Tag: nfl

Chris Jericho stars in Minnesota Vikings NFL schedule release video

Posted on by Josh Nason

Former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho was a featured performer in the Minnesota Vikings’ NFL schedule release video Thursday.

Seen below, Jericho plays a waiter, offering up 17 different dishes from across the country to kicker Will Reichard, symbolizing the 17 games on their schedule. Reichard says he’ll take them all and when Jericho asked if there were any allergies, Reichard said, “No…just cables and camera wires.”

The video then goes through each game with a different dish (flame-kissed fish for the Miami Dolphins, cheesehead board for the Green Bay Packers, etc). It eventually ended with Reichard trying to open a door with his foot as he was holding take out bags. Jericho runs up, compliments him as the best kicker in the league, and asks him to sign an autograph for “Chris Jericohen.”

In recent years, the NFL teams’ schedule release videos have become something of a phenomenon, especially in the era of social media. Other wrestlers that have taken part in the past includes The Miz with his Cleveland Browns and Seth Rollins with his Chicago Bears.

CMLL collaborates with NFL for Mexico City game announcement

Posted on by Joseph Currier

For the international portion of its 2026/2027 schedule release, the NFL enlisted the help of CMLL and a couple of the promotion’s wrestlers.

It was revealed today that the NFL will return to Mexico City on November 22 when the San Francisco 49ers face off against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. The announcement was made via a video with CMLL’s Mascara Dorada and Soberano Jr. representing the respective teams. Estadio Banorte (Estadio Azteca) will be hosting the game.

“Whether you’re a rudo or tecnico, the showdown awaiting us on November 22 at Estadio Banorte will be unforgettable!,” NFL Mexico wrote. “Are you Team Vikings or Team Niners?”

CMLL had a stellar business year in 2025 and was voted Promotion of the Year in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. The oldest active promotion still in existence, CMLL also collaborated with Pokemon for a show last year and recently had the South Korean K-pop supergroup BTS attend one of its events.

Lucha masks for each NFL team are currently on sale through a licensing partnership between the NFL and Tony Khan’s AEW.

The NFL revealed its slate of international games for the 2026/2027 season today ahead of the full schedule being unveiled this Thursday.

AEW partnering with national sports bar chain to promote NFL lucha masks

Posted on by Josh Nason

AEW is continuing to lay out a course for selling and promoting their NFL lucha mask line, announcing a partnership Thursday with a national sports bar chain to do so.

Centered around the three days of the NFL Draft on April 23-25, AEW and Tom’s Watch Bar will give away a “limited number of AEW NFL officially licensed lucha masks” on those days according to a media release.

Also from the release:

“Fans can visit any Tom’s Watch Bar location on 2026 NFL Draft days to enter for a chance to win an exclusive prize package that contains items from Tom’s Watch Bar, two tickets to an upcoming AEW Dynamite or AEW Collision live event, and an AEW NFL officially licensed Lucha mask. Tom’s Watch Bar is the only place where these limited-edition masks will be available to win in person.”

Officially announced Wednesday, the masks are AEW’s first-ever collaboration with the NFL.

The bar & restaurant chain sports 18 locations in 14 states as well as Washington, DC. One of those is not in Jacksonville, Florida — the home of Tony Khan’s Jaguars. However, there is one in Orlando where the Jaguars will play for the next few seasons as their new stadium undergoes massive renovations.

AEW officially rolling out NFL-themed lucha masks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW is officially rolling out its first-ever merchandise collaboration with the NFL.

After first being announced by Tony Khan back in February, NFL-themed lucha masks will go on sale via ShopAEW.com during Dynamite tonight (April 15). Masks for every team will be available to purchase ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Khan showcased a Jaguars-themed mask at Super Bowl Radio Row while announcing this partnership between AEW and the NFL, calling it a dream come true and something that he’s been working to make happen for years. Khan’s father Shahid Khan is the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Tony Khan serving as the team’s Chief Football Strategy Officer.

There’s been no word on whether this will lead to more collaborations between AEW and the NFL in the future. The NFL and WWE also partner together to sell custom title belts through Fanatics.

AEW is at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington tonight for its special Spring BreakThru episode of Dynamite. The show includes an AEW World Championship match with MJF defending against Darby Allin.

Daily Update: Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio, AEW & NFL

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed look at  how the Pat McAfee angle developed, its goal, why so many in the company are unhappy with it, where it  is leading, addressing the biggest WrestleMania questions, what CM Punk aid, where Paul Levesque and Ari Emanuel fit in, as well as an update on WrestleMania tickets compared to last year, discount offers cutting price back and more
  • Preview to AEW Dynasty, matches and business notes as well as updates on Double or Nothing direction and business, as well as All In at Wembley Stadium.
  • Favorites for WrestleMania and Dynasty
  • Lots of business notes on WrestleMania
  • Callum Newman wins IWGP title and review of Sakura Genesis, what we learned, business, Best of the Super Juniors and Dontaku notes
  • NXT Stand & Deliver.  Match rundowns and stories as well as business notes on the show
  • Texts from Paul Levesque to Nick Khan released in discovery regarding Vince McMahon’s involvement in booking when talent was told McMahon was out and Levesques frustration at the time
  • A detailed look at TNA pulling  talent from advertised indie events that they had previously approved and a better way of handling it
  • A look at the career of 60s and 70s star Flying Fred Curry, one of the major stars of The Sheik’s heyday running Michigan and Ohio, son of Bull Curry and nine-time world tag team champion.
  • The arrest of Alberto el Patron, lots more details and his history, shows he’s been pulled from, an ironic aspect of this story n a reality show in Mexico late last year
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the television shows of the past week, with  comparisons with last week, last year, demos and other stats, male vs. female percentage
  • More stats regarding the audience at Arena Mexico shows as well as a look back on a major week last week.
  • Saya Kamtani has major goal for Stardom’s big show later this month
  • Japanese television in 1985 and who were the draws
  • Ric Flair upset over WWE costing him a major merchandise deal
  • How many times was Flair world champion
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Two more possible WrestleMania card changes
  • Janel Grant lawsuit thoughts

This Week’s Back Issue

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Tuesday Update

AEW
AEW (Image credit: AEW)

 WWE

  • PAPER has profiles on both Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio.
  • Mysterio talked about his relationship with Liv Morgan: “Man, she’s the absolute best. She brings out the best in everybody because she’s always just so positive, very encouraging, honestly, just a joy to be around and absolutely blessed to be able to work with her. I started off with Rhea Ripley, went on to Liv Morgan. Two of the best of the best. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about Liv, and I hope that we stay together. We work for a reason. There’s lots of gold around the Judgment Day, and it’s thanks to her.”
  • Liv Morgan talked about her upcoming match against Stephanie Vaquer: “I love it, because honestly, Stephanie and I really have no business together other than: I want your championship. And so I think that we’ve made it really personal and really physical. They know we do not like each other. I think they know it’s on site when we see each other. Like, I’m talking about her mother. I called her mother trash last week.”
  • Drew McIntyre has released a PSA ahead of WrestleMania week.
  • A new poster for Coyote vs. ACME, which stars John Cena.
  • After jumping to AAA over the weekend, La Catalina will be at WWE World on April 20.
  • Sports Business Journal has an article on WWE’s soft WrestleMania ticket sales.
  • Kali Armstrong was on Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg.
  • Recent WWE Vault additions include a Gunther retrospective, the Women’s Battle Royal from WrestleMania 34, and a compilation of Bret Hart’s WrestleMania matches against the likes of Steve Austin, Yokozuna, and more.

AEW & Other Wrestling

AEW teases NFL-related announcement for this week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

An official announcement is coming this week regarding a collaboration between AEW and the NFL.

On social media today, AEW posted a graphic hyping that there will be an announcement this Wednesday (April 15) about the promotion partnering together with the NFL for an officially licensed merchandise product. It will presumably be the NFL-themed lucha masks that Tony Khan unveiled back in February. The masks have been scheduled to go on sale April 23, which is the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft.

“It’s really exciting to be able to talk about a partnership that I’ve always dreamed of,” Khan said at Super Bowl Radio Row. “I’ve always wanted the NFL and AEW to work together. This is a Jacksonville Jaguars lucha libre mask. But I’m so excited about it because they will be putting this up and these will be available for all 32 NFL teams.

“So starting the first night of the NFL Draft, Thursday, April 23, we will have these masks available on ShopAEW.com for all 32 NFL teams. Now, finally, I’ve always wanted this. It’s a dream I’ve been working on for years, a partnership between the NFL and AEW. So whoever your NFL team is, whatever football team you’re a fan of, you’ll be able to get an All Elite Wrestling NFL mask for your team.”

Tony’s father Shahid Khan is the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and an investor in AEW. The Khan family also owns Premier League soccer team Fulham FC.

Along with being the founder of AEW, Tony Khan works for the Jaguars as Chief Football Strategy Officer and is Fulham’s general manager.

The NFL has a partnership with WWE as well, selling custom WWE championship belts through Fanatics.

Tony Khan announces AEW x NFL merchandise collaboration

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW and the NFL are linking up for their first-ever merchandise collaboration.

While appearing at Super Bowl Radio Row on Thursday, Khan spoke with Compas on the Beat and revealed that AEW and the NFL are partnering together to release lucha libre masks themed after all 32 NFL teams. The masks feature the AEW and NFL logos as well as branding for the specific teams. Khan called the collaboration a dream come true and said it’s something he’s been working to make happen for a while.

“It’s really exciting to be able to talk about a partnership that I’ve always dreamed of,” Khan said. “I’ve always wanted the NFL and AEW to work together. This is a Jacksonville Jaguars lucha libre mask. But I’m so excited about it because they will be putting this up and these will be available for all 32 NFL teams.

“So starting the first night of the NFL Draft, Thursday, April 23, we will have these masks available on ShopAEW.com for all 32 NFL teams. Now, finally, I’ve always wanted this. It’s a dream I’ve been working on for years, a partnership between the NFL and AEW. So whoever your NFL team is, whatever football team you’re a fan of, you’ll be able to get an All Elite Wrestling NFL mask for your team.”

The Khan family, led by Tony’s father Shahid, has owned the Jaguars since 2011. Tony Khan founded AEW in 2019 with his father serving as lead investor. Along with his AEW role, Tony is Chief Football Strategy Officer for the Jaguars and helps run the London-based Premier League soccer team Fulham FC that the Khan family owns.

WWE star to appear at NFL Christmas Day game

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE star Seth Rollins will be doing some cross-promotion next month when he appears at one of Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL games.

Rollins is listed as a special guest for Netflix’s pre-game coverage of the Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, December 25. The game is taking place in Minneapolis at US Bank Stadium, where WWE SummerSlam 2026 will be held next August.

This is the second straight year that Netflix has partnered with the NFL to broadcast games on Christmas. It’s part of Netflix’s push to add more live sports to its portfolio, which has also seen Netflix develop a close relationship with WWE that includes Netflix being the broadcast home of Raw.

CM Punk appeared at one of 2024’s Christmas games to promote the WWE-Netflix deal.

The Lions and Vikings are both division rivals of the Chicago Bears — the NFL team that Rollins supports. Rollins is a huge football fan in general and has a regular role guest hosting “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network.

During a recent “Good Morning Football” episode, Rollins said he expects to be out of action for six months due to the shoulder injury he suffered against Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel: Perth. The injury forced Rollins to vacate the World Heavyweight Championship — and WWE ran an angle where he was betrayed by his former Vision stablemates Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.

The Lions vs. Vikings pre-game show begins at 4 p.m. Eastern on Christmas. The game itself will kick off at 4:30 p.m.

Former WWE wrestler Gable Steveson fails to make Buffalo Bills roster

Posted on by Joseph Currier

At least for the moment, former WWE wrestler Gable Steveson has come up short in his long-shot bid to make it in the NFL.

Steveson was waived by the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday as the team cut down its roster to get to the 53-man limit. It remains to be seen whether he will end up part of the Bills’ practice squad. With no prior experience in football, it was unlikely that Steveson would make the team out of training camp. He was signed to the Bills as a defensive tackle in May.

“The #Bills are waiving DL Gable Steveson, source says,” NFL insider Mike Garafolo tweeted. “Former wrestler is a developmental prospect so this won’t be the end of the line for him, whether in Buffalo as a member of the practice squad or elsewhere.”

Steveson had never played football at any level prior to the three preseason games he appeared in for the Bills.

An Olympic gold medalist, Steveson was a star heavyweight amateur wrestler for the University of Minnesota. He signed with WWE in 2021 but only ever had one televised match, a poorly received showing against Baron Corbin at NXT Great American Bash 2023. Steveson was released from his WWE contract this May.

Former WWE wrestler Gable Steveson signs with NFL team

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Following his release from WWE, Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is pursuing a career in a new sport.

Steveson has signed a contract with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, his agent confirmed to ESPN on Friday. The deal is a standard three-year rookie contract. Steveson, who has no prior experience in football, will attempt to make it as a defensive tackle for the Bills.

“I have been fortunate to compete at the highest level of competition in my sport but am looking forward to the challenge of seeing how my wrestling skills may translate to football,” Steveson said. “I am grateful to Coach (Sean) McDermott, (general manager) Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills organization for giving me this opportunity.”

According to his agent, multiple NFL teams were interested in Steveson. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that, due to his inexperience, Steveson could be a candidate for the Bills’ practice squad this season.

“The 6-foot-1, 275-pound Steveson is expected to play defensive line, something he hasn’t done before during his athletic career. In fact, the first time Steveson ever put on a pair of cleats was at a recent workout for the Bills,” Schefter wrote.

“But Bills head coach Sean McDermott — who has a championship high school wrestling background — wanted Steveson to play defensive line and he believes he has the potential it takes to make an impact. The Bills were impressed with his level of talent, but also know how raw he is, which makes him a potential ideal practice squad candidate in 2024.”

A standout amateur wrestler, Steveson won Olympic gold in 2021 and competed in college for the University of Minnesota. He’s following in the footsteps of fellow University of Minnesota legend and WWE star Brock Lesnar, who came up short in his attempt to make the Minnesota Vikings roster in 2004.

Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 but never took well to pro wrestling. He only had one televised match, going to a double countout against Baron Corbin at NXT Great American Bash 2023. His other WWE matches either took place at NXT house shows or were dark matches.

Dave Meltzer first reported on May 4 that Steveson had been released from his WWE contract. An NFL career is something Steveson has been considering since before he signed with WWE in 2021.

NFL star Patrick Mahomes makes WWE Raw appearance alongside Logan Paul

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes got involved in an angle with United States Champion Logan Paul on Monday’s WWE Raw in Kansas City. 

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Mahomes made a cameo appearance in the show open, arriving at the building with Paul. Later, the two-time NFL MVP passed Paul Super Bowl rings to use as a weapon in an angle involving Jey Uso, The Judgment Day and the returning Braun Strowman.

Paul had ring announcer Samantha Irvin introduce Mahomes to the live crowd, then cut a promo running down Uso as he stood in the ring alongside The Judgment Day.

Mahomes passed Paul the rings, but Paul accidentally hit JD McDonagh rather than Uso as he intended. 

Strowman then made his return to save Uso as Paul and the remaining members of The Judgment Day attacked. 

Uso will challenge Damian Priest of The Judgment Day for the World Heavyweight Championship at Saturday’s Backlash event in France. 

WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque posted a photo with Mahomes from backstage: 

Our ongoing coverage from Raw and night two of the WWE Draft is here.

AEW’s Tony Khan wears neck brace during NFL Draft

Posted on by Ethan Renner

AEW owner Tony Khan was seen selling the effects of an attack from Wednesday’s Dynamite during Thursday’s NFL Draft. 

Khan was shown in the Jacksonville Jaguars draft war room during ESPN and NFL Network coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night, with both outlets making mention of the piledriver Khan took on Dynamite in an attack from The Elite. 

WWE commentator Pat McAfee was among those on the ESPN telecast that noted Khan selling: 

In addition to his roles with AEW, Khan is chief football strategy officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Khan’s family owns the Jaguars franchise. 

Shad Khan was also shown on camera during the draft after making his AEW debut on Wednesday’s episode in tending to his son after the attack by The Elite. 

The Jaguars held the 17th overall pick in the NFL Draft, but traded the pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the 23rd overall pick, the 167th overall pick, plus Minnesota’s third and fourth round picks in the 2025 Draft. 

Jacksonville ended up selecting LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with the 23rd selection in round one. 

WWE & NFL announce first-ever licensing agreement

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Fanatics Support tweeted that the Jacksonville Jaguars-inspired title belts aren’t currently available because they’re sold out.

*********

WWE and the NFL are partnering together for the first-ever licensing agreement between the two companies.

It was announced on Monday that WWE and the NFL have entered into a multi-year licensing deal to sell “NFL-inspired WWE legacy title belts featuring the official colors and branding” of NFL teams. The titles are already available to order through NFL Shop, WWE Shop, and Fanatics. They’re priced at $549.99 each.

Though the press release announcing the deal says all 32 NFL teams are included, only 31 are currently available. A Jacksonville Jaguars title belt was originally available to purchase but has since been taken down. The Jaguars are owned by Shad Khan, whose son Tony owns AEW.

The full press release can be seen below:

The National Football League and WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced a multi-year licensing deal to create NFL-inspired WWE legacy title belts featuring the official colors and branding of all 32 teams.

The line of officially licensed NFL products launches today on NFLShop.com, WWEShop.com and Fanatics.com. This marks the first-ever licensing agreement between WWE and the NFL.

WWE has similar licensing deals with MLB and the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference.

WWE’s The Miz narrates Cleveland Browns NFL schedule release video

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE’s The Miz appears as a wrestling color commentator in the Cleveland Browns NFL schedule release video that dropped Thursday. 

The wrestling-themed video featured an animated version of Browns mascot Brownie the Elf battling cartoon representatives of the Browns opponents for the 2023-2024 NFL season. Browns broadcaster Nathan Zegura voiced the lead wrestling commentator in the video, while The Miz provided color commentary. 

An Ohio native, The Miz also represented the Browns at the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Miz was just one WWE star who joined in on Thursday’s NFL schedule release frenzy, as Seth Rollins starred in the schedule release video for the Chicago Bears. 

Miz has been a frequent opponent for Rollins on recent WWE house shows, as the two wrestled each other on four consecutive nights on WWE’s European tour late last month. Miz was also part of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament on this week’s Raw, losing a first-round triple threat match. 

The Browns schedule release video can be seen below. 

WWE’s Seth Rollins stars in Chicago Bears NFL schedule release video

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE’s Seth Rollins is a featured performer in the Chicago Bears NFL schedule release video. 

Rollins joined former Bears stars Charles Tillman and Anthony “Spice” Adams, as well as current Bears quarterback Justin Fields and wide receiver Darnell Mooney among those appearing in the video that dropped Thursday as the Bears unveiled their schedule for the 2023-2024 NFL season. 

Set in a sandwich shop, Rollins worked the counter taking orders from fans in the video. A Davenport, Iowa native, Rollins is a long-time Bears fan, and often tweets that he loves or hates football depending on the results of Bears games during the NFL season. 

Rollins and wife Becky Lynch attended a Bears vs. Washington Commanders Thursday night game last October, and filmed a video for Chicago’s social media channels as they attended. 

On this week’s Raw, Rollins advanced to the finals of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament, and he will face the winner of tomorrow’s tournament semifinals bout at Night of Champions on May 27 to crown a new World Heavyweight Champion. 

The Bears schedule release video can be seen below.