Just over a year after his impressive debut, former NFL Pro Bowl running back DeAngelo Williams is retuning to professional wrestling. According to TMZ, Williams is set to return to Impact Wrestling on July 12.
“I said I’d never do this again, but I’m back in the ring,” Williams said.
There’s no word on what Williams’ role will be, but he’s apparently been training former tag team partner, Moose, ahead of his July 22 bout for the Impact World Championship at Slammiversary XV.
After wrapping up an 11-year NFL career split with the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers, Williams turned his attention off the gridiron and to the squared circle in 2017. Williams trained for three days before teaming with Moose against Chris Adonis and Eli Drake at last year’s Slammiversary.
Aside from overshooting a frog splash through a table, where he nearly broke his neck, Williams was phenomenal in his first match. After a bit of a slow start, Williams got going with a hot tag, hitting a sequence of moves and looking like an absolutely pro in the process.
His performance drew rave reviews from the pro wrestling crowd, including from Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, per ESPN.
“It was freaky how good he was. This guy probably has the potential to be one of the greatest wrestlers I’ve ever seen,” Meltzer said.
Later, on Adam Schefter’s “Know Them From Adam” podcast, Williams admitted he was retiring from the ring after his successful showing. Just one year later, it appears he can’t quite walk away just yet.
