It appears that NBA veteran Dwight Howard is pretty damn serious about joining the WWE—if the price is right, that is. In a recent interview with TMZ, Howard said that if he gets a deal that is better than what an NBA team will offer him, he’d sign on with the company.
Talks of Howard joining WWE came after he showed up at the tryouts in Nashville and showed that he wasn’t bad at all on the mic. The company could actually do something with his charisma and personality.
Triple H found Howard to be “incredibly entertaining” during the tryouts and liked how enthusiastic the almost 7-footer was about the tryout process.
Triple H Leaves the Door Open for Dwight Howard in WWE – Howard Open to WWE If the Money Is Right
In speaking with TMZ, Howard said that he was moving on “Whatever opportunity is the best.” WWE would have to match what an NBA team is offering the 2020 NBA champion.
Since 2019, Dwight Howard has joined teams via one-year stints. His contracts have been veteran’s minimum deals at $2.6 million.
It’s an amount that WWE could match but even that much is what would be invested in someone the company is really enthused about and has defined plans for their career.
Unless WWE just wants Howard for a year, it could be a minimum of $2.6 million a year which is less than the $3 million a year that AJ Styles was rumored to make two years ago. The other issue is Howard’s age.
At the end of the year, he will be 37-years-old which is about the time that a player would call it a day on the court or already have a seat behind a commentary desk. In wrestling, a wrestler would’ve already figured out what they can do and want to do in the ring or on the mic.
They have figured out who they are in the arena and what doesn’t work. Some are getting ready to retire and might become trainers or agents. While careers can be lengthened by changing up their style, the late 30s is about the time to figure out where to go with their career—not start it.
In Howard’s case, it’ll require a move to the main roster right after training just so WWE gets the most out of however million a year they offer him. Never mind NXT and creative having to brainstorm, if he’s signed Triple H already has a five-subject notebook or two with the athlete’s career outlined with a margin of error for injury.
It’s a deal that is going to need the right booking to get the most out of an older athlete if this is a multi-year deal and not a WrestleMania appearance.
What do you think? Will Dwight Howard join WWE? Do you believe WWE sees enough value in him as a potential superstar to match what will likely be a veteran’s guarantee? Or will Howard get picked up by a team?
Let us know down below!
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