Athletes Recreate WWE Entrances At Fanatics Fest

Fanatics Fest in New York is giving fans an unexpected crossover between pro wrestling and pro sports, as a group of athletes have been recreating WWE entrances on-site.

Among those taking part are Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who came out to Batista’s music, and Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who made his entrance to Roman Reigns’ theme. Longtime NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is no stranger to WWE having once held the promotion’s 24/7 Championship, walked out to Jey Uso’s music. Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz has also been part of the festivities at the event.

Fanatics Fest has become a major offseason draw for sports memorabilia, autographs and fan interaction, pulling in athletes from multiple leagues alongside wrestling personalities. WWE has increasingly leaned into crossover moments with mainstream sports stars in recent years, and Gronkowski’s history with the company — including his surprise 24/7 Title reign years ago — makes him a natural fit for this kind of segment.

The entrance recreations play into WWE’s continued effort to widen its footprint among major professional athletes, many of whom have publicly expressed fandom for the product over the years. St. Brown and Gibbs represent the NFL’s current generation, while Ortiz and Gronkowski bring in recognizable names from baseball and football’s recent past.

No word yet on whether additional athletes will take part in similar bits as Fanatics Fest continues, but the moment has already made the rounds among wrestling fans online. It’s the latest example of WWE’s aesthetic — its music, lighting and entrance culture — being embraced well outside the confines of its own programming.