Former Premier League Footballer To Become Pro Wrestler

Huge career change for former Norwich City striker.

by Andy H Murray
Grant Holt Norwich City
Stephen Pond/EMPICS Sport

Former English Premier League forward Grant Holt is set to enter the world of professional wrestling.

As announced last night, Holt will compete for World Association of Wrestling's Frightmare 3 supershow in 2019. The UK-based indie is owned and operated by Ricky and Saraya Knight, whose daughter Paige currently works as WWE SmackDown General Manager, and is based in Norwich, where Holt enjoyed the most prosperous period of his footballing career.

Holt played for Norwich from 2009 to 2013, with the 2011-12 Premier League season his apex. He scored 17 goals that campaign, prompting talk of an international call-up with England, though this never came to pass.

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It remains to be seen whether Holt's AWA appearance is a one-off or if he's looking for a career change, but he's already teasing the latter on social media:-

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At 37 years old, Holt is still active in football, and currently works as a player-coach for non-league Barrow AFC. He wouldn't be the first notable footballer to transition to wrestling, either. Ex-Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese was on WWE's books from 2014 to 2016, but appeared on just a single live event before leaving.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.