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7 questions that will shape the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season

7 questions that will shape the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season

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UConn won the title, the coaching carousel stopped turning, and the transfer portal came and went. After a long and eventful offseason, the women’s college basketball season is nearly here and there are an endless number of questions to be answered.

Who is going to rise up in a seemingly wide-open Big 12? Now separated, will Olivia Miles or Hannah Hidalgo have the better seasons? Who fills the stardom void left by Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins? After UConn, is the rest of the Big East any good? Which mid-major team is going to shock and surprise? Can Mikayla Blakes follow up her stellar rookie campaign by leading the nation in scoring? How will transfers like MiLaysia Fulwiley and Ta’Niya Latson work out?

Those questions and the ones below will shape the upcoming season.

Is Sarah Strong ready to be the bus driver for UConn?

Paige Bueckers is gone. And with all due respect to Azzi Fudd, a supremely talented shooter and offensive playmaker, Sarah Strong is now the top player on this team. The question is: As a sophomore, is she ready to lead? And will UConn be at its best when it runs its offense through her? And that doesn’t mean just throwing the ball down to her in the paint to ensure she’s getting post touches; it means potentially making Strong a point-forward.

There’s other players on this roster capable of running an offense and creating shots for others — from KK Arnold to Kayleigh Heckel — but none are as versatile, as talented, or as sharp as Strong. A season ago, she was second to only Bueckers on this UConn team in assists per game. Strong was also just one of four players nationally last season to average at least 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. She was the only freshman to do so, did it in the least amount of minutes per game, and had the highest field goal percentage of all of them – 58 percent.

Last year, Strong had the luxury of flying under Bueckers’ wing. This year, the spotlight and pressure is on her.

What will North Carolina do in the frontcourt?

One could make the argument that the most important player to North Carolina’s resurgence under Courtney Banghart was Alyssa Ustby. Over the past five seasons — as the Tar Heels went to five NCAA Tournaments, two Sweet 16s, and hosted opening weekend games last year as a top 16 seed — Ustby was the leader in minutes played and rebounding, and if there was a stat for hustle and toughness she would have led UNC in that too. Now, in Banghart’s seventh season at the helm, her defensive anchor and do-it-all leader is gone, and with her is the program’s all-time record for rebounds. Also graduated from UNC was reliable post scorer and rim protector Maria Gakdeng, all 6-foot-5 of her.

Simply put, the Tar Heels had holes to fill in the frontcourt. They grabbed 6-foot-2 ACC veteran Nyla Harris from Louisville via the transfer portal, but still have one spot left unsolved. A few options exist:

  • Blanca Thomas is a 6-foot-6 sophomore who played 11 minutes per game last season. Of anyone on the roster, she’s most like Gakdeng, but is she ready for a starting role?
  • Ciera Toomey is a redshirt sophomore and a 6-foot-4 former five-star recruit. She played about 10 minutes per game last season, but has a skillset that is much more suited for a stretch-four type of role.
  • Liza Astakhova is 6-foot-2 and just arrived from Russia. Frankly, not much about her is known. Can the Tar Heels count on her in Year One?
  • Move Harris to the five, Indya Nivar to the four, start three guards (probably Reniya Kelly, Lanie Grant and Elina Aarnisalo) and embrace small-ball.

What North Carolina decides to do with its rotation will be something to watch all season long.

Which transfer class works out the best in the ACC?

There was a lot of roster turnover in the ACC this year, as the league returns just eight of 25 all-conference selections.

A handful of teams that missed the NCAA Tournament last year — SMU, Clemson, Miami and Virginia — brought in big transfer portal classes littered with some impressive names. Lieberman Award contender Rachael Rose is at Clemson, FIBA standout Gal Raviv has the keys at Miami, former LSU starter Sa’Myah Smith is ready for a big role at Virginia, and Tyi Skinner looks like the best player on a completely reloaded SMU roster.

Which of those big portal classes works out the best remains to be seen. Elsewhere in the league, some hopeful contenders are going to count on crucial transfers too. Louisville will lean on Laura Ziegler, N.C. State is expecting big things from Khamil Pierre, and Syracuse needs Laila Phelia to be a leader.

Will Gianna Kneepkens be a difference-maker for UCLA?

Last year, one could make the case that the Bruins were a good, but not great, 3-point shooting team. They made about 33 percent of their attempts from behind the arc, good enough for 80th nationally. As the offense ran largely through 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, just two UCLA players — Londynn Jones and Timea Gardiner — made more than one 3-pointer per game. Jones is gone, now at USC, but the Bruins landed perhaps the best shooter available in the portal in Gianna Kneepkens.

At Utah last season, she ranked ninth nationally in 3-pointers made per game (3.0) and was 28th in shooting percentage from deep with a 44.8 percent mark. That clip was also sixth best nationally among players who attempted at least 6.5 3-pointers per game last season. Kneepkens is an experienced, reliable and consistent 3-point shooter who should give UCLA’s offense a legitimate threat on the perimeter.

The Bruins are also getting Charlisse Leger-Walker healthy. In the 2022-23 season at Washington State, she made 2.3 3-pointers per game. The combination of Kneepkens and Leger-Walker should give UCLA a new wrinkle on offense and prevent defenses from packing the paint on Betts.

How good will USC be without JuJu Watkins?

The Trojans went to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season back in the spring. Now, they’re about to embark on a season without the reigning National Player of the Year, who is still recovering from an ACL tear.

Still, there’s enough talent on this roster that Lindsay Gottlieb’s team shouldn’t have to worry about missing the NCAA Tournament. Kara Dunn arrives via the transfer portal from Georgia Tech after a career-best and All-ACC season, Londynn Jones joined USC from rival UCLA, and top 2025 recruit Jazzy Davidson should form a formidable tandem with sophomore Kennedy Smith.

Size is a bit of a concern following the graduation of Rayah Marshall, but the Trojans brought in two 6-foot-3 forwards in Dayana Mendes and Gerda Raulušaityte. The former was an All-WCC selection last season at Washington State, while the latter was the MVP of the Lithuanian Women’s Basketball League. Another post, 6-foot-5 Yakiya Milton, joins from Auburn.

USC should find itself in the top four of the Big Ten table this season with a team capable of making the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

What does a Kenny Brooks’ team without Liz Kitley or Georgia Amoore look like?

The last time that Brooks coached a team without a Kitley or Amoore on it was the 2018-19 season at Virginia Tech. That team went 22-12 and 6-10 in ACC play, missing the NCAA Tournament for the final time in Brooks’ tenure in Blacksburg. A season akin to that one this year at Kentucky would surely be a disappointment, but there’s no need to worry Big Blue Nation — this roster is too talented to not go dancing in March.

Three starters from last season’s team that hosted opening weekend NCAA Tournament games return in 6-foot-4 Amelia Hassett, 6-foot-5 Teonni Key and 6-foot-6 Clara Strack. The latter was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and might be the next Liz Kitley, Key keeps getting better every season and shot north of 50 percent from the floor last season, and Hassett is bonus post depth as a player who can grab tough rebounds and knock down 3-pointers.

Filling Amoore’s shoes to run the offense this season will be Tonie Morgan, who has starred at Georgia Tech for the past three seasons under Nell Fortner. A two-time All-ACC selection, Morgan is coming off a season where she averaged a career-best 5.6 assists per game and shot a career-high 48.9 percent from the floor.

Kenny’s Kentucky will be just fine.

Will any other SEC team seriously challenge South Carolina for SEC supremacy?

A year ago, once the calendar turned into March, the Gamecocks became a war machine and bulldozed their way through the SEC Tournament and March Madness. Vic Schaeffer continued his habit of losing to Dawn Staley in the postseason as South Carolina topped his Texas team in the SEC title game and at the Final Four.

Is anyone else in the conference up to the task this season? Maybe.

On paper, LSU looks the most talented, but the Tigers have lost 17 straight to the Gamecocks. Will Flau’Jae Johnson and her teammates finally break that streak in her senior season?

Kentucky has the size to bang in the paint with a South Carolina team that doesn’t have the same post depth it typically has because of two key injuries to Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts. In a styles-make-fights sort of matchup, Tennessee could try to make South Carolina run with them in an up-tempo fast-paced game. Could Aaliyah Chavez or Mikayla Blakes put on a cape and superhero their way to a win over the Gamecocks? Could Coach Yo lead Ole Miss to a historic win over South Carolina?

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. But it’s best to not bet against Dawn Staley. If one of these other SEC teams has a legitimate shot at the king, they best not miss.

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Deadspin | Report: Bulls narrowing search for top executive role Dec 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bulls logo on the shorts of Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (12) during the first half against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images The Chicago Bulls received permission to interview five candidates to be their new head of basketball operations, ESPN reported Monday. The Bulls plan to start meetings this week with Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks senior VP Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep, per the report. Chicago is also expected to interview agent Austin Brown, co-head of CAA’s basketball division, sources told ESPN. On April 6, the Bulls parted ways with executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons and just one playoff appearance. Coming off a 31-51 campaign, the Bulls reportedly want to hire their new decision-maker prior to the May 10-17 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. No matter who gets the job, head coach Billy Donovan’s job appears to be safe thanks to his public backing by Bulls chief executive and president Michael Reinsdorf. “If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Reinsdorf said earlier this month. “… If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Report #Bulls #narrowing #search #top #executive #roleDec 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bulls logo on the shorts of Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (12) during the first half against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bulls received permission to interview five candidates to be their new head of basketball operations, ESPN reported Monday.

The Bulls plan to start meetings this week with Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks senior VP Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep, per the report.

Chicago is also expected to interview agent Austin Brown, co-head of CAA’s basketball division, sources told ESPN.


On April 6, the Bulls parted ways with executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons and just one playoff appearance.

Coming off a 31-51 campaign, the Bulls reportedly want to hire their new decision-maker prior to the May 10-17 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

No matter who gets the job, head coach Billy Donovan’s job appears to be safe thanks to his public backing by Bulls chief executive and president Michael Reinsdorf.

“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Reinsdorf said earlier this month. “… If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Report #Bulls #narrowing #search #top #executive #role">Deadspin | Report: Bulls narrowing search for top executive role Dec 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bulls logo on the shorts of Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (12) during the first half against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images The Chicago Bulls received permission to interview five candidates to be their new head of basketball operations, ESPN reported Monday. The Bulls plan to start meetings this week with Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks senior VP Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep, per the report. Chicago is also expected to interview agent Austin Brown, co-head of CAA’s basketball division, sources told ESPN. On April 6, the Bulls parted ways with executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons and just one playoff appearance. Coming off a 31-51 campaign, the Bulls reportedly want to hire their new decision-maker prior to the May 10-17 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. No matter who gets the job, head coach Billy Donovan’s job appears to be safe thanks to his public backing by Bulls chief executive and president Michael Reinsdorf. “If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Reinsdorf said earlier this month. “… If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Report #Bulls #narrowing #search #top #executive #role

WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave.

Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama.

What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling.

So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell.

Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega

Every NFL quarterback’s pro wrestling counterpart WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave. Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama. What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling. So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell. Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle. Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted. Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night. Bo Nix: Charlie Haas Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas. Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much. Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season. Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions. Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though. Josh Allen: Mick Foley Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents. Drake Maye: Randy Orton Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl. Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here. Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day) Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC. Cam Ward: Trick Williams There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans. C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston. Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis. Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit. Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre Out of time, so say goodbyeWhat is yours, now is mineAnd I dream broken dreamsI make them come true Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know. McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win. Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl. Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded 0,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals. Jordan Love: Batista Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21. Caleb Williams: Penta Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring. Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV. Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success. Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team. Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans Je’Von Evans may not be the biggest wrestler on earth (he’s billed at 195 pounds), but my goodness, he things he does when his number is called are breathtaking. Bouncing around the ring like a human rubber band, he has quickly become one of the sport’s top high-flyers at age 21. The concerns about Jayden Daniels’ frame died down in 2024 when he led the Commanders to the NFC championship Game as a rookie. And while injuries caught up to him in 2025, he has cut down on playing the position like he’s in the newest Jackass movie, and is one of the NFL’s top dual threats. Jalen Hurts: The Miz Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy. Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart. Baker Mayfield: LA Knight Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling. Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young. Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints. Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was. #NFL #quarterbacks #pro #wrestling #counterpart

When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle.

Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn

You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted.

Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler

The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night.

Bo Nix: Charlie Haas

Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas.

Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk

Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much.

Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam

It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season.

Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes

Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions.

Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel

His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though.

Josh Allen: Mick Foley

Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents.

Drake Maye: Randy Orton

Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl.

Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley

Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here.

Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day)

Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos.

Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger

Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC.

Cam Ward: Trick Williams

There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans.

C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara

Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston.

Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin

The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis.

Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley

Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit.

Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre

Out of time, so say goodbye
What is yours, now is mine
And I dream broken dreams
I make them come true

Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know.

McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win.

Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page

DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl.

Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett

In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded $300,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals.

Jordan Love: Batista

Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21.

Caleb Williams: Penta

Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring.

Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli

The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV.

Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano

Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success.

Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins

There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team.

Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans

Je’Von Evans may not be the biggest wrestler on earth (he’s billed at 195 pounds), but my goodness, he things he does when his number is called are breathtaking. Bouncing around the ring like a human rubber band, he has quickly become one of the sport’s top high-flyers at age 21. The concerns about Jayden Daniels’ frame died down in 2024 when he led the Commanders to the NFC championship Game as a rookie. And while injuries caught up to him in 2025, he has cut down on playing the position like he’s in the newest Jackass movie, and is one of the NFL’s top dual threats.

Jalen Hurts: The Miz

Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy.

Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne

Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart.

Baker Mayfield: LA Knight

Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling.

Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander

Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young.

Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints

Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints.

Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso

Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was.

#NFL #quarterbacks #pro #wrestling #counterpart">Every NFL quarterback’s pro wrestling counterpart WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave. Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama. What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling. So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell. Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle. Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted. Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night. Bo Nix: Charlie Haas Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas. Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much. Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season. Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions. Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though. Josh Allen: Mick Foley Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents. Drake Maye: Randy Orton Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl. Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here. Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day) Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC. Cam Ward: Trick Williams There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans. C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston. Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis. Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit. Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre Out of time, so say goodbyeWhat is yours, now is mineAnd I dream broken dreamsI make them come true Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know. McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win. Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl. Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded 0,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals. Jordan Love: Batista Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21. Caleb Williams: Penta Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring. Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV. Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success. Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team. Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans Je’Von Evans may not be the biggest wrestler on earth (he’s billed at 195 pounds), but my goodness, he things he does when his number is called are breathtaking. Bouncing around the ring like a human rubber band, he has quickly become one of the sport’s top high-flyers at age 21. The concerns about Jayden Daniels’ frame died down in 2024 when he led the Commanders to the NFC championship Game as a rookie. And while injuries caught up to him in 2025, he has cut down on playing the position like he’s in the newest Jackass movie, and is one of the NFL’s top dual threats. Jalen Hurts: The Miz Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy. Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart. Baker Mayfield: LA Knight Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling. Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young. Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints. Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was. #NFL #quarterbacks #pro #wrestling #counterpart

WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave.

Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama.

What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling.

So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell.

Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega

Every NFL quarterback’s pro wrestling counterpart WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave. Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama. What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling. So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell. Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle. Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted. Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night. Bo Nix: Charlie Haas Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas. Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much. Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season. Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions. Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though. Josh Allen: Mick Foley Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents. Drake Maye: Randy Orton Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl. Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here. Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day) Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC. Cam Ward: Trick Williams There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans. C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston. Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis. Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit. Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre Out of time, so say goodbyeWhat is yours, now is mineAnd I dream broken dreamsI make them come true Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know. McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win. Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl. Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded 0,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals. Jordan Love: Batista Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21. Caleb Williams: Penta Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring. Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV. Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success. Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team. Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans Je’Von Evans may not be the biggest wrestler on earth (he’s billed at 195 pounds), but my goodness, he things he does when his number is called are breathtaking. Bouncing around the ring like a human rubber band, he has quickly become one of the sport’s top high-flyers at age 21. The concerns about Jayden Daniels’ frame died down in 2024 when he led the Commanders to the NFC championship Game as a rookie. And while injuries caught up to him in 2025, he has cut down on playing the position like he’s in the newest Jackass movie, and is one of the NFL’s top dual threats. Jalen Hurts: The Miz Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy. Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart. Baker Mayfield: LA Knight Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling. Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young. Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints. Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was. #NFL #quarterbacks #pro #wrestling #counterpart

When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle.

Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn

You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted.

Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler

The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night.

Bo Nix: Charlie Haas

Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas.

Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk

Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much.

Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam

It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season.

Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes

Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions.

Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel

His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though.

Josh Allen: Mick Foley

Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents.

Drake Maye: Randy Orton

Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl.

Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley

Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here.

Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day)

Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos.

Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger

Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC.

Cam Ward: Trick Williams

There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans.

C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara

Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston.

Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin

The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis.

Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley

Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit.

Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre

Out of time, so say goodbye
What is yours, now is mine
And I dream broken dreams
I make them come true

Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know.

McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win.

Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page

DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl.

Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett

In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded $300,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals.

Jordan Love: Batista

Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21.

Caleb Williams: Penta

Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring.

Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli

The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV.

Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano

Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success.

Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins

There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team.

Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans

Je’Von Evans may not be the biggest wrestler on earth (he’s billed at 195 pounds), but my goodness, he things he does when his number is called are breathtaking. Bouncing around the ring like a human rubber band, he has quickly become one of the sport’s top high-flyers at age 21. The concerns about Jayden Daniels’ frame died down in 2024 when he led the Commanders to the NFC championship Game as a rookie. And while injuries caught up to him in 2025, he has cut down on playing the position like he’s in the newest Jackass movie, and is one of the NFL’s top dual threats.

Jalen Hurts: The Miz

Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy.

Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne

Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart.

Baker Mayfield: LA Knight

Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling.

Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander

Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young.

Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints

Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints.

Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso

Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was.

#NFL #quarterbacks #pro #wrestling #counterpart">Every NFL quarterback’s pro wrestling counterpart

WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave.

Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama.

What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling.

So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell.

Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega

Every NFL quarterback’s pro wrestling counterpart WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave. Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama. What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling. So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell. Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle. Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted. Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night. Bo Nix: Charlie Haas Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas. Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much. Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season. Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions. Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though. Josh Allen: Mick Foley Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents. Drake Maye: Randy Orton Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl. Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here. Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day) Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC. Cam Ward: Trick Williams There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans. C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston. Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis. Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit. Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre Out of time, so say goodbyeWhat is yours, now is mineAnd I dream broken dreamsI make them come true Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know. McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win. Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl. Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded 0,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals. Jordan Love: Batista Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21. Caleb Williams: Penta Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring. Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV. Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success. Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team. Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans Je’Von Evans may not be the biggest wrestler on earth (he’s billed at 195 pounds), but my goodness, he things he does when his number is called are breathtaking. Bouncing around the ring like a human rubber band, he has quickly become one of the sport’s top high-flyers at age 21. The concerns about Jayden Daniels’ frame died down in 2024 when he led the Commanders to the NFC championship Game as a rookie. And while injuries caught up to him in 2025, he has cut down on playing the position like he’s in the newest Jackass movie, and is one of the NFL’s top dual threats. Jalen Hurts: The Miz Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy. Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart. Baker Mayfield: LA Knight Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling. Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young. Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints. Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was. #NFL #quarterbacks #pro #wrestling #counterpart

When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle.

Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn

You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted.

Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler

The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night.

Bo Nix: Charlie Haas

Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas.

Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk

Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much.

Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam

It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season.

Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes

Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions.

Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel

His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though.

Josh Allen: Mick Foley

Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents.

Drake Maye: Randy Orton

Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl.

Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley

Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here.

Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day)

Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos.

Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger

Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC.

Cam Ward: Trick Williams

There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans.

C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara

Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston.

Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin

The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis.

Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley

Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit.

Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre

Out of time, so say goodbye
What is yours, now is mine
And I dream broken dreams
I make them come true

Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know.

McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win.

Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page

DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl.

Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett

In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded $300,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals.

Jordan Love: Batista

Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21.

Caleb Williams: Penta

Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring.

Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli

The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV.

Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano

Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success.

Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins

There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team.

Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans

Je’Von Evans may not be the biggest wrestler on earth (he’s billed at 195 pounds), but my goodness, he things he does when his number is called are breathtaking. Bouncing around the ring like a human rubber band, he has quickly become one of the sport’s top high-flyers at age 21. The concerns about Jayden Daniels’ frame died down in 2024 when he led the Commanders to the NFC championship Game as a rookie. And while injuries caught up to him in 2025, he has cut down on playing the position like he’s in the newest Jackass movie, and is one of the NFL’s top dual threats.

Jalen Hurts: The Miz

Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy.

Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne

Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart.

Baker Mayfield: LA Knight

Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling.

Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander

Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young.

Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints

Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints.

Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso

Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was.

#NFL #quarterbacks #pro #wrestling #counterpart
Deadspin | Kenyan pair repeat at Boston Marathon; John Korir breaks course record Boston Marathon – Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. – April 20, 2026 Kenya’s John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men’s elite race REUTERS/Cj Gunther John Korir of Kenya won his second straight Boston Marathon on Monday morning, setting a course record in the 130th edition of the race with a time of 2:01:52. Korir, 29, took the lead just before the 20-mile mark, gradually building his advantage and finishing 55 seconds ahead of Alphonce Simbo of Tanzania. Benson Kipruto of Kenya, the 2021 winner, finished third. Korir, whose brother Wesley also won the Boston Marathon in 2012, broke Geoffrey Mutai’s 2011 course record by 70 seconds. He is just the second man since 2008 to win back-to-back Boston Marathons, joining countryman Evans Chebet (2022-23). Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, 32, also repeated as Boston Marathon champion on the women’s side, finishing in a time of 2:18:51, 89 seconds slower than the course record she set in 2025. Kenya’s Loice Chemnung finished second, 44 seconds back. Zouhair Talbi, a Moroccan-born runner now representing the U.S., was the top American finisher in the men’s race. He was fifth overall with a time of 2:03:45, breaking his previous personal record by two minutes on the nose. Jess McClain, the top American woman, also came in fifth with a time of 2:20:49, a new personal best by nearly two minutes. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kenyan #pair #repeat #Boston #Marathon #John #Korir #breaks #recordBoston Marathon – Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. – April 20, 2026 Kenya’s John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men’s elite race REUTERS/Cj Gunther

John Korir of Kenya won his second straight Boston Marathon on Monday morning, setting a course record in the 130th edition of the race with a time of 2:01:52.

Korir, 29, took the lead just before the 20-mile mark, gradually building his advantage and finishing 55 seconds ahead of Alphonce Simbo of Tanzania. Benson Kipruto of Kenya, the 2021 winner, finished third.

Korir, whose brother Wesley also won the Boston Marathon in 2012, broke Geoffrey Mutai’s 2011 course record by 70 seconds. He is just the second man since 2008 to win back-to-back Boston Marathons, joining countryman Evans Chebet (2022-23).


Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, 32, also repeated as Boston Marathon champion on the women’s side, finishing in a time of 2:18:51, 89 seconds slower than the course record she set in 2025. Kenya’s Loice Chemnung finished second, 44 seconds back.

Zouhair Talbi, a Moroccan-born runner now representing the U.S., was the top American finisher in the men’s race. He was fifth overall with a time of 2:03:45, breaking his previous personal record by two minutes on the nose.

Jess McClain, the top American woman, also came in fifth with a time of 2:20:49, a new personal best by nearly two minutes.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Kenyan #pair #repeat #Boston #Marathon #John #Korir #breaks #record">Deadspin | Kenyan pair repeat at Boston Marathon; John Korir breaks course record Boston Marathon – Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. – April 20, 2026 Kenya’s John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men’s elite race REUTERS/Cj Gunther John Korir of Kenya won his second straight Boston Marathon on Monday morning, setting a course record in the 130th edition of the race with a time of 2:01:52. Korir, 29, took the lead just before the 20-mile mark, gradually building his advantage and finishing 55 seconds ahead of Alphonce Simbo of Tanzania. Benson Kipruto of Kenya, the 2021 winner, finished third. Korir, whose brother Wesley also won the Boston Marathon in 2012, broke Geoffrey Mutai’s 2011 course record by 70 seconds. He is just the second man since 2008 to win back-to-back Boston Marathons, joining countryman Evans Chebet (2022-23). Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, 32, also repeated as Boston Marathon champion on the women’s side, finishing in a time of 2:18:51, 89 seconds slower than the course record she set in 2025. Kenya’s Loice Chemnung finished second, 44 seconds back. Zouhair Talbi, a Moroccan-born runner now representing the U.S., was the top American finisher in the men’s race. He was fifth overall with a time of 2:03:45, breaking his previous personal record by two minutes on the nose. Jess McClain, the top American woman, also came in fifth with a time of 2:20:49, a new personal best by nearly two minutes. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kenyan #pair #repeat #Boston #Marathon #John #Korir #breaks #record

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