10 MMA Fighters Who Became Pro Wrestlers
7. Seth Petruzelli
Seth Petruzelli's entire life changed on one seemingly normal night in 2008. Petruzelli had been scheduled to fight Aaron Rosa on the prelims of the Elite XC: Heat card, but with just hours before he was scheduled to fight, Ken Shamrock received a small laceration to his eye. It'd have big consequences.
Shamrock's injury meant that the internet street fighting sensation Kimbo Slice was without an opponent and Petruzelli would get the opportunity of a lifetime to step in.
Petruzelli would seize his shot at the big time in empathic fashion, landing a short right hand on an advancing Slice that sent Kimbo tumbling to the mat after just 14 seconds.
Though Petruzelli would fail to replicate the success of the Kimbo fight when he was re-signed to the UFC, he had already written his name in MMA folklore.
Following his retirement from the cage in 2013, Petruzelli transitioned to working in professional wrestling, serving as a striking trainer at the WWE Performance Center.
Petruzelli has also since made his debut in the ring, competing in independent promotions around his native Florida.