Rob Gronkowski really got WrestleMania off to a big start when he inserted himself in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Gronk got down in a three point stance and laid out Jinder Mahal with a running shoulder block. That caused Mojo Rawley to win the event and he and Gronk celebrated in the WrestleMania pre-show.
During the event, many were excited to see Gronk at WrestleMania but some were puzzled as to why the New England Patriots would let him do something like this. It’s one thing to go to the Daytona 500 as a spectator and hanging out, it’s another for someone with a history of injuries to do something that physical in a dangerous sport where it’s easy to get injured. At least when Gronk does it in the NFL, it’s his job.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Patriots apparently didn’t have an issue with Gronkowski participating in WrestleMania.
That being said, should the Patriots have had an issue? Gronkowski didn’t get hurt and let’s be serious, it was one move so the chance of injury was slim, but that’s still a chance to get seriously injured.
On the other hand, pro athletes can’t possibly be insulated and do nothing except football. That’s a very unrealistic expectation to have so it’s not really that big of a deal if you think about it. A happy Gronk, as well as anyone else, is a more productive Gronk and this could help the Patriots on the field.
Not to insinuate a false equivalency but athletes have been injured in a variety of ways and sometimes by doing simple, normal tasks. A running shoulder block, something that football players do all the time, isn’t that big of a deal to do at WrestleMania. Especially when Gronkowski is dealing with a professional wrestler who knows to react to that move and make sure neither person gets hurt. If Gronk performed the entire match, it would be a bigger issue. But it wasn’t, so let’s calm down a bit.
