Summary

Jim Smallman says the biggest thing he looks for when scouting independent wrestling for WWE is whether a performer can form an immediate connection with the crowd.

Smallman, who previously helped run PROGRESS Wrestling and has worked in WWE recruiting outside the United States, discussed his approach in a recent WWE Recruit video. Rather than focusing only on technique, athleticism, or presentation, he said the quality that stands out most is the harder-to-define ability to make an audience care.

That answer gives a clear look at how WWE evaluates talent beyond the usual checklist. It also lines up with the kind of star presence that often separates prospects who get noticed from those who simply have solid in-ring tools.

Quote from Jim Smallman

While speaking in the WWE Recruit video, Smallman said:

"What I look for when I go to an independent show is primarily people's connection to an audience. There are loads of people who are fantastic technical wrestlers. There are loads of people who are fantastic athletes that have a great look, but the thing you're looking for the most is: do these people connect with an audience. That's the really magical thing. There are people who, the second they walk through the curtain, they have it, they have something special, different, a complete intangible. That's what you're looking for. Not everyone has it. Some people have it from day one, some people have it after time, but that's what you're looking for. It's like a mysterious ingredient 'X' that you can't really describe but when you see it you know it, and when someone has that connection it's really special."

Jim Smallman's comments show what WWE values most

Smallman's remarks suggest WWE is still prioritizing presence and crowd connection as much as raw ability when it searches for talent internationally. For independent wrestlers hoping to get noticed, that puts the spotlight on how they carry themselves from the moment they enter the building, not just what they can do bell to bell.

It is also a familiar idea in WWE circles. The emphasis on charisma and presentation matches what Paul Heyman described when explaining what he looks for in a WWE client, even if Smallman was speaking specifically about scouting at live independent shows.

Smallman announced in December 2024 that he was leaving the WWE NXT creative team, but this latest appearance underlines that his role in talent identification remains a notable part of WWE's wider recruitment process.

Sources

As reported by Fightful