On Sunday, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) officially announced signing its first ever talent from the Arab World, Jordanian wrestler and jiu-jitsu fighter, Shadia Bseiso.
The announcement came a few months after Bseiso attended the professional wrestling entertainment company's invitation-only talent tryouts, which were held in Dubai earlier this year.
According to The National, 40 men and women from across the Middle East and India had been invited to audition, including Bseiso, who will start training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, in January.
"It's official"
In an official statement, Bseiso expressed her happiness at being signed to WWE.
“It is an honour to be the first-ever woman from the Middle East to sign with WWE."
“Working with WWE is an incredible opportunity. I have visited the Performance Center and attended the Mae Young Classic. I have personally witnessed the power of WWE and the passion of WWE fans. I look forward to starting on my path to becoming a WWE Superstar," she explained.
In his statement on the topic, the entertainment company's President of Talent and Live Events Paul Levesque said:
“Recruiting Shadia to join our developmental system underscores WWE’s ongoing commitment to building a talent roster as diverse as our fan base.“
"We’re confident Shadia will help inspire future WWE Superstars, as we continue to recruit the most talented athletes and entertainers from around the world," he added.
Who is Shadia Bseiso?
When she's not busy taking over wrestling rings, Bseiso is a successful Dubai-based TV, radio, and live presenter.
She has been on stage for the biggest brands in the Middle East.
The wrestler is also a voice-over artist who has previously worked on several projects for international brands.