Well, folks, WWE is officially sending its up-and-comers straight into the deep end. The WWE ID Championship Tournament—a brand-new battleground for young indie talent—isn’t starting in a cozy WWE Performance Center. No, no. It’s heading straight to Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) and Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW) over WrestleMania Weekend. Because what better way to test your skills than in front of rabid GCW fans who consider light tubes a snack?
What’s the WWE ID Program Again?
For those just tuning in, the WWE ID program was announced in October 2024 as a pathway for young independent wrestlers to sharpen their craft through WWE-approved schools, indie promotions, and episodes of WWE EVOLVE. And now, both men and women in the program get a shot at making history by becoming the first-ever WWE ID Champions through this tournament.
Where’s the Action Happening?
- GCW (April 16) – As part of The Collective (GCW’s wild, anything-goes WrestleMania weekend series), they’ll host a special tournament event that will no doubt be a culture shock for these WWE hopefuls.
- FSW (April 18) – This tournament round takes place right after WWE SmackDown, meaning fans could go straight from watching Roman Reigns stare at someone for five minutes to seeing indie stars throwing hands for a WWE-sanctioned title.
Who’s in the Tournament So Far?
- Women’s Bracket: Zayda Steel, Zara Zakher, and more TBA.
- Men’s Bracket: Ice Williams, Jackson Drake, Cappuccino Jones (yes, that’s a name), Sean Legacy, and the swipe-right special team of Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes.
More participants (and indie promotions hosting matches) will be revealed in the coming weeks, but one thing’s for sure—this isn’t your typical WWE tournament. It’s WWE-meets-the-indies, and things are about to get very interesting.