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WWE Superstar Becky Lynch talks to USA TODAY Sports about the never-ending schedule of professional wrestling and how to take advantage of it.
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Aaron Jones is looking the part of a WWE superstar lately.
He has his own custom legacy title belt, is becoming fast friends with those in WWE, has the perfect nickname (Showtime) and knows what his strategy would be if he were ever to get in the ring.
“I think I would be like Rey Mysterio,” Jones told WWE superstar Liv Morgan two weeks ago when she came to Green Bay for the Packers game against the Kansas City Chiefs. “He’s quick, fast.”
The speedy Packers running back won’t be stepping in a ring any time soon, but he was pretty close to one on Friday for “SmackDown” at the Resch Center across the street from Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
About an hour into the two-hour show Jones and some of his teammates were shown to the crowd from the front row. Jones held up his title belt like any great champion.
“SmackDown” announcer Michael Cole welcomed the Packers on the broadcast and noted the team is in “thick of the NFC playoff race.”
Triple H poses with Aaron Jones before ‘Smackdown’ on Friday
Jones was interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton for WWE’s YouTube channel as well before the show. A lifelong fan, Jones said meeting the WWE superstars was a “full circle moment” for him. Jones told Braxton that Triple H was his “childhood.”
Jones then got to meet the man himself.
He posed with WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H during his wrestling days, before the show.
“Great to have (Aaron Jones) and the Packers at #Smackdown tonight,” Levesque tweeted. “Enjoy the show and good luck this weekend!”
The Packers (6-7) look to lay the smack down on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) Sunday at Lambeau Field. Jones, though, remains questionable with an MCL sprain. He has missed the last three games with the injury.
Even so, Jones has had some special moments, including receiving the title belt in a surprise by Morgan on his 29th birthday Dec. 2 when she was in town for the game.
Roman Reigns returns to ‘SmackDown’ to start show in Green Bay
Jones and those in attendance at “SmackDown” are seeing a star-studded show.
WWE universal champion Roman Reigns, whose TV appearances are rare these days, kicked off “SmackDown” telling Green Bay to “acknowledge” him, his signature line.
Randy Orton, who recently returned after being out for 18 months with an injury, then came out and challenged Reigns to a championship match at next month’s Royal Rumble premium live event.
Reigns, known as the Tribal Chief, told Orton, a former multi-time champion, “to go to back of the line,” while adding a threat for good measure.
Several superstars also competed in the first round of the U.S. Championship tournament.
This is the second time in 2023 that WWE has come to Green Bay for “SmackDown.”