There’s a strange connection between the New York Mets and the WWE. They recently named their pitcher Sean Manaea ‘The Tribal Chief.’ It was a nod to his Samoan heritage, but it opened the door to some funny exchanges with the WWE fans because wrestling has its own Tribal Chief in Roman Reigns. On July 21, Citi Field felt the WWE energy again. It was one of those tightrope nights against the Los Angeles Angels. But even before the first inning, something wild happened on the infield grass.
The WWE Women’s World Champion Tiffany Stratton got to the mound to throw the first pitch, seeking redemption from her previous attempt. But as she was about to toss, her rival Nia Jax emerged. ‘The Irresistible Force’ charged onto the field and tried snatching the ball from Stratton. The Mets’ broadcast partner, SNY, caught the whole thing and they uploaded the clip on Instagram with the caption, “WWE women’s champion Tiffany Stratton came back for first pitch redemption at Citi Field… and fellow WWE superstar Nia Jax stole the baseball .”
Stratton’s first attempt on June 12 had grabbed headlines as she threw it away from the box. Interestingly, that errant toss landed her in some famous company. The rapper 50 Cent once took one of the most famously bad pitches at Citi Field in 2014. Stratton even funnily said she was giving 50 Cent “a run for his money.”
Even singer Carly Rae Jepsen and UFC Star Conor McGregor are part of that elite club. Jepsen’s pitching attempt for the Tampa Bay Rays on July 14, 2013, became an instant viral sensation due to the ball bouncing wide and well short of the plate, even knocking a camera out of a photographer’s hands. Similarly, MMA superstar Conor McGregor’s throw for the Chicago Cubs on September 21, 2021, was a wild, high heave that sailed far off course, drawing widespread amusement.
The on-field drama between Stratton and Jax, however, was not entirely random. They have been involved in a heated rivalry for the WWE Women’s Championship and the feud reached a boiling point on the May 16 episode of SmackDown when ‘The Center of the Universe’ dropkicked a steel chair into Jax’s face to secure the victory.
This feud had heightened just weeks before the ballpark episode. The duo faced off in a violent ‘Last Woman Standing Match’ on June 27, where Stratton barely survived, putting Jax through two tables for the victory. Then, on July 11, Stratton added insult to injury again, as she declined Jax, in public, for a huge title match.
So, it was this compelling storyline that fueled the entire marketing exercise at Citi Field.
Beyond the brawl: A story-driven partnership
It was a masterclass in modern, symbiotic marketing. For WWE, its massive SummerSlam event is just two weeks away at nearby MetLife Stadium. The goal is to drive last-minute ticket sales and generate some mainstream buzz for their biggest summer show. For the Mets, the deal was about fan engagement. A WWE guest appearance on a Monday is likely to grab eyeballs.
At the center of it all was the co-branded ‘Mr. Met YEET Bobblehead.’ It connected Mets’ mascot with a catchphrase from WWE star Jey Uso. It was a smart giveaway that united two fan cultures.
The event built on a rich history that the two brands share. The Mets had another WWE Night in August 2018, with Jeff Hardy, Mickie James, and Curt Hawkins making appearances. Hardy even threw the honorary first pitch that evening. Other WWE superstars such as LA Knight have also thrown out a first pitch at Citi Field.
But maybe the most legendary one was back in 1986, when “Rowdy” Roddy Piper delivered a passionate promo at Madison Square Garden. He urged fans to keep faith after the Mets went down 2-0 in the World Series. The upshot is well known: The Mets stormed back to win the championship and Piper’s speech became legendary.
Because of this historical connection between the Mets and the WWE, the latest on-field brawl between Stratton and Jax had an extra layer of meaning, particularly for the old-time fans.
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