PWInsider Elite reports WWE has signed 24-year old Japanese sumo and football athlete Hidetora Hanada to a contract. Hanada visited WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, back in 2025 and also participated in a tryout for the promotion.

The report also notes, Hanada played football for Colorado State and also competed in sumo at the 2022 World Games in Alabama as well as 2018 in Japan and 2019 in Taiwan. He transitioned into football in 2022. Hanada had previously tried out for the NFL but was not selected following a tryout process.

Hanada expressed interest in professional wrestling last year and revealed in February 2025 that he had signed to a WWE NIL deal.

Hanada graduated from Colorado State in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary liberal arts.

WWE has signed Japanese sumo and football athlete Hidetora Hanada, 24, to an NXT contract. He played football for Colorado State and also competed in sumo at the 2022 World Games in Alabama as well as 2018 in Japan and 2019 in Taiwan. He transitioned into football in 2022. Hanada had previously tried out for the NFL but was not selected following a tryout process. Hanada expressed interest in professional wrestling last year and revealed in February 2025 that he had signed to a WWE NIL deal. Hanada is 6’1 and 280 lbs. – PWInsider

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 27, 2026