American politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently confirmed that his niece, Zoe Hines, has signed a developmental contract with WWE, which will bring her into the company's training system linked to WWE NXT. It was reported that former WWE executive Linda McMahon played a role in finalizing this opportunity.
According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, discussions about Zoe Hines' situation had been ongoing internally at WWE for several months before her signing was made public. Hines participated in a WWE tryout at the Performance Center last August. WWE regularly recruits athletes from various sports backgrounds, particularly from collegiate programs, as part of its developmental pipeline. Hines played softball at Boston College.
The report also indicated that Hines' tryout did not go well, and talent evaluators at WWE were reportedly concerned that her political connections might complicate her journey to stardom. Hines is the niece of actress Cheryl Hines, known for her role on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is part of the Kennedy family and the current United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Trump Administration. With her contract now official, Hines will begin training within the company's developmental system.
During her collegiate career, she was a starter in multiple seasons and competed internationally with the French national team. Her batting averages during those years were reported at .169 and .214 in consecutive seasons, highlighting her role primarily in defensive contributions.
