8 Big Name MMA Fighters Who Tried Out Pro Wrestling

Jeff Chiu/AP/Press Association ImagesDoes the MMA-Pro Wrestling crossover work both ways? We all know about pro wrestlers who have had success in the MMA world, primarily thanks to Brock Lesnar, who has been both UFC heavyweight champion and WWE champion numerous times. Lesnar, however, is a freak of nature. Other pro wrestlers have had mixed success in MMA: Bobby Lashley has a solid record and a couple of heavyweight titles in smaller promotions. The wrestler we know as Alberto Del Rio was a journeyman in MMA at best. Dave Batista's MMA run was a one-and-done stunt just to say he did it. Sean O'Haire didn't go all that far. On the other hand, Ken Shamrock had tons of success in the MMA realm and is an all-time great. Yes, that's right, Shamrock was a pro wrestler first - though his WWE run didn't come until later. Does the crossover effect work both ways though? Have many MMA fighters been able to make the jump over to staged fighting? Lets take a look at 8 MMA fighters (all but one former/current UFC fighters) who tried their hand at pro wrestling, to mixed results. And to be clear, this will only feature MMA fighters who took up MMA first, not pro wrestlers who moved into the UFC/MMA realm then went back. That will exclude Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, Ken Shamrock and others. Now lets see who made the transition, and how they did.