The WWE has been shifting more and more to bringing in athletes from different sports and that may create an interesting opportunity for NBA center Dwight Howard.
Howard has done just about everything there is to do in the NBA, making 8 All-Star game appearances as well as becoming an NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019-2020 season.
He is 36 years old and his NBA career is winding down, but he now appears to be intrigued by a potential career in the WWE after his basketball career is finished up.
Howard appeared at a WWW tryout in Nashville on Thursday where he was seen cutting a number of promos as well, and even got to talk with the new head of the creative team Paul Levesque, better known to the WWE world as “Triple H.”
Dwight Howard was a surprise participant at the WWE Tryout in Nashville today. He told me he legit wants to join the WWE one day. pic.twitter.com/LiUnNqPsdv
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 28, 2022
Dwight Howard just met Paul "Triple H" Levesque, who is in charge of WWE creative and EVP of Talent Relations. pic.twitter.com/r9csgmW2zl
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 28, 2022
Many around the pro wrestling world seem to be very intrigued by Howard given his sheer size and obvious charisma on the mic.
. @DwightHoward really needs a #WWE contract. #SummerSlam 🎤 pic.twitter.com/bEpZ9F22El
— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) July 29, 2022
LMAO!!!! Dwight Howard out here living his best life. 😂😂😂 https://t.co/WdbdnMyKbs
— Matt Black (@RAWFShowtime) July 29, 2022
I could see @DwightHoward in the ring #WWE https://t.co/MOsgPmJ7hP
— Rene Knott (@reneknottsports) July 29, 2022
Dwight Howard, y’all… https://t.co/FQlQWnY7aM
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) July 28, 2022
While at the tryout he was interviewed by Arash Markazi of “The Mightier 1090” and said that a WWE career is certainly a possibility for him in the future.
“I think it is something that’s in my future,” said Howard about a potential WWE career. “I love the WWE, I love wrestling, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be here and to witness tryouts and everything. Hopefully one day in the future I’ll actually be in the ring wrestling and holding up the belt, that would be amazing.”
Dwight Howard said he would like to play in the NBA next season but is ready to transition and join the WWE if that does not happen. His NBA career began in Orlando and he said he’s open to beginning his WWE career in Orlando where the WWE Performance Center is located. pic.twitter.com/VnT0bA1LCB
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 28, 2022
He echoed these sentiments in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Graham Matthews, saying that he eventually wants to be the best wrestler he can possibly be, and not just rest on the laurels of being a famous professional basketball player.
“I would have to train and practice just like everyone else,” said Howard. “I’m not coming into this thing as ‘I’m Dwight Howard the basketball player.’ I want to learn from all these guys and be the best wrestler I can be if it leads down this path.”
“I’m not coming into this thing as ‘I’m Dwight Howard the basketball player.’… I want to learn from all these guys and be the best wrestler I can be if it leads down to this path.” – @DwightHoward on his WWE tryout
Respect.
(via @WrestleRant) pic.twitter.com/7pwK3HalTd
— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) July 29, 2022
While it remains to be seen if he will actually join the WWE down the road, it seems like he certainly has the right mindset for a wrestling career should he decide to pursue that opportunity.
[Arash Markazi, Bleacher Report Wrestling]
