NJPW Wrestler Had Offers To Sign For Arsenal, West Ham United

A talent in New Japan Pro-Wrestling might have found himself on the pitch alongside Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka if he hadn't chosen professional wrestling. 

Speaking with NJPW, Callum Newman revealed he played football for Tottenham Hotspur's academy while he was a teenager and had offers from Arsenal and West Ham United. He ultimately chose pro wrestling over football, however.  

"Bro, my dad was p*ssed! (Laughs) I had Tottenham, West Ham and Arsenal knocking at my door. I was dope! I played for Tottenham Academy because it was my dad’s favourite team. I was 16, and it was wrestling, or football. I was like ‘Dad, I kind of don't want to play football anymore'. 'Yeah you do' (laughs). It was like 'Sorry dad'. I could've been really good at football but now I'm here. My last job before being a professional wrestler was working in a pie shop," Newman said.

Newman noted he was already having doubts about football when his grandfather revealed he used to be a wrestler. This led Newman to begin pro wrestling training and Will Ospreay told Newman he was a "f*****g idiot" if he quit wrestling. 

The 21-year-old made his NJPW debut in 2023, soon after he joined United Empire. He has since had 63 matches for the promotion. 

All Elite Wrestling have close links to football through Tony Khan, who is the Co-Owner and Director of Football at Fulham FC. A WWE talent recently chose Fulham as their Premier League team.