Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry made a surprise ringside appearance at yesterday’s WWE Smackdown show at Rogers Place in Edmonton — and even helped star wrestler Kevin Owens in his match against Austin Theory.
Perry, who joined the Oilers midway through the 2023-24 regular season and ultimately helped them reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, waved to the cameras and smiled throughout the night before giving Owens an unexpected boost.
After Theory pulled a total heel move by wearing a Matthew Tkachuk Panthers jersey after entering the ring, Perry opted to give Owens an assist in his match, holding Theory against the edge of the ring to allow Owens an uncontested blow.
Corey Perry helping out @FightOwensFight at WWE Smackdown in Edmonton 👊🤣
(via @mcdavidmania97) pic.twitter.com/ioKbAIkJlg
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 7, 2024
Perry, 39, has never been one to shy away from a fight during his own NHL career. The rough-and-tumble winger surpassed 100 penalty minutes in five consecutive seasons during his tenure with the Anaheim Ducks and managed 34 in just 38 games with the Oilers last season.
In 54 games split between the Chicago Blackhawks and Oilers in 2023-24, Perry racked up 12 goals and 21 points. He added three points in 19 games with the Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs; after the season, the Oilers signed Perry to a one-year, $1.15 million contract for the 2024-25 campaign.
The Ducks originally selected Perry with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft. The Peterborough, Ontario product made his NHL debut with the Ducks — then called the Mighty Ducks — in the 2005-06 season and scored 15 points in 21 playoff games to help them win the Stanley Cup the following year.
After being let go by the Ducks in 2019, Perry joined the Dallas Stars as an unrestricted free agent and helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That started what has become an infamous run of playoff futility for Perry in which he has lost in the Cup Final in four of the last five seasons.
In 1,311 career NHL games with the Ducks, Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Lightning, Blackhawks, and Oilers, Perry has collected 429 goals, 905 points, and 1,426 penalty minutes. The 6’3″ right wing has added 54 goals and 127 points in 215 career playoff contests.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
