Dean Malenko's Daughter Marie Malenko Signs With WWE
WWE has announced four new Performance Center signees, headlined by Marie Malenko, daughter of AEW producer Dean Malenko, who joins under the ring name Lacey Simon.
Malenko attended a WWE tryout earlier this year and has already gained international experience, having competed in Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH prior to signing.
Mason Rook's signing was largely a formality given his existing NXT presence. The heavyweight from the United Kingdom has already made his mark on television, teaming with Kam Hendrix to defeat NXT Champion Tony D'Angelo and North American Champion Myles Borne before turning on his partner by laying him out after Hendrix stole the pin. John Cena has publicly reacted to Rook's NXT segments on social media on multiple occasions. Rook has also competed for NOAH.
Nicole Martinez signs under her indie name Nikki Blackheart, having worked a dark match at Tuesday's NXT taping. She was said to have been heavily on WWE's radar prior to her tryout. Marcus Brown is a former bodybuilder entering professional wrestling after a WWE tryout in 2025.
The full signing class consists of Mason Rook, Nicole Martinez, Marie Malenko, and Marcus Brown.
