From scoring tries to laying the smack down: Ex-NRL star makes his debut as a WWE wrestler in the United States against a four-time world champion
- Daniel Vidot, 30, had a lucrative NRL career as a winger but left the sport in 2017
- He signed a contract with the WWE two years ago and has been in training since
- Vidot made his WWE debut in Florida on Friday against a former world champion
A former NRL star has made his wrestling debut at WWE SmackDown in the United States.
Daniel Vidot, 30, had a lucrative career in the NRL and played mostly as a winger for Canberra, the Dragons, Broncos and Gold Coast but left the sport in 2017.
He signed a contract with the WWE two years ago and he made his first appearance at SmackDown’s live show in Florida on Friday against the four-time world champion, Sheamus.
Daniel Vidot, 30, had a lucrative career in the NRL and played mostly as a winger for Canberra, the Dragons, Broncos and Gold Coast but left the sport in 2017 (pictured: Daniel Vidot with his girlfriend Danielle Glanville)
Before he entered the ring at SmackDown, Vidot honed his wrestling skills in NXT, which is WWE’s development league.
After two-years working with NXT, Vidot earned his first call-up to a WWE program.
‘When people tell you it can’t be done, do it,’ Vidot said on Twitter before his first match.
His roster debut was held behind closed doors and to an empty arena due to social gathering restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He lost in a short amount of time as his opponent is one of WWE’s biggest names and most skilled wrestlers.
‘I’m not trying to prove anything to nobody, I’m just doing me,’ he wrote on Instagram on Thursday before his match.
‘Love me, hate me whatever.. but one things for sure, stay the hell out of my way.’
Though he lost, Vidot’s debut is the first step to working full-time in the WWE’s main roster.
He signed a contract with the WWE two years ago and he made his first appearance at SmackDown’s live show in Florida on Friday against the four-time world champion, Sheamus (pictured right)
Vidot is the latest former Australian sports star to attempt a career in the United States.
Louis Hedley, a former AFL player from Western Australia, made his debut for the Miami Hurricanes against the Florida Gators during a pre-season match in August 2019.
In 2015 it was announced NRL player Jarryd Hayne would play for the San Francisco 49ers, before he returned to Australia.