I can see it now. Rob Gronkowski is on the mat. He’s about to tap out and lose to Chris Jericho at WrestleMania, the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. But as Gronkowski is screaming at the top of his lungs, reaching for the ropes with the referee in his face and ready to call for the bell, Ronda Rousey comes out of nowhere and jumps up on the side of the ring, grabbing the full attention of Jericho.
With his eyes locked in on the former UFC star, Jericho releases his submission — the Walls of Jericho — and let go of Gronkowski’s legs, only to stand face-to-face with Rousey. She slaps Jericho, giving Gronkowski time to get to his feet, allowing him to set up his finishing move — the Gronk spike. Jericho turns around, Gronkowski spears him, makes the pin, and gets the three-count for the win. If Gronkowski decides to take his talents to the WWE, that’s how it would look. But that picture I just painted for you, it would look the same five years from now, inside the squared circle.
Rumors are flying that the New England Patriots’ tight end could retire from football at the age of 28. Some reports have him going to Hollywood to become a movie star. Other reports say he’s being recruited by the WWE, and that the interest is mutual.
The latter is more realistic. If it’s between Hollywood and the WWE, there’s no question, Gronkowski is a better fit in professional wrestling. He already has a good friend in the business — Mojo Rawley. And Gronkowski has already been in the ring during WrestleMania. He jumped out of the stands and into the ring last year at WrestleMania 33, hitting Jinder Mahal with a running shoulder and helping Rawley win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Last week, Dave Meltzer — a longtime pro wrestling insider — reported that the WWE was trying to sign Gronkowski to a similar deal that Rousey recently signed with the company.
It sounds like the perfect fit. But the problem is, the same can be said several years from now. Everyone is making Gronkowski’s move to the WWE sound imminent. Who exactly is it imminent for? The WWE will survive without Gronkowski. At the same time, a WWE contract will still be there for Gronkowski whenever he wants it. And he certainly doesn’t need to take it now.
This really all began when, three hours before Super Bowl LII, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio tweeted “This is 99-percent wild guess, but it would not shock me at all if Gronk retires after tonight’s game.” Kind of a random “wild guess” to take as a respected NFL insider just hours before the biggest game of the year.
Then, after the Patriots lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, Gronkowski refused to reject the idea that he was contemplating retirement. He never said he was hanging them up, but when he was asked repeatedly about it, he never committed to playing next season. That led to some wild speculation that Gronkowski was all done. Then came the Hollywood rumors, followed by the WWE reports. And now, it seems like there’s something new every other day.
But where is it all coming from? Who’s pushing this inside information out there? My theory is that it’s coming from Gronkowski’s camp. He’s not going to Hollywood. He’s not going to the WWE. Not now, at least. Gronkowski isn’t retiring from football just yet. He just wants to be fairly compensated. And I don’t blame him. He has every right to demand more money from the Patriots. You could make the argument that he has every right to demand to be the highest paid player in the NFL. I’m not sure that’s what he’s actually seeking from Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick, but I wouldn’t blame him if he was.
The Gronkowski family business is just that — a business. Whether it’s “Gronk Fitness” or the “Ice Shaker,” they aren’t playing games. But that family business would be a whole lot less successful if Rob wasn’t a superstar NFL player. Heck, the Gronkowski family business probably wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for Rob. So, it makes the most sense — for the family business — for Gronkowski to keep dominating with the Patriots, at least for as long as Brady keeps playing. And under that mindset, it makes the most sense for Gronkowski to do whatever he can to get as much money as he can from the organization he’s putting his body on the line for, week in and week out.
Gronkowski’s retirement consideration is just a threat. I’d be absolutely shocked if he walked away from football right now, with so much more for him to accomplish the next two-to-three years. And the longer he threatens retirement, the more likely it is the Patriots will pay him to stick around. They have to. They’re all-in on Brady’s final years. And after seeing them talk Josh McDaniels into sticking around, I highly doubt they’d let Gronkowski walk away without making him an offer — an extension with some heavy guaranteed money up front — that he couldn’t refuse.
Gronkowski might one day end up in Hollywood. He might even be a future WWE superstar. But for right now, he’s still a Patriot. And he will be for a few more years.
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