8 Major Ways MMA Is Influencing WWE
2. MMA Stars Explicitly Used In Storylines
Ronda Rousey's recent appearances alongside her fellow horsewomen wasn't her first taste of WWE, of course. She featured in a star-studded promo segment at WrestleMania 31 alongside The Rock, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon - a pretty clear indicator of WWE's acceptance of the sport's huge influence in pop culture.
Similarly, Brock Lesnar's UFC stint has never been masked since his return to the fold. He continues to compete in MMA-style gloves and shorts, and his time as UFC Heavyweight Champion has been explicitly mentioned several times on commentary. The recent stipulation (that he would leave WWE if he lost at SummerSlam) all but acknowledged rumours of his return to the octagon.
Finally, although technically part of the build to a boxing match, Triple H invited Floyd Mayweather and UFC megastar Connor McGregor to Monday Night Raw - and although nothing came of it, it was another sign of WWE's increasing willingness to involve the sport's biggest names in their storylines.