Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to make a shock appearance in WWE at their next Saudi Arabia pay-per-view.
According to AS, the wrestling company are 'working on a deal' to get the 38-year-old involved at their Crown Jewel show in Jeddah on November 4. The precise nature of his involvement can only be speculated but it's understood Ronaldo would receive a 'large appearance fee' if he agrees a deal.
Wrestling reporter Sean Ross Sapp said WWE were keeping their cards close to their chest after refusing to deny that they'd made an approach to the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar. He posted on X (formerly Twitter): "I've asked WWE about the rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo-WWE appearances, and they didn't have an answer."
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WWE's new owners Endeavour, who also own UFC, are reportedly keen to draft in the footballing legend, particularly given his popularity in Saudi Arabia following his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr last year. He wouldn't be the first footballing icon to make an appearance on one of the wrestling company's shows either.
Ronaldo's former manager Jose Mourinho had a small cameo on Raw when WWE came to London back in 2007 when he was Chelsea boss, and was insulted by Shane McMahon, while his ex-Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney slapped Wade Barrett during a segment on a Raw show in Manchester in 2015. Elsewhere, British heavyweight champ Tyson Fury made a couple of appearances for the company, including one in Saudi Arabia in 2019 where he wrestled – and beat – Braun Strowman.
Which wrestler would you like to see Cristiano Ronaldo interact with? Let us know in the comments section below.
Others footballers to have tried their hand at wrestling include former Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese, who trained in WWE's developmental system between 2016 and 2017, ex-Crewe keeper (what is about it keepers?) Stuart Tomlinson, who appeared on the company's NXT show under the ring name Hugo Knox in 2014, and Jade Gentile, who played semi-professionally in Iceland before joining NXT last year.
Former Norwich and Aston Villa striker Grant Holt also gave wrestling a go, though not with WWE. He joined up with British promotion WAW in 2018 after calling time on his footballing career. Similarly, former strongman footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa appeared at a PROGRESS wrestling event in the UK last year, though didn't actually wrestle due to an arm injury.
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WWE star Apollo Crews tipped Ronaldo for a career in wrestling after he hangs up his boots, telling Metro: "Honestly, with that mentality to be a top athlete in the world on that level, I think just on the mentality alone he would've done okay. When you start the physical part, that's a different story, though, for most people. But again, [he's] a world-class athlete so I wouldn't put it past him."
Speaking to Daily Star Sport earlier this year, Akinfenwa said he'd back himself in one-on-one between the ropes against Ronaldo. "There's not much Ronaldo couldn't do. I think he could get definitely get into wrestling," he said.
"His finishing move would be 'siu' and then jump up and smack the guy. Do I think I could take him? If me and Ronaldo wrestled, he'd be the bad guy, so I'd beat him. He'd come and give me the 'siu' and I'd have to give him the Beast Slam, and I need the energy of the crowd. It'd be tough … nah it wouldn't, I'd beat him."
WWE have been holding two annual pay-per-views in Saudi Arabia since 2018, with one being held some time in the first half of the year and Crown Jewel in either October and November.
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