10 MMA-Inspired Wrestling Matches

Pro wrestling's outcomes have been predetermined for more than a century, but even before the truth about the business was exposed to the public at large, there had long been attempts to make it feel more "real." Once the modern MMA art form emerged in the '90s and began to gain a foothold in Japan and the U.S., wrestling had a clear source from which to draw inspiration. In the 2000s, mixed martial arts began to skyrocket in popularity - first in Japan via the emergence of Pride Fighting Championships, then a few years later in the U.S. when the introduction of The Ultimate Fighter turned the UFC from an underground organization into a mainstream brand. In both countries, pro wrestling began to lose traction to MMA, and before long, WWE and the like simply weren't seen as cool. Still, pro wrestling will always have one advantage over MMA - the predetermined nature of the sport allows promoters to create winners and, by extension, superstars. In theory, it should be easier for pro wrestling companies to make money. Reality sells, but planning draws. For that reason, many promoters have tried to have their cake and eat it, too - they've put on MMA-style matches while still controlling the outcomes. Here are ten examples of MMA-inspired wrestling matches..