Uncommon stars possess the performing expertise required for professional wrestling theatricality, along with the real toughness required to flourish within the brutal furnace of combined martial arts. These chosen few who’ve crossed such boundaries have fascinating lives that want additional analysis.
Brock Lesnar is the epitome of learn how to flip real cage credibility into monumental success within the WWE. Some, equivalent to CM Punk, exhibit important studying curves when switching between sports activities. We study these extraordinary crossings.
Brock Lesnar: The Blueprint
Earlier than coming into fight sports activities or a wrestling ring, the burly heavyweight gained titles in NCAA wrestling and performed for the Minnesota Vikings within the NFL. After becoming a member of the UFC in 2007, Lesnar proved he had a once-in-a-generation athletic pedigree by successful the heavyweight belt in solely his fourth skilled MMA match. However throughout a short interval of progress within the 2000s, he was already making overtures to the WWE.
His precise superstardom that transcended genres enabled restricted dates for enormous paydays, and his octagon accomplishments drove an immensely profitable part-time WWE settlement. Lesnar’s twin credentials nonetheless encourage admiration and draw giant crowds in each MMA and wrestling, even when he finally made a full-time comeback to the UFC in 2016 for his swan track in fight sports activities. No different sportsman has developed wherever near the identical stage of recognition within the two domains.
It’s exhausting to see Lesnar making the leap again to the UFC at this stage as he has a sizeable contract and energy backstage within the WWE. Regardless of that, it’s exhausting to see what else he has to realize at this stage. As we all know, you can bet offshore here on MMA/UFC fights, however Lesnar has one of the biggest upsets in WWE betting history when he was the one to finish the Undertaker’s streak at Wrestlemania, so maybe he might return to the Octagon for one last upset?
Ken Shamrock: The O.G. Pioneer
Shamrock was the blueprint, lengthy earlier than Lesnar. In 1997, he moved to the WWE, bringing with him his fame because the first-ever UFC Superfight Champion within the interval with no holds allowed. Within the early days of the WWE’s “combat with out guidelines,” he carved himself a Hall of Fame career and contributed to the event of damaging opinions between the companies.
Shamrock spent years switching forwards and backwards between the WWE and MMA, one thing that many followers won’t concentrate on. He even gained the NWA belt throughout a short hiatus from combined martial arts in early 2002, and in 2004—whereas persevering with to compete aggressively within the UFC, Delight, and different worldwide promotions via 2006—he took dwelling the vacant TNA world title. Despite the fact that he’s getting near 60 years outdated, his perseverance in linking two worlds conjures up admiration.
Ronda Rousey: Unparalleled Ambition
Wrestling was Ronda Rousey’s subsequent purpose after she turned essentially the most worthwhile fighter in UFC historical past and single-handedly established a girls’s division. Lower than two years after her final combined martial arts match, she was the primary occasion of WWE’s premier WrestleMania showcase. Such aspiration is an indication of unheard-of confidence.
However regardless of fixed media consideration and successful gold as one half of the ladies’s tag workforce, Rousey by no means actually regained her greatest kind whereas adjusting to radically new ring methods. She then acknowledged that her predominant motivation for leaving in 2021 was a nagging need to develop into a mom. Nonetheless, Rousey raised the edge for recognition by luring well-known mainstream expertise into sports activities leisure following his astounding octagon success.
Matt Riddle: Shocking Breakout Star
Few had excessive expectations for the easygoing Riddle within the WWE. As a result of repeated optimistic exams because of a recognized marijuana fondness, his UFC profession got here to an abrupt finish. However when he gave his all to getting ready for skilled wrestling, his English star all of the sudden took off.
Followers love Riddle’s real MMA behaviors, such as his barefoot wrestling style. As well as, he has exceptional comedian expertise in between bursts of astonishingly quick actions for a 230-pound man. Because the tag title now main WWE’s SmackDown model, Riddle seems prepared for long-term predominant occasion dominance. He might have the very best way forward for all of the transfers from cage combating.
The Draw of Genuine Toughness
The predetermined outcomes of bouts are acknowledged by core wrestling fanatics. Nonetheless, highlighting athletes’ real toughness via MMA or collegiate wrestling accomplishments nonetheless advantages business efforts.
Bragging privileges are granted to the one who fields expertise with a “actual” lineage, even when the individual’s precise wrestling prowess pales compared to different celebrities. Each time MMA crossover rivals obtain consideration from professional wrestling royalty, the UFC good points a comparable benefit. Elevated viewership will increase pleasure for impending bouts between, say, Lesnar and Rousey. Ultimately, Vince McMahon and Dana White profit tremendously from the uncommon stars who’re able to carry out double responsibility in each scripted wrestling packages and cage-fighting bouts.
Just a few individuals who have crossed such boundaries and achieved notable success in every area advantage reward for his or her audacity and flexibility. Their accomplishments will all the time create a connection between the dynamic realm of combined martial arts and the spectacular enchantment {of professional} wrestling.
