Transitioning from the world of professional wrestling to mixed martial arts isn't easy, and if you need any proof of that then just go and ask CM Punk. However, some may argue that going the other way from real-life fighting to a scripted performance is equally challenging. If you think about it, there are a number of different elements you have to master and not all of it comes naturally.
With that being said, these five guys are already half way there considering they take a lot of what they do in the UFC from the WWE. They may not choose to openly admit that, but their trash talking and the way they carry themselves, suggest that they've watched one or two editions of RAW and SmackDown over the years.
That's not a jibe at them either, because what they do comes across as quite entertaining, for the most part. Their 'promos' at press conferences and in general forms of the media generate excitement for the fights, and that, in turn, means money for everyone. So why not utilise those skills in a role that's slightly more laid back - the role of a manager.
With that in mind, let's take a look at five UFC fighters – past and present – who we believe would make good WWE managers.
#1 Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen once convinced legions of his fans that two Brazilian UFC fighters thought a bus was a donkey and tried to feed it vegetables. If that isn't the mark of a great promo guy, then nothing is. Sonnen is a well-known fan of the professional wrestling industry, and over the years, he has teased the idea of going over to the WWE numerous times.
It's never quite come to fruition, and perhaps that's because nobody has offered him the right role. Well, if you want to utilise Chael in a way that works for everyone involved then a manager may be the best bet. He could frustrate the crowd with his high pitched voice, however, his intelligence on the microphone could end up making him one of the most effective heels in the company.
We move on to a man who is coming off the back of a disappointing loss.
#2 Dominick Cruz
When it comes to hated guys in the world of MMA, Cruz is right up there. He's highly respected for his ability and a lot of people believe him to be one of the best of all time, but his cockiness when addressing the media has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. So with that being said, just think about how many people he could wind up by calmly telling the audience what a bunch of morons they are on a weekly basis.
Cruz would likely work best alongside a monster heel in the Brock Lesnar mould, as he can literally speak for him week in and week out. His statements would be short and sweet, but the content is what would really frustrate the WWE Universe because he wouldn't need to pull too many heel tactics in order to succeed alongside his 'client'.
Onto a man who sat alongside Cruz in a work capacity on a number of different occasions.
#3 Michael Bisping
Everyone loves to hate Michael Bisping because, after all these years, he's proven himself to be right all along, when it comes to his ability inside the octagon. After becoming the first British world champion in the history of the UFC, Bisping is pretty much untouchable from this point on when it comes to being cocky in interviews. After all, he's cemented his legacy.
He's won more fights than anyone in Ultimate Fighting Championship history, and these stats can be utilised well if he does indeed become a manager in the WWE. He could emulate greats of the past by beginning every single promo with a reminder of his greatness. Hell, he could even step inside the squared circle once or twice if need be.
From one current world champion to another.
#4 Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier backs up every single thing he says, and a lot of people don't like that. Since coming into the UFC, Cormier has been pretty much unstoppable aside from his fight against Jon Jones, and the fact that he holds the belt annoys quite a few fans. It shouldn't, really, because the reality of the situation is that Cormier is one of the most valuable assets the UFC has right now.
With that being said, DC has shown his love for pro wrestling in the past when he attended WrestleMania 31 and was seen cheering on Seth Rollins in the main event. You could use that footage and have Cormier debut with a new monster heel, stating that Rollins had lost his mind by turning his back on The Authority. It would be a fascinating storyline, and one that we're confident Cormier could pull off.
It's time to finish with the third champion on our list.
#5 Tyron Woodley
Tyron Woodley is one of the baddest men on the planet, and he is rightly the Welterweight Champion of the world. However, he also has a tendency to complain about quite a lot of issues which is why we believe he'd be a great whiny manager in the WWE one day. You could turn him into an Abraham Washington character of sorts, constantly lauding over his own greatness until one or two things don't go his way.
Woodley could work well with a tag team, yelling instructions from ringside as if he was more of a motivational coach than a manager. Obviously, he's probably more than capable of stepping into the ring himself, but to start off with, we'd rather see what Woodley can do on the microphone because his UFC tenure suggests that there's a lot of potential there.
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