Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently found himself in the spotlight following his appearance on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast, This is Gavin Newsom, which aired on March 17, 2025. During the episode, Walz addressed the Democratic Party’s challenges and took a bold stance on his masculinity, specifically targeting MAGA supporters. He stated, “I think I could kick most of their asses,” referring to those aligned with the Make America Great Again movement. The comment, intended to underscore his confidence, instead ignited a wave of reactions across social media and beyond.
One of the most prominent responses came from Glenn Jacobs, better known as WWE Hall of Famer Kane and currently the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. On March 21, 2025, Jacobs took to X to challenge Walz directly, proposing a charity wrestling match. He wrote, “All joking aside,
@GovTimWalz, let’s put our money where our mouth is…in a charity wrestling match. We’ll split the gate 50/50 between our chosen organizations. I’ll kick things off myself with a $10,000 donation.” The suggestion garnered significant attention, with outlets like the Daily Mail covering the story that same day. Jacobs’ challenge blended seriousness with a charitable angle, amplifying its reach.
Beyond Jacobs, several X users issued their own challenges, often laced with humor or satire. For example, @ULTRA_MAJESTY called for a pay-per-view fight, with proceeds directed to charity, while @CrimeWatchMpls proposed a “TIM WALZ FIGHT CLUB CHALLENGE,” envisioning a ticketed public exhibition for charitable causes. These posts, appearing between March 18 and March 21, 2025, varied in tone but shared a common thread: reacting swiftly to Walz’s provocative podcast remarks.
The rapid succession of these challenges—emerging within days of the podcast’s release—highlights their direct connection to Walz’s statements. Spanning serious offers to playful jabs, the responses reflect the charged atmosphere of today’s political landscape, where bold claims can quickly escalate into public spectacles.
As of now, Governor Walz has not addressed any of these challenges publicly. Whether any of these proposed matchups will materialize remains uncertain. Still, the episode underscores how political rhetoric, especially in the digital age, can spark immediate and widespread reactions, bridging the gap between policy discussions and public entertainment.
