The WWE announced its first group of student athletes to get name, image and likeness deals and Lawrenceburg High School graduate and current Michigan wrestler Mason Parris was one of 15 chosen for a deal.
What the company calls a "Next in Line" deal allows partnered athletes access to the WWE Performance Center in Florida and gives other resources like help in brand building, media training, creative writing, event promotion and community relations. The company also says athletes could receive an opportunity to be offered a contract by the WWE after completion of the name, image and likeness deal.
Parris was a three-time Indiana High School Athletic Association state champion with a 206-1 overall record.
At Michigan, Parris was an NCAA qualifier as a sophomore for the championship tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was still named a National Wrestling Coaches Association First Team All-American.
In his junior campaign, Parris was an NCAA All-American and was the national runner-up as a heavyweight. Parris was runner-up to Minnesota's Gable Steveson who also beat Parris in consecutive Big Ten Championship finals.
Steveson won a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics and was the first college athlete to sign a name, image and likeness deal with WWE back in September.
Oklahoma State wrestler A.J. Ferrari was the other wrestler joining Parris in the inaugural group that includes track and field athletes and basketball and football players from 13 different schools, including Kentucky and Ohio State.
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