Triple H has announced that WWE is heading to Hawaii in search of new talent from the Pacific Islands, inspired by the company’s deep historical ties to the region. WWE is set to return to the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu on October 16 for the first time in seven years, holding tryouts there with recruiters, coaches, and executives present. Speaking with KHON2, Triple H highlighted the significance of past stars who came from Hawaii.
“Hawaii holds a special place for us,” he explained. “Our origins are rooted there, with legends like The Rock and his grandfather Peter Maivia, and even Don Muraco who hails from the area.” He emphasized that the region’s wealth of athletic talent is the key attraction.
“The history of WWE is deeply connected to Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands are home to many exceptional athletes and powerful personalities,” Triple H added. “We’re excited to be bringing our search there to find the next WWE superstar.”
He pointed to the current WWE roster as proof of this legacy. “You see the Pacific Islands’ influence throughout our roster—Nia Jax, Roman Reigns, The Usos—all carrying that legacy,” he said. “We want to discover the next generation; we believe they’re out there. All they need to do is step up and show us what they’ve got.”
The story behind these names traces back to the same roots. Peter Maivia, born Fanene Pita Anderson in 1937, was Samoan and ran Polynesian Pro Wrestling in Hawaii until his passing in 1982. He was The Rock’s grandfather on his mother Ata’s side. The Anoa’i family—Roman Reigns, The Usos, Jacob Fatu, and Nia Jax—are linked to the Maivias through a blood brotherhood pact between Peter Maivia and Amituana’i Anoa’i, which is why these two families are often seen as one. Don Muraco, from Sunset Beach on Oahu, held the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice in the 1980s.
Since the announcement, the Hawaii event has expanded. WWE initially put tickets on sale in August for the October 16 show, then added a second night on October 17 after the first nearly sold out. Both events will showcase stars like Seth Rollins, The Usos, Jacob Fatu, Oba Femi, and Liv Morgan. WWE’s last show at the Blaisdell Arena was on September 22, 2019.
Three of those featured wrestlers are exactly who Triple H’s message revolves around. The Usos and Jacob Fatu are members of the Anoa’i family, underscoring the significance of holding two major shows in Honolulu starring these talents at the top, alongside a tryout in the same building.
This tryout marks the continuation of WWE’s efforts to expand its recruitment search. Earlier this year, WWE had a recruitment booth at the Hawaii Fit Expo in June, held in the exhibition hall adjacent to the arena. Returning twice to the same venue in just four months—with the second visit involving coaches and executives—signals a focused strategy rather than a mere tour stop.
The most recent large-scale tryout happened in Nashville during SummerSlam weekend in July, attracting around 50 athletes from 47 colleges and resulting in 14 contracts. According to Dave Meltzer’s report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, no one in that group clearly emerged as a future star, and the tryout saw many injuries as many participants lacked in-ring experience. WWE is reportedly considering shifting away from college-only tryouts, looking more closely at wrestlers with existing professional experience alongside athletes.
The Hawaiian tryout will be a key test of this new approach. Unlike a college scouting combine, this event targets established Pacific Island talent who often have prior wrestling experience.
WWE has yet to announce the specific date for the tryout or how potential candidates can apply, stating that more information will be forthcoming.
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Fan Take: This move is huge for fight fans because it taps into the rich, often overlooked talent pool of the Pacific Islands, a region that has shaped wrestling history for decades. If WWE successfully uncovers stars from Hawaii and beyond, it could bring fresh energy and cultural depth to the sport, creating new heroes for fans worldwide.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
