WWE has signed sumo and football athlete Hidetora Hanada, according to a report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider. The signing adds another crossover athlete to the company’s growing roster of recruits from outside traditional wrestling.
Hidetora Hanada (Credits: Fightful)
Hanada visited WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, in 2025 and took part in a tryout for the company. That visit appears to have paved the way for the deal, with the report confirming that Hanada has now put pen to paper with WWE.
Hidetora Hanada’s Sumo and Football Background
Hanada brings a rare dual-sport background to WWE. He played football for Colorado State, and his sumo career stretches back to his high school years. He won championships at the Junior World Sumo Championships in both 2018 and 2019, establishing himself as a standout in the sport at a young age.
He joined WWE’s NIL program in 2025, and in December of that year, he graduated from college. The NIL program has become one of WWE’s main pipelines for bringing in athletes from other sports, giving them a route into professional wrestling while they finish their studies.
What Hanada’s WWE Signing Means
Hanada’s combination of sumo power and football athleticism makes him an intriguing prospect for WWE’s developmental system. Sumo wrestlers have a long history in professional wrestling, and Hanada’s championship pedigree suggests he could adapt quickly to the physical demands of the ring.
It remains to be seen whether Hanada will head to the Performance Center and eventually appear on NXT, but his signing continues WWE’s trend of recruiting elite athletes from outside the wrestling world.
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Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
