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For the first time, we heard from the WWE on the recent signing of former UCF Knights offensive lineman Parker Boudreaux, as WWE’s “Triple H” Paul Levesque was asked about the Boudreaux signing during his latest global media call
Black and Gold Banneret was first to report back on Februrary 1st that Boudreaux was no longer on the UCF Football roster.
Parker Boudreaux is no longer on the #UCF football team.
— Black & Gold Banneret (@UCF_Banneret) February 1, 2021
It appears the former Knights offensive lineman has turned his full attention to his wrestling career, and more hints about his future in the ring dropped on Sunday night. https://t.co/bZPAeUlftf
Triple H, who is the Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development in WWE and created NXT to help develop wrestlers, said the following about Boudreaux when asked about his signing:
Triple H: "People look at somebody like Parker [Boudreaux] and see, 'Oh, my god, he looks like Brock Lesnar.' So immediately they go, 'Oh, he's the next big thing.' ... As amazing as an athlete as [Parker] is, you've got to be trained. You've got to know what you're doing."#UCF
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) February 11, 2021
“For all of this, you have to be ready to be a performer. Even Brock Lesnar wasn’t a guy like that, as amazing as an athlete that he is like Parker. You got to be trained, you got to know what you are doing. Everything’s got to do be done safely.”
Many outlets, including Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer, Sean Ross of Fightful, and Spectrum 360’s John Alba, reported that Boudreaux signed a developmental contract with WWE.
As reported by @davemeltzerWON, @ParkerBoudreaux has signed a developmental deal with @WWE.
— Black & Gold Banneret (@UCF_Banneret) February 5, 2021
Credit also to @SeanRossSapp and @JonAlba. #UCF https://t.co/nSab0n9kDr
“I am incredibly excited about Parker Boudreaux coming in. Triple H said. We have a lot of people coming in the door. Just as much as I am about people that have been here for a while, like Rik Bugez and a lot of people that are in the door that are at the cusp but COVID has slowed that down. But they are right there.”
Triple H downplayed the comparisons Boudreaux has had with WWE’s Brock Lesnar.
“When I say the future is bright, that is what I am talking about. The ability for those who are in those positions, to be able to explode and grow into The Next, um, I don’t want to use ‘Next Big Thing’ because everybody thinks about Brock, but to be that next star, to be that next megastar.”
There is no word on when Boudreaux will make his WWE TV debut. He is one of two former UCF Football players currently under a developmental contract with WWE, with Cal Bloom being the other. Bloom signed with WWE in 2019.
Congrats to @UCF_Football alum Cal Bloom, who is joining the @WWEPC!
— Black & Gold Banneret (@UCF_Banneret) March 13, 2019
Hopefully we’ll see him on @WWENXT soon. #BuiltByUCF #UCF https://t.co/HIIrHM4STp
Back on the April 10th, 2020 edition of “Smackdown” on Fox, Bloom made his WWE TV debut, losing a match to Sheamus.
NEW: Former @UCF_Football TE @TheCalBloomWWE makes his WWE TV debut on #Smackdown https://t.co/lqAWWOH6Fk
— Black & Gold Banneret (@UCF_Banneret) April 11, 2020
So it could be a while before we see Boudreaux on TV. But one has to wonder if one day we could see a battle of the Knights in a wrestling ring down the road.
Come on, @WWE. @bloom_cal vs. @ParkerBoudreaux.
— Black & Gold Banneret (@UCF_Banneret) February 11, 2021
On @WWENXT at @FullSail.
Make it happen, @TripleH. #UCF https://t.co/P2Je95sIDE