A lot of MMA purists will scoff at Sonnen, the erstwhile American Gangster, being number one on this list. That, of course, is why this list was written for pro wrestling fans and not for MMA purists. 29-14 in mixed martial arts by the time he elected to retire, the 37-year-old Sonnen was by no stretch the unstoppable monster that Velasquez or Justino appear to be. Just over six foot tall and 200 pounds, he spent most of his MMA career at middleweight, and never actually won a title in the UFC. So why do we rate him so highly as a potential WWE prospect? Simple. Chael Sonnen is, by some considerable way, the greatest talker that UFC and probably MMA has ever seen. His trash talking is legendary in the business, and his gift of gab pretty much on a par with the otherwise incomparable Paul Heyman. His advancing age and numerous failed drug tests and legal issues, coupled with his propensity to cheerfully and creatively run his mouth at anyone and anything and at any given opportunity, would probably put the kibosh on his entering any form of WWE developmental programme. However, as a manager hed be second to no one but Heyman himself. In fact, if Cain Velasquez ever needed a frontman to help him promote a feud against one Brock Lesnar, Chael Sonnen is the man to ask. The idea of Paul E. and the Gangster verbally sparring together on RAW is enough to give you chills. If you've got a spare ten minutes or so, hit play - then grin from ear to ear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IJ4VelBnCI Also like Heyman, youre never quite sure whether Sonnen can be trusted. He walks the line between spirited, mischievous babyface and vicious junkyard dog heel like hes walking the high wire at the circus. Hes no stranger to carefree lying and false testimony when needed: imagine a big, bullish, fast talking, broken nosed Eddie Guerrero, and youre close to the mark. Hes claimed that hed been offered a big money WWE contract before, and scuttlebutt (like gossip in a real fight) is that WWE may yet tap the biggest mouth in MMA for an announcer role. Hed make a phenomenal colour commentator for RAW, no question but that could be a waste of his potential. Because if Chael Sonnen put a third as much effort into getting WWE talent over as he did to putting himself over in his MMA career, he could be WWEs biggest starmaker in years. The man could sell steak to cows if he wanted.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
