Former Sumo Wrestler Signs WWE NIL Deal

Former Sumo Wrestler Signs WWE NIL Deal WWE

Former sumo wrestling yokozuna turned college football player Hidetora Hanada has revealed that he has signed a WWE NIL deal.

Hanada was awarded a Colorado State Awards Football Scholarship in December 2023, bringing the Japan native to the CSU Rams.

Trying his hand at college football over rising through the sumo world where he is an amateur grand champion, Hanada is now exploring another career move via the WWE NIL program.

The WWE Next In Line program is designed to attract elite athletes and shape them for a future in the squared circle, something that Hanada clearly has interest in.

Confirming the news in a post on his personal Instagram account, Hanada would also reveal his experience of attending the WWE Royal Rumble, the fan reaction to the show and the scale of the operation, writing:

“I recently received an NIL offer from WWE, the world’s largest professional wrestling organization, and will be participating in an internship as part of my school classes this semester.

“*NIL is a system that allows student athletes to earn money by using their names and likenesses.

“Furthermore, I was invited to WWE’s biggest event of the year, the Royal Rumble, and watched it in Indianapolis!

“Every time a star player appears, the whole venue shakes with loud cheers🔥

“I experienced the overwhelming power and excitement unique to WWE, which is completely different from football or sumo.

“WWE manages not only the matches, but also the cameras, video staff, sound, props, etc. all in-house, creating an entertainment show.

“Furthermore, I was surprised to learn that WWE itself has become the center of the entertainment business, as it sells the content it produces to broadcast stations and distribution services, rather than providing programs to television stations.

“I’m really happy to be able to experience a completely unknown world and be involved with WWE, the pinnacle of entertainment.

“I hope to learn a lot from this valuable experience and utilize it in my future life!”

(Translated from Japanese)

Hanada plays Defensive Line for the Rams, with the 23-year-old standing at 1.85m and weighing 131kgs, according to his ESPN profile.

WWE NIL was established in 2021 with Oba Femi being the first graduate of the program to win a championship in the company as NXT Champion.

The program runs alongside WWE ID which was launched in October 2024 to develop and support independent professional wrestlers.

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2 days ago by Dave Adamson

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