WWE has a long history of inviting some of the world’s biggest sports stars to participate in their shows. Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather have both appeared at Wrestlemania, while many others have entered the ring at Raw or Smackdown.
Given its appeal, the WWE is always going to attract the names and it is exciting to see who is going to be involved in 2019. Here is a look at three men who have been linked with the organisation.
Like Mike Tyson was in 1998, Conor McGregor has the label as being the ‘baddest man on the planet’ as he has very little respect for authority. The UFC star is box office and he proved, when he faced Floyd Mayweather in 2017 in a boxing ring, that he isn’t afraid to try a new project.
McGregor was tipped to appear at Wrestlemania 35 and although that didn’t materialise, don’t rule out the Irishman being a part of one of the big PPV events later in the year.
Conor McGregor fan drops lawsuit against UFC legend after phone smashing incidenthttps://t.co/8DhlL03v6q pic.twitter.com/FQhODkl7Zm
— Mirror Fighting ???? (@MirrorFighting) April 9, 2019
Notorious has had an on-off dispute with UFC which has meant he has only fought once in the octagon in the last three years so he may see wrestling as his next venture, which would be great news for fans of the WWE.
Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder has won 40 of his 41 professional contests and has held his WBC world title since January 2015. The Bronze Bomber is known for his big knockout punches and is not afraid to run his mouth which makes him ideal for the WWE.
Wilder is set to defend his title once more, later this month, where at the time of writing, he was 1/8 in the boxing betting to beat Dominic Breazeale. If the American comes through that bout with a victory, don’t rule out a guest appearance in the wrestling ring.
We have seen some fantastic boxer vs. wrestler matches over the years - the one which stands out the most is Mayweather vs. The Big Show. Unlike Floyd, Wilder is big enough to match it with the big guys at the WWE so he will not be at a size disadvantage if he goes take one of the giants at the organisation.
Rob Gronkowski retired from the NFL earlier this year after winning his third Super Bowl with the New England Patriots when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. The 29-year-old is considered to be one of the greatest tight ends to play the sport. Now that his football career is over, what next for Gronk? Could it be the WWE?
I will be retiring from the game of football today. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick gave to me when drafting my silliness in 2010. My life experiences, relationships and championships over the last 9 years have been amazing! pic.twitter.com/DAMM9wMVxb
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) March 25, 2019
At 6ft 6in and weighing 268 pounds, Gronkowski is a giant of a man. It would be really interesting to see him square up to the likes of WWE Universal champion Seth Rollins. Although any participation which requires too much physical exertion looks unlikely given his injury record, Gronk would be a fantastic addition to the WWE on a short-term basis.
Once the latest changes from the WWE Superstar Shake-up settle down, watch out for some of the above making a guest appearance.
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