Olympic rugby star and social media personality Ilona Maher has revealed that WWE expressed interest in her as a potential recruit.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Maher confirmed that the wrestling entertainment giant approached her in the past, but she hasn’t made any official moves toward joining.
“I don’t know if I would [go into wrestling]. I should think about it, there is great money in it,” Maher explained.
Maher evne shared that her ideal wrestling persona would go by the name “Mher-vellous.” Still, she admitted her primary focus is set on Hollywood.
“I think a Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, John Cena progression, I would love to do that,” she explained. “It would be exciting to see my body type on the screen. I’ll start off small, probably like a hot assassin or something, let’s not get too crazy. I’m not going to be in a rom-com just yet.”
The WWE has not only developed some of the wrestling world’s biggest athletes, but also some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has become the top A-list actor to come out of the wrestling ring with roles in the Fast & Furious franchise, Moana, Jumanji, and plenty more. Amid his soon-to-be retirement from WWE, John Cena has also become a notable actor, now leading James Gunn’s Peacemaker series.
Dave Bautista also made the transition from WWE wrestler to mega-star with Guardians of the Galaxy, Knock at the Cabin, and the Dune franchise.
Recruiting athletes from outside wrestling has become common for WWE. Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle and former UFC champion Ronda Rousey brought both athletic credibility and built-in fan followings when they joined the company.
WWE has increasingly scouted athletes with built-in fanbase appeal, such as boxer-turned-YouTuber Logan Paul, who has become one of WWE’s biggest attractions despite little prior wrestling experience.
Beyond being a rugby Olympic athlete, Maher gained notoriety for competing on season 33 of Dancing With the Stars with her partner Alan Berste. They ended up placing second and proving Maher is up for any challenge.
