It didn't take long, following the news breaking, for wrestling fans to speculate that Gronk's next move would be to work for WWE.
As many of you are sure to be aware, the former football player is friends with Mojo Rawley and has appeared in and out of the ring at many WWE events, so being involved in pro wrestling post-football isn't as unlikely as it would for any other major football player who has called it time on his playing career.
Sky Bet has reacted to yesterday's news by publishing a handful of Rob Gronkowski specials to its 'Ongoing Specials' markets. Here's what they have:
Rob Gronkowski to appear live in person at any WWE PPV up to and including WrestleMania 36
The bookies have given this 4/6. It includes all WWE PPVs up to next year's WrestleMania. Doing this early obviously means the punter has two Manias covered.
By the way, Gronk appearing at this year's Mania has been cut from 5/2 into 2/1 in Sky Bet's appearance specials since the news broke.
Rob Gronkowski to wrestle in a match on a TV episode of Raw or Smackdown before WrestleMania 36
This is 3/1. Here's the thing - if Gronk ever works for WWE, I am sure it'll be infrequent. Therefore, the chance is more likely that it'll be on a PPV. However, with Smackdown starting on Fox later this year, I intend to place a small wager on this option at 3/1. Gronk wrestling on TV would surely bring eyeballs to Fox.
Rob Gronkowski to wrestle in a tag team with Mojo Rawley in a televised match up to and including WrestleMania 36
I was asked by a reporter on Twitter yesterday evening what kind of odds a bookmaker would set for this happening. Well - the answer is 4/1!
Rob Gronkowski and Mojo Rawley to become AEW Tag Team Champions before 1st January 2021
This one goes beyond WrestleMania 36 and will pay out at odds of 10/1 if Gronk and Rawley become All Elite Wrestling talent and win the company's tag team titles. I cannot see this happening. Rawley's job in WWE became safer with Gronk's retirement.
Rob Gronkowski to beat Brock Lesnar in a WWE match up to and including WrestleMania 36
The bookies have given 16/1 for Gronk to beat Brock Lesnar in a match before - or during - next year's WrestleMania. You know what? it's highly unlikely, but this has become an instant dream match for this Indianapolis Colts fan.
Rob Gronkowski to win the WWE Championship or Universal Championship up to and including WrestleMania 36
The bookies have given 33/1 for Gronk to win either of the premier titles in WWE before the end of next year's WrestleMania. There would surely be a meltdown of the highest order if this were to happen.
Rob Gronkowski to win the 2020 Royal Rumble
Gronkowski is 66/1 to win the 2020 Royal Rumble in these specials.
Rob Gronkowski to win the Men's Money in the Bank ladder match in 2019
If Gronk were to become this year's Mr. Money in the Bank, the bookies will reward punters at odds of 100/1.
There are other ways to bet on Gronk outside of these markets. I've already pointed out that he is 2/1 to make an appearance at WrestleMania 35. Those who'd like to gamble on him winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal can also find him available on the list there.
As I wrote back on February 16th, when the market was first published, I placed a speculative punt on Gronk winning the battle royal because it would play into a story from a couple of years ago when he was there to see his friend, Mojo Rawley, win it. He was 100/1 when I backed him. I checked his price last night shortly after his retirement was announced and he was 66s. He's now down to 25/1.
With that said, I strongly believe Braun Strowman will end up winning the battle royal now.
If Vince McMahon is going to remove Strowman from a Royal Rumble match against Brock Lesnar in order to protect him from having to lose again, he isn't going to put him in a comedy feud with two comedians for Mania season and have them get one over on him on the big night.
I believe the end result will be Strowman, Colin Jost and Michael Che celebrating Strowman's battle royal win.
Don't ask me how they get there.
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