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England striker Ivan Toney made a WWE-inspired The Undertaker-like entry in his comeback game after serving an eight-month ban. Toney was banned for betting offences and his return match saw Brentford ending their five-match losing streak with a 3-2 home win against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League game on Saturday, January 20. The 27-year-old was given a WWE-style entry, adding to the fans’ excitement.
The West London club provided Toney with a grand entrance similar to that of the WWE legend Mark William Calaway, better known as The Undertaker. Just before his entrance, the stadium lights went all out, and the club played a video of Toney’s past glories, along with a light show. Toney entered the field with the WWE-composed track ‘The Graveyard Symphony’ featuring funeral bell tolls and a remix of Frédéric Chopin's ‘Funeral March’. Toney was also handed the captain’s armband for the match.
Ivan Toney scores 19 minutes into his Brentford return
Ivan Toney scored just 19 minutes into his Brentford return game at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Forest took an early lead with Danilo’s third-minute goal. However, when he got the opportunity to take a free kick just outside the area, Toney beat U.S. international Matt Turner with a low shot around the wall and inside the near post to level the score 1-1. After scoring, Toney ran to the touchline and hugged Brentford’s coaching staff and manager Thomas Frank.
Not only this, but he also paid tribute to a close family member by holding a t-shirt up in the air that read, “For you Uncle Brian.” After the match, he told Sky Sports, "I think you have a yard either way. I just moved it and bent it around the corner.” For the match, he said, “It means a lot. I'm just buzzing to be back, scoring goals for the team.” He went on to say, “I manifest things like this. Before I left my house, I thought, we're winning today and I'm scoring. I'm grateful to be back. I missed it so much. I'm back."