In December of 2021, World Wrestling Entertainment created its own name, image, and likeness program, called “Next In Line,” to recruit and develop future talent.
According to an article from the Detroit Free Press, the WWE’s NIL program has signed 31 full-time college athletes since it began, with 25 active athletes currently in the program. The partnerships feature training in brand building, media, communications, live event promotions, creative writing, community relations and access to WWE’s performance center in Orlando. After completing the program, athletes could be offered WWE contracts.
Recently, the WWE added 15 student-athletes to the list from 14 different universities, and two of those were chosen from Michigan-based universities.
After spending one season at Purdue in 2020, Carr, the Oak Park High School product, transferred to MSU and totaled eight catches for 135 yards in six games played during his redshirt freshman season. Carr also played one minute for the Spartans’ basketball team this past season, which happened to be against Michigan in East Lansing.
Hall, the Illinois native, spent four seasons at SIU Edwardsville before transferring to Mount Pleasant for the upcoming 2022-23 season totaling 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 94 games played while shooting 34.9 percent from the floor.
Both Maliq Carr and Mikala Hall are part of the WWE’s second NIL class.
