With the NFL season upon us and WWE moving its PLEs to ESPN's new direct-to-consumer streaming service starting Sept. 20 with Wrestlepalooza in Indianapolis, veteran NFL writer and "The Pat McAfee Show" correspondent Mark Kaboly compares each NFL team to a WWE Superstar.
AFC
John Cena (New England Patriots)
It's not just that Cena is from New England, he is quite similar to the Patriots’ organization as a whole. The Patriots have a record six Super Bowl titles, and Cena has a record 17 career World Championships. Both have spent a long time as the GOAT.
CM Punk (Buffalo Bills)
The Bills have been oh-so-close to winning it all recently, and, in Punk’s case, did win a title for all of five minutes. But lately Buffalo and Punk have been stymied by a rival that keeps messing up their title dreams. For the Bills, it’s the Chiefs. For Punk, it’s Seth Rollins. Will 2025 be the year both are conquered?
Solo Sikoa (New York Jets)
With new coach Aaron Glenn and a big turnover of the roster, the Jets are akin to Sikoa morphing from The Bloodline to The MFT – similar goals but a different guy out in front leading the way.
Tiffany Stratton (Miami Dolphins)
The Dolphins and Tiffy have all the talent in the world and the glitz and glamor to go along with it, and even though they have enjoyed success, there is even more to unlock.
Randy Orton (Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Steelers have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL this year, but age is just a number. Orton is still performing at a high level, just like Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. They both have history, integrity, strength and a family tree in the business. Most importantly, you just never know when their next strike might come, but it will.
Roman Reigns (Baltimore Ravens)
Roman has long been the alpha dog that no one wants to mess with. He can beat an opponent in so many ways, sort of like the Ravens. Reigns is a combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, so it's no wonder why Reigns has been as dominant as he’s been.
Logan Paul (Cincinnati Bengals)
There is talent and flash oozing from Logan Paul just like that of the Bengals with Joe Burrow, JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins. They can wow the fans at any moment, have rubbed elbows with the best and are can’t-miss viewing when on the big screen.
The Miz (Cleveland Browns)
The Miz is from Cleveland, so that makes sense. But more than that, you can’t write the history of the NFL without mentioning the Browns. You can’t talk about the past two-plus decades of WWE without bringing up The Miz.
Penta (Indianapolis Colts)
Penta has never been one who would imagine picking up everything and moving to another promotion … almost like the Colts did 41 years ago.
Maxxine Dupri (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Maxxine Dupri might not have the long list of accolades as her competitors, but that may change soon with her getting some recent television matches. The Jaguars, just like Dupri, have tremendous upside with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Hunter, but need that one big break.
Bianca Belair (Tennessee Titans)
Belair was a No. 1 draft pick in the 2024 WWE Draft by SmackDown, and the Titans just used the top pick in the NFL Draft to take Miami quarterback Cam Ward. Belair has transformed the women's division in her career. Can Tennessee count on Ward to do the same?
IYO SKY (Houston Texans)
The high-flying SKY might be the best Superstar in WWE who doesn’t always get her proper due. Now, that sure sounds like the Texans, who have won two division titles and 20 football games over the last two years on the strength of a highly athletic star quarterback, C.J. Stroud.
Cody Rhodes (Kansas City Chiefs)
Rhodes is the face of WWE, and the Chiefs are the face of the NFL. You can’t mention either sport without first bringing up those two powerhouses.
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Bronson Reed (Denver Broncos)
There are high expectations from the Broncos this year after bursting onto the scene in 2024. While they still may be playing second fiddle (Reed to Bron Breakker and the Broncos to the Chiefs), their best days are ahead.
LA Knight (Los Angeles Chargers)
The Chargers, under coach Jim Harbaugh, has his team in the Super Bowl discussion, while Knight has recently found himself rubbing elbows of some of the biggest names in the business.
Dominik Mysterio (Las Vegas Raiders)
The Raiders are notorious – at least in its earlier years – as being an organization that plays dirty. Yeah, Dom is a perfect fit for the Raiders.
NFC
Paul Heyman (Philadelphia Eagles)
Forget the ECW connection, Heyman is the Howie Roseman of WWE. Roseman is the Eagles’ General Manager who has earned a reputation of manipulating teams, leagues and players to do what’s best for his team. Both Roseman and Heyman are highly respected, but you might not want to trust either.
Becky Lynch (Washington Commanders)
Both have a long history of success, and The Man and the Commanders are on the cusp of running things once again. The Commanders can get under my skin in the way they glowingly talk about Jayden Daniels, just like Lynch speaks of her husband, Seth Rollins.
Sheamus (New York Giants)
Sheamus is a hard-nosed veteran who has built a career on grit. The Giants are one of the original NFL teams, and when thinking of them, old-school football comes to mind. Sheamus similarly epitomizes old school wrestling.
Charlotte Flair (Dallas Cowboys)
Charlotte, just like the Cowboys, can be considered America’s Team/Superstar with all the history and glamour, but both attract plenty of haters. Both are popular, but just as many fans who want to see them win love to see them fail.
Bron Breakker (Green Bay Packers)
After joining Heyman, Breakker is on the fast track to main-eventing PLEs. After trading for Micah Parsons last week, the Packers are now one of the favorites to play in Super Bowl LX. And I wouldn't want to take a Spear from Breakker or Parsons in the ring or on the gridiron.
Jacob Fatu (Chicago Bears)
Fatu has all the talent in the world, but has taken baby steps while rising through the ranks of WWE. The Bears have seemingly everything in place to be taken seriously, but now they have to navigate through a tough division and even a tougher conference. Sounds like Fatu.
Brock Lesnar (Detroit Lions)
Brock Lesnar might not be gnawing on knee caps anytime soon, but the no-nonsense, tough, rugged mentality of Lions coach Dan Campbell is what Lesnar is all about.
Jey Uso (Minnesota Vikings)
The Vikings have been on the cusp of greatness for the past couple of years, but just haven’t been able to get over that proverbial hump. Uso has been to the top, but will he be able to sustain it now that the bullseye is on his back?
R-Truth (Carolina Panthers)
Honestly, Truth is from Charlotte. That’s it. That’s what I've got.
Carmelo Hayes (Atlanta Falcons)
The Falcons are on the cusp of being a contender in the division and the conference based on talent. You’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who has more talent the Hayes, but he needs an opportunity to push him over the top.
Uncle Howdy (New Orleans Saints)
Have you ever been to Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras? I think I might have seen Uncle Howdy there one time.
Sami Zayn (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The Buccaneers are being overlooked in the NFC this year, just like Zayn has been his entire career.
Seth Rollins (Los Angeles Rams)
Glitz, glamor, Hollywood and the talent to go along with it. I’m not sure if I’m talking about the Rams or Rollins.
Drew McIntyre (Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks' secondary a decade ago was called "The Legion of Boom." Nobody brings the boom to a wrestling ring more than McIntyre.
Chelsea Green (Arizona Cardinals)
Not too many take the Cardinals or Green seriously, and that just might be their fatal flaw.
Bayley (San Francisco 49ers)
Bayley is from nearby San Jose, Calif., but more than that, she seems to have a split personality. The 49ers are similar. They won at least 10 games three years in a row before losing 11 last year.
Comparing favorite WWE Superstars to NFL teams
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