Berlin - Beefed up ex-Germany international goalkeeper Tim Wiese is set for a career in professional wrestling after making an appearance in the ring at a WWE event on Saturday in Frankfurt.
The 1.90 metres Wiese, who made the last of his six appearances for Germany in 2012, has completely transformed his body and now tips the scales at around 120kg after taking up weightlifting.
The muscular former shot-stopper is considering a career in the razzmatazz world of wrestling having walked away from professional football in September following a lengthy dispute with ex-club Hoffenheim.
The 32-year-old was the star attraction on the WWE event's red carpet, fielding numerous questions from journalists and giving countless interviews before taking his place ringside for the bouts as honorary timekeeper.
He briefly climbed into the ring when provoked by wrestling duo 'Goldust' and 'Stardust', but only ended up posing, dancing and flexing his bulging tattooed biceps to the delight of the 10 000-strong crowd.
“It was nice to have been invited, it was great fun,” said Wiese, who now lifts weights five times a week.
“It was pretty warm under the many lights.
“It's very different to football, in wrestling you fight on your own and the wrestlers were quite oily.”
Wiese was in the Germany squad for the 2010 World Cup and made more than 300 Bundesliga appearances.
But after leaving Werder Bremen in 2012 to play for Hoffenheim, a disagreement with his new club's bosses meant he played just 10 league matches before walking away earlier this year with two years still left on his contract.
Whether or not he will actually take part in a WWE bout, Wiese did not want to comment, although his profile would significantly help to boost the sport's profile in Germany.
“I still have a contract with Hoffenheim,” he insisted.
Wiese says he took up weightlifting as “a reaction” to his frustrations at Hoffenheim where he was part of a group banned from training with the first team last year.
“It's great to see what you can really achieve through hard training,” said Wiese.
“We haven't reached the end of the story yet.”
Sapa-AFP