WWE Performance Center

WWE Performance Center
Founded July 12, 2013
Headquarters 5055 Forsyth Commerce Rd
Orlando, Florida, United States
Key people
 Vince McMahon
(Chairman and CEO of WWE)
Triple H
(EVP, WWE)
William Regal
(VP, Talent Development and Talent Scout)
Canyon Ceman
(VP, Talent Development and Talent Scout)
Matt Bloom
(Head Trainer)
Parent WWE

The WWE Performance Center is the official professional wrestling school of WWE, as well as a training, sports science, and sports medical facility. It is located in Orlando, Florida, and was opened on July 12, 2013. It is not open to the general public. It is also close to Full Sail University, home base for WWE NXT productions and live events. On December 2, 2015, it granted full access to selected members of the public.[1]

Background

The Performance Center is home to WWE’s talent developmental system, WWE NXT.[2] The facility covers 26,000 square feet and includes seven training rings (including a special padded ring for high-flying moves), a world-class strength and conditioning program, cutting-edge edit and production facilities including an ultra-slow camera, and a voice-over room that performers and on-air announcers can use to practice.[3][4] The facility was opened in 2013 and replaced the training center at WWE's former developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was based in Tampa and had been serving as WWE's developmental headquarters since 2008.[5][4][6]

The Performance Center trains around 65-70 wrestlers at any one time. Trainees have a variety of experience levels, from beginners from non-wrestling backgrounds to experienced wrestlers from the independent circuit. Wrestlers train to improve their in-ring performance, strength and conditioning as well as working on their characters and personality. Upcoming referees, ring announcers, commentators and backstage interviewers also train at the Performance Center. The trainees train full-time, while also performing at weekly NXT house shows and appearing on NXT television. In addition, established WWE Superstars often use the facility for training and injury rehab while mentoring new trainees.

The Performance Center uses former wrestlers as trainers. The inaugural head trainer was Bill DeMott, who departed the company in 2015 and was replaced by Matt Bloom.[7] Other trainers include Sara Amato, Robbie Brookside, Norman Smiley, Adam Pearce and Sarah Stock.[8] Dusty Rhodes was responsible for developing the trainees' microphone skills and wrestling personas until his death in 2015.[9] Other trainers include non-wrestlers, such as former mixed martial arts competitor Seth Petruzelli who is employed as a striking coach.[10][11][12] The Performance Center includes some guest trainers, including Mickie James, Mike Quackenbush and Scott Hall.[13][14][15]

In addition to training contracted performers, the Performance Center is also regularly used for tryouts which operate on an invite-only basis and include athletes from a wide variety of backgrounds, including established domestic and international professional wrestlers, amateur wrestlers, NFL and NCAA American football players and individuals from a range of other sporting and non-sporting backgrounds.[16][17][18]

2015 shooting incident

On August 31, 2015, Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies shot 29-year-old Armando Montalvo outside the Performance Center after he threatened them and charged at them. Montalvo was "obsessed" with an unnamed female wrestler and made numerous attempts to trespass through the facility, despite an injunction against him by WWE.[19][20] Days after the shooting, Montalvo claimed he was bipolar when he was questioned by detectives. He faced trial in February 2016 on charges of aggravated assault, resisting an officer with violence, and trespassing. A public defender representing Montalvo has entered a written plea of not guilty on his behalf.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "WWE Performance Center: All Access gives fans a behind the scenes look at NXT". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  2. ↑ "New WWE Performance Center Opening - Yahoo! Finance". Finance.yahoo.com. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
  3. ↑ "Jim Ross comments on the WWE Performance Center, working with the NFL, Jake Roberts suffers a relapse". Prowrestling.net. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
  4. 1 2 "World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.: A New Beginning for WWE®". WWE. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Medalis, Kara (2016-01-04). "10 things you didn't know about the WWE Performance Center". WWE.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  6. ↑ "WWE opens training center at Full Sail". CFN 13. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Medalis, Kara (2016-01-04). "10 things you didn't know about the WWE Performance Center". WWE.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  8. ↑ Medalis, Kara (2016-01-04). "10 things you didn't know about the WWE Performance Center". WWE.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  9. ↑ Medalis, Kara (2016-01-04). "10 things you didn't know about the WWE Performance Center". WWE.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  10. ↑ "WWE Hires Former MMA Fighter, Possible WWE Network Guests For Steve Austin, Ronda Rousey". WrestlingInc.com. 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  11. ↑ "Former Wwe Star Returning In New Role To The Company". PWInsider.com. 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  12. ↑ "Top Star Injured? All Time Great Becomes Wwe Nxt Trainer, Heyman Update, Former Wcw Star Makes Cameo On Tour And More". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  13. ↑ "Former Wwe Diva Returns As Guest Trainer". PWInsider.com. 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  14. ↑ Ferrer, Mike (2013-12-01). "Ex CampeĂłn de la NWA irĂa al WWE Performance Center : Superluchas". Superluchas.net. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  15. ↑ "Exclusive: How an indie icon ended up at the WWE PC". www.wwe.com. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  16. ↑ "Former Nfl Star Talks About His Wwe Tryout, Sandow Does A Good Deed, Miz To Hangout, This Week'S Nxt And More". PWInsider.com. 2013-11-22. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  17. ↑ "Wwe Looks Back At Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Zbyszko Talks, Performance Center And More". PWInsider.com. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Mike (2014-01-28). "International star at the WWE Performance Center". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  19. ↑ "Man shot by deputies at WWE Performance Center had previous problems, friend says". WFTV. 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  20. ↑ "Man who was 'fixated on female wrestler' shot by deputy outside WWE Performance Center, sheriff says". WESH. 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  21. ↑ Davis, John W. (2015-11-23). "Video shows man shot by deputy at WWE Performance Center". Bright House Networks. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
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