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WWE Signs Two New Talents — Report

WWE has reportedly signed two new talents for the NXT brand.

With WWE actively calling up NXT talents to RAW and SmackDown in recent months, the company knows that itâ€s time to try and replenish the roster of the NXT developmental brand. With any luck, perhaps one of these two new signings could eventually become a future main event star for the company.

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, WWE has signed champion gymnast Jessica Bogdanov and former football player Cyrus Habibi-Likio. Both will be reporting to the WWE Performance Center imminently.

Jessica Bogdanov participated in the recent WWE tryouts during SummerSlam weekend in New Jersey. She is well known in the gymnastics industry, winning awards and accolades at the Pan American Games and the USA Gymnastics Rhythmic Championships. In 2015, she was crowned the Freestyle Calisthenics World Champion.

You can see more of Bogdanov on her Instagram page by clicking the image below:

Cyrus Habibi-Likio was also present at the WWE SummerSlam tryouts in New Jersey. He comes from a background in NCAA college football, playing four seasons from 2018 to 2022. Habibi-Likio began his college career as a running back for the Oregon Ducks, playing there for three seasons from 2018 to 2021.

He would later transfer to Boise State and played there during the 2021-2022 season. Racking up 229 carries and 23 touchdowns throughout his career. One shocking statistic to note, as a running back, he never fumbled the ball in his entire NCAA career.

You can see more of Cyrus on his Instagram page by clicking the video below:

READ MORE: AJ Styles Reacts To Younger Talent Stealing His Moves

What do you make of this overall report? Do you think either of these signings will turn into a successful WWE Superstar? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

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WWE Releases Multiple NXT Talents

While a portion of the WWE main roster is overseas for Crown Jewel, the company is releasing multiple talents from NXT.

This evening, multiple NXT talents have taken to social media to announce that they have been released from WWE.

Weâ€ll start with someone with close ties to The Bloodline, as the cousin of Roman Reigns and The Usos, Lance Anoaâ€i, took to social media to announce his WWE departure, tweeting out:

“I would officially announce my departure from WWE! I didnâ€t have the best of luck since I arrived, I will not let this stop me from achieving to be great! Iâ€ve worked hard on the indies for 15 years! Now letâ€s get back to work! 30days Accepting bookings [email protected],†Lance Anoaâ€i said in a post.

Regarding his “luck†during his time with WWE, Anoaâ€i never managed to make his in-ring debut for the company as he suffered multiple injuries during his time under contract.

Shortly following Anoaâ€iâ€s announcement, Drako Knox, of WWE LFG and Evolve fame, took to social media to also announce his release from the company, tweeting out:

“Effective immediately, I have been released from my contract with WWE. I am thankful for every person and every day I spent in that PC. I give everything I have every single day for this business, I will be available for bookings in 30 days. Email: [email protected],†Drako Knox said in a post.

Stevie Turner announces her WWE departure

Later in the evening, Evolve General Manager and assistant to NXT General Manager Ava, Stevie Turner, announced that WWE had released her as well, tweeting out:

“My time with @WWE has come to an end. Iâ€ve had a brilliant time and Iâ€m so excited for the future *smiley face with open mouth and tightly closed eyes* see you soon,†Stevie Turner said in a post.

In addition to these names, Jamar Hampton took to his now-deleted Instagram page to announce that WWE has released him. Posting the following statement:

“Today I have officially been released from the WWE. I never wished to be a pro wrestler growing up, but Iâ€m grateful I got the opportunity to try! Iâ€ve always been a lowkey out the way type of person, but wrestling forced me to grow and step to the center of attention. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to keep going! belief in me kept me going when I didnâ€t believe in myself. This is the end of my wrestling career, Iâ€ll leave it to the professionals now! Wishing success for everyone at the PC! Love (P.S. My hip has healed & Iâ€m off crutches now),†Jamar Hampton said in a post.

You can see the post in question in the embedded tweet below:

Hampton competed a lot on both Evolve and WWE LFG. He was also one of the few WWE talents who were vocal in questioning the companyâ€s tributes to Hulk Hogan due to his racist comments in the past.

Another WWE ID contract has expired

While not signed to an NXT contract, we feel the need to mention that Zara Zakher announced this evening that her WWE ID contract has expired, tweeting out:

“As of today, my contract with WWE ID has expired, and Iâ€ll be taking a step back from wrestling. Iâ€m so grateful for all the people Iâ€ve met and everyone whoâ€s supported me. I donâ€t know if or when Iâ€ll be back, but Iâ€m hopeful for the future,†Zara Zakher said in a post.

Itâ€s unknown if any other releases tonight are expected. This post will be updated with any additional WWE releases that occur this evening.

READ MORE: Booker T Responds To Criticism Over Recent Jade Cargill Comments

What do you make of these WWE releases? Are any of these departures shocking to you? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

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Ricky Saints Reveals Which Talents Have Helped Him Grow As A Performer

Ricky Saints has had a lot of help along the way to become the WWE Superstar he is today.

WWE NXT Superstar Ricky Saints was a recent guest on Good Karma Wrestling. When asked which talents have helped him reach this stage of his career, Saints named quite a few people, including Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, and Cody Rhodes.

“Thereâ€s a few people in my life that have really helped me,†Ricky Saints began. “Youâ€ve got Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Cody, Shawn Spears; people like that, that have really, along the way, helped guide me to this point that Iâ€m getting to.

“Even some guys that are not as known. God rest his soul, Jax Dane was another guy from NWA that really took me under his wing and helped me out. So, I canâ€t say that this was a lonesome journey, for sure. There are people who have helped as much as they could, as much as they have been able to help. So I do think that this Saturday, it is on me to not only make them proud, but to make myself proud and my family proud as well.†[H/T: Fightful]

Ricky Saints will challenge Oba Femi for the NXT Championship later tonight at WWE NXT No Mercy.

WrestleZone will have live coverage of WWE NXT No Mercy later this evening.

READ MORE: Two New Champions Likely At WWE NXT No Mercy

What do you make of Ricky Saints†comments? Do you think heâ€ll win the NXT Championship later tonight at No Mercy? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

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