The World Wrestling Entertainment in conjunction with its Sub-Saharan Africa broadcast partner, SuperSport, have announced a continent-wide talent search to find Africa’s next WWE Superstar.
The campaign was announced in an interactive media briefing in Lagos, to herald Lagos as the host city for a multi-day tryout in February 2023.
WWE Head of Talent Operations and Strategy, James Kimball, led the delegations from the US to meet with the SuperSports team led by the Chief Executive of SuperSports, Marc Jury.
According to Kimball, the search for Africa’s Next WWE Superstar “is now open to Nigerians and citizens of other African countries and their submissions will be accepted until December 18.”
“Interested candidates are to submit a video highlighting their potential to become a WWE Superstar. Successful applicants will be invited to participate in the Lagos tryout in February 2023.
A select number of tryout participants will be awarded an all-expense-paid experience to continue their tryout journey alongside current and prospective WWE superstars, ahead of WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles in April 2023.”
Kimball said that at the end a full-time WWE developmental contract might be offered to the top-performing participants who would then begin their new career at the WWE Centre in Orlando, Florida.
Kimball added that Africa is a focal point of their renewed global talent recruitment strategy and this initiative in Lagos would launch what they envision to become a year-round multi-country effort to cultivate relationships.
“We at WWE identify talent that will resonate with our passionate and loyal African fanbase ever increasing in Africa especially in Nigeria.
“The region has incredible potential to serve as a meaningful talent development hub for WWE and we look forward to working with our tremendous partners in Nigeria at SuperSport.
“Our target is to uncover the next generation of superstars through this program,” Kimball said.
Similarly, Marx Jury, for the SuperSports team said that the continent abounds with athletes and this would be a perfect opportunity to showcase fresh talents.
“There is a massive appetite among African audiences for WWE action and entertainment, we expect this initiative to be very popular with aspirants.
“SuperSport looks forward to telling this exciting story in the weeks and months to come.”Jury said.
Phaedra Almajid claimed that she was in the room with Qatari official Hassan Al-Thawadi at a hotel in Angola in January 2010 when money was offered to the three men- Adamu, Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma Ivory Coast, who were among 24 voters set to pick the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts later that year.
Qatar won hosting rights for the 2022 tournament in a FIFA vote ahead of Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the USA.
Almajid told the doc, “We were talking about how Africa had been given its chance to host the World Cup and how the Arab world should be given their chance, and then Hassan offered Hayatou $1m for Hayatou’s football federation (Cameroon) and in return, we wanted his vote.
“I remember there just being laughter and then him saying that is not enough, and so the price was upped to £1.3m — just like that. It was just so simple, “We will give you this money for your football federation, you give us your vote and thank you so much.”
“One by one we did the same thing with Anouma and Adamu. $1.5m was offered to each member that evening in exchange for their vote. It was verbal, I never saw money.”
Almajid alleges the offer came at a meeting of African football federations in January 2010, just under a year before the FIFA vote for the 2022 host nation.
All three African officials have denied any wrongdoing.
Almajid claims the proposed money was made to the federations, rather than the individuals themselves.
She added, “It was made very clear the money was going to football, it was never said it is going into your pocket, I do need to emphasise that. Where it ended up I have no idea.
“Before I went back to my hotel room, Hassan told me, ‘You never repeat this ever again to anyone and I was like, ‘OK.’”
Al Thawadi has strongly denied the claims.
He said, “My reaction, especially on the Phaedra situation, it’s frustration.”
“They are inherently false and there are facts on the ground that prove they are false.”
Almajid anonymously revealed the alleged offers to the Sunday Times after being sacked by Qatar’s bid, and later signed a statement withdrawing her claims.
Detailing why, Almajid explained in the doc: “I’m starting to get threats, anonymous calls, emails, social media.
“I was basically told either you sign an affidavit stating that you lied or else we are legally going to come after you.”
