Another Ex-Football Player Joins WWE

WWE NXT logo

Dan Matha, a six-foot-seven former collegiate football player and men’s physique competitor, has joined WWE. He reports to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday.

Matha received his initial wrestling training at Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky. Head trainer Rip Rogers broke news of his signing last week, stating on Twitter, “Former ovw trainee big dan Matha will starting in nxt in Orlando for wwe !!! We wish him the best!!!”

Matha was on the University of Pittsburgh football roster from 2007 to 2009 as an offensive tackle, but never saw action due to injury struggles with his shoulders. In 2010, he transferred to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and was named to the second team of the Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America team as an offensive tackle in 2012. The Cincinnati Bengals invited Matha to work out at a rookie mini-camp in 2013, but did not offer him a contract. Last year, he signed a contract to play with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).