10 Best MMA Wrestling Crossovers

For nearly 30 years, Dan Severn has been a staple of the MMA and wrestling consciousness.

Severn made his pro-wrestling debut under the guidance of trainer Al Snow, first for the Universal Wrestling Federation before moving to the National Wrestling Alliance. While still performing with the NWA, Severn made his MMA bow at UFC 4, beating Anthony Macias and Marcus Bossett before succumbing to Royce Gracie.

When Gracie left the UFC in 1995 Severn flourished, winning the company’s next two heavyweight tournaments and later beating Ken Shamrock to win the Superfight title. Severn's achievements saw him inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame in 2005 with the distinction of being the first, and so far only, triple champion in company history.

Severn later enjoyed a short spell with WWE in 1998, where he was one of the key faces of the company’s NWA invasion and enjoyed a long feud with MMA rival Shamrock. While Severn earned praise for his performances in the Squared Circle, he was best remembered for what he didn't do. With WWE showing little sign of renewing his contract, Severn teased the idea of shooting during the 1999 Royal Rumble. While Severn would eventually work the match as planned, the question of how the company would've handled such a move remains one of the industry's big what ifs.

Severn would eventually restart his MMA career on the regional circuit where he became only the second fighter to amass over 100 professional wins, and even into his sixties remains active in the pro-wrestling community.