WWE might be labeled as sports entertainment, but its ties to traditional sports are undeniable.
Recently, NXT featured Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton playing a key role in a title match between Trick Williams and NXT Champion Ethan Page.
Over the years, many notable athletes have stepped into the ring, including legends like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Most recently, a well-known wrestler made an unexpected appearance at an NFL game.
The audience at Lucas Oil Stadium got a surprise when former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins was shown on the Jumbotron sporting a Colts jersey.
But true to his allegiance as a Bears fan, Rollins quickly ripped it off to reveal a Caleb Williams jersey underneath.
To add to the fun, former Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton decided to throw Rollins onto the field, after which he was escorted out.
Sadly for Rollins, the Bears lost to the Colts 21-16, prompting him to humorously post, “I. Hate. Football.”
Kick-starting his wrestling journey in 2004, Rollins gained fame in the independent circuit before joining Ring of Honor (ROH) in 2007 as Tyler Black. He captured the ROH World Championship and tag titles during his time there.
By 2010, Rollins signed on with WWE and wrestled in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), later rebranded as NXT, where he became its inaugural champion.
During his FCW tenure, he clinched multiple championships and became the first-ever Grand Slam Champion.
In 2012, Rollins debuted on the main roster as part of The Shield alongside Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose (now known as Jon Moxley in AEW).
Since then, Rollins has established himself as a reliable figure in the WWE, eventually claiming the inaugural World Heavyweight Championship in 2023.
His accolades include two WWE Championships, two WWE Universal Championships, two WWE Intercontinental Championships, two WWE United States Championships, and six WWE Tag Team Championships.
Rollins holds the distinction of being the 11th Grand Slam Champion and the second wrestler to achieve it twice. He also won the Money in the Bank match in 2015 and the Men’s Royal Rumble in 2019.
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