The wrestling world almost gained one of England’s most celebrated athletes when cricket superstar Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff came dangerously close to trading his bat for boots inside a WWE ring. What started as a television stunt nearly transformed into a three-year wrestling contract that would have catapulted the sports icon straight to WrestleMania’s grandest stage.
From Cricket Retirement to Wrestling Dreams
When Flintoff stepped away from professional cricket in 2010, burned out and searching for direction, he found himself in an unexpected place. The former England captain was living in Dubai, admittedly out of shape and struggling with his post-cricket identity.
During this transitional period, wrestling provided an unlikely source of inspiration. Flintoff’s childhood fascination with WWE sparked a creative idea that would ultimately lead him down a path nobody saw coming.
“I just hid for a bit and started to wonder, ‘What am I going to do now?’ Some of the TV offers started to come, which was never the plan – I stumbled into that. I nearly joined the WWE, I didn’t want to box, that was never the plan! I would have been called ‘Big Fred’!”
The Undertaker Connection That Started Everything
While working on Sky One’s “A League Of Their Own,” Flintoff pitched an ambitious concept: facing The Undertaker in Manchester. What seemed like a far-fetched television segment quickly gained serious momentum within the broadcasting world.
The proposal made its way through Sky’s channels and eventually reached WWE’s corporate offices. Before long, Flintoff found himself in direct communication with none other than Vince McMahon himself.
Recognizing the physical demands ahead, Flintoff enlisted help from Dave Roberts, known as ‘Rooster,’ a physiotherapist who had supported him throughout his cricket career. A trainer was dispatched to Dubai for six weeks of intensive preparation.
Tampa Training Camp: Reality Check at WWE’s Academy
WWE’s interest proved genuine when they flew Flintoff and his wife business class to Tampa for a two-week evaluation at their developmental facility. The experience provided an immediate culture shock for the cricket legend.
“We’re sitting in the car and these things are walking past me, like 6ft 8in monsters. My missus asked, are you going to be okay? I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll be fine.’ I walked in – on the first day, nobody liked me because it’s really competitive with 60 of us all wanting a contract with the WWE.”
The training regimen proved brutally demanding. Flintoff spent three hours daily running the ropes and taking bumps from fellow trainees. The physical toll became apparent quickly, with welts covering his back after just two days.
Broken Ribs and Wrestling Reality
The intensity reached a breaking point when Flintoff suffered broken ribs during training. Despite the obvious pain, he felt pressure to maintain his tough exterior among the competitive environment.
A memorable X-ray appointment highlighted the absurdity of his situation. When asked about his wrestling experience, Flintoff had to admit he’d only been training for two days – a response that likely raised eyebrows at the medical facility.
Microphone Skills Seal the Deal
The third day brought acting and promo lessons, where Flintoff’s natural charisma truly shone. Initially uncomfortable with the scripted tough-guy persona, he requested a second opportunity to showcase his abilities.
His impromptu verbal assault on the assembled wrestlers demonstrated the wit and personality that had made him a media favorite during his cricket career. WWE officials struggled to cut him off as he continued his entertaining tirade beyond the allotted time.
“I looked out and there were all of these weird and wonderful-looking people, so I just tore them all a new one. They were trying to get me to wind up after two minutes, but I was not finished.”
The Contract Offer That Changed Everything
Two weeks following his Tampa tryout, WWE made their intentions clear with a comprehensive contract proposal. The offer included a three-year commitment with an accelerated development timeline that would have seen Flintoff appearing at WWE’s biggest events within 18 months.
The financial terms were substantial enough that Flintoff described them as “obscene,” indicating WWE’s serious investment in bringing the cricket star into their fold. The fast-track promise to WrestleMania and Royal Rumble demonstrated their confidence in his marketability and potential drawing power.
Family First: The Decision That Changed Wrestling History
Despite the lucrative offer and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Flintoff ultimately declined WWE’s proposal. His family’s desires took precedence over professional ambitions, with his children expressing interest in playing cricket rather than relocating to America.
The decision to remain closer to home led Flintoff toward boxing instead, though one can only wonder how different WWE’s landscape might have looked with “Big Fred” making his entrance at WrestleMania. Would Flintoff’s natural charisma and athletic background have translated into main event success, or did his broken ribs provide an early warning about wrestling’s physical demands?
