At a live WWE event in Tampa, Florida, Vanderbilt quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia swapped the football field for the wrestling ring. The 23-year-old college football standout was sitting ringside before Rey Mysterio’s match when WWE’s Grayson Waller took the opportunity to taunt him. Waller mocked Pavia during his entrance, but the interaction escalated late in the match when Pavia and his teammates blocked Waller’s exit up the ramp, forcing him back into the ring. This distraction caused Waller to stumble over the ropes and fall victim to Rey Mysterio’s signature 619 move, leading to his pinfall defeat.
Pavia is set to finish his college football season next Wednesday as Vanderbilt faces Iowa in the Lilliaquest Bowl. Although Pavia did not win the Heisman Trophy—award that went to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza—his WWE appearance made a significant impact on wrestling fans. WWE has been increasingly blending sports and entertainment by featuring athletes from college and professional leagues during the TKO era. This trend includes NBA stars like Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton, NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, and New York Giants rookie Cam Scattebo, among others. Diego Pavia’s surprise involvement further highlights this crossover trend and hints at more athlete appearances in WWE ahead.
Fan Take: This crossover showcases WWE’s growing strategy of intertwining major sports figures with wrestling storylines, which can draw new audiences and add fresh excitement. For WWE fans, it signals a thrilling future where the worlds of sports and wrestling collide more often, promising unique and memorable moments.
