By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-21 14:32:38 | Updated at 2025-04-05 02:37:11
2 weeks ago
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been challenged to a wrestling match by a WWE legend after claiming he could 'kick the a**es' of most Donald Trump voters.
The comments from Walz, the former running mate of presidential candidate Kamala Harris, unsurprisingly spread throughout conservative circles after he made them on California Governor Gavin Newsom's podcast.
And Knox County, Tennessee Mayor Glenn Jacobs - formerly known as WWE Hall of Famer Kane - responded by challenging Walz to a charity wrestling match.
'All joking aside, @GovTimWalz , let's put our money where our mouth is...in a charity wrestling match,' he wrote on X on Thursday night.
'We'll split the gate 50/50 between our chosen organizations. I'll kick things off myself with a $10,000 donation. What do you say? #TennesseeWalz #LetsDance.'
The offer from Jacobs came after he had mocked Walz's comments on Newsom's podcast, sharing an apparently AI photo of Walz wearing a rainbow leotard in the ring.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he could beat up most of President Donald Trump's voters
WWE Hall of Famer Kane has responded by challenging Walz to a charity wrestling match
'With that steely stare and chiseled physique, who wouldn't be intimidated seeing this across the ring from you?,' Jacobs said.
Walz and Newsom had been discussing how to win voters back to the Democratic party when the former made his now-viral remarks.
'You gotta respect people you disagree with. And you can't just dismiss people,' Newsom began.
'How do you fight it? I think I could kick most of their a**, I do think that,' Walz replied.
'I know I can outrun them. I don't know if we're going to fall into that place where we challenge you to a WWE fight here, type of thing,' he continued.
Walz has also come under fire from Republicans for his stance on transgender rights, which he staunchly defended on the campaign trail.
In April 2023, Walz signed the 'Trans Refuge' bill that shields people seeking and providing gender-affirming care in Minnesota.
More recently, his state has defied the executive order from President Trump seeking to ban transgender women from women's sports.
The Minnesota State High School League said last month that it will follow state law - rather than federal law - when it comes to students' eligibility for sports, allowing them to compete based on their gender identity.
Glenn Jacobs, formerly known as Kane, is now the Mayor for Knox County, Tennessee
President Trump signed an executive order seeking to keep biological males out of women's sports on February 5
Earlier this month, Walz - a former high school football coach - was ripped into by former Vikings player Jack Brewer, who lobbied for a state bill to ban trans athletes competing in women's sports.
The bill, named the 'Preserving Girls' Sports Act,' was also been backed by conservative activist Riley Gaines, and passed in the state's House Education Policy Committee on February 20.
However, it was ultimately unanimously rejected by the state's House Democrats.
Before a rally for the eventually failed bill, Brewer took aim at Walz, who was previously a high school football coach at Mankato West High School.
'It's absolutely disgusting, and it's why, when you see him and you see his mannerisms and the way he carries himself, you know this guy doesn't appeal to real men and boys who have battled it out on the gridiron, man. I have nothing in common with this guy,' Brewer told Fox News.
'I think he's a disgrace to the football world to be honest.'
California has also defied Trump's executive order banning trans athletes from women's sports.
