Today The Performance Center is home to WWE’s third brand, NXT. The facility covers and includes seven training rings, a strength and conditioning program, edit and production facilities including an ultra-slow camera, and a voice-over room that performers and on-air announcers can use to practice. The facility was opened in 2013 and replaced the training center at WWE's former developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, which was based in Tampa and had been serving as WWE's developmental headquarters since 2008. The Performance Center trains around 65 to 70 wrestlers at any one time. Trainees have a variety of experience levels, from beginners from non-wrestling backgrounds to experienced wrestlers from the independent circuit. Wrestlers train to improve their in-ring performance, strength and conditioning, as well as working on their characters and personality. Upcoming referees, ring announcers, commentators, and backstage interviewers also train at the Performance Center. The trainees train full-time, while also performing at weekly NXT house shows and appearing on NXT television. In addition, established WWE Superstars often use the facility for training and injury rehab while mentoring new trainees. The Performance Center uses former wrestlers as trainers. The inaugural head trainer was Bill DeMott, who departed the company in 2015 and was replaced by Matt Bloom. Other trainers include Sara Amato, Robbie Brookside, Norman Smiley, Adam Pearce, Mike Quackenbush, and Sarah Stock. Dusty Rhodes was responsible for developing the trainees' microphone skills and wrestling personas until his death in 2015. The Performance Center includes some guest trainers, including Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. In addition to training contracted performers, the Performance Center is also regularly used for tryouts which operate on an invite-only basis and include athletes from a wide variety of backgrounds, including established domestic and international professional wrestlers, amateur wrestlers, NFL and NCAA American football players, and individuals from a range of other sporting and non-sporting backgrounds. A second Britain-based Performance Center opened in Enfield, London on January 11, 2019. In April 2019, WWE announced plans to open additional Performance Centers in India and China. On March 12, 2020, WWE announced that live episodes of Raw andSmackDown would air from the Performance Center without an audience until further notice beginning with the following day's episode of SmackDown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the suspension of many professional sports leagues; the company had begun filming episodes of NXT without an audience the previous day. On March 16, it was announced that WrestleMania 36, set to take place on April 5 and previously scheduled for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, would instead be moved to the Performance Center, again without an audience. The Performance Center would subsequently also host Money in the Bank, Backlash, and Extreme Rules.
Locations
United States
The first WWE Performance Center facility was opened on July 11, 2013. The Performance Center replaced the training center at WWE's former developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, which was based in Tampa and had been serving as WWE's developmental headquarters since 2008.
United Kingdom
The British branch is located at the Great Cambridge Industrial Estate in Enfield, London and was opened on January 11, 2019. The center is 17,000 square feet and includes 2 rings. The school will be used to train potential future professional wrestlers from across the globe.
2015 shooting incident
On August 31, 2015, Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies shot 29-year-old Armando Montalvo outside the Performance Center after he threatened them and charged at them. Montalvo was "obsessed" with female wrestler AJ Lee and made numerous attempts to trespass through the facility, despite an injunction against him by WWE. Days after the shooting, Montalvo claimed he was bipolar when he was questioned by detectives. He faced trial in February 2016 on charges of aggravated assault, resisting an officer with violence, and trespassing. A public defender representing Montalvo has entered a written plea of not guilty on his behalf. On April 19, 2018, WWE filed an emergency restraining order against Montalvo after he returned to the Performance Center the previous month and harassed the employees. In addition, Montalvo posted a threatening message to WWE wrestlers and staff on his Instagram account. On May 7, 2018, Montalvo was arrested for missing his court date with WWE.
