Colorado State defensive lineman Hidetora Hanada announced Monday that WWE offered him an NIL deal under its "Next In Line" initiative.

Hanada said in an Instagram post he got to witness the production side of WWE firsthand by attending the Royal Rumble on Saturday in Indianapolis.

"I experienced a level of intensity and thrill that was completely different from football or sumo wrestling—something truly unique to WWE," he wrote

"WWE is not just about the matches; they manage everything in-house, from camera crews and production staff to sound, set design, and props, creating a seamless entertainment spectacle."

Hanada's athletic endeavors outside of football were likely a bigger draw for WWE than what he did on the gridiron with the Rams. Prior to joining Colorado State, he was an amateur sumo wrestler in Japan and the heavyweight champion at the 2022 World Games.

Hanada said on Instagram his NIL deal with WWE includes an internship that will be part of his coursework as the senior continues his studies at Colorado State.

WWE first launched its "Next In Line" program in 2021 as states across the U.S. opened the door for college athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness. College sports have long been fertile ground for professional wrestling to find future stars, so the project further solidified an existing pipeline.

Former Minnesota wrestler Gable Steveson was one of the first big names signed under the WWE NIL banner. Former North American champion Oba Femi and NXT's Kendal Grey are among the others who used the opportunity to kick-start their pro wrestling careers.

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