NFL and Pro Wrestling: A Match Made In Heaven?

Pro wrestling's imminent evolution (if you want to call it that) into a form of sports entertainment has given way to a budding relationship between wrestling and a revolving door of superstar athletes.  

With the NFL season around the corner, memories of the synergy between WWE and the NFL have come back into my stream of consciousness.

Such synergy continues to this day. Chad Ochocinco of the Cincinnati Bengals has been tabbed as a "Guest Host Star of RAW as the WWE figures to stack its upcoming episode with a "Season Premiere" featuring the *sigh* RAW Roulette and a Wrestlemania-caliber main event between John Cena and Randy Orton.

These seemingly drastic measures have been taken in an attempt to compete with the NFL's own Season Premiere of Monday Night Football. 

A healthy portion of athletes are closet wrestling fans, as pro wresting at its best combines simplistic storylines with theatrical competition with the intention of settling a conflict in the field of battle. 

Pro wrestling, or sports entertainment, often reminds us that, like pro wrestling, sports and entertainment go hand in hand.

Throughout the history of many mainstream wrestling promotions, many NFL stars have contributed to the advancement of wrestling storylines, helped promote certain pro wrestling promotions, and even wrestled in pro wrestling matches on pay-per-view. 

Suffice to say, pro wrestling and the NFL is a match made in heaven. 

Big Nasty is the editor of The Big Nasty Athletic Dept. Log on to twitter at twitter.com/bignasty247 and follow him until he presses charges!

NFL vs. WWF Battle Royal: Wrestlemania 2

In a concept that could draw huge dollars in today's landscape of sports entertainment, but would never happen, a 20-man battle royal between NFL players and WWE superstars was featured at Wrestlemania 2. 

William "The Refrigerator" Perry was the most notable NFL star who competed in this battle royal that featured future WWE Hall of Famers Bret "The Hitman Hart", The Iron Shiek, Tony Atlas, Pedro Morales, and Andre the Giant, who went on to win the event.

Bruno Sammartino was also featured in the battle royal (talk about a fall from grace). 

Adam "Pac Man" Jones Joins TNA

This wouldn't really be considered as a happy marriage between the NFL and pro wrestling as the Tennessee Titans did all that they could to sabotage their, then-suspended stud cornerback's foray into pro wrestling.  

With his name deep on the wrong side of the sporting news headlines, after being suspended from the NFL for character issues, NFL cornerback Adam "Pac Man" Jones and TNA decided it would be a good idea for Jones to spend his time perfecting his craft in pro wrestling.  

In signing Pac Man Jones, TNA looked to capitalize on a polarizing figure in an attempt to increase awareness for their budding wrestling promotion.

The move was doomed from the start as the Tennessee Titans organization imposed their will by banning Jones from touching or being touched by any wrestler in a physical confrontation. 

Despite winning the tag team titles, alongside R-Truth, on one occasion, Pac Man Jones' attempted transition into pro wrestling was short-lived.

Jones has since returned to the NFL and is currently a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Hosts RAW

When he's not coming under fire for his own issues off the field, Ben Roethlisberger is quite the wrestling enthusiast. 

As one of the better guest hosts in the hit or miss RAW Guest Host era, Ben Roethlisberger, accompanied by his offensive line, willingly hosted an episode of RAW on the same night Brett Favre was set to play his former team, the Green Bay Packers, in what was arguably the most anticipated NFL regular season game of all time. 

Now that's dedication.

Roethlisberer was very active during this particular broadcast. Big Ben book ended the show, siding with DX, and played an on-camera GM role by arranging pivotal matches that night. 

Steve Mongo McMichael and Kevin Greene Team Against The Four Horsemen

Once upon a time, when WCW could do no wrong, Eric Bischoff and friends expertly devised a plan to pit the legendary Four Horsemen stable against notable NFL star Steve "Mongo" McMichael (of Chicago Bears fame) and pro bowl linebacker Kevin Greene.

Originally brought in as a color commentator, armed with a toy dog, Mongo McMichael began feuding with Ric Flair when Flair, wait for it, made advances towards his wife, Debra.  

The feud would blossom into a tag team match on pay-per-view, at WCW's Great American Bash, where McMichael would team with his football buddy Kevin Greene to take on Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.  

In a shocking twist, the match ended in a victory for Flair and Anderson when Steve McMichael turned on Kevin Greene by striking Greene with a briefcase filled with cash (which would become his signature weapon), allowing Ric Flair to pick up the victory.  

Lawrence Taylor Vs. Bam Bam Bigelow: Wrestlemania 11

In one of the most memorable matches in WWE history, NFL legend Lawrence Taylor competed against Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event. 

To this day, it is a rarity for the main event of Wrestlemania to be a match not contested for the WWE Championship. 

But the star power involved in this match, most of which came from Lawrence Taylor, warranted main event billing for this 'special attraction match'.

Many pro wrestling purists dismiss this match as a money grab that ruined Wrestlemania 11, however others submit that this match signified a pivotal moment in WWE history that kept the company afloat during rocky times. 

Lawrence Taylor had been secretly training, working diligently on fundamental pro wrestling maneuvers. 

His effort that night could hardly be questioned, as L.T. overachieved in the ring against Bam Bam Bigelow, who was one of the better Monster Heels of that generation. 

With the ring surrounded by both NFL and WWE talent, Lawrence Taylor earned a victory over Bigelow with a flying forearm from the top rope in an clip that has since become a legendary highlight reel in WWE lure.

Big Nasty is the editor of The Big Nasty Athletic Dept. Log on to twitter at twitter.com/bignasty247 and follow him until he presses charges!