It may not be the WrestleMania 36 we were expecting this weekend, but for one man it is still going to be a dream come true.
Robbed of the usual razzmatazz surrounding WWE’s showpiece annual event due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, the Showcase of the Immortals will still go ahead, but behind closed doors in the Performance Centre, with NFL legend Rob Gronkowski, as the special guest host.
A man no stranger to the WWE after his appearance at WrestleMania 33, Gronkowski will be fronting the show in these most special of circumstances.
Ahead of this weekend’s spectacular he revealed more about his time in, and out, of the ring.
What made you want to come to WWE?
I have been a fan and watching since I was in second grade. My dad brought me to the matches when they came to Buffalo and I was a huge fan of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, D-Generation X and Val Venis. To be part of an atmosphere that I grew up watching is an honor. On top of that, to get the chance to work with my good friend Mojo Rawley is a dream come true.
You played football with some of the most elite players in the game. How has competing alongside the GOAT (Tom Brady) and other football greats prepared you to compete with some of the best athletes in WWE?
Playing football in the NFL and being around the best of the best has definitely prepared me for WrestleMania. You can’t just walk out on the field and expect to be ready to compete….you have to practice, workout and know your plays. It’s the same thing for WrestleMania….I can’t expect to go out there and jump off the top rope or cut a promo…everything is about practice and that’s what I’ve taken from my time in the NFL. If you want to be great in any industry, you have to do the work and prepare. In the time I have been with WWE, I can see the Superstars are the same way and they want it just as bad.
Describe any differences and similarities between preparing for the Super Bowl and WrestleMania?
They are both the biggest stage in their respective industries. The Super Bowl is the biggest stage in sports and WrestleMania is the biggest stage in Sports Entertainment. One of the main similarities is they are both a team game. In order to win the Super Bowl you have to be a team. In order to have a successful WrestleMania, everyone has to work like a team from the beginning to the end.
You have a global fanbase and WrestleMania will air to WWE fans all around the world. What can fans expect from your appearance and how does it feel to have the honor as one of only a few people to host WrestleMania?
The global fanbase that WWE has is incredible. Since my appearance at WrestleMania 33, it’s been insane how many people bring up that appearance wherever I am. Whether I am here in the states, or in another country, the fans always remember that. WWE is a global phenomenon and to be part of the first-ever two night WrestleMania is truly an honor.
Why is it so important for you to be part of the first-ever two-night WrestleMania especially during this trying time?
It’s super important to me and an honor to be part of any WrestleMania. The fact that it’s the first ever two-night special makes it that much cooler. To come here during these tough times when people around the world need entertainment more than ever, and to have the opportunity to provide that to them is pretty awesome.
