worse

with her boyfriend at the time.

He beat me.

I needed 32 stitches in my stomach.

I needed 32 stitches in my stomach.

And because of that, I got moved into foster care,

so I got taken away from my mom.

So, like, the moment I got back with her, she's always--

always kept me, like, tight by her side.

And she wrote some personal stuff in here.

And she wrote some personal stuff in here.

[dramatic music]

"To the most amazing son in the world,

"the words in this book helped me put out

"the words in this book helped me put out

"my feelings on paper.

"If ever you're having a tough day,

"I hope you can feel comfort in these pages.

"I hope you can feel comfort in these pages.

"I hope you keep this for many years to come and later on,

many more years down the road when I can no longer answer."

many more years down the road when I can no longer answer."

I don't know why she included that part.

[laughs]

"I hope this brings you the comfort you need."

Dang.

[sniffles]

[sniffles]

Definitely gonna have to call her after this.

I'm not even just doing this for me.

It's--it's more for, like, my mom and my sister.

It's--it's more for, like, my mom and my sister.

From me being a kid dealing with--

oh, my God, struggling with so much,

oh, my God, struggling with so much,

I want nothing more than to, like,

make those two ladies' lives the easiest life ever.

make those two ladies' lives the easiest life ever.

Even with all the pain, all the trauma,

they have led me to this wonderful,

they have led me to this wonderful,

crazy moment of my life now.

This is the one thing that I want.

This is the one thing that I want.

Everything is on the line, everything.

Tomorrow's a big day.

And you got this.

'Cause you were chosen to do this.

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter]

[dramatic music]

- [whistles] Pick it up. Pick it up.

- Hop. On the hop. No one walks.

- Hop. On the hop. No one walks.

Today's a big day.

You get the opportunity to change your lives.

You get the opportunity to change your lives.

We're clocking in.

It's time to work.

- Yes, sir. - Let's go.

Everyone's hustling.

This is your interview.

We're watching.

The energy sucks right now.

- Damn. - Let's go!

Let's go! Let's go!

Pick it up.

Pick it up.

This is how we will warm up every session.

Come on, now. Can't be tired yet.

And this ain't nothing if you think this is moving.

- [grunts]

- Let's hit it.

During these performance evaluations,

from the vertical jump to the broad jump

from the vertical jump to the broad jump

to the overhead med ball, all very important

to let you see the type of athlete you're getting.

to let you see the type of athlete you're getting.

Are they explosive?

[cheers and applause]

Can they land in control of their body?

Can they land in control of their body?

Can they harness their powerand have good form

to throw it for distance?

to throw it for distance?

- Whoo! - Let's go, girl.

- An athlete that'sin good core shape

typically will havea longer career.

typically will havea longer career.

- Smack it through.

[cheers and applause]

- Come on.

[cheers and applause]

- I'm looking forward to see if they can

improve upon their first jump.

For us as evaluators, just easy way

to stack talent up against each other.

Candidate X did better than candidate Y.

Cuts are being made quick.

Cuts are being made quick.

And physical evaluations are an easy way

for us to automatically start ranking our candidates.

- Number 52.

- Number 52.

- You got it.

[cheers and applause]

- 131, 131.

- Everyone's putting in the work.

- Everyone's putting in the work.

So that's where I like to see it right now.

- Explode, come on.

- 112, 112.

- 112, 112.

- 116.5.

- 19.38, good work.

- 118.5.

- That's pretty good.

- That's pretty good.

- Caleb Kelly, 46.

I played football at the University of Oklahoma.

I'm 24 now.

I'm 24 now.

I've been off the field for a little while.

And this WWE opportunity could be my last chance

And this WWE opportunity could be my last chance

to be a professional athlete.

Going into my fourth year,

I was a five-star football athlete.

I was recruited tothe University of Oklahoma.

I had the path to go to the NFL,

and then boom, I tore my ACL.

and then boom, I tore my ACL.

I had five surgeries in four years,

tore my ACLthree years in a row.

And that ended my career.

And that ended my career.

I had everything up to that final goal.

I had everything up to that final goal.

I could have left as a junior,

and I would have had that dream.

But I wanted to have that storybook ending

But I wanted to have that storybook ending

of senior year.

It didn't pan out.

My mentality was always to go to the top.

My mentality was always to go to the top.

Football's done,but the WWE is here.

And I want to be a WWE superstar.

[dramatic music]

WWE gives mea different opportunity,

being at that highest level.

I'm still fast.I'm still athletic.

I love to entertain. I'm an entertainer.

Injury comes to your mind

when you're jumpingto your max ability.

But it's time for me to go.

There's a lot of us,

There's a lot of us,

but I gotta bethe one to stand out.

- Oh, my God.

[cheers and applause] - That was insane.

- 127.5

- That surprised me.

- That surprised me.

- There we go.

- Wow.

- Watching Caleb Kelly jump,

man, he's got some real athletic ability,

man, he's got some real athletic ability,

definitely someone that I want to keep my eye on

moving forward.

[whistle blows]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

- There you go.

- There you go.

- Seeing these other athletes, I'm not really impressed

- Seeing these other athletes, I'm not really impressed

or intimidated at all.

At the end of the day, they don't got it like I got it.

At the end of the day, they don't got it like I got it.

- Brayden Ray, Sexy BJ Ray.

- Man, I would change my initials.

- Man, I would change my initials.

If my initials were BJ,

I wouldn't be calling myself Sexy BJ.

- The glasses on-- better not disappoint.

- The glasses on-- better not disappoint.

- Oof. - Oh, you were close.

- Oof. - Oh, you were close.

119.5.

- In wrestling, we don't really do jumps and stuff like that.

- In wrestling, we don't really do jumps and stuff like that.

But I know when it comes to the ring stuff

and the stuff that really matters, none of these guys

are gonna be able to hang with me.

are gonna be able to hang with me.

- Here's another wrestler.

Let's see what he's got.

[cheers and applause]

- OK.

- That's casual touch.

- 125.5.

- 125.5.

- What was that?

- I know Brayden fairly well.

Brayden is my teammate back at Duke on a wrestling team.

I've come a long way from justa chubby middle school kid

I've come a long way from justa chubby middle school kid

who got picked last for dodgeball

to the captain of the Duke wrestling team.

to the captain of the Duke wrestling team.

[cheers and applause]

Brayden at Duke is pretty similar to Brayden here.

Brayden at Duke is pretty similar to Brayden here.

He is a character.

You know, he comes in with the Sexy BJ persona.

You know, he comes in with the Sexy BJ persona.

He wants to be a stud.

The difference is that I sacrificed so much

The difference is that I sacrificed so much

to get to where I am in mycollegiate wrestling career,

and I worked really hard.

and I worked really hard.

- I wouldn't say Jonah hasno personality.

I would say he's definitely a little bit more

reserved than me.

reserved than me.

He's a freak athlete, big behemoth of a man.

I'm more of a James Bond type of guy.

I just have the charisma.

I just come alive in front of the cameras.

Jonah doesn't havethe "it" factor.

- Brayden's never been a starter.

- Brayden's never been a starter.

And there's always an excuse as to why.

He had a lot of, like, injuries that kept him

out of practice for weeks on end,

out of practice for weeks on end,

or he is at the club partying.

I can count the amount of parties I've gone to

in college, like, on this hand.

- It's like, dude, you can't go out and have a drink?

You're that boring? You're that lame?

- He decided to forgo a lot of the work

and just put onthe Sexy BJ character.

- It's kind ofa strategy, right?

When I introduce myself, I say, hey, Brayden Ray,

AKA Sexy BJ Ray.

They don't forget the guy that walked up to them looking fly,

looking like a gangster, saying, hey, I'm Sexy BJ.

It captures their attention.

- He hasn't yet figured himself out.

He's really insecure.

- Who's up next? Who's up?

- Who's up next? Who's up?

[cheers and applause]

- Let's go, baby.

- Watching everybody kind of sucks.

- Explode, explode, explode.

- Explode, explode, explode.

- You know, I'm just kind of being encouraging.

Explode. Come on. Let's go.

Kind of just trying to roll with it, to be honest.

Kind of just trying to roll with it, to be honest.

- Get up, yo.

[cheers and applause]

- Good job, man.

- 123.

- That's awesome.

- Keyshawn, number 33.

I did the long jump.

As soon as I did it, everyone goes...

- Oh...

- Oh...

[cheers and applause]

- Key could hop, Key, blah, blah, blah, blah.

So it's cool for my size thatI could show out instantly.

- 121.

- My athleticism can take me pretty far.

- My athleticism can take me pretty far.

- I'm rooting for Key.

Looking at him, you know, off first glance,

I don't think he stands out much to the other guys.

I don't think he stands out much to the other guys.

- He didn't really give off a WWE wrestler vibe.

- He didn't really give off a WWE wrestler vibe.

Then he told mehe was a cheerleader.

And it kind of clicked.

- That's not something I'm gonna knock.

You think about Rey Mysterio,

who's a small guy, high-flying,

who's a small guy, high-flying,

one of the greats.

You look at peoplewho are smaller,

who still have that star power.

- What's a cheerleader doing here at a wrestling tryout?

Not only is he a cheerleader, but he's small.

You need big guys.

You need people that people can believe mean business.

I just don't see him fitting that role.

I just don't see him fitting that role.

- Oh, God, the nails hit it.

Can I try again?

- Look, I'm good at med ball throws, OK?

But the nails are catching on the ball.

Keep this little pile safe for me, OK?

Keep this little pile safe for me, OK?

Thank you.

- Yeah, Kennedy.

[cheers and applause]

- Whoo! - Whoa!

[applause]

- That's a good one.

- The nails.

- It was worth it.

- It was worth it.

- All right, you can see she's happy with that.

- Yeah.

- She's--she's happy with that.

- Kennedy, she looks like a star.

She looks like someone who I think

She looks like someone who I think

our fans would really connect with

and is clearlyan athlete as well.

- So nice to see her personality shine through.

- So nice to see her personality shine through.

- Yeah, that was way better.

The nails have to be glued back on later, sadly.

- Let's go.

- Yes, I'm scared.

I'm nervous,but I have to go.

I have to show out.

This is the one place I know that

I can come out and deliver.

- Let's go, Bree.

Let's go, Bree.

- When we had the vert jump, I went, and I just showed out.

- When we had the vert jump, I went, and I just showed out.

- That's 115.5.

[cheers and applause]

- Bree killed every single performance evaluation,

- Bree killed every single performance evaluation,

highest jump, longest jump--

- Bree!

- Bree!

- That's way too high.

- Farthest throw. - [grunts]

[cheers]

[cheers]

- Someone just set the bar right there.

- She set the bar on all of them.

- I was coming for you.

- You were.

- You were.

- She stood out for me, so far.

- 100%.

- Bree, I knew she was gonna be highly competitive.

And she is showing it during the performance evaluations.

She almost passed Bianca Belair,

She almost passed Bianca Belair,

who holds the record in the med ball toss

on, like, her second throw.

- Bianca Belair just too powerful for Bliss tonight.

- From the female side, Breanna Covington.

She is killing it.

Just her raw athleticism, her personality.

I know she said that she doesn't like public speaking,

but she's been a leader out here.

but she's been a leader out here.

So everything's at stake for with this promo.

- Sure.

- That's what it's gonna come down to.

If she can't cut a good one,

then I don't think this business is right for her.

- If you don't have a personality,

if you can't talk, there's--there's not

a whole lot we can do, so I'm really excited

to see what she does with the promos.

A promo is a massive part of what we do.

Do you know who backs up what they do

Do you know who backs up what they do

every Friday night on SmackDown?

- Don't you dare throw another pancake.

- Shake! - Shake!

- Shake!

- Shake!

- It's getting up there on the mic

to be larger than life, to connect with fans.

all: Turkey Day!

all: Turkey Day!

Turkey Day!

- Amen. - Amen.

[laughter]

- Bree just stood out as an athlete.

But she clearly is shy and introverted.

The biggest question with Bree will be her promos.

The biggest question with Bree will be her promos.

- Coming from a track background, I'm shining.

This is whereI can come alive.

This is whereI can come alive.

It's the promotion part,

the promos that I'm so nervous for.

the promos that I'm so nervous for.

So I'm trying to shine out here.

So when I go out there, it's just giving my all

and hope it's enough.

- Dude, you know, like, my favorite part about these

hotel rooms is these mirrors.

I love them.

I love this mirror.

I love this mirror.

I love the bathroom mirror.

- I got my--

my nice boots.

I got my knee pads, some elbow pads.

I got my knee pads, some elbow pads.

And then I'm just going with

this nice little pair of trunks.

That's all it's gonna be.

That's all it's gonna be.

I also have kind of a sleeveless shirt.

- I'm more of a no coat, no--no shirt, you know.

I'm a minimalist.

Honestly, I would have pulled up in

swimming trunks and sandals.

But I feel like that would have been a failure.

So I brought some socks and boots today.

- Hello.

You caught us just in time.

We just started our glitter.

We just started our glitter.

- Today my makeup is probably only gonna take about--

I don't know, an hour and a half, two hours.

- We're doing our last-minute preparation.

- We're doing our last-minute preparation.

So we're cramming it all in.

And I think it'll be great. She's a superstar.

- I still have to put on my outfit

and do diamonds all over my chest.

- Oh, yes, ma'am.

- It's gonna take forever.

[tense music]

[tense music]

- I'm so nervous for promos because my biggest fear

is public speaking.

Being athletic is where I thrive.

But talking in front of people, I am introverted.

I am scared.

I am scared.

I am timid.

I am shy.

Like, I'm everything of the opposite

of what I need to be today.

The only way that I can foresee myself kind of

The only way that I can foresee myself kind of

staying in check on my nervesis just praying,

because my faith in God

because my faith in God

is what gets me through my toughest times.

God, you're so awesome.

I thank you for being here for me, God.

You've never turned your back.

You've never turned your back.

You never left me.

You've always put me in a position to win.

I pray for strength in these promos.

I was so shy growing up.

Being an only child and playing by yourself,

it's hard to develop social skills.

it's hard to develop social skills.

And I didn't have that.

I didn't know how to go out there and show myself.

I pray, God, when I go up there, I'm a new me.

I pray, God, when I go up there, I'm a new me.

Help me succeed.

I pray that when I leave, they remember me.

They remember my personality, and I stand out, God.

They remember my personality, and I stand out, God.

I thank you, Father God. Amen.

When I was a little girl, I did a pageant.

When I was a little girl, I did a pageant.

And I just remember, like,walking out to the mic

and looking out into the audience.

And there's like this big, bright light.

And there's like this big, bright light.

I just froze and I stared out, like, petrified.

And I just started crying.

And I just started crying.

Ever since that day,I was like,

oh, I'm neverdoing that again.

Like I'm never getting in front of people.

I can't fail. I can't fail.

Going into high school, I didn't know

how to make friends.

how to make friends.

I had a hard time.

I used to eat lunch in the bathroom by myself.

Just...

Knowing how to express myself

Knowing how to express myself

and how to connect with people,

it's just something that I've always struggled with.

I love gymnastics.

I love gymnastics.

I started at age three, and I was a Junior Olympic

gymnast and state champion.

And I went to Fresno State.

I ran track and field, and that was where I excelled.

That was likemy heart right there.

That was who I was.

It was my identity.

And so when I graduated college, that was gone.

And so when I graduated college, that was gone.

I didn't know who I was.

I felt like I was gone.

[somber music]

[somber music]

- [crying]

I want to show, like, the passion, the courage,

I want to show, like, the passion, the courage,

the grit it takes to even come out here

with how I am, with how I'm nervous, how I'm shy.

with how I am, with how I'm nervous, how I'm shy.

I can do it.

[dramatic music]

I am so nervous.

I have no clue what to expect.

All I know is I have to do public speaking,

and that is something that I hate.

So I don't know how I'm gonna do this right now.

So I don't know how I'm gonna do this right now.

- All right, number one, Breanna Covington.

- This is it.

Somehow I have to muster up the courage

to get out there and to speak in front of people.

to get out there and to speak in front of people.

Each step, I'm just, like,crying on the inside,

just get closer and closer and closer.

And when I'm at the bottom, I'm like, oh, my gosh, here we go.

- Bree, in three--

- And I literally feel sick to my stomach.

Like, I want to pass out.

Oh, my gosh, this is it.

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]