Former TNA wrestler, Mercedes Moné indie opponent among WWE tryout attendees

WWE often holds high-profile tryout sessions in conjunction with some of its biggest events, like the one in New Jersey around SummerSlam last year.

Seems like a good time for WWE to run another one of those, what with all the openings at the Performance Center after a string of NXT call-ups to start 2026. But while the next event is one its biggest, Royal Rumble is in Saudi Arabia this year — not the easiest place to get a bunch of aspiring WWE Superstars together.

That’s why WWE is having the Jan. ‘26 tryout at the PC in Orlando, Florida. And as it’s scheduled for this week, we’re getting more names in addition to two we’d already heard.

Indie wrestler Bruss Hamilton and MMA fighter Regina Tarin were reported as tryout participants by Fightful Select. Three others shared about their attendance online. One of those was Nor “Phoenix” Diana, the Malaysian wrestler Mercedes Moné beat for the APAC Women’s championship at a House of Glory show last November. She then took part in Bayley’s Lodestone program. The WWE star was among those encouraging Diana on social media:

Former TNA and current Maple Leaf Pro wrestler Bhupinder Gujjar got a recommendation, too — from his past and current boss, Scott D’Amore:

Starboy Charlie, an independent wrestler based on the West Coast who’s been getting buzz for his work in GCW and elsewhere, posted his invite:

There will certainly be more than five or six folks at the tryout, and we’ll try to pass along any names we hear. Wishing luck to everyone taking part!