Pro wrestling in future for Fresno State basketball twins? Here’s what WWE has planned

Since the NCAA enacted new regulations allowing college athletes to market their Name, Image and Likeness, Haley and Hanna Cavinder have been a leading example for the industry — turning their athletic prowess and social media know how into mega-money marketing deals.

The twins, basketball standouts at Fresno State, were two of the first athletes to sign endorsement deals when the new rules went into effect in July. There was a billboard in Times Square.

In October, they were featured on the HBO docuseries “Real Sports.”

On Wednesday, both signed a deal with WWE to be part of the sports entertainment company’s “Next In Line” or NIL (name, image and likeness) program. The Cavinders, from Gilbert, Arizona, were two of 15 athletes to sign to the inaugural class, which includes mostly wrestlers, football players and track and field athletes.

The program serves “to recruit and develop potential future Superstars and further enhances WWE’s talent development process,” according to a statement from WWE.

The athletes will have access to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, along with the kind of resources available to a company known for turning athletes into celebrities. That includes brand building, media training and communications, live event promotion, creative writing and community relations.

So, will we be seeing the Cavinder twins in the ring anytime soon?

It is a possibility.

“Upon completion of the NIL program, select athletes may earn an exclusive opportunity to be offered a WWE contract,” the company said. Earlier this year, WWE signed Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson to a multi-year contract. He could make his WWE debut at WrestleMania 38 in April.

This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 11:48 AM.