SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — If you’ve tuned into a San Francisco 49ers’ game press conference, you may have noticed tight end George Kittle sporting t-shirts that pay homage to various wrestling legends. In the past, Kittle has worn a pair of game day custom cleats inspired by The Rock.
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But it turns out his choice of apparel isn’t just for show; it’s a way of life for this die-hard wrestling fan. “In my closet, I’ve got a lot of classic wrestling tees. Stone Cold, The Rock, Undertaker, Cactus Jack,” Kittle once revealed in an interview with WWE.
After the 49ers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday, Kittle took to the podium wearing a shirt of “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. He even threw in a signature “Howdy” when addressing reporters, paying tribute to the wrestling Texan.
In an interview with KRON4 last October, Kittle replied without hesitation and added one more name when asked which three WWE personalities he would want at his dinner table. “Ooh, WWE. I would go with Stone Cold, Seth Rollins, and Randy Orton… and Shawn Michaels,” he said.
The 49ers superstar has been a regular presence at various WWE events over the years, including WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, where he made a memorable appearance alongside sports commentator Pat McAfee, facing off against WWE superstar The Miz.
When asked about the similarities between football and wrestling fans, Kittle once shared with a WWE reporter that it all boils down to a shared passion for the sport. “Passionate people who love the grind, who love the grittiness, they also love the fabulousness,” Kittle said. “It’s just the spectacle of it because it’s so fun, it’s so easy to get engaged with. And also the performers, they’re professionals. We’re all performing at a very high level, week in, week out, night in, night out.”
Kittle’s favorite wrestlers? Luchadores. He has long called Penta El Zero Miedo his favorite wrestler, even incorporating his “No Fear” hand gesture during his game celebrations — as seen when the tight end picks up a first down. In 2022, during the 49ers’ historic game in Mexico City, Kittle was presented with a 49ers-themed lucha mask from Penta himself.
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