Funnily enough, for all the mud-slinging that goes on between die-hard fans of pro wrestling and MMA, the two disciplines do share quite a growing contingent of an overlapping fanbase today.
Instances like Ronda Rousey’s cameo at WrestleMania 31 or pro-wrestlers customarily appearing at UFC events only serve to highlight this point further.
As such, MMA fighters like Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock and Josh Barnett have had success within the squared circle, and the likes of Brock Lesnar, Batista, Bobby Lashley and CM Punk have all tried their hand at MMA – with varying degrees of success, of course.
But there’s something to be said for many WWE Superstars making the shift to MMA deep into their wrestling careers, citing a life-long yearning to test themselves in “real” combat situations. One can’t help but wonder what these Superstars would have done at the beginning of their careers if only MMA were as popular then as it is today.
Would they have spurned the opportunity to join the WWE and opted to join the UFC?
Well, you may be surprised to note that these stalwarts of the WWE almost did exactly that.
#1 The Undertaker
The Phenom has been described as the “best pure striker in the game today” many times by JR, and it isn’t without good reason. Self-admittedly, the Undertaker drew inspiration from MMA and tailored his striking game to somewhat retain the technicality with which a legitimate fighter throws punches.
And he went one step further with his patented submission, Hell’s Gate, which is basically a modified gogoplata – a sophisticated choke in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Not only that, when esteemed MMA journalist Ariel Helwani caught up with him in a flash interview during one of Brock Lesnar’s fights, Undertaker openly confessed that had the UFC gathered the traction that it has today, he would have just as easily pursued MMA instead of pro wrestling.
There you go...straight from the horse’s mouth.
How does it feel to know that the Undertaker only became one of the greatest legends in pro wrestling by virtue of pure chance?
#2 Stone Cold
Austin was the biggest draw in pro wrestling’s greatest ever boom period and has earned millions of fans worldwide thanks to that. Quite honestly, however, with his intensity and athletic ability, it isn’t hard to imagine that he would have done equally well had he chosen to pursue MMA rather than pro wrestling.
Austin even goes as far as picking the UFC over WWE today, saying that watching fights gets him pumped up much more than watching pro wrestling. When he appeared on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour show a while back, he even detailed how he would need an MMA-style training camp to get back into shape for one more match in the WWE.
I know it’s a wee bit of conjecture, but it really isn’t a stretch to think that had the UFC been spewing dollars the way it does today, Austin – who’s been a lifelong fan of MMA by the way – would have definitely tried his hand at it.
And with his irrepressible charisma, who’s to say he wouldn’t have been a breakout star there too?
#3 Kurt Angle
Of all the Superstars on this list, Kurt Angle probably came the closest to signing with the UFC.
One only needs to scan through the current UFC roster to register that Olympic-level wrestlers, who didn’t even win Gold, by the way, are at the top of their respective weight classes – Daniel Cormier is the Light Heavyweight Champion, and Yoel Romero is on the cusp of a Title shot at Middleweight.
How then do you think a bonafide Olympic Gold medallist in wrestling – obtained despite competing with a broken freaking neck – would have done?
In fact, according to UFC supremo Dana White, Kurt Angle was offered a spot on the Ultimate Fighter season 10 along with famous Youtube sensation Kimbo Slice. Why it didn’t work out, however, is something both men differ in their opinions of.
Angle says the contract on the table wasn’t what he wanted while Dana White blames the fact that Angle didn’t pass his medical for why the deal didn’t get done.
Either way, Kurt Angle was a whisker away from competing in the Octagon of the UFC. And if how quickly he learnt the ropes in pro wrestling was any indication to go by, he would have been just fine at MMA too.
Also read: 5 MMA fighters who lost their souls
#4 Daniel Bryan
Once again we delve into the realm of speculation as to whether this actually happened but when Daniel Bryan was indefinitely put on the shelf amidst contrasting reports from the WWE doctors about him being cleared to compete, there was a pretty strong rumour that he was mulling over a switch in career paths.
Being a legitimate BJJ blue belt, Bryan apparently redoubled his MMA training to “keep his fitness levels up” in the time that he wasn’t allowed to step foot into a WWE ring.
And former UFC Lightweight Champion, Benson Henderson, even had words of praise for his gumption and skill.
“He was out with some injuries in WWE. He came to our gym and moved up to blue belt in jiu-jitsu under my coach John Crouch. Every time I go in there, he’s working his butt off.
I heard he was pretty strong and actually surprised me with how technical he is. A lot of guys have a hard time learning all those techniques. I heard he was really great at being able to use his technique and not relying on his strength. He’s smooth and does jiu-jitsu really well.”
As the injury crisis played out during the peak of his popularity, I’m sure the UFC would have swooped in to sign him up without a moment's hesitation had he been medically cleared.
Did Daniel Bryan actually consider giving up his WWE career to pursue MMA though?
For a man who was willing to embrace the Bingo Halls just to get off the shelf, I don’t think it would have been too much of a stretch to think so.
#5 The Rock
Yet another megastar moulded within the squared circle who openly expresses his admiration of MMA, the Rock seriously contemplated making a career out of it after he left the WWE for Hollywood.
It was still early days in his movie career, and the Rock wasn’t the box-office phenomenon that he is today. Disillusioned at the slow rate of progress, he actually fiddled with the idea of transitioning into MMA.
In an interview that he gave a UFC magazine, he said the only thing that stopped him from pulling the trigger was the realisation that he would have to train for a few years at least to be any good at it ( and the small matter of not liking being punched in the face).
It was an astute move in hindsight, as he’s one of the biggest stars in Hollywood today and he would have probably gotten washed had he fought in the UFC anyway. Still, it’s fascinating to note that he was probably one flopped movie away from entering the Octagon cage.
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