WWE NXT Star Reveals How Talent Exchange Led To Contract

WWE

Sidney Bateman spent sixteen years as a professional acrobat in Cirque du Soleil but an opportunity would see him land on his feet in WWE.

Originally finding himself on the main WWE roster as Reginald Thomas, becoming Reggie with Carmella, Bateman is now Scrypts on WWE NXT.

Speaking on the Tapis Rouge podcast, Bateman explained how perfecting his craft had led to him feeling less fulfilled by his time in Cirque du Soleil.

He turned to writing and real estate investment before an unexpected opportunity arose.

Recalling the events of 2019, Bateman said:

“We’re in Orlando and the first week the coach comes to us and goes, ‘Hey WWE wants to do an exchange with you.’

“‘Would you guys be willing to go to their headquarters and train a day as a wrestler, then they would come here and train a day as a Cirque du Soleil artist?’

“I said, ‘Heck, yeah’.

“Been a huge fan of wrestling my entire life.

“Let’s do this.”

This led to Bateman contacting Matt Bloom, WWE’s head trainer, about becoming part of WWE.

Bateman invited to a tryout and impressed with his in-ring performance.

He would be announced as one of the recruits to the WWE Performance Center in January 2020, alongside Mercedes Martine, Jake Atlas and others.

Bateman had been told he could start in July 2020, though his contract stated a start date of January 2020.

It would be clarified that he could start any time between January and July of that year.

Bateman chose the earliest date possible.

Transcript from Wrestling Inc.

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