ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Rob Gronkowski continues to insist that he’s retired from football. Now, the former New England Patriots star is on the verge of becoming part of the WWE.
Rob Gronkowski is coming out of retirement. For the ring.
WWE on FOX tweeted late Tuesday night that the former tight end is close to finalizing a deal with WWE. It’s unclear how the 30-year-old will be used for the pro wrestling company. However, Gronkowski could appear on WWE SmackDown as soon as March 20.
This won’t be the first time that the three-time Super Bowl champion has worked with WWE. Gronkowski participated in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33 in 2017. It was there he jumped the barricade to help his good friend, Mojo Rawley, win the match. Gronkowski went back to football but injuries kept piling up, which forced him to retire just shy of his 30th birthday.
The has been long speculation about future Pro Football Hall of Famer joining WWE. Gronkowski retired last March and has since joined FOX Sports as an NFL studio analyst. When he announced his partnership with Abacus Health Products at a press conference in 2019, Gronkowski said he was interested in wrestling with WWE. Leading up to Super Bowl LIV, Gronkowski hosted a party where he Rawley were photographed together with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
The Patriots drafted Gronkowski in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He’s considered to be one of the best tight ends to ever play football. Gronkowski is a five-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-Team All-Pro selection and he was chosen in the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time team.
With Gronkowski’s larger than life personality, he is an elite-level athlete that WWE Superstars need to thrive. It seems like a good thing that fans of “Gronk” will enjoy seeing his presence again, this time, in front of tens of thousands of wrestling fans.