Ex-English goalkeeper gives up football to become WWE wrestler

Updated: 01 Jul, 2017 • • min read

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Former Port Vale and Burton Albion goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson has swapped goal posts for ring posts as he is heading to the United States to take up wrestling in the WWE.


Stuart Tomlinson is keen on body building and also worked as a male model Photo: @theirishwolf

The 28-year-old former body builder retired from professional football in July because of a knee ligament injury.

Tomlinson had been working as a male model, but has now signed a developmental contract with WWE, the world's biggest and most successful wrestling franchise.

Looking forward to a new job @WWE Swapping two posts and a net, with four posts & ropes- USA bound 🇺🇸✈😎 as of Tomorro #GIZTHAT #tomoOnTour
— Stuart (@stutomo) December 6, 2013

It is believed that Tomlinson met with WWE representatives during the company's European tour in November and impressed them enough to earn an opportunity.

His revelation has been met with shock responses from the world of football.

@stutomo @Ebenno88 @WWE Yes cat!!! WWE.......epic!! Can't wait to see the signature move!!
— Dean Ashton (@Dean36ashton10) December 6, 2013

@stutomo @Dean36ashton10 @WWE wow WWE for Hercules decent!!! All the best in US big man 👍
— Elliott Bennett (@Ebenno88) December 6, 2013

@stutomo all the best lad! I hope the wrestling goes better than the football and modelling hahahaha #beast
— Tom pope (@tompope11) December 6, 2013

@stutomo @WWE haha go on Tomo lad! All the best bro! If you ever need a tag team partner, the giraffe is at the ready 😂👍 x
— Luke Murphy (@LukeMurphy89) December 6, 2013

@stutomo Good luck from all at Barrow AFC Thommo, from Holker Street to The WWE via Wembley Stadium #beast
— Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) December 6, 2013

Can't believe @stutomo your gonna be a wrestler after all the banter we used to have in the car about it good luck m8 let me no ur finisher!
— Paul Marshall (@paulmarshall89) December 6, 2013

@stutomo haha good luck mate I'll be over to see U smashing people into the ropes with me little lad in the future 😜👊👍
— ryan lowe (@rlowe15) December 6, 2013

Tomlinson, who also appeared on the cover of Men's Health magazine, will now join WWE's newly opened Performance Centre in Orlando, Florida, where he will undertake lessons in wrestling, sports science, and medicine.

Opened earlier this year, the developmental centre in a state of the art wrestling school designed to train rookie wrestlers to WWE standard before allowing them to make their debut on shows like NXT and Main Event.

Don't expect to see Tomlinson on your TV screens any time soon though as WWE is known to keep wrestlers in development for up to a year before they are allowed to make their debut.

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