Gronk may soon have decision to grapple with
WWE mulls contract offer
With Patriots star Rob Gronkowski mulling his future in the NFL, World Wrestling Entertainment is reportedly looking to sign the Pro Bowl tight end to a contract, an option legendary wrestler Diamond Dallas Page told the Herald would be a perfect fit for the elite pass catcher with a big personality.
The sports world was thrown for a loop Friday when WWE insider Dave Meltzer reported in his Wrestling Observer newsletter that the organization might want to offer Gronkowski a similar deal to the one it recently inked with former UFC star Ronda Rousey.
Page, a former World Championship Wrestling star, said the Pats’ 6-foot-6 behemoth has all the physical and personality traits to stiff-arm his way from the gridiron to the squared circle.
“He’s super money and would bring huge attention to WWE. It would be amazing,” Page said yesterday. “For starters, he’s one of the best ever as far as the position he plays. Gronk’s got charisma for days, weeks. I think the fans would love him. He would go over like crazy. He’s a bigger-than-life character. If he wanted to do it — he’d be great.”
Gronkowski, 28, took part in Wrestlemania last year and is also reportedly considering pursuing an acting career.
After the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Gronkowski declined to commit to a return to the team next season, saying, “I’m definitely going to look at my future. We’ll sit down in the next couple of weeks and see where I’m at.”
He’s also dealt with numerous injuries, including back and forearm surgeries. He also suffered a concussion in the AFC Championship game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mark Madden, a former announcer with the WCW who’s now a sports radio host for WXDX-FM in Pittsburgh, said Gronkowski’s appeal to the WWE is that he’s an active NFL player. Madden said he envisions the WWE using Gronk in storylines against other wrestlers who the WWE is trying to make more popular.
“That’s what they’re going to do with Ronda Rousey,” Madden said. “Now, maybe they think Gronk can come in and be a full-time wrestler . ... I would guess their primary goal would be to use him to build somebody that would stay there for the long run.”
Madden added, “The guy is a big kid and he’s always had a fascination with wrestling. WWE is one of those things to adults that it seems totally ridiculous or totally cool. I’m going to think to Gronk it would be totally cool.”
During Wrestlemania last spring, Gronkwoski went from sitting in the crowd to stepping into the ring to help his real-life pal Mojo Rawley in a match.
Bryan Alvarez, who owns wrestlingobserver.com, said many pro football players have made the transition from the field to the ring, including former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene.
But, it’s always a crapshoot when trying to figure out if an athlete like Gronk can blend his gregarious persona and physical prowess into wrestling success, Alvarez said. He noted the grind for a full-time wrestler is grueling, and the money isn’t comparable to what elite athletes like Gronkowski make in the NFL.
“He has a great personality as a football player. But, obviously, pro wrestling is different,” he said. “Very few have gone from a high-level football career to high-level professional wrestling career.”