- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Former LSU Gymnast Misses WWE Contract After Tryout
KJ Johnson says WWE will hold another tryout in summer 2026 and has recommended training facilities in Texas.
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
KJ Johnson, a former Louisiana State University gymnast, participated in a WWE tryout at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida from January 12-16, 2026. While she impressed the coaches with her physical abilities, she struggled with the promo aspect. Johnson did not receive a contract offer, but was encouraged by the coaches to continue training and try out again in the summer of 2026. WWE has recommended training facilities in Texas for Johnson to work on her skills before the next tryout.
Why it matters
WWE's talent pipeline is closely watched, as the company looks to continuously build its roster of performers. Johnson's experience highlights the rigorous nature of the tryout process and the importance of well-rounded skills, beyond just physical abilities, for aspiring wrestlers.
The details
Johnson was one of around 30 Division 1 athletes at the January 2026 tryout, where it was known that 5-6 people would receive WWE contracts. During the tryout, she met several WWE stars including John Cena, Kelani Jordan, WWE EVOLVE Women's Champion Kendal Grey, and NXT Women's North American Champion Izzi Dame. While Johnson excelled at the physical aspects, she struggled with the promo portion on the first day before improving on the last two days. Despite not getting a contract offer, the coaches were impressed with her work and encouraged her to keep training, offering to recommend facilities in Texas for her to prepare for a potential summer 2026 tryout.
- The WWE tryout took place from January 12-16, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.
- Johnson learned she did not receive a contract offer two weeks after the tryout.
- WWE has told Johnson they will hold another tryout in the summer of 2026.
The players
KJ Johnson
A former Louisiana State University gymnast who participated in a WWE tryout in January 2026.
WWE
The professional wrestling promotion that held the tryout Johnson attended in Orlando.
What they’re saying
“I learned that you really just need to be willing to learn the technique of taking hits and 'bumps' as WWE called it, and you have to be ready to push your body to its limit.”
— KJ Johnson (WGNO)
“The coaches were really proud of my hard work and encouraged me to continue practicing promos and informed me if I wanted to come back for another tryout sometime this summer in 2026, that WWE would recommend training facilities and trainers in Texas for me to train at and improve the skills I learned in Orlando.”
— KJ Johnson (WGNO)
What’s next
WWE has told Johnson they will hold another tryout in the summer of 2026 and have recommended training facilities in Texas for her to prepare.
The takeaway
Johnson's experience shows the high level of competition and well-rounded skill set required to earn a WWE contract. While she impressed with her physical abilities, her struggles with promos highlight the importance of developing diverse performance skills for aspiring wrestlers.
