https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/676862058676244480
Green Bay Packers fans have long criticized the Minnesota Vikings for not ever winning the Super Bowl – but the Vikings do have a new champion of their own to crow about.
Roman Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa’i, won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Monday night. Reigns, who played his college football at Georgia Tech, signed with the Vikings as an undrafted college free agent in May of 2007.
He was later released and retired from football in 2008 and shifted his focus to professional wrestling.
Which for Reigns appears to have been a good career move as he defeated Sheamus on Monday Night Raw to win the belt.
And he will get an opportunity to celebrate his championship win in Minnesota next week, when Monday Night Raw is broadcast live from Target Center in Minneapolis.
What better way to start your day by re-living the moment @WWERomanReigns won the WWE title last night. pic.twitter.com/wXIMHMinYz
— Soph (@SophWeb3) December 15, 2015
“I think it’s pretty dang cool that he [Reigns] was here and is now the champion,” said Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. The veteran was a member of the Vikings during Reigns’ stint in purple.
Reigns isn’t the first professional wrestling champion to have a stint with the Vikings. Brock Lesnar spent the 2004-05 preseason with the Vikings, before he was released ahead of the regular season.
"@WWERomanReigns is ON TOP of the Mountain!!" – @MichaelCole #RAW pic.twitter.com/xvQHpCm8Vs
— WWE (@WWE) December 15, 2015
The link between the Vikings and WWE could grow even stronger in the coming 18 months. U.S. Bank Stadium is among the venues being considered as the location for Wrestlemania 2017.
