SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — The San Jose Sharks are partnering with World Wrestling Entertainment to host their first-ever WWE-themed game at the SAP Center in San Jose on Saturday, Oct. 11.
The Sharks will take on the Anaheim Ducks less than a week before WWE Friday Night SmackDown comes to the Shark Tank. The game starts at 7 p.m.
Fans in attendance will receive a custom WWE-inspired mini chair phone holder, along with other unique fan experiences such as a special WWE-themed suite and a “Name That Wrestler Theme Song” contest.
Ahead of the game, multiple-time WWE tag team champions #DIY — Johnny Gargano (aka Johnny Wrestling) and Tommaso Ciampa (aka Psycho Killer or The Blackheart) — joined The Finish with Kor & Tor to drop the puck, hang up the tights and talk hockey.
When asked if the duo are hockey fans — or if they’ve ever been to a hockey game — Gargano took the mic to talk about how hockey is a big deal in his wrestling household.
“So yeah, I’ve been to many hockey games,” said Gargano. “So my wife, (WWE superstar) Candice LeRae, is a huge hockey fan. She’s a big (Anaheim) Ducks fan, so she makes sure I watch hockey all the time. I’m from Cleveland, Ohio. We don’t have a hockey team. We’re more of a football and baseball and basketball town, but my wife is very adamantly hockey. So yes, by marriage, I am a hockey fan.”
“I’m a Disney On Ice guy, so it’s like right one step below,” added Ciampa. “It’s the same thing. It’s very similar. I don’t know if you’ve ever been. It’s right there. Same thing.”
Tor followed up with a hot-take question: Who’s tougher — hockey players or wrestlers?
Ciampa replied, “I mean, if we’re on skates, we can get our butts whooped, I’ll tell you that. Because this guy right here (points to Gargano), no coordination. But in a ring, I think we can handle ourselves.”
“Yeah, it just depends on the scenario,” Gargano chimed in.
“What if you’re wearing hockey skates in a ring?” Gargano asked his tag team partner.
“If I’m booked to win, I’ll win, I’ll tell you that much,” answered Ciampa.
Kor suggested the two take a page from the playbook of wrestling legend Norman Smiley. “Well, I mean, you can bust up the Norman Smiley gimmick one of these days, you know, walk to the ring in the skates with a full suit on.”
“Do the Big Wiggle. Do the Big Wiggle, yeah. Hey, we love Norman,” said #DIY in unison.
If you’re fan of Disney On Ice like Tommaso Ciampa, Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto will glide into the SAP Center in a few weeks on Oct. 23 – Oct. 26. Tickets can be purchased here.
