Gridiron Grapplers: 2026 NFL Teams as Wrestlers

What is going on everyone? It is the most overlooked content creator in ALL of the IWC back on the blog once again. The NFL season kicks off TONIGHT, so let’s have some fun and compare each NFL team to a WWE or AEW wrestlers. Simple and to the point. Let’s get into it!

Browns — Johnny Gargano

Cleveland is once again searching for a quarterback answer and sitting near the bottom of the AFC with familiar heartbreak vibes. Gargano is the ultimate work-rate guy who delivered classics in NXT but never quite became the main-roster star many expected. Both have the talent and heart; the finish just never seems to stick.

Dolphins — Akira Tozawa

The Dolphins are in full rebuild mode after blowing up the roster, sitting near the bottom of power rankings with a new quarterback and little expected contention. Tozawa is the high-energy, undersized workhorse who always shows up and puts on a show but rarely gets the main-event push. Both are scrappy, entertaining underdogs just trying to survive the week.

Bills — LA Knight

Buffalo is a perennial AFC power with Josh Allen still hunting that elusive Super Bowl after years of coming up just short. LA Knight is mega-over, and has the crowd in the palm of his hand, yet the world title always seems one more “YEAH!” away. Both are loud, popular, and perpetually one big moment from finally getting over the hump.

Bengals — MJF

Cincinnati has elite skill-position talent and Joe Burrow but lives on the injury-and-drama tightrope every year. MJF is the cocky, microphone-killing heel who talks like a champion and has the goods to back it up when healthy. Both can look like world-beaters one week and self-destruct the next.

Steelers — Randy Orton

Pittsburgh is the consistent, no-frills veteran team that always finds a way to stay relevant through the “Steeler Way.” Orton is the same: a Hall of Fame lock still producing at a high level with that calm, lethal professionalism. Both just keep showing up and winning more than they should for how long they’ve been around.

Ravens — Swerve Strickland

Baltimore is a physical, Lamar-led contender with a new coach trying to recapture the old Ravens identity. Swerve is smooth, athletic, and has already been a world champion who can look like the best wrestler on the planet when everything clicks. Both mix flash with toughness and always feel one healthy season away from dominating.

Colts — Finn Bálor

Indianapolis is a middle-of-the-pack AFC South team with veteran pieces and questions at quarterback after last year’s collapse. Bálor is the versatile, Demon-powered veteran who can still steal the show but isn’t quite the focal point he once was. Both have pedigree and flashes of brilliance without being the clear favorite.

Patriots — John Cena

New England is coming off a surprise Super Bowl appearance and still carries that “ Patriots Way” aura even in a new era with Drake Maye. Cena is the merch-moving, longevity king who can still main-event whenever he wants and represents the company standard. Both are institutions that refuse to fade even when the original dynasty pieces are gone.

Texans — Penta

Houston is a rising AFC South threat with C.J. Stroud and a nasty defense that can make noise in the playoffs. Penta is the unique, high-impact lucha star who brings a different look and can take over a match with one big moment. Both feel like they’re on the verge of becoming a real problem for the rest of the conference.

Titans — Kevin Knight

Tennessee is in full youth-movement rebuild with a new coach and low expectations. Kevin Knight is the young, high-flying AEW prospect still proving he belongs at the top level. Both are projects with athletic upside who need time and development before anyone takes them seriously as contenders.

Jaguars — Oba Femi

Jacksonville is coming off a surprise 13-win season and looks like a legitimate AFC South threat again with Trevor Lawrence growing. Oba Femi is the massive, dominant NXT monster being groomed as a future world champion. Both have the size, talent, and recent momentum that scream “this could be their year.”

Chargers — Je’Von Evans

Los Angeles has Justin Herbert and a new offensive coordinator but still carries that “so much talent, so many what-ifs” reputation. Je’Von Evans is the electric young athlete who looks like a star every time he’s given the ball. Both have highlight-reel ability that hasn’t quite translated into consistent January success yet.

Chiefs — Gunther

Kansas City is still the measuring stick with Patrick Mahomes even if the supporting cast has changed. Gunther is the methodical, dominant champion who just keeps coming and rarely looks beatable. Both represent the gold standard of consistency and excellence in their respective leagues.

Raiders — Christian Cage

Las Vegas is chaotic, veteran-heavy, and sitting near the bottom of the AFC West with low playoff odds. Christian Cage is the opportunistic veteran heel who always finds a way to stay relevant and steal a moment. Both thrive on disorder and last-minute plot twists.

Jets — Danhausen

This one was easy. Danhausen curses people and the Jets are simply cursed. Decades of playoff droughts, butt fumbles, and late-game collapses—yet both inspire fierce, almost irrational affection. Fans chant along with Danhausen’s very-nice-very-evil bit the same way Jets supporters keep showing up in green. In short, they’re disasters you love to root for.

Broncos — Bron Breakker

Denver is coming off a 14-win season and AFC title game appearance but faces regression talk and a tougher schedule. Breakker is the explosive former football player who’s risen fast, holds tag gold, and is being positioned as a future world champion. Both have the physical tools and recent success; now they have to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.

Giants — Matt Cardona

New York is a messy, low-expectation NFC East team still searching for identity at quarterback. Cardona is the indie-scene king who creates his own chaos and always finds a way to stay in the conversation. Both are loud, unpredictable, and rarely boring even when the results aren’t pretty.

Commanders — Trick Williams

Washington is a young, ascending team trying to turn last year’s progress into a real playoff push. Trick Williams is the rising athletic star who just captured the U.S. Title and looks ready for a bigger role. Both have the pieces and momentum to take a noticeable step forward this year.

Eagles — Roman Reigns

Philadelphia is a talented NFC East favorite that can make a Super Bowl run when healthy. Roman is the Tribal Chief, the face of the company, and still the guy who can main-event any show he wants. Both carry that “when we’re right, nobody wants to see us” aura.

Cowboys — The Miz

Dallas is America’s Team — high-profile, drama-filled, and always in the conversation without always delivering in January. The Miz is the Hollywood heel who stays relevant through personality, merch, and opportunism. Both are impossible to ignore even when they’re not the best version of themselves.

Vikings — Chad Gable

Minnesota is a talented but inconsistent NFC North team with quarterback questions and a tough division. Gable is the workhorse amateur-style wrestler who’s currently Intercontinental Champion and always delivers. Both grind, have the skill set, and just need everything to line up at the same time.

Packers — CM Punk

A guy from Chicago compared to the Packers. Green Bay is a traditional power with Jordan Love and a chance to win the North again. Punk is the current Undisputed WWE Champion, the straight-edge icon who still moves the needle like few others. Both represent old-school excellence that still works in the modern era. You love to hate them both as well.

Lions — Kazuchika Okada

Detroit is a physical, high-powered NFC contender that can hang with anyone when healthy. Okada is the Rainmaker — technically brilliant, dominant, and always a threat to steal the show. Both have the pedigree and the “we’re here to take over” energy.

Saints — Ricky Saints

New Orleans is in transition after the Payton/Brees era, sitting in the middle of a weak NFC South with modest expectations. Ricky Saints is the veteran who still has the look and the experience but isn’t the focal point anymore. Both are trying to recapture past glory while figuring out the next chapter.

Buccaneers — Kevin Owens

Tampa Bay is a veteran-laden NFC South team that can sneak into the playoffs if things break right. KO is the versatile anti-hero who can wrestle any style and stay relevant year after year. Both are reliable, a little unpredictable, and always capable of ruining someone’s Sunday.

Falcons - Carmelo Hayes

The Falcons don’t really know what direction they’re headed in. Similar to the WWE’s booking with Hayes. It’s not a talent issue, with the Falcons having premiere running back Bijan Robinson, there just doesn’t seem to be a clear direction for the future.

Panthers — Darby Allin

The Panthers are the NFC South’s high-risk, high-reward act: they sneak into the playoffs with an 8-9 record one year and immediately face a brutal first-place schedule plus early offensive-line injuries the next. Like Darby, they keep throwing their bodies into spots most teams would avoid, betting that grit and a few explosive plays from Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan can overcome the chaos. The result is usually entertaining, bloody, and one bad landing away from the bottom of the standings.

Bears — Seth Rollins

Chicago is coming off a surprise NFC North title and has high expectations for Caleb Williams in Year 2 of the new regime. Rollins is the Visionary, a consistent main-event star who always finds a way to stay at the top. Both have the swagger and supporting cast to make a real run if the quarterback play holds up.

Rams — Cody Rhodes

Los Angeles assembled a star-studded, main-event roster that looks built for the biggest stages after adding Myles Garrett, bringing Aaron Donald back, and riding Matthew Stafford’s MVP season. Cody-level presentation and pedigree are everywhere: primetime games, Super Bowl favorite billing, and the expectation that they simply finish the story they came so close to last year. Anything less than a deep playoff run would feel like a botched finish in a title match they were booked to win.

Seahawks — Jon Moxley

Defending Super Bowl champions don’t do subtle. Seattle is running it back with the same physical, no-nonsense identity that got them the title, leaning on Mike Macdonald’s defense and the willingness to get into messy, high-stakes fights. Moxley energy fits a team that just raised a banner and now has to prove the intensity wasn’t a one-off—repeat or bleed trying.

Cardinals — Austin Theory

Arizona is in Year 1 of a new regime with a veteran stopgap quarterback, a hard schedule, and projections that scream “developmental midcard.” Theory’s mix of athleticism, flash, and unfinished product maps onto a roster that has pieces but hasn’t put it all together yet. They’ll have highlight-reel moments and plenty of nights that look like a guy still searching for his character.

49ers — Sami Zayn

The San Francisco 49ers have long mirrored Sami Zayn’s WWE journey as the resilient, heart-on-their-sleeve underdogs who keep reaching the biggest stages only to fall short of the ultimate prize. Like Zayn’s decade of close calls before his shocking 2026 world title win, the Niners have piled up NFC Championship and Super Bowl appearances under Kyle Shanahan without yet claiming the Lombardi Trophy. Both embody the lovable “last real good guy” who refuses to quit, turning years of heartbreak into compelling stories that leave fans believing the breakthrough is always just one more run away.

Which comparisons were your favorite? Let me know on all my socials @2SweetKyle and GO PACK GO!