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Ozarks pro wrestler earns WWE tryout

Posted: Jul 30th 2026 By: Jesse Inman - OzarksFirst.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Colton Theron Vaught, a local pro wrestler from the Ozarks, is on the cusp of reaching the pinnacle of the pro wrestling industry.

The 30-year-old professional wrestler, known in the ring as “Must CTV,” still carries the pride of his hometown and the Ozarks everywhere he goes.

“I always represent Crane, Missouri,” Vaught said. “I have a lot of pride representing the 417.”

Now, that pride is taking him to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he will have the opportunity of a lifetime: a WWE tryout ahead of the two-day SummerSlam event at U.S. Bank Stadium.

For Vaught, it is the kind of moment he dreamed about as a kid watching the company’s biggest stars. Watch the full interview with Vaught at the top of this story, and keep reading for more.

“The best way that I can compare this to is you getting a tryout for your favorite NFL, MLB, NBA team,” Vaught said. “This is a company that I’ve watched my whole life. I grew up, it’s my childhood, and now I get the opportunity to actually be a part of it.”

Vaught’s journey to that opportunity has been built through years of combat sports training. Along with professional wrestling, he trains and competes in MMA and Muay Thai — disciplines he says have helped shape his style inside the wrestling ring.

“My MMA style is pressure, walk you down, break you, and that’s what I take to the wrestling ring as well,” Vaught said.

That mindset has fueled years of training.

“I’m working like somebody owes me time,” he said. “I love working out. That’s part of my life.”

While some people may view professional wrestling as simply scripted entertainment, Vaught sees something much deeper.

“It’s absolute entertainment,” he said. “The best athletes from all walks of life.”

Vaught said today’s professional wrestling features athletes from a variety of backgrounds, including former Olympians and professional athletes from other sports.

“It’s no longer just that big bodybuilder guy,” he said. “You’re getting the best athletes from across the world, and they are giving you hard-hitting action.”

But athletic ability is only part of what makes a wrestler successful, according to Vaught. The other part is storytelling.

“You can relate to them,” he said. “It’s just like watching your favorite movie. If I can connect with John Wick’s love and his dog, I can connect with this guy fighting from behind and going to get to the top.”

For Vaught, the most rewarding part of wrestling comes from that connection with fans.

“They’re reaching for you to maybe grab the rope, or kick out, or do something,” he said. “You get that one bit of eye contact and you’re reaching for them.”

He said those moments remind him of being a young fan himself.

“It’s like I flipped it, and that’s me reaching for John Cena when I was a kid,” Vaught said.

Some of his inspirations growing up are Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and Rob Van Dam – wrestlers that embody the scrappy yet intense style he likes to bring to the ring.

Vaught has spent the past seven years building his career through promotions across the region. He credits Mid-States Wrestling, which holds events throughout the Ozarks and Midwest, as one of the biggest influences on his journey.

He also pointed to Wrestling for a Cause in Oklahoma, a promotion that donates event proceeds to children battling illnesses and other challenges.

Training has remained a constant part of his success. Vaught said Infinity Martial Arts in Springfield has helped him develop skills in jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and boxing.

Professional wrestling training requires more than learning moves. Vaught said it requires mastering body control, awareness and the ability to safely execute high-impact moments in the ring.

“You are preparing to know the ropes, to run them, to jump off them, to springboard,” he said. “It’s really connected to body control and ring awareness.”

The WWE tryout will bring together some of the top independent wrestlers and athletes from around the world. Vaught said the three-day event will test competitors’ athleticism, in-ring skills and ability to perform on the microphone.

He said this particular tryout is also unique because it is one of the few public WWE tryouts in company history.

“One of the last days when we have those matches for the independent wrestlers, fans will actually get to see those next generation stars make their first step into the future,” Vaught said.

The opportunity came together unexpectedly — and in the same gym where he continues to train for MMA.

Vaught said he was at Infinity Martial Arts after class when he received a message from a WWE executive asking him to call. At first, he couldn’t believe it.

“I called him, he told me he liked what he saw,” Vaught said.

After sending additional match footage, Vaught received the call that changed everything.

“He said, if you got time, I would love for you to come to this SummerSlam tryout,” Vaught said. “I said, I’ve got nothing but time for you when it comes to a SummerSlam tryout. I’m ready to rock n roll.”

It turns out, the person on the other end of that call was a WWE Hall of Famer: AJ Styles.

The former multi-time World Champion spoke about seeking out Vaught recently on the “Phenomenally Retro” podcast. Vaught is one of many wrestlers he handpicked for the tryout.

“CTV, Colton Theron Vaught, he’s another one. Colton is a pro wrestler and MMA guy, so he’s in fantastic shape. Not the biggest guy, but he looks a little crazy to me, and I like that about him,” Styles said.

After he heads to Minneapolis, Vaught will step back into the ring locally.

He is scheduled to compete August 8 for Mid-States Wrestling in Springfield at the Relics Event Center, where he will face “The Trophy Hunter” Clayton Bloodstone in a submission match.

No matter what happens at the WWE tryout, Vaught will continue representing where it all began.