One former developmental talent opened up about her experience at the WWE Performance Center.
Volleyball standout Alexis Lete attended a WWE tryout during WrestleMania 38 weekend in 2022, and after being signed, reported to the Performance Center the following August. She left the company in late 2023.
Speaking in a new interview with DS Shin of Ring the Belle, Lete opened up about her experience as a WWE trainee, pointing to a bit of culture shock when it came to expectations of backstage etiquette.
“It is definitely not (everyday etiquette). My class, we were the very first class that was predominately athletes, being a college athlete. We were not on the Indies wrestling, we didn’t come from the wrestling world. I think we got a little picked on for it. That’s not surprising at all if someone is entering a new industry.
“If I’m a professional volleyball player and someone comes in and they were a professional soccer player, I’d be like, ‘why did they hire this girl? She doesn’t play this sport. What is happening.’
“It made sense why this was happening, but no one really told us, ‘Hey, go say hi to everyone.’ We’re like, ‘Okay.’ We would go and say hi to people, but they’re turning their backs and not looking like they wanted to say hi, so we’re like, ‘we won’t say hi, whatever,’ and moving about our day.”
Alexis Lete Recalled Backstage Meeting In WWE NXT
Continuing, Alexis Lete recalled an all-female talent meeting about properly greeting those in the WWE locker room.
“Two weeks later, we have an all-girls meeting, ‘You didn’t say hi to us.’ ‘You didn’t look like you wanted to say hi.’ It’s a respect thing of getting outside your comfort zone and even if someone doesn’t look like they want to talk to you, you still need to say hi and acknowledge them.”
“In this company, a lot of people just want to be acknowledged. Tribal Chief, am I right? It is true. Everyone kind of wants to be the cool kid on the block. The ultimate superstars, the people who are huge, the Rhea Ripleys, the Charlotte Flairs, they carry themselves in such a way that they are undeniable when they walk into a room and you say hi to them and they are also approachable to say hi. They’re not thinking they’re better than someone, they’re not turning their back.
“The superstars that are the superstars at the top, are the superstars for a reason because they are inviting to everyone because they know their place at the company and they’re at that place for a reason.”
Since returning to WWE at Survivor Series in November, CM Punk has spent time at the WWE Performance Center and has reportedly been very helpful backstage.
h/t Fightful