Daughter of Former WWE Champion Reportedly Tries Out for WWE

Marie Malenko, daughter of Dean Malenko, takes part in recent WWE Performance Center tryouts.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Marie Malenko, the daughter of former WWE Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko, was reportedly part of the recent WWE tryouts held at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. This comes less than a month after Malenko made her in-ring debut for Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan.

Why it matters

The WWE tryouts are an important pipeline for the company to identify and recruit new talent. Malenko's participation, as the daughter of a former WWE star, is notable and could signal her interest in following in her father's footsteps and potentially joining WWE.

The details

According to reports, Malenko was one of several standout independent wrestlers who took part in the recent WWE tryouts in Orlando, including Notorious Mimi, Promise Braxton, Ricky SOuth, and Nikki Blackheart.

  • The WWE tryouts took place in recent weeks.
  • Malenko made her in-ring debut for Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan less than one month ago.

The players

Marie Malenko

The daughter of former WWE Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko.

Dean Malenko

A former WWE Light Heavyweight Champion and Marie Malenko's father.

Pro Wrestling NOAH

A Japanese professional wrestling promotion where Marie Malenko recently made her in-ring debut.

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The takeaway

The participation of Marie Malenko, the daughter of a former WWE champion, in the recent WWE tryouts suggests the company's continued interest in scouting new talent, including those with family connections to the industry.