Johnny Russo, the head writer of WWE NXT, spelled out the promo habits that sink a tryout, and WWE put the session on YouTube. Russo addressed the class of hopefuls at the company’s SummerSlam week tryout in Minneapolis, where independent wrestlers and athletes spent the week auditioning for a developmental deal.
His first note was about cadence. Talent trying to sound important tend to chop their delivery into fragments instead of speaking like a person.
“A couple of things that I see that a bunch of people do,” Russo said. “Don’t talk in phrases, talk in complete sentences. ‘[Robotic cadence] So…when…I…talk…like…this, I…don’t…sound…like…a…real…person.’ Just talk normally.”
The second habit is the rhetorical question, which dies in a room with nobody there to answer it.
“Don’t ask questions, no one’s answering. ‘Hey guys, you want to know something?’ No one says anything and you continue. Don’t ask questions, just say what you gotta say.”
The Generic Trap
Russo saved his sharpest note for the material itself. Wanting it badly is not a character trait, and every hopeful in the room can claim it.
“Don’t be generic. I heard a lot of generic stuff. ‘I want to be the best I can be. This is my dream. I work hard.’ How is that unique to you? Everyone’s journey is different. No one person is the same. Even the tag team, you guys have a different story and journey. How does that make you different?”
Movement got a pass, with a caveat. Russo said body language is fine as long as it supports the words rather than pulling focus, and warned against aimless pacing that draws attention away from the promo itself.
Who Was In The Room
The camp ran through the week leading into the two-night stadium show at U.S. Bank Stadium, which closed with Kevin Owens’ surprise return and Baron Corbin dethroning Trick Williams. Attendees included KJ Orso, known in AEW as Fuego Del Sol, whose invitation was reported by Fightful Select days before the tryout began, along with Josh Bishop of MLW, J-Rod, and former AEW Dark competitor Brooke Havoc. Titus Alexander, Conan Lycan, Colton Theron Vaught, Joe Lando, Adam White, and Monica Monroe also took part.
NXT coach Steve Corino said the group had a lot of quality, and noted that most attendees wanted to play villains, a preference he understood given his own run as a heel. Anyone who converts a look into a contract reports to the Performance Center in Orlando, the same grind Joe Hendry credited when he won the NXT Championship. WWE’s video also featured a promo from Joseph Chavis, son of former WWE wrestler Tatanka.
