English cricket legend Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has made a startling revelation about his post-cricket career, claiming he was offered “obscene money” to join the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a professional wrestler. Flintoff, who retired from cricket in 2009 due to injury, shared that he was slated to be known as ‘Big Fred’ in the wrestling world with a proposed three-year stint.
The unexpected offer from WWE, a predominantly American entertainment company, raises questions about why they would spotlight an English cricketer unfamiliar to most of its audience. Flintoff recounted the origins of this unusual opportunity, which began with a casual suggestion of wrestling The Undertaker during a show in England.
“I was unfit, had put weight on, and wanted to get fit again. I needed a motivation. I loved WWE as a kid, so I came up with this idea because I was doing (TV panel show) A League Of Their Own with Sky, to fight the Undertaker in Manchester,” Flintoff explained on the Stick To Cricket podcast.
From Cricket Pitches to Wrestling Rings
Flintoff’s fascination with WWE led him to draft a proposal, which he presented to Sky. The idea gained traction and eventually reached WWE executives, including Vince McMahon. Flintoff detailed his journey to the wrestling world, which included an intensive training session in Tampa, Florida.
“I trained my nuts off, got fit. The WWE flew me to Tampa. Me and the missus have gone over to Tampa, and I’ve got two weeks at wrestling academy. They fly us over from Dubai on business class, the limo picks us up, takes us to the hotel,” he recalled.
While there is some confusion about the exact location—WWE’s main training base is in Orlando, which did not open until 2013—Flintoff vividly described his experiences at the wrestling academy.
Inside the WWE Academy
Flintoff recounted the intimidating atmosphere at the WWE Academy, where he was surrounded by towering athletes. “Next morning, we go to the WWE Academy, it’s two massive units, all branded. I’m sat in the car and these things are walking past me. They are like six foot eight, seven-foot monsters,” he said.
Despite the competitive environment, Flintoff embraced the challenge. “I walked in, and nobody liked me because it’s really competitive. Sixty-odd people all wanting a contract with the WWE, and this English lad has walked in,” he continued.
“Two weeks later, I got an email from WWE, saying ‘you can’t do your documentary because you’ll give the secrets away, but we want to put you on a three-year contract’. They said ‘we’ll fast-track you and in 18 months you’ll be at WrestleMania and Royal Rumble’.”
The Road Not Taken
Despite the lucrative offer, Flintoff ultimately decided against pursuing a wrestling career. “The money was obscene, but we wanted to move back from Dubai. The kids wanted to play cricket and didn’t want to move to America, so I just changed it to boxing and had a fight instead,” he explained.
Flintoff’s post-cricket journey took him into television, where he became a familiar face on various shows. A life-threatening car accident while hosting Top Gear prompted him to reconnect with cricket, leading to his current role as the coach of the England Lions.
A New Chapter in Cricket
In his coaching role, Flintoff has had the opportunity to mentor his son, Rocky Flintoff, who has shown promise in the sport. The 16-year-old scored a century against Cricket Australia XI in a tour match in Brisbane earlier this year, highlighting the legacy of cricket talent in the Flintoff family.
The revelation of Flintoff’s WWE offer provides a fascinating glimpse into the unexpected opportunities that can arise after a sports career. While he chose a different path, his story underscores the diverse avenues available to athletes beyond their primary sport.
