Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, the former England cricket star, recently revealed the details of a nearly realized, "obscene" deal with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) that would have seen him trade the cricket pitch for the wrestling ring. The offer came after Flintoff's retirement from cricket in 2010, and it involved a potential showdown with the legendary Undertaker.

Flintoff, now 47, disclosed that the WWE deal emerged unexpectedly as he was exploring new career paths after retiring from cricket. Initially, he conceived an idea for a show on Sky, where he would grapple with The Undertaker in Manchester. He presented this concept to Sky, and it quickly gained traction, eventually reaching WWE's co-founder, Vince McMahon.

The proposal involved Flintoff potentially appearing at major WWE events like the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. To prepare for a match against The Undertaker, he underwent a rigorous two-week training camp at the WWE Performance Center in Tampa, Florida. However, despite the lucrative contract, Flintoff ultimately decided against relocating to America.

Speaking on The Overlap's "Stick to Cricket," Flintoff recounted how he aimed to regain fitness while in Dubai and sought motivation. As a childhood WWE fan, he proposed fighting The Undertaker in Manchester, which led to contact with Vince McMahon and an invitation to WWE.

To prepare, Flintoff enlisted the help of Dave Roberts, his long-time physiotherapist, to send a trainer to Dubai for a six-week bulking program. Following this intense training, WWE flew him to Tampa for further preparation at their wrestling academy.

However, Flintoff's experience at the WWE Performance Center was physically demanding. He revealed that he "had lashes all down my back on Day 2". His wife questioned his well-being due to the soreness, and a physiotherapist diagnosed him with a back spasm. Despite the physical challenges, WWE offered him a three-year contract with promises to "fast-track" him to WrestleMania and Royal Rumble, with a significant amount of money involved.

Ultimately, Flintoff turned down the offer, as he and his family wanted to move back from Dubai, and his children wanted to continue playing cricket, making a move to America unappealing.

Despite not joining WWE, Flintoff's brush with professional wrestling remains a fascinating "what if" scenario in his career. He has since pursued television opportunities, including hosting "Top Gear". While a crash halted the production of "Top Gear," Flintoff has continued his television career. He has also returned to cricket, overseeing the England Lions and Northern Superchargers.