WWE Signs 23-Year-Old Athlete Who Made History Before Her Wrestling Career

WWE reportedly adds a new prospect amid developmental roster changes.© NDTV Library

WWE has reportedly added one more name to its developmental pipeline, as 23-year-old Elly Finch signed a deal with the company, according to PWInsider. Finch got attention for something outside wrestling, because she became the first female to play varsity football for Royal Oak School in Michigan. She also went to WWE tryouts in January and August 2026 before she reportedly got the contract. The signing comes at a time when WWE parted ways with several developmental talents, including performers connected to its WWE ID program and EVOLVE. But even after those exits, the company keeps bringing new athletes into its system.

???? WWE has officially signed Elly Finch to a deal: “She the first girl to play varsity football for Royal Oak High School in Michigan as part of the graduating class of 2023, where she played tackle, left guard, and middle linebacker” https://t.co/JZl7PiUfE1 https://t.co/4IjaWP2FKF

— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) October 22, 2026

Elly Finch Reportedly Earns WWE Developmental Contract

PWInsider says Finch signed a developmental deal with WWE after attending tryouts earlier this year. Two tryouts, not one.

Her football past makes her a pretty interesting addition, since the report points out she was the first girl on the varsity team at Royal Oak School in Michigan, which is a big thing on its own.

At 23, she now has a reported chance to chase wrestling with WWE. However, the announcement doesn't say anything about her first appearance or where she will start training.

Her signing also lands in a time when WWE's developmental scene has seen many departures.

Performers who had developmental deals through the WWE ID program left recently, and other athletes who competed on EVOLVE were released too.

Those exits raised questions about the size of WWE's talent pool, and whether the company is cutting its roster to control costs.

The report ties the bigger situation to concerns about talent development and performers not showing enough progress. Still, if you really look at it, Finch's reported signing shows WWE is bringing new prospects in anyway.

WWE Developmental Roster Faces Exits as Anya Rune Steps Away

The latest signing comes with a backdrop of roster changes, as former WWE ID talent Anya Rune recently announced she is stepping away from wrestling.

Rune got released from WWE last month and said she wants to focus on her physical and mental health.

In a statement, the 21-year-old explained that she did not know how long the break will be, but she hoped time away could help her find a renewed love for the business.

“Hi everybody. I know a post like this is gonna let a lot of you down but I feel like its very necessary. Hell, I never thought I would end up making a post like this. I need to take a step back from wrestling. Both for my physical and mental health. I don't know how long this is going to last but I'm hoping to find a new love for it in the time I will be spending away.”

Rune did not explicitly announce her retirement, so how long the break goes stays uncertain.

Her decision comes while WWE continues reshaping its developmental ranks, and Finch is reportedly joining that system as a new prospect. Where each of them goes from here is still to be seen.