WWE? Hollywood? Rugby? What megastar Maher might do next

England vs. the United States: Women’s Rugby World Cup

Stadium of Light, Sunderland Date: Friday, August 22 Kick-off: 19:30 BST

After representing the United States at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Ilona Maher claims she is considering accepting a job offer in professional wrestling.

The 29-year-old social media sensation has nearly nine million followers on her Instagram, TikTok, and X channels. She has previously appeared on Dancing with the Stars and won the prestigious Espy award from US broadcaster ESPN.

She joked that her ring name would be “Maher-vellous” and claimed that she had been approached by the WWE before.

“I’m not sure if I want to wrestle,” he said. There is a lot of money in it, so I should think about it.

Maher claims that if she did, she would do so with the intention of becoming a Hollywood actress.

“I’d love to work in the scripted and acting industries. I’d love to see a progression involving Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and John Cena,” she continued.

“Seeing my body type on a screen would be exciting. Let’s avoid going too crazy; I’ll start small, probably like a hot assassin or something.

I won’t be appearing in a romantic comedy at the moment.

Since leaving WWE, Johnson has appeared in the Fast and Furious franchise and Disney’s blockbuster Moana, and Cena has made a cameo in the Barbie 2023 film.

Maher wouldn’t be the first sports star to make an appearance in the WWE.

Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, and Tyson Fury all made cameos, while Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey, two Olympic medal winners, continue to play key roles in the promotion.

Maher insists she is still a rugby player in her place despite her phenomenal success on social media and a number of exciting new ventures, despite being chosen outside center for Friday night’s World Cup opener against England in Sunderland.

She signed with Bristol Bears for Premiership Women’s Rugby on a three-month contract in January after earning a bronze medal with the US sevens team at Paris 2024 to help her get used to the 15-a-side game.

After the switch to Ashton Gate to accommodate more spectators, her team’s social media footprint increased significantly, and she received a new attendance record for the league of 9,240 in her debut game against Gloucester-Hartpury.

“I’m a rugby player first, but so many times people forget,” Maher continued.

I use social media because I have to because playing women’s rugby is not a viable sport, and I won’t be making money doing it.

When people forget that, it irritates me at times. Are you going to watch the Instagrammer play, one comment said?

I was like, “No, I won a bronze medal, I’ve attended two Olympics, I’m a good rugby player who enjoys the sport.”

On Friday, the US will face runaway world number one England and England, who are unbeaten in the tournament.

Maher believes that her and her team-mates can compete with the hosts because there is no expectation.

I’m entering it with the mindset that there is nothing to lose and that there is something to gain. Here’s a chance for us to have fun.

That is having something to lose, according to the Red Roses, who have not lost a game in over 1, 000 days. We don’t, in my opinion.

They’ll be very difficult opponents, they say. We would have to be on our A-game every single minute to defeat them.

“But all I’m up to is playing in front of 40 000 people. Regardless of whether we win or lose, I want to be able to say that I enjoyed it.