For some the superstars, age is just another number and WWE is just another platform they are capable of stepping into even after trying their hands at various different sports. The WWE Raw is the longest running weekly episodic television program that's still on-air and, as such, it has managed to create a solid fan base globally.
Being quite glamourous, it is understandable why people from all walks of life are eventually drawn to it. If they are talented enough, if they manage to regale the crowds enough, they go down in the history of wrestling entertainment as legends.
In America, pro wrestling being as popular it is, several big American football players from the NFL are integrated into WWE once they are done with their professional football careers. It even makes sense as the kind of built one needs for both areas is similar. While people coming in from other sports is rare, Soccer players turning professional wrestlers has happened sometimes.
Here are 5 WWE stars who had an inclination towards Soccer before establishing themselves in the Wrestling entertainment industry.
#1 Tim Wiese
In 2012, Tim Wiese signed for Hoffenheim for an undisclosed fee and was immediately promoted to the position of the captain of the team. However, he conceded 14 goals in five games and was slowly dropped for the first squad after Heurelho Gomes was signed from Tottenham Hotspur.
His contract with Hoffenheim was terminated by mutual consent of both parties in 2014 which resulted in him becoming a free agent. The reason cited was that he had a muscular upper body which was fit for body building sports and not suitable for professional football.
He was a part of the German national squad for the 2010 World Cup but was the only player to not play a single game due to the presence of Manuel Neuer in the team.
In September 2014, he hinted that he had been given a contract by the WWE to join NXT. He started training at the Performance Center in 2016, reportedly after an invitation by Triple H. "This is his break to walk his talk. If all goes well in Florida, he will get his chance in the ring,” Triple H said at the time.
#2 Antonino Rocca
The very successful tag team champion, Rocca paired up with Miguel Perez for having a seven year uninterrupted run of headlining and co-headlining most major events at the Madison Square Garden. “The First High Flier”, as he was called, was famous for his aerial maneuvers.
His air tackles and his acrobatic, flying wrestling style held some vestiges of his Soccer training. He was a part of WWE back when it was Capitol Wrestling Corporation. Rocca was posthumously inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995.
He was a popular face in wrestling and had a large fan following which was mostly comprised of Italian-American and Hispanic audiences. He moved to Argentina before World War II which earned him the ring name “Argentina Rocca”. In the earlier part of his life, Rocca was more of a complete athlete and apart from being a rugby player, he reportedly played Soccer up to some level and was quite good at it too.
Rocca's footwork was one of his strong points and that was quite noticeable and evident in every match he played. His Soccer training sure did rub off on his unique wrestling style.
#3 Stuart Tomlinson
Stuart Tomlinson made his senior debut for Crewe Alexandra in a second-division match after having graduated from its youth ranks in 2003. Later in 2004, he was sent off on loan to Stafford Rangers.
His career after that took a minor hit as he suffered from injuries that kept him out of play. In 2006, he managed to secure a loan move to Burton Albion FC but the transfer was delayed after Tomlinson picked up a calf injury. A goalkeeper, he was especially known for defending penalties and he reportedly gave off an aura of confidence that helped him to succeed more than any average goalkeeper.
He could kick the ball with either foot and due to his muscular physique, he was nicknamed “The Tank”.
From 2014 to the present, Tomlinson has been a part of WWE's NXT which is principally a development division for WWE. He was assigned to the WWE Performance Center where he fought under the name Hugo Knox. In his own words, "Hugo Knox is a lively, high-energy and bubbly guy" with "the smallest polka dot pants possible." He made his in-ring debut in NXT in November 2014.
#4 Andre the Giant
Andre Rene Rousimoff was a big-sized menacing wrestler as is quite evident from his name. He towered over everyone and presented a dominating figure to everyone watching him. Mostly, though, he is remembered as a kind and gentle human being outside the ring by people who knew him personally.
Apart from tales of his superhuman strength, his amazing tolerance for alcohol is something he is associated with. This one-time WWF Tag Team Champion moved into acting after completing and phasing out from his Pro Wrestling career. Andre was the first inductee into the WWF Hall of Fame.
A gifted athlete since childhood, Rousimoff's first love was Soccer. “I played Rugby and Soccer when I was younger,” he was quoted as saying by Rome News Tribune. “For the last 12 years, I've wrestled.” His size provided no obstruction to his speed as he was reportedly fast enough to play fullback for his native Soccer teams in France.
He was even offered a contract to play in the American NFL, a deal he turned down due to insufficient pay. Rousimoff was a goalkeeper. The sheer size of the man ensured that he would be the best choice for the position.
#5 Cesaro
The Swiss wrestler, popularly known as the King of Swing, grew up watching and loving athletic sports and had absolutely no desire to join the sports entertainment industry for much of his life.
Lucerne, his native town was anything but a wrestling hub. On his personal website, Cesaro recalled being an active youngster who used to play both Basketball and Soccer with equal diligence. “Back when I was in school, I would go to school up to an hour early, just so that I can play Soccer with my friends before school starts! Of course, we would also play during intermissions and after school too,” he said.
According to him, he also took up Tennis as a boy and he idolized Roger Federer. “I started playing tennis when I was six years old. I never made it to the level Roger Federer did, but I don't think anybody ever will, so I don't need to feel ashamed. But after years and years of playing, I decided to give another sport a try. Soccer. I loved playing Soccer. I still do,” he writes.
One wonders how different the face of Swiss football would be if Cesaro had actually stuck to the game.
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