For a very long time, the one factor the world of American skilled soccer and Premier League soccer had in frequent was a monopoly of the Sky Sports activities channel schedule.
Oh and there was that bizarre hearsay flying round that WWE proprietor Vince McMahon was going to purchase Newcastle United.
However usually, the planet’s greatest sport and the largest sports-entertainment firm have been worlds aside.
Now that’s not the case. In latest instances – partly because of the rise in reputation of the Premier League on the opposite facet of the Atlantic – the 2 have recurrently crossed paths.
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Wayne Rooney went to a WWE televised occasion, sat at ringside and slapped a celebrity. For context, this was round a full six years earlier than the previous Manchester United ahead retired from taking part in.
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Then in 2020, Arsenal began recurrently taking part in WWE entrance themes as a part of the Emirates Stadium matchday setlist.
Simply earlier this yr when Ivan Toney returned from his eight-month FA ban, Brentford heralded his return with the Undertaker’s iconic gong and theme track on the Gtech Stadium.
And now the crossover appears to be like set to go to the following stage, with two rival wrestling promotions going through off – not within the squared circle – however by way of the Premier League pitch.
Overlook, Undertaker vs Triple H, The Rock vs Stone Chilly Steve Austin or Roman Reigns vs John Cena, it’s time for the largest essential occasion of all-time, er… Fulham vs Bournemouth.
Why are Fulham and Bournemouth each linked to the wrestling world?
Fulham’s connection to skilled wrestling is longstanding and comes by way of proprietor Shahid Khan.
Khan’s son Tony has ran the Cottagers as vice-chairman for a lot of the earlier decade, however can also be the founder and co-owner of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), which launched at the beginning of 2019 and is the first mainstream competitor to the industry-leading WWE.
A lifelong professional wrestling fan, Khan even seems on display as a part of the drama sometimes and the AEW has held main reside occasions at Wembley Stadium.
Earlier this month Fulham introduced that AEW could be the brand new shirt sponsor for the ladies’s groups’ shirts throughout the 2024/25 season.
AEW and WWE have an enormous rivalry within the wrestling world, with mentions of their direct competitor throughout their very own programming, about as uncommon as Sky Sports activities referencing TNT.
Till lately WWE didn’t have a horse to again within the Premier League subject however that has modified because of a brand new partnership.
AFC Bournemouth have introduced what they name “an thrilling new partnership with the globally famend WWE 2K online game collection.”
This may see content material associated to the Cherries launched by means of the online game “within the coming weeks.”
So till wrestling followers get a real crossover showdown occasion between WWE and AEW, they’ll simply should accept tuning into Fulham taking over Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on December 29.
There will probably be loads of midfield aptitude, not a lot Ric Aptitude.
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