Calvin Tankman Talks 2019 WWE Tryout, What William Regal Said To Everyone At That Tryout

MLW star Calvin Tankman recalls his WWE tryout and how tough it was.

Before signing with MLW earlier this year, Tankman took part in a WWE tryout back in December 2019, a tryout that also featured former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks. In an interview with Andrew Thompson of POST Wrestling, Tankman spoke on the caliber of the athletes that also attended the tryout, how demanding it was and what current NXT General Manager William Regal said to those who were participating in the tryout.

“I was in there with a guy that was a bodyguard for Drake, with another female that I think she had an NCAA record in like 100 meter dash or 400 meter dash or something like that. She has an NCAA record. We had ‘Ill’ Will Brooks, championship-level Bellator fighter and these people are struggling with this workout. So, to say that it’s [trying]? That’s an understatement,” Tankman said. “When you have the elite of the elite and they are struggling then you know you’ve done something that’s challenging, and one of the first things William Regal said to us is that he’s never had to do any of this stuff for a job and he — basically, he wouldn’t have been able to do the things they ask you to do at the tryout.” 

“They really push you, whether it’s [an] unprompted promo, randomly that you didn’t know you have to do or from weightlifting to multiple sessions in the ring for hours at a time. We would have to be dressed and ready in the P.C., ready to go, dressed at 9 AM and we didn’t leave until after 6 PM, and we just had an hour break for lunch,” Tankman continued. “Those three or four days, we were hustling and so like, by that third day, you’re hardly getting out of bed. It’s a struggle.”

Although Tankman was never signed by WWE, he eventually found a home in MLW, with the promotion announcing the signing back in June. 

You can check out the full interview in the video at the top of the page and at this link.