WWE could have its next breakout star in Ilona Maher – but I’m personally not totally convinced.
The 29-year-old athlete claims she’s had an offer from the wrestling giant as she prepares for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and on paper it seems like a match made in heaven.
From her athletic prowess and undeniable star power – she had more TikTok views last year than Taylor Swift – Maher looks ready made to make an impact in WWE.
As an Englishman with only a passing interest in rugby as a whole, she admittedly wasn’t on my radar before this morning – but her talent and following (5.2 million followers on Instagram and 3.6m on TikTok) is undeniable.
However, that star power and her career prospects are exactly why I’d be nervous if WWE decided to push for her as its next big star, regardless of her obvious track record as an athlete.
‘I’ve been approached before by the WWE,’ she told BBC Sport. But it’s the second half of the quote that has me worried.
‘I don’t know if I would. I should think about it, there is great money in it,’ she added, before hinting she’d like to follow in the footsteps of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, John Cena and Dave Bautista.
‘I would love to get into the acting space and the scripted space,’ she told the Beeb. ‘We’ll see. The world is open, but I do see myself coming back to rugby.’
That right there is the issue.
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WWE fans are naturally sceptical of outsiders – for most performers in the wrestling world, it’s a passion, something to commit your life to.
The bumps, bruises and injuries are part and parcel of the industry, along with a sometimes gruelling travel schedule (although this has improved in recent years), and it’s not for the feint of heart.
Crossover stars have definite appeal, and Logan Paul might actually be the best example of doing things the right way, as controversial as he is.
The influencer turned grappler has been a fan in the past, and has incredible athletic skills, with almost all of his matches becoming genuine spectacles, with high dives and impressive flips aplenty.
He’s divisive, but he has a passion for this, and he’s described himself mainly as a WWE superstar. He’s enveloped and integrated himself fully.
Just recently, singer Jelly Roll (not an athlete by any means) made his in-ring debut at SummerSlam after losing over 200lbs to get in shape and live out his childhood dream.
That’s the kind of passion fans have come to demand from outsiders stepping into the wrestling world, and we’d all want to see a similar commitment from Maher if she did take the plunge.
Plus, it’s an exciting time for WWE too, and the women’s division is stacked with the likes of Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, with the current roster in their own right earning the company massive deals with Netflix, ESPN and more around the world.
Aspects of the move would write itself – she’s pitched her own ‘Maher-vellous’ nickname, and WWE would print money with that kind of marketability.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with someone wanting to make their money either – she’s earned her platform, and she should absolutely make the most of that.
One thing she can’t be is flippant though, if WWE was something she was seriously considering – and I’m not convinced she is.
For every Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey and Bianca Belair herself, there are many more athletes who tried their hand and couldn’t cut it – or simply didn’t reach the top.
Current WWE superstar Ridge Holland is a lifelong fan of wrestling with clear talent and a great look. Like Maher, he got his start in rugby – but the former league player has struggled at times.
Part of that is extenuating circumstances – he was involved in an incident a few years ago when Big E broke his neck during a match, which has knocked his confidence and proved tough to move on from.
However, it proves a point that being an elite performer elsewhere is no guarantee of a spot at the top of the WWE marquee.
If Maher was content to take her time, learn the craft at the Performance Center in Orlando and put the hours in, this could be a success.
If she catches the bug, shows real drive and a knack for the business, she could really contribute to WWE and become a big name.
If she’s willing to risk injury, and the end of her rugby career, she has the potential to see her name in lights at WrestleMania one day.
That’s a lot of ifs, with no guarantees.
Without any of that, my concern would be that Maher would actually be more interested in a one-off spectacle of a match to raise her profile even more, and increase her Hollywood prospects.
What WWE needs to weigh up is if the potential payout is worth the investment, and if she really could be as Maher-vellous as everyone hopes.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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