Zoe Hines Joins WWE, Sparks Controversy
Zoe Hines, the niece of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines, is making her mark in a completely new field. At 23 years old, she was once a collegiate softball player for Boston College, but now she’s stepping into the world of professional wrestling.
Hines has signed a contract with WWE, marking her first step towards becoming a professional wrestler. The organization announced this week that she will begin training and performing as part of WWE’s weekly NXT television program, which showcases its rising talents.
Her journey to WWE started earlier when she tried out for the company in August 2025 at an open tryout held around the annual SummerSlam event. Hines shared the news on Instagram, writing, “Surprise! I’m officially a WWE Wrestler!!” along with photos of her posing on the NXT stage.
However, her signing has sparked debate among wrestling fans. Many questioned whether it was a political move, given WWE’s close ties to the Trump administration. Linda McMahon, a former WWE co-owner, currently serves as the US Secretary of Education, while Hines’s uncle, RFK Jr., is the US Health and Human Services Secretary. Additionally, current WWE executive Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque is the vice chair on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
Longtime wrestling podcast host Dave Meltzer even suggested that the signing was politically motivated. He stated on his Wrestling Observer Radio show, “I certainly heard a lot about Zoe Hines, I’d say six months ago, and it was very much like this is one that was politically forced on them.”
Meltzer added, “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 that it was a forced hiring because of who she was and because of Robert F. Kennedy and Linda McMahon both being in the cabinet, and it was just that she wanted to try… It was like Simone Johnson (Dwayne Johnson’s daughter), the same thing.”
He also mentioned that some members within WWE were “dreading” the signing of Hines. “As far as the hiring of her, I would say it was probably known easily a year ago that it was inevitable that this would happen,” he continued.
Public Reaction and Other New Signings
Meanwhile, some fans took to the comment section on Hines’s announcement post, calling her a “nepo.” This term refers to someone who benefits from their family connections rather than their own merits.
Hines wasn’t the only rookie to join the WWE ranks this week. The company also announced the signings of four other future stars: Garrett Beck, Nicholas Panicali, and Alyssa Daniele. All of them joined as part of the company’s latest NXT rookie class.
This development has raised questions about the intersection of politics and entertainment, especially in the context of WWE’s high-profile connections. As Hines begins her training, the wrestling community will be watching closely to see if she can make her own mark or if her presence will continue to spark controversy.
