WWE Signs Olympian To Developmental Contract

The WWE has signed Olympian judoka Aaron Fara to a developmental contract, along with several other Olympian athletes, as reported by WON.

Fara is an Austrian judoka known for his success in international judo competitions, particularly in the men’s 100 kg weight division. He has represented his country in various prestigious tournaments, including the IJF World Judo Tour and the European Judo Championships.

More News: Goldberg Speculated to Move to AEW After Final WWE Match

He earned his first medal at a Judo World Tour event in October 2018, securing third place at the Grand Prix Cancún in Mexico.

In 2023, he achieved a significant milestone, finishing second at the Grand Slam Tashkent in early March. Less than a month later, he claimed his first World Tour victory at the Grand Slam in Antalya.

Fara also competed in the 2024 Olympic Games, participating in the men’s 100 kg weight class as well as the mixed team event. In the individual competition, Fara was eliminated in the first round by Aaron Wolf of Japan, the defending Olympic champion.

It is unclear as yet what his deal with the WWE will entail, though reportedly the company recently tried out a group of 17 Olympic athletes. The promotion also offered contracts to Canadian Olympic judo athlete Shady Einahes from Canada and South African discus thrower Francois Prinaloo, though it has not been confirmed if they were accepted.

WWE has a long history of featuring Olympic athletes, who bring athleticism and credibility to the company. Kurt Angle, an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, became one of WWE’s top stars after joining in 1999.

Ronda Rousey, a bronze medalist in judo at the 2008 Olympics, transitioned from MMA to become a major WWE Superstar, winning the Raw Women’s Championship. Bobby Lashley, a former Olympic wrestler, also found success in WWE, capturing multiple championships.

More News: WWE ID Announces 4 New Independent Signings

The company has been on something of a development spree as of late. The newly launched WWE ID program marks a significant move for the industry-leading promotion, with WWE describing it as a way to provide independent wrestlers with a clear path to a potential career in the company.

The program aims to “identify top independent wrestling prospects” and support their development as they work toward joining WWE. So far, the first signees to the WWE ID program include Zayda Steel, Bryce Donovan, Cappuccino Jones, and Jack Summit.

It appears that the WWE is now expanding into recruiting Olympic athletes, so we might be seeing some impressive new rosters of talent in the near future.

For more on the WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.