- Rangers supporter Drew McIntyre headlines WrestleMania, highlighting strong Rangers global connection.
- WWE and football worlds intersect with Rangers-linked figures and cultural crossover.
- Ibrox influence grows internationally as club ties appear on major WWE stage in Las Vegas.
While the Scottish Cup semi-finals rage on this weekend in Glasgow at Hampden, another showpiece another premier exhibit will take place across the Atlantic in Nevada.
WrestleMania 42 will be held across the same weekend as the semis in the Allegiant Stadium, with Rangers supporter Drew McIntyre competing tonight.
What has this got to do with Rangers you ask?
Well, there are quite a few connections between the wrestling world and Scottish football.
Old Firm tensions within WWE
WWE’s World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk, real name Phillip Brooks, has been a long-term advisory in the scripted world of sports entertainment.
He has taken to supporting Rangers’ rivals, Celtic, to add further disparity between the two opponents.
On the Late Run podcast Brooks spoke about the Old Firm derby in detail, showing a learnt knowledge of the hatred between the two Scottish clubs.
“You’re talking about a deep-seated, 200-year-old religious hatred and it gets pretty gnarly.
Despite his recently attained affiliation for the green half of Glasgow, Brooks is yet to attend a derby but wishes he had.
“No, I wish I had,” he admitted.
“I mean we’re talking like brother versus brother; it gets wild.
“It’s intense, you know, and then I got my wife going I don’t know why you dumb men care so much about this?
“But it is in our blood!”
Drew McIntyre representing Rangers in the ring
McIntyre, real name Andrew Galloway, grew up in Prestwick, and is a life-long Rangers supporter.
A Rangers themed WWE Championship belt also takes pride of place at the Rangers Museum within Edmiston House.
This was sent by the American company to the club following a request by Galloway following his title win at WrestleMania in 2021.
14-time WWE Champion and current Chief Content Cfficer of the company Paul “Triple H” Levesque even sent a congratulatory message to the Ibrox club after their last title win in 2021.
Posting on his social media at the time he said: Congratulations to the winners of the Scottish Premiership, Rangers FC!” finishing up with the hashtag “Champion55.”
McIntyre on the title race
Galloway spoke about the current title race recently on TalkSport.
“Hearts are starting to bottle it, usually when people ask me about Rangers I’m like, here we go, this is the hardest part of the interview,” he said with a smirk.
“The new gaffer has picked things up; we’re actually playing like Rangers once again.
“Unfortunately, Celtic are starting to play like Celtic once again and Hearts I reckon are going to screw it up at the end.
“I’m optimistic, Rangers are going to do it, then Scotland are going to get out of the group stages of the World Cup.”
Other Ibrox tag-team connections
Galloway is not the only Rangers supporter within the industry.
Fellow WWE employee and fellow Ayrshire-born wrestler Piper Niven, real name Kimberly Benson, is also a follower of the club.
She joined Galloway at Ibrox in 2024, ahead of WWE’s pay-per-view event Clash at the Castle, held at the Hydro in Glasgow.
Kilmarnock-born grappler Grado, real name, Graeme Stevley is also a Gers fanatic.
The former All Elite Wrestling star has featured in legends matches on the Ibrox turf, and is a well-known Rangers supporter.
The links don’t stop there.
In 2015, then-Rangers striker Kenny Miller was special guest timekeeper during another WWE show at the Hydro.
He was entrusted with ringing the bell for a tag team match between Lucha Dragons and The Ascension.
The former Celtic striker was booed by sections of the audience as he was announced at the event.
Even the late-great WWE icon Hulk Hogan once sent his support to the Ibrox club.
Upon their 140th birthday in 2012, he sent a message of support to Scotland via his social media account.
“Glasgow Rangers 140 [years] and still kicking ass, nothing but respect, congratulations brothers,” posted the former champion and reality TV star.
Read Rangers analysis
From Hampden to Las Vegas, the weekend underlines just how far Rangers’ reach extends.
Whether it’s Drew McIntyre flying the flag at WrestleMania or global stars picking sides in Glasgow’s fiercest rivalry, the club’s presence cuts across sport and entertainment alike.
As the season reaches its defining moments, that same passion and visibility only amplify what’s at stake on the pitch and on the mat.
