The WWE and the NBA have established several connections in recent years. Like most pro athletes, NBA stars can frequently be seen in WWE arenas when RAW or SmackDown LIVE visit their cities. Beyond that, The Miz and Dolph Ziggler have been very vocal in their support for their hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Undertaker famously visited the Cavs last year.
But because of the athleticism and drama involved, it is fun to draw comparisons between the stars of both sports. So here are 10 examples of WWE Superstars and their equivalents from the NBA talent pool.
#1 Roman Reigns & LeBron James
Let’s just get this one out of the way early because it’s fairly obvious. Roman Reigns and LeBron James have been compared on various platforms because the two have several aspects – both positive and negative – in common.
First of all, both men have been blessed with athletic abilities and attributes that their peers flat don’t have. Roman is a freaky combination of strength and agility, and men as big as LeBron just shouldn’t be able to move like he can. Both were clearly the “chosen one” early in their careers, but that’s also been a source of criticism. For Roman, he was a straight-to-WWE talent that didn’t go through the indy scene like Daniel Bryan or Seth Rollins. For LeBron, he has been a star who has lost big games instead of being a cold-blooded assassin like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
On top of all that, both have won their sport’s top title three times with a chance to add more.
#2 Randy Orton & Stephen Curry
Randy Orton is the son of a former wrestling champion, Bob Orton, and recently won his 13th world title in WWE. Steph Curry, meanwhile, is the son of former NBA player Dell Curry and has recently led the Golden State Warriors to a championship and record-breaking performances. As such, both men have exceeded the legacies of their fathers after growing up around their respective sports.
On top of that, each man is known for getting “in a zone” on the way to victory. For Orton, that means finding a dark place before hitting an RKO. For Curry, that means shooting 3-pointers from all over the floor. Either way, they’re tough to beat.
#3 Luke Harper & James Harden
The first similarity between Luke Harper and James Harden can be seen almost immediately. Both men are known for their wildly enormous beards that frequently make them look crazed.
The comparison doesn’t end there, though. Harper and Harden have both developed a following for their excellent skill sets, and fans are just waiting for them to break through for a major championship. Further, both left groups where they weren't the top star and are now trying to win without their former superstar teammates – with Harden having left the Oklahoma City Thunder and Harper having left the Wyatt Family, at least for now.
#4 Seth Rollins & Kevin Durant
With their careers at a crossroads, Seth Rollins and Kevin Durant made a choice to change teams in pursuit of championship glory.
For Rollins, that meant abandoning his Shield brethren and joining the Authority, blasting Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns with a chair in the process. He went on to win the Money in the Bank match and successfully cashed in for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship run.
In Durant’s case, we must wait to evaluate the decision. He left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors last offseason, and it remains to be seen if that will result in a title.
#5 Curtis Axel & Dwight Howard
Depending on which sport you follow more, this might seem like an unfair comparison for one man or the other. Still, there’s very good reason to see Curtis Axel and Dwight Howard as linked in their career paths.
Also read: 5 WWE Superstars who are grandfathers
Both came into their jobs with advantages that others didn’t have. Axel is the son of one of the most gifted wrestlers of all time, “Mr Perfect” Curt Henning, while Dwight Howard is a freakish athlete with tremendous leaping ability.
Despite all that, though, neither man has truly been able to break through for a top championship. Howard has changed teams several times, while Axel has attempted to make quite a few gimmicks work in his favour, both unsuccessfully.
#6 Cesaro & Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony is the poster boy for “best athletes without a championship.” A former high pick in the NBA Draft, Anthony was initially thought to be on par with stars like LeBron James, yet he hasn’t found the postseason success that James has despite being an elite scorer. Likewise, Cesaro is known as one of the strongest and most gifted wrestlers on the WWE roster, yet he hasn’t found his way to the top championships.
Unfortunately, both men are seen as having shortcomings that could keep them from ever reaching ultimate glory. For Carmelo, his lack of defensive prowess has made it hard for his teams to win at times. Meanwhile, Cesaro is seen as not having the personality or charisma to connect with fans, which is unfortunate.
#7 Kevin Owens & Kawhi Leonard
Despite having various skills and abilities in play, basketball can be broken down into two basic parts: offence and defence. In a similar way, the WWE can be divided into two basic parts: work in the ring and work out of the ring.
It is their excellence in both aspects that makes Kevin Owens and Kawhi Leonard championship-caliber performers in their sports. Even though he might not have the traditional look of a WWE superstar, Owens has reached the pinnacle of the WWE because he excels in the ring and on the microphone. Leonard, meanwhile, came in the league largely unheralded but is an NBA champion and MVP candidate because he is one of the league’s best two-way players.
#8 Dean Ambrose & Russell Westbrook
When the Shield broke up, Dean Ambrose seemed to be left high and dry without Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. All he did was parlay that into a pair of Intercontinental Championship runs, a Money in the Bank victory and a world title. Similarly, Russell Westbrook lost James Harden and Kevin Durant but still managed to set an NBA record for triple-doubles in a season as part of an incredible 2016-17 season.
Both men are known for their intensity; but unfortunately, the similarities take a turn for the worse. Neither man seems poised to be as successful as their former teammates, but it certainly wouldn’t be terrible to see that assumption proved wrong.
#9 Neville & John Wall
When Neville is in a WWE ring, it’s hard not to be impressed. His high-flying moves combined with his grappling and striking are eye-popping every time he performs. Similarly, John Wall catches the eye every time he’s on an NBA floor, based on his sheer speed and ability to cut through traffic to get to the basket.
Despite those physical gifts, there seems to be a ceiling for both men as well. Because of his size, Neville will likely never get to the main event level of WWE’s pecking order, and John Wall might be locked into a similar role in the NBA, relegated to merely making the playoffs before a relatively early exit.
#10 Shinsuke Nakamura & Giannis Antetokounmpo
Before Shinsuke Nakamura and Giannis Antetokounmpo came over to the United States, there was some mystery surrounding both men. Would Nakamura be able to connect with American fans with his Strong Style like he did in Japan? Would the “Greek Freak” be successful in his transition to the NBA?
The answer to both questions was resoundingly in the affirmative. Nakamura has been a complete fan favourite both in NXT – where he was a two-time champion – and more recently in his jump up to the main roster. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, was an All-Star this year while averaging almost 23 points, 9 rebounds and more than 5 assists per game.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
