WWE News: WWE NXT Talent Set To Wrestle In 2016 Summer Olympic Games
When it comes to the WWE, we’re always hearing about “sports entertainment,” which implies that we are not seeing a real athletic competition but rather something of an dance between two or more people for the pure purpose of entertainment. It is scripted, and it is not two people trying to kill each other for real. We know this as fans, and that is cool with us.
That is why news like this is so cool to see. Current WWE developmental talent Adrian Jaoude was brought in due to the fact that he impressed WWE a great deal. Like Jason Jordan and Chad Gable before him, Jaoude had a great background in actual wrestling. Coming out of Lebanon, he had a very impressive background winning “Best Brazilian Wrestler” in 2000 in the juniors category; then, he won in the seniors category in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2012.
He stands at 6-foot-2-inches and weighs in at 220lbs. Clearly, he is one of he most gifted and decorated wrestlers WWE has in their developmental system. It should come as no surprise that he will be adding yet another accolade to the mix. WWE recently announced that Jaoude will compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics for Brazil’s wrestling team.
This is the first time a WWE contracted athlete has competed in the Olympics. While WWE has brought in Olympians before, like Mark Henry and Kurt Angle, they never brought them in before they competed or had them under a contract at the time.
He was signed to a deal this past October with WWE and has been working to show he belongs since his arrival. However, his wrestling ability was never in doubt. WWE trainers rave about Adrian and what he has done since arriving.
WWE trainer Robbie Brookside said the following regarding Jaoude.
“Adrian’s come into the group and his natural ability has shone through. It’s still very early in his career, but thus far, he’s come in and picked things up – footwork, balance, attitude, application and holds. He’s got a great appreciation and understanding of what it’s all about and puts it to great use.”
WWE Head Coach Matt Bloom heavily praised Adrian.
“To be as successful as he’s been, you need to have that desire to be the best in whatever you do. Adrian has that. He understands that this is a whole new process, with new techniques. He knows that by working harder than the guy next to him, he’s going to advance. He’s doing just that.”
While he will clearly be wrestling in the Olympic games, most likely as a heavyweight, the real thing here is the history he is making. The games will be going down in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They obviously want to make sure they do well in every single sport. For them to choose Adrian, it means he clearly is among the best the country can offer to the games this time around.
Brazil has come up short in hosted events, memorably the FIFA World Cup. They want to do well, so they need to make sure every person on every team can properly represent the country. Adrian clearly brings that to the table with his highly-decorated wrestling career.
While his win over the rest of the world’s top wrestlers is by no means a given this summer, he clearly can work hard on his body in preparation with WWE’s Performance Center. The Center is one of the most advanced places in the world where wrestlers can do almost any exercise and work with various weights as well as learn about various programs all designed to someone’s specific needs.
For now, one of Brazil’s best in Adrian Jaoude is in good hands with WWE. It will be interesting to see what he can do in the Olympics for sure. If he were to win a medal, it would surely be something that WWE would want to hype up a great deal.
[Image via WWE]
