Rob Gronkowski Q & A on similarities between WWE and NFL

Super Bowl champion, Rob Gronkowski, talks about his transition into WWE and the similarities between WrestleMania and NFL.

Rob Gronkowski won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and cemented himself as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play football. Gronkowski has been a presence on television since his retirement and even appeared at WrestleMania 33. He hosted WrestleMania 36, a two-night event at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando that will air on April 4 and 5.

In a recent interview with the organization, provided to FanSided, the 30-year old future football Hall of Famer talked about the importance of hosting WrestleMania, why he came to the WWE, and how competing in the NFL prepared him for his new gig.

You played football with some of the most elite players in the game. How has competing alongside football greats prepared you to compete with some of the best athletes in WWE?

"You know, playing football and being around some of the greats, if that’s players or if that’s coaches, I’ve been around the best of the best in the…football industry, in the NFL. It has definitely prepared me for the spots in WrestleMania. It’s not like you just go out on the field and you’re ready to go. It’s so much more to that. You gotta practice. You gotta lift. You gotta be ready to go. You gotta know your plays, and it’s the same thing with WrestleMania. You’re just not showing up and you’re just gonna pick up someone or jump off a top rope or cut some promo. You gotta practice. Everything’s about practice. And that’s what I learned and that’s what I’ve taken from my time in the NFL around so many greats. If you wanna be great in another level, if you just wanna succeed in another industry you gotta prepare, and that’s what it’s all about. And just being around so many legends and greats too here, and so many superstars here in the WWE, they do the same thing. They prepare, they hustle, and they want it just as badly."

Why is it so important for you to be part of the first-ever two-night WrestleMania especially during this trying time?

"It’s super important to me to be part of the first-ever WrestleMania that’s two nights long. It’s just an honor actually just to be a part of WrestleMania. I’ve been a part of it before where I took out Ginger – Ginder. Sorry Ginger, I always get your name confused. But we have a little action, a little tension between us two. That’s why I took him out. I didn’t like when he threw that beer on me. It was very rude of him, so I like to call him why his wrong name. It’s just legendary to be a part of the first-ever WrestleMania that’s two nights long. And on top of it, doing a little hosting with it, too, it’s just an honor to be a part of it. Just to come here especially during these tough times. It’s something cool to give entertainment to the people that are at home. Everyone’s at home just chilling, there’s no sports on. And let me tell you, I love sports. It’s weird without sports. Whenever I’m just chilling, I wanna watch sports. That’s my getaway. I love playing sports, that’s why I played for so long. Just watching sports now, I’m a big fan of sports and nothing’s on. So to be able to give entertainment to the fans out there, to give entertainment to the world, it’s just spectacular and it’s something, you know, to be amazed by. It’s just so awesome I’m able to just be a little part of it."

You have a global fanbase and WrestleMania will air to WWE fans all around the world. What can fans expect from your appearance and how does it feel to have the honor as one of only a few people to host WrestleMania?

"It’s just incredible, the fanbase that the WWE has, it’s just global. Wherever, worldwide, there are WWE fans. It’s incredible. And to tell you the truth, since my WrestleMania 33 three years ago where I took out Ginger, I mean Ginder. Sorry, I got your name wrong again Ginger, that’s how much tension we have, I can never get it right. It’s just, you know, insane wherever I go, how many people bring up the WrestleMania spot that I had, and I really didn’t do too much. I mean, I got a beer thrown at me, it made me a little mad, but I went in the ring, took out Ginder – I got your name there right. You’re lucky, you’re welcome. It’s just crazy how many people talk about it. Wherever I am, whatever state I am in. If I’m all the way out in California, if I’m out of the country in another country, people are always talking about that. So it’s just an honor to be here now at the first two-night event of WrestleMania 36. It’s just incredible, and the fans just worldwide and global are just amazing. It’s just an honor to be a part of. WWE is a global phenomenon, and it’s just an honor to be a part of it."

Describe any differences and similarities between preparing for the Super Bowl and WrestleMania.

"Some of the similarities are it’s the biggest stage in that industry. The Super Bowl is the biggest stage in sports, and WrestleMania is the biggest stage in sports entertainment. They’re both very similar in that way but also both very different. What is huge in one similar aspect that I’ve taken is it’s all a team game. In order to win a Super Bowl, you have to be a team. In order to win the WrestleMania everyone has to work together from the start of WrestleMania to the end of WrestleMania to make it a success."

What made you want to come to WWE?

"First off, I’ve been a fan since I was a young boy. I’ve been watching the WWE since I was in second grade all the way in Buffalo, New York where I grew up. My dad used to bring me to the WWE wrestling matches and I was a big fan of so many legendary wrestlers. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Degeneration X, Val Venus – he was my favorite. ‘Hello ladies!’ So just to be part of an atmosphere that I grew up watching is just an honor. And on top of that also, to work with my good friend Mojo Rollie. He’s been part of the WWE universe for about eight solid years now, maybe more. I don’t know exactly, but it’s around there. Just to come work with him, we’ve been talking about it for a while. It’s definitely a dream come true on both aspects of just how legendary the WWE is to me and also to work with a good friend who’s in the WWE, so to come here and meet so many great legends and haver a good time with it, it’s spectacular."

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