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Triple H, Paul Heyman React to NFL Star Christian Watson's WWE-Style Return

Just in time for Halloween, Christian Watson channeled his inner WWE Superstar during NFL Thursday Night Football.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Christian Watson, meet the WWE.

Watson is a star wide receiver for the NFL's Green Bay Packers and was on pace for a massive game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. Watson's biggest catch came in the first half on a bomb downfield from Jordan Love. Watson hauled it in, but then stayed on the ground in a heap, clearly in pain.

Watson was taken off the field by trainers and walked to the locker room, where NFL cameras captured him entering an ambulance. Watson reportedly suffered a broken rib and another chest injury, but would later return.

That return has made wrestling fans smile.

NFL 2026: Panthers Vs Packers OCT 29
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Why? It's one fans have seen play out on Raw, SmackDown, and elsewhere for decades.

NFL cameras caught Watson exiting the ambulance that he had previously left in inside the tunnel and filmed him as he walked through the tunnel to the field, where he emerged to a pop from the crowd.

"It was super dramatic, honestly," Watson said after the game. "I used to watch WWE as a kid. It felt like I was watching WWE SmackDown vs. Raw or something like that. Seeing the cameras on me was a little crazy, and no doubt it was a surreal experience."

Triple H shouts out Christian Watson's WWE entrance

WWE brass noticed the exact same thing. Both Triple H and Paul Heyman took to social media and commented on Watson's big WWE return.

"This isn’t a video game," Triple H wrote on X. "You did that!!! Next time we’ll work on getting you some entrance music."

As for Heyman, he took credit for the idea. He then praised the NFL.

"We did this with @Sting in 1991 in WCW, and the industry has repeated it with great success in numerous circumstances," Heyman said. "My most sincere compliments to the NFL creative team. Nicely done!"

Heyman didn't stop there. He not only plugged a business initiative, but he also said that the NFL was predetermined. This is another example of WWE culture making its way into mainstream sports.

Last summer, the NBA and WWE had numerous crossovers with the eventual champion, New York Knicks. Danhausen appeared at the NBA Finals, cursed, and then un-cursed the Knicks on their way to a championship. The Knicks have even collaborated with WWE on championship merchandise that dropped with Homage.

Knicks star Jalen Brunson also had a main event-level segment with Roman Reigns on Saturday Night's Main Event. The segment was billed as a championship acknowledgment ceremony and featured both stars in the ring at the same time.

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Zack Heydorn
ZACK HEYDORN

Zack Heydorn has been covering the pro wrestling industry for a decade and writes news, features, and interviews for The Takedown On SI. He also hosts and cohosts a variety of WWE and AEW shows on YouTube. Heydorn is a former Assistant Editor of PWTorch and Managing Editor of SEScoops. Zack is also the author of the Hybrid Shoot book Stunning: The Wrestling Artistry of Steve Austin, which is available on Amazon. You can follow Zack on X and Bluesky.

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