10 Footballers Who Would Make Good Wrestlers

Since becoming a free agent, former Germany keeper Tim Wiese has bulked up. A lot. 

According to Bild (translated by The Guardian), the former Werder Bremen shot-stopper has had an offer from WWE to become a professional wrestler. 

In light of Wiese's new career option, here are 10 other footballers who could also bring the smackdown in the WWE. 

Joey Barton

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Joey Barton doesn't exactly have the physique of a professional wrestler, but the Queens Park Rangers midfielder more than makes up for his stature by being one of the angriest men in world football.

Barton has previously gone to prison for assault, and has fought his fair share of teammates and opponents, so it might take some adjustment on his part to pretend to hurt people. 

Suggested stage name: "The Mersey Angerball"

Adebayo Akinfenwa

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Do we really need to explain why Bayo Akinfenwa would be a perfect wrestler?

The AFC Wimbledon striker has once again been named the strongest player in the world by the FIFA video game series. 

Akinfenwa is around 16 stone and wider than three Frank Lampards, so he could clearly waltz straight into the squared circle.

Suggested stage name: If Dwayne Johnson is The Rock, Bayo is logically "The Boulder." 

Diego Costa

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Diego Costa didn't learn his skills in an academy—he was brought up playing on the streets, often getting into brawls.  

This propensity to fight has clearly carried into his professional career, as the Chelsea striker isn't afraid of throwing a fist or an elbow when the referee isn't looking. If he smashes a fold-up chair over a Stoke defender this season, we'll know he's ready for WWE.  

Suggested stage name: "Triple D"

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is constantly showing his athleticism with impressive aerobatic goals, so he would have no problem pulling a complex move from the top buckle. 

The powerful Swede also has plenty of aggression, in addition to the long hair and incongruous tattoos that are prerequisites for all professional wrestlers. His signature move might be the flying head kick he once landed on Antonio Cassano. 

Suggested stage name: Zlatan doesn't need a stage name. Zlatan is Zlatan.

Sergio Ramos

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Sergio Ramos has a trophy cabinet that would be the envy of most professional players, but there is certainly a dark side to his game. The Real Madrid defender is the most red-carded player in La Liga history, having been dismissed 19 times for a variety of outrageous fouls.  

Ramos just needs to grow his hair into a mullet and he could easily become a wrestling villain, in the vein of "Sexy Boy" Shawn Michaels.  

Suggested stage name: "Mr Handsome" (this would be Ramos' own suggestion).

Pepe

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By all accounts, Pepe is a thoroughly nice chap off the field. On it, however, his WWE-style Jekyll and Hyde personality often leads him to commit some disgraceful acts.  

Perhaps the Portuguese international's signature move could be "the stud drag," which he once demonstrated on a Getafe player's back. 

Suggested stage name: "El Loco." He could also form a tag team duo with Ramos called "The Real Mad Bros."

Stuart Tomlinson

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Former Port Vale and Burton Albion goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson would make a very good wrestler because, well, he is one!

In December of last year, the brawny former Men's Health cover star earned a developmental contract with WWE. He's yet to fight on the big stage but his debut can only be a matter of time. 

Suggested stage name: When he makes his debut, Tomlinson will go by "Hugo Knox."

Nigel De Jong

Nigel de Jong has already ruined the career of American hero Stuart Holden, so he is perfectly suited to enter the ring as a villainous character. The Dutchman, known as "The Lawnmower" for his aggression on the field, has already shown us his signature move in the 2010 World Cup Final.  

Suggested stage name: "The Lawnmower" doesn't quite work in wrestling, so let's go with "Jong Van Painhouse."

Gary Medel

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Internazionale defensive midfielder Gary Medel is known by the nickname "Pitbull." This isn't because of his likeness to a terrible Miami pop star, but his tendency to kick seven shades out of an opponent without showing too much concern for the ball.

The former Cardiff star already has a hand on smashing chairs around in anger, so he should fit right in.   

Suggested stage name: That'll be "Pitbull" then.

Roman Abramovich

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Roman Abramovich is a timid 47-year-old businessman who is only ever seen politely clapping Chelsea goals outside of a Stamford Bridge executive box. What role does he have in wrestling? Well, Rom would make a perfect tyrannical owner of the organisation, in the mould of Vince McMahon.

Mr McMahon has even dabbled in the ring a few times, so the Chelsea owner could don a leotard and use the ring to fight his enemies in the world of business and politics... 

Suggested stage name: The Iron Oligarch

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