WWE & Manchester City Announce Merchandise Collaboration

WWE and Manchester City today announced a collaboration that will see the two organisations work together to produce a range of merchandise. 

A collection of six t-shirts is already available that brings together WWE catchphrases and personalities with Manchester City, such as a 'Top of the Table' t-shirt that riffs on Roman Reigns' gimmick as 'Head of the Table' or a 'The Best Team' shirt with CM Punk's fists. There is also an 'Austin 3:16' design replaced with 'Aguero 93:20', the minute the former Manchester City striker scored the winning goal to secure the team's first Premier League title in 2012. 

The two companies have also designed a new name and number style that Manchester City players will wear during their pre-season tour of America this summer. The design includes a WWE logo within the number and a red outline. 

The new merchandise is available from WWEShop, Fanatics, and other outlets. The t-shirts can also be purchased from Manchester City's pop-up store at the Rockefeller Center in New York City. 

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque commented on the announcement, tweeting: "When you have the opportunity to bring two of the world’s most passionate fanbases together... you take it. Excited to see this @ManCity and @WWE collaboration come to life."

While there has been some positivity on social media about the collaboration, there has also been a mixed response in some quarters, with some ridiculing Triple H's suggestion that Manchester City have a passionate fanbase. Adam Hurrey of the Football Cliches podcast, meanwhile, called the collaboration, "arguably the uncoolest moment in Premier League history."

Manchester City, who won the Premier League for the fourth time in a row in May, remain a controversial club in English football after they were charged by the Premier League for 115 breaches of the league's financial rules between 2009 and 2018. The case is still ongoing and any punishment Manchester City may face has yet to be determined. 

The Premier League and pro wrestling are already linked as AEW CEO Tony Khan is the Director of Football at Fulham FC. Khan's connection to Fulham prompted Aston Villa to mock the team with a Prince Nana GIF following their 2-1 win earlier this year.