6 WWE Superstars you didn't know also competed in MMA 

In WWE, there has been no shortage of Superstars who have made the leap from MMA to professional wrestling. In 1997, Ken Shamrock made the jump from UFC, having an epic career in the WWF where he became Intercontinental and Tag Champion, as well as the 1998 King of the Ring.

More recently, stars like Ronda Rousey and the Four Horsewomen of UFC have made an impact in WWE, but these aren't the only big names to make the jump. There have been some Superstars who fans may not even be aware once competed in Mixed Martial Arts, to varying degrees of success.

Here are six WWE Superstars you (probably) didn't know also competed in MMA.

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#6 Bam Bam Bigelow

Bigelow was part of the main event of WrestleMania 11 where he faced NFL legend Lawrence Taylor

Bam Bam Bigelow was a 390-pound wrestler who moved like a man half his size. The agile superstar was known for his signature head-tattoo and aggressive style. Though Bam Bam would never capture the WWF title during his career with the company, he is perhaps best remembered for headlining WrestleMania XI in a match with NFL star Lawrence Taylor. Bigelow also had memorable runs in both ECW and WCW.

These days, there aren’t many fans who remember the big man’s lone professional MMA fight, which took place back on November 17, 1996. On that date, Bigelow faced MMA legend Kimo Leopoldo at a U-Japan event.

That evening, things didn’t go Bigelow’s way. He was taken down with relative ease and lost the bout via a rear-naked choke, in the first round. It seems though he may have been a monster in the squared circle, the Octagon wasn't for him.

#5 Sean O'Haire

O'Haire would have greater success in WCW than WWE, becoming a three-time Tag Team Champion

Sean O’Haire was a pro wrestling prospect whose career fell a bit short of expectations. The former Wrestling Observer “Rookie of the Year” (in 2000) O'Haire is best remembered for his stint in WCW, where he became a 3-time WCW Tag Team Champion, and his time in WWE, where he worked alongside Roddy Piper in 2003.

After retiring from wrestling back in 2006, O’Haire went on to compete professionally in both mixed martial arts and kickboxing. As an MMA fighter, he had a total of 6 professional fights and a solid 4-2 record. His most high-profile fight took place in October of 2006 when we took on former boxing star Butterbean.

Wrestling fans may recall Butterbean's sole appearance in the industry at WrestleMania 15, where he knocked out Brawl For All winner Bart Gunn, and though O'Haire was hoping for a different outcome, he fared even worse. The contest took place at Pride 32 and ended with Butterbean knocking out the former wrestler in just 29 seconds, six seconds less than it took the heavyweight to knock out Gunn back in 1999.

#4 Ludvig Borga

Borga battled several WWE legends, including Tatanka during his brief time in the company

Ludvig Borga (aka Tony Halme) had a short, but memorable career in WWE from 1993 to 1994. The Finnish wrestler was brought in to feud with Lex Luger, who at the time was in his pro-America gimmick as a babyface. While Borga was featured prominently on television, Borga would suffer an ankle injury and end up leaving the company soon after.

After parting ways with WWE, he would go on to compete as both a professional boxer and mixed martial artist. Borga even had one fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and shared the Octagon with the legendary Randy Couture at UFC 13, back in 1997. Couture would go on to submit Borga early in the first round, in what would be the former WWE stars last MMA fight. Borga’s pro record would end up being 0-4.

Outside of the ring and the Octagon though, Borga would try his hand at other ventures, and some eagle-eyed fans may be able to spot him as a police officer in 1995's Die Hard: With a Vengeance, where he shares the screen with Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson.

#3 Nathan Jones

Jones was taken out of his WrestleMania 19 match but appeared at the end to help The Undertaker win

Nathan Jones was an Australian professional wrestler who was part of the WWE roster from 2002 to 2003. His most memorable angle during his time with the company was when he served as The Undertaker’s protégé. After being pulled from the WrestleMania 19 tag team match with The Deadman against Big Show and Albert, the Aussie's career would never reach the same highs, and a random heel turn and alliance with Brock Lesnar later that year couldn't save it.

Jones abruptly quit WWE in 2003 after holding no titles in the company and lasting little over a year. The 6' 11" Aussie has since gone on to have an impressive career out of the ring and has appeared in several major motion pictures including WWE Studios' project The Condemned, Troy and Mad Max: Fury Road.

In 1997, Jones competed in his first and only professional MMA fight at Pride 1. The former WWE star took on sumo champion by the name of Koji Kitao. Kitao would end up winning the fight via submission, proving that though he may be successful on the silver screen, the Octagon isn't for him.

#2 Giant Silva

Silva (far right) worked with Kurrgan, Luna Vachon and Golga in the Oddities, before joining the world of MMA in 2003.

In North America, Giant Silva is best remembered for his run with WWE in the late-90s as a member of the carnival-inspired faction known as the Oddities. An interesting, albeit brief act of the Attitude Era, the Oddities were certainly popular with the counter-culture audience at the time, though never held championship gold.

While he had little success in WWE, Silva would go on to have better luck in Japanese promotions like New Japan and Huttle. The 7' 2" wrestler also tried his hand at mixed martial arts, which understandably is a difficult task given his reduced mobility in the ring.

Silva competed in a total of eight bouts from 2003 to 2006. Seven of his eight fights were under the PRIDE banner, and all of them took place in Japan. The big man found little success inside the cage and finished his career with a 2-6 professional record.

Though it may not be the best record inside the cage, Silva can say he won in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, something very few wrestlers can claim.

#1 Gentleman Jack Gallagher

Despite his comedy antics, Gallagher was a vicious fighter in Mixed Martial Arts

Jack Gallagher is a British pro wrestler on 205 Live and has entertained fans with his antics over the years. Throughout most of his stint with WWE, he has been primarily used as a comedy act – though he has still earned a reputation as a solid in-ring performer and though he's yet to hold the Cruiserweight title, is consistently considered one of the purple brand's top stars.

Before making pro wrestling his primary career focus, Gallagher had a couple of MMA bouts under the name Jack Claffey (his real name is Oliver Claffey). He finished his short-lived fighting career with a 2-0 record, making him the only undefeated fighter on this list.

Though Gallagher's MMA background hasn't been referenced on WWE TV to the same extent as Brock Lesnar or Ronda Rousey, the Gentleman has hinted to his past fights. When the UFC was in the hunt for a second opponent for CM Punk (who is 0-2), Gallagher said he would do it, since he had "two minutes to spare", a not so subtle dig at the Best in the World's poor UFC performance.