WWE Signing Of Zoe Hines Said To Be Politically Driven

A recent signing by WWE of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s niece, Zoe Hines, is drawing attention following claims about how the deal came together.

Zoe Hines, who was announced this week as part of the latest Performance Center class. Hines, the niece of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., joins the WWE after previously competing as a collegiate and international softball player.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the signing had been expected internally for some time, with the move described as something that was widely anticipated within WWE well before it became official.

Meltzer stated that while Hines is a legitimate athlete, her tryout ahead of SummerSlam 2025 did not stand out significantly, adding that the decision to bring her in was viewed by some as influenced by wider connections. He also noted that the signing had been discussed internally for months, with many believing it was inevitable.

“I certainly heard a lot about Zoe Hines, I would say six months ago, and it was very much this is one that was politically forced on them. She’s a real athlete, she’s a softball player. When she had her tryout, it’s not like she knocked them dead or even knocked them even. It was very much said it was a forced hiring because of who she was and because of Robert F. Kennedy and Linda McMahon both being in the cabinet.”

Hines’ arrival had already been publicly referenced earlier this year, with Kennedy stating in March that she had agreed to join WWE and pointing to the involvement of Linda McMahon in helping facilitate the deal.

Zoe Hines Joins WWE Performance Center

Despite the speculation surrounding her signing, Zoe Hines now enters WWE’s developmental system alongside the rest of the new class, where she will begin training at the Performance Center.