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      I’m the former World Cup star who quit football for WWE after chat with Triple H

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      WITH nearly 300 Bundesliga appearances under your belt and a trip to a World Cup on your CV, you’d imagine you’re at the top of your game.But one German star embarked on a shock career change, seemingly at the peak of his powers, at the age of 32.
      A former Germany international turned his back on football to join Triple H in WWE
      The ex-Bundesliga star even featured in a WWE show in MunichCredit: AFP
      The one-time goalkeeper fought alongside partners Cecaro and SheamusCredit: AFP
      The goalkeeper spent a decade in Germany’s top flight with Kaiserlautern, Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim – and regularly starred in the Champions League.
      He even joined Manuel Neuer in the squad for the 2010 World Cup.
      While he never made it into the starting XI in South Africa – as Germany KO’d England and reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual champions Spain – the 6ft 4in stopper was a giant between the sticks.
      The No1 won the German version of the FA Cup and League Cup once apiece and finished as a Bundesliga runner-up twice.
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      And yet in 2014, he made the bold decision to hang up his gloves and move into WWE.
      The man in question? None other than Tim Wiese.
      In September 2014, Wiese revealed he’d been offered a development contract by WWE to join their NXT division.
      Fast forward less than two years, the German was invited to train at the WWE’s development facility in Florida by legendary wrestler Triple H in June 2016.
      Most read in Football
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      Tim Wiese most-famously played for Werder Bremen during his Bundesliga careerCredit: AFP
      Tim Wiese earned six Germany caps, including a 2-1 friendly defeat at the hands of England in BerlinCredit: Bongarts – Getty
      At the time, Wiese revealed: “I have been training hard for this, and I am excited for the opportunity.
      “No matter what it takes, my goal is to be in that WWE ring this November. I want that match.”
      Ex-world champ Triple H said: “Tim is tenacious.
      “He continues to be very vocal in his desire to prove that he has what it takes,
      “He has shown tremendous resilience and determination to create an opportunity for himself.
      “This is his break to walk his talk. If all goes well in Florida, he will get his chance in the ring.”
      By November, he’d teamed up with Sheamus and Cesaro to defeat The Shining Stars and Bo Dallas during a star-studded live event in Munich.
      In the build-up to the fight, Swiss legend Cesaro revealed he’d been working with Wiese – dubbed “The Machine” in the wrestling world.
      Cesaro claimed: “I wanted to see what he was made of and he was moving pretty good.
      “It is a big change from football – the real football, if any Americans are reading – to wrestling but he definitely has the build for it.
      “I gave him some tips but he will have to go through some adjustments – WWE is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle, and it’s not for everybody.
      “He says he wants it so now he has the chance to prove it – it’s all up to him.”
      Tim Wiese came out of retirement for one match with German eighth division side DillingenCredit: Getty – Contributor
      However, by 2017, Wiese had left WWE – and dusted off his goalkeeping gloves for a shock return to football.
      Aged 35, he starred between the posts for German eighth division side Dillingen – who averaged 60 fans per game.
      For his debut – a 2-1 defeat at the hands of TSV Haunsheim – 2,000 supporters rocked up to watch the former international star.
      At the time, he vowed to work his way back to the Bundesliga and admitted he regretted his decision to turn his back on football.
      Wiese claimed: “I wonder why I gave up on all of this.
      “Considering it was my first game I think it went well.
      “Now I think of the future. No longer will I play in the sixth series.
      “I think I’m still good enough for the Bundesliga.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Wiese never played football again.
      As for his WWE career? He never wrestled again, either. More

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      in Boxing

      WWE superstar Dana Brooke cheers on boxer husband at ringside during London fight night

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      WWE superstar Dana Brooke was an interested spectator at ringside in London on Saturday night.The wrestling star was at the O2 Arena where Floyd Mayweather made his UK debut in an exhibition bout against Aaron Chalmers.
      Dana Brooke cheered on her husband from ringsideCredit: ZEUS
      But Brooke had other interests as she watched on from near the ring.
      The WWE star is married to Ulysses Diaz, who fought on the undercard.
      Cuban born boxer Diaz took on Khalass Karim in London on Saturday night in an exhibition draw.
      Diaz and Brooke engaged in 2021 and secretly married last year.
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      The boxer has previously called Brooke the “queen of my heart” and said he is “blessed to call my wife”.
      He also said on Instagram in a birthday post last November: “May God Bless you with many more years & May I be blessed enough to spend them with you. I love you.”
      THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY…The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

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      in Soccer

      Watch footballer spark huge melee with horror ‘WWE style’ flying tackle which leads to TWO red cards

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      A HUGE melee from a Sunday League game has gone viral after it was compared to WWE.The football clash took place in the Oakbourne & Coronation League yesterday morning.
      A brawl from a Sunday League game has gone viralCredit: Instagram @northsolihullathletic
      Players from Trooper FC and North Solihull Athletic were involved in the meleeCredit: Instagram @northsolihullathletic
      The shocking incident led to two red cards and a host of yellows being dished outCredit: Instagram @northsolihullathletic
      A cameraman was on hand to capture the chaotic scenes as a mega brawl sparked by two wild challenges led to pandemonium.
      And players and staff from both teams raced over to fight and brawl with each other – leading to the clip going viral on social media.
      The incident occurred as Trooper FC claimed a 3-1 victory over North Solihull Athletic.
      The result kept them top of the Oakbourne & Coronation Football Sunday League thanks to the goals from Ellis Deeney, Dale Hewitt and Lewis Moss at the Marston Green Recreation Ground in Solihull, near Birmingham.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      But the fiery contest ended on a sour note after a North Solihull Athletic player hacked down an opponent with a flying tackle.
      Instantly, a member of Trooper FC raced over and slid in knee high on the culprit as a number of his team-mates soon entered the fray.
      The referee simply could not get control of the situation as more and more members of each club got involved.
      Eventually, two red cards were dished out along with a number of yellows.
      Most read in Football
      But the nasty sequence had fans in stitches online after the footage was shared on Sunday.
      One wrote: “Wooiii man’s thought he was Friday night raw going in like that.”
      Another claimed it looked like a scene from WWE while another comment read: “Wish I was there Yano the 1st foul was naught but that 2footer was sending over the ropes.”
      A fellow follower wrote: “Can’t believe the game carried on after this 😂🤣 that 2 footer is going global I swear 😱.” More

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      in Soccer

      I’m a former Premier League star who scored 185 goals across 18 clubs before quitting football and becoming a WRESTLER

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      A FORMER Premier League hitman has gone from scoring away at the Emirates, Stamford Bridge, Anfield and the Etihad to locking horns inside a professional wrestling ring.The 41-year-old scored 185 career goals in 562 appearances – with 24 strikes coming in the English top flight.
      The ex-Premier League star celebrating winning the 40-man Royal Rumble on his wrestling debut in 2018
      The footballer scored at some of England’s greatest-ever stadiumsCredit: WWA
      He won a 40-man Royal Rumble on his wrestling debutCredit: Twitter @TheSunFootball
      The 185 career-goal striker holding up a you WWE world title belt in a shop as he is set to join the wrestling world
      He most notably played for Norwich City, where he turned out 168 times for the Canaries, helping them win League One in 2010.
      The ex-striker played for 18 clubs at senior level, spending the later years of his career playing in League One, the Scottish Championship and the National League.
      He finally decided to hang up the boots in 2018 – but quickly traded them for wrestling attire.
      In May 2018, the Englishman signed with WAW, a Norfolk-based wrestling promotion run by the legendary Knight family.
      He made his in-ring debut at WAW’s Fightmare event.
      WWE fans may be familiar with the promotion as the first-ever NXT Women’s champion, Paige, competed there.
      The footballer-turned-wrestler is none other than Grant Holt.
      Speaking to talkSPORT in 2021, Holt explained how he got into professional wrestling.
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      He said: “I got approached by WAW to do a charity event and they asked if I’d be interested in going in and doing it, have a bit of swansong at the end and join in.
      “I basically said yes because that’s the kind of guy I am; if someone gives me a challenge I’ll just do it.
      “And it was for charity so why not go and do it? That’s how it started. 
      “I had to pull out of the first one I agreed to do because it clashed with work and I was still playing at the time.
      “So I said ‘look, I’m going to have to cancel’ which is not really like me. 
      “So I said I’ll tell you what I’m going to do: ‘next year I’m definitely retiring. If you put on another show, I’ll do it.’
      “That was it. I retired a little bit earlier than I hoped and then I was it.”
      Holt quickly fell in love with wrestling and says he’d “have been all over it” at a young age if he had people who could have taught him.
      Grant Holt scored 24 Premier League goalsCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Holt netted away against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Holt fell in love with wrestling after he retired from footballCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      The ex-Canaries ace added: “It started off like, I’ll just do it.
      “Then I thought if I’m going to a show, why don’t I do it properly?
      “Why don’t I do it properly for the year and build up to the show.
      “What I didn’t want to be is someone who stands on the apron, comes in, kicks someone and they say ‘oh yeah, that footballer.’ I didn’t want to be that. 
      “I wanted to do it properly, know the holds, the ins and outs. I wanted to give it the deserved effort.
      “If I’d have known what I do now and people could have taught me how to wrestle when I was a kid, I would have been all over it. It just wasn’t there where I was.”
      Holt also brushed shoulders with some of WWE’s biggest names – and even his childhood idols.
      MEETING LEGENDS
      Holt recalled picking up WWE Hall of Famer, Billy Gunn, from the airport for the event.
      Mick Foley, as well as Hardcore Holly, were other stars Holt got up close and personal with.
      Holt recalled: “It was wild. I remember picking up Billy Gunn from the airport, one of my idols from when I was a kid, and he’s lying sleeping in my car with a WWE Hall of Fame ring.
      “And what a great guy he was – absolutely massive too!
      “You don’t realise. Mick Foley was another great guy.”
      Holt’s journey into pro wrestling could’ve been different, though, starting off at the top.
      The WAW hotshot has revealed that he was meant to go to WWE’s performance centre in London and Florida – but it didn’t end up materialising.
      Holt said: “I was meant to go to the Performance Center in London and then the one in Orlando when I was in Tampa, but both times it didn’t end up happening.
      “Just on a visiting type deal, but it still would have been cool.
      “I’d love to do it. I enjoyed it, it’s a real good, fun thing for me and as I say, I never wanted to just go in there because of my name and where it’s from, I wanted to make sure that if I did it was because I’d done everything around the circuit. 
      “I don’t think it was right to just get bumped up and you should do things properly.”
      SPECIAL MOVE
      Holt is sure to have enjoyed his debut Royal Rumble win in 2018.
      He dropkicked a rival over the top rope to win a 40-man spectacular.
      Holt took a boot to the face from one grappler, ducked a clothesline before sending one wrestler over the top rope.
      The 6ft1in Carlisle-born sports star has a signature move named after his previous job.
      His finisher is called the Soccer Kick.
      Holt’s new-found love for wrestling hasn’t seen him leave football for good.
      In fact, Holt works as a scout for Prem side West Ham.
      Holt completed his coaching badges and talent iD course during his time recovering from a ACL injury at Wigan.
      Speaking to Jimmy Bullar on a SkyBet show in 2021, Holt said: “I’ve just got a new job as a first-team scout at West Ham.
      “A friend of mine gave me a phone call and said there were a few jobs going there.
      “I’ve been doing it at Norwich for nearly two years now and I thought that it looked like a really good opportunity.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I put my name in the hat and they’ve said ‘come along and have a chat’ and I’m looking forward to it.
      “It’s a great club on the rise, getting into Europe and that. I’m very lucky. It’s a great opportunity for me.”
      The striker’s signature move is called the Soccer KickCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Holt helped Norwich win League One in 2010Credit: Action Images – Reuters More

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      in Soccer

      ‘WWE would be proud’ – Watch Torres and Savic WRESTLE on pitch as pair sent off in Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Atletico

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      FERRAN TORRES and Stefan Savic were both sent off for WRESTLING during Barcelona’s clash with Atletico Madrid.The match turned feisty late on as home side Atletico hunted an equaliser.

      Stefan Savic and Ferran Torres wrestle each otherCredit: Getty
      The duo tussled in stoppage time of Atletico’s clash with BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      Barca had been ahead since the first half, when Ousmane Dembele swept them into a 22nd minute lead.
      Atleti had been upset with the goal, surrounding the referee after feeling that Gavi had got away with a foul in the build-up.
      Their claims were weak, however, and the effort was allowed to stand.
      Atletico remained frustrated as the game wore on, with Savic and Barca ace Torres eventually letting their tempers get the best of them.
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      After Savic dispossessed Torres on the halfway line, the duo fell to the ground together.
      As play continued down the field, Torres appeared to have a yank at his opponent’s tightly cropped hair.
      The Montenegrin took exception to this, momentarily appearing to get Torres into a head lock.
      Savic then shoved Torres off as they both got back to their feet, but the damage had been done.
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      Tempers flared towards the end of the matchCredit: Getty
      Both were shown red cards for their actions, and had to miss the final exchanges.
      Savic appeared to argue his case with the fourth official, almost going head to head with him as Atletico staff tried to calm him down.
      Tweeting out a video of the incident, ITV Football wrote: “The WWE would be proud of this…”
      And a fan responded: “That gets 6 stars in the Tokyo Dome.”
      Another Twitter user joked: “I like how the referee left them to enjoy their fight!”
      A third added: “Without the Jersey, you might call it a different sport. Wrestling I think.”
      The home side felt that they should have had a penalty moments earlier, when Alvaro Morata threw himself to the turf in the box.
      But nothing was given, and Barca held on for a crucial win.
      The three points saw Xavi’s side move three clear of rivals Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, and 14 above fifth-placed Atletico.
      Both players received their marching ordersCredit: EPA
      Alvaro Morata felt he should have had a spot kickCredit: Getty More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury missing out on millions from WWE PPV extravaganzas amid US visa problems

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      TYSON Fury’s immigration problems in the US are costing him millions – from wrestling and not boxing.The world heavyweight champion’s WWE return is hanging by the balance amid problems at the border.
      Tyson Fury, pictured in 2019 squaring off with Braun Strowman, is losing millions from WWE over his visa problemsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Tyson Fury won on his WWE debut against Braun Strowman in 2019Credit: Reuters
      WWE executives had been plotting for Fury to make an appearance at the Royal Rumble at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in January.
      And they had an eye on a match at Wrestlemania 39 in Los Angeles in April.
      Fury, 34, won his WWE debut in October 2019, beating Braun Strowman, and made a surprise cameo at the Clash of the Castle in Wales in August.
      Now those hopes are looking slim and complicated, The U.S. Sun has learned.

      Fury, 34, is banned from entering the US after links to alleged Irish mob boss Daniel Kinahan emerged.
      The boxer’s team is responsible for ensuring he fulfills the credentials needed to work in the USA, while WWE’s lawyers have expertise in dealing with foreign athletes.
      Recently, Fury’s younger brother Tommy confirmed they are still being refused permission to enter the country.
      Tommy, who was due to fight Jake Paul in New York City, said it was apparently due to connections to Kinahan.
      Most read in Boxing
      Fury was being wooed by show bosses to appear in 2023 shows as full-time CEO and chairwoman Stephanie McMahon and creative director – her husband Paul “Triple H” Levesque are huge fans of the ‘The Gypsy King’.
      An insider told The U.S. Sun: “Tyson is well loved at the WWE and him popping up in any match and a run to Wrestlemania would generate huge headlines and fan interest.
      “However his immigration status is proving tricky to deal with.
      “Tyson and the legal team or getting this whole grey and tricky area resolved. But non-entry, quite simply put, means non-payment.
      “And people may not believe this but turning up for a match or being part of the shows, not even fighting, earns him several million dollars.
      “So this issue with his working visa in the States is costing him a large amount of cash.
      “The WWE works with foreign athletes all the time in aiding their visa processing for appearances.
      “The legal team are on the sidelines offering support in this matter, but ultimately getting approval is on Tyson’s head and how US immigration assesses his case.”
      The source added: “It is not all bad news for Tyson, because there are other options for WWE through their premium live events outside of the US.
      Fury recently defended his WBC belt against Derek ChisoraCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      Triple H (L) and Stephanie McMahon (R) are reportedly fans of FuryCredit: AP:Associated Press
      “It’s likely that they will go to Saudi Arabia twice a year for those bigger nights and of course, there are often European battles.
      “But having a potential invite to feature in something special at Wrestlemania is a huge deal, and currently those shows are only in the USA.”
      In October, Tommy confirmed he and Tyson are banned from entering the United States.
      The 2019 Love Island star was unable to fight rival Paul amid a US visa issue in August.
      The Sun also revealed in June that Tyson was also denied access to a Stateside flight.
      The bans are believed to be in connection to links with alleged Irish mob boss Kinahan, who in April was hit with sanctions.
      Kinahan was the co-founder of boxing management company MTK Global – who represented Fury following his 2018 comeback – but the organization cut ties with the 44-year-old Dubai-based Dubliner in 2017 and ceased existence in April, just as Kinahan was hit with sanctions.
      Tommy, who along with Tyson has no links to criminality, revealed he is still unable to enter America.
      He said on The MMA Hour: “Me and Tyson just can’t get into America at the minute and that’s the way it is.”
      The US Treasury imposed sanctions on Kinahan and the US Department of State is also offering rewards of up to $5million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of three members of the criminal family.
      A list of over 600 people, all connected to Kinahan, are understood to be banned from entering the US.
      It has left Tommy, who was never advised or managed by Kinahan or his former MTK boxing stable, seemingly caught up in it all.
      Read More on The Sun
      Directly asked about “the Kinahan situation” by host Ariel Helwani, Tommy, 23, said: “I don’t know (what’s happening), that’s what I pay my lawyers for and my legal team every day, they’re sorting it and I said please get this resolved as soon as possible and that’s where I’ve left it at the moment.
      “I’m hoping it gets resolved asap because I want to come to America not just for boxing and of course for the big one to get this fight over the line but if it doesn’t get resolved for a long time I can’t speak on how long this is going to take.” More

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      in Boxing

      Jake Paul and brother Logan called out to WWE tag team match by Tyson Fury and 58-year-old dad John

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      JAKE PAUL and brother Logan have been called out to a WWE tag team match against Tyson Fury and his dad John. The families continue to feud as Jake and Tyson’s younger brother Tommy remains linked with a grudge fight.
      Tyson Fury pictured with his dad JohnCredit: PA
      Logan Paul with younger brother Jake
      But the Gypsy King is open to taking the rivalry to the WWE ring and even having his 58-year-old father John involved.
      He said: “Yeah, sounds good, let’s do it!”
      Fury, 34, won his WWE debut in October 2019, beating Braun Strowman.
      He made a surprise cameo at the Clash of the Castle pay-per-view in Wales this August in Drew McIntyre’s match with Roman Reigns.
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      It has kept the door to future WWE roles for Fury, who is now in line for a heavyweight title unification with Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
      Meanwhile Jake’s brother Logan, 27, in November challenged Reigns, 37, for the WWE Undisputed Universal championship in a losing effort.
      Jake, 25, also made his first WWE appearance at the event in Saudi Arabia, attacking Reigns’ Bloodline entourage.
      The American is open for future wrestling roles but is currently focusing on his boxing career.
      Most read in Boxing
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      He most recently beat UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, in October in the biggest win on his 6-0 record.
      Jake is now in talks to reschedule his fight with Tommy, 23, having seen it twice scrapped in the past.
      Tommy pulled out with a broken rib last December and this August suffered US visa issues, which still persist today.
      Jake spoke out on Twitter to claim he had sent out a “seven-figure” fight offer which he accused his rival of “ducking”.
      Tommy Fury and Jake Paul are still linked with a grudge matchCredit: BT SPORT More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury calls out Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce to three-way Royal Rumble after win over Derek Chisora

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      TYSON FURY has hilariously challenged Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce to a Royal Rumble Match.Fury beat Derek Chisora for a third time in their trilogy bout on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to retain the WBC heavyweight title.
      Tyson Fury defeated Derek Chisora in front of Oleksandr Usyk and Joe JoyceCredit: Getty

      The Gypsy King stopped Chisora in the 10th round to extend his stunning undefeated streak to 34 fights, of which he has won 33.
      Usyk and Joyce, who watched the main event from ringside, squared up to the British superstar after the bell to challenge his unbeaten run.
      The 34-year-old was so ecstatic after his dominant victory that he decided he wants to fight them both at the same time.
      In fact, the heavyweight champ wants to take them on in a WWE-style Royal Rumble Match.
      Read More on Boxing
      Fury roared: “Why don’t us three do a Royal Rumble then? Come on!”
      Joyce appeared keen on that idea while Usyk remained silent during their intense confrontation.
      A Royal Rumble Match, though, requires at least 30 competitors and can only be won if a wrestler is the last person standing after the other 29 opponents have been thrown over the ring’s top rope.
      In fact, WWE will host their legendary Royal Rumble event on January 28, 2023 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
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      Tyson Fury challenged Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce to a Royal Rumble MatchCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      Fury has previously worked with WWE and fought at Crown Jewel three years ago in Saudi Arabia when he beat Braun Strowman.
      But a crossover in professional wrestling is almost impossible for all three heavyweights.
      The Gypsy King has previously expressed interest in fighting Usyk, Joyce and Anthony Joshua before agreeing to take on Chisora once more. More