Eddie Hall has continued to repeatedly push boundaries and expectations in his post-strongman career — from boxing to MMA and even to professional wrestling.
Yes, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man winner once quietly joined the roster of UK indie outfit Megaslam Wrestling for a one-night-only appearance. The venue? King’s Hall in Stoke-on-Trent — Eddie’s hometown – and in the crowd was his family.
Despite reportedly turning down a contract offer from WWE previously, Hall didn’t rule out wrestling altogether. In fact, this unannounced Megaslam performance proved he was ready to test himself between the ropes, and he did it on his own terms.
“My son’s in the crowd, he has no clue whatsoever,” Hall said ahead of the match. “I’m going to jump into this wrestling show, throw some moves, and try and win this [Megaslam] Rumble. …This is going to be a genuine, genuine, really nice surprise for my son.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
Fans were left stunned when Hall appeared in full wrestling gear as a late addition to the night’s main event — the Megaslam Rumble. His family, including his son Max, were seated ringside, entirely unaware of the planned appearance. The reveal was electric.
Wearing his signature confidence and a face persona, Hall relished the chance to play to the crowd, fully embracing the “kayfabe” tradition of pro wrestling — where characters stay in-role throughout the match, no matter what happens.
Drawing from lessons learned during recent training sessions — captured on his YouTube channel—Hall followed the golden rule shared by his wrestling coach: “Always remember… when you’re training, you stay in character, you keep working, you keep wrestling, until you’re told time.”
Hall’s in-ring debut was short, sharp, and successful. Facing off against a competitor known as Big Strong Man, he wasted no time asserting dominance. He picked up his opponent with ease, carried him around the ring, and delivered a thunderous body slam.
He wasn’t done there. A delayed vertical suplex followed, as Hall held his opponent upside down in a moment of pure power before slamming him to the canvas. Even when blindsided by a second opponent, Hall quickly recovered, tossed him from the ring, and sealed the win – much to the delight of his son and everyone in attendance.
And the comments section was quick to praise Eddie for going to such lengths to surprise his son. “Eddie, you just created a core memory for your son there. The giddiness on his face brought a tear to my eye,” one person wrote. Another added: “He’s done all this for his son, he really is the best Dad that Max could ask for.”
Hall’s appearance in a wrestling ring might have seemed sudden, but it’s been years in the making. Back in 2018, he reportedly turned down a WWE contract while preparing for his grudge boxing match against fellow strongman Hafthor Bjornsson. That bout — promoted as “The Heaviest Boxing Match in History” — took priority.
“We’ve been approached by them,” Hall told Sport360 at the time. “It’s something we’ll look at but I’m doing so well with all the appearances, endorsements and all the potential TV work coming my way so I’m just biding my time. Me and my manager are just going to pick the best option and go from there.”
Now 37, Hall has spent the years since his WSM win exploring physical challenges that push him out of his comfort zone. From bobsleigh and tank driving to NFL combine drills and sumo wrestling, he’s documented every step on his YouTube channel, sharing not just the victories, but the process.
His recent wrestling training, alongside fitness influencer Jesse James West, gave fans a glimpse of the grind behind the glamour. They drilled techniques, learned safe execution, and finished with a tag-team match to test their skills.
Whether or not Hall will ever return to the squared circle remains to be seen. But if his Megaslam debut is any indication, he’s found another arena where his mix of size, strength, and showmanship fits naturally.
For now, as well as hosting the new reality show Battle of the Beasts in October, Hall has also got his eye on Dillon Danis for a potential bout.
Featured image credit: YouTube/EddieHallTheBest (Screenshot)
