How The Muppets icon Miss Piggy almost gave WWE star Hornswoggle the power of speech-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Hornswoggle and Miss Piggy shared the screen on Raw in November 2011 (Picture: WWE)

Hornswoggle has revealed how Miss Piggy almost gave him the ability to talk on WWE television.

The former Cruiserweight champion first debuted on SmackDown in 2006 as the leprechaun sidekick of Northern Irish wrestler Finlay and he only communicated in laughs, grunts and other noises until Santa Claus (some say it was Mick Foley) gave him the power of speech – but The Muppets almost played a big role in the story when Kermit The Frog and other Jim Henson favourites guest-hosted Raw in 2011.

Hornswoggle exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘[It was] supposed to be the Miss Piggy thing, it was supposed to happen that day! The original pitch was when Miss Piggy hit me, I was supposed to then be able to talk.

‘It didn’t happen and I was bummed out but I was like, you know what? I still get to work with The Muppets on Raw, this is incredible.’

The idea of Hornswoggle not talking was a big part of the character for many years, and the man himself admitted there may have been a good reason for it after an early pitch by WWE bosses.

‘My first tryout, they wanted me to do this Irish accent for these pre-tapes – and I’m horrible at accents of all kinds. I just bombed it and then I go to Finlay after the tryout and I say, “Hey, how do you think it was?” And he goes, “Uh, not that great!” I go, “Okay, okay, alright,”‘ he laughed.

‘And two weeks later, they ended up still calling me. It was crazy. Which is probably why I didn’t talk for seven years of my career!’

Miss Piggy being the one to deliver such a gift would have been all the more special for ‘Swoggle, real name Dylan Postl, given his lifelong adoration for The Muppets.

Seeing The Muppets that day on Raw was a special one for Hornswoggle, who got to meet his heroes and has two treasured items to remember it by.

‘I was shaking all day, just physically shaking. Man, I don’t care – I loved meeting Ozzy Osbourne, I loved meeting Shaq, I loved meeting these celebrities, Bob Barker, all that. But this is my one. This is a bucket list,’ he said.

Hornswoggle has always adored The Muppets (Picture: Disney/Kobal/REX)

‘So, when they came to life in front of me it was just this – I froze, I literally froze. They were hospitable to me and everything. I brought two big posters for them to sign, and they signed not just once, but they signed as every one of the characters they portray on these posters.’

The items are proudly displayed in his basement 12 years later, and he admitted they’re high on his list of things to protect in a housefire.

‘My son, he’s 13, he’s at that age, he can make it out way faster than I can. I’m not worried as much about him,’ he quipped. ‘But, man, those two pieces and my Leprechaun Origins head, those are what I’m going for!’

Hornswoggle was introduced alongside Finlay (Picture: WWE)

Another wonderful moment for ‘Swoggle’ came in 2014 when he met childhood hero the Ultimate Warrior when he made an unexpected appearance on the Raw after WrestleMania before dying of a heart attack the next.

‘He was my hero, and [meeting him] should have never happened. All these things taht shold never have happened, but somehow have. I don’t say it’s skill based – I really don’t,’ he explained.

‘I didn’t meet the Ultimate Warrior because I’m very good at professional wrestling. I met the Ultimate Warrior because I was right place, right time and got really lucky.

‘Stuff like that, that’s just how my mindset works and I don’t let myself think it’s skill based because I truly don’t believe that at times. It keeps me humble, that’s for sure.’

Back to The Muppets, Hornswoggle – who appeared in 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted – pointed out that there’s a shared feeling between his two passions in life which bring total joy to those who give either of them a chance.

‘You can’t – almost like pro wrestling, you can’t watch it, you can’t watch an interview with The Muppets, or a Muppet production, without having a smile on your face,’ laughed. ‘If you do, you’re truly heartless I feel.’

Hornswoggle has launched his podcast Going Postl as part of the Major Pod Network.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : WWE’s Hornswoggle insists most stars have ‘no idea’ about epic Royal Rumble surprises

MORE : Disney announces new Muppets series focused on Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem

Follow Metro on Snapchat

You can follow our new Snapchat show Pop Cultur’d, the go-to place for all things pop culture.

Keep up with the latest Showbiz exclusives by following Metro Showbiz on Snapchat.

And football fans can indulge in all the transfer gossip and more on Metro Football on Snapchat.

Entertainment – MetroRead More