Throughout the grand history of sports-entertainment there have been numerous times when worlds collided – everyone from musicians to talk show hosts have made the walk to the ring and stepped through the ropes. However, there is one brand of entertainer that always grabs the attention of the WWE Universe more than any other: the pro athlete.
Whether it be Dennis Rodman, Lawrence Taylor or WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson, the attention of the sports world, and the world at large, always falls directly on the squared circle whenever an athlete decides to saddle up to grapple. So, with that in mind, WWE.com concocted some fantasy matchups pitting 10 Superstars vs. pro athletes in showdowns that we would love to see come to fruition.
Seth Rollins vs. LeBron James
“Who is the best athlete in the world today?” You hear that question on the daily in sports bars and barber shops around the world. Well, we think we have it narrowed down to two.
Bluntly put, LeBron James is a specimen. If you were tasked with creating the perfect athlete, odds are you would wind up designing the three-time NBA Champion almost to a tee. He is strong, tall, quick and unbelievably explosive … but is he better than Seth Rollins?
Rollins may have the most well-rounded skillset in all of WWE. His mix of aerial prowess, sneaky strength and sheer athleticism makes him a constant threat to whoever stands across from him. King James would be no exception.
Who would prevail is anybody’s guess. However, there is safe money in assuming that somebody would no doubt get posterized along the way.
John Cena vs. Tom Brady
Massachusetts golden boy Tom Brady of the New England Patriots vs. Massachusetts golden boy John Cena … those frightening sounds you hear are the screams of Bean Town citizens realizing they would have to choose a side.
Here is what would be fascinating about this matchup: everything. Brady is heralded as arguably the greatest quarterback in football history, while Cena is often labeled as the greatest WWE Superstar of all time. Both have the championship accolades to back up those claims. Both, as mentioned, are the apple of the greater Boston area’s collective eye. And, if we’re just being blunt, there is enough potential evidence to back up the claim that both may indeed be robots.
Would Cena’s decree of “Hustle, Loyalty and Respect” clash with Brady’s win-at-all-costs demeanor? We think so … and could not possibly be more excited about it.
Charlotte vs. Serena Williams
To describe Serena Williams and Charlotte in a word … fierce.
Williams, arguably the greatest tennis player of all time (not women’s player, mind you), has had more than a decade of dominance in her sport due to her palpable power, imposing personality and utter determination to prevail. Charlotte, the long-reigning Queen of the WWE Women’s division, shares all the same traits along with a vicious streak that may even top Serena’s.
Would the patented Flair chop outmatch the signature Serena backhand? The only guarantee here is that there would be no love lost between these two aces of competition.
Roman Reigns vs. Conor McGregor
Weight classes exist for a reason … but, sometimes, you probably need to throw them out the window when the matchup is salivation-worthy.
UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor called out the entire WWE roster on Twitter a few months ago, and Roman Reigns was quick to respond and defend the locker room’s honor. The exchange sent social media into a frenzy over who would actually get their hand raised if they were to ever square off.
Although McGregor would have the edge in the striking, speed and submission categories, Reigns would possess the size, strength and reach advantages.
Those would (maybe) be enough for The Big Dog to keep The Notorious One down, but either way, it would be an event.
Brock Lesnar vs. Ndamukong Suh
Have you ever seen two colossuses engage in combat? You want to?
Ndamukong Suh of the Miami Dolphins has the reputation for being the baddest man in all of football. Brock Lesnar has the reputation for being the baddest man on planet earth. Based off just those two factoids alone, color us intrigued.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing more than 300 pounds, Suh would actually have both the height and weight advantage over The Beast. However, for as rough and tumble as the defensive tackle is, we can say with all but 100 percent certainty that he has never crossed paths with anyone with the intangible athletic gifts that The Anomaly possesses.
Could The Master of The Brocktagon out-savage The Boy Named Suh? Who really knows? All we can say for sure is that there would be two large men striking one another in the face … and it would be beautiful.
The New Day vs. Golden State Warriors
There is nothing quite like watching two superpowers clash.
The New Day is arguably the most dominant team in WWE history and also, perhaps, the most entertaining. Although time will tell, the 2016 Golden State Warriors are – at least on paper – possibly the greatest basketball team ever assembled, and they play one of the most exciting brands of basketball of all time. WHO, WHO, WHO wouldn’t want to watch these two super groups square off?
With the size, speed and athleticism categories all possibly being a dead heat between the two factions, the mega signing of Kevin Durant to Golden State, which has turned their Big 3 — alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green — into a Big 4, could potentially give them the edge over the trifecta of Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. However, don’t rule out the secret weapon/equalizer for The New Day: Francesca II.
Sasha Banks vs. Paige VanZant
The old saying is that “styles make fights.” It’s really as if they had Sasha Banks and UFC fighter Paige VanZant in mind when they penned that one to paper.
Both Banks and VanZant are known and heralded for their relentless fighting spirit and resilience in any given match. Two trailblazers of their respective sports, The Boss and “12 Gauge” have done a tremendous amount in a short time to bring legitimacy to both the WWE and the UFC Women’s divisions.
A matchup between the two would almost undoubtedly result in a scrap that would be the modern-day, female equivalent of Rocky vs. Apollo both times over.
Take all our money.
Randy Orton vs. Cristiano Ronaldo
There’s always that young, handsome, confident talent that knows how good he or she is from essentially day one. The more they flaunt it, the more they seem to excel, driving pretty much everyone around them absolutely mad … but what would happen if you pit two of those same types against one another?
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the most famous – and best – soccer player in the world. He is known for his incredible athletic skill and GQ good looks. Here’s the interesting thing though — so is Randy Orton. Both have been successful everywhere they’ve been, but in a contest pitting them against one another, it seems almost a guarantee that tempers would flare between these two once-in-a-generation gems.
Alexa Bliss vs. Simone Biles
Flippers aren’t wrestlers and wrestlers aren’t flippers, but man, would a collision between the two be a hoot to watch.
Simone Biles became an instant gymnastics legend with her performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, winning four gold medals and one bronze for both herself and her country. Already being called the “Michael Jordan of Gymnastics” at only 19 years of age, many pundits wonder what is left for her to vault. Enter Alexa Bliss.
Bliss, a former gymnast herself, draws many parallels to Biles — both are unbelievably athletic, explosive dynamos and rising up the ranks of their sports quicker than most ever have before.
Would Biles’ moves from the floor exercise be enough to say good night to Ms. Bliss? Or would the Team Blue Superstar’s endless aggression force the female Jordan to give up her primary sport at a young age and take a swing at a baseball career?
Kevin Owens vs. Cam Newton
You always hear about that fine line between confidence and cockiness. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens essentially live on that line.
Both brash and supremely athletic showmen have risen to the top of their respective fields over the course of the past calendar year, collecting MVP and WWE Championships alike.
Would Cam’s signature smile and Superman taunt drive Owens mad? Inversely, would Owens’ relentless slew of passive-aggressive insults bring Cam to a place of depression he hasn’t felt since losing the Super Bowl this past year?
So much potential, so many meme-worthy moments to fantasize about. Here’s hoping we actually see this one at some point down the line; the internet deserves it.