NFL Draft 2011: Comparing the Top 25 Prospects to WWE Wrestlers

The NFL and WWE have some things in common right now, most notably the fact that neither fan base is happy.

NFL fans are not pleased with the continuing lockout, while WWE fans would like some improvements within the story lines and a return towards the attitude era.

Now that Cam Newton is entering the draft, both the NFL and WWE will have entertainers working for them and because of that it's time to compare competitors from both arenas.

Here is how the top 25 draft prospects compare to some of the biggest WWE superstars.

Marcell Dareus: The Miz

Marcell Dareus is going to get himself a big payday one way or another because it is very likely he will be one of the first two players selected on draft night.

So while Dareus appears to be near the top of the draft, The Miz is near the top of the WWE Universe.

The Miz is the reigning WWE Champion and after being just a kid with a dream on MTV's "Real World," he has found himself achieving more than anyone could have ever imagined.

Dareus and The Miz look like they will be fixtures in the sports and entertainment world for years to come.

Patrick Peterson: Sin Cara

Peterson is considered the top prospect in the draft by many experts, and one of the main reasons for his top billing is his athleticism. 

Athletic ability is also the reason that Sin Cara has become the talk of WWE as of late. The Mexican wrestler debuted on RAW less than a month ago but he has already made an impact with his high-flying moves.

The future looks very bright for both of these guys.

Von Miller: Christian

Miller has found himself vaulting up draft boards after his terrific 2010 season and combine performance while Christian has also made a quick ascent towards the top.

After winning a 20-man battle royal on the most recent episode of Smackdown, Christian will now face Alberto Del Rio for the now vacant World Heavyweight Championship.

Miller will likely go to the Bills with the third pick in the draft.

Da'Quan Bowers: Undertaker

Bowers draft stock has been up-and-down due to injuries and sometimes inconsistent performance, while The Undertaker had not been his normal self up until his Wrestlemania win due to his own set of injuries.

Both of these guys are extremely talented, but their health will tell the tale as things move forward.

Blaine Gabbert: Randy Orton

Orton is a six-time WWE champion who is now looking to regain his spot on top, while Gabbert is considered by many to be the best quarterback in the draft, but he has been playing second-fiddle just like Orton as of late.

Orton has laid low during the Cena-Rock feud but it's only a matter of time before he becomes more heavily involved in the main storyline once again.

Gabbert should go quite high in the draft but he has not been talked about nearly as much of late due to all of the attention that Cam Newton and Jake Locker have received.

Robert Quinn: Chris Jericho

Both of these guys have have been M.I.A. for awhile now but they both should make a big impact when they return.

Jericho is currently spending his time on "Dancing With the Stars," while Quinn had to sit-out his final season at UNC due to some NCAA violations.

Prince Amukamara: Alberto Del Rio

Amukamara is a tough guy to peg when it comes to the draft because some people are very high on him while others just don't see it.

Alberto Del Rio appears to be on the fast-track to WWE stardom but he has not quite gotten there yet.

Both of these guys have the potential to be great but their careers could go either way at this point.

Julio Jones: R-Truth

Julio Jones has made a big move since his impressive combine performance in hopes of being the first wide receiver taken in the draft.

R-Truth has found himself as the No. 1 contender along with John Cena for the WWE Championship.

I highly doubt Jones will be the first receiver taken and I really doubt that R-Truth becomes the WWE Champ, so while both guys are looking good right now, don't expect them to climb much further for now.

Tyron Smith: Big Show

These are both two of the best big men in their respective businesses.

Smith should be the first offensive lineman taken in the draft, with the possibility of going in the top 10, most likely to the Cowboys.

The Big Show is currently back with Kane to form a very formidable tag team duo.

A.J. Green: John Morrison

This is another pairing of two amazing athletes on the rise.

Green should be the first receiver taken in the draft and potentially a top 5 pick, while Morrison is trying to work his way up the food chain towards an eventual title shot.

Both of these guys should have very bright futures entertaining their respective crowds for a long time to come.

J.J Watt: Wade Barrett

Watt was the unquestioned leader of the Wisconsin defense last season while Barrett is the (often questioned) leader of the Corre.

Watt has a motor that never stops at defensive end and Barrett seems to have a mouth that never stops in the WWE.

Expect both of these guys to continue their rise towards stardom in the coming years.

Corey Liuget: Daniel Bryan

Neither of these guys are all that well-known, but they both have the talent to eventually change that.

Bryan is more of a household name in the WWE universe than Liuget is amongst NFL fan bases but both of these stand to gain in the coming years if they can keep performing at a high level. 

Aldon Smith: Justin Gabriel

Both of these guys are great athletes who are flying under the radar at the moment to an extent.

Granted, Smith should be a first round pick and Gabriel is one-half of the tag team champs, but both of these guys should become better-known as their careers march on.

Although both of them could flame out in the near-future as well.

Muhammad Wilkerson: Heath Slater

This duo is very similar to that of Smith and Gabriel, just think of these guys as the less athletic pairing.

Neither man is close to a household name at the moment, but both have rocketed up the food chain to find themselves in pretty good shape for the future.

Ultimately I don't think either of them will survive for all that long unfortunately.

Cam Newton: John Cena

J. Meric/Getty Images

ST. PETERSBURG - JULY 27: Actor John Cena takes in the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field on July 27, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Just like John Cena, you probably either love Cam or you hate him.

Cena is currently one of the biggest stars in WWE and Newton is one of the biggest stars entering the draft, but no one knows how either man's career will play out.

I like Cena's chances better than Newton's of staying on top for the long haul.

Jake Locker: Cody Rhodes

Locker and Rhodes are both very talented competitors but they just have not been able to reach their full potential as of yet.

Locker needs to improve his throwing accuracy and if he can do that then he has a great chance to be Pro Bowl quarterback.

Rhodes needs to fix his face so he can take that mask off and go back to the "dashing" Cody Rhodes of before.

Gabe Carimi: Ezekiel Jackson

Carimi and Jackson are big guys who both have a ton of talent but are not yet recognized as the best among their peers.

Carimi is considered the third or fourth best offensive tackle by most draft experts while Jackson isn't even in the top five heavyweights in WWE at the moment.

I expect both of these guys to have solid careers down the line.

Mike Pouncey: Kane

Mike Pouncey has been living in his brother Maurkice's shadow just like Kane has lived in the Undertaker's shadow for years.

They are both household names now but expect them to be even bigger names before all is said and done.

The Undertaker may never wrestle again which would open the door for Kane to regain the family spotlight while Mike is likely to be a first round pick and potential Pro Bowler just like his twin brother.

Anthony Castonzo: CM Punk

This duo is a very intelligent pairing as Castonzo majored in biochemistry at Boston College and CM Punk managed to become the leader of the Nexus.

Castonzo is one of the top rated offensive lineman in the draft and it appears that he will be a very productive NFL player with Pro Bowl potential.

CM Punk also appears to be a force to be reckoned with even though some of his momentum as leader of the new Nexus seems to have slowed down as of late.

Cameron Jordan: Dolph Ziggler

We have already talked about many under the radar duos and while Ziggler has become a very well-known figure in the WWE, Jordan has a ways to go before he is considered among the draft's elite players.

Both of these guys are very talented but they are in the unfortunate position of having other talented men ahead of them in the pecking order.

Jordan is just another defensive end in a loaded class that has as many as 11 guys with the potential to go in the first round, while Ziggler has wrestlers like The Miz, Randy Orton, and John Cena standing in his way.

Mark Ingram: Jack Swagger

Ingram and Swagger have both been winners before as Ingram won the Heisman and a national title at Alabama while Swagger was once the WWE Champion.

Both men are a load to take down and while Swagger has been prominently featured in the Michael Cole/Jerry Lawler feud of late, I think Ingram will be the guy with more staying power in the future.

Stephen Paea: Mark Henry

This comparison is pretty simple, Paea put up a record-setting 49 reps on the bench press at the combine. Henry was once billed as "the world's strongest man."

Need I say more?

I think not.

Nate Solder: Alex Riley

Both of these guys have the potential to be great, but both are still a work in progress.

Solder could end up being a steal in the middle to latter part of the first round if he develops into the offensive tackle that many believe he will be, while Riley is just waiting to step out from behind the Miz's shadow.

Solder and Riley's careers both headed in the right direction, now it will be up to them to realize their potential.

Ryan Kerrigan: Triple H

Both of these guys have put up quite impressive numbers during their careers.

Kerrigan recorded 12.5 sacks during his senior season at Purdue, while Triple H is an eight-time WWE Champ and five-time World Heavyweight Champ.

Triple H's career appears to be winding down while Kerrigan is just getting started.

Akeem Ayers: Sheamus

Both of these guys are looking for more respect and both of them will eventually get it.

Ayers ran a slow time at the combine (4.84), while Sheamus is looking to become the WWE Champ for a third time.

Both guys are impressive on film so it should only be a matter of time before they are both back with the elite.