Top WWE official sends major mission statement ahead of SummerSlam

The new era of WWE takes the stage in Cleveland for SummerSlam Weekend. The company has a full schedule for The Forest City, including one multi-day event that will help shape the future of the brands and their rosters. A key official has just issued a clear statement on the future of World Wrestling Entertainment, with exclusive footage.

Shawn Michaels is overseeing the SummerSlam Tryout Experience in Cleveland this weekend. The first-ever WWE tryout open to fans kicked off today with Jey Uso and Tiffany Stratton assisting the company's Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative and his Performance Center coaches. A few other Superstars are also stopping by the tryout camp to interact with athletes and fans.

The Heartbreak Kid spoke to WWE cameras at the tryouts today and talked about how the camps boost morale and the strength of the locker room. He captioned the post by declaring that the tryouts are about more than talent as the company is building a new culture of success.

"There hasn't been one of these tryouts I've been to, to where all the kids don't come together pretty quickly. Look... I think that's kind of built in them instinctually from their athletic backgrounds, to be a part of a team, and very supportive and encouraging of one another. Look... that's, from a morale standpoint, it's paid off exponentially from a locker room standpoint, for all of us, and they always start here at the tryouts," Shawn Michaels said in the video below.

He continued:

"For those that do make it and continue on, they continue to build on those relationships when they're coming to Orlando, and then obviously that also passes over into our locker room. So, it really is... that's another dynamic that has been a huge advantage as we go out there and search for these athletes," Shawn Michaels said.

WWE hospitality partner On Location sold $650 packages for fans to attend today's tryouts. The ticket included priority seating, a custom in-seat cooler with bottled beverages and gourmet snacks to take home, plus a Coaches' Q&A session, and a Meet & Greet with Uso and Stratton.

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Top star welcomes Shawn Michaels to new WWE NXT era

Ethan Page shocked the WWE Universe when he made his NXT debut in late May. The 18-year veteran won the NXT Championship in his 4th match for the company, defeating Shawn Spears, Je'Von Evans, and former champion Trick Williams at Heatwave in July.

NXT boss Shawn Michaels recently celebrated his 59th birthday, and Page wished him a Happy Birthday, while also declaring The Era of Ego. He also shared a backstage photo with the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative.

"Happy Birthday @shawnmichaels. I gift you the 'Era of Ego' in #WWENXT. The @WWE Universe can thank you for sharing your amazing birthday gift with the world. So generous [grinning face with smiling eyes emoji] [finger pointing left emoji]," Ethan Page wrote with the photo below.

All Ego is scheduled to defend his title against Oron Mensah next Tuesday at Night 2 of The Great American Bash. The former AEW and TNA star made his first title defense on July 16 as he retained over Dante Chen.