During a King of the Ring semi-final match on WWE SmackDown, commentator Wade Barrett made a pointed reference to the struggling Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

As wrestler Tama Tonga made his entrance to face Randy Orton, Barrett drew a parallel between Ten Hag’s uncertain future at Manchester United and the job security of another high-profile figure - WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman.

“How long are these guys going to have their jobs?” Barrett quipped, alluding to the speculation surrounding Ten Hag’s position at Old Trafford and Heyman’s diminishing influence over The Bloodline faction in WWE.

The comment was a clear shot at Manchester United, whose form under Ten Hag this season has fallen well short of expectations despite the team reaching the FA Cup final. Recent reports have suggested the Dutch manager could be sacked regardless of the outcome of the cup final on May 25.

Similarly, Heyman has struggled to maintain control over Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline in the absence of Roman Reigns, leading to questions about his own future role in WWE.

Read more

WWE’s Megan Morant reacts to Randy Orton, Kayla Braxton photos

Roman Reigns engages in non-WWE venture

Former WWE champion suffers from torn pectoral muscle

Barrett’s timely jab at the struggling Manchester United boss during the high-profile WWE event was not lost on fans, who picked up on the pointed reference to Ten Hag’s precarious position. It remains to be seen if this is the start of an ongoing storyline or simply a one-off zinger from the outspoken commentator.