WWE held tryouts during SummerSlam weekend for current and recently graduated college athletes. Dwight Howard is a 36-year-old NBA free agent who skipped college and went into the NBA Draft from high school.
He still showed up at the WWE tryouts, cutting a promo on stage under the character Shonuff, the Shogun Master.
Speaking in a media scrum after the promo, Howard was asked about his potential future in WWE.
"I think it is something in my future. I love the WWE, I love wrestling, I love being part of something that is going to build up our kids, their character and stuff like that. WWE is perfect. I'm grateful and thankful for this opportunity to be here and witness this whole thing, the tryouts and everything. Hopefully, one day in the future, I'll actually be in the ring wrestling and holding up a belt. That would be amazing," he said. "I've just been watching this my whole life and I thought, If I had an opportunity to do this, I was going to do it with my whole heart and try to be the best that I can. I thought it ended up pretty good. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed it and I'm going to continue to do my best to get better."
Howard is coming off a season with the Los Angeles Lakers where he averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds. He is currently unsigned, but hopes to find a team before the season starts.
"I would love to play in the NBA. That's where I've been my whole entire life, I love basketball, that's my passion, I still have years left in me. I would definitely love to play and end my career on a high note, a great note, and then transition to the best business in the world, the WWE," he said.
When it was mentioned that the NXT Performance Center is in Orlando, where Howard started his career as a member of the Magic, Howard said, "That would be awesome if I started in Orlando, a new career as a wrestler, just like I did with the Magic as a basketball player. I can't wait to see where this goes. I'm looking forward to meeting all the superstars. I've met the ones coming up to be the next superstars. I want to meet all the legends and one day become a WWE legend myself. I'm looking forward to it.'
Howard returned to the stage the next day at the tryouts, cutting another promo.
Fightful will provide fans with more information on the WWE tryouts and Howard's potential future with the company when it is known.
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