10 Best MMA Wrestling Crossovers

Ever since Antonio Inoki fought Muhammad Ali in a mixed-rules bout in the 1970s, the line between MMA and pro-wrestling has been crossed on numerous occasions, but recent years have seen the barrier between "real fighting" and "sports entertainment" become increasingly blurred.

This has been evident over the past two months, as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez made his WWE debut in October's Crown Jewel show, while Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was at Madison Square Garden to hand Jorge Masvidal his "BMF" belt at UFC 244 (it's a long story).

While most of us cringe at the thought of CM Punk's two UFC outings or Tito Ortiz's attempts to deliver a promo on Impact, there's been a number of MMA fighters and pro-wrestlers who've found success in the opposite field. These may be ex-fighters giving their career a second wind in the squared circle or pro-wrestlers answering their critics to prove themselves as legitimate athletes.

This list counts down the most high-profile MMA and pro-wrestling transitionees, with the top ten order determined by their cumulative success in both disciplines.

A staple of pro-wrestling for over a decade, it may come as a surprise to learn Alberto Del Rio first made his name in MMA.

Del Rio made his MMA debut in 2001 for the Japanese promotion DEEP, where he immediately caused a stir by breaking his opponent's arm during a throw attempt. The move made Del Rio a notable figure in Japanese MMA, leading to a short spell with Pride Fighting Championships where he took on MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop.

Del Rio played out the remainder of his career in regional promotions in Central America, amassing a six-fight winning streak before calling time on his career with a credible 9-5 record.

It was in the squared circle however that Del Rio would find his true calling. After a successful tenure with the Mexican CMLL promotion, Del Rio signed for WWE in 2009, where he became a four time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion as well as winning the 2011 Royal Rumble. Del Rio's gimmick of an arrogant rich Mexican aristocrat was one of the most effective heel characters at the time, one he'd continue to utilize in spells with Impact Wrestling and the regional circuit.

Despite his wrestling success, Del Rio has not forgotten his MMA roots, with the 42 year old set to face UFC legend Tito Ortiz for the Combate Americas promotion in December.