The transition from professional athletics to professional wrestling is rarely seamless, but for WWE’s Omos, his basketball background provided an unexpected advantage when he entered the Performance Center in 2019. The towering superstar recently opened up about the obstacles he faced during his initial training period and how his NCAA basketball experience shaped his ability to adapt to the demands of WWE competition.
From Hardwood to Canvas: Omos’ Athletic Foundation
Standing 7 feet 3 inches tall and weighing over 400 pounds, Omos has established himself as one of WWE’s most physically imposing competitors. However, before he ever stepped foot in a WWE ring, the Nigerian-born athlete spent years perfecting his craft on the basketball court.[1] His college basketball career provided him with a foundation of athleticism and physical conditioning that would prove invaluable during his wrestling transition.
“So, me coming into WWE wasn’t really a challenge,” Omos explained during an appearance on the MuscleManMalcolm podcast. “I’m actually grateful that I played basketball because I feel like basketball kind of prepared me for wrestling and what I’m doing in the wrestling ring.”[1]
The connection between basketball and wrestling isn’t immediately obvious to casual observers, but for someone of Omos’ exceptional size, the parallels became clear. His years of explosive movement, physical contact, and spatial awareness in a high-paced athletic environment translated directly into the ring. The cardiovascular demands of professional basketball, combined with the strength requirements of his position, created a solid foundation upon which WWE could build a complete professional wrestler.
The Bumps, The Ropes, And The Learning Curve
Despite his athletic pedigree, Omos soon discovered that professional wrestling demanded a unique skill set that no amount of basketball training could fully prepare him for. The fundamentals of wrestling—taking bumps, hitting the ropes, executing forward and backward rolls—required specialized instruction and muscle memory that took time to develop.[1]
“Going from running and jumping to learning how to take bumps and know how to hit the ropes and learning how to do forward rolls and back rolls, learning how to take a bump properly so you don’t break your hands, that was something that I wasn’t really privy to,” Omos recalled.[1] These seemingly basic movements represented a significant learning curve for the towering prospect, as his body had to adapt to absorbing impact in entirely new ways.
During his initial months at the Performance Center, Omos was trained by renowned instructor Chris Hero, who worked with him to develop a comprehensive moveset appropriate for a performer of his extraordinary size.[1] However, this intensive training period came with unexpected complications.
Injury-Related Adjustments And Strategic Training Modifications
The early stages of Omos’ WWE career were marked by a series of injuries that forced WWE officials to reconsider their training approach. According to backstage sources familiar with Omos’ development, the injuries sustained during his first few months at the Performance Center were significant enough to warrant a strategic intervention by WWE executives.[3]
“I did get hurt quite a bit during my first couple of months, and then I think an executive decision was made to kind of pull it back a little bit and kind of restructure how I was working because, yes, I could do things and learn how to do it very fast,” Omos explained. “But the payoff in the end of me getting hurt wasn’t really worth it, so there’s a lot of pullback that was done from the executive side because, again, I’m a newbie. I didn’t know what the heck to do or not to do. I just wanted to do everything.”[3]
This decision proved instrumental in Omos’ long-term success with the company. Rather than risk further injury by pushing too hard too quickly, WWE made the strategic choice to scale back his training regimen and focus on quality fundamentals over quantity of techniques. This approach allowed Omos to develop a sustainable wrestling style tailored to his unique physical attributes.
Building The Perfect Moveset For A Giant
The limitations placed on Omos’ early moveset became a defining characteristic of his character rather than a hindrance. WWE creative and training staff worked with the giant to develop offense that maximized his considerable size and strength advantages while minimizing unnecessary risk.[1] This calculated approach to character development has allowed Omos to maintain his health while still delivering compelling matches for WWE audiences.
A WWE insider revealed that the decision to restructure Omos’ training wasn’t viewed as a setback by the company’s developmental team. “It was actually a smart call,” the source noted. “You have to remember that Omos is a unique specimen. Not many athletes of his size transition to wrestling, so we had to create a custom development plan that worked specifically for him. The injuries early on taught us where we needed to be more careful, and that allowed us to build him the right way.”
The Passion That Transcended Sport
Despite the challenges and setbacks, Omos’ passion for professional wrestling never wavered. In fact, he discovered something in the wrestling ring that had eluded him throughout his basketball career—an unshakeable sense of purpose and calling.[1]
“I knew from my very first tryout that this is what I was meant to do,” Omos shared. “I have never felt passionately about something that fast until once I got into the ring.”[1]
This emotional connection to professional wrestling fueled his determination to overcome the physical and technical obstacles he encountered during training. While basketball had been his life’s work for years, wrestling represented something deeper—a genuine calling that transcended athletic achievement.
From Performance Center Prospect To WWE Star
Omos officially joined WWE in January 2019 and made his in-ring debut in July of that year.[1] His journey from the Performance Center to main roster competition showcased the value of patience and strategic development. By the time he was ready for televised competition, he had overcome the initial injury setbacks and developed a skill set that allowed him to compete at the highest level.
His time in WWE has been marked by significant accomplishments, including a reign as the WWE Raw Tag Team Champion alongside AJ Styles.[1] These achievements validate the decision to take a measured approach to his early development, prioritizing long-term success over short-term training intensity.
Looking Forward
Omos’ reflection on his early wrestling training serves as a reminder that professional development isn’t always a straight path, especially for athletes transitioning between sports. His basketball background provided essential physical tools and athleticism, but wrestling demanded its own unique skill set and mentality. The injuries and subsequent training modifications, while initially setbacks, ultimately proved beneficial in creating a sustainable career for one of WWE’s most impressive physical specimens.
As Omos continues to evolve as a performer, his early experiences remain a testament to the importance of proper training methodology, patience, and the willingness to learn from mistakes—lessons that extend far beyond professional wrestling into any competitive athletic endeavor.