WWE.com has posted an article highlight the final tryout of 2018 at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida this week, including one standout independent wrestling talent.
“The Bad Girl” Penelope Ford, who has worked with “Bad Boy” Joey Janela on the independent wrestling scene including a prominent role at the ALL IN event in Chicago, was spotlighted in the article by WWE as being part of the tryouts.
Former UFC Middleweight fighter Eric Spicely was also profiled as being part of the tryout, noting his time as a cast member on the 23rd season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Spicely, who was trained by NXT star Oney Lorcan, had appeared for Beyond Wrestling.
Here is a full list of the talent part of the tryout courtesy of WWE:
Former UFC middleweight Eric Spicely, 32, from Rhode Island. The 205-pounder holds 10 wins in professional fights and was a cast member on the 23rd season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Having trained under NXT Superstar Oney Lorcan, Spicely has competed in independent wrestling organization Beyond Wrestling.
25-year-old Cal Bloom, son of former WWE Superstar Wayne “Beau Beverly” Bloom. The younger Bloom stands 6-foot-5, weighs 255 pounds and played tight end for the University of Central Florida. Although he hasn’t yet wrestled a match, he has trained under his father, former WWE Superstar Ken Kennedy and prolific wrestling coach Brad Rheingans.
Olympic sprinter Emmanuel Matadi, 27, from Liberia. Matadi represented his home country in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In 2015, while at Minnesota State University, Matadi won two NCAA Division II sprint titles.
22-year-old Heba Ali, a New Jersey-based physical trainer and fitness social media star who was featured on the fifth season of “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge.”
24-year-old Matrick Belton, a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder who played wide receiver for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
Olivia Hasler, better known by her ring alias “The Bad Girl” Penelope Ford, a former gymnast and cheerleader who has been wrestling on the U.S. independent scene since late 2014.
23-year-old Jeremiah Buoni, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound bodybuilder and cast member of MTV’s “Floribama Shore.”
Ontario-based heavyweight wrestler Randy Bynoe. With a background in amateur wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing, judo and more, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Bynoe trained for the ring under Santino Marella and Rip Rogers.
6-foot-5, 235-pound Clayton Chambers. A student of Booker T, Chambers is the current TV Champion of Booker T’s Houston-based Reality of Wrestling, competing under the name Van Harrison.
Cruiserweight Jonathan Cruz, who has wrestled throughout North America. Trained by The Dudley Boyz, Cruz is now an assistant trainer at the Team 3D Academy’s Florida location.
Georgia’s Alexis Evans, a 23-year-old from Georgia with a background in rugby and bodybuilding.
Independent wrestler Danielle Hardy, aka Marti Daniels. A standout in volleyball and basketball in high school, Hardy has held the Women’s Championship for Salt Lake City-based UCW-Zero.
Latasha Harris, known by her ring alias Tasha Steelz, a three-year veteran who has studied wrestling at the IWF Wrestling Training School and Team Adams Academy, both based in New Jersey. She is the current Chaotic Wrestling Women’s Champion.
Donald Howard, aka “The Man of Tomorrow” Daniel Eads, an independent wrestler from Evansville, Indiana, who’s competed throughout the Midwest and Southeast U.S.
22-year-old Lenns Kamba, a 6-foot-3, 224-pound former collegiate grappler.
Vincent Lawrence, a basketball player-turned-professional bodybuilder who is currently training for the ring in Miami. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder placed fifth among heavyweights in the 2017 World Natural Bodybuilding Federation World Championships.
26-year-old weightlifter Tina Rivas. Originally from Mexico and now residing in Seattle, Rivas was recently announced as a cast member of NBC’s “The Titan Games,” The Rock’s new physical competition series.
California wrestler Kenny Marquez, also known as Jake Atlas. A trainee of the Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy, Marquez was the team captain of his college’s nationally ranked cheerleading squad and was featured as a WWE hopeful in Stephanie McMahon’s episode of “Undercover Boss.”
26-year-old grappler Caleb Marsh, a two-time NCAA national qualifier who wrestled at Dolph Ziggler’s alma mater, Kent State University.
6-foot-6, 240-pound football player Josh McNeil, from North Carolina. A former Under Armour All-American in high school, McNeil was a member of the Carolina Cobras’ 2018 roster in the National Arena League.
Three-time Reality of Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Luis “Gino” Medina. The 22-year-old has eight years of experience training under Booker T in Texas.