Former AEW talent getting WWE tryout of sorts (Patreon)

WWE has their eye on a former AEW talent, but in a different kind of way.

Leyla Hirsch left AEW earlier this year, and has wrestled a number of independent shows over the last few months. However, Fightful Select has learned that WWE had reached out to Leyla Hirsch to communicate interest in a tryout of sorts.

Sources within WWE tell Fightful that they reached out to Leyla Hirch about a potential tryout with the company as a referee. We’re told that some in WWE had heard bout the communication in mid-June, but we haven’t learned if it was accepted or if the tryout has already happened. 

Though it is rare, joining WWE as a referee doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your wrestling career. Jessika Carr joined WWE as a referee, then started wrestling again on EVOLVE as Kalyx in 2025.

In an update on this story, those in WWE and close to Hirsch say that she contacted WWE to communicate interest in a referee position. The tryout was then approved.