UFC Stars Jon Jones & Ronda Rousey Attend WWE SummerSlam

MMA fighters cheer on Brock Lesnar's title victory.

By Jay Anderson /

The UFC's recently injured light heavyweight champion and women's bantamweight champion both showed up at WWE SummerSlam last night - but will we ever see either fighter appear in the ring for the WWE? Jon Jones, who just withdrew from his title defence against Daniel Cormier (which had been scheduled from UFC 178 in December), was apparently hanging out with Brock Lesnar backstage last night after the Beast Incarnate won the WWE championship in a one-sided match that was nearly a squash against the face of the company over the past decade or so, John Cena. This may simply be a case of old running mates hanging out (were Jones and Lesnar ever friends though? They trained out of different camps...). Rousey, meanwhile, was spotted with her entire clique - the "Four Horsewomen" - hanging out with none other than Paul Heyman backstage. Rousey sported a Roddy Piper shirt (she gets her nickname, Rowdy, from the legendary wrestling star) while the other three members of her group - Jessamyn Duke, Shayna Baszler, and Marina Shafir - wore "I'm a Paul Heyman girl" shirts. Rousey was also acknowledged during the broadcast, when Stephanie McMahon flashed a Four Horsewomen sign while passing Rousey on the way to the ring.
There's no doubt that the WWE is aware of the popularity of UFC stars like Jones and Rousey, but while they're under contract to the UFC, in-ring appearances are simply not going to happen. The promotion has never really wanted to muddy the waters with questions about whether their fights are legit, as some Japanese MMA promotions that also host pro wrestling matches have done (although the UFC certainly doesn't mind if stars show up for wrestling matches, thus getting them in the news). So while they're still under contact to the UFC, you won't be seeing Jones or Rousey in the ring. Afterwards? Jones can be considered a long-shot, but Rousey, who is already finding cross-over success in Hollywood, has long professed her love of pro-wrestling, and with an existing stable, and as a legit bad-ass who would bring instant credibility to women's wrestling in the WWE, she could be an absolutely huge asset - something the WWE is no doubt aware of. Just don't expect it to be soon.