Is Wilder Serious About The WWE?

[jerrym]

James Wilder Jr. has announced that he is trying out for the WWE. Is he serious?

Toronto Argonauts running back James Wilder Jr. officially received a tryout from WWE.
Wilder shared a screenshot on Twitter of the email from the promotion confirming he'll get his opportunity to show off for WWE talent evaluators.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ng-out-for-wwe

Wilder wouldn’t be the first CFLer to leave the gridiron behind for the squared circle. Plenty of CFL players, from Angelo Mosca to The Rock to Roman Reigns, have done well in the world of professional wrestling. There is no guarantee or anything, but I think Wilder does have the tools to be successful in WWE. ..

His personality, or at least the one he has displayed while in the CFL, makes him a top candidate to be heel in WWE. He could talk up his football accomplishments, both at the pro and collegiate levels, to get under the skin of the fans. Maybe a pairing with fellow Florida State alum Ron Simmons — aka Faarooq — could work as well. Simmons, who was two-time All American and Heisman finalist during his time with the Seminoles, parlayed his collegiate success into a very successful run in both the NWA/WCW and the WWE. In 1992 Simmons become the one of the first African American world heavyweight champions when he defeated Big Van Vader for the WCW title in Baltimore. Wilder might never achieve those heights, but a pairing of the two based on their common background could make for some interesting TV.

https://3downnation.com/2019/03/24/how-will-james-wilder-jr-fare-in-the-crazy-world-of-wwe/

[jerrym]

Wilder seems to have a lot of balls in the air now.

1ST CANADIAN FOOTBALL CAMP🇨🇦
LINK IN BIO!
Party Bus from BMO to field w Pros✅
Live DJ at camp✅
Camp shirts✅
CFL players as coaches ✅
Food & Drinks✅
40+ Years of Pro experience✅
Dinner with players at restaurant✅
Party Bus from restaurant✅
#theWILDERcamp #getWILDER pic.twitter.com/tCuAZsIGJy

— James Wilder Jr (@IAm_Wilder32) March 24, 2019

[AngeloV]

I hope I'm wrong, because I am a huge fan of JWJ, but I think the uncertainty about his future is the reason the Argos are bringing in so many RB's. I have a bad feeling this will be his last in the CFL. Maybe he sees an opportunity to double dip with Vince McMahon and wrestle while also playing in the XFL. Vince would love that, and JWJ earning potential, at least for a year would be huge.

[gilthethrill]

I hope I'm wrong, because I am a huge fan of JWJ, but I think the uncertainty about his future is the reason the Argos are bringing in so many RB's. I have a bad feeling this will be his last in the CFL. Maybe he sees an opportunity to double dip with Vince McMahon and wrestle while also playing in the XFL. Vince would love that, and JWJ earning potential, at least for a year would be huge.

I would not be surprised if JWJ does not play in the CFL again.

[AngeloV]

I would not be surprised if JWJ does not play in the CFL again.

I think he will definitely be here this year. He won't make much money off wrestling at this point. He would need at least 6-9 months of learning that trade before McMahon would even consider putting him on TV, and that's only if he is a very quick learner.

[argonaut11xx]

I think he will definitely be here this year. He won't make much money off wrestling at this point. He would need at least 6-9 months of learning that trade before McMahon would even consider putting him on TV, and that's only if he is a very quick learner.

I suspect with the amount of potential money, US dollars, JWJ will do what he can to learn wrestling asap.

How long were you a pro wrestler Ang?

[AngeloV]

I suspect with the amount of potential money, US dollars, JWJ will do what he can to learn wrestling asap.

How long were you a pro wrestler Ang?

about 7 or 8 years. I never committed to it really, but enjoyed doing it for the most part. But I can tell you that some of the guys I know that made it, took years to get to the WWE. Again, if Vince McMahon sees the possibility of a good crossover promotion, I can see him fast tracking JWJ, assuming of course the XFL gets off the ground.

[Argo57]

about 7 or 8 years. I never committed to it really, but enjoyed doing it for the most part. But I can tell you that some of the guys I know that made it, took years to get to the WWE. Again, if Vince McMahon sees the possibility of a good crossover promotion, I can see him fast tracking JWJ, assuming of course the XFL gets off the ground.

Was that you wearing the “Simply Ravishing” robe while giving the “Rude Awakening” to some lucky lady in the audience?😛

[Argo57]

I hope I'm wrong, because I am a huge fan of JWJ, but I think the uncertainty about his future is the reason the Argos are bringing in so many RB's. I have a bad feeling this will be his last in the CFL. Maybe he sees an opportunity to double dip with Vince McMahon and wrestle while also playing in the XFL. Vince would love that, and JWJ earning potential, at least for a year would be huge.

Wilder had to fight tooth and nail to get the contract he did and although I thought his negotiating style left a lot to be desired he was underpaid for sure and I suspect he will follow the cash when this contract expires.

[AngeloV]

Was that you wearing the “Simply Ravishing” robe while giving the “Rude Awakening” to some lucky lady in the audience?😛

Do I really have to show you my abs?

[Argo57]

do i really have to show you my abs?

👍lol

[jerrym]

Wilder has made further comments on his WWE aspirations. He sounds very serious about pursuing the WWE. He also comments on the competition at RB going into Argos' TC at the end of the article.

The Toronto Argonauts’ running back shared with his near 30,000 followers on Twitter earlier this week that the dream he had before he’d discovered football had taken a step forward when World Wrestling Entertainment invited him to a tryout in Florida next month. ...

“I’m working for it, watching YouTube videos, what drills they do (at tryouts),” Wilder said. “I’m working those drills now and I’m going to definitely take advantage of the opportunity. They know I’m coming in with little experience, willing to learn. I’m very excited for them to be bringing me in.”
In his initial conversation with WWE officials, he told them that he plays in the CFL and that he’s under contract with the Argos for the 2019 season. “They know I play football,” he said. “They gave me a list of recent people who’ve done both. For their recent tryouts they’ve brought out Olympians, all types of athletes that are currently playing (another sport). I don’t think it’s going to interfere, unless they offered me something like The Rock money, something you just couldn’t turn down,” he laughed.

Wilder, 26, grew up watching wrestling, mimicking the moves and phrases of The Undertaker, The Big Show, Stone Cold Steve Austin and one-time Calgary Stampeder, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
“Heck yeah it was always something I wanted to do,” he said. “I never really tried, but once they emailed me and gave me an invite and told me they’d fly me out and take care of everything I figured, ‘Why not?’” ...

In his still relatively short time in the CFL, Wilder has also shown a unique ability to load himself up with sponsorships. He said he’s up to nine or 10 deals right now, some of them paid, with other brands supplying him with free product. In the world of sports-entertainment, those are skills that are just as important as being able to throw around gargantuan figures that generally only exist in comic books.
“I feel like it’d be a really great fit for me,” Wilder said. “They’ll have to say it but I just feel like it’s my personality, normally. When I first posted the news, everyone around the CFL, fans, everywhere the first thing they said was, ‘This is so you. This fits you perfectly.’”

He’s gotten advice on the next steps from Titus O’Neil, a fellow Tampa, Fla. native who has successfully taken the path that Wilder is looking at. As a football player he was Thaddeus Bullard, a University of Florida d-lineman. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were interested in him in 2000, but he managed to land with the Jacksonville Jaguars and then spent a few years playing in the Arena League. When his football career ended he went to pro wrestling. He’s been with the WWE since 2009. ...

Wilder takes care of his football workouts first and what little free time he had is now going to prepping for his tryout next month. He’s been watching YouTube videos of auditions and plans to head to a wrestling gym in Mississauga, so he can get a feel for in-ring activity. That time spent in front of the mirror will have to pay off, too. He says he’s working on three characters, complete with storylines and personalities.
“I’m definitely planning for it all,” he said. “I’m doing my foottball workout first, doing all my football studying first, then after that I’m putting in double time to try to figure things out with my character. When I come into the workout I want to be five steps ahead of everybody else.” ...

Tyrell Sutton, Chris Rainey, Kelvin Taylor and Canadian Mercer Timmis are new additions. They’ll be up against Brandon Burks, Dexter McCluster and Wilder when camp opens.
“I feel like almost every running back we have could potentially start on another team,” Wilder said. “It’s competition. As soon as everybody got signed we added everyone to the group message. It’s not like, ‘This guy’s here, why’d they bring him in? Is this guy going to take my spot?’ It’s a business. Let’s all come in here and compete, may the best man win. Let’s all come in here and compete and let’s have fun doing it. It’s all part of the business.”

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/30/world-...quared-circle/