8 Big Name MMA Fighters Who Tried Out Pro Wrestling

3. Don Frye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnHrXMkprZ4 Another vet of the Japanese circuit, Don Frye is one of those guys with a larger than life personality suited just as much to pro wrestling as he is to MMA. Just look at his over the top previews of upcoming UFC cards on YouTube. Go on, I dare you. It won't be politically correct, but it will be entertaining. Frye was one of the UFC's early success stories, winning UFC 8, Ultimate Ultimate 96, and placing as runner up at UFC 10. In his first sixteen fights, he had only one loss - to Mark Coleman, at UFC 10. However, despite his success (and amidst claims that one of his Ultimate Ultimate 96 fights was rigged), Frye left the sport, and moved on to professional wrestling. In the wrestling realm, Frye was trained by, amongst others, Curt Hennig - that's right, Mr. Perfect himself. He debuted for New Japan Pro Wrestling in August 1997 and wound up as a top heel. He wrestled (and lost to) Antonio Inoki in the Japanese legend's retirement match (Inoki would later found the Inoki Genome promotion). He would fight twice for a championship, lose both attempts, and later join The Great Muto (Keiji Muto) in his new stable. He would take one last run at the title, but fail a third time, then win a westerner-only tournament (G1 World Climax) prior to heading back to the MMA realm. Frye went on to fight in Pride, K-1, Heros, and smaller promotions like Shark Fights, but his wrestling days weren't quite over - as recently as 2013, Frye could be found teaming with his old pal Keiji Muto under the All Japan Pro Wrestling banner.