Sonny Bill Williams for the WWE?
Roar Pro By Green Lantern, 4 Sep 2012 Green Lantern is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Rugby Union, Sonny Bill Williams, wrestling, WWE
Chiefs' Sonny Bill Williams, center, attempts to bust a defence of the Crusaders in the Super Rugby semifinal (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford)
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Sonny Bill Williams in the WWE? It’s a thought I have been pondering for a while now. Suffice to say, it can only be another positive step in an already impressive sporting career for SBW.
Can any other athlete boast such a high physical performance tendency in everything they do?
I admit SBW only came to my attention a couple a years ago when he switched from league to union (but then again, so did rugby league). Another impressive attribute of his, I learned, is his boxing career. All of which could contribute to him becoming a world-famous sports renaissance man.
He has a Japanese adventure to endure for now and there’s reason to believe he will return to New Zealand after his time in the NRL with the Roosters expires. What should follow next is another adventure in the form of wrestling entertainment.
Moving to America and joining the WWE would be a genius move. Not only would it propel SBW to US superstardom and fortune, it would also promote rugby’s toughness to the American audience.
To my knowledge, the Uso twins from Samoa, Justin Gabriel and Leo Kruger from South Africa and Antonio Cesaro from Switzerland (going by ring names) are all current superstars within the WWE with minor rugby backgrounds.
However, the rugby factor isn’t emphasized by these wrestlers, except by Antonio. While SBW is already a main-even performer on the rugby field, no one really knew Antonio was a rugby player before stepping foot in the WWE.
As with any new venture certain pros and cons would have to be evaluated. The advantages SBW has are his physicality, warrior mind-set, age and dedication.
The only con I can think of is him being inexperienced. Given perhaps two or less years in a wrestling dojo before stepping into a ring could sort that out.
A mysterious storyline could be developed for SBW. The All Black-turned-pro wrestler with the Haka mystique could commence. Interesting wrestling gear and an attractive entrance by SBW could also be developed.
Other well-known wrestlers, such as The Mizz and The Great Kali, have no amateur wrestling backgrounds. The Mizz was recruited mainly for his charisma after appearing on a reality TV show, while Kali is an actor. So I see no reason why SBW couldn’t fit like a glove as well.
Admittedly I have no idea how good SBW is with a microphone in his hand, but all the in-ring performances and abilities such as moves, locks and finishers can be trained within a small period of time.
So what do the Roarers think of the idea? Should SBW become a WWE Superstar?
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The Crowd Says (24) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Rugby Union, Sonny Bill Williams, wrestling, WWE
September 4th 2012 @ 7:40am
AIS said | September 4th 2012 @ 7:40am | Report comment
A few things must be said in relation to this article.
1. This guy’s boxing “career” is a joke. He’s of low end beginner quality at best. His technique is beyond awful as is that of his laughable opponents.
2. Most Pro wrestlers don’t come from amateur wrestling backgrounds.
3. Pro wrestling isn’t easy to learn. There’s no reason to believe that this guy could make it at any level, let alone the highest one.
4. Pro Wrestling isn’t what it used to be. It’s not nearly as popular as it was in the past. Even if he had talent for it, he wouldn’t garner the fame.
5. He should stick in Australia and New Zealand. He’s not a celebrity elsewhere.
September 4th 2012 @ 9:14am
WQ said | September 4th 2012 @ 9:14am | Report comment
AIS, I reckon you would have been one of the haters that said he was no good as a Rugby League player, and will never make it in Rugby Union either!
September 4th 2012 @ 12:02pm
AIS said | September 4th 2012 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
No, he’s good at rugby (both rugbies). He’s just not good at anything else.
September 4th 2012 @ 3:59pm
WQ said | September 4th 2012 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Fair enough AIS
September 5th 2012 @ 2:11pm
colvin said | September 5th 2012 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
AIS,
Sonny -Bill has big potential in Europe (France and Britain, at least) and apparently South Africa. After his stint in Japan who knows, maybe a Sumo wrestler. But I believe he is near his peak right now so you would think he needs to focus on what he is best at now rather than branching out into something else.
On the other hand you seem pretty knowledgeable about wrestling. Do you come from a wrestling background?
September 4th 2012 @ 10:02am
Shaun said | September 4th 2012 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Mate, you are just plain stupid. I think ‘hater’ is indeed the best description for you.
On the wrestling front: i don’t believe SBW would ever even have the time to venture there. I’d imagine his ultimate quest is a legitimate world boxing title…or knowing his tendency to aim for the highest, perhaps even unifying the heavyweight titles. In any event, i’d imagine that quest would occupy him into his mid to late 30′s (if he won any of those any earlier that would just put him in the echelons of sporting greatness). By that time i doubt he would have any appetite for any new sporting adventure–either physically, mentally or monetarily.
But that’s just my opinion…because as my momma said, “SBW’s like a box of chocalates…you never know what your gonna get”.
September 4th 2012 @ 12:06pm
AIS said | September 4th 2012 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Are you serious? You know nothing about boxing.
September 4th 2012 @ 12:14pm
atlas said | September 4th 2012 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
not a celebrity elsewhere?
i live in thailand; i think the country is in the mid 50s in irb rankings (not second – should we sack the coach?)
getting my news online, last weekend there were sbw articles in the thai newpapers, a quick browse found he also made the news in dubai, taiwan, singapore. expect he may have had a mention in japan too
according to the asia ru website, 12% of the world’s registered rugby players are within asia, but 80% of the world’s youth. huge market. whether intentional or not, he is contributing to increasing publicity and participation in the sport
September 5th 2012 @ 1:25am
Seriously, Who says Oi? said | September 5th 2012 @ 1:25am | Report comment
He didn’t make mainstream news anywhere other than Australia and New Zealand. Who cares if he made the news on a Rugby website? He’s a rugby player.
You’ll notice that the articles from Dubai, Taiwan, and Singapore newspaper websites were submitted via associated press from Australia and New Zealand every time. If you were to walk the streets and ask the many Thai (or even Japanese) people about him, you’d get nothing in return.
September 5th 2012 @ 1:47am
Kuruki said | September 5th 2012 @ 1:47am | Report comment
Don King knows who SBW is…….take a seat.
September 5th 2012 @ 5:38am
Seriously, Who says Oi? said | September 5th 2012 @ 5:38am | Report comment
Think about why Don King knows who he is. He’s probably forgotten by now. What the local Australasian newspapers have portrayed is misleading information. King was just being nice when he made that comment.
September 4th 2012 @ 9:34am
Markus said | September 4th 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
As you’ve said, very few of the WWE Superstars nowadays are there on wrestling ability. The Great Khali was a gimmick, a giant of a guy but he can barely walk let alone wrestle.
In a 3 hour episode of Raw there is probably 2 hours of dialogue and ‘plot’, and about 20 minutes of actual wrestling.
All SBW would really need to do is ensure his smack talk and big noting are up to speed, so I think he’d do just fine.
September 4th 2012 @ 9:42am
Jez said | September 4th 2012 @ 9:42am | Report comment
GL,
You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into this but there is no way that moving to the WWE is a good move for a man who is already well established in three other sports. Pro Wrestling is a very tough business and more often than not it requires contacts within the business to move up through the roster ranks, of which SBW has none.
We know that he’s a great rugby and league player and that some people think he can box, so so he may as well pick one of those three and be sure of ongoing fame and fat pay cheques.
September 4th 2012 @ 9:57am
ohtani's jacket said | September 4th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
A lot of very good wrestlers came from an American football background, so his rugby and league background would put him in good stead, but it takes years to learn how to wrestle professionally and if you’ve ever heard him speak he doesn’t exactly have the mic skills necessary to become a success in professional wrestling.
September 4th 2012 @ 2:49pm
GrecoRoman said | September 4th 2012 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
Why is this article tagged with “wrestling” when there is no wrestling in the WWE? They are stunt actors and circus clowns. Nothing more. SBW can barely string two sentences together. I really don’t think he has the bombast to be a stunt actor in the WWE.
September 4th 2012 @ 7:19pm
Richie said | September 4th 2012 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
I think he should give Sumo wrestling a go. Samoans Fiamalu Penitani and Salevaa Atisonoe, gave up football to take up sumo in Japan. They easily earned over a $1 million a year in salary and prize money. All Sonny Bill would have to do crash tackle his opponent out of the ring!
September 4th 2012 @ 8:19pm
Sircoolalot said | September 4th 2012 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
How about the UFC?!
September 4th 2012 @ 8:45pm
Richie said | September 4th 2012 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
Why not. UFC and MMA are utterly running away with popularity. The UFC delivers entertaining close contests every month and has overtaken Boxing in credibility.
September 4th 2012 @ 11:29pm
GrecoRoman said | September 4th 2012 @ 11:29pm | Report comment
You need to have actual fighting skills to enter the UFC. SBW wouldn’t last 1 round with even a journeyman fighter.
September 4th 2012 @ 11:34pm
ohtani's jacket said | September 4th 2012 @ 11:34pm | Report comment
Not really. MMA is dead in Japan and the UFC’s popularity is declining in the states.
September 5th 2012 @ 1:13am
Seriously, Who says Oi? said | September 5th 2012 @ 1:13am | Report comment
According to what credible source?
September 5th 2012 @ 7:22am
ohtani's jacket said | September 5th 2012 @ 7:22am | Report comment
According to UFC’s declining ratings and falling buyrates and the coroner’s report for Japanese MMA.
September 7th 2012 @ 2:30am
Seriously, Who says Oi? said | September 7th 2012 @ 2:30am | Report comment
Like I’ve said, according to what credible source? Post me some solid proof of anything and I’ll respect what you have to say.
September 5th 2012 @ 2:08pm
Albo said | September 5th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
I don’t think he has the personality to be a heal or a face in the WWE, but I think that he is perfectly suited for the NFL.
I think that he has the physique, strength and speed to be a dominant Tight End.
Vikings? Are you listening? AP & SBW… Now that’s a combination.