Roethlisberger talks the talk at WWE event
Big Ben did a lot of talking, but no wrestling in his off-day appearance at Monday Night Raw last night.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger laid the verbal smack down as guest host of World Wrestling Entertainment's cable television show that was broadcast live last night from Wilkes-Barre.
Since Roethlisberger's involvement with the wrestling show was announced last week, his participation was questioned because it came in the middle of the Steelers' season. But Monday is the players' day off, and Big Ben used the occasion to take his offensive linemen with him to Wilkes-Barre.
Max Starks, Willie Colon, Trai Essex, Justin Hartwig, Chris Kemoeatu and injured lineman Darnell Stapleton helped their quarterback fend off a challenge by the Big Show and Chris Jericho midway through the two-hour scripted program.
Roethlisberger was standing in the ring and talking to fans when he was interrupted by the two wrestlers, who questioned the offensive line's size and toughness. Roethlisberger summoned the six linemen to the ring, and they crouched into a three-point stance and prepared to help Big Ben run a "quarterback sneak" against the wrestlers.
Jericho and the Big Show quickly exited the ring before any contact was made.
In another segment, Roethlisberger engaged in some verbal jousting with The Miz and introduced a "Diva Bowl" matchup between the organization's female wrestlers.
Roethlisberger was introduced at the outset of the show to the sound of the Monday Night Football theme song. He was greeted by a smattering of boos from the pro-Philadelphia crowd and acknowledged there were Eagles fans in the arena. He also acknowledged the Steelers fans in attendance and proclaimed that everyone was united in being WWE Raw fans.
The show ended with Roethlisberger and the linemen celebrating in the ring with Shawn Michaels and Triple H, who defeated the Big Show and Jericho in a tag-team match. The Steelers helped Michaels and Triple H win the match by forming a human wall that kept Jericho from fleeing the exit ramp.
WWE did run two commercials plugging Roethlisberger's charitable foundation: www.bigben7.com .
