EDMONTON – When the WWE comes to Rogers Place tomorrow for Friday night Smackdown, Elks defensive lineman Noah Curtis will get an up-close look at his dream.
The 25-year-old Canadian/American has been racking up sacks on the Elks defence this season with five in the first 11 games. A wrestling fan for most his life, there was a period where Curtis could have been body slamming former EE Alumnus Roman Reigns instead of CFL quarterbacks. Back in 2022, the Keiser University product was very close to trading in his cleats for a pair of ring boots.
“I saw an ad to do a WWE tryout, and it was just one of those live in the moment things,” Curtis said. “I just filled out an application and a week or two weeks later they sent me a text message on my phone saying, ‘hey, I’m so-and-so from the WWE recruitment talent. We think you have what it takes to be a WWE superstar.’ So, I had to do more applications after that. I had to do a video promo, and then a month later I got the text saying that they wanted to fly me out to Tennessee for the trial.”
Congrats @EdmontonEsks on your win last night! @WWERomanReigns pic.twitter.com/SEvowio0qt
— WWE (@WWE) August 10, 2019
Becoming a pro wrestler is a dream for many young kids who grew up giving their siblings flying elbows from the top of the couch cushions, but rarely do they have an opportunity to make it a reality. Wrestling, and the WWE in particular, is filled with larger-than-life characters, but the 6-foot-6, 302-pound Curtis certainly fit the bill.
When Curtis talks wrestling, you cans see the passion he has for the art. Whether it’s the office pay-per-view pool against members of the Elks Training Staff, or his wrestling themed sack celebrations, Curtis is a wrestling diehard.
“I’m a lifelong fan. I remember as a kid, my dad took me to a house show in West Palm beach out to South Florida fairgrounds in like 2006,” Curtis said. “Rey Mysterio was there and he did his 619 and a promo against Chavo Guerrero. Bobby Lashley was there versus Finley. King Booker was there. I think that was like my first real wrestling experience that made me fall in love with it. Ever since then, I’ve been tuned into the history from the 70s, 80s, 90s, to now. It’s something I would never, ever stop watching.”
As for the 2022 tryout, Curtis remembers himself and the rest of his recruiting class being put through the paces to test their mettle and see if the group was up to snuff. Coming from football, he was already used to taking part in a physical sport, but to see the toll wrestling can take on the body despite being a scripted activity was eye opening.
“Everybody had bruises on their back. People thought they were concussed. It’s no joke,” Curtis said. “There was one guy who did a roll and soon as he got up fluid started coming about his nose. One guy ran, did a bump, and he got concussed. People say it’s like fake and stuff, but it takes a toll on your body.”
Being a WWE superstar requires more than just size and in-ring technique, it also requires a proficiency on the mic. It’s the part of a wrestler’s tool kit that can turn the average athlete into a superstar. From the Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson ululating ‘do you smellllll, what The Rock is cooking” to Ric Flair braggadociosly referring to himself as a ‘kiss stealing, wheelin’ and dealin’ son of a gun’, the promos remain as memorable as anything done between the ropes.
Luckily for Curtis, he had one of the all-time best at the tryout to instruct, and maybe tear the group down.
“Later in the day were promo classes with Paul Heyman,” Curtis said. “We all had to introduce ourselves, our characters.”
“Then Paul Heyman came up giving this infamous speech about how we did everything wrong. Nobody was a heel, nobody had a character, and stuff like that.”
Following the experience, Curtis didn’t end up signing with WWE. He was recovering from an injury and still wished to pursue a career in football, which eventually took him to the Edmonton Elks. He has continued to be in touch with talent recruiters, and at 25-years-old, he has plenty of time to prepare himself for an industry which sees most of their top stars reach their peak in their late 30s.
In the meantime, Curtis will be at Rogers Place on Friday night to get an up close view at a dream that still lingers on. He says he’s excited to see what the Bloodline storyline has in store, but even if ringside is as close as he is able to get to participating in a WWE live event, his tryout was an incredible glimpse at an industry he loves.
“It was amazing,” Curtis said. “It was an experience I’ll never forget.”