Wayne Rooney’s season burst into dramatic life on Monday night, but it was not at Old Trafford in a Manchester United shirt or at Wembley captaining England.
Instead, the 30-year-old took centre stage at the WWE’s live instalment of Monday Night Raw at the Manchester Arena.
Watching ringside with former United team-mates Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher, Rooney was taking in the show with his six-year-old son Kai when a previous feud with Preston-born WWE King of the Ring Wade Barrett came to a head.
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Taunted by the 6ft 7in frame of the WWE Superstar, Rooney slapped Barrett with all the drama that has painfully been devoid at United’s own Theatre of Dreams this season.
It was the sort of ruthlessness and an attacking intent that has been lacking in his 11 Premier League appearances so far, in which he has managed only two goals.
Rooney looked perfectly at home, showing the kind of composure that has made him a household name around the world.
An almighty slap round the face was a far more PG-13 offering than Rooney would have seen growing up on the mean streets of Merseyside and it was a perfect sell from the England striker that put to bed the latest sporting-WWE fusion feud to grace the company.
King @WadeBarrett and @WWESheamus just got SERVED by @WWECesaro and @ManUtd‘s @WayneRooney! #WWETitle #RAW https://t.co/ppwjG6qedR
— WWE (@WWE) November 10, 2015
It all dates back to February when Barrett called out Rooney on Twitter for diving to win a penalty in an FA Cup match against Preston North End that United won 3-1.
Rooney, never one to back down, responded in kind by calling on the support of WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin.
At that stage Barrett proposed a tag-team match against the pair alongside ex-Preston captain Kevin Davies at WrestleMania as the light-hearted barbs continued.
Months passed with little action but this was a perfect time to engage the WWE crowd and also build on the company’s presence in the UK by making a few headlines.
Rooney provided the star power, Barrett the fall and as a result UK press, social media and wrestling fans the world over are talking about the incident.
And if the goals continue to dry up for Rooney, his spot was so convincing he could have a future in the WWE. His mic work may need a little added charisma but he can certainly sell a story.
ROONEY vs BARRETT IN TWEETS
How about that @WayneRooney dive vs @PNEFC? He won’t need to dive when I catch up with him.. #BullHammer #BNB
— Stu Bennett (@WadeBarrett) February 17, 2015
@WadeBarrett ill get stone cold Steve Austin out of retirement for you. Haha
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) February 17, 2015
.@WayneRooney you and @steveaustinBSR Vs me and @Kevin__Davies at Wrestlemania in 6 weeks. Get it booked @VinceMcMahon.
— Stu Bennett (@WadeBarrett) February 17, 2015
@WadeBarrett @WayneRooney @steveaustinBSR @VinceMcMahon lets get it on!! #tagteam
— Kevin Davies (@Kevin__Davies) February 17, 2015
@Kevin__Davies @WadeBarrett @steveaustinBSR @VinceMcMahon u ready big man
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) February 17, 2015
@WayneRooney @WadeBarrett @steveaustinBSR @VinceMcMahon 6 week training camp starts now!! Ha
— Kevin Davies (@Kevin__Davies) February 17, 2015