5 MMA Fighters that went to the WWE

Over the years, the cross-correlation between MMA fighters transitioning into the WWE has been more commonplace. The concept behind it makes sense, as these are highly skilled athletes wanting to compete on the biggest stage. Below are five fighters who transitioned from the cage to the squared ring.

Ronda Rousey

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It was no shock when Rousey made her in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34 in 2018. Rousey was a lifelong fan seen sporadically at WWE events and had interactions in storylines years before she retired from UFC in 2015. Those appearances finally culminated in a match where she teamed up with Kurt Angle to win, defeating Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. She would later climb the ranks to become the Women’s Champion that year, defeating Alexia Bliss at SummerSlam.

Ken Shamrock

The man behind the first rivalry in the UFC in 1993 made the leap to WWF in 1997. Shamrock’s background in wrestling goes even before that, as he fought in Japan years prior.

Shayna Baszler

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Baszler spent a decade-long career in various MMA promotions before hitting NXT in 2017. Once she arrived there, her dominance began. At NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, she defeated Ember Moon to start her long reign title in 2018. Once the “Queen of Spades” won the title, she didn’t lose it, defeating Shotzi Blackheart in her last match in NXT in 2020 on her way to being called up to the main roster.

Brock Lesnar

Lesnar could jump into WWE from the college ranks, leave it for UFC, come back, go to the UFC again, and come back. Well, he did just that. He also made it to the last round of NFL camp cuts in 2004. Lesnar in WWE from 2003-2004 and again since 2012.

Matt Riddle

Riddle had a five-year run in UFC before joining NXT from the independents in 2018. Once he arrived at NXT, he teamed up with Pete Dunne and captured the NXT tag team championship in 2020. Called up to the WWE main roster a year later, he teamed with Randy Orton in 2021 and would hold the WWE Tag Team Titles on two different occasions.

Marquis Johns

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