Hollywood and pro wrestling shook hands again on Monday night, and this time it had a familiar growl. Jason Statham turned up front row for Monday Night Raw at London’s O2 Arena, and the crowd gave the action star one of the loudest pops of the evening.
A Hometown Pop for the Action Hero
The WWE cameras found Statham seated ringside during the broadcast, which aired live on Netflix, and the O2 lit up the second his face hit the screen. A London crowd cheering a London-born action icon at a wrestling show is about as on-brand as a Monday night gets.
The Fast & Furious star was not the only fight-world name in the building, either. Boxer Derek Chisora, UFC standout Michael “Venom” Page, and a contingent of Zuffa Boxing talent were also on hand, giving the front row a genuine combat-sports summit feel.
“It’s Gonna Be a Big One. I Feel It.”
Before Raw went live, Statham stepped out near the entrance stage to address the crowd and share his excitement after spending time with the roster backstage.
“It’s big, it’s big, and we’re here! It’s great. We just met a lot of fighters backstage. It’s gonna be a big one. I feel it.”
(h/t Wrestlezone and F4W/WON for the quote.)
Statham also stuck around for a WWE digital-exclusive segment after the show, capping a night where the actor looked every bit the wrestling fan rather than the parachuted-in celebrity guest.
Just the Latest A-Lister to Catch the Bug
Statham joins a long and growing line of famous faces who have found their way to a WWE ring. We have watched Joe Budden fall for Raw in real time, Macaulay Culkin book his dream matches, and Danielle Fishel nail a Superstar entrance. Statham‘s front-row pop fits right into that lineage, and with his pedigree it would not be a shock to see WWE find a bigger role for him down the road.
For now, the Transporter got his hero’s welcome in his own backyard, and London made sure he heard it.